GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

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Courageous Living --Discipline
Part 3 of 5
By Preston Gillham


A courageous man lives a disciplined life that demonstrates the important elements of life and transfers those priorities to those within his sphere of influence. A disciplined life is a life with structure and parameters.

Please don't hear me talking about rigidity or advocating the adoption of standards that squelch spontaneity. In actuality, it is discipline that creates the fertile soil where creativity, spontaneity, and the courage to look at life uniquely flourishes most readily. An undisciplined life breeds insecurity and wastes time, the precious commodity we talked about earlier. A courageous man disciplines his life according to his Father's priorities.

Guard yourself and those you love against legalism disguised as discipline. Legalism is all about control, performance-based acceptance, and rules devised by insecure folks -- even though well-meaning --- who are threatened by the uniqueness of the human spirit and the profound grace of God to meet us at any point in life.

Discipline, on the other hand, sets us free to follow our Father's lead and examine all He has in store for us. The security offered by legalism is a limited perspective looking through a well-defined key-hole. The security of a disciplined lifestyle rests in the strong arms of our Father and views the broad horizon of life from heaven's reaches.

The difficulty in distinguishing between legalism and discipline often arises because both legalism and discipline can be preached from God's Word. However, knowing your Father's heart, as well as your own, and following both provides the discernment necessary to distinguish legalism from discipline.

It is a timid soul who puts himself and God in a legalistic box to maintain the status quo of today. A courageous man views himself and his life from God's perspective and steps into the future with the discipline of a well-anchored, confident, and secure man.

Lord God of my salvation, thank You for the glorious message of the gospel.  I rejoice that You have taken me out from under the law. I now know that I am your inheritance, I know you are my life, and know that it is you Lord Jesus who brings forth spiritual fruit in me, and all the praise belongs to you.  May Your name be exalted, Amen.

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Courageous Living --- Encouragement
Part 4 of 5
by Preston Gillham

I implore you, trust Christ, depend upon your Father, live life in this vibrant relationship and encourage others to follow your lead.

When Paul says to his readers, "Be imitators of me" (1 Corinthians 11:1) he wasn't being arrogant. He was being realistic. People are going to follow, to imitate, and they are going to model themselves after influential leaders.

These titles: Man, Dad, Granddad, husband, friend, and mentor are all titles bestowing some degree of leadership, and therefore, some degree of responsibility. If you are the bearer of any of these titles, you are expected to lead, not in the same way a sergeant leads, but through your lifestyle.

If you are a man, you are expected to be anchored. For example, when strength is needed, a man is expected to be strong. Accepting this responsibility is not arrogance but necessity. Encouraging your kids, your friends, your colleagues, your wife, and all those others you are associated with to follow your lead in life as you follow Christ's means you are acting like a strong man. It might be good to reference 1 Corinthians 16:13 again: "Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong."

This doesn't mean you stand up on your desk at work and take charge or announce at the dinner table you are the boss and have it all under control. Lead by example. The blueprint calls for leadership in life exemplified through your life. This is leadership through love, communication, discipline, and encouragement emanating from your warrior heart-a heart committed to your Father's cause. A courageous man leads and encourages by taking his little girl's hand, his boy's shoulder, or his wife's arm.

It is courageous leadership when a man stands beside his friend who has lost everything he held dear in order that he might be encouraged toward the One who is most dear.

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Courageous Living --- Service
Part 5 of 5
By Preston Gillham


A courageous man serves from a heart in tune with his Father's heart. The life of Christ will only become meaningful as you demonstrate it by allowing Him to live His life through you. We are all imitators and we are all leaders. Accept this fact. We already know the importance of having trusted men stand with us in life, but we must also make those closest to us part of our lives and stand by them.

In his book about fathers and sons, Bill Hanson writes about the relationship he has with his young son, Miles:

"If I am mowing the lawn, Miles mows the lawn also. If I am reading paper, Miles reads the paper. If I am thirsty, so is Miles. Amazing, but he is imitating my steps as I once copied my own father's. Here is the cycle of life. We learn from our fathers, so we can teach our children."

Bill Hanson, Father and Son: The Bond (Austin, TX: Bright Books, 1996), p. 2.

Being a servant is not a meek, mild job. It is the job of a warrior, and it requires great courage. A servant who serves by choice of his will is secure in his identity and source. As a matter of fact, he is secure enough to lay his life down on behalf of another. Jesus Christ was the most courageous, strong man who ever lived. But His strength was not only exhibited when He drove the money changers out of the temple. It was also demonstrated when he went to bat for the woman caught in adultery, invited Himself to Zaccheus' home for dinner, stopped to find out who touched His robe, and offered redemption to his friend, Peter, who had failed him miserably.

Being a dad is only one of the arenas where men are called upon to handle themselves courageously, but let me share a letter that came to our office written on the back of two door hangers. As you will see, this brother works for a cable company and door hangers were the stationery available at the time.

"Just a note saying thanks for your broadcast! I listen to WMBW in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

If there was a contest for listening to your program in the most unusual places it would have to be mine. When you are on the air I am usually 30-40 feet in the air up a power pole!

Enjoying your topic on being masculine and what it means. Being masculine to me means holding my 5 year old daughter protecting her from the lightening while reading her favorite story for the hundredth time. Or, camping with my 10 year old boy and explaining why God designed the bark on a tree for its protection and how He cared enough about us for that same tree to die so we can enjoy the fire we now have to cook our food.

In other words, masculinity is spending time with our children. Kids will long forget the 'prizes' or 'gifts' we give them before the memories of the time we spent with them fade away.

Thanks for your ministry."

In the context of courage, we have talked briefly about love, prayer, a disciplined lifestyle, encouragement, and a servant's heart. These are just a few of the ways we offer practical redemption.

Brother, you can do these things and adopt these roles because you are secure in your significance. Make yourself vulnerable, share your heart, be transparent, you are anchored deeply enough to withstand whatever comes your way.

But I must remind you, you won't get these things done by resolving to try harder or promising to do better. Remember, that is not the Father's plan. He intends for you to depend upon Him as your source. Doing otherwise is walking after the flesh and disappointing to your Father, not to mention the bad example of masculinity it portrays for those who are watching you to see what manhood means. Trusting your Father is not an arrangement of convenience or a provision for those critical junctures when you realize you are sliding toward the ditch. If you intend to find satisfaction in your heart and fulfillment in your masculinity, depending upon your Father must be your lifestyle. C.S. Lewis writes, "Christ says, 'Give me all. I don't want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want you.'"

For Lifetime Guarantee, that's Grace.

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THE GUARDIANS OF THE HEAVENLIES
By Russ Schaefer


Guardian - a person invested with accredited power and authority so as to fulfill the duty of taking care of the person and property of another.

Satan's guardianship is depicted in Eze. 28:13-16. Verse 14 identifies him as THE ANOINTED CHERUB THAT COVERETH, i.e., overshadowing and protecting the world then existing, The Garden of God. In contrast to Satan's Trusteeship role Col. 1:16,17 sets forth the prior creatorship/ownership of Christ:

... in Him were created the all things in the heavens and on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or lordships, or rulers or authorities - the all things through Him, and unto Him have been created. (vs.17), and He is before All (things, beings) and The All Things in Him have stood together (and still hold together, cohere), this included the Kingdoms of the inhabited earth that had been entrusted to Satan, Lk. 4:4,6, and the cosmos mentioned in Satan's last testing of Christ, Mt. 4:8,9. Christ did not question Satan's claim. Satan's trusteeship was forfeited by misuse of his office.

The right to REDEEM a creation in ruin belonged to Christ by virtue of His being THE FIRSTBORN OF ALL CREATION, Col. 1:15. The right and responsibility of redeeming a creation beset by death belonged to Christ by virtue of His being THE FIRSTBORN Out From Among The Dead, Col. 1:18,20. Christ, by redemption reclaimed His property and rightful priority. place and position.

Hereafter a JOINT-GUARDIANSHIP was to be established via a JOINT-AROUSEMENT and a JOINT-ENTHRONEMENT, Eph. 2:6. This is the fulfilling of the hope to which we have been called, this is the essence of having been made the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, this is the display of the excelling (super-casting) greatness of the power (ability) of Him in us ... according to the energy (in working) in the Christ, having aroused Him out from dead ones, and seating Him in the Supraheavenlies above [above+high] every beginning and authority and power and lordship ... all things He arranged under [subjected] the feet of Him, and Him He gave [appointed] Head above all things to the Church, which is His Body, the fullness of the One the all things habitually filling for Himself [the Body of Christ, the final complement to complete all that needed completion]. Eph. 1:18-23 (portions).

In His Headship Christ is manifested now in the Supraheavenlies, it follows that whensoever, howsoever, wheresoever Christ is manifested, jointly with Him. complementary with Him, shall be the Church which is His Body.

To be partners with the FIRST-BORN'S GUARDIANSHIP, both must die to fulfill the role of JOINT-REDEMPTION, Eph. 2:6; Col. 3:1,3, as well as the CO-BURIAL, and CO-AROUSING with HIM. Col. 2:12.

In reclaiming His Rightful Heirship position of FIRSTBORN of ALL CREATION, all claims to the contrary were voided. The supernatural as well as human chains of bondage to decrees, ordinances, and laws were cast off. Christ made an open display of them to show they had no claims against us, no power nor dominion over us, all this was broken, cp. Col. 2:14-19. "He led Captivity captive", Eph. 4:8; "ALL was placed under His feet," Eph. 1:22; "FAR ABOVE ALL", Eph. 1:21. The measure of our complete identification in and with Him is the degree of His Headship over all Rule and Authority, Col. 2:10. It is complete, thus we are complete in Him now and always.

In Christ's office as FIRSTBORN His first task was to redeem the whole inheritance, then SECURE IT, then to SHARE it. His death provided the REDEMPTION, His RESURRECTION and SEATING in the RIGHTS of the Father provided the SECURITY, and the COMMISSION embodied in Eph. 3:8,9, " ... to make ALL see ... the riches ... the fellowship/dispensation of the sacred SECRET. This includes the SUMMATION of all things in the heavens and on earth IN CHRIST, Eph. 1:10. The UNTRACKABLE WEALTH OF CHRIST is shared. Eph. 3:8.

The Guardians are told: ... keep the UNITY OF THE SPIRIT, Eph. 4:3, "Keep", watch over, preserve, guard. The UNITY of Eph. 4:4-5 is to be "guarded" by the Guardians.

The EMPOWERING, Eph. 6:10, KEEP BEING EMPOWERED, it is His might and His strength.

Eph. 6:11 PUT ON, pick up the whole armor of God, God's PANOPLY, God's ARMOR. Stand=HOLD THE FIELD, not go to war, hold the field, not march, not fight, but stand, STAND FOR THE TRUTH. 6:13. The battle has been won, it remains for the GUARDIANS to hold on to that which has been given them.

1.    The Armor: 6:14 Truth and Righteousness.
2.    The Armor: 6:15 The Gospel Of Peace.
3.    The Armor: 6:16 The FAITH, cp.4:13, Unity of THE FAITH.
4.    The Armor: 6:17 SALVATION, i.e. deliverance.
5.    The Armor: 6:17b THE WORD OF GOD, cp Col. 1:25
The Mystery Ministry of Paul completes the Word of God, GRACE, not judgment, is GOD'S FINAL WORD.
6.    THE ARMOR: 6:18 EVER PRAYING. For other Guardians.
Saints=Shining Ones. All in union with their Lord.
And for Paul, 6:19; to make known the Secret of the Good News. I.e .... by Him to more than reconcile the
all things unto Himself ...in earth ... in heaven, Col. 1:20.

Fill up with Paul and other guardians the special bond between those standing and guarding. HOLD THE FIELD, THE BATTLE HAS BEEN WON. HOLD ON TO THE TRUTHS GIVEN YOU.

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THE NATURAL AND THE SUPERNATURAL
PART ONE OF TWO
By Mel Flogel



Why does the songbird sing his song? Why does the dog give us his bark? The same reason the cat says, "meow". It is their nature to do so, the nature they received from their parents. We humans also have the characteristics of our parents by nature. Among them is a sinful nature. We are born sinners by nature passed down to us from Adam after he sinned against God in the garden of Eden. This presents many problems, the largest being that there is a penalty for sin. We, by nature, want to hide from God and to remain in darkness and to deceive ourselves. But God's light and grace are supernatural, transcending our natural blindness and darkened minds and hearts.

Jesus Christ has paid in full the penalty for sin. This He did once for all by dying our death, shedding His blood as payment to God. He rose again from the dead and now Supernaturally gives a NEW NATURE to everyone who believes.

NATURAL MAN: HIS TENDENCY AND CAPABILITIES

Romans 5:12 says, "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." Paul explains this further and adds that not only are we born with a sinful nature, but we are also born spiritually dead. He wrote to the Ephesians, "And you hath he quickened who were DEAD IN TRESPASSES AND SINS, wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience, among whom WE ALL HAD OUR CONVERSATION in times past in the lust of the flesh and of the mind, AND WERE BY NATURE THE CHILDREN OF WRATH, even as others." (Ephesians 2:1-3)

One characteristic we humans are born with places us on a very different plain from the animals, however. We have a consciousness of the existence and presence of God. Even in our fallen state, we all have the God-given ability to receive enlightenment and illumination by the Holy Spirit. (He is Supernatural) "In him (Jesus Christ) was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness of the Light, THAT ALL MEN THROUGH HIM MIGHT BELIEVE. He was not the Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which lighteth EVERY MAN THAT COMETH INTO THE WORLD." (John 1:4-9)

Man is not innocently blind, or innocently in darkness, or innocently dead spiritually. The light of truth and knowledge which God sends to him he denies, he covers up, he resists, even if he can make the existence of God a gray area. "He that believeth on him is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and MEN LOVED DARKNESS RATHER THAN LIGHT BECAUSE THEIR DEEDS WERE EVIL. For everyone that doeth evil hateth the Light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be manifest, that they are wrought in God." (John 3:18-21)

Man in his fallen state still has a God-given consciousness of his creator, and the Supernatural enlightening and illuminating work of the Holy Spirit brings truth and knowledge home to his mind, heart and conscience. Man is without excuse. "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, WHO HOLD THE TRUTH IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, because THAT WHICH MAY BE KNOWN OF GOD IS MANIFEST IN THEM, for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being UNDERSTOOD by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are WITHOUT EXCUSE. Because that, when they KNEW God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, but BECAME vain in their imaginations and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise THEY BECAME FOOLS." (Romans 1:18-22) Again, man is not innocently blind, he likes to deny truth and deceive himself.

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THE NATURAL AND THE SUPERNATURAL
PART 2 Of 2  CONCLUSION
By Mel Flogel


THE SUPERNATURAL WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT



God is not only Supernatural, He is a Super Savior manifesting the gospel of the grace of Jesus Christ to unbelievers everywhere. "Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and MAKETH MANIFEST THE SAVOUR OF HIS KNOWLEDGE BY US IN EVERY PLACE. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, AND IN THEM THAT PERISH, to the one we are THE SAVOUR OF DEATH UNTO DEATH, and to the other the savour of life unto life." "You are our epistle written in our hearts, KNOWN AND READ OF ALL MEN "Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not, but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully. BUT BY MANIFESTATION OF THE TRUTH COMMENDING OURSELVES TO EVERY MAN'S CONSCIENCE in the sight of God." (ll Corinthians 2:14-16; 3: 2; 4:1-2)

So from this we see that man in his fallen state is still capable to receive enlightenment, and enough illumination to know what he is required by God to believe in order to be saved. He has a responsibility to do so. This is how God is justified to punish "them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." (II Thessalonians 1:8 )

Jesus said, "It is expedient for you that I go away, for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you, but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment; of sin, because I go to my Father, and you see me no more, of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. " (John 16:7-11) The supernatural convicting work of the Holy Spirit, enlightens the mind as God's messengers deliver warning about the penalty for sin which is "everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord" (II Thessalonians 1: 9) God does not bypass our minds in requiring that we trust Jesus Christ and His finished work as the only way of salvation. This is where the rubber meets the road so-to-speak, for at this point man must exercise faith in God's revelation, God's declaration, and this is something he cannot see, smell, touch, taste or hear with his senses. He must believe with his heart or soul.

THE PREACHING OF THE CROSS IS A SUPER POWERFUL MESSAGE

God's Word tells us that the penalty for sin is "Everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord" Our senses cannot grasp this, but they can grasp death, darkness, separation, isolation, physical destruction, pain, punishment, solitude and suffering. The Holy Spirit brings home the fact that if these phenomena are true, then God's warning about the penalty for sin can also be true and His remedy trustworthy. His divine influence upon the heart or soul helps fallen man have the capability to trust God's remedy for sin, it's penalty and it's power. He helps man to fear the penalty and consequence of unbelief.

Even though trusting Jesus Christ and His vicarious death (or death in our place) seems foolish or too easy, God's Word has otherwise proven trustworthy -- so why not trust Him on this one too. So then he believes with his heart or soul and God rewards his faith giving him a NEW NATURE along with forgiveness of sins, eternal life, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. "For by grace (or divine influence upon the heart) 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, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2: 8-10) Upon believing we are made a new creation, given a new nature "which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Ephesians 4:24)

God has revealed so much light and truth by sending His Son Jesus Christ into the world, sending Him to endure the death of the cross, making complete satisfaction to God for sins. And now He offers eternal redemption as a free gift to all who will believe. He has sent the Holy Spirit to supernaturally help natural man see his dilemma, and show him God's remedy. It is no wonder He commands all men everywhere to repent by believing, man has no excuse for not believing and receiving His offer. His grace is presently being dispensed to all. This is why he warns and beseeches "you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain" (II Corinthians 6:1) It is one thing to be enlightened and illuminated concerning the need and the remedy. But it is another thing to apply it to your soul and believe it.

Maybe the good news of God's grace is tugging at the veil over your heart and pulling away the blinders from your mind right now? "Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass (mirror) the glory of the Lord, ARE CHANGED into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (II Corinthians 3:16-18 )

Why not turn to Him right now with your heart and mind and be changed into His image? "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (II Corinthians 4: 6)

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Resting in God's Promises
by Anabel Gillham


God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
Though the earth should change,
And though the mountains slip into
the heart of the sea;
Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains quake at its
swelling pride. Selah.
Psalm 46:1-3

What does this mean to me--today?
How can I grasp it and say "this is mine?"
Step by step--let’s claim it together.
God is my place of safety, my fortress, my hiding place, my shelter. Therefore, I am safe.

I accept this Truth as mine.

He is the Source of my power, my Enabler, my ability to perform and my ability to persevere. He is my tenacity, my strength. My very Life. I am not to meet any crisis in my own strength.

I accept this Truth as mine.

He is a very present help. He is here. And He isn't so involved with gigantic world problems that He doesn’t have time for mine. He is interested. He is never away from me, especially when I am in need, hurting, weary, perplexed, or in a troublesome setting of any kind. I am never by myself. He is always with me and He understands.

I accept this Truth as mine.

Now, because I have accepted this as Truth, because I believe this, I will not fear. Fear only for myself? No, I will not fear for those who are dear to me, either. So I will not allow anything that might result in my experiencing apprehension, anxiety, or confusion to cause me alarm—because I can depend on Him.

I accept this Truth as mine.

Even if the earth around me (my environment) should be thrown into a state of upheaval, and even if the very mountains quake (those things I presumed to be unshakable), and even if the sea around me (the world and its multitudes) should become hostile and fierce and cause violent unrest, I will not fear.

I WILL NOT FEAR. This does not mean that my emotions won’t go haywire, that my knees will never get weak, that my heart will never beat like a trip-hammer, or that my hands will never tremble. I cannot control my emotions or the effect they have on my body. I control my thoughts and rest in His promises.

I accept this Truth as mine.

When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Thy consolations delight my soul.
Psalm 94:19

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MY FAITH? YOUR FAITH? THE FAITH?
By Pastor Bob Hanna


The word "Faith" has suffered untold distortion and misapplication over time. There are several proper definitions, but they have been shamefully misinterpreted. One accurate definition is "The Faith," referring to that which is believed. The apostle wrote, "He [Christ} gave some, apostles, and some, prophets, and some, evangelists; and some, pastors/teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the Faith" (Ephesians 4:11-13).

"And so were the churches established in the faith" (Acts 16:5). Faith, in these examples is the common cause in which we believe. This definition is ordinarily not the victim of misinterpretation. The same can't be said, for example, of Paul's declaration, "I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20), Most modern translations erroneously render "His faith" to read, "my Faith". This, of course, is impossible. Human faith has no power to sustain one's spiritual preservation.

Another false impression popularly held, is that faith can be humanly generated which can attain one's personal desires. Such a one might be heard to say, "The reason the Lord didn't answer my prayer is that I didn't have enough faith." Our faith consists of believing and obeying God not in producing desired results. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear" (Hebrews 11:1-3).

Strangely, it appears that people can more easily place their faith in matters of the secular world than in spiritual things. For example, when a person is presented a personal check in payment for a service or a purchase, the recipient is accepting it because he has faith that it will be honored by the bank. Yet when that same person is offered salvation by grace through faith, he resists.

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THE TRANSFORMING GRACE OF GOD
Part One of Three
By Pastor James Gray


Paul knew the secret of living the Christian life. He knew that if believers were to live sensible, be examples of good works, purity, and adorn the doctrine of God, it would come not by the Law. It would take the Grace of God. Grace is the basis and motivation of Christian living. It is the transforming power of our salvation. All the previously mentioned transformations in Titus 2:1-10 are the products of Grace. Grace is the reason we can be all we are meant to be.

GRACE HAS APPEARED.

The Christian life is possible because the Grace of God "has appeared." The word appeared is the Greek word epiphane, meaning became visible, appearance, manifestation. It is an emphatic aorist indicative, stressing grace as a historical actuality. The grace of God has entered upon the stage of history. It is observed in three ways:

First, grace is seen in historical redemptive acts. Throughout history God has displayed His grace. It is seen in the garden, in that physical death was not instantaneous, but rather the grace of God made provision for sinful man. Noah found grace, and was spared the judgment of the flood. The nation Israel was founded upon grace. This nation was not chosen because it was numerous, nor because of its power, but simply by His grace. The redemptive acts throughout the history of this nation are a visible display of His grace.

Second, the greatest visible manifestation of God's grace is seen in the sending of His Son. Christ was the Grace of God embodied. In fact, the Greek word epiphane is where we get our word epiphany, which means the revelatory manifestation of divine being. God revealed Himself in and through His Son. Christ was God incarnate. He was the embodiment of Grace. Christ is the clearest manifestation of grace available to man. He who "existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" (Phil. 2:6-8, NASV). That is Grace! No wonder the gospel writer declares that during the incarnation they beheld His glory, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). The incarnate Christ was grace and truth manifested in flesh; the historical appearance of God's grace. Leon Morris is correct when writing that "nowhere do we see more clearly what the grace of God means than in the Word made flesh" (John 1:14).

Third, the Grace of God is historically manifested on a personal level at the point of our personal salvation. At the moment of our salvation God's grace is manifested and applied to us on an individual level. "For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves. it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8 ). The transforming power of God's grace is still being manifested. This transforming power begins at the point of salvation.

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THE TRANSFORMING GRACE OF GOD
Part Two of Three
By Pastor James Gray




GRACE BROUGHT SALVATION.

The reason for the historical appearances of grace was to bring salvation. That is the goal of grace. God has manifested His grace into order to bring salvation to all men. It is redemptive in purpose.

Bible students are divided on what the phrase "to all men" is to be coupled with, the "hath appeared," or with the ''bringing of salvation." It seems that it should be connected with the bringing of salvation to all men. This is the most natural reading of the Greek text. The literal reading of the Greek text is "For appeared the grace of God which brings salvation for all men." The phrase is a dative in the Greek and thus suggests the scope of salvation. It describes the universality of God's grace that brings salvation. It is for all men. Grace makes salvation available to all, regardless of age, race, sex, position, or circumstances.

It is important to note that this widespread scope does NOT mean universality of application. Salvation is available to all, but its saving effect is dependent on personal application to oneself by faith. "By grace are ye saved through faith." The Grace of God is the source of our salvation, but faith is the channel. Faith is the channel that permits saving grace to flow into our lives. Grace makes all men savable, but faith is the element that actualizes salvation in individuals. The imperative of grace is to "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved" (Acts 16:31).

GRACE TRAINS US.

To this point the Apostle Paul has centered upon what grace has done. Now the Apostle centers upon what Grace does. The verb tense changes from past to present tense, thus the word teaching or instructing. It is an action that is going on now. The Grace of God is continual in the life of the believer. Notice Paul designates the recipients of this instruction as "us," those who have personally accepted by faith His salvation by grace. Once grace starts flowing by salvation through faith, it continues to flow to train us in holiness.

The student should notice carefully that it is not the Law that is active today in training us. Paul in the epistles makes it very clear that the Law, although holy and good, is powerless to change us. Its purpose was to reveal the knowledge of sin (Galatians 3:19), to reveal our guilt before God (Romans 3:19), and to lead us to Christ (Galatians 3:24). However it could not and cannot justify us before God (Romans 3:20,28 ). The Law made nothing perfect (Hebrews 7:19). Just as the Law cannot justify, it cannot sanctify, the reason is that it is "weak through the flesh" Romans 8:3). Believers in this age of grace are not under the Law (Romans 6:14). When will we as believers learn the truths that the Apostle Paul gives to the church? That Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness (Romans 10:4). Too many believers today are like the Galatians who think that having begun in the spirit, they can now be made perfect by the Law (Galatians 3:1-4). C.R. Stam is absolutely correct when writing, "Efforts to keep the Law will never establish one's righteousness; rather they will establish his unrighteousness." 

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THE TRANSFORMING GRACE OF GOD
Part Three of Three
By Pastor James Gray



Today it is Grace that trains us. The word instructing is the Greek verb paideuo, and actually means to train a child, to bring up a child. It is the training process. Grace schools believers in holiness. The Grace of God does not stop with salvation, but is active and continuously operates. It offers not only the escape from condemnation, but aims toward the goal of transforming our character. It is the operating principle in the life of believers which educates us to be what God wants us to be. The aim of this educative process is clearly stated in typical Pauline fashion, both negatively and positively.

Negatively, it trains us to deny "ungodliness and worldly lust." The word deny is ameomai meaning abrogate, renounce or forsake. It is also interesting that this word is found not in the present tense as one would expect, but the aroist tense. D. Edmond Hiebert tells us that,

The aorist participle indicates that grace aims to lead the believer to the place whereas a definite act he will voluntarily make a double renunciation of the past ("Titus," The Expositor's Bible Commentary, 11:440).

Thus, it seems that Grace training is deeper than the Law. It acts upon the will, not just the mind. The Law can teach mentally what is right or wrong, but it could not change the heart or the will of man. Grace changes the motive of man, not just the mind of man. When one correctly understands the Grace of God it will transform him. He will come to the place where he will deny ungodliness (the irreverence of the old life), and worldly lust (passions characteristic of the world). He will live on a higher plane.

Positively, it will train us to "live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world." This is the highest plane. Again the word live is in the aroist tense. Hiebert makes the observation that:

Live may mean "come to live" but more probably means that our entire course of life should be consistently characterized by three qualities (stated as adverbs). In the original these adverbs stand emphatically before the verb (Titus, 11:440).

First, we are to live on the plane of being sober-minded. The Greek word, sophronos, has already been found in various forms in the epistle (2:2, 3, 5, 6). It describes one whose mind is well balanced; the balanced mind set. It means self-controlled. Grace trains us to control the inward attitude.

Second, we are to live on the plane of righteousness. The Greek word is dikaios, which signifies being just, without prejudice or partiality. It describes how we are to live outwardly, in faithfulness to the demands of truth and justice in relation to others.

Third, we are to live on the plane of being godly. This is the Greek word eusebos, denoting pious, devout, reverently. This speaks of our upward attitude toward God, being devoted to God in reverence and obedience.

This training is not futuristic, but for "this present age." These characteristics are to be present now. Grace not only instructs, but transforms us to live on this plane here and now. Believers are to rise to the higher elevation of Grace. Grace has appeared to transform us into all God intended us to be, and elevates us to the highest plane.

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, my victorious Lord, how often I attempt to be the one who directs my life. I confess that when I lead, victory is not the result. Lord, help me to count on You to lead me in Your triumph, even in the difficult situations that I frequently encounter. In Your triumphant name, I pray, Amen.

[nChrist]

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STANDING, WALKING AND RUNNING FOR GOD
by C. R. Stam



In a way the Christian life is a stand; in another it is a walk, and in still another a race.

In I Cor. 15:1 the Apostle Paul writes of "the gospel... wherein ye stand" and in Rom. 5:2 of "this grace wherein we stand," while in Gal. 5:1 he bids us: "Stand fast... in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free." Perhaps all this is well summed up in his appeal to his beloved Philippians:

"Therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown... stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved" (Phil. 4:1).

But the Christian life is more than a stand -- it is a walk (which in Scripture refers to conduct). Once, says Paul, we walked "in trespasses and sins" (Eph. 2:1,2) but having been saved by grace, through faith in Christ, we are now to "walk in newness of life" (Rom. 6:4). Thus the Apostle bids us to "walk worthy of the Lord" (Col. 1:10), to "walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (Eph. 5:15-16).

But the Christian life is even more than a walk; it is a race. Sad to say, many Christians whose "walk" is consistent and commendable, have never come to look upon the Christian life as a race. These never put enough into it so that it might be said of them that they are running. Yet the same great Apostle wrote, by divine inspiration:

"Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us" (Heb. 12:1).

The word "patience" in this passage points up the fact that the Christian life is not a short "hundred-yard dash"; it requires much endurance. Thus we should put into it all that we have. "They which run in a race," says the Apostle, "run all," but they do not all receive the prize. Hence the admonition: "So run that ye may obtain" (I Cor. 9:24).

Those who have not trusted Christ as Savior have not even begun to stand, or walk, much less to run a race for Him. These might as well forget rewards until they first accept "the gift of God... eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 6:23).

[nChrist]

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TREASURED TRIALS
By Miles Stanford


"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time" (1 Pet. 5:6).

The Blesser sends trials because the trials are blessings. Most covet the "blessing" of having the trial removed.

"I find the brightest summer is when the winter has been longest and most severe. The wheat, the best grain, passes a winter in the soil. The bud, the blossom, or fruit, most fragrant of Christ, is the one which nobody knows what it cost me but Himself; and where one had hardly noticed it; like the beautiful wild flowers in the hedgerow, contending with bushes and briars, to shed their fragrance on the unthankful or unthinking traveler going by."

"I think we are sometimes ready to say to the Lord----Could you not have taught me without subjecting me to so much sorrow and humiliation? The answer I have had is, You could not be effectually taught any other way. The Lord knows the nature of the obstacle in me which He has to overcome: a less efficient hand might think that it could be dealt with in some other way.

"A weakness be it bodily or otherwise, is sometimes allowed to continue in order that there may be dependence, and when there is dependence, the weakness becomes a gain; the grit---the trying thing---is superseded by a pearl of great price." -J.B.S.

"The God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect [mature], establish, strengthen, settle you" (1 Pet. 5:10).

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Called and Chosen
by Anabel Gillham

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord,
who has strengthened me, because
He considered me faithful, putting me into service . . .
                    I Timothy 1:12 (NAS)

 

            It must have been very traumatic for me because I still remember the feelings after all these years, and if they haven't gone away by now, I think they must be there to stay! What was it that brought on these feelings of despair? (Remember that it was a long time ago, please.) This tragic, very emotional event was being chosen for the "Red Rover" team. Did you ever play, "Red rover, red rover, let someone come over (and I always hoped it would be me that they called for--but I was a girl and a little one to boot!) And that chosen "someone" was to run as hard as they could and break through the clasped arms of the opposing team! Then wild cheering and you were a winner!  But to be left standing with the group of rejects who were not chosen for the team was almost unbearable! Not to give up, come next recess I would be standing there among the hopefuls.

            To be an accepted part of some group/ organization/ family is one of the driving desires for all of us. A long time ago when "hippies" were weird (they aren't any longer) one of the identifying marks was that the males in the group didn't wear any underwear. (Really? Really!) So I can just imagine someone who wanted to be a part of the "hippie" clan, sidling up to the group and proclaiming, "Hey! I'm just like you! I don't have on any underwear! Can I be a part of your gang?" Whatever it takes to be an accepted part, we will often do it.

            Being a member of a winning football team can become so important that anything it takes ignoring my family, cutting back on my scholastic achievements, getting up early and staying up late building my body through blood, sweat, and tears that's okay. I want so desperately to be a part of the team!

Then there's Paul. Paul knew who he was in Christ; he knew he was totally forgiven; he knew that he was now a righteous, holy, blameless person all of those beautiful things bestowed on all of us as Believers, but he could never quite get over the incredible fact that God had allowed him to become a part of "His team." Not that being a part of His team guaranteed status, comfort, plenty, or safety. It was important to Paul because he admired the Master so much and wanted to have his name on the list of apostles.

Because of his violent persecution of the Believers, Paul felt unworthy in his position as an apostle and apparently felt the necessity to defend his position.

For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God (1Corinthians 15:9).

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord (1Corinthians 9:1-2).

            Paul just knew what the whisperers were saying as he walked by a group huddled together: "See that man over there? He's the one who sent my parents to prison I never saw them again.” “As far as I'm concerned, you can't change the spots on a leopard and that's the same man who has been going around killing Christians. No way am I going to trust him!"

             Would he ever live it down? He was ashamed of it terribly ashamed, but he had one marvelous thing in his favor: He knew that God had forgiven him and that God had chosen him to be on His team. This controlled his every act.

            For I live in eager expectation and hope that I will never do anything that will cause me to be ashamed of myself but that I will always be ready to speak out boldly for Christ while I am going through all these trials here, just as I have in the past; and that I will always be an honor to Christ, whether I live or whether I must die. For to me, living means opportunities for Christ, and dying well, that's better yet (Philippians 1:20-21).

            Not only was Paul on God's team, he was "called to come over!"

            Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel (Acts 9:15 NAS);

            But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles (Romans 11:13 NAS),

            Paul's dream came true . . . to be on God's team and his final words tell us that he accomplished his dream: The glorious fight God gave me, I have fought.  The course I was set I have finished, and I have kept the faith (II Timothy 4:7 PHILLIPS).

            We're on His team. He has chosen us. How wonderful! How incredible! And He has assigned us as His apostles to do certain things. Do we consider this awesome tribute the way Paul did?

            "Hey! I'm on The Lord's team! He chose me! I am someone very, very special! Not only that, He has called me to 'come over!' I'll break through that line! I'll be a winner! Just watch me run!"

[nChrist]

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THE SOVEREIGN GOD AND HIS WORD
By Pastor Paul Hume


Scripture Reading: 2 Tim. 3:15-17; Psa. 68:11

"Prove to me in one word that the Bible is the inspired Word of God!" demanded King Frederick of Prussia of a Christian minister one time. After a few moments of thought the answer came clear, "The Jew, Sir, the remarkable Jew is one evidence that the Bible is the inspired Word of God!"

Yes! The Bible IS the very Word of our sovereign God even though He chose to use some forty human authors through which to give His Word. Yet the truth still stands, "The Lord (the Master) gave the Word" (Psa. 68:11). "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God"--that is, "all Scripture is God-breathed." By His Spirit He brought the Word of God into being! No wonder we read in Hebrews 4:12 that it is "living and active," "His Word, said the Psalmist, 'runneth very swiftly' (Psa. 147:15). According to both Isaiah 55:11 and Matthew 4:4 it came forth from the very mouth of God! Blessed Book! It is "forever settled in heaven!"

Can men ever destroy this Book? They may burn Bibles by the thousands, pass laws preventing the propagation of that Book, jail or even slay the  preachers of it, yet "heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away" (Matt. 24:35). Men may cry that it is out-dated and not relevant to our times, yet it still abides and is changing the lives of millions who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ! Why! Because God has sworn to stand by His Word: "I will hasten my word to perform it" (Jer. 1:12).

"The Bible stands like a rock undaunted
'Mid the raging storms of time;
Its pages burn with the truth eternal,
And they glow with a light sublime.
The Bible stands ev'ry test we give it,
For its Author is divine;
By grace alone I expect to live it,
And prove it and make it mine,"

Now we may say a hearty "Amen" to these blessed  truths--and rightly should we. But the acid test is this: "Does this Book have authority over my life?" If not, then you are in rebellion against its blessed Author! I trust you are not, but if you are, remember that "rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry!"