GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

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~Daily Inspirational~   TOUCH NOT!   MARCH 2, 2007


TOUCH NOT!
By Miles Stanford


"I, through the law, am dead to the law" (Gal. 2:19).

The law will not touch us if we do not touch it.

"We were born in the first Adam. He was responsible before God to stand in righteousness. He failed. We were responsible in him and we failed. We sinned in Adam (Rom. 5:12,19). What did God do about it? He gathered us up into the Last Adam, and we died in Him. God allowed His holy law to condemn us utterly and the law, seeking to slay us, found us in Christ on the Cross and set upon us and slew us." -W.R.N.

"Law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth" (Rom. 7:1), but when it has cursed him and killed him the law has no more to say to him; and we 'are become dead to the law by the body of Christ' (Rom. 7:4), for we have died judicially with Christ on the Cross. The new life which we have in Him comes to us from Him in heaven, the risen and glorified Man before the Father." -H.F.W.

"There prevails a notion that the Lord Jesus was keeping the law for us and establishing our righteousness when He was here below. Now His life was necessary to vindicate the Father and His holy law, as well as to manifest Himself and His love; but the righteousness that we are made in Christ is another thought altogether - not the law fulfilled by Him, but the justifying righteousness of the Father founded on the Lord Jesus' death, displayed in His resurrection, and crowned by His glory in heaven." -W.K.

"The Ten Commandments require no life of prayer, no Christian service, no evangelism, no missionary outreach, no Gospel preaching, no life and walk in the Spirit, no union with the Lord Jesus, no fellowship of saints, no hope of salvation, and no hope of heaven." -L.S.C.

"Now we are delivered from the law" (Rom. 7:6).

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:9 And 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.

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~Daily Inspirational~   THE DANGERS OF OUR DAY    MARCH 3, 2007


THE DANGERS OF OUR DAY
By Charles Wages


   "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof; from such turn away." (2 Tim. 3:1-5)

   Surely there would be an agreement or consensus of opinion that we live in dangerous or perilous times. However, why they are dangerous is not always agreed upon. The "last days" of the "church age" in which we live (not the "end of the world") are dangerous for many reasons and in many areas.

   These dangers can be classified in many areas. Warfare between the nations and people of these nations is affecting every nation on earth. There seems to be no answer to avoiding or preventing it. Our Lord said that there would be "wars and rumors of wars;" that "nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom" (Matt. 24:5-6). Though this refers to the future tribulation period described in the book of Revelation, yet the very language is typical of our times. Will wars ever end?

   There are a myriad of physical illnesses which constitute a real danger to us all. The AIDS epidemic is capable of killing literally millions of people on every continent. The number of things that affect the body and mind are overwhelming and costs billions of dollars annually.

   Then there are the natural catastrophes such as earthquakes, floods, fires, and weather related dangers all over the universe.

   However, after all is considered concerning the "dangers" that affect mankind, the one that is the greatest danger and least considered is the very "heart and soul" of all humankind.

   This prominent and preeminent danger is the "spiritual warfare" being waged against every individual on earth. Some nineteen things are mentioned in 2 Timothy 3:1-5, but the last one could be the root cause of all the others: "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." This sort of spiritual corruption is invading and affecting every household and every person, young and old. This is the real danger!

   While on earth our Lord used his harshest words in speaking to or referring to the "religious" leaders of His day. Some fifteen times in the book of Matthew, Jesus called the Pharisees "hypocrites." This word, only used by our Lord, refers to one acting on a stage or just "play acting." The word to describe this "play acting" is "hypocrisy" or "putting on" a front. At first glance, this may appear harmless, but when packaged as true faith, it is very dangerous.

   Most of the things that we consider "dangerous" are things that harm or destroy the body. As important as this may be, it is vastly more important that spiritual dangers be our concern. Why? This involves our eternal life! Much of the "health, wealth" religious preaching that we hear is for entertainment or personal gain. The propagating and proclaiming of this dangerous medicine is far more dangerous than W.M.D.

   The two leading apostles, Peter and Paul, warn over and over of these "false teachers" and their "pernicious preaching."

   We read in 2 Peter 2,

"But there were false prophets among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you; whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not." (vs. 1-3)

   Remember the apostle Paul told us that we are living in "perilous" or dangerous times (2 Tim. 3:1) and then warned "from such turn away." He especially characterized them by saying, they "have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof." He then concludes by saying, "from such turn away." In conclusion, the wonderful truth of Ephesians 6:10-18 is always so appropriate.. It stands, not only as informing truth, but as warning truth of the "danger of our days."

   "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." (Eph. 6:10-18)

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

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:9 And 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.

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~Daily Inspirational~   BE ON YOUR GUARD      MARCH 4, 2007


BE ON YOUR GUARD
By R.B. Shiflet


One of the strongest appeals that the Apostle Paul makes to believers is that found in Colossians 2:4-23, in which he warns us against letting Satan capture our minds. This section of the epistle is bounded on either side by the word "hid," and its key message is the fulness of Christ as the only answer to the emptiness of human reasoning. Note how in verse 3 he refers to Christ, "in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge," and in chapter 3, verse 3, he says to us as believers, "ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." Between these passages that tell us that all true wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ and that our own lives are also hidden in Him, he calls attention to (1) The Purpose of our Enemy, (2) The Plan of our Enemy, and (3) The Protection Against our Enemy.

THE PURPOSE of our Enemy

The aim of our foe is stated in Colossians 2:8: "Beware lest any man spoil you."  The term "spoil" means to "rob," or to "make a prey" of, or to take one captive. It is obvious that a loose hold on the truth of our fulness in Christ will make one an easy victim to this method of deception. Just as surely as the truth makes free, error genders to bondage. One who fails to see the truth of our completeness in Christ and His fulness does not have a balanced view of truth and can be easily led astray.

It is interesting to note the bait that Satan uses to reason aside the weak brother that he takes into captivity. For the carnal believer, such as those at Corinth, he uses the coarse appeals of the flesh with all of its lusts. But for the "spiritual" Christian who still has an unbalanced view of truth, he may use a "spiritual bait" as is suggested in Colossians 2:18. This may come in the form of "visions," superior claims to holy living, or any effort to attain spiritual progress through fleshly efforts or wisdom.

THE PLAN of Our Enemy

The enemy usually lures us aside through an emphasis on an empty, deceitful kind of wisdom. He bases this, according to our chapter in Colossians, on three things:

First, he uses man-made teachings, or the traditions of men. Bible teachers tell us that the word "tradition" as used here is found thirteen times in the New Testament, and it is usually used in a bad sense. Note, for example, where the Pharisees were charged with making the Word of God of none effect through their traditions (Mark 7:2-7). How much of the church programs of today are nothing more than traditions of men, with no Scriptural basis!

Second, Satan would lead us astray by keeping us in the elements, or rudiments of the world. The term "rudiments" means "first steps." The Hebrews were told that these rudiments or elements belonged to childhood, and the mature believer was charged to leave them and go on (Hebrews 5:12-6:3). The Galatians were told that these rudiments would only gender bondage (Galatians 4:3). In Colossians 2:20, the believer is told that he is dead with Christ to these rudiments, and that he therefore should not be subject to carnal ordinances. By way of contrast, he is told to set his affections on things above, not on things on the earth. Believers who live in the shadow days of external ordinances miss the joy of the reality, who is Christ; those who feel that they can worship only with these worldly elements fail to see that we are citizens of heaven and in the sight of God are "seated with Christ" in heavenly places even now.

Third, if Satan cannot lure us through traditions of men and rudimentary ordinances, he will make the intellectual appeal. He will reason us aside through wisdom of words, making the cross of Christ ineffective (1 Cor. 1:17); he will try to get us so involved in the wisdom of this world that we will fail to see that it is only foolishness to God (1 Cor. 3:19); he will lead us into fleshly wisdom, frustrating the grace of God (2 Cor. 1:12); and he will make the wisdom from beneath so, attractive that we neglect the wisdom which is from above (James 3:15-17).

THE PROTECTION Against Our Enemy

The entire Colossian epistle is written to give us the protection we need against these tactics of our enemy. It may be summarized in one or two verses: "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, and ye are COMPLETE IN HIM, which is the head of all principality and power" (Colossians 2:9-10). This completeness in Christ is the exact opposite of the empty, vain life that Satan has to offer. Are we really aware of what we have? YE ARE COMPLETE IN HIM! If I am complete in Christ, then nothing a preacher or a church can do for me in the way of ritual or religion is needed. As a matter of fact, we can add nothing to completeness. We are Complete in HIM. If we believe this, may we act upon it and make Christ the center and circumference of our lives. May we rejoice in Him, glory in Him, do all that we say or do in HIS name, giving no occasion to the flesh, but doing all for His honor and glory. Only then will the purpose and plan of our enemy be foiled and our protection against him be sure.

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:9 And 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.

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~Daily Inspirational~    DUAL GIFT      MARCH 5, 2007


DUAL GIFT
By Miles Stanford



"To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness" (Rom. 4:5).

When our testimony concerning His gift of freedom from the power of sin is as valid as our testimony to His gift of freedom from the penalty of sin, we will have matured. So long as there is only the first half, we are but babes, albeit full-grown.

"The Lord Jesus, you know, makes two offers to everyone. He offers to set us free from the penalty of our sin. And He offers to set us free from the power of our sin. Both of these offers are made on exactly the same terms: we can accept them only by letting Him do it all. Every believer has accepted the first offer. Many have not accepted the second offer. They mistakenly think that they must have some part in overcoming the power of their sin; that their efforts, their will, their determination, strengthened and helped by the Holy Spirit, is the way of victory." --C.T.

"All the powers of Deity which already wrought together in the accomplishment of the first part of the eternal purpose, the revealing of the Father's likeness in the man Christ Jesus, are equally engaged to accomplish the second part, and work that likeness in each of the Father's children." -A.M.

"Like Christ: the longer we meditate on that word, the more we realize how impossible it is without the other: In Christ. The outward likeness can only be the manifestation of a living, inward union. To do the same work as the Lord Jesus, I must have the same life. The more earnestly I take Him for my example, the more I am driven to Him as my Head, my Life. Only an inner life essentially like His, can lead us to a visible walk like His." -AM.

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

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:9 And 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.

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~Daily Inspirational~     WASHED, SANCTIFIED AND JUSTIFIED    MARCH 6 2007


WASHED, SANCTIFIED AND JUSTIFIED
by C. R. Stam


"And such were some of you; but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God" (I Cor. 6:11).

The preceding verses of I Cor. 6 contain a long list of vile sins and vices into which men have fallen, and the Apostle adds:

"And such were some of you." God's Church is not made up of "good people" who have never fallen into sin. It is rather made up of sinners, saved by grace, through the infinite payment made for sin by Christ on Calvary's cross.

"And such were some of you." Had the Apostle included the more "refined" sins, such as pride, self-righteousness, etc., he would have had to say: "And such were all of you."

Note further, however, that the Apostle says: "And such were some of you." Thank God, he goes on to say of those who had been thus stained with sin: "But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."

How beautiful these three phrases: "But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified"! The word "but" appearing before each phrase indicates that each should be considered separately. Such vile creatures were some of you, "but ye are washed," cleansed from the sins that contaminated you. "But ye are sanctified." Having been cleansed you are now set apart as sacred for His glory. "But ye are justified." When God justifies us, who can condemn?

"Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth; who is he that condemneth?"

All this is done for the believing sinner, as our verse says, "in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:9 And 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.

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~Daily Inspirational~ A DOUBLE HEART AND DECEITFUL TONGUES     MARCH 7 2007


A DOUBLE HEART AND DECEITFUL TONGUES
by Russell S. Miller



A double heart! Interesting title indeed, for some do speak "flattering" words of "vanity" to accomplish their ungodly and unrighteous motives.

"They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak" (Psa.12:2).

The Bible has a great deal to say about the depravity of man. Jeremiah put it this way: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it" (Jer.17:9). In His denunciation of the Pharisees in Matthew 23 the Lord rebuked their hypocrisy with the indictment that they made their converts "twofold more the child of hell" than themselves (Matt. 23:15). In my study of this, it was also interesting to discover that the Greek word, dilogos, is translated "double tongued" in I Timothy 3:8. W.E. Vine defines this word as "saying a thing to one person and giving a different view of it to another". That's double-tongued.

We read in Hebrews 4:12 that "the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword..." It was when "Elymas the sorcerer... withstood" the truth of God's Word that the Apostle Paul said, "O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?" (Acts 13:10). Elymas was using deceit "to turn away the deputy from the faith"! Paul wrote the Corinthians about "false apostles, deceitful workers, [who] transformed themselves into the apostles of Christ" (II Cor.11:13) that they might keep men in bondage and the darkness of unbelief, "...lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them" (II Cor.4:4). They would be set gloriously free if they but believed the gospel (John 8:32,36; II Cor.3:17; Gal.5:1).

It has come down to this, that our world is full of wickedness: "with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness..." (Rom.3:13-18). But there is One who can bring peace, "[He] is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners" (Heb.7:26), and I would like to introduce you to the Lord Jesus Christ:

"WHEREFORE HE IS ABLE ALSO TO SAVE THEM TO THE UTTERMOST THAT COME UNTO GOD BY HIM, SEEING HE EVER LIVETH TO MAKE INTERCESSION FOR THEM" (Heb.7:25).

He will save you from your sins if you will just ask Him.

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:9 And 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.

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~Daily Inspirational~  EX-PRODIGALS     MARCH 8, 2007


EX-PRODIGALS
By Miles Stanford




"Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy" (Lu. 15:21a).

From prodigals, our Father has made us possessors. "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light" (Col. 1:12).

"If I, once a lost prodigal, want to know the measure of my acceptance with the Father, He alone defines it for me. It is only as I know what the Lord Jesus is to the Father in glory that I can in any degree truly estimate my own acceptance in Him. Had He my sins laid on Him? How is He now accepted? For as He is now accepted, so am I; and therefore it is the Gospel of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. Try for your own acceptance, and it will always be a dubious and imperfect thing. Get to understand His acceptance, and your soul will be enlarged into all the fulness and blessedness not only of His, but of your own, because you are 'in Him. '" -J.B.S.

"Many are looking to find some good in themselves, and in most cases without being conscious that they are doing so. Effort, disappointment, self-reproaches, and self-occupation, make up the weary round of their lives, with now and then, perhaps, a gleam of spiritual happiness. No man's heart will ever be gladdened by the joy of divine acceptance until he has learned that there is not a single bit about him, as a man in the flesh, that does not deserve the judgment of God." --CAC

"It is a wonderful moment when by faith we appropriate and occupy our position in the favor of the Father - when we know that we are received by Him in all the acceptance of His Son. We do not then think of ourselves, or our unworthiness, at all. We think of the Lord Jesus - His perfections, His suitability to divine favor, His infinite acceptance with the Father - and by faith we have access into the favor of which He is so worthy." -C.AC.

"But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe" (Lu. 15:22a).

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:9 And 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.

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~Daily Inspirational~    THE REAL DIFFICULTY    MARCH 9, 2007


THE REAL DIFFICULTY
By late Pastor Win Johnson


In our study recently, we came across this pungent statement: "It is surprising when we really come to examine ourselves closely in this matter, how much of what we already believe has been received by tradition from our fathers.. How little has actually been derived from our own direct personal study of the Word of God itself. We believe what we have received from man; and we do our best to get it confirmed by the Bible. When we are unable to get the confirmation we are in search of, then we find what we call a 'difficulty.' But the difficulty is not in the Word of God itself; it is in our own minds. The real difficulty is in giving up our own views because we fail to make the Bible conform to them. It does not, at first, occur to our minds that we may have to abandon some of our views if we would get rid of the difficulty." (From "How To Enjoy The Bible")

Multitudes of religious people attend church and like a baby robin, swallow anything and everything that is put before them. Few there are who like the Bereans of old "search the Scriptures daily whether those things are so" (Acts 17:11).

This writer has admonished his people never to believe what they hear simply because "the preacher said so." The preacher could be wrong! After all, he is human and prone to err as anyone.

The only sure test as to the soundness of the preaching and teaching we receive, is, "What saith the Scriptures?" Not just any Scripture taken out of context and misapplied, BUT the Scriptures rightly divided (II Timothy 2:15). This involves a recognition that though ALL SCRIPTURE is most certainly for our learning and blessing, NOT ALL SCRIPTURE is written to us or for our obedience. Seeing this, will go a long way in dispelling seeming 'difficulties'..

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:9 And 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.

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~Daily Inspirational~   TWO UNSUPPORTABLE ASSUMPTIONS   MARCH 10, 2007


TWO UNSUPPORTABLE ASSUMPTIONS
By late Pastor Win Johnson


In his reading recently, this writer came across the following pungent statement by one of America's foremost Bible teachers of the past generation: "When turning thus to experience it is often recounted that some individual has first been a Christian and then later, become unsaved; but in every such instance, TWO UNSUPPORTABLE ASSUMPTIONS appear. It could not be demonstrated finally that the person named was saved in the first place, nor could it be established that he was unsaved in the second place." We agree wholeheartedly..

Having been raised in an Arminian background, well do we recall hearing of certain individuals who at one time were active in the Lord's work but who had forsaken their former profession and were now unsaved. Their experience was used to warn the rest of us of the danger of losing our salvation. Little did we know in those days of the obvious fact that salvation which can be earned by doing can also be lost by doing, while salvation which is entirely God's doing, man can never undo.

Those who teach a "lose your salvation" doctrine find very few Scriptures which even seem to support their view. Certainly, taking Matthew 24:13 out of it's Tribulation context, cannot be made to teach that salvation in this age depends upon our "enduring." Nor can John 15:2 which speaks of fruitless branches in the vine being "taken away," substantiate the teaching that salvation may be taken from those who are not "fruitful."

On the other hand, the Word of God is crystal clear when it says: "By grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God, NOT OF WORKS lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8, 9).

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:9 And 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.

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~Daily Inspirational~   HEART TROUBLE    MARCH 11, 2007


HEART TROUBLE
By late Pastor Win Johnson


The heart beats 2,500,000,000 times in a normal life span, but did you know that one out of every four who read this, will die of heart disease? Did you know that heart trouble causes twice as many deaths as cancer?

There is no quick cure for heart disease, though by doing only as much work as the heart can carry, many can lead a long and useful life.

Suppose you have a bad heart. How would you like to have a doctor who knows all about it, but never tells you? Instead he talks about your nice rosy cheeks and says you are the picture of health. How tragic to find out that you have been a victim of his deceiving flattery.

It is not a very pleasant task to tell people the truth about themselves. Often such candid information is deeply resented. However, as a minister of the Gospel, it is my duty before God to give you the facts about spiritual heart trouble which afflicts every human being born into this life. The Word of God says:
   1. "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately
     wicked" (Jer. 17:9).
    2. "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil
    thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts,
    covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye,
    blasphemy, pride, foolishness; all these evil things come from
    within, and defile the man" (Mark 7:21-23).

This is God's diagnosis of every heart, yours and mine. But unlike physical heart trouble which may not always be cured, there is an unfailing remedy for this spiritual malady. It is found in the cleansing Blood of Christ. "In Whom we have redemption through His Blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace" (Ephesians 1:7). It is applied by faith. Has your heart trouble been cured?

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From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:9 And 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.

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[nChrist]

~Daily Inspirational~   VICTORY ASSURED     MARCH 12, 2007


VICTORY ASSURED
By late Pastor Win Johnson



   So often the Lord's people ask the question, "Why," when they are called upon to endure suffering, pain, heartache and sorrow. Some become bitter toward the Lord about it. Some lose their testimony. Some begin complaining instead of praising. Some allow hardness of heart rather than meekness of spirit to prevail.

   Job is a good example for us all. He apparently never knew the reason for his great sufferings but in the midst of his deepest trials, he was able to say, "I know that my redeemer liveth," and, "though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him." Job retained his testimony and his faith. He proved by experience that the Lord is tender and merciful and that I Corinthians 10:13 is true. "There hath no temptation (trial, testing) taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful Who will not suffer (allow) you to be tempted (tried or tested) above that ye are able but will with the temptation (trial or testing) also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it."

   However, while Job didn't know the reason for his sufferings, God has revealed to us in His Word that Job's patience in suffering vindicated God and shut Satan's mouth. Satan was proved to be a false accuser and a liar.

   As we near the end of this age of Grace, those who are faithful to Christ must expect greater trials and more severe persecutions. They may often be called upon to suffer without knowing exactly why. Let us not forget, however, that, "If we suffer with Him, we shall also reign with Him." The battle may be severe but the victory will be glorious. "Thanks be unto God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ," (I Corinthians 15:57).

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:9 And 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.

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[nChrist]

~Daily Inspirational~  GRACE TODAY AND TOMORROW  MARCH 13,  2007


GRACE TODAY AND TOMORROW
by C. R. Stam



Paul learned what thousands upon thousands of God's saints have learned from his day to ours: that it is often more blessed to experience God's grace in suffering than to enjoy deliverance from suffering, for in the former case we lean the harder and pray the more, and so are drawn closer to Him. Moreover, we find that His strength is made perfect in weakness and that when we are weak, then are we strong (II Cor. 12:9,10).

But even better things are in store for God's people: Some day, "in the ages to come," God will display to all the universe "the exceeding riches of His grace." How will He do this? "In His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:7).

Dear reader, have you accepted the grace of God in Christ Jesus? Do you believe that He loves you and that He "came into the world" to bear all the blame and shame and punishment that was your due, so that you might be "justified freely by His grace" (Rom. 3:24)?

If not, will you take Him at His Word now and come to know the truth of II Cor. 4:15:

"For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God."

Whatever your past; however great or many your sins, take God at His Word. Believe that He loves you in spite of all. Believe that He has already provided the payment for your sins in Christ:

"In whom we have redemption. through His blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace" (Eph. 1:7).

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:9 And 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.

Click Below For FREE Email Subscription:
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/pop_up.htm
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[nChrist]

~Daily Inspirational~  TRUTH FOR THIS AGE   MARCH 14,  2007


TRUTH FOR THIS AGE
By late Pastor Win Johnson


Dr. William R. Newell wrote in the introduction to his exposition on Galatians: "Paul is the declarer the revealer of the Gospel to us. Take Romans to Philemon out of the Bible and you are bereft of Christian doctrine. For instance, if you were to take Paul's epistles out of the Bible, you cannot find anything about the Church, the Body of Christ, for no other apostle mentions the Body of Christ. You cannot find one of the great mysteries, such as the Rapture of the Church (I Thessalonians 4 and I Cor. 15) or the mystery of the present hardening of Israel (Romans 11) for no other apostle speaks of any of those mysteries. Paul alone reveals them. You cannot find the exact meaning of any of the great doctrines, such as Propitiation, Reconciliation, Justification, Identification, Redemption and Sanctification. You cannot find what is perhaps the most tremendous fact of every real Christian life, that of his PERSONAL UNION with the glorified Lord. Paul is the great Divinely chosen opener to us of TRUTH FOR THIS AGE."

With Dr. Newell's conclusions we are in hearty accord. Failure to see the difference between the revelation given to the Apostle Paul by the Glorified Lord (Galatians 1:11,12; Ephesians 3:1-9) and the rest of the Scriptures which are mainly concerned with God's earthly purpose in the Kingdom, has resulted in untold confusion among God's people. Though ALL SCRIPTURE is most certainly FOR us, not all Scripture is directly TO us or for our obedience. To the Apostle Paul was given God's message for this age. As a lady once said to this writer, "When I read the Pauline Epistles they just fit my need now."

Though every book in the Bible has instruction and blessing for me as a child of God, may I not make the mistake of applying truth meant for others at a particular time, to myself in this age.

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:9 And 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.

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~Daily Inspirational~    THE WILL OF MAN     MARCH 15,  2007


THE WILL OF MAN
By late Win Johnson


Confronted with a question about predestination, a well-known evangelist answered: "Unfortunately, God has no power over the will of man. That is to say, He cannot save a person against his will .... salvation depends upon man's willingness to be saved .... the Bible indicates that God will do everything short of coercion to redeem people, but even He cannot save people against their will."

It is true that God does not save people against their wills, but it is He who, by the Spirit, makes men willing. If (unfortunately) "God has no power over the will of man" what is meant by such passages as Acts 16:14, where we read of Lydia: "WHOSE HEART THE LORD OPENED, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of (by) Paul." And what is meant by John 6:44: "No man can come to Me except the Father which hath sent me draw him .... " And what is meant by all the great Scripture passages on election and predestination (Think of Ephesians I:1-12 alone!)? Shall we erase these from our Bibles and set man above God so that man can now command God? Doesn't God HAVE to save us if we wish it, since Christ died for our sins? And can it be that God had to lay His eternal plans on the basis of what lost sinners would some day do? Perish the thought!

When we believers are finally caught up to be "forever with the Lord," we will not IN ANY DEGREE attribute our salvation to ourselves. We will say with heartfelt thanks: "By God's grace I was chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. The Spirit convicted me of sin, revealed to me my need of a Savior, showed me Christ's glorious, all-sufficient payment for my sins, opened my heart to receive Him by faith and so justified and glorified me. It was all, ALL by His grace."

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:9 And 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.

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http://www.graceandthetruth.com/pop_up.htm
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(My Note: BUT, we all know that many will reject JESUS CHRIST. HE does welcome us with open arms, and the invitation involves the greatest sacrifice and Love, but many will still choose darkness over light. For those who reject JESUS CHRIST, it will not be GOD'S fault. It is NOT GOD'S Will that any should perish in their sins, but that doesn't mean that GOD forces people to accept HIM. I must also point out that ALMIGHTY GOD knew and knows ALL before the foundation of the world. HE does know all that we will do and say ages before we are even born. This does not hint that GOD commanded that many would remain lost and which ones, rather HE simply knew before the foundation of the world which ones would reject HIM.)

[nChrist]

~Daily Inspirational~   PEACEFUL KNOWLEDGE       MARCH 16,  2007


PEACEFUL KNOWLEDGE
By Miles Stanford


"I have been crucified with Christ" (Gal. 2:20).

The difference between stultifying carnality and growing spirituality is the believer's realization that he the sinner, as well as his sin, were taken down into death. Seeing one's identification in the Lord Jesus' death, burial, resurrection and ascension is the necessary foundation for spiritual growth to maturity.

"How often do we find believers plunged into the very depths of distress and darkness as to their spiritual condition and prospects! So many do not as yet see the application of the death of the Lord Jesus to their old man. They do not realize the glorious truth that in that death they were delivered from this present evil world, from the dominion of sin and the law, and from the power of the enemy.

"All believers see that the Blood of the Lord Jesus screens them from the judgment of God; but most do not as yet see that they are 'dead unto sin' in the Lord Jesus; that their 'old man was crucified with Christ'; that not only have their sins been put upon Him at the Cross, but they themselves, as sinful children of Adam, have been personally identified with Him in His death unto sin; that God pronounces them dead and risen with Him. But if this foundational truth is not apprehended by faith, there is no bright, happy, emancipating sense of full and everlasting salvation." -C.H.M.

"We are to hold by faith the position which the Father has given us in the risen Lord Jesus, and abide therein, occupied with the interests of our Father and not our own. Taking thought of ourselves is a divergence from the place of faith."

"We enter the heavens in order to be qualified for earth; we do not begin on earth, to reach the heavens. Our simplest earthly responsibilities require us to be conversant with the 'things above. '"

"If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Cor. 5:17).

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:9 And 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.

Click Below For FREE Email Subscription:
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/pop_up.htm
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