GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

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Are You Secure?
Part 3 of 4
By PAUL SADLER




OUR RELATIONSHIP

"And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the: of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father" (Gal. 4:6)

"In Whom we have redemption through His blood, even forgiveness of sins" (Col. 1: 14).

A father and a son had worked together for several, years when one day the son became disgruntled angrily approached his father. "Dad, I've had it. I don't like how you operate this business and I feel you have treated me unfairly. I plan to move hundreds of miles away, change my name, tear up my birth certificate and I never want to see you again!"

While the fellowship between the father and the son had been disrupted, because of the lad's sinful behavior, the son could never change the fact that he was still the son of his father. He could not alter the blood relationship he had with his father. Such relationships are irreversible for all of the days of one's life.

If you count this to be an indisputable fact (and it is), then you must also acknowledge the Scriptures when they instruct us that we have the same type of relationship, spiritually, with our Heavenly Father. The Word of God declares that we are the sons of God, which clearly indicates we have a relationship with God which we are bound to by the blood of Christ for all time and eternity. Since this relationship can never be broken, it can only mean that every believer in Christ is eternally secure!

But will some object that this teaching provides a license to sin? Quite the contrary! Which is better, a father who rules with a rod of iron demanding the letter of the law, or a father who out of love and respect is willingly obeyed? The latter of course, which also is in accord with the dispensation of grace. Because God has achieved so much on our behalf, it is out of love and respect for Him that we would not want to do anything that would bring disgrace to His Holy Name.

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Are You Secure?
Part 4 of 4
By PAUL SADLER




ETERNAL SECURITY

"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the Word of Truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.

"Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory" (Eph. 1:13, 14).

From this passage we learn that the Holy Spirit plays a vital role in the eternal security of every believer. The moment we have taken Christ as our personal Savior the Holy Spirit baptizes us into the Body of Christ, sealing us there for all eternity. We are not sealed with a mere circular impression as on a legal document, but rather the Scriptures disclose that the Holy Spirit Himself is the seal that secures us in the Body of Christ. As we have said before: when a woman seals jars of jelly with wax, the jellies are sealed by the woman, but with wax. The wax is the seal. Thus, according to Eph.1:13, believers are sealed ", .. with that Holy Spirit of promise, the Holy Spirit Himself keeping them safe forever.

During Biblical times when a ruler would fix a seal to a certain thing, whether it were a lion's den or a tomb, it was done to secure his decree, thus making it irrevocable. When the presidents persuaded King Darius to make a declaration against petitioning any God, the King was forced to place Daniel in the lion's den, sealing it with his own signet. The record informs us that the sealing with the King's signet was done, " ... that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel" (Dan, 6:16,17). If this is true in the affairs of men, how much more so in the affairs of God. Every believer has been sealed with the Holy Spirit, and this proclamation of God can never be reversed---we are safe and secure in the everlasting arms.

The Apostle Paul goes on in the Ephesian letter to show us that the earnest of the Spirit is the pledge or the down payment until the transaction is completed. To place earnest money down in Paul's day, as well as in our day, meant three things:

1)    It was a down payment which made the deal binding.
2)    It represented an obligation to purchase.
3)    It was a foretaste of what was to come.

When purchasing property it is a common practice to place a certain amount of earnest money down. This makes the deal binding and obligates the buyer to purchase the piece of land according to the terms of the contract. So it is with God. He has given us the earnest of the Spirit (the indwelling Spirit) as a down payment, which means He now has the obligation to honor His Word to complete the transaction. Thus, when the trump sounds God will claim His purchased possession ushering us home to be forever with Him (I Thess. 4:17).


THE BENEFITS OF BEING SECURE


The world can fall apart around us, but "if God be for us who can be against us?" In a world of uncertainty and chaos, the believer can rest assured that he belongs to the Lord, who is able to keep him until the day of redemption.

One of the many benefits of understanding the doctrine of Eternal Security is that it removes the fear of ever losing our salvation. Instead of finding ourselves in an emotional frenzy, wondering if we have gone too far in sinful behavior, we can rest in the truth that, by His grace, we are still safe and secure. This will motivate us to serve the Lord because He loves us. We then can devote all of our time and energy to carrying out the commands of Christ to the praise of his glory!


"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord"---Rom. 8:35,37-39.

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THE MIRACLE OF LOVE
by Robert Hanna

JESUS Christ, who is very God, thus addressed His disciples: "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you, Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:12,13). The magnitude of the love of God is beyond the scope of human comprehension. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

Obviously, the world is anything but lovable! Ergo, the evident meaning is that God showed forth such great love toward the world, that, despite their unregenerate condition, men might, upon believing, obtain eternal life. "For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:7,8.). How can we possibly conceive of such love! It would be impossible for us to generate equal love. "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins .... We love Him, because He first loved us" (1 John 4:10,19).

The central figure of the entire Word of God is Jesus Christ. And the total remedy for all of the ills of the world was effected by Him in the offering of Himself at Calvary, to suffer, bleed and die as the spotless lamb of the once-for-all sacrifice required to satisfy the demands of God's standard of justice. All this was accomplished by the exercise of God's love. The supreme teaching of the Scriptures must surely be the doctrine of love.

How appropriately does our Apostle so emphasize: "And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is LOVE" (1Cor. 13:13). Our motivation--our driving force--as saints of God, is His love. "For the love of Christ constraineth us ... " (2 Cor. 5:14). By the power of His love we are assured of ultimate victory. We are destined to suffer for Him in sundry ways, as members of His body ."Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Tim. 3:12). There will be losses and defeats and pain and trials. But "In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us" (Rom. 8:37).

The Apostle's personal testimony should be emulated by every saint of God. He passionately affirms, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith [fulness] of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me" (Gal. 2:20).

Our Apostle clearly defines the spiritual responsibility of the saint of God in testimony and witness. "Now the end of the commandment is love out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned" (1 Tim. 1:5) Having enumerated the proper behavioral characteristics of the faithful believer, Paul sums up with these words: "And above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness" (Col. 3:14).

We must continually reassess our compliance with the stipulations set forth by our Apostle. Are we preoccupied with our intellectual knowledge of Scripture? Do we present ourselves to others as superior and complacent and above reproach? Do we arrogantly contend for our personal opinion and demean those with whom we do not agree? We are admonished to avoid such behavior. "The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient. .. "(2 Tim. 2:24).

The Apostle Paul prays for us as members of the body of Christ, "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God" (Eph. 3:17-19).

How very true it is, that the love of Christ "passeth knowledge!" Our reciprocal love toward Him can never compare with His love to us. That kind of love is far beyond our capacity to understand or express. But we can pour out the love of which we are capable of returning from a heart full of the joy and peace bestowed by God's grace.

Lest we be tempted to be caught up with the illusion of self-worth, may we be ever mindful of these humble words of Paul: "Though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not  love, I am nothing" (1 Cor. 13:2).

"Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and WALK IN LOVE, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour" (Eph. 5:1,2).

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ARE YOUR TIME PRIORITIES STRAIGHT?
Part 1 of 2
by E. R. Campbell, Pastor



 What I want to share with you may also be called RIGHTLY DIVIDING YOUR TIME. Time is a fleeting commodity. It cannot be recaptured nor relived. The hands of the clock continually remind us that the present is becoming the irreversible past. In view of the fact that there is only one life to live and it will soon be past, Paul admonishes us to be busy redeeming the time (Eph. 5:16).

Our goal should be to know and do the will of God, i.e., to be in a right spiritual relation to Him. The answer to how we can attain this goal is found in the Bible. If we begin with the Book of Genesis and read through the Old Testament, we may become very frustrated for the examples of spiritual defeat far exceed the examples of even partial spiritual victory (Rom. 3:19-20). In fact, what we read in this part of the Bible might even cause us to give up our quest for a spiritual relation to God, for we could become disillusioned with the weakness of our flesh (Rom. 7:7-24; 8:3).

By the time we reach the New Testament we are convinced that there are no short cuts to spirituality. We are depressed as we read about Jesus' Twelve Disciples, for they too were far better acquainted with spiritual defeat than victory. Finally, hope of attaining our goal is revived as we read Second Corinthians 5:17: "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old things have passed away, behold, new things have come." This verse gives us the first glimpse of spiritual victory. The moment we exercise faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior we become a new creature, the basis for victory over the weakness of the flesh. By the grace of God, apart from all human effort, we are instantaneously transferred from an "in Adam" to an "in Christ" position. Forensically speaking, we are perfectly righteous and just in Christ in the heavenlies (Eph. 1:6; Col. 2: 10).

This new status is solely based upon the grace of God ---Christ's infinite sacrifice on Calvary (Eph. 1:6-7). The foundation for spirituality is the fact that we have been made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Cor. 5:21). God took the initiative in bringing us into this relation to Himself, for when we were dead in trespasses and sins, incapable of making the slightest movement toward God, He made us alive with Christ (Eph.2:5).

Now that we are spiritually alive with Christ, we are capable of both assuming and fulfilling responsibilities before God (1 John 5:11-12; Rom. 6:16). Our life with Christ in the heavenlies is to be manifest in our lifestyle upon the earth (Rom. 6:18-19). If we are truly alive in Christ, know how to express it, and have the physical ability to do so, there will be some degree of overt evidence of this life.

The Holy Spirit occupies a key position in this present age of Grace. In previous dispensations He had an objective with relation to men (Exodus 31:2-3), but in this dispensation of Grace He has a subjective in-relation to men (John 14:17). In Second Corinthians 3:6, Paul affirms that God qualifies us as "ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit makes alive." He confirms this same truth in Galatians 5:18, where he says that grace excludes the Law of Moses, i.e., "if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. " These two verses make it clear that the dispensations of Law and Grace are not to be confused. They are opposites, and to mix them is to make both ineffectual.

Granting that we are living in the dispensation of the Grace of God, and granting that the Holy Spirit is the Enlightener in this age, what body of truth does He use to enlighten us (Eph. 3:2)? The giving of the dispensation of the Law was inseparable from the giving of the Law itself (Exodus 19:4-8; 20:1-35:19). Likewise, the giving of the dispensation of Grace was inseparable from the giving of the truth by which it is to be governed (Eph. 3:3-12). This truth is commonly referred to as that which was previously unrevealed and hidden, hence, it is labeled the mystery. Prior to being revealed that truth was in mystery form, kept secret. After being revealed this truth was designated on the basis of what it was, thus Paul refers to it as THE MYSTERY. From the vantage point of the Mosaic Law, or the Old Testament, this was a feasible label, for it focused on new-previously-hidden truth.

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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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LIVING BY FAITH
By Pastor ROBERT E. HANNA,

Scripture Reading: Romans I: 17; Habakkuk 2:4

"Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the Lord your God. Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the Lord" (Leviticus 18:4,5). Such are the unquestionable and irrefutable conditions of life under the law. There were no exceptions stated, no shadows of meaning, no gray areas.

But notice another positive and unequivocal declaration---also the Word of God! "As many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live in them. CHRIST HATH REDEEMED US FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW, BEING MADE A CURSE FOR US: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree" (Galatians 3:10-13).

A seeming paradox! But our Apostle provides the answer.

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:23,24). "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith [provided by God for our justification] to faith [received by the believer as the enablement to walk pleasing to God]." "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak in the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh" (Romans 8:3).

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LET IT GET YOU DOWN
by C. R. Stam

"For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Eph. 3:14).

When adversity strikes, the world keeps telling us: "Don’t let it get you down," but believers in the Lord Jesus Christ have learned that it is good to let troubles and difficulties get them down -- down on their knees.

A native evangelist in Africa sat outside his hut discouraged and unhappy. Trouble and disappointment had brought "great coldness" into his heart and he seemed ready to give up. The Lord, he felt, had utterly forsaken him. As he sat there, though, his little girl kept nudging him and saying: "Daddy, go inside and pray ." Finally it worked! The evangelist went inside, poured his heart out to God and arose feeling sure that the Lord would see him through.

It is good for us to get down on our knees before God. There is no attitude more appropriate to the redeemed sinner. And as we pray, often falteringly....

"The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
"And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:26-28.).

"Be careful [anxious] for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding. shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:6,7).

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NOW NO CONDEMNATION
By M. Stanford


"Ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ, that ye should be married to another, even to Him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God" (Rom. 7:4).

Romans Six reveals our position as having died unto the principle of sin; Romans Seven teaches us our position as having died unto the principle of law. Both must be counted upon if we are to abide in Christ, and walk in the Spirit, as set forth in Romans Eight.

"We have to look at ourselves and see how far we are devotedly following the Lord Jesus, with full purpose of heart - how we can say, 'This one thing I do'; but we must take care at the same time not to get into legal bondage by this standard. If I say, 'Here is a rule of conduct: follow it,' this cannot reach the heart, the affections. The ministration of the letter brings only failure, and condemnation; for it prescribes a rule which man, being a sinner, can never follow. It does not change a man; it proves him 'ungodly and without strength.'

"We may turn even Christ into that letter of condemnation; we may take His life, for instance. and make it our law. Nay, we may turn even the love of Christ into our law; we may say, 'He has loved me, and done all this for me, and I ought to love Him, and do so much for Him, in return for this love,' etc. Thus if we turn His love into a rule of life, it becomes the ministration of condemnation."

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage" (Gal. 5:1).

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THE ADAMIC HERITAGE
By Pastor Bob Hanna

"There is none righteous, no, not one. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:10,23). Most believers think of these statements in the sense that because we have committed many sins, we must confess them and repent of them in order to attain salvation. In actuality, however, even if it were possible for one never to have sinned at all (which it is not) he would nevertheless be guilty and under condemnation, separated from God and in need of salvation. Most evangelical teaching is geared to pleading with God to forgive us for sins that we have committed. But the most important factor is either misunderstood or overlooked. The fact is that our condemnation is inherited from Adam.

"Wherefore as by one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: For until the law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of Him that was to come" (Romans 5:12-14). King David had knowledge of this condition. He said, "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me" (Psalm 51:5). As for the plea for forgiveness, this too is misunderstood by the majority of teachers, pastors and evangelists. To beg God for forgiveness is in fact a denial of His finished work of redemption on Calvary's cross. He has already forgiven; we have but to thank Him for it in order to claim it for ourselves.

Our apostle's message is clear: "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:12-14). "For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many" (Romans 5:15). "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift" ( II Corinthians 9:5).

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Christmas "What Does It Mean?"
By Nancy Faries
Evansville, Indiana



Our pastor is very fond of acrostics. So, I'm going to use one of his teaching techniques to talk about the special time of year called Christmas. Of course, the word "Christmas" means different things to different people. For example, it would mean something entirely different to the secular world than it would to spiritual believers.

C Let's consider the letter "C" to begin our illustration. This could stand for "commercial," which is the aspect the secular world emphasizes. For those in retail sales, this season is the biggest money maker of the year. Many merchants receive over 50% of their annual income during these days. At this time, too, gift giving usually becomes such an obsession for many that they end up displaying some very unChristian attitudes at the stores. But for those of us who have believed on Him, the "C," of course, refers to "Christ," Whose birth we are commemorating. The ancient prophets amazingly predicted His unique arrival hundreds of years before it happened. Isaiah says, "Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Emmanuel (meaning, "God with us" - cf. Matt. 1:22-23) " .. .For unto us a child is given ... and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace" (Isa. 7:14; 9:6). We now look back on this event in wonder and awe.

H is for the "Hurry, Hurry, Hurry of the Season." People go here, go there, do this, do that. It can become madness for those who miss the true point of it all. However, the "H" should be a reminder of "Heaven" that awaits those who are saved in this dispensation (Eph. 2:4-10; Phil. 3:20-21). It is a place of such utter peace and tranquility, that the earthly ills and frustrations caused by the frantic pace of this life will all be forgotten. This is why the Apostle Paul referred to it as "paradise" (II Cor. 12:2-4).

R stands for the "right" gift -- sometimes given for a wrong reason. In other words, some give gifts to win favor or to impress someone. Others simply give gifts mechanically, because it is the "thing" to do. Maybe that "R" should depict the only lasting "right" gift, which is the one that God gave in the Person of His Son. Romans 6:23 states, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. "

I The "I" could be the "icicles" of the winter season. This time of year marks the beginning of cold weather, which I personally dread. But to the spiritual person, the "I" might portray the fact that God the Son became an "infant" in order to qualify as man's Savior. Luke 2:11-12 declares: "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. " But in truth, it's not the "babe" we should remember so much as the life of the man He became - the One Who suffered and died for us (Rom. 5:6-8,15-19). That's why Paul calls Him, " ... the man Christ Jesus" (I Tim. 2:5).

S The "s" is one I have to admit that I, myself, enjoy. It is "Shop, Shop, Shop 'till you drop!" But actually, I enjoy that in March, May, August, September. But seriously, The "s" should symbolize "Salvation." That is why the Apostle Paul could proclaim without reservation, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth" (Rom. 1:16). He had experienced God's saving power first-hand, and knew that it would work for all who desired to be saved.

T For the secular world, the "T" might depict the "tree" to trim. ~Though representing no small effort, it seems that just about everyone perpetuates the age-old tradition of placing lights and ornaments on this annual fixture. But the word, "tree" can also bring to mind the tree that grew hundreds of years ago that made the Cross on which our Savior was crucified. I Peter 2:24 reveals that "[Christ] His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree. " He made this tree despite knowing the agony it would bring Him as He was judged on our behalf (Jn. 1: 1-3, 14).

M The "M" could picture, "Man." Too often the world sees man's desires as paramount, giving itself over to the fleshly indulgences of the occasion. But our "M" should be for the "Message" of God's Word announced for all to hear (Lk. 2:10, 13-14). That is, if we would only proclaim it, and if they would only listen. Romans 10:15-17 declares, "And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things ... So then, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." Christmas is really about having people place their absolute trust in Jesus Christ to save their souls forever.

A The "A" has to stand for "abundance." Yes, at this time, everyone seems to want more and more. Here, people never seem to be satisfied or content. Children are usually disappointed with what they've received and appear to be unthankful despite a multitude of presents. Often, dissatisfaction is register-ed with parents because others received more than they did. Nevertheless, the believer's "A" should denote "appreciation." II Corinthians 9:15 reflects heartfelt gratitude by Paul for what God gave us in Christ. He says, "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. " How different is the attitude of some, who "When they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful ... " (Rom. 1:21). Gratitude should truly be the order of the day for everyone at this time of the year.

S The "s" identifies the "Sin" of greed that is rampant in the world during Christmas because everyone wants the many "gifts" that God bestows, but very few want the "Giver." It is a constant battle even for believers to fight against the temptation to covet what others have (Rom. 7:7; Eph. 5:3). Be that as it may, our "s" recognizes Christ's foremost title - "Savior." The angel made reference to this regarding the name of Christ prior to His conception. He said, " ... thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21).

We've gone through every letter which makes up the word "Christmas." By so doing, we've come to one outstanding conclusion: that is, Christmas is really about receiving the gift of salvation that is offered by God to all who will simply receive it by faith (Eph. 2:8-9). If you haven't already, won't you do so right now? If you will, I guarantee that then you will have a truly Merry Christ-mas. Again, the Bible tells us the real meaning of Christmas. It says, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" Jn. 3:16). Won't you open this beautifully wrapped package of salvation and receive all the blessings it contains? Go ahead! It has your name on it!

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AVOID AMBUSH
BY Miles Stanford

"I find therefore the law of my nature to be that when I desire to do what is right, evil is lying in ambush for me" (Rom. 7:21, Wey.).

Struggle in yourself, and be trapped; rest in Him, and be free!

"Many Christians keep themselves in a perpetual foment through hoping they will get into a situation where they can enjoy a better (and easier) Christian life. They feel enclosed in a net of circumstances from which they cannot escape. They are so wearied and baffled and beaten by the continuous pressure about them that they wish and itch for things to be different, quite sure that if they were only different Christ would be more real. It has not dawned upon them that at the heart of these very circumstances they are to find the Lord Jesus, find His grace sufficient, find the life more abundant." -L.E.M.

"You might be secretly attempting to correct and improve yourself, and suffering a good deal of private vexation and disappointment on account of the futility of your struggles. It was at a moment when I was utterly discouraged, and ready to give up the whole thing in complete despair, that the Father showed me how I was attempting to work upon the old material which He could only condemn, and had, and that my disgust and despair as to myself were only a feeble echo of His.

"My Father was not looking for any good in me, and had the Lord Jesus Christ before Him, the perfect and infinitely acceptable Object of His heart. And I, in my nothingness, had ceased to look for good in myself, and began tasting the deep joy of being in Christ, and free to have Him as my Object; while as to life, I entered in some degree into the blessedness of knowing that it was 'not I, but Christ liveth in me.'" -C.A.C.

"For to me to live is Christ" (Phil 1:21).

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But I Can Do It! Can't I?


…apart from Me you can do nothing.

John 15:5

God's major emphasis in my training was the one that He weaves so skillfully through the Bible from In the beginning on page 7 to the Amen on page 1923. He just keeps trying to impress us as His children that we were never intended to fight the battles of the world. He said: Abraham, you can’t. Sarah, you can’t. Joshua, you can’t. Gideon, you can’t. Peter, you can’t. Paul, you can’t. And you can’t either—Anabel. But there is always a positive phrase tacked on to this negative one … but I can—trust in Me and My ability through you.

How well I remember the night I finally relinquished my control and said, “Lord, I can’t.” (Being a Performance-Based-Perfectionist, I can’t wasn’t in my vocabulary, so that was awfully hard for me to say.) How many sleepless nights, how many tears, how many unhappy hours passed before I finally discovered that not only could I not live the Christian life, I was never intended to live it. I simply said, “I give up. If anything is going to come of this marriage, You’re going to have to do it.” He answered–very gently–with seven little words: I will do it all for you, Anabel. My life began all over that night, and I have finally learned (nearly) to say quite easily, “I can’t.” Because I’ve learned that He can.

Bill's experience was different. He was in the library at Oklahoma State University every night until midnight, cramming for his doctoral comprehensive exams. Failure was not an option. He had resigned his job, sold our home and moved all of us, including the dog, to Stillwater, OK. But, as he tells the story, "By lunch break on the first day of testing I was numb with the pain of knowing that I was failing. Lord, I’ve written for four hours and it’s no use. I’m not losing by a last-second field goal; I’m decimated. I can’t do it.” The Lord did not give Bill comforting words like He gave me. Instead, He took Bill's pen in hand and gave him words on the exam paper. Thoughts began to flow. Paragraphs became organized. Points were documented. Bill says, "He passed me! I didn’t earn my degree—I received it. That was my first experience with Christ expressing life through me. I couldn’t, but He did."

Those life-changing events for me and for Bill happened many years ago and we’re still learning. Oh, we knew the scriptures—just like you—Christ IN you … without Me you can do nothing … it is no longer I who live … not that I am adequate for anything within myself … when Christ who is our life … but we didn’t know how to make them work in our lives. These verses can be on your memory cards, they can be underlined and hi-lited in your Bible, but if you have not come to that place where you finally admit, “Lord, I can’t. You must do it all for me,” then you probably don’t know this marvelous truth.

Just another Christian cliché, another Christian gimmick? No. It’s truth that God has given and that truth has awesome implications for your life: Christ lives in you to face life for you. It becomes a part of your everyday life by using the same two tools you’ve used for your entire Christian life—faith and obedience. First you accept by faith the truth that Christ, in addition to Savior and Lord, is your very life (Col. 3:3-4). Second, you obediently just "haul off and act like—live like—it's true!" Amazing grace!


© Lifetime Guarantee Ministries. Content on Lifetime.org is written for your encouragement and spiritual growth. Copying, printing, and distributing to others are encouraged.

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GRIEVE NOT THE SPIRIT
by C. R. Stam




The first lesson each believer in Christ should learn is that immediately upon believing he is given everlasting life. Referring to this fact Ephesians 1:13,14 says:

"In whom ye also trusted, having heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also having believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise."

Mark well, the believer is not sealed by the Holy Spirit, but "with" the Holy Spirit. The Spirit Himself is the seal. Every sincere believer in Christ, then, should rejoice in an accomplished redemption and rest in the fact that the Holy Spirit will keep him eternally safe.

But while we cannot lose the Holy Spirit we can, and often do, grieve the Holy Spirit, as we read in Eph. 4:30. This is why we are told in Rom. 8:26 that the Spirit "helpeth our infirmities" and makes intercession for us, that we might live lives which please and honor God.

The wonderful fact is, however, that "nothing," not even an aggrieved Spirit shall "separate us from the love of God" (Rom. 8:38,39). Thus in the same breath with which the Apostle exhorts us not to grieve the Spirit he again reassures us that this same Spirit keeps us eternally safe:

"And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption" (Eph. 4:30).

Does this encourage careless living? Those who think so have missed the whole point of Paul’s appeal. The Apostle does not warn the believer that if he grieves the Spirit he will be lost. Rather, in grace he exhorts:

"Do not grieve the very Spirit who in mercy and love has sealed you as forever His own. Do not repay such love with such ingratitude."

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FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
by C. R. Stam


    Man, by nature, is afraid of God. When Adam first sinned, he should have gone immediately to God to beg for mercy and forgiveness. Instead he did just what millions are doing today: he ran and hid from God so that God had to come and look for Him, as it were, calling: "Adam... where art thou?" (Gen. 3:9).

Many people who consider themselves as good, morally, as those about them, or even better, nevertheless feel utterly ill-at-ease in a place of worship, where believers pray and praise God together. This is because in their heart of hearts they know that they have "sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23).

Such, however, may come to know, love and enjoy God through faith in Christ. He was Himself God manifested in the flesh, come to earth in love to pay for our sins on Calvary's cross, so that we might have "redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace" (Eph. 1:7).

Concerning those who respond in grateful faith and trust in the crucified, risen, glorified Lord for salvation, the Apostle Paul says:

"Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Rom. 5:2).

Peace with God, and the fellowship which naturally results from this is the most precious treasure the human heart can contain. Yet our fellowship with Him here on earth is but the beginning. Read carefully Ephesians 5:25-27 and see how He took upon Him human form, and died, that He might have us for Himself forever:

"...Christ... loved the Church, and gave Himself for it... that He might present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."

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SONSHIP
By M. Stanford


"You really need some one to teach you over again the very rudiments of the truths of God.......Such persons are mere babes" (Heb. 5:12,13, Wey.).

When it comes to spiritual growth, sooner or later the thought arises, "Surely the work of the Cross produced more than this!" It surely did! Now you are on the march for the Father's very best as it is in Christ Jesus.

"Sonship represents growth unto fullness and maturity. It is quite a good thing to be a babe while babyhood lasts, but it is a very bad thing to be a babe when that period is past. This is the condition of many Christians. While sonship is inherent in birth, in the New Testament sense sonship is growth to maturity. With this growth comes the greater fullness of the Lord Jesus and the abundant spiritual wealth unto which we were saved. It is a matter not so much of that from which we were saved, as of that unto which we were saved. The grand climax of the new creation is 'the revealing of the sons of God (Rom. 8:19)."-T.A-S.

"It is one thing to drop off or renounce certain things, and quite another to be engrossed with the right thing. Monks renounce much, but they are not occupied with the glorified Lord Jesus Christ. It must be not only 'forgetting those things which are behind,' but also reaching out unto the things that are before. It is that which you give yourself to, not what you have abandoned, that colors you and which imparts character to you." --J.B.S.

"Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Cor. 5:17).