GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

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Applause
by Pastor Paul M. Sadler


       Scripture Reading:


“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.” – Colossians 3:17


There seems to be a growing trend in Christendom for congregations to physically applaud those who are ministering in the things of the Lord. Pastors are applauded when they wax eloquent or say something humorous. Also, after soloists lift the hearts of the saints into the heavenlies they are often met with a round of applause as they step down from the platform.Having pastored a number of local assemblies, I’ve risen from my chair, on more than one occasion to interrupt the hand clapping of the saints. While I am sure their applause was well-intentioned, it is nonetheless very irreverent and disrespectful to the Lord.

When the world gives a standing ovation after a performance of an actor or comedian they are expressing their appreciation for having been acceptably entertained. They are also praising the performer for his excellence in an art which has been cultivated through years of hard work.

When the servant of the Lord comes to the platform, to minister on our behalf, the purpose of his labor of love is not to entertain the congregation. It is to be viewed rather as a ministry, which is an integral part of our worship of the Holy One of Heaven. Anyone who serves the Lord, sincerely, would never want the applause of men, but would insist that all the honor and glory be given to God. May all our adoration go to the One Who is worthy to be worshipped, for He has given us his Word and the opportunity along with the gifts to minister on His behalf. Amen!

CHRYSOSTOM ON APPLAUSE
345-407 A.D.

“… some clapped their hands in applause, according to the custom of the times. Then Chrysostom raised his voice: ‘How does your applause help me?’ It will be the right approval if you practice in life what I say to you. The church is no theater, where men listen for their own pleasure.” (From the Life of Chrysostom, by Frederic Perthes, P. 18.).

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"THE LORD KNOWETH" - PART ONE OF TWO
by Charles Wages

In a time when we are told that the "body of knowledge" is increasing with every giant step forward, we must be brought back to our senses and recognize that only God is omniscient. We must remember and acknowledge Romans 11:33-36,

 "0 the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his counselor? Or who hath first given to him and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things; to whom be glory forever. Amen"

One of the ways man has tried to extend his natural knowledge is to delve into the human mind. Things psychological have taken on added interest and popularity. Something for all of us to keep in mind is that,

The Lord Knoweth the Thoughts of Man

Psalms 94: 11 reads, "The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity." It is interesting and enlightening to see this Scripture given prominence by the Apostle Paul in I Corinthians 3 :20, where it reads, "The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain." It has just been stated previously that, "the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness." We ask ourselves the penetrating question, What will we learn if we can read the mind and thoughts of mortal man? No doubt, a lot of foolish and vain information. People today speak of "brain-washing," "programming and deprogramming the mind," "blowing the mind" and "psychological readings" through dream or ink blot interpretation. Even if this became a "science," what would we learn? That man's thoughts are vain, that they are foolish, that they are deceitful, and that they are confused.

Yet, through it all, the gracious Lord, knowing our thoughts, can straighten and stretch our minds with the wonderful wisdom of the Word. If we would earnestly heed Philippians 4:5-9, we would have a first class spiritual lesson on how to think. In any event, we should guard our thinking habits carefully, knowing that the Lord knoweth our thoughts.

We should also be consciously aware of the truth that,

The Lord Knoweth the Ways of Man

It was Job of old who said inspiringly, "But he knoweth the way that I take; when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold" (Job 23:10). In fact, in 34:21, it is stated, "For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings." If one would attempt to trace and study all the references to this tremendous truth found in Job and Psalms, it would take a lifetime.

We should all be familiar with the statement in Proverbs 14:12, ''There is a way which seemeth right unto man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." An example of this is called in Jude 11, "the way of Cain." God looked upon the offering of Cain and rejected it. Why? Because it was the work or effort of sinful man to try to gain God's favor. This erroneous effort by Cain has become the basis for most of the religious dogma that has arisen through the centuries to the present. Man has tried in every age to work for his salvation, but God knowing man's thoughts and man's ways, has rejected them. We must ever keep in front of our minds and hearts. that our Lord Jesus said,

 "I am the way, the truth, and the life; No man cometh unto the Father, but by me. " (John 14:6)

We know also that

The Lord Knoweth Our Days

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The Lord Knoweth Our Days - Part 2 of 2
By Charles Wages



The Lord Knoweth Our Days



In Psalms 37:18, David was led to say,

  "The Lord knoweth the days of the upright; and their inheritance shall be forever."

Yes, it must be true that the Lord knows how long we will live here on this present planet. But of more importance is how we live while here. In other words, the quality of our days is more important than the quantity of our days.

The days of our life are described in many vivid and interesting ways in Scripture. For instance in Psalms 90:9, it remorsefully remarks, "For all our days are passed away in thy wrath; we spend our years as a tale that is told." And another that is even more representative of our lesson is found in Psalms 144:4, "Man is like to vanity; his days are as a shadow that passeth away."

Yet, though all this seeming gloom and despair, God, who knoweth our days, can take the days of our lives and make them meaningful and useful for His glory! Every day can be a day of gladness and glory if we let Him have his way in our day!

Then, to the believing sinner, there is no more comforting and heartwarming truth than that.

The Lord Knoweth Them That are His


In II Timothy 2: 19, we read,

  "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are His, and let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity."

The Lord doesn't just "know" us as so many names in a book, or numbers in a computer. No, he knows us in a personal, loving way. No man will ever really know how God knows! However, we can appreciate a few of these ways. For instance, Jesus said to His disciples in Luke 12:29-30, "And seek ye not what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of a doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after; and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things." 0f course, He went on to say, "But rather seek ye first the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you." The gracious Lord knows that we need first spiritual things and then material things. Paul said, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:19).

The Lord knows that our lives are full of trials and testings. Surely, we have all felt sometimes, as if there was no way out of difficulties that beset us. But, we can take courage in the truth that,

The Lord Knoweth How to Deliver


I Corinthians 10:13, reads,

  "There hath no temptation (trial) taken you but such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

Deliverance is a continuous process with God. Paul in writing to Corinthian believers, shows the three-fold tense of God's deliverance. He wrote,

  "Who delivered (past) us from so great a death, and doth deliver (present); in whom we trust that he will yet deliver (future) us."

Yes, the Lord knows everything about everything. He also knows everything about everyone! But how ignorant man is in all his natural knowledge. The following dialogue will humorously illustrate.

A preacher, while driving through the country stopped and said to a farmer by the road, "Are you a Christian?" The farmer said "No, I am a Jones, Christian lives down the road about a mile and to the left about a quarter mile." "No, you don't understand," said the preacher. "Are you lost?" "Nope," replied the farmer, "I've lived here going on 43 years, and know every nook and cranny hereabouts." The preacher scratching his head, said, "Are you ready for the judgment?" Jones answered, "No, when is it?" Disgusted, the preacher finally said, "For you, it may be Tuesday or Wednesday. "Good," said the farmer Jones, "I'll tell my wife, she will want to go both days !"

Ignorance is not always bliss, as some say, but is serious business in regards to one's destiny. Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Saviour? He knows your heart, He knows your thoughts, He knows your ways.

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart. Lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." (Prov. 3:5-6)

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WHOSE RIGHTEOUSNESS?
By  Pastor Bob Hanna



Scripture Reading: Philippians 3:9

The apostle Paul defined Israel's self-imposed barrier to securing salvation: "They being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God" (Romans 10:3). And Paul declares, regarding his own spiritual condition, as "not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith" (Philippians 3:9). "I know that in me, (that is, in my flesh), dwelleth no good thing" (Romans 7:18.).

The prophet Isaiah describes the condition of natural man: "We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). And David stated, "In thy [God's] sight shall no man living be justified" (Psalms 143:2). It is clear that man, by his own efforts, cannot attain to righteousness. This state of affairs has been pondered since time immemorial. Job asked, "How should man be just with God?" (Job 9:2.) The answer can come only from God Himself. He sent His Son and " ... made Him to be sin for us, [Him] who knew no sin: THAT WE MIGHT BE MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM" (2 Corinthians 5:21). We, being saved by grace, are "in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us ... righteousness" (I Cor. 1:30).

That righteousness is attained by faith, and is the only way acceptable to God, has always been the one approach. "Even Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness" (Galatians 3:6).

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TRIUMPH IN TRIAL
By M. Stanford


"Always guarded by the power of God through faith. . .. In such a hope keep on rejoicing, although for a little while you must be sorrow-stricken with various trials" (1 Peter 1:5,6, Wms.).

There are testimonies, and there are testimonies. Some can testify as to how God cleared up adverse circumstances for the victory; but others can testify to the triumph God gave in the midst of difficult circumstances. The essential consideration is that our Father be glorified in all His dealings with and for us. How He brings it all about should be secondary to us.

"If there is a great trial in your life today, do not own it as a defeat, but continue, by faith, to claim the victory through Him who is able to make you more than conqueror, and a glorious triumph will soon be apparent. Let us learn that in all the hard places our Father brings us into, He is making opportunities for us to exercise such faith in Him as will bring about blessed results and greatly glorify His Name."

"God has put you in exactly the right crucible to burn up what He sees needs to be burnt up. Many think 'victory' means getting your circumstances put right. No! true triumph is within -when in the midst of your circumstances the Spirit of God can so energize you and strengthen you in spirit, that you can stand quiet in the thick of it all, and say, 'God is God,' and know that you are held by Him - which is infinitely better than all your trying to hold things steady."

"Therefore, my brethren. . . stand fast in the Lord" (Phil. 4:1).

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Keeping On An Even Keel
by Pastor C. R. Stam


      Occasionally we receive letters on the importance of preaching a"well-rounded" message. One old friend wrote us recently to the effect that, unlike this writer, he sought to keep on "an even keel" in his ministry, not just preaching the mystery revealed to Paul, but the whole Bible, and opposing fluoridations, communism, modernism and all that he felt was opposed to the truth.

Now we too seek to proclaim a "well-rounded" message and to keep on "an even keel" but what does this involve? Is one who consistently proclaims the mystery lopsided or unbalanced in the message? Were the twelve apostles off balance when they proclaimed "the gospel of the kingdom"? Of course not, for this is what they were sent to proclaim(Luke 9:1-6).

And neither are we off balance or lopsided in our ministry when we consistently proclaim what Paul called "my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery" (Rom. 16:25),for this is our gospel too.

This does not mean that we are to preach only from the Pauline epistles.Far from it. But it does mean that we should make sure that our hearers are well-grounded in the Pauline epistles and that when we preach from other parts of the Bible we should relate it to the mystery, God's message for today.

When the twelve apostles preached from the Old Testament Scriptures,they preached Christ according to the revelation of prophecy. But Paul's "gospel" was "the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery" Hence when we preach from the Old Testament Scriptures, we should preach Christ "according to the revelation of the mystery", applying, relating, comparing, and contrasting God's  programs for other dispensations with His program for the dispensation of grace.This is exactly what Paul himself does in Romans and Galatians, and this is "keeping on an even keel."

A failure to "preach the Word"and to preach it rightly divided is not keeping on an even keel or bringing a well-rounded message; it is simply getting away from the message God has commissioned us to proclaim.

Since the faithful proclamation of this glorious message rouses Satan's enmity more than anything else, we must pray for God-given boldness in making it known, like the Apostle Paul, who said:

"[Pray] for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak." (Eph. 6:19,20).

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HIS PROMISE IN CHRIST
By Donald Webb



Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3:6

Ephesians 3:6 might be better understood if stated thus: "That the Gentiles should be joint heirs, and a joint body, and joint partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel." This verse is actually answering the question "what is the mystery?" What is the mystery or secret (verses 3 and 4) which was not made known in other ages (verse 5) but now made known by revelation to Paul (verses 3 and 5)? It is that the Gentiles should be joint heirs, a joint body, and joint partakers of God's promise! We might ask "joint with whom?" With the Jew (2:11-18.)! We would further ask "joint in what?" Joint in a new heavenly organism, the Body of Christ. The secret is that in this hitherto unprophesied age of grace believing Jews and Greeks are now reconciled into one new man---a joint body---by the cross (2:15,16). Israel and her kingdom program have been set aside and now our greater commission is to "make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery" (Ephesians 3:9)!

But what are we joint heirs to? We're joint heirs to inherit the salvation of God (2:5-10). Next we're a joint body, that is that any man, without national distinction, upon believing the gospel is placed into this new organism---the Body of Christ (I Corinthians 12:13). Finally, we're joint partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel. What is His promise in Christ? It is the divine principle which God promised before the world began but did not fully reveal until Paul, that of eternal life in Christ for all (Jews or Greeks) who believe the gospel (Titus 1:2; 3:4-7). This promise is centered in Christ i.e., the finished work he accomplished on Calvary's cross. It is assured by God's own faithfulness to His immutable counsel and oath. It is received through believing the gospel of grace. How wonderful to know and proclaim the secret!

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THE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION



    More often than not, this is the month in which we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. To a few this is a myth, to some a fact, but to many it is a blessed hope!

     How many people fully understand and comprehend the power of Jesus Christ's resurrection? How many Christians are allowing themselves to be energized and governed by that same power in their daily lives?

    There are two great verses in Philippians, chapter three, concerning the power of the resurrection. In Philippians 3:10 we read, ''that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection." In Philippians 3:21 we read, "who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body" (NIV). The first verse concerns the power of the resurrection enjoyed and revealed morally. The second concerns the power of the resurrection enjoyed and revealed physically. Therefore, the resurrection has a moral as well as physical aspect.

    One day the believers will exhibit Christ's physical glory in resurrection; Philippians 3:21, "who shall change [transform or change the fashion of] our vile body [body of humiliation], that it may be fashioned like [to be conformed] unto his glorious body [the body of glory]." Ken Taylor has paraphrased this verse thusly: "When He comes back He will take these dying bodies of ours and change them into glorious bodies like His own ... " This truth assures believers of immortality (see also 1 Corinthians 15:14-20,51-53, and 2 Corinthians 5:1-61). After penning the truth in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, concerning the resurrection of the saints in this dispensation, Paul concluded by saying, "Wherefore comfort one another with these words" (v.18.). The truth of immortality is a tremendous comfort to the child of God.

    But in Philippians 3:10, the power mentioned assures the believer of justification (Rom. 4:24,25; 1 Corinthians 15:17). To be justified means to be declared righteous because of the imputation of divine righteousness (Rom. 3:24,25; 2 Corinthians 5:21). This justification brings "peace with God;" "Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God" (Rom. 5:1 ).

    Secondly, the power in this verse raises up the believer spiritually with Christ. How? By identification (Rom. 6:3,4; Col. 2:12).

    Thirdly, the power allows the believer to triumph over sin and produce the fruit of the Spirit in his/ her life. The Greek word translated ''to know" in Philippians 3:10 means ''to know by experience." Paul wanted the same power surging through his own being, that raised Christ from the dead, which helps believers over-come sin in their lives and produces the Christian graces. The Greek word for power in this verse is dunamis.

    There are two aspects to this Greek word; one relates to that which overcomes resistance (Rom. 6:6, 14, 17, 18.), our word dynamite; the second refers to inherent power, the power to reproduce itself (Gal. 2:20; 5:22,23), our word dynamo.

    What power was it that raised Christ from the dead? According to Romans 8:11 it was the Holy Spirit. How do we, then, appropriate this resurrection power? By faith--(Eph.1:15,16,19,20) and by yielding to the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18; Rom. 6:13, 16). It is said of the disciples in Acts 1:8 that they would receive power "after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you." You and I, as children of God, have this power continually at our disposal in this dispensation of grace because of the presence of the Holy Spirit indwelling our bodies (1 Cor. 6:19).

    One of the great tragedies of the Christian life is unrealized, and therefore unused, power. As we will exhibit Christ's physical glory in resurrection, so should we exhibit His moral glory in daily conduct. So often we are willing to believe a divine fact (physical resurrection) but are not willing to be energized and governed by the same divine fact (power for victorious living). Philippians 3:10 must be true in your life before Philippians 3:21can be a hope. Remember, resurrection is a demonstration of Christ's power and Calvary is a demonstration of Christ's love (Rom. 5:6-8.).

Unknown Author

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FAITH IN THE RIGHT PERSON
By C. R. Stam



Abraham’s faith in God was strong. When God called him to forsake his family, friends and country, he obeyed and "went forth, not knowing whither he went." When God promised to multiply his seed as the stars of heaven, he believed it, though childless. When, in his old age, God  promised that he would still have a son by ninety-year-old Sarah, he believed it even though he had waited so long, seemingly in vain. When God promised to give his seed the land in which he had sojourned, he believed it, though all reason argued against it. When God asked him to offer in sacrifice the son born so late in life, the son upon whom all the promises depended, he obeyed, concluding that it must be God’s plan to raise him from the dead!

Such was Abraham’s faith in God! Three times this is emphasized in Romans 4 alone: He was "not weak in faith" (Ver. 19); he "staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief," but was "strong in faith" (Ver. 20). But it was not the strength of Abraham’s faith that saved him; it was the fact that the object of his faith was God (See again Gen. 15:6). He had placed his faith in the right Person. His faith became "strong" only because he had heard and believed God in the first place.

"For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness," and thus  "to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness" (Rom. 4:3,5).

The simplest, humblest believer, who ever so feebly commits himself to God and His Word, is "justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:24).

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THE 400 SILENT YEARS BETWEEN THE TESTAMENTS
Part 1
by Dr. Timothy F. Conklin


In the broad scope of the biblical perspective of the history of humankind, we fully realize God's intended kingdom on earth through Adam and his progeny was overthrown in the Garden of Eden by Satan's wiles. The Devil usurped the scepter of rule from Adam and became the master of the world system, wresting it from Divine oversight to demonic dominance.

Nonetheless, in God's eternal plan, He provided the way and the means for the continuance of the people of God amidst the broken and shattered and anti-God governance all around them. These two diametrically opposed systems are often referred to as the Kingdom of God versus the Kingdom of Man (understanding that the Kingdom of Man is under the sway of Sin and Satan).

From Adam forward, the people, of God were represented by extraordinary and faithful patriarchs who passed along as best they could the truths of God to their families.

When the Devil's devices became nearly universal in their deception and disruption of God's truth, God called Abram to become the progenitor of not merely a family but a nation. The covenant God gave Abraham and the subsequent nation of Israel, continued and enhanced an alternative biblical counter-culture antithetical to the Kingdom of Man.

The Kingdom of God was manifested, then, through promises, traditions and special revelation sustained by individuals and families and then through prescriptive laws and principles and prophets through the covenanted privileges of Israel.

During this time God had clearly revealed and exhibited to humankind His framework for a godly society and lifestyle. The biblical framework for life given in the Old Testament is evident and abundant. Psalm 1 is an excellent summary of key features of biblical godliness.

But at the close of the Old Testament, the nation of Israel collapsed in rebellion and unbelief, first ignoring and then rejecting the foundational truths God had revealed to them, and through them to the world.

Continued tomorrow

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THE 400 SILENT YEARS BETWEEN THE TESTAMENTS
Part 2 of 4
by Dr. Timothy F. Conklin


Consequently, between the Book of Malachi, the last Scripture of the Old Testament----and the Book of Matthew--- the first in the New Testament---there is a period of 400 silent years.

This period of "silence" is twofold. First, in the sense that God gave no public manifestations of His power or presence. Secondly, in the sense God withheld during this era any further Divine revelation in written form.

Considering this, the great question is, "Why?"

The answer seems to be that humanity, having rejected in disbelief the absolutes and the principles God gave in the Old Testament, were then left to grope and flounder after "the meaning of life" utilizing only their own human resources.

This period after the close of the Old Testament and before the birth of Jesus Christ reflects the profoundest search for the ultimate meaning of "truth" and "life" the unaided autonomous human intellect has ever made.

Suddenly, seven world religions appeared within fifty years of each other. In the Middle East, Zoroastrianism; in India, Jainism, Buddhism and Hindu reforms; and China, Taoism and Confucianism; within Israel, the development of Judaism.

Furthermore, this era became the "Golden Age" of Greece and the great western philosophers;
Pericles, Zeno, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, et al.

All these religions and philosophies had one thing in common---they emphasized Man as Savior. Some were pessimistic and irrational, stressing the illusory character of the human ego and the limitations of human thought; one is saved by losing individual desire altogether. Others were optimistic and rational stressing ethics and doing good; one is saved by good works.

For philosophy, reasoning after "truth" became the paramount pursuit, while pursuing holiness was ignored or forgotten altogether. It was no longer a matter of faith in divine revelation, but merely a quest for new lines of intellectual inquiry.

Continued tomorrow

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THE 400 SILENT YEARS BETWEEN THE TESTAMENTS
Part 3 of 4
by Dr. Timothy F. Conklin


Greek philosophy taught humankind there was no faith, no hope no certainty because nothing is quite true---the only wise course is to doubt everything. The scholar replaced the prophet, and reason took the place of revelation. It was a time of disillusionment and pessimism.

Both religion and philosophy became models of an exalted humanism. Deny self and desire and become one with nothing, or embrace everything and live without restraint.  Suicide or annihilism on the one hand; debauchery and orgy on the other.

So, Apart from his sovereign providence, God withdrew Himself in the years between the Testaments immediately preceding the birth of Jesus Christ. He was "silent" as He allowed human- kind to wrestle mightily with his own resources to unravel the ultimate meaning of life. But such meaning, as he had already so powerfully revealed in the Old Testament, cannot be found until humankind has first come personally face to face with their God.

When one abandons God, one abandons hope and hopelessness becomes an inescapable fact of life. The "Golden Age" of human achievement was permitted to run its course in order that God might show in the most dramatic terms the inability of humankind to discover the meaning of life without the aid of Divine revelation.

"Both Zeno and Clenanthes (his successor in the school of Stoics) committed suicide. Tacitus, Suetonius, Pliny, Seneea, and many other writers of the times underscored the frequency of suicide under the empire. In Trajan's time, suicide had become almost a national pastime; the number of Latin phrases to describe it accordingly multiplied to an extraordinary degree! The more violent solution was essentially Roman but even in Greece it had led to such a total resignation to the 'bludgeonings of chance that men in the end either sought  to escape the hurts and cruelties of fate and the boredom of life by allowing them- selves no feelings whatsoever (which is Stoicism), or by abandoning all restraint and adopting a policy of eating and drinking and being merry and living only for the pleasure of the moment (which Epicureanism).

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THE 400 SILENT YEARS BETWEEN THE TESTAMENTS
Part 4 of 4
by Dr. Timothy F. Conklin


"Meanwhile in India, by a different route, the same basic problem led to a rather similar kind pessimistic solution---the goal being individual extinction, not by suicide, but by the destruction of all personal desire, the achievement of Nirvana. This was the annihilation of individual identity" (which is Nihilism).

"Such then was the fruit of philosophy uncorrected and unenlightened in its development by revelation. The search for the meaning of life was a dismal failure and resulted in almost universal pessimism. The answer was suicide or abandonment of all self-restraint or the negation of all human responsiveness. It was really the annihilation of man as man, while God was both unknown and unknowable." (Arthur Custance).

This is what the apostle Paul wrote in I Corinthians 1:20-21...

"Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age?  Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe."

When God had allowed the world to become completely ready-- "in the fullness of time" Galatians 4:4-- God broke His silence with the revelation of Him Who alone was "the way, the truth and the life." Then and only then was hope restored to a world which seemed to have accepted hopelessness as an inescapable fact of life. Into this morass comes Jesus, who said '"

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you
and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy
and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:30)

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JUST WHAT IS THE CHRISTIAN LIFE?


   Is the Christian life just a process of believing the Christian doctrines, going to church, doing our "bit" for the church and Jesus?Is that it?

    Sad to say, that is about all that "it" is for many. Is this what God had in mind when He gave His only Son to die on a cross? If it is,then all the facts which we believe with incredible tenacity are nothing more than evangelical fiction.

    Jesus didn't die on a cross to give us facts of history, or His story, as some have said. He gave us the facts concerning Himself in order that the facts would function within and through us. The question that looms large in my mind is, "How do these facts function?" How can I as a believer have the fact of His indwelling function within me?

    Ready? Here's how! Paul, the apostle, writing to the Thessalonians in his first epistle, chapter 5, verse 18 says, "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."This is not a suggestion of something we might think about as a good idea. This is an imperative, a command.

    How can we possibly "Give thanks in every situation," you ask? I know of only one way. In the knowledge that He, the Lord Jesus, is in absolute control of every circumstance with which we will ever be confronted.

    We have the privilege of thanking Him in advance for what He is going to do. We can rest in His ability in response to our availability.

    There is a catch. Verse 19 of 1 Thessalonians 5, "Quench not the Spirit." Ominous words. Within the context, how does one "quench the Spirit?" Quite simply, by not giving thanks. Another way to put it is to grumble and complain. We cannot give thanks and whine at the same time. It is impossible.

If we want the activity of God to cease in our life, all we need to do is grumble and complain.

[nChrist]

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From Grace And The Truth Ministries
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SECOND THESSALONIANS
by James Krieg

2 Th: 3, 4. "Lest anyone might deceive you according to any manner. Because the day of the Lord cannot come except that the apostasy might come first and the man of lawlessness might be revealed, the son of destruction, the one who opposes and lifts himself over everything being called god or holy to the extent that he sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God."

In verses 1 and 2 we found that a forged letter was sent to Thessalonica proporting that the Great Tribulation had already started. This disturbed many people concerning their understanding of the coming of the Lord.

The second half of verse 3 and verse 4 do not make a complete sentence if translated word for word from the Greek text. We need to bring down the thought of "the day of the Lord" from verse 2. Therefore I have included it in my translation but in light print.

The meaning of the revelation of the man of lawlessness is virtually undisputed. So, we will examine this first, and it will help us most accurately know what "the apostasy" is.

Verse 4 tells us that this man will lift himself above everything called god or holy and sit down in the temple of God to prove that he is god. This corresponds perfectly to Daniel 11:36.

(Dan 11:36) Then the king will do as he pleases, and he will exalt and magnify himself above every god, and he will speak monstrous things against the God of gods, and he will prosper until the indignation is finished, for that which is decreed will be done. (NASV)

Speaking of the same event Daniel says:

Dan 11:31. And forces from him will arise, desecrate the sanctuary fortress, and do away with the regular sacrifice. And they will set up the abomination of desolation. (NASV)

The abomination of desolation is when this man of lawlessness sits in the temple, and we see that coincide with the doing away of the regular sacrifice. Daniel 9:27 tells us that this will happen in the middle of the seven year tribulation.

Dan 9:27. And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a great destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who make desolate. (NASV)

In Daniel 9:27 we see an event that precedes the abomination. "He will make a covenant with the many for one week." This event begins the last week, that is, the seven years of tribulation, the Day of the Lord. Who are "the many"? In the context of Daniel we are only dealing with the nation of Israel, Jews. They will turn away from God and sign a covenant with the man of lawlessness. This helps us understand the "apostasy" in Thessalonians.

The word "apostasy" is a transliteration from "ano" (from) and  (to stand); hence, a standing from. Acts 21:21 is the only other time this noun is used in the New Testament. "They told concerning you [Paul] that you teach apostasy [to forsake (KJV)] from Moses."

But the word is used in the Septuagint and always depicts a "standing from" God: Joshua 22:22, rebellion toward God; 2 Chron. 28:19, departure from God; 2 Chron. 33:19, unfaithfulness; Jeremiah 2:19, wickedness.

Kenneth Wuest gives the translation of "departure," that is, the departure of the church (1 Thess. 4:13-18.), emphasizing the basic meaning.  This is an interesting thought and a possible interpretation. But every time the word is used, it has a negative connotation, so I favor the concept of apostasy or rebellion.

Kittle says that this is an apostasy by Christians. But nowhere else does the Bible speak of Christians, the Body of Christ, going into such an apostate condition.

Based on the dominant usage meaning of "anoaraala" (apostasy, rebellion) and the close association by context with the event that marks the middle of the Tribulation, we must conclude that the apostasy is the very event that marks the beginning of the Tribulation; the Jews "make a firm covenant" with the man of lawlessness (Dan. 9:27) and rebel in apostasy from God. (cf. Daniel 11:23; "make an alliance")

In the first half of the Tribulation, relative calm will exist (Dan. 11:23, 24), but in the middle, after the man of lawlessness exalts himself above everything called god (Dan. 11:36, 37), God will rain His wrath down upon the earth. It will be a time of great horror (Dan. 12:1, 2).

This is the horror with which the pseudo apostles hope to shake the Thessalonians.

So, let's see where we are in chapter 2. Paul asks the Thessalonians not to be shaken by false information to the effect that the Day of the Lord has started and is continuing lest they be deceived. They should know that the apostasy must come first (npwrov), the signing of the covenant with the man of lawlessness, the event that begins the seven year countdown of the Tribulation. And then, three and one-half years later, this man will be revealed when he sets himself in the temple of God.

Since the Thessalonians had seen neither of these events, they did not have to fear that they were in the midst of the Day of the Lord and especially His wrath upon the earth.

The same is true today. Unless you see these events, you need have no fear that you are in the middle of God's wrath upon the earth. And it will become clear in the ensuing verses that no member of the Body of Christ will ever see either one of these events.

On the other hand, those who do not know Christ have only this fearful expectation before them. Only Jesus Christ can rescue from the wrath to come (1 Thess. 1:10).