GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

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JOHN 1:5
by Pastor Jim Krieg

As a person endeavors to teach God's Word to a Sunday school class or some other large group, he may run into the difficulty of different translations. To remedy this I would never recommend that we all hold to only one translation as sacred. There is no perfect translation. I also would not suggest comparing many translations and pronouncing the majority opinion as correct. Each of us as believers needs to increase our own scholarship and discernment of the Scriptures.

I was recently reminded of some difference in the translations in John 1:5 and decided to take a closer look at the word translated by some as comprehend and by others as overcome.

John is speaking of the Word being God and life and light. In verse 5 he says, "And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not  katalambano it." What is the darkness not able to do to the light? Let us take a concordance and look at the other places this word is used in the New Testament.

First of all we see that it is a compound Greek word from the preposition "kata"  meaning down, and the verb  "lambano" meaning to take or receive. Notice that in this word the verb and the preposition compliment each other, thereby intensifying the meaning of "lambano" alone. Thus, the basic meaning would be to really take. Now let us observe the word used throughout the New Testament and see how the basic meaning is shaded by different contexts.

In Acts 4:13 the Jewish council took down in a mental sense, and hence, understood, or or had comprehension that Peter and John were scholastically untrained men. As Peter again stood before the Jewish council having witnessed the events at Cornelius' house, he said, "I truly understand that God is not a respecter of persons" (Acts 10:34). In Ephesians 3:18, Paul prays that they might be able to comprehend, or understand the breadth, length, height, and depth of God's Word (cf. also Acts 25:25).

So we see that comprehend is a bona fide translation of this word when used in a mental sense. But Paul uses "katalambano " in a different sense also. In First Corinthians 9:24, Paul says that a person runs in order that he might take down in a positive, physical sense, and hence obtain the prize. Although the basic meaning of take down is still the same, a translation of comprehend would not make sense in this context as also Philippians 3:12, 13, and Romans 9:30, where obtain is the preferred translation.

But again we see this word being used in a negative, physical context in Mark 9:18. A father brings his son to the disciples saying he was held by a dumb spirit, and when that spirit would take him down  i.e., in a negative sense, the boy would smash to the ground, foaming and gnashing his teeth. We see here that the spirit took hold of and overpowered him.

Paul uses this word in a similar vein in First Thessalonians 5:4, where he speaks of believers not being overcome by the day of the Lord as a thief overcomes his victims.

Actually we see John using our word in John 12:35 again in respect to darkness (skotia) as in John 1:5. He quotes Jesus as exhorting His followers to "Walk as you have the light lest the darkness might overcome [katalambano] you."

In light of these observations, especially as used in similar contexts, we can concur that the idea being brought out in John 1:5 is that the darkness is not able to overcome, overpower, or overtake the light which is Christ.

We see John teaching a great principle of grace along with Paul that believers who are rescued out of the darkness of sin and placed in the light of Christ, can live without the dread of being overpowered by the powers of darkness. (John 8:12; 9:5; 12:46; Rom. 13:12; Eph. 5:8-9; Col. 1:12; 1 Thess. 5:5)

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SACRIFICIAL SERVICE
By Miles Stanford



"I endure all things for the elect's sake" (2 Tim. 2:10).

Our Father's mercy is all-encompassing. It includes our salvation ---- ".... according to His mercy He saved us" (Titus 3:5); and our service---" ... by the mercies of God, present your bodies a living sacrifice ... which is your reasonable service" (Rom. 12:1).

Reasonable service is based upon sacrifice: "I, Paul ... rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body's sake, which is the church" (Col. 1:23,24).

"To truly minister to others is always to accept new happiness and new distress, both of them forever deepening and entering into closer and more inseparable union with each other, the more profound and spiritual the ministry becomes. The one who gives himself to others can never be a wholly sad person; but no more can he be one of unclouded gladness." -G.M.

"The fuller the service, the greater the surrender and sacrifice. It is not giving what one can spare without feeling it, for I will not offer the Lord 'that which doth cost me nothing' (2 Sam. 24:24).

"The service declares its virtue and aim by the suffering which is endured in rendering it, for what can be done at one's ease is generally done without much concern for the one to whom it is rendered, and thus the true quality is lost."

"I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved" (2 Cor. 12:15).

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PAUL'S THANKFULNESS

Scripture Reading:  2 Thessalonians 1:1-3.


The same three men named in 1 Thessalonians are named here as sending greetings. Paul's use of "we" (1:3-4, 11-12) is worth noting. More than one man was responsible for establishing this, and other churches. God's laborers work together, by His design to accomplish His work. Silas was Paul's primary associate on his second missionary journey (Acts 15:40). Timothy was a young man Paul had led to Christ (1 Tim. 1:2) during his first missionary Journey (Acts 13-14). It was Timothy who brought Paul news of the Thessalonian situation the first " time (I Thess 3: 12,6). These three men were those who brought the faith to and nurtured the Thessalonian Church.

Again Paul greets the Thessalonians with his characteristic "grace and peace" (vs.2). Paul wants his readers to experience these blessings in their fullest measure. Grace is God's unmerited favor bestowed upon all who receive Him (John 1:12). "Peace" is the ending of the alienation that previously separated the unbeloved from God (Rom.. 5:1).

Paul thanks God for this Church because of the continual growth in their faith (gk. huperauxanei). He has seen their faith grow super abundantly or vigorously in spite of hardship and persecution. Paul often uses superlatives in his Greek expressions. The Thessalonians' faith in God continues to increase as well as their love for others (James 2:14-17). Is this a reality in Our lives?

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CONSIDER CHRIST

In Hebrews 3.1 sinners and saints are told to 'consider' Christ. In Hebrews 12.3 they are told to 'consider' Gethsemane and Calvary, the precious shed blood of the Creator of the universe, the Author and Finisher of our faith. God does want you to 'STOP' ... 'LOOK' ... 'LIVE.'

You can afford to forget every other problem, every other phase of this life, until you 'STOP' and 'CONSIDER' Christ and Calvary. Why did the Creator of the heavens and earth die between malefactors on the cross? Why did He wear the crown of thorns? Why did His Father forsake Him? We are told in the closing verses of the fourth chapter of Romans, that Christ was delivered for our offenses and was raised again for our justification. We are told in Romans 3:24 to 28, that this was necessary that God might be both just and merciful. We are told in Hebrews 9:12 that Christ by His own blood entered 'once' into heaven, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Let us accept at full face value the words of Christ in John 10:17 and 18, "Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life. I have power to lay it down: I have power to take it up."

Eternal life is God's free gift to believing sinners. (Romans 6:23). God will have all men to be saved. (I Timothy 2:4 to 7). Faith cometh by hearing the Word of God. So 'STOP' ... 'LOOK' , .. 'LISTEN' ... 'BELIEVE' ... 'LIVE.' You may stop, look and listen, but if you do not personally receive Christ by faith, you will die in your sins. (John 8:24).

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SAFELY IN
By Miles Stanford



"You are made partakers of His resurrection, through the faith wrought in you by God, who raised Him from the dead" (Col. 2:12, Cony.).

All true believers are gratefully aware that they are not going to hell, but few realize that they are already in heaven.

"There is no question about there being a beautiful new position for the believer, but people limit it to its being theirs when they die. Scripture shows that it is ours now! People say, 'You get to heaven when you die.' No such thing. You have it now. It is not your death that entitles you to it, but the Lord Jesus' death. There is not a single shade that was between us and the Father, but the Lord Jesus has removed in His death." -J.B.S.

"The great work of the Lord Jesus was wrought on the Cross to bring us to the Father; His death and His Blood, His ascension and sitting on the Throne; all mean one thing - our being brought nigh to dwell in the Father's presence. And with what object? That the Father may have us, to mature us, to work in us that which is well-pleasing in His sight. Let no one think that the entrance into the Holiest is the end; it is only the beginning. It brings us into the right position, in which the Father in His divine power can work out His will and purpose in us conforming us to the image of His Son." -A.M.

"The Lord Jesus stood where I was, and now I stand where He is, and that is the only place I have before my Father. We may fail and grieve the Holy Spirit, but that is where we are set." -J.N.D.

"If there be progress upward there must be progress in life and ways down here; you cannot see the need for a change in your ways here until you are transformed by the influence of nearness to Him there. You thus gradually find things here are not suitable for the order and nature of the things which are so attractive to the renewed heart up there." -J.B.S.

"Your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Col. 3:3).

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THE GREAT WHITE THRONE THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST
By the late Pastor R. Hanna




Scripture Reading: Revelation 21:11; 2 Corinthians 5:10

Many people - saved people - live in dread of death because they do not understand the kind of judgment that they will face before God. There is indeed a final judgment to come which is awesome and should strike fear in the heart of those who will face it. The Apostle John wrote, describing what was revealed to him in a vision on the Isle of Patmos: "I saw a great white throne, and Him (Christ) that sat on it...and I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life ... and whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:11-15) Those described here are the lost - those who did not accept God's proffered salvation before they died. The lost from all generations are raised from the dead to face this sentence of eternal separation from God.

But you and I, if we have been saved by the grace of God by faith, are not destined to confront the Great White Throne. Our apostle has revealed that "We must all appear before the judgment seat (BEMA) of Christ (not the great white throne); that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." (2 Corinthians 5:10) The works for which we will be judged are those accomplished in service to God during our lives after we have been saved. "If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss (of reward), but he himself shall be saved ... " (I Corinthians 3:15)

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THE INFINITE WORTH OF GOD'S AMAZING LOVE
By Pastor Robert Roosendaal

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:7

The love scene takes on a total transformation as we examine God's love as given in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. From the heart of God flows the riches of His love, expressed by the Greek word "agape"----shining forth with eternal splendor and glory. Think of its surpassing beauty, purity and holiness. Our wonderful Lord who never changes is also constant in exercising this divine quality of love. It is expressed in John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son ... " This love is the basis for Paul's declaration: "Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for it" (Eph. 5:25). This fabulous love overwhelms God's family as told in Romans 8:35--- Who shall separate us from the love of Christ...?" There is only one answer---Absolutely nothing! What marvelous details of assurance: In verse one there is "no more condemnation" and verse 29 guarantees "no more separation" and through it all the promise that "all things work together for good". Yes, Romans 8 is a gold mine of riches. What kindness and comfort for God's child. This wonderful story of love goes on and on as told in God's Word. How thankful we should be for God's boundless provisions, praising God for all that has been done for us in the Person of Christ His Son at Calvary where we behold the greatest exhibition of love ever displayed.

John's lovely Gospel closes with the re-commissioning of Peter. As the Lord tenderly probes the nature of Peter's love we detect Peter's honesty, confessing that his love for the Christ was limited--- a "phileo" love, a tender affection. It was Christ's amazing love and compassion that reached out to a troubled and faltering Peter, restoring him into fellowship and service. The Holy Spirit here draws our attention to the wondrous love of God---man's love is a different story. Let us be honest about it as Peter was! When David sinned by numbering the children of Israel, God gave him three choices, and you will recall that he very wisely chose to fall into the hands of God, for His mercy is far greater than men. Christ was better at restoring preachers than we would ever be.

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THE BOND OF PEACE
By ROBERT E. HANNA,

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:3; Colossians 3: 14

As members of the Body of Christ we are in Christ and Christ indwells us; we are "one with Him". This complete identification with Him constitutes our standing. Our walk of faith determines our state. Our constant goal must be the ceaseless effort to make our spiritual state worthy of our perfect standing. The Apostle Paul clearly defines our position in Christ and our spiritual responsibilities accordingly. Having explained in meticulous detail our relationship to Christ as His Body members, Paul exhorts us: " ... walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called" (Ephesians 4:I).

The desire of every heart is to attain perfect peace. But the believer already possesses perfect peace. "For He is our peace ... " (Ephesians 2:14). Knowing this, what a powerful incentive we have to please Him. Greater confidence is ours than that of saints of God in any other age. "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, Who is our Life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory" (Colossians 3:3, 4).

Our apostle gives us perfect guidelines for our walk of faith. "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ" (Colossians 3:23,24) " .. endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

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


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


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


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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CALLED THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD
by Russel S. Miller


"But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by His grace, To reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood" (Gal. 1:15,16).

From the moment of his birth, Paul, like Jeremiah (1:5) of old, was selected by the Lord to "preach among the heathen" (Gal. 1:16). But unlike Jeremiah, Paul was not called to be a prophet. In Romans 11:13 he states the reason for which God had called him:

"For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office" (Rom. 11:13).

In Ephesians 3:8, we read these words concerning his ministry:

"Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ."

The Lord was in Paul’s life from his birth, working behind the scenes in his early training, his schooling, being also "brought up in [Jerusalem] at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers" (Acts 22:3). In other words God had Paul, and this dispensation of grace, in mind all the while and "worketh all things after the counsel of His own will" (Eph. 1:11).

It was at Damascus -— upon the conversion of this Saul of Tarsus -— that Christ began to reveal Himself unto him! Acts 9 marks the beginning of "the revelation of Jesus Christ" in Paul’s life (Gal. 1:11,12; Acts 26:16-18; I Tim. 1:15-16).

"And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus" (I Tim. 1:14).

Thus, we discover that both before and after Acts 28 the Apostle’s afflictions were on account of his God-given call to minister the gospel of the grace of God.

"Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh, for His Body’s sake, which is the Church; WHEREOF I AM MADE A MINISTER, according to the dispensation of God WHICH IS GIVEN TO ME for you, to fulfill the Word of God; Even THE MYSTERY which has been HID FROM AGES AND FROM GENERATIONS, but has NOW been made manifest to His saints" (Col. 1:24-26).

It was concerning THIS call and ministry of grace that Paul wrote Timothy: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (II Tim. 4:7).

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Hardwired for Triumph
By Steve McVey



Biotechnology teaches us that our DNA is a blueprint of who we are as physical beings. All of your physical features are nothing less than an expression of the programming that existed in your DNA from the moment you were conceived. DNA defines your physical nature.

In the same way, the Bible teaches that you have a spiritual nature. When you received the life of Jesus Christ, your nature was transformed. The Bible says that you became "a partaker of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4). You might say that you received a GNA, with the G standing for  "God."  His life became yours. That makes you different from most people.

Your life pulsates with divine power because of the presence of Jesus Christ within you. At the core of your being, you are hard-wired for triumph because God "always causes (you) to triumph in Christ Jesus" (2 Corinthians 2:14). Christ is in you and will live His life through you. What greater assurance of victory can a person have?

The Apostle Paul affirmed, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). Jesus Christ is your strength, your wisdom (see 1 Corinthians 1:30), and your assurance of victory in life. (See 1 Corinthians 15:57) You don't have to go through life with a defeated attitude. When you recognize and rest in who you really are, things can change!

Christians aren't who we used to be. It is important for us to understand that or we will be held back by the debilitating mind set of our old life. The person you were before you met Christ  died. (See Galatians 2:20) You are now a brand new person (see 2 Corinthians 5:17) who is capable of dreaming new dreams and living a life you could have never lived without Christ.

"According to your faith be it unto you," Jesus told one man who desperately needed to see his circumstances change. (See Matthew 9:29) Christ wanted to do something wonderful in this blind man's life, but it was necessary for the man to trust Him.

The foundation for your optimism is Jesus Christ. Faith in Him is the conduit through which He is able to pour out into your life all the good He has planned for you to be, to have and to do. It all bolls down to one simple question: Do you believe that God wants you to experience and enjoy His blessings or not?

As you look down the path that lies ahead for you, do you anticipate good things from God? Do you expect things to become better or worse?  Make no mistake about it - what we believe about God's working in our lives in this arena has an inestimable effect on how we move ahead and what we will experience and enjoy in the coming days.

Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, when the journey from Egypt to Canaan should have taken only 11 days. Why did it take them so long to enter into the Promised Land? The Bible says, "they were not able to enter because of unbelief' (Hebrews 3:19). With paradise only 11 days away, they lived in self-imposed misery for 40 years, all because they refused to believe God.

How long have you wandered in circles? Maybe, like Israel, you've been in the wilderness for many years. God says through Isaiah that it's time for you to accept and appropriate good news. Get ready, good news has arrived. Your Father is bringing you out of the wilderness.

Will you believe God? You aren't like those in the world, out-side of Christ. You have an anointing by the enabling grace of Christ within you to live a supernatural life. Will you accept and appropriate the good news? Will you lay hold on the hope of fulfilling the God given dreams of your heart? Trust Him and watch the great things He will accomplish!

[nChrist]

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From Grace And The Truth Ministries
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TWO GREAT SNARES
By JOHN McKAY, Pastor

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 29:25; John 12:42-43
John Knox had every reason to fear men (or the women who were the Romanist Queens of Scotland). Indeed he was arrested for treason. The great Scottish reformer preached the doctrines of salvation by grace through faith in the merit of Christ's blood shed at Calvary. He denounced the mass, as idolatry. Did he fear the human powers that had killed previous reformers? He may have had some hidden fears of men, but he did not let that stop him from the work that needed to be done. As one has written of him and the reformation in Scotland, "It was the victory of the people under the leadership of a brave and true man, against the combined forces of a queen, a court, and a powerful nobility."

Surely it was not for the praise of men that he suffered slavery, exile, torment, threats, arrest, and stress. We prefer to believe that John Knox suffered for the Lord Jesus Christ. We are convinced that he did not fall into the snares mentioned in our texts.

"The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe." We should know God so well that we will not fear men. Sometimes being afraid of what men think, or will say, will deter us from saying or doing what we ought to say or do.

" ... among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him (the Lord Jesus), lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God." Don't let the fear of men or the love of their praise keep you from the will of God!

[nChrist]

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DIRECTED PRAYER
By M. Stanford


"Be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is" (Eph. 5:17).

Prayer to God must come from God. There can, be no prayer in the full assurance of faith apart from the known will of God in the matter. "The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know His will" (Acts 2 2:14).

"I do not think that a petition that misses the mind of God will ever be answered (1 John 5:14). Personally, I feel the need of trusting Him to lead me in prayer as well as in other matters. I find it well to preface prayer not only by meditation but by the definite request that I may be directed into the channels of prayer to which the Holy Spirit is beckoning me (Rom. 8:26, 27)." - J.O.F.

"When we once have the deep, calm assurance of His will in the matter, we put in our claim, just as a child before his father. A simple request and nothing more. No crying, no beseeching, no wrestling. No second asking, either." - J.O.F.

"The Lord may see it needful, for the trial (development) of faith, to seem for a season not to regard out supplications; yet, if we patiently and believingly continue to wait upon Him, it will be manifest in His own time, and way, that we did not call upon Him in vain." - G.M.

"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him" (Ps. 62:5).