GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

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~Daily Inspirational ~ ~WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT GOD?~ AUGUST 3, 2006


~WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT GOD?~

Scripture Reading: I Chron. 29:10-13; Rom.9:5b.

What do you think about God? Is He "the Man up-stairs?" Is He "the good Lord?" Is He the One who is so high and so holy that no one can approach Him except through several mediators - e. g., Mary, the saints, and the priest? "Were we able to extract from any man a complete answer to the question, 'What comes into your mind when you think about God?' we might predict with certainty the spiritual future of that man." (A. W. Tozer.)

Who rules and regulates the affairs on this earth today - God, the Devil, or man? This also is an important question because it relates vitally to what we think about God. If either Satan is in control or man is in control, then it is obvious that God isn't God at all. The atheist or humanist or agnostic might admit that man as well as the laws of nature are in control. But what about those who say they are Christian's? Many, many think that while God is God, and that He "sitteth in the heavens" and is basically running things, they also think that He is in a great degree a frustrated Deity. So many are rejecting Christ today, so many heathen have never heard the Gospel, wickedness is so rampant, and the forces of Anti-christ are more and more militant, and the world is in such a terrible mess - how can it be that God is in complete control, and that He is working all things after the counsel of His own will?

What a problem this is - indeed! Yet when we peruse the blessed "Word of truth," we are given the proper perspective: we see all things through the sovereignty of "the living God," Who is "exalted as Head above all" - "God over all, blessed forever." Yes, every man has a will, and everyone is morally responsible. No man is a mere puppet. Yet God is God, and we must reverently bow with the inspired Psalmist and say, "But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased" ( 115:3).

"0 God, how wonderful Thou art
Thy majesty how bright!
How beautiful Thy mercy-seat .
In depths of burning light!" (Frederick W. Faber-1849)

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

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~Daily Inspirational ~ ~WHO's IN COMMAND HERE?~ AUGUST 4, 2006


~WHO's IN COMMAND HERE?~
By Paul Hume

Scripture Reading: Rom. 16:25-27; Ps. 33:6-9

The story is told about General Wainwright who was taken as a prisoner of war by the Japanese after the famous Bataan March in the Philippines in 1942. For the remainder of the war he barely existed in a concentration camp in Manchuria. But one day an Allied airplane flew into the camp, and an American officer delivered something to the Japanese officers in charge of the camp. It was the electric news that Japan had surrendered to the Allies. This news was relayed to the suffering General. By and by came a Japanese prison officer to order the General to his tasks and to harass him. But the weakened but victorious man turned to his tormentor and said, "I'm in command here now!"

So is God! But God never had to win the right of being "Commander-in-Chief!" He always was, He always shall be, and He always is in command. Did you note this in these two passages we suggest you read? "He commanded, and it stood fast"-- the material creation. The blessed "revelation of the mystery" resulted from "the commandment of the everlasting God." God is in command - in all things, even though to our limited and sin-stunted considerations it doesn't look like it!

This is where the subject of the Sovereignty of God comes in. What do we mean by this term, "the sovereignty of God?" We reply with Dr. A.W. Tozer in his excellent book, The Knowledge of the Holy, "God's sovereignty is the attribute by which He rules His entire creation, and to be sovereign, God must be all-knowing, all-powerful, and absolutely free." This is to further admit that God is the Almighty, the Possessor of all power in heaven and earth, the "Governor among the nations" (Psa. 22:28 ), the "only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords" (I Tim. 6:15). He is in command!

But the question is: "Is God in command of my life?" This you must answer soberly for yourself. He may be, that is, if you're truly saved and yielded to Him up to the light He has given you in His Word. He may seem not to be if you're not saved, or even if you are but out of His will. Yet He has a way to gently bring you to Himself and to bring your will into harmony with His!

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

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~Daily Inspirational ~ NO FADS AND FASHIONS HERE AUGUST 5, 2006


NO FADS AND FASHIONS HERE
By Paul Hume

Scripture Reading: Mal. 3:6; Rom. 11:29; Jas. 1:17

It's really amusing to review the changes in men's and women's apparel over the years!  Remember the longer fuller dresses which women wore just a few  years ago at the outbreak of World War II? Remember the wide flowery neckties men wore in the mid-40's? Behold! How the hemline on feminine clothing has risen! How narrow men's ties became just a few years ago, and how wide they have suddenly become now! What will develop next? You never really know!

But not so with the Person of the blessed Godhead! Our Triune God is ever "young" and perfectly changeless. This is what the theologians call "the immutability of God." God is unchangeable. He is "the same, yesterday, today, and unto the ages." Therefore the Scriptures liken Him and His beloved Son unto. "the Rock" (Deut. 32:4, I Cor. 10:4).

He is immutable in His essence. "I am the Lord, I change not." Why? Simply because He is the only One in all the universe who can ever state, "I am that I am" (Ex. 3:14). "He is altogether uninfluenced by the flight of time. There is no wrinkle upon the brow of eternity." (A. W. Pink)

He is immutable in His attributes. Semper idem - always the same - is written over every attribute of our blessed God and Savior: His righteousness, holiness, His truth, His mercy, and His love. Therefore His blessed written Word is "forever settled in heaven" (Psa. 119:89). Think of that: "forever SETTLED..."!!

His purpose is immutable. "The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying...as I have purposed, so shall it stand... For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall annul it?" (Isa.14:24,27). Praise the Lord! May we echo with Frederick Faber:

O Lord! my heart is sick
Sick of this everlasting change;
And life runs tediously quick
Through its unresting race and varied range;
Change finds no likeness to itself in Thee,
And wake's no echo in Thy mute Eternity.

Are you linked, by faith through the Holy Spirit, to this unchangeable One?

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

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 ~Daily Inspirational ~ THE THRONE WHICH IS NEVER ABDICATED! AUGUST 6, 2006



THE THRONE WHICH IS NEVER ABDICATED!
By Paul Hume

Scripture Reading: Rev. 4:1-11; Heb. 4:16

What a glorious and great scene is this! John, by the Spirit, is caught away into "the Lordly day" (Rev. 1:10) to behold events which will certainly transpire in the heavens and on the earth. This is the scene of "the Majesty on High" in Rev. 4. Notice the throne and the One who sits upon it! How awful is this glorious scene! All the celestial beings who behold this sight can do no less than fall before Him on His throne and "Worship Him that liveth forever and ever."

Oh! Friend! Stop right now! Let this blessed scene flood your soul - that of the Sovereign God of the universe - our Father! Then bow low in spiritual worship!

     "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty,
     Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
     Holy, Holy, Holy! Merciful and Mighty!
     God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity!"
                                                    (Reginald Heber)

Here is the Throne which has never been abdicated!

Earthly monarchs are sometimes deposed. Some of them reign for a score or two of years, and they must finally yield the throne to their successors. All must die sooner or later. But not the One who occupies "the Throne of grace!" In the Person of the Lord Jesus, in Whom all the fulness of the Godhead has been pleased to take up its permanent home (Col. 1:19), our blessed God is still ordering our lives in His matchless mercy, grace, and love from that eternal throne. Furthermore, in the wider sense, He is still ordering the varied affairs of this old world - be they malignantly evil, or be they magnificently good - from that same throne! Little wonder we can sing from our hearts:

"God is still on the throne,
And He will remember His own,
Though trials may press us and burdens distress us,
He never will leave us alone -
God is still on the throne,
He never forsaketh His own;
His promise is true,
He will not forget you,
God is still on the throne." (Mrs. F.W. Suffield)

Is HE on the throne of YOUR heart today?

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

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~Daily Inspirational ~ THE MIGHTY CREATOR! AUGUST 7, 2006



THE MIGHTY CREATOR!
By Paul Hume

Scripture Reading: Gen. 1:1; Rev. 4:11;Col. 1:16-17

A small girl who lived in a remote section of the country was receiving her first Bible instruction at the hands of her elderly grandmother, and the old lady was reading the child the story of the creation. After the story had been finished, the little girl seemed lost in thought."Well, dear," said the grandmother, "what do you think of it?" "Oh, I love it. It's so exciting," exclaimed the youngster. "You never know what God is going to do next!"

How thrilling it is to know that the visible and invisible elements of this universe and world of ours is the product of the perfect and only Creator: God the Father in the Person of His Son by the agency of the Holy Spirit! How sodden and sterile is the popular so-called "scientific" hypothesis that this universe and our world is simply the product of evolving matter with energy to motivate it! Nay! It is refreshing to be anchored to the "old landmarks" of the Truth and declare, "Thou art worthy, 0 Lord, to receive glory, and honor, and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created" (Rev. 4:11). View the Sovereign Creator:

"The great God was all alone amid the awful silence of His own vast universe. But even at that time, if time it could be called, God was sovereign. He might create or not create according to His own good pleasure. He might create this way or that way; He might create one world or one million worlds, and who was there to resist His will? He might call into existence a million different creatures and place them on absolute equality, endowing them with the same faculties and placing them in the same environment; or, He might create a million creatures each differing from the others, and possessing nothing in common save their creaturehood, and who was there to challenge His right? If He so pleased, He might call into existence a world so immense that its dimensions were utterly beyond finite computation; and were He so disposed, He might create an organism so small that nothing but the most powerful microscope would reveal its existence to human eyes" (A.W. Pink). Are you part of His new creation?

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

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~Daily Inspirational ~ THE SECRET OF THE UNIVERSE AUGUST 8, 2006


THE SECRET OF THE UNIVERSE
By Paul Hume

Scripture Reading: Psa. 135:6; 147:7-18; Heb. 1:1-3

A, friend of the President of a large manufacturing plant was being conducted through the various departments, and he was quite bewildered at the enormity of it all. He inquired, "Where do you get your power to operate all of this equipment?" The President replied, "Follow me, and I will show you." After a short walk, they were both in a smaller building which housed the generators which made the power possible. "Here is the secret of our out-put!" he proudly declared.

What is the secret behind the operations of this vast universe and our little planet Earth? Is it mere "natural laws?" Is it merely matter in motion? Is it solar energy? All of these things may be true, but they are by no means the "power" behind this universe! The Word of Truth has the answer! It is "the Word of His power" (Heb:1:3). What power there is in both the Living and Spoken Word of God.  We read: "For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded,  and it. stood fast" (Psa. 33:9). "That by the Word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water" (2 Peter 3:5).

The invisible atom is held together by a mysterious "force." We know from Col. 1:17 that this "force" is none other than our Creator, the Lord Jesus Christ: "For by Him all things consist (hold together)." Someday, after the "Day of Jehovah" has run its course, this earth and our stellar heavens will be "dissolved." How? By His release of the atoms which compose .all material things. This in turn will create a gigantic dissolution of the present sin-cursed heavens and earth. What a day that will be! (Read 2 Peter 3:10-12 and Revelation 20:11; 21:1).

In the face of the Sovereign God Who is very much in control of this universe, shall we continue to complain about the climate, the weather today, the bugs, and other often disagreeable things? It's human to do so, but when we remember that God in Christ Jesus is behind the weather, the winds, the climates of the earth, and even the insects which pester us, we then can turn grumbling into glorying in the One who created all things for His own pleasure! Worship ye Him!

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

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~Daily Inspirational ~ ~WHY, DID HE DO IT? ~ AUGUST 9, 2006


~WHY, DID HE DO IT? ~
By Paul Hume

Scripture Reading: Provo 16:.4; Gen. 1:1-2:7

Why is the universe made up of many galaxies and solar systems so immense and vast that no human can ever begin to comprehend them?  Why is there a sun like ours along with millions of stars and several planets including the Moon which our country has been so interested in recently? Why is there a planet Earth which alone is habitable? (see Psa. 115:15-16). Why is there an atmosphere about six to seven miles deep surrounding our planet composed of 21% Oxygen, 78% Nitrogen, and 1% inert gases? Without this perfect balance in the atmosphere, or should the slightest change take place to upset that balance, death would come swiftly to all who live on Earth! Why the faithful cycle of evaporation, clouds, and finally precipitation? Why should two-thirds of the surface of this planet be covered by oceans? Why are some places virtually uninhabitable and unproductive - like the Sahara Desert - which seem like a terrible waste of valuable land? Why man? Why not something better than man? We could go on and on asking "Why?"

The answer is not given by merely citing certain scientific laws. The answer is found in the Word of God which makes it clear that all things which God made and the way He has made them function are simply for His pleasure! Look again at the statements in Genesis 1 Where God said "and it was good." Why was it good? Because "The Lord hath made all things for Himself." This is amplified in Colossians 1:16: "For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth; visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him." Thus Paul states in Romans 11:36: "For of Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen." Even the wicked, says Proverbs 16:4, have been made by Him "for the day of evil." Yes, even sin, wickedness, and all its attendant miseries, while not having been created by God Himself, nevertheless, He has sovereignly purposed that it should serve His purpose to the praise of His glory!  "Since God is God, who dare challenge His prerogative? To murmur against Him is rank rebellion." Worship ye Him!

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

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~Daily Inspirational ~ THE GOD OF MIGHT AND MIRACLES AUGUST 10, 2006


THE GOD OF MIGHT AND MIRACLES
By Paul Hume

Scripture Reading: Mark 4:35-41; .Psalm 147:18

We often hear John Peterson's hymn, "It Took A Miracle." The words in this hymn indeed reveal the sovereignty of our God in relation to the affairs even of "Nature."

     "My Father is omnipotent,
     And that you can't deny;
     A God of might and miracles,
     'Tis written in the sky."

In Mark's inspired account of the sudden storm on the Sea of Galilee, let us examine those wonderous words of our Lord when He commanded the winds and the waves: "Peace, be still!" A more exact translation reads: "Silence! Be muzzled!" Obviously He was not merely speaking out into the air. He was commanding Satan, the one who was behind this ferocious storm. We see in Job 1:19 that even Satan can control the weather. But where was God in this storm? True, in the Person of the Lord Jesus, He was in the boat with His frightened disciples. But what about the Father? Yes, He knew well what His beloved Son was going through, but He also knew that His Son had the authority over the winds and the waves to command them to be still. "And there was (came to be) a great calm." No wonder the disciples said one to another, "What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?"

Far further investigation about His obvious control of the elements, turn to the prophecy of the book of the Revelation. Here we are given glimpses of things which definitely will take place in the heavens and on this earth during the future "Day of the Lord" (Rev. 1:10). See His control of the elements, and the sun, and the stars in chapters 6, 8, and 16! Is He in control today - during this Dispensation when He is "silent?" Indeed He is! No wonder the devout believer in Christ can find complete comfort in the words of Romans 8:28 - even in relation to the weather and circumstances!

     "Wondrous sovereign of the sea,
     Jesus, Savior, pilot me."

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

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~Daily Inspirational ~ THE SOVEREIGN GOD AND HIS WORD AUGUST 11, 06


THE SOVEREIGN GOD AND HIS WORD
By 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!"

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

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Daily Inspirational ~ THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE FATHER IN SALVATION AUGUST 12, 06


THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE FATHER IN SALVATION
By Paul Hume

Scripture Reading: Eph. 1:3-6; -Rom. 8:28-30; I Pet. 1:2

When we come to the blessed theme of our personal salvation, we observe readily that each Person in the Godhead had a distinct part therein. It has been stated in the light of Ephesians 1:3-14 that God the Father planned our salvation, God the Son purchased our salvation, and God the Holy Spirit protects our salvation. When we begin to think of the magnitude of our salvation and the wonder of it all, we feel constrained to sing with William R. Newell:

"Oh, the love that drew salvation's plan!
Oh, the grace that bro't it down to man!
Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span
At Calvary!"

What was the distinct role of the Father in our salvation? He purposed to "bring many sons into glory" (Heb. 2:10). As a Father - the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ - the desire of His holy and loving heart was to fill His household with "many sons" who should bear the image and likeness of His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus! Thus, especially in relation to this present economy of grace, He was pleased to elect out of the name of mankind many who would become part of this great family. Thus we read of what has been aptly called "the Golden Chain of Redemption" in Rom. 8:29-30. Let us stop and look at each golden link: He first purposed in His own heart; then He foreknew (knew beforehand) all who should fulfill that purpose; (His election of those who should comprise this family should fit in here) then He predestinated these elected ones - that is, He marked them out beforehand - to the position as full-grown sons (notice Eph. 1:5 here); then (after they were born and prior to their salvation-experience) He called them effectually to Himself; then, by faith He justified them (that is, declared them perfectly righteous); finally, He glorified them (notice how this is already certain even though none have experienced it yet!).

"Sons we are by God's election
Who on Jesus Christ believe,
By eternal destination."

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

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~Daily Inspirational ~ THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE SPIRIT IN SALVATION AUGUST 14, 06


THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE SPIRIT IN SALVATION
By Paul Hume

Scripture Reading: 2 Thes. 2:13-14; Eph. 1:13-14

It has been well stated that the blessed Holy Spirit of God is "the executive member of the Godhead." This indeed true. The Father's plan to bring "many sons into glory" must be further carried out by the Son's purchase by His own blood of those "many sons" out of the slave market of Satan and sin and death. He died, was buried, and was raised again from the dead to save all whom the Father had given to Him (John 6:37, 17:2-3). But unless the Spirit of God applies the redemptive work of Christ, then the Father's plan is again powerless!

But not so! The Holy Spirit has been sent into the world on a special mission. This mission is to glorify the Son of God in saving and sanctifying those whom the Father chose in Christ before the foundation of the world. What does this work of the Holy Spirit include? He first draws the sinner to Christ (John 6:44). This is also referred to as being the "sanctification of the Spirit" in 2 Thessalonians 2:13. By this, the Holy Spirit woos and draws and sets apart the one who is "dead in trespasses and sins" to Christ. He also convicts the sinner of "sin, righteousness, and judgment" (John 16:8-11). He pricks the conscience and brings the Word of God to bear upon it.

Then He grants "the hearing of faith" (Rom. 10:8,17; Eph. 1:13).  He causes the sinner to "hear with understanding" (see Matthew 13:23 on this). Never is the sinner told to work up his own faith in order to be saved. Rather, God grants every sinner "the hearing of faith" - a gift from God (Eph. 2:8-9) - in order to be saved. Then the Holy Spirit regenerates the one who believes on Christ Jesus. That is, He imparts the Life of Christ into his spirit, and, as Romans 8:10 states, the "spirit is life on account of righteousness." Remember, "that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (John 3:6). At the same time He is baptizes the one who believes into Christ and thereby makes him a member of "the church, which is His body." He also, at that same moment, takes up His permanent dwelling in the believer, and He becomes the seal of God (as well as the new nature) in the believer.

Wondrous salvation! Do you have Him in your heart today?

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

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[nChrist]

~Daily Inspirational ~ SEALED WITH THE SPIRIT AUGUST 15, 2006


SEALED WITH THE SPIRIT
by C. R. Stam

"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the Word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise" (Eph. 1:13).

Most careful commentaries of the Bible make it clear that the words "after that," in the above passage, actually have an immediate result in view. Upon hearing (or heeding) we believed, and upon believing we were sealed with the Spirit.

What is perhaps even more important to note, is the fact that upon believing "the gospel of... salvation," we are "sealed with" the "Holy Spirit," not "by" the Spirit. There is a difference between the two, which can be simply illustrated.

Here is a housewife, let us say, who is "putting up" jam or preserves and sealing each jar with wax. Now, the jars are being sealed by the woman, but she is sealing them with wax. Thus the Holy Spirit does not merely cause believers to be sealed and made secure. Rather He Himself is the Seal that keeps us eternally secure as God’s beloved children. We are sealed, not "by the Spirit," but "with the Spirit," - the Spirit Himself the Seal!

It is wonderful indeed to know that before the bar of God, the simplest believer in Christ has been fully justified (Acts 13:38,39). But this is a court action, a matter of law and justice. Besides this, the Spirit, who first brought the sinner under conviction, now gives him life - eternal life. This is why Rom. 8:2 tells us that "the law of the Spirit, [that] of life in Christ Jesus, hath made me free from the law of sin and death." Thank God for the Spirit, who convicts, regenerates and seals every believer in Christ!

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

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[nChrist]

~Daily Inspirational ~ FOR JUST BEING HERE AUGUST 16, 2006


FOR JUST BEING HERE
by C. R. Stam

When you sigh for heaven, remember:

“…Christ…loved the Church, and gave Himself for it…That He might present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Eph.5:25,26).

Too readily we forget that Christ loves us infinitely more than we love Him; that He paid the penalty for our sins on cruel Calvary and shed His life’s blood that one day He might have us for Himself to share His glory with Him forever.

Surely, then, He would rather have us at His side in heaven than here in this scene of sin and sorrow, and sickness and death. We should bear this in mind when we long that we might leave this world and go to be with Him.

But there is more: The Saviour, who was exiled from this earth, and is, even now, rejected by men, has not yet rejected them. Rather, He has left us here as His ambassadors on hostile territory, to plead with his enemies, praying them “in His stead” to be reconciled to God, assuring them that He has done all that is necessary to effect a reconciliation (IICor.5: 20,21).

And this is His attitude toward mankind now, though the prophetic Scriptures declare so emphatically that man’s rejection of Christ was to be — and will be — visited with the severest judgment (Psa.2:4-9; Acts 2:16-20).

But not yet! Though man had declared war on Christ (Acts 4:26,27), He did not yet make a counter-declaration, but interrupted the prophetic program to save Saul of Tarsus, the leader of the rebellion and sent him forth to usher in the present “dispensation of the grace of God” (Eph.3:1-3).

This is why, in His love and compassion, He leaves us here still to plead with His enemies: “Be ye reconciled to God”. And what about His special love for us? Entirely apart from rewards earned by service or suffering for Him, God will richly reward us (II Cor.4:17) just for being here as “ambassadors for Christ”.

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

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[nChrist]

~Daily Inspirational ~ SALVATION AND THE HUMAN WILL AUGUST 17, 2006


SALVATION AND THE HUMAN WILL
By Paul Hume

Scripture  Reading: Rom. 9:15-16; John 1:12-13; 3:16

Dwight Lyman Moody once said that "the whosoever wills are the elect, and the whosoever wont's are the non-elect!" This is certainly true. The human will does play an important part in personal salvation. But the problem which ultimately must be faced when one deals with the sovereignty of God must touch on this matter of what place man's will plays--if any.

Now there are two extremes to avoid. One is that since God is sovereign, and since man cannot save himself at all, then man has no part at all in salvation. That is, God will save him without any action on his part. The other extreme is that God cannot and will not save anyone unless he is willing to be saved.

In between these extremes we believe the truth lies. It is true that the sinner is "dead in trespasses and sins" therefore cannot, of himself, take one step toward God and salvation. It is also true that God has given man a will, and He respects that will. Yet due to the fact that the depravity of the human nature has also crippled the will, God must first move and work in the sinner to make him willing to be saved! This is what Christ meant when He said, "No man can come unto me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him" (John 6:44). This is also what is meant in John 1:12-13: "But as many as received Him (Christ), to them gave He power, (authority) to become the sons of God (children of God), even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." Therefore, as Romans 9:16 states, "it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy."

Hence, how beautiful it all works out. Of my own will, I did not want God or His salvation (Christ). But He wooed me and drew me, with love and power and gave me the willingness to receive Christ into my life! Bless the Lord, oh, my soul!

"I've found a Friend, oh, such a Friend!
He loved me ere I knew Him;
He drew me with the cords of love,
And thus He bound me to Him." (J.G. Small)

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

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[nChrist]

~Daily Inspirational ~ 'TIS A CHARMING SOUND AUGUST 18, 2006


'TIS A CHARMING SOUND
By Paul Hume

Scripture Reading: Psa. 89:15; Acts 18:25-28

"Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound," declared the inspired Psalmist of Israel. This "joyful sound" related to the blowing of the silver trumpet for various holy day assemblies (Num. 10:10). However, there, is a sweet spiritual application for us here. Could not "the joyful sound" be what Phillip Doddridge and Augustus Toplady wrote of in their hymn "Grace! 'Tis A Charming Sound?"

"Grace! 'Tis a charming sound,
Harmonious to the ear;
Heav'n with the echo shall resound,
And all the earth shall hear.
'Twas grace that wrote my name
In life's eternal book;
'Twas grace that gave me to the Lamb,
Who all my sorrows took."

What a gem of truth lies in Acts 18:27, often never observed. Stop and look at it with me: ".. .who, when he, (that is, Apollos) was come, helped them much which had believed through grace" Dr. Bullinger states concerning the little preposition "through" (dia in the Greek) that "it includes the idea of proceeding from and passing out." This would mean, then, that the grace which came out from God in Christ and had passed out to their hearing the Word of God, had caused them to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, we, like they, "believe through grace." Blessed grace of God!

You probably have run in to someone who confessed "I just can't believe the Bible!" That person is partially right. Of himself, he cannot generate the right kind of faith by which alone God saves people. It is all of the grace--the unmerited favor of God. And everyone who is honest at heart CAN become a recipient of this enabling grace to "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

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http://www.graceandthetruth.com/pop_up.htm
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