GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

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"SPIRITUAL ATTAINMENT"
by Charles Wages

The Bible clearly teaches that "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

There is no doubt but that God is interested in children growing properly in grace and knowledge, Spiritual attainment is not something to be grasped after for personal or selfish gain, but to know God and fulfill His purpose for our lives.

Just as an athlete exercises in a gymnasium so should the Christian be actively engaged in God's world. This activity should not be just "beating the air," but actually participating in vital, worthwhile endeavors in accordance with God's will and Word. Four things that aid in spiritual attainment will be briefly discussed. The order in which they are given does not necessarily effect their relative importance.

Concentration

Concentration or intense interest in what a person is trying to accomplish is of utmost importance to attainment of goals. The apostle Paul states in Philippians "this one thing I do," in reference to "pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Then again in Colossians 3:2, he says, "set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth" Concentration of the sun's rays on a combustible material will set it ablaze, in like fashion if we give our strict attention to something for God, it will bring results.

Abstaining

Abstaining or holding off from partaking or participating in certain things is important to spiritual attainment. Sometimes things we don't do are just as important as things we attempt to do, in our over-indulged generation, the thought of restraint or self-denial is rejected by most people. The truth concerning abstaining as taught in the Scriptures is not confined to marriage and food,  but principally concerns "holding off from" evil, religious doctrine. For instance in 1Thessalonians 5:22, we are admonished to "abstain from every form of evil." When we consider that one of the major characteristics of this present evil age is "having a form of godliness,  but denying the power thereof" (2 Tim. 3:5), we conclude that God would have us not partake of or participate in religious error. Even the Gentiles were instructed by the apostles at Jerusalem to "abstain from meat offered to idols."

Nourishment

Nourishment of the proper sort is important to spiritual attainment. It is common knowledge that the Bible uses items of physical food to teach some of its greatest spiritual lessons. Our Lord did this time and time again. Bread, meat, milk and honey are just few examples. But we understand the Word to tell us of a more important form of nourishment Paul wrote to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:6, "If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou  hast attained."

In Colossians 2:19, we are instructed that our nourishment comes from the Head of the Church, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Someone has said that we should take this spiritual nourishment and (1) study it through, (2) pray it in (3) put it down  (4) work it out, and (5) pass it on.

Proper Attitude

A proper attitude is absolutely necessary to spiritual attainment The wonderful passage found in Philippians 4:5-9 is so appropriate when we think of our attitude and what it should be. We need to read and reread this passage.

We might say our attitude could be found in three respects (1) Our attitude toward God and His Word, (2) Our attitude toward men, and (3) Our attitude toward ourselves. It follows that if our attitude is proper and the way our Lord would have it, we will attain spiritually for the glory and honor of our Head.

EXERCISE thyself
rather unto
godliness. For
bodily exercise
profiteth little;
but godliness is
profitable unto
all things,
having promise
of the life that
now is, and of
that which is to come.

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Sin's Sour Witness of God's Sweet Grace
By Steve McVey


Imagine God covering you with the palm of His hand. Surrounded by His protective grace, you are safe. Outside the hollow of His hand is a spiritual battle, a frenzy of evil swirling, churning up filth and corruption like an angry tornado in the middle of a landfill --- a violent storm that will not be stilled in the midst of a supply of garbage that will not be exhausted. But you are safe. After all, God covers you. You know what is going on around you in this wicked world, but it hasn't touched you.

Then, suddenly, in a moment for which you were not prepared, it seems that God lifts His hand. It is only for a moment. But in that brief moment, you are caught up in the evil that surrounds you like a child being snatched away by the updraft of a tornado's current. In that moment, you sin. It is a sin for which you will later be ashamed. But, for now, there is no shame. There is only the paradoxical experience of self-centered gratification filled simultaneously with intense pleasure and pallid emptiness.

Then, just as suddenly as the Hand seemed to lift, it covers you again. You come to your senses. You realize what you have done and are truly appalled. "How could I do that?" the recriminating voice of accusation screams within you. Filled with self-loathing and confusion, you begin to wonder if you really know yourself at all.

Satan couldn't lay a finger on Job until God first lifted His protective hand just long enough for him to get at him. Why does God do such a thing? Why will He allow us fail, when we have repeatedly asked Him to "lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil?" Why will He at times say to Satan about us, "What he has is in your power" (Job 1:12)? In other words, why does God allow us to be overtaken by sin at times?

Perhaps one reason why God allows us to make sinful choices is to show us what we would be apart from His enduring grace in our lives. Have you sinned miserably? Are you filled with an awareness of your own failures? Take heart. God is still in control. Don't think you're that much worse off than those you know who haven't made the same kind of foolish choices as yourself.
Squeaky clean elder brothers who have never even read the brochure about the far country, let alone rented a house there, run inherent risks of their own. Don't misunderstand, no one would advocate prodigal choices for a number of reasons. Not the least of which is the fact that it suffocates the very thing it pretends to offer --- life.

On the other hand, there is something to be said about the difference between the way grace is recognized and appreciated by prodigal sons and their pious brothers. Prodigals weep in their father's arms, overwhelmed by a forgiveness and acceptance which is given before even so much as an apology is offered. Their self-righteous brothers, however, are too busy tallying their own score card to even recognize that their brother "who was dead ... has begun to live" (Luke 15:32) .

It is in our moments of desperation and hopelessness caused by sin that we become motivated to look toward our Father. It is at those moments that God likes to show up and show off. Running toward us with outstretched arms and tear stained cheeks, He laughs out loud as He embraces us, still covered with the stench of dried pig manure. He kisses our cheek and cries out in glee with a voice that reverberates throughout the universe, "My child is home! My child is home!"

When a son of God has been in the far country and then comes home to that reception, something in him is forever changed. He can never quite be the same again. An internal adjustment takes place that somehow brings things into focus in a way never known until now. The awe of having been totally accepted, tenderly embraced and then completely restored lays hold on an ex-prodigal's soul with a grip that will forever refuse to be broken.

There is a sense in which your sins are a testament of what you would be without God. It's an ugly sight, so look away from your sins and look to your Heavenly Father. Call upon Him and then trust Him to protect you from sin's pull. Cry out to Him when you feel the updraft of temptation in your life. He is sufficient for every temptation you will ever face.

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Do I Know Him?
by Anabel Gillham

My determined purpose is that I may know Him, that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him . . . . Philippians 3:10 AMP

Campbell McAlpine makes these observations:

"You cannot love someone you do not know."

"It is imperative to establish beyond all doubt that the supreme focus of our thought and study (and action)-the deepest desire of our hearts, is a personal knowledge of a personal God."

Knowledge cannot be my goal; knowledge makes one arrogant (I Cor. 8:1), puffed up, and offensive. The purpose of my dedication must be singular: To know Jesus Christ and God, His Father.


Humanly speaking, how does a person come to know someone? By spending time with that person, confiding in him, allowing him to see you in all situations-confident of his acceptance of you. And, the closer and longer you live together, the better you will know each other. As you listen compassionately, understanding as best you can, trying to help that person observe logically, deny guilt, comprehend the facts of the matter, just spending time with that person, the closer you will become in your relationship.

Of course, God knows me completely, but He always has time to sit down and listen to me--with understanding and compassion; He won't preach at me; He won't have ten answers ready to blurt out before I even finish talking, He will just listen. Doesn't that sound wonderful? Do you have anyone like that in your life? I doubt that you do. Listening has almost become a lost art. In a survey of hundreds of married women, this is the #1 need in their lives: "Husband, listen to me." And, as the wife gives that same attention to her husband, his need for praise, edification, and authority will be met. And, as we listen, we come to know each other, our innermost thoughts, our dreams, our hurts, our desires, our standards.

How do I listen to God? How do I come to know Him?

Reflection:
Lord, I long to know You better. I realize that this deep desire will be fulfilled as I spend time with just You. That doesn't mean having my Bible open in front of me at all times. It means being together, talking, laughing, crying, observing, walking leisurely holding hands. I don't want to read my Bible to meet the goal of "reading through the Bible this year;" I don't want to spend hours to impress others with my Bible knowledge; I don't want to have a disciplined time of study so I can check it off as an accomplished goal. No. I want to spend time with You because I want to know You and all Your intricacies. You have very painstakingly told me all about Yourself in Your Word, having others record Your innermost thoughts and Your visions. I read what they have recorded and then You and I talk about it-sitting out in the swing, working on the lawn, washing the dishes. We simply talk. We spend time together. You know me. I want to know You. I love you, Lord.

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Marching Confidently
to the Drumbeat of Grace
By Preston Gillham



For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:38-39).

You are secure!

You are as secure as your Father’s hand is big. You are as secure as He is strong. You are as secure as He is bound by His integrity. You are as secure as God’s promise to be faithful. You are as secure as Father’s love demonstrated in Christ. You are as secure as His life is eternal. You are as secure as Christ’s provision for sin is sufficient. You are as secure as Jesus’ promises. You are as secure as God is divine by nature. You are as secure as the love God has in His heart for you.

Walk confidently! You are secure! You are as secure as Father’s grace is abundant.

Walk confidently as a demonstration of His grace. Take up His confidence as yours, and demonstrate grace. In the confidence of His grace, live a life of grace. With the confidence that Christ is in you to express His life through you, extend grace. In the confidence that you are a recipient of grace, unfurl your life into the storms of ungraciousness and demonstrate God’s grace.

Will you get the dirt of the world under your fingernails? Yes. Will you feel the stress of the un-grace around you? Yes, you will. Do not be put off! Grace flourishes in ungracious places.

Don’t ever forget, grace is a person! Jesus put a face on grace. He sought you in your ungracious place, and seeks you in the ungraciousness of your messes. He gives you the confidence to be His representative in the ungracious places around you. And He gives you the inspiration to be His representative simply through the security of your confidence in Him. For “where sin increased, grace abounded all the more” (Rm. 5:20).

Grace. Demonstrate it. Share it. Live it. Let yourself be caught up in it. Be astonished by it. Marvel at it. Take it into your soul and treasure it. Give it safe harbor in your heart. Fix your eyes on it. Set your mind upon it. Take hold of it and adopt it. Love it. Respond to it. Cherish it. March to its beat. Dance to its tune. Rally to its cry. Join in its shout. Advance upon its signal. Lock arms with it. Depend upon it. Find your security in it. Place your confidence in it. Let its extravagance exude from the pours of your smile, the gleam in your eye, and the warmth of your touch.

Have you considered what it will take for you to live a life of grace, and have you considered what that life will look like?

Dear Father
You know that I have sincerely tried to live as a victorious Christian. I have done my personal best, but now I realize that has been my problem-it has been "my best" that I've trusted, instead of Your life. I repent of self-sufficiency and affirm that from this moment forward I will trust You to live through me. I choose to rest in You, depending upon You to cause the power of indwelling sin in me to stay in remission. You are my Victory, oh Lord. For that fact, I thank You, Amen

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EQUIPPING THE SAINTS
by Pastor Robert N. Renberg Jr.

In this day and age of grace, God has given to His Church, the body of Christ, gifted leaders. Their primary aim is to teach sound doctrine and to preach Christ as contained in the Mystery, the revelation given to and through the Apostle Paul.

However, God's purpose for these men, who are referred to as "pastor-teachers" in Ephesians 4:11, is not just for them to be cold, didactic expounders of the Scriptures alone. His purpose is for the pastor-teacher to be equipping the saints for ministry (diakonia). The Word of God is alive and powerful (Heb. 4:12), and, taught correctly, it has the ability to produce in its hearers an echo that reverberates to those around (1 Thess. 1:8 ).

For many years, the basic layman had the attitude, Let those who are trained do the work of ministering, and he came to church only on Sunday mornings to get a weekly "fill-up." As we come to God's Word, however, this reasoning does not hold up under the light of the gospel. In writing to the "saints and faithful ones in Christ Jesus" in the Book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul sets forth the type of men that have been given to the Body as gifts. In Ephesians 4:11, this list of gifted men is given. We want to further develop the thought and intent of the Holy Spirit in verse 12 concerning the "work of ministry."

The goal of the pastor-teacher is to equip the saints for a specific purpose. This purpose is the "work of the ministry" or "work of ministering." It was never our heavenly Father's intent to have only certain ones in the body of Christ do all the work. In fact, we find in First Corinthians 12 that, just as in our physical body, every member has a vital role to play. Much more in the Body of Christ every member is a necessary part to a smooth functioning organism.

On what then is the focus of the pastor-teacher to be centered? Is he to be running all the various departments and all programs of the local assembly, plus do all the visitation, organize all special events, do all the emergency counseling, and all the other administrative functions? When does he make time for his real focus, the study of God's Word, which is a prerequisite for teaching the Scriptures?

The pastor-teacher must be a trainer and example to his people through teaching the Word and personal discipleship. Then as the various ministries are established, leaders are established also. Being confident with this leadership, the pastor can move on to spearhead the other needed ministries, still having time to do those pastoral functions and study God's Word. Therefore, he is still able to bring out the truth of the Scripture in a clear, concise and applicable way so that the Holy Spirit can motivate others to "the work of ministry. "

While it might not be the flashiest and quickest way to motivate the hearers, teaching the literal intended meaning of the New Testament writers in a verse by verse method is by far the best way to produce grounded and foundationed saints. These believers are then motivated by the Holy Spirit, not the flesh, to do the work of ministering.

As a pastor-teacher, I am constantly looking at how I can involve the other members to do these very things, and it has been my privilege to see others picking up in areas that need special attention, but that are often overlooked because they are considered of lesser importance by some. God simply needs saints who are available and willing. Be assured that when you desire to be used, He will give you a "work of ministry" that will bring glory and honor to His name!

"And whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance, for you serve the Lord Christ." (Col. 3:23,24)

IN GOD WE STILL TRUST

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"WHEEL IDENTITY A GUIDE TO FREEDOM THROUGH THE CROSS" Part 1
By C.R. Solomon

Your Inner Conflict
By C.R. Solomon


*The "S" at the center of the wheel represents the self-controlled life or "flesh" (KJV).The flesh is in ascendancy in the lives of most believers for their entire Christian experience. It seeks differing forms, depending upon the individual, to get its needs met by something or person in either a negative or a positive way. Money, material things, success, fame, sex, power or any of countless other things can drive or motivate a person and become his central focus when he is dominated by the self-life or flesh. Thus the "flesh" is merely the believer's attempt to live the Christian life in his own strength.

The "flesh," therefore, is a very serious problem for the Christian-as serious as idolatry. For when we replace the centrality of Christ with anything-even ourselves-whatever we install on the throne of our lives becomes an idol. God must deal firmly with the flesh. And He does, usually by revealing the self-centered life's inability to cope until the believer, finding his situation unbearable, gives up on himself and becomes interested in exchanging the self-life for the Christ-life.

So long as self (flesh) remains in control, the conflicts depicted in the "soul" (personality) part of the Wheel Diagram will continue. They may become worse with age and increasing responsibilities. Occasionally, a psychologically well-adjusted self-life can cope with circumstances for most of a lifetime, but the results are far from fulfilling.

The psychological deficiencies, along with the guilt (both real and imagined), combine to produce varying degrees of frustration in the self-controlled life. The frustration must be dealt with. Some choose to dump it on others in the form of blows-physical or verbal-while some are more fearful of retaliation and suppress their hostility as best they can. Others suppress anger and frustration because they blame themselves for every problem and annoyance they encounter. When hostility and frustration are suppressed, for whatever reason, they will have an impact in the mind or emotions or both. Internalized hostility or anger often results in depression and/or anxiety in the emotions. Some persons can use their minds to implement various distortions or denials of reality. This enables them to escape the necessity of dealing with the real problem, the self-life.

When the psychological conflict drags on without remedy, however, it commonly results in somatic complaints, as illustrated in the diagram. The physical ailments, though real, actually are symptoms of a deeper problem-the self-life. So are the psycho-logical problems depicted in the "soul" area.

Your Deliverance

*These psychological and physiological symptoms begin to disappear when one sees how God can deal with the root problem by dethroning the self-life.

The Line Diagram Shows the "life out of death" principle- God's way of disposing of internal conflict.

The horizontal line represents eternal life, the life of Christ. By definition, eternal indicates no beginning or end. It exceeds the boundaries of time. Since Christ is God, He has always lived and always will. His life is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8 ). As portrayed at the left of the line, Christ "became flesh" (John 1:14) and lived in a human body for some 33 years. Then, He was crucified, buried and raised from the dead on the third day (1 Cor. 15:3-4). He continues to live today (Heb. 7:25). Note that eternal life is not only a present and future reality for the believer but also involves the eternal past.

Until we are born again (John 3:3) we are not in the life of Christ-eternal life-but we are in the spiritually dead life of Adam. One can readily see that if anyone of our ancestors, represented by the hatch marks on the diagonal line, had been missing, we also would be missing. Physically speaking, our lives had beginning in Adam, so whatever happened to him also happened to us. When he sinned, we sinned. When he died (spiritually), we died-just as we would have died in our great grand-father if he had died before siring any children. Thus, since spiritual death is separation from God, we were all born dead (spiritually). We need forgiveness for our sins, but we also need life. The Lord Jesus Christ came to give us both-by dying for our sins and by giving us His resurrection life (John 10:10).

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"WHEEL IDENTITY A GUIDE TO FREEDOM THROUGH THE CROSS" Part 2
By C.R. Solomon

If you are a Christian, you already know this much. What you may not yet know is the following;

For the believer, physical death is the gateway from life in the world and the presence of sin to life in Heaven and the presence of God. Similarly, another type of death is the gateway from the sinful life of Adam to the eternal life of Christ . When a person is "born again," he in the same instant dies. He is born into the life of Christ, but he simultaneously dies out of the life of Adam.

Christ comes into our lives when we believe in Him and are born again, but that is not all. We are also made "partakers" of HIS life-eternal life. Romans 6:3 says we are not only baptized into Jesus Christ (His life) but also into His death. We can't occupy two opposite lives at the same time-the life of Adam and the life of Christ.

Your Identity

When we receive Christ by faith, it means that His death on the cross counts as payment for our sins. But it means much more. It also means that we enter into a new life-one that extends forever into the past as well as into the future. To put it another way, we exchange our history in Adam-the bad and the good-for an eternal history in Christ. We inherit a new "family tree!" By becoming partakers of Christ's life, we become participants in His death, burial, resurrection, ascension and seating in the heavenlies (Rom. 6:3-6; Gal. 2:20; Eph. 2:6). He only has one life, and this is the life we receive at our new birth (1 John 5:11-12).

Unless and until we know by personal faith experience that we were crucified with Christ, we will continue to try to live for Christ, using the methods we learned in our old self-lives. The conflicts stemming from our history in Adam will go on plaguing and defeating us. But when, by faith, we take our rightful place at the Cross in union with Christ's death and resurrection, then-and only then-can we truly "walk in newness of life" (Rom. 6:4b) where "old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Cor. 5:17).

The Cross experience (understanding experientially our crucifixion and resurrection with Christ) is the gateway into the Spirit-controlled life (Gal. 5:16). It is life out of death, victory out of defeat-the purpose and answer for suffering in the life of the believer. Our path to the Cross, as well as the Cross itself, is a path of suffering, but it is the only path that leads to the end of suffering.

Are you weary enough of your internal conflict and constant defeat to put an end to it by faith? Are you willing to die to all that you are so you can live in all that He is? To do so is to exchange the self-life for the Christ-life and be filled or controlled by the Holy Spirit. To refuse to do so is to continue a walk after the flesh and to grieve the Spirit with a continuation of conflict, suffering and defeat.

Salvation Prayer

*If you are tired of the anguish that results from doing things your way, Christ will free you if you will sincerely commit yourself to let Him have His way.

If you have never accepted Christ as your personal Savior, your first need is to let God create you anew by giving you spiritual rebirth. You can be born again if you can honestly pray like this:
    "Heavenly Father, I have seen that I am a sinner, still in the life of Adam, and that I have committed sins. I believe you sent your only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die in my place for my sins. I also believe He rose again and now lives, and right now I receive Him into my spirit as my Savior. I surrender all that I am, all I have and all I shall be to you. I turn from my sins and my selfish ways to live my new life in Christ. Thank you for saving me. Amen."

Identification Prayer

If you have prayed the "salvation prayer," you have been born again, for God says He gives to all who believe in Christ the privilege of becoming His children (John 1:12).

Now, whether you prayed for salvation just now or in the past, praying an  "identification prayer" may help you to experience Christ's life of victory and peace. Before this prayer can be effective, you must be truly sick of your self-life; you must be under conviction by the Holy Spirit of trying to live the Christian life in your own strength, and you must be ready to give up control of your life. If this is your condition, pray in this manner.

"Father, thank you for forgiving my sins and taking me out of the life of Adam and grafting me into the life of Christ. Now that I am in Christ, I believe that I was crucified with Him, buried with Him, raised with Him and that I am seated with Him at your right hand. From this moment on, I choose to have your son, Jesus Christ, live His life in me and through me. I consider myself dead to sin and alive to you, and I am counting on the Holy Spirit to make me aware when I forget my death with Christ and try to live His life for Him in my own human wisdom and energy. I choose to yield my total being to you as an instrument of righteousness, allowing no part of me to be used for sin. Thank you for making Christ and his life real to me. Glorify yourself through me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen,"


1. SALVATION
2. ASSURANCE
3. SECURITY
4. ACCEPTANCE
5. TOTAL COMMITMENT
(Romans 12:1)

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New and Confident in Christ
By Anabel Gillham



And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to live in obedience to him. Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done. (Colossians 2:6-7, New Living Translation).

Bill had already gone down to the meeting. He was so pleased (and more than a trifle proud) of his newly-elected position as Vice President on the staff of the Oklahoma Education Association. He had given me a "good-bye peck," opened the door to our room, and walked out without a moment's hesitation. He was on his way with great anticipation to meet the people, amuse them with his "funnies," and let them benefit from the words of wisdom that casually escaped from his lips. In other words, Bill was swimming in his element!

What he didn't know at the time was that his poor wife, Anabel, was finding it very difficult to open the door and head down the elevator for everyone to see and interact with.

I took one, long, last look in the mirror, making sure everything was in place. I viewed my new, beige, polka dot, "homemade" dress from all angles with a full-length image. Then, I started for the door. With hand on knob I said to myself, "I am an attractive woman. I am not a dummy. These people are not going to be scrutinizing my every move, my every word, how I look, or my verbal skills. A lot of them are first-grade teachers! Surely I can handle first grade teachers! It is absolutely ridiculous for me to act this way. Throw back your shoulders and smile!" And with that stern lecture, I opened the door with trembling fingers and stepped out into the world of people, basically terrified.

That's a pretty scary way to leave the safety of the hotel room, isn't it? But that was the best I could do. That comprised my fragile body of truth—those things I believed would equip me for facing the "basically terrifying" events of my life. I had tried a lot of things. Discarded a lot of things. Settled on a few. And those few kept me going.

How different it is today! I have my body of truth and it isn't fragile; it isn't bent all out of shape when things don't go right; it doesn't depend on whether I'm attractive or if I can hold my own conversationally in any group, or that I'm a published author. No. It depends on one—and only one—performance act on my part: What I have done with Jesus Christ? The moment that I accepted Him at salvation He gave me this awesome, unshakable, body of truth .

According to Him, that old, frightened Anabel died in Christ (Galatians 2:20) and was reborn "not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:13). I became someone new when I was born again (II Corinthians 5:17), and the life of Christ became my life (Colossians 3:4). Furthermore, I was transferred out of the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of light (Ephesians 5:8, Colossians 1:13). I'm different! I'm new! As this new creation in Christ, that old body of "truth" I walked in for years is null and void, and it is no longer who I am.

Try walking out of your hotel room now, Anabel! It works every time! I'm rather amazed at myself and how well "I" handle the pressures today that used to be much like walking up the gallows to the hangman's noose! I wish I could say that my emotional condition has improved as markedly as my belief system. Not so. But my emotions have a hard time thinking . . . maybe they'll catch up one of these days.

Lord God of abounding grace,
give me spiritual eyes to see
 and a humble heart to receive
all the ways You want to mark my life by
 Your grace,
 in Jesus name, Amen.

[nChrist]

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WITH CHRIST
By  Pastor Paul Hume


There is a well-known Negro spiritual which begins with these words: 'Were you there when they crucified my Lord?' The immediate answer is 'No, I wasn't there.' But after deeper reflection we have to answer differently, 'Yes, I was therein the person of Jesus Christ.'

  'How do you arrive at that?' we inquire. The Word of God-especially in the epistles of Paul-sets forth a marvelous truth. It centers in another 'big-little' word. This word is 'with.'

  When Christ was crucified, we were crucified 'with Him.' When Christ died, we died 'with Him.' When He was buried, we were buried 'with Him.' Then when He arose from among the dead, we were raised 'with Him.' When He ascended and passed through the heavens, we ascended 'with Him.' When He took His seat at the right hand of the Majesty on High, we were seated together 'with Him.' When He appears in His glory, we will also 'appear with Him in glory.' Then the promise is that if we 'endure, we shall also reign with Him' (2 Timothy 2:12).

  Now all of this speaks not so much of our union with Christ as our association with Christ. We were 'with Him' in His death, burial, resurrection and enthronement. We are 'with Him' in His glorified life now. We shall be 'with Him' in the ages to come. This is glorious 'positional truth.' But what about the experiential side of this blessed truth? How does this affect my daily life here on earth?

  It means that by faith, based on the divine facts. I reckon myself to have died with Christ unto sin and 'the elements of the world' (Romans 6: 2-11; Gal.  2:20); to have been buried with Christ in death (Colossians 2: 12); to have been 'quickened together with Christ (Ephesians 2:1,5); to have been 'raised up together' with Christ (Eph. 2:6); to have been 'made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.' (Ephesians 2:6.) God has already accomplished these feats, and it is up to each one of us to believe what God has spoken and to rest upon them.'

  Then it also means that I presently share in the very life of Christ. We are 'saved by His life' (Romans 5:10). We have been called 'unto the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord' (1 Corinthians 1:9). This involves communing with Him, meditating in His Word of Truth, engaging in praise and prayer and drawing wisdom, grace and strength from Him. It means also not only to suffer for Him, but to 'suffer with Him' (Romans 8:17). Only His grace can enable us to do this, since we naturally are averse to suffering. But what eternal rewards will be ours if we do so!

  Finally, it means to walk with Him 'in newness of life.' 'How can two walk together, except they be agreed?' (Amos 3:3.) As we daily 'trust and obey' we can walk together in every circumstance, and experience what one hymn writer states, 'It is glory just to walk with Him!'

  You are not only 'in Christ' but 'with Christ' today?

Dear Father
You know that I have sincerely tried to live as a victorious Christian. I have done my personal best, but now I realize that has been my problem-it has been "my best" that I've trusted, instead of Your life. I repent of self-sufficiency and affirm that from this moment forward I will trust You to live through me. I choose to rest in You, depending upon You to cause the power of indwelling sin in me to stay in remission. You are my Victory, oh Lord. For that fact, I thank You, Amen

[nChrist]

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Grace, Not Deliverance
by Anabel Gillham


We can’t deny that painful circumstances invade our lives. But we must put them in their proper perspective.

Present, my eldest, was going through a time of deep disillusionment, hurt, loneliness, confusion, and penetrating self-evaluation. He shared with me how the following thoughts brought clarity in his thinking, how they enveloped him in peace and promised endurance.


Present:

"I know that the difficult circumstances in my life at this present moment are very real. But I also know that Christ has provided victory for me in these circumstances.

"As you and I well know, this victory is not deliverance but grace, as spoken of in Proverbs 3:34: ‘He gives grace to the afflicted.’

"Grace used here refers to the divine influence upon your heart brought about through the affliction, the difficulties—difficulties such as I am experiencing now, and how that divine influence is reflected in your life through the unexpected benefits of the suffering."

Unexpected benefits? Like what? What might we learn from suffering? How does it change us, and what can we profit from it?

It might be . . .
the rebirth of compassion for others
a renewal of your covenant with Christ
an awareness of His amazing strength
through you
the thankfulness and joy that will emanate
from the depths of your inner being
coming to know—really know—how much He
the tender knowledge of your complete
acceptability by God, your Maker.

Present again:

"Deliverance is the easy way out. Grace is a training ground run through tear-blurred eyes which, in the end, leaves your heart strong, your muscles toned, and your head clear and organized."

He has said to me:

"I am with you; that is all you need. My power shows up best in weak people." 2 Corinthians 12:9 tlb

Thank You, Lord, for in these—my WEAKEST moments—I will be strong beyond my ability to comprehend.

[nChrist]

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Who Is Your Strength?
by Anabel Gillham



Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God. - II Corinthians 3:5

They will be held guilty, they whose strength is their god. -Habakkuk 1:11

God's characteristics -- His immutability, His omnipotence, His omnipresence His omniscience -- were, of course, available for me and to me, but I was holding up pretty well with my own immutability, omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience.

You see, I had performed all my life to gain acceptance from others, and I had really been quite successful. I always looked to Anabel as the "author and finisher" of my strength.

Omnipotent

I was powerful. I could do it! In fact, I used to say that by the time I was 22 years old I had learned two things very well: 1) I can learn; and 2) once I know how, I can do it. Nothing was too difficult for me to undertake. Oh, I might hesitate to accept the task of washing windows on the Empire State Building, but then out of my mouth would come the all-too-familiar words: "Of course, I'll do it."

Omniscient

I was wise. On the Dean's honor roll. Who's Who. I knew what I needed, what I wanted -- and I had the tenacity to keep performing until I got it. That didn't wane as I became a part of the "real" world, either. I left college with my tennis racquet under my arm and a tank filled with self-sufficiency. I moved away from the protection of my loving parents, the familiar streets of dear old Poteau, and the comfortable life of home. I didn't have a placard around my neck, but it was emblazoned in my thought-life: I can do it!

Omnipresent

I was on the scene -- God wasn't. His omnipresence didn't impress me all that much. I needed physical proof of His presence, and I didn't have it. So I depended on the strongest person I knew . . . Anabel.

Immutable

As far as being immutable -- unchangeable -- I was able to meet life, to roll with the punches and change if it was needed. I was in control. Why should that change? I was certainly not going to stop performing.

God's constant presence?

God's wisdom?

God's power?

Those attributes weren't doing me one whit of good, and since my own strength was what I depended on, by definition my strength was my god.

Let's just say that my attitude was, "I'll call You if I need You, God." And I never really thought through that mindset. You see, what I was saying (ignorantly . . . thankfully) was this: "God, I have learned to do this, this, and this quite well. I'm still working on this one, but You're helping me and pretty soon I'll get the hang of it. Now this one is still real hard, but if You'll just keep working with me I'll eventually conquer it, too; and then guess what, God? I won't need You at all!" (How presumptuous of me!)

After years in an unhappy marriage, after having a profoundly retarded son, after financial frugality that seemed to take the joy out of life, after dealing with the unpleasant people that I couldn't control or make go away . . . I began to need Him. I began to realize, for the first time in my life, that my strength was not working. My life was changing me from "the leading female role" to an introverted behind-the-scenes stagehand. In fact, I pretty much lost all interest in going to the plays. The performer was about at the end of her ability to perform!

Then I came across Habakkuk 1:11, and it was as real to me as Saul's encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. That came, of course, after years of performing and after more pathetic years of failing. But even then there was still enough life in this strong woman to "kick at the goads!" I couldn't kick much longer, though. I was just too tired of trying.

Well, today I have a new verse, a new theme song: The woman who has come to know that You are her strength is a woman who is blessed (Psalm 84:5-7).

I've come to know this, but it was a very difficult lesson for me to learn. I had played "god" for a long time and was loathe to give up control. I was so sure of my ability. But God, through His patience and wonderful guiding hand in my life, brought me to the point where I can say very comfortably with Paul, "Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God" (2 Corinthians 3:5).

Who is your strength?

O God Most High, I repent of those many times when pride was the despicable attitude that I displayed. Lord, teach me to despise pride as You do. Stir in my heart a growing appreciation of humility. I desire to be clothed with humility. I humbly seek You afresh that I might live by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

[nChrist]

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KNOW TO GROW
By M. Stanford


"And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent" (John 17:3).

The heartbreaking knowledge of self brings a life-giving compensation, which is knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. The needs generated by the realization of the sin of self produce the necessary motivation and hunger which cause us to focus upon the Lord Jesus and become conformed to His image. "And we all, while with face unveiled we behold in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are ourselves transformed continually into the same likeness" (II Cor. 3:18, Cony.).

"Many a new believer has obtained relief in his conscience from his sins, because of faith in the Blood of Jesus Christ; that is, he does not see further than Romans 3. He has faith in the work of Christ, but has not yet come in faith to Christ. He is like the woman who touched the hem of His garment, assured of His work but not yet acquainted with Himself." - ].B.S.

"It is one thing to believe on the Lord Jesus, to be born again, to be saved. That is a glorious thing as a beginning, but it alone will not take you right through all you have to meet; and if you are really in the Lord's hands He will see to it that by virtue of need you are drawn into knowing more and more of His Son. It is the normal course of a true, Holy Spirit-governed Christian life that, in order to get through, an increase of Christ, a growing discovery of Christ, is necessary." - T.A-S.

"That I may know Him" (Phil. 3:10).

Perhaps one reason God delays His answers to our prayers is because He knows we need to be with Him far more than we need the things we ask of Him.

-- Ben Patterson

[nChrist]

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Eternal Life, The Gift of God
By Russell S. Miller



Suppose I knew of a financial benefactor who was giving away one million dollars to every one that personally contacted him. I told my parents about this, and they collected their million; my sisters collected theirs, after I told them of course; and my brothers-in-law all received their generous portions. Of course I told my wife, and every one in her family, about it. All our relatives, friends, and many, many strangers contacted this gracious benefactor as per instructions, and received their million dollars.

But I never told you!

What would you think about my actions in this matter, if I had not told you about this wonderful gift? Would you not have a right to be very angry with me and wonder why you were left out?

Now please do not think that I am angry with any one, for such thinking could not be farther from the truth. No, not at all.

This is an illustration of what God seeks to convey to a lost and dying world. Only it's not a mere million dollars, nor is it billions of dollars that we are discussing here. It is a portrait of the love of Christ:

"But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8 ).

The Lord does not promise earthly wealth, but He has promised "eternal life" to all who will believe on His Son, worth more than all the money in all the world:

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

Yes, my dear friend, I trust that you also can now see how important, how really important, this gift is that God wants to give you!

The Apostle Peter describes the gift of God as more valuable than the precious metals that men covet after.

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

"But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (I Pet. 1:18,19).

The Bible clearly teaches that we are all "sinners" (Rom. 3:23), lost and dying, and in desperate need of the "Savior" (Titus 1:4). Jesus Christ, of course, is our only Savior. There is no other Savior for mankind. If you miss Him, you will have missed everything! This is why the Apostle Paul declared that salvation can only be obtained by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ:

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

"Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption for us" (Heb. 9:12).

This is also why the Apostle Paul exhorts us to trust Christ as our Savior:

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved..." (Acts 16:31).

[nChrist]

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A Faithful God In An Unpredictable World
Steve McVey


Jennifer and Paul were discussing personal problems they were having one day. Jennifer said, "I can't make sense out of life. You do your best. You trust that God will work everything out. Then life falls apart anyway. It seems like what I do makes no difference."

I understood her frustration. I've felt the same way at times. Believing that I've covered all the bases, I've found myself sometimes bewildered, sometimes depressed, and sometimes even feeling resentment toward God when things didn't unfold as I had expected. We often expect life to fit within our sense of human justice, but it often doesn't work out that way.

G. K. Chesterton said that one problem he had with Christianity has to do with cause and effect. He observed that ninety percent of the time life works on the basis of cause and effect, but the other ten percent it didn't. That troubled him.

When I read his comment, I thought how I'd be okay with the 90/10 percentages he observed. My life hasn't seemed to work that way. It has seemed to me that things haven't worked out according to cause and effect more often than they have. I've noticed the same with others.

A family I knew reared their children in the same way. One grew up to be a responsible Christian with a professional position. The other ended up in jail for selling drugs. One Christian lady I know prayed for her husband to bust Christ, and he miraculously was converted. Another friend faithfully prayed the same prayer for her husband. One day he came home and announced he wanted a divorce to marry the younger woman he had been having an affair with for two years. One friend I have was healed of a life-threatening disease. Another gifted friend who was an author, a preacher, and an intellectual, died far too young, in my opinion.

How are any of us supposed to get through such an unpredictable life? How do we remain at peace in a world where everything can suddenly change in a moment? Martin Luther embraced a verse that answers that question. It is the verse that ushered in the Reformation.

"The just shall live by faith." It's that simple. We must choose to walk by faith in God.
We have reason to know that our Father is a loving God, so nothing happens in our lives that He doesn't permit. He is a sovereign God, so nothing happens that He can't control. He is an omniscient God, so nothing happens that He didn't already know about in advance.

The question is, "Will we trust Him?" Some Christians think that faith means if we believe hard enough, things will turn out the way we want. Their faith is in faith. It's an approach to problems that combines a mix of secular positive thinking with a religious flair.

Authentic faith isn't intense, religious positive thinking that is intended to produce a certain outcome. Biblical faith means that we trust in God. Period. Not in a particular result. Not in a happy ending. Faith simply means that we trust Him, knowing that whatever the outcome may be, life will still be okay because He is in control.

Are you facing situations that make no sense? If so, relax. God is in control. He loves you and will always work all things in your life together for good. Don't mistake wishful thinking for biblical faith. Faith means that we rest in the fact that we are one with Christ - that a loving Abba is our Father who controls it all --- that the Holy Spirit will sustain us no matter what happens. Your life isn't a result of cause and effect. Your life is Christ. He has it all planned already. So let go of your attempt to control your own destiny and trust Him. He will guide you safely home.

O God Most High, I repent of those many times when pride was the despicable attitude that I displayed. Lord, teach me to despise pride as You do. Stir in my heart a growing appreciation of humility. I desire to be clothed with humility. I humbly seek You afresh that I might live by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

[nChrist]

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Hardwired for Triumph
By Steve McVey



Biotechnology teaches us that our DNA is a blueprint of who we are as physical beings. All of your physical features are nothing less than an expression of the programming that existed in your DNA from the moment you were conceived. DNA defines your physical nature.

In the same way, the Bible teaches that you have a spiritual nature. When you received the life of Jesus Christ, your nature was transformed. The Bible says that you became "a partaker of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4). You might say that you received a GNA, with the G standing for  "God."  His life became yours. That makes you different from most people.

     Your life pulsates with divine power because of the presence of Jesus Christ within you. At the core of your being, you are hardwired for triumph because God "always causes (you) to triumph in Christ Jesus" (2 Corinthians 2:14). Christ is in you and will live His life through you. What greater assurance of victory can a person have?

The Apostle Paul affirmed, "I can do all things through Christ who  strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). Jesus Christ is your strength, your wisdom (see 1 Corinthians 1:30), and your assurance of victory in life. (See 1 Corinthians 15:57) You don't have to go through life with a defeated attitude. When you recognize and rest in who you really are, things can change!

Christians aren't who we used to be. It is important for us to understand that or we will be held back by the debilitating mind set of our old life. The person you were before you met Christ  died. (See Galatians 2:20) You are now a brand new person (see 2 Corinthians 5:17)who is capable of dreaming new dreams and living a life you could have never lived without Christ.

     "According to your faith be it unto you," Jesus told one man who desperately needed to see his circumstances change. (See Matthew 9:29) Christ wanted to do something wonderful in this blind man's life, but it was necessary for the man to trust Him.

     The foundation for your optimism is Jesus Christ. Faith in Him is the conduit through which He is able to pour out into your life all the good He has planned for you to be, to have and to do. It all bolls down to one simple question: Do you believe that God wants you to experience and enjoy His blessings or not?

As you look down the path that lies ahead for you, do you anticipate good things from God? Do you expect things to become better or worse? Make no mistake about it - what we believe about God's working in our lives in this arena has an inestimable effect on how we move ahead and what we will experience and enjoy in the coming days.

Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, when the journey from Egypt to Canaan should have taken only 11 days. Why did it take them so long to enter into the Promised Land? The Bible says, "they were notable to enter because of unbelief' (Hebrews 3:19). With paradise only 11 days away, they lived in self-imposed misery for 40 years, all because they refused to believe God.

How long have you wandered in circles? Maybe, like Israel, you've been in the wilderness for many years. God says through Isaiah that it's time for you to accept and appropriate good news. Get ready, good news has arrived. Your Father is bringing you out of the wilderness.

Will you believe God? You aren't like those in the world, outside of Christ. You have an anointing by the enabling grace of Christ within you to live a supernatural life. Will you accept and appropriate the good news? Will you lay hold on the hope of fulfilling the God given dreams of your heart? Trust Him and watch the great things He will accomplish!