GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

[nChrist]

The EXCEEDING GREATNESS of GOD'S POWER 2     APRIL 27 2007


The EXCEEDING GREATNESS of GOD'S POWER
PART TWO OF  THREE




God was ever well pleased with His Son; when He was Jesus of Nazareth in the midst of His people, and since He has raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His own right hand in the super-heavenlies. God manifested His great power in the act of the resurrection and exaltation of His Son. God manifests that same great power, to save from the penalty of sin, any and every sinner who believes this Divine gospel.

There is absolutely no saving message for anyone in the sinless life and holy example of the Son of God, apart from His death and resurrection. The penalty of sin is death. How could the sinner escape that death penalty by trying to live like Jesus lived? There would be no death penalty in such a struggle; but there would be utter failure; and eternal death after the futile struggle. It is the privilege of redeemed sinners to know Christ in the power of His resurrection; but not until they have escaped the death penalty by identification with Christ, "baptized into His death" (Rom. 6:3).

If the same exceeding great power that God manifested in raising Christ from death to the super-heavenlies is available for the believer to enable him to have power over sin, it would seem that the believer's defeat could only be the result of his failure to appropriate and apply that exceeding great power. If such exceeding great power is available for the believer, then the believer should be delivered from the power of sin.

ACCOMPLISHED BY GOD'S POWER

"How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" (Rom. 6:2). The believer is baptized into the death of Christ, and having been crucified with Him he is raised to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:4). "Sin shall not have dominion over you" (Rom. 6:14). "Let not sin reign in your mortal body" (Rom. 6:12).

>From these, and many other verses, it seems that victory is provided for the believer in Christ and that victory is expected of the believer in Christ. The believer is identified with Christ in death. Christ died unto sin.

"For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God" (CoI. 3:3). "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God" (Col. 3:1). What things are where Christ is? Not a thing that has to do with sin. A very high standard? It couldn't be higher. It is the "super-heavenlies" standard. It is the Christ standard. The things which are where Christ is are the things which are in Christ. And the believer is in Christ. The believer is raised with Christ. The believer is seated with Christ in the heavenlies (Eph. 2:6). Because the exceeding great power God used to accomplish the resurrection of Christ is to us-ward who believe, the believer is exhorted to manifest that resurrection power in his life.

It is one thing to be kept by the power of God through faith unto that glorious salvation at the coming of the Lord; it is another thing to day by day live in resurrection power.

___________________________________
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
___________________________________

[nChrist]

The EXCEEDING GREATNESS of GOD'S POWER  3  APRIL 28, 2007


The EXCEEDING GREATNESS of GOD'S POWER
PART THREE OF  THREE


As believers we fail to measure up to God's standard, but we have no Divine authority to lower the standard to the level of our failures. When we would do good, evil is present. The flesh lusteth against the Spirit and we may not do the things that we should. But the exceeding great power of God is available.

APPROPRIATION AND APPLICATION

Believers are exhorted to pray without ceasing (I Thess. 5:7). Quite a big order for one who has many other duties. But it is God's order. And the principle is always, "Be it unto you according to your faith. "

The believer is exhorted to study, to present, to resist, to let, to hope, to overcome, to live, to watch, to be vigilant and sober, to seek. Then there are many negative exhortations.

He is to put on the whole armour of God. He is to witness and work. He is to walk in the Spirit and make no provisions for the flesh. He is to yield himself to God and his members as instruments of righteousness. He is to put on the new man and to put off the old man. There is to be no let-up and no let-down; no unoccupied moments; no surrender to Satan or self; no compromise; but constant abiding in Christ, in fellowship and communion, yielded every moment to the Holy Spirit, saying with Paul, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Phil. 4:13).

The believer is instructed to abstain from all appearance of evil (I Thess. 5:22). He is exhorted to keep himself unspotted from the world. "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world" (1 John 2:15). In fact, there are several hundred admonitions, injunctions, orders, warnings, beseechings and rules for his Christian conduct.

Such is the price of victory. Paul practiced what he preached. How are we getting along? Our sufficiency is of 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.

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

[nChrist]

The Church or the Rock?          APRIL 29, 2007


The Church or the Rock?
By Ivan L. Burgener

   "And I also, I say unto thee that thou are Peter and upon this rock will I build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18 revised)

   The Lord spoke to Peter about a rock and a church and said the "gates of hell" would not prevail. But what does that mean?

   To many this is the foundation passage upon which to base the teaching that Peter is the head of the church and that the gates of hell will not prevail against the church. But that interpretation is based upon assumptions.

   First, is Peter the rock? Peter's Greek name is PETROS, a masculine name meaning a "stone," such as a pebble one might toss or throw. The Greek word for "rock" is PETRA, a feminine noun meaning a massive rock or boulder - something that cannot be lifted or that will not budge. The Lord said one could build a house on a "rock" and even carve a tomb therein. See Matthew 7:24 & 27:60. Peter was not the rock and able commentators who read the Greek Language have known better.

   But what about the church? Did the Lord really say "the gates of hell would not prevail against the church"? His words were, "the gates of hell shall not prevail against IT." We all know "it" is a pronoun, but we do not all know that "it" refers to the church. Many have assumed so just like they assumed the Peter or his confession was the rock. But are we reading into or out of the verse?

   One cannot tell by any English translation but the Greek pronoun here translated "it" is not neuter, but feminine and singular. Our word "her" would be the equivalent, but that would not be good English.

   Since every pronoun must have its antecedant, our question is. Which noun in the sentence is both feminine and singular? There are two candidates: rock and church! Since both appear to be equally qualified, we must consider which fits the text and the context.

   What would it mean to say, "the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church"? Or, what would it mean to say, "the gates of hell shall not prevail against the rock"? And to what does the term "rock" refer? Surely Christ was the Rock that followed Israel in the wilderness and the Messiah was to be the Rock of their salvation. People want to make Peter's confession to be the rock, but which is greater, his confession or the Rock Himself?

   What are "the gates of hell"? In either case, what would it mean for them to "prevail"? Would you know the gates of hell if you saw them? What do they look like? Are they double-wide doors with hinges and latches? These questions are posed to help us consider what the Lord was talking about..

   Pursuing the word "gates," from Genesis 19:1 we learn that "Lot sat in the gate" of the city of Sodom and in verse 9, they said he was a judge indicating a position of authority. In Proverbs 31:23 the virtuous woman's husband was "known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land." Further tracing of figurative uses of "gates" will confirm that this word indicates authority or power, such as one might have in government.

   Our word "hell" comes from the Greek "hades" and its Hebrew equivalent "sheol." But both these words are often translated death or grave. For example in I Cor. 15:55 this same word, HADES, is alternatively translated "death" and "grave." But when one combines these two words, "gates" and "hell," the phrase "gates of hell" becomes the "power of death" or "authority of the grave."

   The idea of the "power of death" failing to prevail against the church is vague and uncertain. But to say that "the power of death" will not prevail against the Rock (Christ) clearly announces His resurrection! For the "power of death (or grave)"to prevail against Christ, would mean that the grave would hold Him and not let Him rise! That could not be!

   This explanation is offered as the only one for Matthew 16:18 and the Lord confirms it in verse 21, "From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto His disciples, how that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day." While Peter was praised for his earlier confession of Who Christ was, here he is sharply rebuked for resisting the Lord's own words that He would go to the cross! But that the "gates of hell" could not prevail should have been Peter's great eternal consolation! Hallelujah!

___________________________________
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
___________________________________

[nChrist]

On Earth But Also In Heaven!        APRIL 30, 2007


On Earth But Also In Heaven!
By Pastor Paul Hume

Someone asked another person who professed faith in Jesus Christ, 'What earthly good are you for heaven's sake?' You've heard it a hundred times about being 'so heavenly minded so as to be no earthly good.' Yet, it is terribly possible on the other hand to be 'so earthly minded and no heavenly good.'

The true believer in Christ Jesus today is rather an odd person!  By that we mean that he is, in a sense, to have his head in heaven and his feet on earth! Look at Paul's line of reasoning about this in his Epistle to the Colossians.  Paul writes: 'If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourselves to decrees ....?' (Colossians 2:20). Then follow Paul on into the next chapter: 'If (since) then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on things which are upon the earth.. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. '

The point of Paul's words seem to be that true believers in Christ have died (judicially) with Christ. They have experienced a spiritual resurrection insomuch that their life is 'hid with Christ in God.'  Where is Christ? He is seated at the right hand of God. So every believer is, in a very real sense, in heaven - right now!

Another passage makes this clear: 'But God...made us alive together with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus' (Ephesians 2:4,5,6). This seems so fantastic that it couldn't be real. But it is! We may not feel this truth very often, but we surely can believe it! By faith, resting upon the veracity of God's Word of Truth, we know we have been, as the hymn writer has stated:

'In the Beloved' Accepted am I,
Risen, ascended, and seated on high;
Saved from all sin thro' His infinite grace,
With the redeemed ones accorded a place.
'In the Beloved', God's marvelous grace
Calls me to dwell in this wonderful place;
God sees my Savior and then He sees me;
'In the Beloved', accepted and free.'

Now the truth of Philippians 3:20 becomes all the more bright: 'For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

But then going back to Paul's exhortations in Colossians 3, we find him being very 'earthly' to his advice. He says, 'Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.' (3:5) He speaks about our 'earthly body,' or 'our members which are upon earth.' Physically and bodily we are very much in this world and on this earth. But spiritually we are in heaven!

This is why the Apostle goes on in Colossians 3 to explain what a heavenly life is in a hell-like world! He goes on to tell us how to live a heaven-controlled life personally, domestically and vocationally every day. Meditate upon Colossians 3:5-4:6, and even commit it to memory. And let's gear our lives each day to keep in tune with heaven - where our real Life is - so that we'll be more earthly good in this holiday season!
Grace, peace and love, Pastor Hume

___________________________________
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
___________________________________

[nChrist]

TRANQUIL TRUST         MAY 1, 2007


TRANQUIL TRUST
By Miles Stanford




"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding" (Prov. 3:5).

Restful trust is developed not so much by what the Lord Jesus does for us, but by who He is to us - and that necessitates fellowship.

"It is a wonderful thing to be so satisfied with the Lord Jesus' company, that we can be tranquil about everything. You will often find that it is the one of the most anxious temperament who finds most in Him, when such an one begins to know Him. I remember when I used to think that I should be happy beyond conception if I were able to say, 'I will fear no evil,' 'my heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.' In order to reach this, you must find Him enough, without anything else. We all say that He is enough, but it is quite a different thing to know it practically. You can never prove the worth of anyone, until you are absolutely dependent on him." -J.B.S.

"What do you need? Ask your Father about it. Instead of harassing your mind about it, present it to Him; and it is not said that He will necessarily give you what you ask, but He gives you His peace. You put your cares into His heart, and He will put His peace into yours."

"Our Father's purpose is an 'eternal purpose,' from eternity, embracing an eternity to come. He does not shape His thoughts according as circumstances arise, but the circumstances are controlled by His thoughts and plans. How blessed to know that He is absolute Master in all things; that even 'He maketh the wrath of man to praise Him, and the remainder of wrath He restrains.' It is the only thing that can give the smallest comfort in the midst of such a scene of confusion all around us." ---F.W.G.

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God" (Phil. 4:6).

___________________________________
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.

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

[nChrist]

ONLY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST        MAY 2, 2007


ONLY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
By Miles Stanford


"Thus saith the Lord, Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm" (Jer. 17:5).

Sooner or later the believer goes through a period of disillusionment and bitterness because of what he encounters in the lives of other Christians - leaders included. The Holy Spirit uses this revelation, along with what He exposes in his own heart, to teach him to abide in the Lord Jesus; safe from the sin of others, as well as his own.

"It is a part of our spiritual education to discover the fallibility of those in whom we trust. The experience can be a very painful one, but it is most necessary for us to find out that everyone else but the Lord Jesus is a failure. Sometimes He seems to take pains to bring them to notice. He never hid the failures of his disciples from the people, for he wants it clearly understood that we must place our trust in Him alone. Some Christians get offended with Him when they find that others on whom they relied are not, after all, perfect." -H.F.

"Our Father will allow us to prove the vanity and folly of all creature-confidences, human hopes, and earthly expectations. And on the other hand, He will prove to us, in the most touching and forcible manner, the truth and blessedness of His own Word: 'They shall not be ashamed that wait for Me.'" -C.H..M.

"You will never be transformed by continually looking at your own shortcomings, never! Nor will you ever be transformed by looking at the weaknesses of your fellow Christians. You will only be conformed by continually looking upon the glory of the Lord Jesus; for they who live looking and beholding, though they know it not, are being changed from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord. ---E.I.

"To give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Cor. 4:6).

___________________________________
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.

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

[nChrist]

CROSS CONTINUITY      MAY 3, 2007


CROSS CONTINUITY
By Miles Stanford

"That I may know Him ... being made conformable unto His death" (Phil. 3:10).


The wondrous depths of the finished work of the Cross will always be adequate to deal with the terrible depths of the unfinished work of the old man. As we glory in the Cross, the flesh is denied.

"When we have apprehended our death position with the Lord Jesus (Rom. 6:6; Gal. 2:20, etc.), we may have failed to see the ongoing conformity to His death (2 Cor. 4:11; Phil 3:10, etc.). The absence of this brings the anomaly of the Cross being preached with little or no marks of the Calvary spirit.

"This is the problem of teaching the 'identification' truths without the consequent conformity of death which brings forth life. We may rely upon the fact that we 'died' with the Lord Jesus, and assume that it is entirely wrought in us at once, not realizing that 'the fellowship of His sufferings' follows the apprehension of identification. That 'delivery unto death' must become deeper and deeper, until the 'conformity to His death' in the path of the Cross becomes a very real characteristic of the life."

"We are not to think that our exalted position in the Lord Jesus, seated with Him in heavenly places, frees us from the need of further application of the Cross. We never reach a point where we can leave the Cross. We are invincible, more than conquerors through Him who loved us, only as we are brought into ever deeper conformity to the Lord Jesus' death unto sin. Otherwise the flesh reinstates itself and we once more fall prey to the old man's reign. There are always remaining, however much we have advanced, hidden strongholds of the old man which must be rendered inoperative by the finished work of the Cross." -F.J.H.

"Let him deny himself, and take up his Cross daily" (Lu. 9:23).

___________________________________
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
___________________________________

[nChrist]

CONDITIONAL STRENGTH         MAY 4, 2007


CONDITIONAL STRENGTH
By Miles Stanford



"My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor. 12:9a).


Whereas most feel that personal weakness is the great hindrance to a sound Christian life, the real tragedy is the astonishing strength of the old man. The Cross for our cursed strength; the Lord Jesus for our blessed weakness.

"Let no one imagine that he can be effectively used in the Lord's service, or even make progress in the Christian life, without some measure of real entrance into the valuable principle: 'When I am weak, then am I strong' (2 Cor.. 12:10). It is absolutely essential in forming the character of the true servant of the Lord Jesus. Where it is not known and felt, there is sure to be unsubduedness, unbrokenness, and self-occupation in some form or other. On the other hand, where one has been brought into this principle, there will always be a measure of brokenness, softness, and tenderness of spirit; and not only so, but also largeness of heart, and that lovely tendency to rise above those petty, selfish considerations, which so sadly hinder the work of God.

"All of His servants in the Word stand before us as vivid illustration of the value and necessity of broken material. All had to be broken in order to be made whole - to be emptied in order to be filled - to learn that, of themselves, they could do nothing, in order to be ready, in the Lord Jesus' strength, for anything and everything." -C.H.M.

"Our Father's spiritual goal for his own is neither continuous straitness nor continuous poverty. For these are never the end; they are only the means to His end. Straitness is the pathway to expansion; poverty is the pathway to abundance."

"Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me" (2 Cor. 12:9b).

___________________________________
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
___________________________________

[nChrist]

THE SOVEREIGN GOD AND HIS WORD        MAY 5, 2007


THE SOVEREIGN GOD AND HIS WORD
By Pastor Paul Hume


Scripture Reading: 2 Tim. 3:15-17; Psa. 68:11

"Prove to me in one word that the Bible is the inspired Word of God!" demanded King Frederick of Prussia of a Christian minister one time. After a few moments of thought the answer came clear, "The Jew, Sir, the remarkable Jew is one, evidence that the Bible is the inspired Word of God!"

Yes! The Bible IS the very Word of our sovereign God even though He chose to use some forty human authors through which to give His Word. Yet the truth still stands, "The Lord (the Master) gave the Word" (Psa. 68:11). "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God"--that is, "all Scripture, is God-breathed." By His Spirit He brought the Word of God into being! No wonder we read in Hebrews 4:12 that it is "living and active.." "His Word, said the psalmist, 'runneth very swiftly' (Psa. 147:15). According to both Isaiah 55:11 and Matthew 4:4 it came forth from the very mouth of God! Blessed Book! It is "forever settled in heaven"

Can men ever destroy this Book? They may burn Bibles by the thousands, pass laws preventing the propagation of that Book, jail or even slay the preachers of it, yet "heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away" (Matt. 24:35). Men may cry that it is out-dated and not relevant to our times, yet it still abides and is changing the lives of millions who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ! Why!. Because God has sworn to stand by His Word: "I will hasten my word to perform it" (Jer. 1:12).

"The Bible stands like a rock undaunted,
Mid the raging storms of time;
Its pages burn with the truth eternal,
And they glow with a light sublime.
The Bible stands ev'ry test we give it,
For its Author is divine;
By grace alone I expect to live it,
And prove it and make it mine!"

Now we may say a hearty "Amen" to these blessed truths--and rightly should we. Bur the acid test is this:

"Does this Book have authority, over my life?" If not, then you are in rebellion against its blessed Author! I trust you are not, but if you are, remember that "rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry!"

___________________________________
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
___________________________________

[nChrist]

THE IMMUTABILITY OF GOD         MAY 6, 2007


THE IMMUTABILITY OF GOD
By late Pastor Lloyd Peterson



One of the last reminders in the Old Testament is that God is unchangeable. Malachi 3:6 declares, 'For I am the Lord God, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.' James reminds the twelve tribes that were scattered abroad and undergoing real testing that God does not change. He says I 'Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.' James 1:16-17. This message of the immutability of God is for people who feel insecure and need help. The message is good for all of God's people. Some time we are going to have to place more real confidence in our God. We are going to need something to rest in that cannot be found in this world. It is difficult for us to imagine the real meaning of immutability. We are natural and often, if not always, judge everything that we know by what we see about us. We, none of us, have ever experienced anything that is unchangeable. Everything that we can contact through our five senses reveals to us change and decay. However, we have our God who 'changeth not' What do we mean by this? Dr. Strong in his theology says, 'By this we mean that the nature, attributes and will of God are exempt from all change. Reason teaches us that no change is possible in God. Whether of increase or decrease, progress or deterioration, contraction or  development, all change must be for better or worse. But God is absolute perfection and no change for better is possible. Change to worse is equally as inconsistent with perfection. No cause for change exists, either outside of God or in God Himself.' We must not, however, confound this with God's immobility.

God does execute His decrees and acts within the confines of His will but this is not immutability.  It is a good thing that our God does not change, NO. 1 - He does not change in His attitudes. Mal, 3:6 reveals this. If He did then would His people in their failures be as He here declares - 'consumed'? He does not love one time and hate the next. He does not forgive and then remember our sins.

No. 2 - He does not change relative to His gifts. He does not promise or give and then change his mind in this matter.  Rom.  11:2 9 is a good verse to remember. 'For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance..' A precious verse to me is II Timothy 2:13. 'If we believe not, yet He abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself.'

No. 3 - He does not change relative to His purpose. Read these following verses. They are a message from God to you, my friend. Romans 8:28; Ephesians 1:9 and II Timothy 1:9. Notice the phrase 'according to His purpose', This is for now and eternity. God has a plan for all ages and He, God, has incorporated us into this plan. His plan would fail if we were not there. What it is no one knows, but nevertheless it is there. I know that we are but dust and amount to nothing; but nothing plus God is everything' He is going to carry out His plan - that's why we are His forever.

No. 4 - He does not change relative to His justice and righteousness. This is another of God's attributes; but let me incorporate it here. He accepted payment for our sins. He accepted His beloved Son; that is why He arose from the dead. Now this means a lot - it means that God cannot accept any other payment for sin. He said, 'This is my beloved Son'. Therefore, no one may come with their righteousness or life. If God accepted a person because they were good or religious or for any other reason than for and through the Lord Jesus, He must reject what He already accepted namely the Lord Jesus.

Beloved, we have a God that changeth not. This calls for service and dedication. How much we should appreciate our position in the risen Lord. Again, how much we should enjoy our rest in the Lord.

___________________________________
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
___________________________________

[nChrist]

HUMILITY          MAY 7, 2007


HUMILITY



The times that we are experiencing are the most trying and difficult that any generation has known. If it were not for the sound undergirding of the Word of God, many of us would be swept into the abyss of unbelief. You know as well as I do that most of the time we resort to 'our own understanding' rather than follow the admonition of the Lord to 'lean NOT unto thine own understanding.' We live in such extremes and with such a high or rapid race that we know nothing of that which Dr. Andrew Murray calls 'a blessed home in the Lord where I can go in and shut the door, and knee l to Father in secret and am at peace, etc.' If we were more at home with the Lord we would need less human supplements in this day.

The following by Andrew Murray has proved a real blessing to me. I am sure it will bless your heart. May I suggest that you practice such a rest in the Lord:

'Humility is perfect quietness of heart. It is for me to have no trouble; never to be fretted or vexed or irritated or sore or disappointed. It is to expect nothing, to wonder at nothing that is done against me. It is to be at rest when nobody praises me, and when I am blamed or despised. It is to have a blessed home in the Lord, where I can go in and shut the door, and kneel to my Father in secret and am at peace as in a deep sea of calmness when all around and above is trouble. It is the fruit of the Lord Jesus Christ's redemptive work on Calvary's Cross manifest in those of His own who are definitely subjected to the Holy Spirit.'

Is not this a true picture of a real Christian? Let us all examine ourselves in light of this definition.

Amen and love, Pastor Peterson

___________________________________
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
___________________________________

[nChrist]

UNIQUE IDENTITY          MAY 8, 2007


UNIQUE IDENTITY
By Miles Stanford



"If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation" (2 Cor. 5:17).

All the "religions" of Christendom are mainly Judaistic, and the present-day Church is not far behind.

"The teachings of the kingdom (as illustrated in the Sermon on the Mount) have not yet been applied to any man. Since they anticipate the binding of Satan, a purified earth, the restoration of Israel, and the personal reign of the King, they cannot be applied until God's appointed time when these accompanying conditions on the earth have been brought to pass.

"The kingdom laws will be addressed to Israel and beyond them to all nations which will enter the kingdom. It will be the first and only universal reign of righteousness and peace in the history of the world. One nation was in view when the Law of Moses was in force on the earth; the individual is in view during this age of grace; and the whole social structure of mankind will be in view when the kingdom is established on earth.

"Christianity is totally opposed to Judaism, and any mixture of the two must result in the loss of all that is vital in the present plan of salvation. One made its appeal to the limited resources of the natural man and conditioned his life on the earth; the other sets aside the natural man, secures a whole new creation in Christ Jesus, and counsels that new being in his pilgrim journey to his heavenly home.

"The Jewish nation is the center of all things related to the earth. The Church is foreign to the earth and related to it only as a witnessing people. They are strangers and pilgrims, ambassadors whose citizenship is in heaven."---L.S.C.

"There is neither Jew nor Greek (Gentile) .. .for ye are all one (new creation) in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:28 ) .

___________________________________
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
___________________________________

[nChrist]

BLESSED LAMENESS          MAY 9, 2007


BLESSED LAMENESS
By Miles Stanford



"My grace is sufficient for thee; for My strength is made perfect in (your) weakness" (2 Cor. 12.:9).


Our greatest liability: self-confidence. Our greatest asset: Christ-confidence. It usually takes years to discover one's misplaced confidence. The flesh will fail us every time, and under all conditions. The Lord Jesus never fails us under any conditions.

"When the Lord Jesus was on the Cross there were no mighty deeds to be seen, yet Calvary did more for the world than all the great deeds in Galilee. We think too much of the greatness, and too little of the death-fellowship with our Lord. The 'mighty deeds' may mean the 'greater works,' but death-fellowship means 'much fruit.' You might toil all your life, and only do so much, even with the wonderful deeds; but if you are willing to die with Him there will be effortless multiplication. There is no limit to the fruit that comes out of death."

"An increasing number of the Lord's people are seeking to enjoy the power of the Lord Jesus' life by accepting the fact of their union in His death as expressed by Paul, 'That I may know Him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, becoming conformed unto His death" (Phil. 3:10). We died with Him, but most of us are not being conformed to His death and hence are not like Him in life." -L.L.L.

"There is no escape from the Cross, if believers would know the 'power of His resurrection.' This crafty, defiant, defensive 'I' must be held in the place of death by the Spirit if there is to be true fruitfulness. In the measure that one dies to the old, in the same measure does one experience life in the New."

"Then shall the lame man leap as an hart .. .for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert" (Isa. 35:6).

___________________________________
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.

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

[nChrist]

BENEFITS OF THE GOSPEL OF THE  GRACE OF GOD  5/13/07


THE BENEFITS OF BEING IN THE DISPENSATION OF THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD


The "IN CHRIST" expression occurs some seventy times in Paul's epistles and only twice elsewhere. The central passage on this truth is 2 Corinthians 5:17:

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

Other passages tell us we are in him. Romans 8:1; Ephesians 1:4;Colossians 2:10; Ephesians 2:13.

1. Being "in Christ" the believer is made to share in the whole history of Christ's passion, burial, resurrection, ascension, and glorification.

2.  We have been jointly crucified with Christ. (Rom. 6:6 and Gal. 2:20)

3. We have been jointly buried with Christ (Gr. sunthaptomai, Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12).

4. We have been jointly raised with Christ (Gr. Sunegeiro, Colossians 3:1).

5. We have been made to jointly live with Christ (Eph.2:5).

6. We are jointly seated with Christ at present in the heavenlies (Eph. 2:6).

7. We are jointly glorified with Christ (Romans 8:17).

8. The believer has already died unto sin through Christ's death.  (Rom. 6:2, 6:11)

9. The believer was baptized (Identified) by the Spirit into one body. (1 Cor. 12:13).

10. The church of today is the "Body of Christ" He is the head we are the body. (1Cor. 12:27, Col 1:18 )

11. We have a heavenly calling, to the highest heaven. " ( Eph 2:6)

12. We will judge angels. (1 Cor. 6:3)

13. There is no Jew or Gentile in the body of Christ, we are all same. ( Gal. 3:28)

14.  We are joint-heirs with God. (Rom. 8:17)

15. We have the Lord Jesus Christ, who lives His life through us. (Gal.2:20)

16. We can walk around in His good works. (Eph.2:10)

17. We have been blessed with all Spiritual blessings in heavenlies (Eph. 1:3)

18. We were chosen in him before the foundation of the world. (Eph. 1:4)

19. We are accepted in the beloved. (Eph. 1:6).

20. We have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise (Eph. 1:13)

21. We are His inheritance, therefore His will. (Eph. 1:18)

22. We have the very power within us that raised Christ from the tomb. (Eph 1:19).

23. God gave us the Grace and Faith to believe. (Eph. 2:8-9).

24. In the ages to come we the body will be put on display for the rest of the saved to see. (Eph 2:7).

25. God will finish in us what He has started. (Phil. 1:6).

26. He has given us the mind of Christ. (Phil 2:5)

27. We have the privilege of suffering for His sake. (Phil 1 :29) Spiritual

28. We can walk by faith. ( 2 Cor. 5:7, Col 2:6 )

These are just a fraction of what we have "in Christ" what a Saviour we have, who has given us life, and lives it through us, truly how blessed we are in deed.

___________________________________
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
___________________________________

[nChrist]

ABOUNDING GRACE       MAY 14, 2007


ABOUNDING GRACE

In the Word of God following the statement in Romans 5:20, "Where sin abounded grace did much more abound," this question is asked: "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?"

"Christ died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them and rose again" (II Cor. 5:15).

"For in that Christ died, He died unto sin once; but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God" (Rom. 6:10).

"Christ died for our sins." If Christ, by the grace of God, tasted death for every man, then by that same grace of God every believer is dead unto sin. Very few of God's people have fully appreciated, or even appropriated, the blessed truth of identification; that is, the glorious fact that the redeemed sinner is identified with Christ in death, burial, and resurrection. He has been baptized into the death of Christ; and by the same Divine baptism he has been raised to walk in newness of life. He is also seated with Christ where Christ is, far above principality, power, and dominion (Eph. 1:20 and 2:6).

It is very interesting to study the 4 "much more's" in the fifth chapter of Romans, and learn that God's grace is altogether sufficient for every, task, every test, every trial, every temptation, every tribulation, and every thorn of every believer. What a wonderful statement we have in II Corinthians 9:8, "God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency, in all things, may abound to every good work."

Surely this super-abounding, inexhaustible grace, this ample provision for all things, leaves all believers without excuse. When the child of God blunders and fails, stumbles and falls, it is not because of any shortage of Divine grace. This marvelous provision for the believer's spiritual life of victory is definitely stated in Titus 2:11 to 13, which we quote: "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ."

And when that blessed hope is realized, believers shall be saved from the very presence of sin. They shall then appear with Christ in glory and come into a new realization of that eternity of grace expressed in Ephesians 2:7; "in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." - Selected

___________________________________
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
___________________________________