GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

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THE VALUE OF BIBLE STUDY
by C. R. Stam



"From a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus"(II Tim. 3:15).

         Timothy was a fortunate young man. His father was nota believer in Christ, but his godly mother made up for this lack as, day after day, from his earliest childhood, she taught him the Word of God. As a result he came to know Christ at an early age and later became St. Paul's faithful co-worker and close associate in making known the wonderful "good news of the grace of God."

In his very last letter the great Apostle Paul recalls Timothy's "unfeigned faith... which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice" (II Tim. 1:5).

         If only we had more such mothers and grandmothers today, with husbands to help them! If only our American children were not set adrift on a restless sea of human speculation, but were taught the eternal truths of God's Word, the Bible!

         We all need to "know the Holy Scriptures," not only because they teach reverence for God and build moral character, but most of all because they "are able to make [us] wise unto salvation through faith... in Christ Jesus."

         The theme of the Bible, the Old Testament as well as New, is the Lord Jesus Christ, the riches of whose saving grace are unfolded to us in the Epistles of Paul, the chief of sinners saved by grace. It was to Paul that God committed the preaching of the cross of Christ. He it is who tells us about the riches that flow from Calvary. He it is who tells us, by divine inspiration that:

         "...WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH [CHRIST'S] BLOOD, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS ACCORDING TO THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE" (Eph. 1:7).

"THAT IN THE AGES TO COME HE MIGHT SHOW THE EXCEEDING RICHES OF HIS GRACE IN HIS KINDNESS TOWARD US THROUGH CHRIST JESUS" (Eph. 2:7).

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THE SUPREME IMPORTANCE OF GOD'S WORD TO THE BELIEVER
by C. R. Stam



The Bible will always have first place in the life of the spiritual Christian.

It is of utmost importance that we understand this, for some who feel themselves quite spiritual give much time to prayer, but little, if any, to the study of the Word. Such have actually fallen for the subtle trick of the adversary to play upon their natural human pride and cause them to exalt self and push God into the background.

In saying this we do not for one moment minimize the importance of prayer; we only stress the supreme importance of the holy Word of God. In this we are surely Scriptural, for David says, by inspiration:

"For Thou hast magnified Thy Word above all Thy name" (Psa. 138:2).

Of those who would still object and place first emphasis upon prayer rather than upon the Word, we would ask one simple question: Which is the more important, what we have to say to God or what He has to say to us? There can be but one answer to this question, for obviously what God has to say to us is infinitely more important than anything we might have to say to Him. Our prayers are as fraught with failure as we are, but the Word of God is infallible, immutable and eternal.

Yet some, having fallen for one of Satan's "devices" and feeling quite spiritual about it, are like the talkative person to whom one listens and listens, occasionally nodding his head, but receiving little or no opportunity to "get a word in edgewise." They do all the talking, but give little time listening to what God has to say to them.

Prayer Request: Paris has been ill and in the hospital. This is why there hasn't been any Daily Inspirationals lately. Please keep Paris in your prayers. Grace and the Truth Ministries is a one person operation, so please pray that God gives Paris strength and better health. This has been a labor of love for the Lord for many years.

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SPIRITUAL VICTORY
by C. R. Stam

        If we go to the Scriptures and claim, by faith, the Spirit's help in overcoming our sins, we enter into the enjoyment of the fullness of spiritual life and blessing. If we fail to do so, we wither and die --- as far as our spiritual experience is concerned. We can never lose our salvation, of course, for "everlasting life" was obtained by faith in Christ, not by walking in the Spirit. This is confirmed by the fact that the same apostle who pleads: "Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God," hastens to add: "WHEREBY YE ARE SEALED UNTO THE DAY OF REDEMPTION" (Eph. 4:30).

          But failure to appropriate God's gracious provision for victory over sin does result in death as far as our Christian experience is concerned. This is what the Apostle means, when he says, by the Spirit:

          "FOR TO BE CARNALLY MINDED IS DEATH; BUT TO BE SPIRITUALLY MINDED IS LIFE AND PEACE" (Rom. 8:6).

          "FOR IF YE LIVE AFTER THE FLESH, YE SHALL DIE: BUT IF YE THROUGH THE SPIRIT DO MORTIFY [PUT TO DEATH] THE DEEDS OF THE BODY, YE SHALL LIVE" (Rom. 8:13).

          To the careless Corinthians, the Apostle Paul exclaimed:

          "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

          "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" (I Cor. 6:19,20).

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THE DAY CHRIST  DIED
John 12:1
by Pastor Wayne A. Webb
(Now at Home with the Lord)

We are furnished by Scripture with certain facts and fixed points which, taken together, enable us to: (1) determine the events which filled up the days of "the last week" of our Lord's life on earth; (2) fix the day of His crucifixion; and (3) ascertain the duration of the time He remained in the tomb.

The difficulties connected with these three issues have arisen from: (1) not having noted these fixed points; (2) the fact of Gentiles not having been conversant with the Law concerning the three great feasts of the Lord; and (3) not having reckoned the days as commencing some six hours before our own and running from sunset to sunset, instead of from midnight to midnight. To remove these difficulties, we must note:

1. That the first day of each of the three feasts, Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles, was "a holy convocation," a "Sabbath" on which no servile work was to be done (see Lev. 23:7,24,35; cf. Ex. 12:16). "That Sabbath" and the "high day" of John 19:31 was the "holy convocation," the first day of the feast, which quite overshadowed the ordinary weekly Sabbath. This great Sabbath, having been mistaken from the earliest times for the weekly Sabbath, has led to all the confusion.

2. The Lord's statement that, "even as Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights, so shall the Son of man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights" (Matt. 12:40), has naturally caused the further difficulty. This is because today, while it is quite correct to speak according to Hebrew idiom of "three days' or "three years," even though they are only parts of three days or three years, yet that idiom does not apply in a case like this, where "three nights" are mentioned in addition to "three days." It will be noted that the Lord not only definitely states this, but also repeats the full phraseology, so that we may not mistake it.

3. We have, therefore, the following facts furnished for our sure guidance:
   a. The "high day" of John 19:31 was on the first day of the feast.
   b. The "first day of the feast" was on the 15th of Nisan (April).
   c. The 15th day of Nisan commenced at sunset on what we would call the 14th.
   d. "Six days before the Passover" (John 12:1) takes us back to the 9th day of Nisan.
   e. "After two days is the Passover" (Matt. 26:2; Mark 14:1) takes us to the 13th of Nisan.
   f. "The first day of the week," the day of the resurrection (Matt. 28:1), was from our Saturday sunset to our Sunday sunset. This fixes the days of the week, just as the above fixes the days of the months, for:
   g. Reckoning back from this, "three days and three nights" (Matt. 12:40), we arrive at the day of the burial, which must have been before sunset, on the 14th day of Nisan; that is, before our Wednesday sunset.
   h. This makes the sixth day before the Passover (the 9th day of Nisan) to be our Thursday sunset to Friday sunset.

Therefore, Wednesday, Nisan 14th (commencing on Tuesday at sunset), was "the preparation day," on which the crucifixion took place. All four Gospels definitely say that this was the day on which the Lord was buried (before our Wednesday sunset). "Because it was the preparation [day]" the bodies should not remain upon the Cross on the Sabbath day, "for that Sabbath day was a high day," and, therefore, not the ordinary seventh day, or weekly Sabbath (see John 19:31).

4. It follows, therefore, that the Lord being crucified on "the preparation day," could not have eaten the Passover lamb, which was not slain until the evening of the 14th of Nisan (afternoon). On that day, the daily sacrifice was killed at the 6th hour (noon) and offered about the 7th hour (1 :00 PM). The killing of the Passover lambs began directly afterward. Thus, it is clear, that if the killing of the Passover lambs did not commence until about four hours after our Lord had been hanging upon the Cross, and would not have been concluded at the 9th hour (3:00 PM) when "He gave up the ghost," no "Passover lamb" could have been eaten at the "last supper" on the previous evening.

Note: The Jewish day is lunar and is counted from sunset to sunset, while the Gentile day is solar and is counted from sunrise to sunrise. This is true of ancient and modern Jews. And that is why their worship services begin on Friday evening rather than Saturday morning.

1. Friday Sunset to Saturday Sunset ---10th day of Nisan (April). Triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Jn. 12:1, 12-14; Mt. 11:1-7; Mk. 19:29-35). Note: This was the designated day for Israel to choose their Passover lamb (see Ex. 12:3).

2. Saturday Sunset to Sunday Sunset - the 11th day of Nisan (April). The temple is cleansed (Mk. 11:15-17; Lk. 19:45,46).

3. Sunday Sunset to Monday Sunset _12th day of Nisan (April). Teaching in the temple (Lk. 19:47,48 ).

4. Monday Sunset to Tuesday Sunset - 13th day of Nisan (April). Further teaching in the temple (Mt. 21:23-27; Mk. 11:27-33; Lk. 20:1-8 ).

5. Tuesday Sunset to Wednesday Sunset _14th day of Nisan (April). The day before the Passover, called the "preparation day" (Jn 19:14,31,42). On this day was the last supper, the betrayal, the agony in Gethsemane, and the illegal trials (Mt. 26:21-27,31; Mk. 14:18-15:19; Lk. 22:14-23:25; Jn. 13:1-19:15).

On this day the Passover lamb was slain (Ex. 12:6) and on this day, Christ was crucified and buried (I Cor. 5:7; Mt. 27:31-56; Mk. 15:20-41; Lk. 23:26-31; Jn. 19:13-18;). "It was the third hour and they crucified Him" (Mk. 15:25,26): 9:00 AM. "The sixth hour" (Mk. 15:33): 12:00 noon. "The ninth hour" (Mk. 15:34-37): 3:00 PM.

At the precise time Christ was being crucified, the officials of Israel were slaying their Passover lambs! (See I Cor. 5:7). Christ was buried in haste before sunset (our Wednesday about 6:00 PM), before the "high day" (the first day of the Passover feast) began, Wednesday sunset (Mt. 27:57-66; Mk. 15:42-47; Lk. 23:50-56; Jn. 19:38-42).

   1. Wednesday Sunset to Thursday Sunset - the 15th day of Nisan (April). The first day of the Passover feast: the special midweek Sabbath, "a high day" (Ex. 12:16; Jn. 19:31). The first night and the first day of thomb.

   2. Thursday Sunset to Friday Sunset - the 16th day of Nisan (April). Women bought and prepared spices after the special Passover Sabbath had passed (Mk. 16:1; Lk. 23 :56).

   3. Friday Sunset to Saturday Sunset - 17th day of Nisan (April).
Resurrection Day! "The first day of the week" (Lk. 24:1; Jn. 20:1). "The third day" (Mt. 16:21; 27:63; Mk. 8:31; see Mt. 12:40).

The resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ took place about sunset on our Saturday, which would be the beginning of the Jewish Sunday, several hours before the women found the empty tomb.

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THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT
by C. R. Stam



"The Sword of the Spirit... is the Word of God" (Eph. 6: 17).

Of all the spiritual armor which believers are told to "put on" in Eph. 6:11-18, there is only one offensive weapon. This is "the Sword of the Spirit... the Word of God." The Bible is called "the Sword of the Spirit," because the Spirit of God is its Author. It is called "the Sword of the Spirit" because, thus written by God who knows all, it can cut deeply. This makes it, for the believer, a formidable weapon against Satan and the forces of evil. We are told in Heb. 4:12,13:

"The Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

 "Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do."

As David said long ago:

"O Lord, Thou hast searched me, and known me.
 "Thou knowest my down sitting and mine uprising; Thou understandest my thought afar off" (Psa. 139:1,2).

It is because God knows and understands us so thoroughly that His Word can sometimes cut us so deeply. How wise, then, to bow before that Blessed Book, acknowledge its condemnation of sin and trust the Savior it presents! And, having done this, how wise to "put on the whole armor of God" in our stand against Satan and sin, not forgetting to "take... the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God"!

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POINTS TO PONDER

The Prophetic Questions

Pastor Finley Hunter

When the Lord Jesus, on the Mount of Olives, answered the threefold prophetic question by His disciples in Matthew 24:3, some of the answers will involve the future 144,000.

Mat 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what [shall be] the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?


The questions were:
1. "When shall these things be?"
2. "What shall be the sign of Thy coming?"
3. "And of the end of the age"

Certain phrases both in the narrative and in the prophecy itself pinpoint the time of fulfillment, e.g.:

"For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be" (24:21).

and,

"Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken" (24:29).

This passage or its salient features appear in no less than seven Old Testament prophecies and identifys it with the Day of the LORD, i.e., the actual Second Coming of Christ (Joel 2:10,30,31).

Since the Twelve Apostles have passed away, and Christ has not yet returned, it is the future 144,000 (i.e., 12,000 X 12) apostles or evangelists that will complete the great commission, preaching the "Gospel of the Kingdom" (24:14).

Using Matthew 24:14 as a cross reference, the reader will be rewarded to notice Matthew 10:22:

"And ye shall be hated of all men for My name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. "

Then, observe well verse 23:

"But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye to another: for verily, I say unto you, ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel till the Son of Man be come. "

There is no doubt about this verse referring to the actual Second Coming of Christ. Therefore, it is the 144,000 Jewish Apostles about whom these verses are speaking (Revelation chapters 7 and 14).

The Scofield Bible notes on this passage, "The scope of verses 16-23 reaches beyond the personal ministry of the twelve .....verse 23 has in view the preaching of the remnant ... in the tribulation.....    and immediately preceding the return of Christ in glory.

The student must rightly divide the dispensations, the messages and the messengers to understand the passages cited.

So ... in the Dispensation of the Tribulation (not the Apostolic Age), the 144,000 (not the 12 disciples) preach the Gospel of the Kingdom (not the Gospel of the Grace of God), just before the Second Coming of Christ (not the Rapture of the Church).

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PHILIPPIANS 4:1-7
Part 1 of 3
By Pastor Paul Sadler


The story is told that during the American Civil War, when the rival armies were encamped on the opposite banks of the Potomac River, the Union's band played one of its patriotic tunes, and the Confederate musicians quickly struck up a melody dear to any Southerner's heart. Then one of the bands started to play "Home, Sweet Home." The musical competition ceased, and the musicians from the other army joined in. Soon voices from both sides of the river could be heard singing, "There is no place like home."

In similar fashion, the members of the Body of Christ have a home, a home in heaven. While divisions have always plagued the Church, we all have a common destiny. So when Paul opens Philippians 4 with the term "there-fore," he is prefacing what he was about to say on the preceding passage where he established that we are citizens of heaven. He wanted the saints at Philippi to remember and remember well that they belonged to the Lord and were blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies. Against this backdrop, the apostle is going to share with us how to effectively deal with a problem between two believers when a conflict arises within the local assembly. We might call this particular portion that is under consideration-Problem Solving 101!

ISOLATING THE PROBLEM

"Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord."  Phil. 4:1,2

As we have seen, Paul hinted in the previous chapters that there was an underlying conflict at Philippi, but he now isolates the problem and names names. It involved two women in the assembly whose names were Euodias and Syntyche, often referred to by humorists as "Odious" and "Soon-touchy." These two women had worked closely with Paul in the furtherance of the gospel when the apostle first came to Philippi, but in the course of time they became archenemies. Of course, Paul's concern, and justifiably so, was that should this rift continue it could eventually divide the assembly and greatly hinder the cause of Christ, which is something God does not take lightly.

Having observed these types of conflicts over the years in the local church, they usually begin between two dominant personalities in the assembly who are both leaders in their own right, or could be. The very thing that made them so effective in the Lord's service oftentimes becomes the very thing that ends up dividing them. Since the fall, disputes among the Lord's people have been all too common. For example:

"And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? Hath He not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it" (Num. 12:1,2).

According to this passage, the conflict between Moses and Miriam arose over his marriage to an Ethiopian woman. We are not told what happened to Moses' first wife, Zipporah, but one thing is certain, Miriam and Aaron weren't happy with this new union, at least that's how it appeared on the surface. During times of conflict, it's important to remember there is usually the "problem," and then there's the "real issue" underlying it! That's exactly what we have here. The problem was Miriam's displeasure with Moses' decision to take another wife, but the real issue was his authority. She was jealous that Moses was the Deliverer through whom God spoke!

"And the LORD heard it," and was displeased. As you continue to read the narrative, it is interesting that God by passes the smokescreen and deals directly with Miriam's rebellion. Under the law, questioning God's ordained spokesman had serious consequences, as Miriam found out when she became white as snow with leprosy for seven days (Num. 12:5-15).

As we pass from the law to the present age of Grace, conflicts between believers persist to this very day, due to the fact that we still possess a sin nature after we are saved. Needless to say, Satan is a master at bringing out the worst in us. And, sadly, some believers play right into his hand. Paul had seen this firsthand when he received the report that Euodias and Syntyche weren't seeing eye-to-eye. This portion of Scripture is a clinic in how to effectively deal with problems in the local church.

"Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord" (Phil. 4:1,2).

Imagine these ladies sitting there listening to Epaphroditus read this letter publicly and hearing their name read aloud. It would have undoubtedly gotten their undivided attention. It is noteworthy that the apostle didn't take sides. If he were to do so he would lose his objectivity. Of course, by not taking sides he ran the risk of getting shot at by both sides. But he was more than willing to take this friendly fire if it meant resolving the problem.

As Paul ministered the gospel he did so with impartiality, a lesson every spiritual leader is well served to remember. Notice how the apostle includes Euodias and Syntyche in his greeting to the assembly at Philippi. They, too. were "dearly beloved and longed for" and were also his "joy and crown." Those Paul had won to Christ were his joy and his crow of rejoicing, as he says in Thessalonians. At the Judgment Seat of Christ, the Lord will acknowledge Paul's labor of love in evangelizing the lost; they will be his, "crown of rejoicing." The same is, true of all those who have a love for lost souls.

"For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For ye are our glory and joy" (I Thes 2:19,20).

Like many of those at Thessalonica, Paul had personally brought Euodias (flagrant) and Syntyche (fortunate) to Christ when he first visited Philippi (Acts 16:12,13). These two women had faithfully served the Lord together for many years, but something came between them. Before we consider how Paul handled this problem, we first need to consider what the problem may have been. While we are not told the nature of the conflict, we can conclude it did not involve a dispute over a major doctrinal issue, simply because the apostle doesn't instruct the assembly to separate from one or both of these women, as he did with the church at Rome.

"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them" (Rom. 16:17).

Nor was the problem of an immoral nature such as we witness at Corinth. In that case Paul instructed the Corinthians to put the offender out of the assembly until a time of repentance (l Cor. 5:1-7). Thankfully, this cannot be said of Euodias and Syntyche. The issue was probably over a secondary doctrine of the faith or jealousy. Perhaps one was preferred above the other or one of the two ladies received what the other one felt was unwarranted praise. Whatever the case, the quarrel was causing disunity within the assembly. Some were apparently already taking sides. The battle lines were drawn and reinforcements were being recruited to shore up the frontlines on each side. In all likelihood it was one of those cases where you could cut the atmosphere with a knife.

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PHILIPPIANS 4:1-7
Part 2 of 3
By Pastor Paul Sadler





AN EXHORTATION TO UNITY

"So stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord" (Phil. 4:1,2).

It is noteworthy that Paul encouraged both of these women in regard to the issue at hand. He "urges Euodias" and he also "urges Syntyche" to stand fast and be of the same mind in the Lord. Usually when there is conflict in the local church such as we have here there are problems on both sides of the aisle. One normally raises a questionable issue while the other one's response to it is anything but Christ-like. This begins the descent into chaos, which oftentimes ends in a major division. Of course, Paul was hoping to head off a major crisis before it happened.

Paul's solution to the problem was to "stand fast in the Lord." Notice it does not say "stand fast for the Lord," but in Him. Euodias and Syntyche had been given a position in Christ; therefore, they were blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies. They were accepted in the Beloved, forgiven, eternally secure---complete in Him! Whatever disagreements or shortcomings these two women may have had, they were one in Christ. The best remedy for any dispute within the local church is the acknowledgment of our oneness in Christ.

It has been said the local assembly is like a wagon wheel, the rim of the wheel representing the circumference of the faith in which all born again members are embraced and the members of the assembly representing the spokes in the wheel. Thus, when one spoke is broken or warped, the strength of the wheel is affected. We might say that the nearer the spokes are to the hub, the nearer they are to each other. Christ, of course, is the Hub, the center, soul, and bloodstream of all true Christianity and all true Christian unity. It is IN HIM that we solve our difficulties and find perfect harmony and unity.

You see, the apostle wanted Euodias and Syntyche to resolve their differences by being of "the same mind in the Lord." Rather than focusing on defending themselves, he wanted them to focus on the things of the Lord. In so doing, they would be reunited in a common goal to make all men see what is the fellowship of the Mystery. The end result would be the restoration of unity within the assembly. If, however,these two women refused to heed his counsel, Paul recruits the help of an intermediary. Sometimes it takes a third party, who is more objective, to give direction to those involved that have lost their spiritual compass.

"And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel" (vs. 3).

We would suggest that the mediator here was probably Timothy, which he calls a "true yokefellow," one of many metaphors the apostle heaps on this dear brother (Phil. 2:22). The term "yokefellow" according to,Thayer has the idea of being united in a common relationship ---a colleague.  Paul refers to Timothy as his "own [i.e. true] son in the faith" (I Tim. 1:2). This term "true" is only used by the apostle when he referred to Timothy and Titus. As Paul was dictating this letter he most likely paused and turned to Timothy, who was being sent to Philippi, and said: "I implore thee, Timothy, true yokefellow, help these [Gr. autos] women who labored with me in the gospel."

Paul isn't instructing Timothy to give Euodias and Syntyche a helping hand in the work of the ministry to lighten their burden, but rather to help them be of the same mind in the Lord. He wanted his colleague to remind these sisters in the Lord of their position and oneness in Christ. Paul adds how there was a time when they had labored with him in the furtherance of the gospel. The term "labored" here is the same word translated "strive" in Philippians 1:27. In track and field events each athlete strives to do his part for the team. Paul's heart's desire was to rekindle that team spirit these women once had in the Lord's service. As the old saying goes, there is no "I" in team!

In addition to Euodias and Syntyche, the apostle instructs Timothy to encourage "Clement also, and with other my fellow laborers, whose names are in the book of life." It could well be that Paul mentions these brethren in this context simply because they were disheartened over the circumstances at Philippi. Strife within the local assembly is enough to take the wind out of anyone's sails. A word of encouragement can go a long way in restoring one who has a broken spirit. While many brethren look for opportunities to criticize, it is far more honorable to be an "encourager." Paul was! No matter what the outcome at Philippi, he reminds them that their "names are in the book of life."

The Scriptures teach that from the foundation of the world every name has been recorded in the book of life. God has made reservations for all! Interestingly, the "book of the living" is a record of those who possess natural life, so when they die their name is removed (Psa. 69:27,28 ), but there is an exception. Those who believe the gospel in their lifetime receive eternal life; therefore their names are sealed by the Holy Spirit on the basis of the finished work of Christ. With this in mind, the names of Euodias, Syntyche, Clement, and the other fellow laborers at Philippi are all permanently sealed in the book of life for time and eternity.

Little wonder then, that Paul says, "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice" (Phil. 4:4). It is significant that we are to rejoice in the Lord, and with the above in mind, Paul adds, "again I say rejoice." As we saw in an earlier lesson, we are to rejoice in the great things He has done for us! You see, we are to rejoice that Christ loved us and gave Himself for us. Rejoice that we have redemption, even the forgiveness of our sins through His precious blood. We are to rejoice that we're justified freely by His grace. This is why the apostle places so much emphasis on this theme throughout the epistle Christ is the source of our joy!

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PHILIPPIANS 4:1-7
Part 3 of 3
By Pastor Paul Sadler



THE PEACE OF GOD

"Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God" (Phil. 4:5,6).

These passages indicate tempers must have been flaring at the assembly and that some of the discussions had become heated. The word "moderation" in the original has the idea of being gentle, mild mannered, patient, etc. Paul's purpose in stating this was twofold. First, it would help defuse the volatile situation at the assembly if they simply were gentle and considerate of one another, so the problem could be dealt with in a Christ-like manner. If they would merely stop wanting to have their own way, it would help to resolve the issue.Second, the apostle didn't want to see this assembly tarnish its reputation before the world, which, up to this point in time had been commendable. This is why he states, "Let your gentleness be known unto all men." Once it is known that those Christians are fighting among themselves, the person and work of Christ is disregarded in the eyes of the world.

Undoubtedly, there were believers in this assembly who were confused and anxious, not knowing what to do or where to turn for help. Paul knew that those who were directly involved in the skirmish were only thinking about defending themselves and had completely lost sight of how it was affecting those around them and the long-term ramifications to the Lord's work, not to mention the loss they were going to suffer at the Judgment Seat of Christ. For the sake of those who were victims of the circumstances Paul instructs them accordingly:

"The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."

Essentially, the apostle is saying there is no need to become anxious or worry yourself sick over recent events---"the Lord is at hand." He is not saying the Lord's coming is at hand, instead the thought is,"the Lord is present." These believers were to realize the Lord was not far from any one of them. He is omnipresent---a present help in time of need! When a raging storm came up unexpectedly on the Sea of Galilee, the disciples thought it was time to pack their bags for eternity when the waves swept over the bow of the boat. But when the presence of the Lord appeared on deck the fears and worries of the disciples dissipated like the morning dew on a warm summer's day (Matt. 8:23-27). You see, Paul wanted those who were troubled at Philippi to know that the Lord was with them.

Furthermore, Paul tells them to pray, pray without ceasing! But in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." There is nothing too small, nothing too great, to lay before Him, as it has been said. The Lord is interested in every aspect of our lives. Many times we go to the Lord in prayer and simply pray about things in general. Supplication, on the other hand, is more specific; it is seeking the face of God for example, with a deep burden for the salvation shall receive of a particular lost soul. Both are to be offered with thanksgiving because we know "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye  KNOW  "The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:7).

Most understand this peace to be a tranquil life where they "lie down in  green pastures" and the Lord leads them "beside the still waters" as the Psalmist says. Paul, however, is speaking about the peace of God in the midst of times of trouble and turmoil. It is resting in the sovereignty of God, that He is in control of all things. Having this peace is looking beyond the tragedy, knowing that at that day all things are going to work out for our good and His glory. This is the peace of God that passes all understanding; it will guard your heart and give you peace of mind.

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MAJORITIES OFTEN WRONG
by C. R. Stam


When St. Paul was at Ephesus his proclamation of the gospel caused such a stir that the idol makers, who were losing money, protested until "the whole city was filled with confusion." Soon somebody started a chant: "Great is Diana of the Ephesians!" Others joined and the chorus swelled until "all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians!" (Acts 19:34), and the town clerk, referring to the religion which surrounded this pagan goddess, said confidently: "These things cannot be spoken against" (Ver .36).

But later, at Rome, the Apostle was informed, with reference to those who had accepted the truths he had been proclaiming: "As concerning this sect, we know that everywhere it is spoken against" (Acts 28:22).

We wonder which side our readers would now prefer to be on: that of the superstitious multitude or that of the minority who place their faith in the Bible.

Millions worshipped the goddess Diana from a thousand years before Christ to two centuries after, but who knows her today? Where is the evidence of all the miracles she is supposed to have wrought? Her glory is little more than a memory and the religion which revolved around her name is a thing of the past.

But the Bible, for all these centuries and more, has stood unchanged and unchangeable. It has weathered, not barely, but handsomely, all the storms of criticism and opposition, and has proved to be indeed the Word of God. Read the Bible and especially that part which is particularly meant for us today: the Epistles of Paul. Depend upon it, act upon it and don't hesitate to stand for it, even when in the minority, for where the most vital truths are concerned, majorities have generally been wrong.

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lNTERNAL PRIORITY
By Miles Stanford


"Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col. 1 :27).

Beware! The world, both secular and religious, is seeking to destroy your individuality by conforming you to the mass of faceless ones. But our heritage and destiny in the Lord Jesus Christ is to be conformed to His image - not at the loss of our individual personality, but by the gain of His nature and character. "I in you"; "Christ liveth in me" (John 15:4; Gal. 2:20).

"Something has got to be done in us as well as for us. We want to proceed on the line of having things done for us, heaven intervening for us, our difficulties removed for us, having a straight path made for us. Heaven may be ready to come in, the Lord may be prepared to work for us, but it is not sufficient for Him - and it would not prove good enough for us - if that were all. The very principle of spiritual growth and maturity demands that He keep the objective and the subjective balanced; that is, that something is done in us as well as for us." - T.A.S.

"We are apt to think that if and when the circumstances and conditions of our lives are changed and we are in another position than the one we now occupy, then something will happen, the purpose of God will begin to be fulfilled. But the Lord says, 'No, it is not circumstances, not conditions, at all; it is you.' "

"Being confident of this very thing, that He who hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:6).

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Led  by the Spirit
Part 1 of 4
by Dennis Kiszonas




But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Galatians 5:18

With this simple statement the Apostle Paul taught one of the most important principles for living the new life in Christ. Transformation, a changed life, begins here with the ministry of the Holy Spirit in a believer's life. We are changed by a person who has come to live in us permanently.

Receiving the Holy Spirit

Since the Holy Spirit is a "spirit," He cannot be felt, seen, touched. He is spiritual and not able to be sensed by physical senses.

The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.  John 3:8

We can see & hear the effects of the wind, but we cannot see the wind itself. So with the Holy Spirit, we can see His effects, but we are not capable of directly sensing Him. For this reason there are many unscriptural ideas about the Holy Spirit. We must walk by faith here and believe what the scriptures teach about the Holy Spirit, rather than trying to actually see or feel his presence.

Paul writes to the Galatians that all believers are led by the Spirit. He came to live in us at the moment that we put faith in the Lord Jesus as our Savior:

This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith? Galatians 3:2

And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" Galatians 4:6

We received the Spirit by the ''hearing of faith" ---that is, when we believed the gospel, we received the Holy Spirit into our lives. When we became sons of God, He sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts. In the dispensation of grace that we read about in Paul's epistles, there is no believer who does not have the Holy Spirit. And we don't have to wait to receive Him, He comes into our hearts as soon as we believe the gospel.

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Led  by the Spirit
Part 2 of 4
by Dennis Kiszonas


The Spirit's Leading

When the Holy Spirit entered in, He came to ''lead'' us. We often hear people saying things like, "The Spirit led me to do something," or "God led me to go somewhere." But this is not the idea that Paul is writing about in Galatians 5:18 because these experiences are just occasional, sporadic events in the believer's life, but the leading of the Holy Spirit is a constant experience. The Holy Spirit doesn't lead us only in rare occasions, but at all times.

It is helpful to put two verses side by side to see the point that Paul is making here:

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Galatians 5:18

.......for you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:14

Both verses state that we are "not under law." One says, in contrast to being under law, that we are "led by the Spirit." The other that, in contrast to being under law, that we are "under grace." To be under grace is to be led by the Spirit, and to be led by the Spirit is to be under grace. Not passing, occasional experiences, but comprehensive descriptions of the Christian life today in the dispensation of grace.

We are not under law---not under a system in which blessings are earned by obedience and curses received for disobedience (this was God's plan for the nation of Israel, see Deuteronomy 28 for a full exposition of the operation of ''law.'') We do not earn our blessings a little at a time by obeying God because under grace we were blessed totally, with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, when we believed the gospel (Ephesians 1:3). And as for curses, the Lord Jesus became a curse for us on the cross (Galatians 3:13). There is no curse for us today.

Under grace we are completely released from the system of earning blessings or fearing curses, we are "loved." Instead of a system of law, we are given the Holy Spirit who leads us under grace. We do not always follow Him, but He is leading us every moment under grace.

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Led  by the Spirit
Part 3 of 4
by Dennis Kiszonas


Walking by the Spirit

The Holy Spirit came to live in us when we believed, and He came to lead us in our life for the Lord, not to drag us or force us--Paul writes to the Galatians:

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage (slavery). Galatians 5:1

The leading of the Holy Spirit is not a leading that drags us on the end of a chain, it is freedom and not bondage.

On the other hand, His leading is not "carrying us" or ''bearing us." He leads us, but we need to follow Him, or as Paul writes to "walk by the Spirit" since we are now ''living by the Spirit." Though the Spirit is leading, He is not living the life in us all by Himself. As Paul wrote to the Philippians:

Work out (note carefully: not work for) your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:12-13

He is at work in us to will and to perform, but we are the one who must work out what He is working in. How do we do that? Paul wrote to the Galatians:

This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Galatians 3:2-3

They received the Spirit by hearing the message of grace, the message of the cross, with faith, that's how they "began in the Spirit." Now Paul says, continue as you began. We go on believing in the message of grace (Ephesians 2:8-9), we go on focusing on the cross. We are motivated under grace not by the offer of blessings---we have already been totally blessed, and not by the fear of cursings---He became a curse for us, but we are motivated by gratitude, by thanksgiving for what the Lord did for us on the cross.

The first ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives revealed to us in Paul's letters is found in Romans 5:5-6:

... the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

The Holy Spirit comes into the believer's heart under grace with the primary ministry of pouring out the love of God in our hearts, that's His love for us demonstrated at the cross where the Lord Jesus died for us. And as we focus on that love, Paul describes the proper response:

For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

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Led  by the Spirit
Part 4 of 4
by Dennis Kiszonas



Paul's heart had been gripped by the love of Christ for Him, that 'He loved me and gave Himself for me!' (Galatians 2:20). This love compelled Paul, it gripped his heart and life so that from now on he would no longer live for himself but for the Lord who died and rose for him.

The life led by the Spirit is a life motivated not by fear or the desire to add more blessing, but by love and gratitude. What more could the Lord have done for us? If the cross does not grip our hearts, what will?

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:17

Whatever you do, Paul writes, let it all be done as a prayer of thanksgiving. Everything in life done to say 'Thank you, Lord' for dying for me.

The Spirit and All-Sufficient Grace

In a number of places in his letters Paul writes of the amazing power of God at work in his life. He wrote to the Philippians:

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13

And to the Corinthians, he wrote about the time he prayed for relief from a problem and received an unexpected answer:

Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. " Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:8-9.

This grace that is sufficient for every situation in life is nothing less, no one less, than the Spirit Himself. He points us constantly back to the cross and to the resurrection of the Lord.

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me,' and the life which I now live in the flesh I live  by faith in the Son if God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20

Here is God's provision for us to be "led by the Spirit" and living in "newness of life."