GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

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More 0n "IN"
By Pastor Paul Hume


A while back we spent some time looking at the use of the big-little word 'in' as it relates to the believer being 'in Christ Jesus'. The emphasis in this truth is that God brings the sinner 'out' and 'into.' He takes the believer 'out of darkness', and places him 'into His marvelous light' (I Peter 2:9). How assuring it is to realize again and again that 'by His doing you are in Christ Jesus' (I Cor. 1:30), We shall never - even in the ages to come - cease to be in this wonderful Place!

Now we want to look at another aspect of the truth which employs this little preposition. It relates to Christ being 'IN YOU, the hope of glory' (Col. 1:27). The moment we receive Christ by faith, Christ by the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within our hearts. Several truths cluster here, and we want to note some of them.

CHRIST HIMSELF IS IN EVERY BELIEVER. So declare the Scripture of truth! Listen to these words: 'And if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit  is alive because of righteousness' (Romans 8:10), 'My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you' (Galatians 4:19). 'I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who. live, but Christ lives in me' (Galatians 2: 20). 'So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith' (Ephesians 3:17). 'But Christ is all and in all (who are saved)' (Colossians 3:11). 'But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts' (I Peter 3:15). These passages tell us something tremendous. Jesus Christ, by the Spirit, is actually within every true Christian! Just as we have blood in our veins and a heart by which it is pumped, so Christ is within our hearts from the moment we were regenerated until the day we die or are raptured into glory; and even in the ages to come Christ will still be in us, and we'll be in Him.

We often are not conscious of His being within, and we do not always have feelings indicating He is dwelling within us. But nevertheless, he is there - all the time. And we are to act upon His dwelling within by faith based on the 'sure promises' of the Word of God. Do you?

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS IN EVERY BELIEVER. This is clearly declared in the New Testament: 'Guard through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us the treasure (good deposit) which has been entrusted to you' (II Timothy 1:14). 'Or do you not know that your body is a temple (sanctuary) of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?' (I Cor. 3:16.) 'And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba! Father!' (Gal. 4:6.) 'However you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of God, he does not belong to Him' (Romans 8:9). 'The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God' (Romans 8:16). We could add more passages but these should suffice. Here is a marvelous fact: GOD ALMIGHTY, IN THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, LIVES IN THE CHRISTIAN!! How this ought to revolutionize our Christian lives!! Not only is God 'with' me, He is IN me!


     'As lives the flow'r within the seed,
      As in the cone the tree,
      So, praise the God of truth and grace,
      His Spirit dwelleth in me.'

Grace, Peace and Love, Pastor

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Three Things New
in Our Present Dispensation Today Part 1 of 3
By Pastor Art Sims


One of the most important teachings any Christian can learn is that we today are living under a program of God that is called "the dispensation of the grace of God." The apostle Paul explained this in Ephesians chapter 3.

We are able to see, in this portion of Scripture, that "the dispensation of the grace of God" pertains to the status that Gentiles now have. This was revealed by our Lord Jesus Christ in the ministry of the apostle Paul. It was a mystery, never before made known, but was revealed and recorded in his ministry for our knowledge and joy in this dispensation.


Three Great Facts


Three great facts are specified in verse 6 of Ephesians chapter 3 that sum up the mystery of this dispensation. We will focus upon these three items. As we do, it is good to know that the word "fellowheirs" means joint-heirs, "same body" is joint-body and "partakers" is joint-partakers. This is because an important prefix is included with these words.

1. Joint-heirs (sukleronoma)
2. Joint-Body (sumssoma)
3. Joint-partakers (summmetocha)

Equality, togetherness! That's what these words are about. In contrast to the way things used to be, Gentiles are now fully equal, being joint-heirs in a joint-Body as well as joint-partakers of God's promise in Christ by the gospel. These realities distinguish our situation today from the way things were in former times.


Three Things New


Let us consider then, these three areas of truth. We will take the last item first because partaking of God's promise in Christ by the gospel ranks first in our experience. But of course, as soon as we partake of the gospel these other things immediately become true of us. But we will consider these items beginning with the fact that Gentiles today are joint-partakers of the truth of God.


I. Joint-partakers

This most certainly is different from the way things used to be. In former times, Gentiles were secondary partakers. Indeed, they were like "dogs," waiting for the Jews to "first be filled." We see this in Mark chapter 7 where a Gentile woman came to our Lord Jesus Christ, requesting a favor from Him. He said to her.

"Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs." Mark 7 :27

That woman's response to this was tremendous. She agreed. "Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs." For this, the request she sought was granted. But clearly, the words spoken to her by our Lord Jesus Christ show that Gentiles, at that time, were not equal with the Jews.

Another text where this is evident is in Acts chapter 3 where the apostle Peter, preaching to his own people, the Jews, put it this way. 25  "Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed." 26 "Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities."  Acts 3:25,26

How clear this really is. "Unto you first," Peter said. They were the chosen nation of God and priority over others belonged to them.

The apostle Paul also acknowledged this same thing. When he preached to the Jews in Acts chapter 13, he said,
"It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge
yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles." Acts 13:46

These statements establish beyond question that, in time past, Jewish people definitely had priority rights over other people as first-partakers of God's truth.

But this has been changed. Now, in the dispensation of the grace of God, Gentiles are joint-partakers of the gospel, equal with the Jews. No longer, therefore, are the Gentiles "far off " but "nigh" (Eph. 2:13), 'and the Jews who "were nigh" (Eph. 2:17) no longer have priority rights over anyone else. Rather, "both have access by one Spirit unto the Father" (Eph. 2:18.) being "joint-partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel" (Eph. 3:6).

What wonderful grace this is! In no way was it deserved. But God has declared that the Gentiles are now "nigh" (Eph. 2:13). No longer, therefore, do Gentiles wait in line behind the Jews. Everybody is the same! Of course, Jewish people are still welcome to be saved, but just the same as everyone else. No more priority for anybody. Equality! That's what we have today in the dispensation of the grace of God.


Continued tomorrow

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TREASURED TRIALS
By Miles Stanford


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

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

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

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

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

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

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WHAT ABOUT ME, AND THE FUTURE?
by C. R. Stam

Is it not amazing that men who can produce intricate electronic mechanisms, build giant sky-scrapers, fly men to the moon and back -- is it not amazing that such men often do not even know what will finally become of themselves! And what is more amazing still is that most of them do not even try seriously to find out.

They are intelligent enough to plan carefully for the future where temporal affairs are concerned, but foolish enough to neglect their eternal welfare. They make plans for themselves in case they become ill and need additional funds for surgery, medicine and hospital care. They even make plans for their loved ones in case of death and bereavement, but fail to ask themselves: "What will become of me after death?"

Daily "the wise of this world" witness the truth of Hebrews 9:27, that "it is appointed unto men once to die", and most of them know that the Bible adds: "after this the judgment". They may hope that this is but a false alarm, but they do not know. They can only wonder and worry. Hebrews 2:15 declares that "through fear of death" they are "all their lifetime subject to bondage". Like Adam, they run and hide from God instead of running to Him and asking: "What must I do to be saved?" Too cowardly to face up to their own grave, no hope beyond the tomb -- too afraid, generally, to even discuss death.

The believer in the Word of God is not left thus in the dark. He glories in the truth of the passages from which we have quoted in part above. We quote them now in full:

Hebrews 2:14,15: "Forasmuch then as the children [of Adam] are partakers of flesh and blood, He [Christ] also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

"And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."

Hebrews 9:27,28: "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.

"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without [lit., "apart from"] sin unto salvation."

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Three Things New
in Our Present Dispensation Today Part 2 of 3
By Pastor Art Sims


2. A joint-Body


The second great fact in Ephesians 3:6 is that Gentile believers are now joint-members of the same spiritual Body with all other believers in this day of grace. This means, of course, that Gentiles not only have equal access to God as Joint-partakers of the gospel, but more than this, upon believing the gospel, Gentiles become joint-members of the Church, the Body of Christ.

Thinking again about "time past, we know, that Gentiles worshipped God as strangers among the people of God. They had no hope of their own and a secondary status among the people of God was all they could expect. They became proselytes of Judaism and worshipped God as second class people in the religious life of the nation of Israel (See Numbers 15:14,26, Deut. 14:21, 23:20, 31:12, Acts 2:10). It is striking to read what a difference there used to be between the Jews and the Gentiles. An example is that the Jews were not allowed to eat the flesh of animals that died on their own whereas the Gentiles among them were allowed to eat those things. Deut. 14:21

Ye shall not eat of any thing that dieth of itself: thou shalt give it unto the stranger that is in thy gates, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto an alien: for thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God.

But today, things are not that way at all. Rather, in this present dispensation Gentiles are fully equal, being joint-members of the same Body with all other believers. This is far more than simply being included. According to Ephesians 2:15, God is now taking Gentiles who believe in Christ and Jewish people who believe in Him, and of these two, is making "one new man." In Colossians 3:10 and 11 we learn that, in this "new man," there is "neither" Gentile nor Jew but that Christ Himself is all in all. Thus, the Body of Christ is indeed a joint-Body. Fleshly distinctions no longer count within it.

What happens, as people become members of this joint-Body, is somewhat similar to an idea expressed by one preacher, who said, "There won't be any Baptists in heaven." He didn't mean, of course, that no one who has ever been a Baptist will be allowed into heaven, but rather that Baptists, after they get to heaven, won't be Baptists anymore. That's how it is with the Body of Christ. Individuals enter this Body as Gentile and Jewish sinners, but then, within this Body those fleshly distinctions disappear. We know this because, according to Colossians 3:11, there is "neither" Gentile nor Jew, but all are spiritually equal in the Church, the Body of Christ.

In our flesh we do have our differences and we have responsibilities before God with regard to these differences (children, parents, husbands, wives, etc.) But our position in the Church, the Body of Christ, is something else. Here, we are the same and this sameness should cause us to value and appreciate one another very much.

Again, what wonderful grace this is! No longer are Gentiles second class believers but fully equal in the Church, the Body of Christ.

Continued tomorrow

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Three Things New
in Our Present Dispensation Today Part 3 of 3 Conclusion
By Pastor Art Sims


3. Joint-heirs


One more great fact in Ephesians 3:6 is that there is a joint-inheritance that we share. Many teachings are presented in the Bible about the inheritance that God provides for His people. All believers, for example, inherit the righteousness of God (Gal. 3:6,7,18,29). In addition to this, the Jews have an inheritance promised to them, a land with special blessings guaranteed to them as descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But today, in the new dispensation of God, there is another inheritance, a joint-inheritance which all believers share together.

One thing our joint-inheritance guarantees to us is a glorified body for every member of the Body of Christ, a physical body suitable for future activities throughout the heavens (Eph.1:14, 23, Phil. 3:21). God's Holy Spirit has been given to us as the earnest of this inheritance (Eph. 1:14).

Our joint-inheritance also includes rank for us and opportunities in the heavenly realm where Christ, our Head, is seated at the right hand of God (Eph. 1:18-23, Col. 1:12). It is very interesting to note that our Lord Jesus Christ, as Head of the Church, is going to reconcile all thrones, dominions, principalities and powers in both the heavens and the earth to their rightful place (Col. 1:16-20). Since it is as Head of the Church that He is going to do this, we can expect that at least some members of His Body will reign with Him in these realms. In Colossians 3:24, Paul refers to "the reward of the inheritance." We should realize, therefore, that our faithfulness to God now will be of tremendous value to us in that day.

All the wonderful things our Lord is now doing, and that He will yet accomplish through the members of His joint-Body, the Church, are exceptional displays of His grace. Not only are we saved by grace, but more than this, we are seated together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:5-7). These heavenly riches of grace belong to us by means of our joint-inheritance. Thrilling, unprecedented riches, never before revealed, but now made known for our knowledge and joy in this present day of grace!

According to Paul in Ephesians 3:10, heavenly beings are learning about the manifold wisdom of God by means of this present dispensation. There are many people on earth, neglecting and ignoring these things. But in heaven they are not ignored. How marvelous it is that the angels of God appreciate the unprecedented truth of God concerning the Body of Christ. They already knew about the nation of Israel and the earth but now by means of God's program today they know about a new Body of people, positionally seated in heaven. They observe with great interest as this Body is readied for its actual entrance into heaven where Christ, as the Head of this Body, will reign over all things. All these matters wonderfully fit together "according to God's eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Eph. 3:10,11).

These things are worth knowing. Obviously, God has put His truth concerning the dispensation of the grace of God into the Bible because He wants us to know it. We should seek to properly understand it, and in accord with Ephesians 3:9, we should desire, just as the apostle Paul did, "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."

What a joy it is to be living today in the dispensation of the grace of God. How fortunate we are to be joint-members of the Church, the Body of Christ. What a thrill it is to know that glorious things surpassing our comprehension await us because of the special order administered by our heavenly Father in this present day of grace.

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UNITY  OF DESIGN
By Miles Stanford



"So now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death" (Phil. 1:20).

If we look to other Christians as examples to follow, we will soon be discouraged by the prevailing low standard. If we look to Christ as our example, we will be utterly discouraged because of His infinitely high standard. Hence it is essential that we understand that the Lord Jesus Christ is our life; He is not a legal example to emulate, but the source of life from which we grow.

"It is not in any conventional standard of frames and feelings that the disciple is to find the measure of attainment required of him. It is not by any painful reproducing of another's spiritual history that he is to acquire the true comfort of spirit which he longs for. Outward imitation, though it be of the perfect Example Himself, has little place in the order of spiritual growth ---little place because little possibility. 'Without Me (i.e., apart from Me, in separation from Me) ye can do nothing.' To abide in Christ is the only secret of Christ likeness; for only thus is obtained the likeness of unity, which is perfect and enduring, instead of the likeness of conformity, which is only partial and transient." --- A.J.G.

"In the pathway of discipline and trial we learn by bitter experience the truth of Paul's confession, 'In me ... in my flesh dwelleth no good thing.' Coupled with that is the lesson that God waits with infinite patience, like the potter, to work out a design of grace and beauty with such frail material." --- M.H.F.

"And He is the head of the body, the church; who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in all things He might have the preeminence" (Col. 1:18.).

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BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST
By Pastor Joel Finck

Scripture Reading: Romans 6:3 & 4

It is truly sad that one of the most precious truths of Scripture is also one of the least understood. The truth we are referring to is the believer's identification with Christ.

In today's text (Rom. 6:3, 4) we read of our baptism into Christ. Unfortunately, most commentators, and therefore most Christians, do not understand the true meaning of "baptism." To these, baptism always means "water," but the original word actually means "identification." This can be demonstrated from I Corinthians 10:2, "And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea." The children of Israel were not made wet in the sea, but they were identified with Moses' leadership through the Red Sea experience.

Likewise, when we trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, the Holy Spirit baptizes (identifies) us into the Body of Christ (I Cor. 12:13). This is why Romans 6:3 says we "were baptized (identified) into his death." This means Christ's death for our sins is made effective in our life. Next, we are identified with His burial ("buried with him by baptism into death" Rom. 6:4a). When Christ's human body laden with the sins of the world was put away in that tomb, its as though we were there, too. Finally, we are identified with His resurrection "that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk in newness of life" (Rom. 6:4b).

How tragic that many Christians miss these blessed truths, and substitute a man-made water ceremony for true, spiritual baptism.

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The Kingdom Reign Of Christ
by Pastor C. R. Stam



       The Kingdom Reign of Christ, often called the Millennium, is, of course, still future, but even this dispensation will commence with a clear indication that our Lord’s beneficent reign will not change the unregenerate heart. Man is still a failure.

This will be evident from the fact that to put the rebellion down our Lord will have to “break” the nations “with a rod of iron” and “dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel” (Psa. 2:9). Indeed, He will have to “rule them with a rod of iron” (Rev. 2:27). It is not strange, then, that we read in Revelation 20:7-9:

“And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

“And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle:the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

“And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.”

This final rebellion is followed by the casting of Satan and all unbelievers into the lake of fire and the bringing in of the new heavens and the new earth in which all the reconciled find their all in Christ(Rev. 20:10-21:1; Eph. 1:9,10; Col. 1:19,20). It is interesting and instructive to see in the book of Revelation how the Lamb slain occupies the center of the glory of the universe. Not one saint from any age will ever boast of his own righteousness in that day. All will acknowledge their own unworthiness and proclaim the praises of the One who died that they might live and be justified and gloried. And even the unsaved and all demons and angels will acknowledge Jesus as Lord in that day. Because He humbled Himself and submitted Himself to “even the death of the cross… God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name:

“THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, OF THINGS IN HEAVEN, AND THINGS IN EARTH, AND THINGS UNDER THE EARTH;


“AND THAT EVERY TONGUE SHOULD CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD,TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER” (Phil. 2:8-11).

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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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"REALIZING OUR RICHES"
By late Pastor Lloyd Peterson



   This is an article that I kept from years back in fact the date was  April 29, 1973, and thought it bears repeating at this time. This was written by my Pastor.   I pray that it will bless you as it has me for years. Paris

"To my thinking the richest verse in the Bible for the believer is Ephesians 1:3, 'Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ' (or more accurately - 'in the heavenlies'). Why we, as members of the body of Christ, do not show forth more radiantly our eternal heritage, I do not know. Maybe it is because we have eyes too fixed on time's boundaries rather than God's eternity and His purpose. The context of this tremendous verse reveals that we were chosen of God for an eternal purpose and ministry. 'Chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world' Verse 4. (The church is always referred to as such; Israel, 'from the foundation of the world.') There is then design and purpose in God's saving us. It is an eternal purpose and ministry. Life's little day soon ends and we pass on, but in passing on it is to some ministry beyond the sunset of time. What it is we have never been told for the Bible is principally the history of redemption. This puts the believer today in a high calling. It should be a great outlook; for each of us 'is necessary.'

   Paul declares in 1 Corinthians 12:22 'Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary.' As the redeemed we should with the great apostle declare, Blessed by God.' We, however, do not always pray that way - rather we cry 'bless me' when He 'hath blessed us'.

   Again, the context reveals that we were 'chosen' and 'predestinated.' Why some saints are frightened when they hear of predestination, I'll never know. We should rejoice over it. I suppose the reason some become disturbed in this doctrine is because they read some things into it that should not be there. We start meddling in God's business. God has kept some things to Him-self. I'm glad that he has. Do you remember when Jesus told Peter about his, i.e. Peter's future? (See John 21:20.) Peter started doing just what we do. He said, speaking of John, 'What shall this man do?' Do you remember what Jesus said? He said, 'What is that to thee?' In our language it would be, 'That is not your business, you follow me.' Always remember dear child of God, that God has your interest at heart. You need never fear the truth of predestination, rather rejoice in it.

   There are two key words in Ephesians 1:4 which belong to verse 5. They are: 'in love.' Thus verse 5 reads as follows, 'In love having predestinated us.' It is 'to the good pleasure of His will' and 'to the praise of His glory' and 'according to the riches of His grace' and 'in all wisdom and prudence' which He purposed in Himself.'

   Space does not permit further exposition but read and reread Ephesians, Chapter 1. May we this week radiate the Savior's countenance. May the Holy Spirit help us to manifest the reflection of such a rich heritage. No doubt this week we shall more than once ask God to remove the hindrances in the way so that the Holy Spirit will well forth in our lives 'springs of living waters'. As a result of all this we shall better realize our riches in Christ Jesus.

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"HE THAT IS SPIRITUAL"
By C. R. Stam


"He that is spiritual judgeth [discerneth] all things, yet he himself is judged [discerned] of no man" (I Cor. 2:15).

The truly spiritual man is so far above the wisest sages of this world, yes, so far above the mass of Christians with whom he comes into contact, that he can understand them, but they can never quite understand him.

We should all long to be truly spiritual, but what is true spirituality?

In the Pauline Epistles the human race is divided, by the Spirit, into four classes: the natural man, the babe in Christ, the carnal Christian, and the spiritual Christian.

All four of these are referred to in one passage of Scripture (I Cor. 2:14—3:4) and it should be noted that they are classified according to their ability to appreciate and assimilate "the things of God" as revealed in His Word.

Through diligent, prayerful study of the Word, and with a sincere desire to obey it, the spiritual man has come to know God and the Lord Jesus Christ more and more intimately. Babes in Christ and carnal believers about him cannot "discern" him, simply because they have not come to know God as he. But he, having grown to spiritual maturity, quite understands them. He is among those of whom it is written:

"But strong meat [solid food] belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Heb. 5:14).

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GRACE AND GOOD WORKS
By Pastor R. Hanna



Lest we mistakenly relegate the position of good works only to dispensations other than the dispensation of the grace of God, it will behoove us to take note of some of the apostle's admonitions as well as his personal example "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore WE LABOR, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him. FOR WE MUST ALL APPEAR BEFORE THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad" (2 Corinthians 5:8-10).

Note the terms, so clearly set forth. "If any man's work abide which he hath built (upon the foundation of Jesus Christ), he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned (having been "tried by fire), he shall suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved: yet so as by fire" (1 Corinthians 3:14-15). These words clearly delineate between loss of reward for lack of good works and loss of salvation, which is a free gift apart from good works.

Again offering his own personal example for our edification, "the apostle looks back over his career of service for Christ as he approaches the end of his mortal years. "I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing" (2 Timothy 4:6-8.).

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The True Battle
by Anabel Gillham


How I pray that these thoughts will be a source of strength to you, for you, and through you (and all of those are different). Ponder them carefully, prayerfully. Listen, the Lord is talking to you. . . .

Do you see that the Life in you that the enemy longs to crush is the same as it was when I threw him from Heaven? His battle is against Me—you are the battleground.

I am conforming your soul into the likeness of Christ. Because Satan, as the Deceiver, knows what that will mean for him, he uses all of his resources against that goal of Mine. He attacks through whatever circumstance he can to defeat My plan and so keep you from setting your mind on My provision for the battle. His goal is to keep you from becoming conformed to the image of My Son and to keep you from walking by faith.

You are no threat to Satan as you accept his lies and temptations, but as you come closer and closer to the image he battles more intensely. His goal is and always has been to crush Jesus Christ. That is why I provided a way for you to die and be "born again," thus creating your New Life in Christ Jesus. He is the One who will do battle. But you must let Him and trust Him.

Dear One, you are My creation. I dwell within you. You must begin to realize: The battle is Mine, not yours! I have delivered you.

Your salvation is in Christ Jesus . . .

His Life in you is your victory . . .

His strength is what will win the battle that rages against your mind as the enemy seeks to destroy—longs to destroy—the temple of God . . . YOU!

Psalms 25:4-5
John 16:33
Romans 8:28-29
I Corinthians 6:19
Ephesians 2:10
Philippians 4:13

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ABIDING FAITH
By M. Stanford


"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him" (Col. 2:6).

One day we came to Him in utter need and reliance, and received life. Every day we are to abide in Him in utter need and reliance, that He may live that life in and through us. We are born again by faith, and we are to live anew by faith. "He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5).

'There are earnest Christians who are zealous for a free Gospel, with acceptance of Christ, and justification by faith alone. But after this they think everything depends on their diligence and faithfulness. While they firmly grasp the truth, 'justified by faith,' they have hardly noticed the larger truth, 'the just shall live by faith.' They have not yet understood what a perfect Saviour the Lord Jesus is, and how He will each day do for the sinner just as much as He did the first day when they came to Him.

"They know not that the life of grace is always and only a life of faith, and that in the relationship to the Lord Jesus the one daily and unceasing duty of the disciple is to believe, because believing is the one channel through which Divine grace and strength can flow into the heart of man. The flesh  of the believer remains evil and sinful to the last; it is only as he daily comes, all empty and helpless, to his Saviour to receive of His life and strength, that he can bring forth the fruits of righteousness to the glory of God." - A.M.

"Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving" (Col. 2:7).