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GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION
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Topic: GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION (Read 375464 times)
nChrist
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TRUE SANCTIFICATION
«
Reply #450 on:
June 18, 2007, 08:29:02 PM »
TRUE SANCTIFICATION JUNE 16, 2007
TRUE SANCTIFICATION
"Of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us. . . sanctification" (I Cor. 1:30).
If we keep in mind that the Lord Jesus is our Sanctification, the seemingly difficult subject will clearly unfold for us day by day.
"Many fall into the Methodistic, or Quaker, or Pearsall-Smith scheme of sanctification - all of which is substantially the same. The true scriptural means of sanctification is that you are set apart to God. It is not at all a question of whether there is evil in your flesh, for there is a great deal. Why, that is all the old man is made of!
"But yet you are sanctified. Sanctification has nothing whatever to do with the extinction of evil in the flesh. That idea, begun with Pelagius, revived by Thomas a'Kempis, handed down through Jeremy Taylor, the French and Dutch mystics, Wm. Law and John Wesley, has passed into other communions where they have no notion whatever whence it came." -W.K.
"The Christian life is nothing short of the life of the Lord Jesus (Col. 3:4). It is His life reproduced in us. 'That the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh' (2 Cor. 4:11). The common conception of sanctification is that every area of the life should be holy; but that is not holiness, it is the fruit of holiness: holiness is the Lord Jesus Christ.
"When we are conscious of pride we fancy that humility will meet our need, but the answer to pride is not humility, it is the Lord Jesus, and He is the answer to every need. The Father will not give you humility or patience or love as separate gifts of grace; He has given you the Lord Jesus, and if you simply trust Him to live out His life in you, He will be humble, patient, loving and everything else you need."
By M. Stanford
"God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth" (2 Thess. 2:13).
___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/
If this devotion has been a blessing to you, please share it with others. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.
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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"GOD HATH MADE"
«
Reply #451 on:
June 18, 2007, 08:30:57 PM »
"GOD HATH MADE" Special Father's Day
"GOD HATH MADE"
God is a LIVING, LOVING God, and He is POWERFUL! He has done many wonderful things for us. Let's look at the scriptures and consider what God HATH MADE!
God Hath Made The World
"He HATH MADE the earth by His power, He hath established the world by His wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by His discretion. When He uttereth His voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and He causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; He maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of this treasures" Jeremiah 10:12,13.
God Hath Made The Day
"This is the day which the Lord HATH MADE; we will rejoice and be glad in it" Psalm 118:24.
God Hath Made The Seasons
"Thou has set all the borders of the earth: Thou HAST MADE summer and winter" Psalm 74:17.
God Hath Made Man
"Know ye that the Lord, He is God; it is He that HATH MADE us, and not we ourselves" Psalm 100:3.
God Hath Made Known His Salvation
"The. Lord HATH MADE known His salvation; His righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen" Psalm 98:2.
God Hath Made Christ To Be Sin
"For He (God) HATH MADE Him (Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" II Corinthians 5:21.
God Hath Made US Accepted
"To the praise of the glory of His grace wherein He HATH MADE us accepted) in the Beloved (One)" Ephesians 1:6.
God Hath Made Us Partakers of the Inheritance
"Giving thanks unto the Father which HATH MADE us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light" Colossians 1:12.
God Hath Made Jew and Gentile One
"For He is our peace, who HATH MADE both one and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us" Ephesians 2:14.
God Hath Made Us Free From the LAW
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ HATH MADE us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage" Galatians 5:1.
God Hath Made Us Wise
"Thou, through Thy commandments HAST MADE me wiser than mine enemies; for they are ever with me" Psalm 119:98.
God Hath Made Me Free From the Law of Sin and Death
"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus HATH MADE me free from the law of sin and death" Romans 8:2.
God Hath Made Us Able Ministers
"Who also HATH MADE us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the Spirit: for the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life" II Corinthians 32:6.
God Hath Made Us Joint Heirs With Christ
"And HATH raised us up together and MADE us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" Ephesians 2:6.
From beginning to end, God, the all-powerful One, the faithful One, HATH MADE complete provision for the child of FAITH!
Trust (rely upon, adhere to) the CRUCIFIED CHRIST as your sin-bearer! "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree. . ." I Peter 1:24. "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8. "He was delivered for our offences and raised again on account of our justification" Romans 4:25.
Trust the RESURRECTED CHRIST as your New Life! "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me" Galatians 2:20.
Trust the GLORIFIED CHRIST to come again and catch us away". . .to meet the LORD in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" I Thessalonians 4:17.
Sir Robert Anderson
___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/
If this devotion has been a blessing to you, please share it with others. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.
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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"SPIRITUAL ATTAINMENT"
«
Reply #452 on:
June 19, 2007, 02:17:42 PM »
"SPIRITUAL ATTAINMENT" JUNE 18, 2007
"SPIRITUAL ATTAINMENT"
by Charles Wages
The Bible clearly teaches that "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."
There is no doubt but that God is interested in children growing properly in grace and knowledge, Spiritual attainment is not something to be grasped after for personal or selfish gain, but to know God and fulfill His purpose for our lives.
Just as an athlete exercises in a gymnasium so should the Christian be actively engaged in God's world. This activity should not be just "beating the air," but actually participating in vital, worthwhile endeavors in accordance with God's will and Word. Four things that aid in spiritual attainment will be briefly discussed. The order in which they are given does not necessarily effect their relative importance.
Concentration
Concentration or intense interest in what a person is trying to accomplish is of utmost importance to attainment of goals. The apostle Paul states in Philippians "this one thing I do," in reference to "pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Then again in Colossians 3:2, he says, "set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth" Concentration of the sun's rays on a combustible material will set it ablaze, in like fashion if we give our strict attention to something for God, it will bring results.
Abstaining
Abstaining or holding off from partaking or participating in certain things is important to spiritual attainment. Sometimes things we don't do are just as important as things we attempt to do, in our over-indulged generation, the thought of restraint or self-denial is rejected by most people. The truth concerning abstaining as taught in the Scriptures is not confined to marriage and food, but principally concerns "holding off from" evil, religious doctrine. For instance in 1 Thessalonians 5:22, we are admonished to "abstain from every form of evil." When we consider that one of the major characteristics of this present evil age is "having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof" (2 Tim. 3:5), we conclude that God would have us not partake of or participate in religious error. Even the Gentiles were instructed by the apostles at Jerusalem to "abstain from meat offered to idols."
Nourishment
Nourishment of the proper sort is important to spiritual attainment. It is common knowledge that the Bible uses items of physical food to teach some of its greatest spiritual lessons. Our Lord did this time and time again. Bread, meat, milk and honey are just few examples. But we understand the Word to tell us of a more important form of nourishment Paul wrote to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:6, "If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained."
In Colossians 2:19, we are instructed that our nourishment comes from the Head of the Church, the Lord Jesus Christ. Someone has said that we should take this spiritual nourishment and (1) study it through, (2) pray it in (3) put it down (4) work it out, and (5) pass it on.
Proper Attitude
A proper attitude is absolutely necessary to spiritual attainment The wonderful passage found in Philippians 4:5-9 is so appropriate when we think of our attitude and what it should be. We need to read and reread this passage.
We might say our attitude could be found in three respects (1) Our attitude toward God and His Word, (2) Our attitude toward men, and (3) Our attitude toward ourselves. It follows that if our attitude is proper and the way our Lord would have it, we will attain spiritually for the glory and honor of our Head.
EXERCISE thyself
rather unto
godliness. For
bodily exercise
profiteth little;
but godliness is
profitable unto
all things,
having promise
of the life that
now is, and of
that which is to come.
___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/
If this devotion has been a blessing to you, please share it with others. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.
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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"SIDE EFFECTS"
«
Reply #453 on:
June 23, 2007, 12:57:12 AM »
"SIDE EFFECTS" JUNE 19, 2007
"SIDE EFFECTS"
"God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shone in our hearts" (2 Cor. 4:6a).
The Father tolerates our side of things until we learn to value His side of things.
"Make your Father's side of things your interest and concern, and your side will be fully ensured; but turn your eye to your own side, and, with much apparent effort and work, you will look for much and bring in little. This explains the small progress in many souls in this day, notwithstanding the amount of truth and light they have received. May the Lord Jesus in His Word be more simply the Object of our hearts in this evil day." -J.B.S.
"Love really does not think of anyone but its object until it is quite sure of its place with Him, and then when at rest about itself it studies the mind and heart of the Object. I find that the Lord Jesus loved me and gave Himself for me when I was in a most unattractive state; but He makes me suitable to Himself, and I am so assured of the permanency of His love and of my association with Him that my heart is free to study Him. The more I am in His company, the more I grow in the characteristics which answer to His mind and nature." -J.B.S.
"All here comes to me from one spring, and that source is the heart of my Father. You must connect your heart with the love and not with the benefit, otherwise you are not yet established. I am not only clear of everything that was against me, but I am brought into a new kind of love - the love of the Father. It is not merely His gifts, His power, His greatness, but it is the knowledge of what He is in Himself to me."
"The law demands, love God; grace declares, God so loved!"
by M. Stanford
"To give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Cor. 4:6b).
___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/
If this devotion has been a blessing to you, please share it with others. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.
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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"NOT ASHAMED"
«
Reply #454 on:
June 23, 2007, 12:59:00 AM »
"NOT ASHAMED" JUNE 20, 2007
"NOT ASHAMED"
There have been times in our Christian experience when we have been ashamed to make our true identity known. This could be the result of our conduct at the time or because of the presence of unbelievers. Perhaps like Peter in his experience we were completely outnumbered and would have been put on the spot had we made known our identity. Really, like it or not, for the moment it amounts to having been ashamed of our Saviour. This is an awful thing, and as a result we like Peter after such denial. weep and seek the Master's forgiveness.
How often the Saviour has had occasion to be ashamed of us. But never so. The writer of Hebrews states, 'He is not ashamed to call us brethren.' I How is this possible and why is it so? One reason is found in 'this verse: 'He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one.'
The Scriptures teach us that there is a mystical union (wrought by the Holy Spirit) between Christ and the believer. 'For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.' I Eph. 5:30. The Saviour loves His body. Ephesians again testifies that He 'nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church.' Eph. 5:29. It is because of this union 'He is not ashamed to call them brethren.' Think of it, dear Christian, the creator and sustainer of the universe loves us so much that He is never ashamed of us. This includes all of us. Paul wrote to the Corinthian church and said that even the members of the body that seem to be more feeble are necessary. See. I Cor. 12:22. This is no encouragement to give way to careless living. This is, a motivating force for a closer walk with the Lord.
Another reason also for his not being ashamed to call us brethren is that 'He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust.' Psalm 103:14. I shall never cease to thank God for this wonderful portion of His Word. May I tell you why? In my day I've seen a lot of dust around the country. I have yet to, find any that has had much of value as far as any intrinsic force is concerned. Verse 14 of this same chapter in Hebrews says, 'Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same.' Again in verse 17, 'Wherefore , in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren.' Therefore, it is written again, 'We have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities.' Heb. 4:15. This is the reason for His not being ashamed 'to call us brethren.' Oh, how the Lord loves us. We should never lose sight of this fact. It is so easy to become discouraged these days and particularly, so if we give an honest appraisal of ourselves. Yet the Lord does not want us to be like that. We should look at ourselves as in union with Him.
Do you have troubles and are you often disappointed with yourself? Keep before you, dear child of God, that your Lord and Master does not sit in judgment to punish you. He rather is seated at the right hand of God the Father and is in sympathy with you.
As I bring this little message to a close I call to your attention two words in Hebrews. One is in chapter 4, verse 15 (previously quoted in this message). It is the word 'touched.' It really is 'sympathy.' Again in verse 2 of chapter 5 we have the English word 'compassion.' This too, is the word 'sympathy' in the Greek. The message is simple: He can and does have sympathy for us, and, 'like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For He knoweth our frame, He remembereth that we are dust.' Don't expect too much of yourself, dear friend, and you won't be disappointed so much. In fact, don't expect anything of yourself, for in your flesh (dust) 'dwelleth no good thing. '
You may expect something from the Lord, however, as He works in and through you 'for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to do.'
Thank you, dear Lord, for never being ashamed of us to call us brethren; help us never to be ashamed of you and to make our identity known.
Amen and love, Pastor L. Peterson
Heb 2:11 'For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,'
___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/
If this devotion has been a blessing to you, please share it with others. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.
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:
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"RISEN FARE"
«
Reply #455 on:
June 23, 2007, 01:00:33 AM »
"RISEN FARE" JUNE 21, 2007
"RISEN FARE"
"He humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna" (Deut. 8:3).
The wilderness wanderers were maintained by manna, but those in Canaan flourished on "the old corn of the land." The carnal Christian exists on the milk of the Word, while the hungry-hearted believer feeds and matures on the meat of the Word.
"The old corn of Canaan typifies what the risen and ascended Lord ministers directly to us now by the Holy Spirit. Those who appropriate their position in Christ feed no longer merely on the manna, which represents Christ as supporting our life while we yet 'know Him not' as regards any intimate fellowship."
"If positional truth, rather than the duties of attainment, were taught first to the saints, much more satisfactory results would follow the ministry of many Christian workers. We should note most carefully that Israel was brought into Canaan, all uncircumcised and unworthy as they were, before they were asked to take the circumcised, separated position as the people of God, or enter upon their warfare.
"So we, as believers, have been already brought by Jesus Christ our Head, in His death and resurrection, into the 'heavenly places,' and to us have been given 'all things that pertain unto life and godliness' (II Pet. 1:3). And it is always on the ground of where we already are, and what we already are, and what we already have, that the Holy Spirit shows us our blessed privileges and responsibilities of 'the calling wherewith we are called.''' - W.R.N.
By M. Sanford
"And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land" (Joshua 5:12).
___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/
If this devotion has been a blessing to you, please share it with others. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.
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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LOVE THAT WORKS
«
Reply #456 on:
June 24, 2007, 03:13:42 AM »
LOVE THAT WORKS JUNE 22, 2007
LOVE THAT WORKS
1 JOHN 4:18-21
Is it not strange that John should write so much of divine love when our Lord had named him 'Boanerges' which is the son of thunder? Mark 3:17. Perhaps he was so named for he had come to know the conquering power of love. Or perhaps, because he was to be used of God to give us the Revelation which speaks of God's wrath, authority and power. A more reasonable answer is that the word 'thunder' in Hebrew is 'KOL' which means 'voice', hence the voice of God. When our Lord prayed to God the Father to glorify Him (see John 12:28-29),... then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. Perhaps John thus becomes the voice of God in speaking and writing of the two most prominent of God's immanent attributes, that is of His love and His holiness or His mercy and His justice or wrath. Regardless of the reason for John being named a son of thunder, he certainly is an exponent of the love of God. Not man's love but that which is divine and from the heart of the Sovereign of the universe. This is the love of which John speaks in our text.
He states that this love from God has certain effects upon every person that has been born into the Christian family.
The first effect is that it casts out fear, V.18. He states 'There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment.' What John had in mind as to what there was to fear, is not certain. There are several things to be suggested. One, is fear of 'the day of the Lord'. The Jews knew what the Scriptures had to say concerning the day of the Lord or the day of the tribulation. Many feared that day. This is clear from a careful study of II Thes. chapter two. In verse two Paul says 'That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of the Lord is at hand'. Somehow because of the times of persecution and trial these people thought this must be the beginning of the tribulation. Perfect love or a love that is mature and understanding would cast out fear of such judgment. The Christian would know as Paul declares 'For God hath not appointed us to wrath ... ' I Thes. 5:9.
Again some feared the 'great white throne judgment' of Rev. 20: 11-15. A mature love of Christ would certainly teach the child of God that he is not to appear at this judgment for he has already been judged with Christ at Calvary. This is what the preceding verse (V.17) to our lesson means when it says, ' ... we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world'. That is, as the Savior was once judged and is now beyond being judged, so are we. It is for this reason that Paul has given us Romans 8:1, 'There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus ... '.
Again, and perhaps this is the thing that really caused fear; the Christian knew that if they were disobedient and living in sin there would be a present judgment. First Corinthians 11, verses 31-32 speak of this judgment. The Apostle says some have already been judged so that they have died prematurely and some were sickly. Now then, in our text we are told if our love for the Savior is mature it will cast out such fear, for we are not disobedient in unholy living. True love to the Master gives us confidence in His presence and casts out fear and torment.
The second effect is that our lives will manifest this love, Vs.19-21. The text plainly states, 'We love because He first loved us.' R.V. We both love Him and those of His Family. This glorious love shows itself through our lives. It has no boundaries or racial lines. The following illustrates somewhat this wonderful love. A little girl had evidently taken to another little girl in school and played with her most of the time. A neighbor girl went to the mother of this little girl and said, 'Do you know that your girl plays with a colored girl in school?'. The mother, rather disturbed and shaken, went to her daughter and said, 'Is it true that you play with a colored girl at school?'. The child answered, 'I don't know Mommy, but I'll look tomorrow and let you know'.
How tremendous is this love of God! To think that God will permit this, perhaps greatest of His attributes, to be reflected in His redeemed ones' lives. Oh, may God help us all to be more the testimony of His glorious person. And may we so live, and humbly so, where we give consideration to others, and as Paul wrote the Philippians, ' ... let each esteem other better than themselves'. How easy it is for us to assume pride of race, face and place. This should never be so. Two little boys were playing together when they were approached by an inquisitive stranger. He wanted to know where they lived, their relationship, etc. Finally one boy spoke and said, 'We are brothers, and one of us is adopted but we don't know which one'. So it should be in the Christian family.
Amen and love,
The late Pastor Lloyd Peterson
___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/
If this devotion has been a blessing to you, please share it with others. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.
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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READY MY PLACE TO FILL
«
Reply #457 on:
June 24, 2007, 03:20:12 AM »
READY MY PLACE TO FILL JUNE 23, 2007
READY MY PLACE TO FILL
By Paul Hume
Scripture Reading: John 4:1-42; Acts 16:6-12
There is a hymn which we seldom sing, yet its words fit the spirit of the suggested Scriptures for our meditation today:
"Ready to suffer grief or pain,
Ready to stand the test;
Ready to stay at home and send
Others, if He sees best.
Ready to go, ready to stay,
Ready my place to fill;
Ready for service, lowly or great,
Ready to do His will."
We observed yesterday that God the Holy Spirit under the Headship of the Lord Jesus Christ sovereignly bestows His gifts. If you have read Acts 16:6-12 you will also notice that God sovereignly assigns the place of service. It was not in the sovereign will of God for Paul and Silas to enter into Bithynia and certain parts of Asia (Minor) to preach the gospel. That was for "another man" (see Rom. 15:20). But it was the will of God for them to "go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them." What a ministry they had in that part of Greece! Later on it became the will of God (I am sure) for Paul to go to Rome by way of being a political prisoner! Some argue that Paul was out of God's will in his journey to Jerusalem (Acts 21:10-23; 30). I don't believe he was, else the words of the Lord---" Be of good cheer, Paul for as thou hast testified of Me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also in Rome" ---actually commend him for getting out of His will. No, Paul was in the will of God, for he had "a place to fill" in Rome!
What about you? What about me? You may not be a preacher or a missionary, but are you in God's place for you? You may be a "humble housewife," yet God has that "place" for you to represent Christ in. You may be a student at such and such a school, yet you are there not by chance but by Divine choice to represent Christ there! You maybe a businessman or even an executive, yet God has you in this place so you can represent Christ there! Are You in your "place?"
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THE MINISTRY OF YIELDING
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June 25, 2007, 06:30:04 AM »
THE MINISTRY OF YIELDING Part 1 JUNE 24, 2007
THE MINISTRY OF YIELDING
Romans 6:13 and Romans 1:1-2
Lately I have had several discussions relative to the age in which we are living. The consensus seems to be that we are living in strange times to say the least. It was generally agreed that we could be living in the sunset or eventide of the age of grace. The church is not prophesied as to its time and it appears that these 'coming events' are casting their shadows before them. If the hour of Christian history is rapidly coming to a close, it is possible to remain spiritual and loyal to our blessed Redeemer as night shadows lengthen? It would do all of us good to study the Gospels and learn well the attitude of Israel as they lived before God had cast them away. (Romans 11:15) The experiences of their being set aside will be those of the Gentiles. These experiences will, and must, affect the church. Some believe the spiritual paralysis has already begun. Jesus cried to Israel in their hour, 'Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you! The response to this cry was negative, for the Scripture declares: 'But though He had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on Him: that the saying of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report?..... Therefore they could not believe.' John 12:35,37-39.
God sent blindness to Israel. He will do so to the Gentiles. Will this spirit be experienced in our age? If so, can the Christian today avoid being anesthetized by the spirit of the age? Must my life be affected regardless what I might do about it? This is a good question and every believer should give very serious thought to it. We believe (many of us) that the tide of the age not only will affect many but already has put some asleep spiritually. Some will read this article and smile....but the smile is evidence of spiritual indifference. No serious child of the living God today laughs off our times. But it does not have to be that we become spiritually indifferent. We can be true; found at our post with lamps burning brightly until the curtain falls on this age. But how many will do so? Paul gives the remedy in Romans 12:1-2. At first thought we may think we know these verses; but do we? Paul request two things in view of God's mercy. (His mercy was that by faith He has incorporated us into His Body.)
First: He declares 'present your bodies.' The word present is the same word as yield in 6:13 and assist in 16:2. The original word means 'to set beside' or 'put beside,' that is 'to assist.' The Holy Spirit is called the 'Parakletos'; one called alongside to assist. A parable is a 'parabollo,' something cast alongside to assist in teaching or to assist in making clear some teaching. To present your body is to 'assist' your body in its dedication and service to God. So there is something you and I can do about our times.
Second: Paul declares the means of assisting, helping or presenting your bodies. By (means of) the renewing of your mind. The word 'renew' is interesting. It is made up of two Greek words: 'Ana' and kainos'. 'Ana' means, 'up' and 'kainos' means 'new.' Really it means to 'up the new'; to put the new to the front or show the new. Take down the faded, worn and tattered and put up the new life in Christ. It amounts to what Paul says in Col. 3:1, 'Set your affections on things above.' A most wonderful passage to study with this in mind is Col. 3:5-10. Be sure to consider this as it is so related to the renewing of the mind.
I'm rather sure that all of us as Christians have trouble in certain areas and we do so want to be victorious and glorify our Blessed Lord. The renewing of the mind is the first major step in the direction of success. Daniel, as a believer, is a good example of this lesson. He was only a boy when he was carried into captivity. The world made a bid for his soul. In fact, the head of all Gentile power, King Nebuchadnezzar, demanded that Daniel defile himself with a portion of the king's meat. But the Word of God says 'Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself.' Daniel 1:8. This is the 'renewing of the mind.' Divine enablement follows this, but man's first step is to take a stand against the inroads of evil. 'Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.' May we as Sons of our Savior do so.
Pastor Lloyd Peterson
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If this devotion has been a blessing to you, please share it with others. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.
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THE MINISTRY OF YIELDING
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June 26, 2007, 12:50:29 PM »
THE MINISTRY OF YIELDING - Part two JUNE 25, 2007
THE MINISTRY OF YIELDING
Part two
This is a continuation of the article from December 20th, concerns the 'HOW' of yieldedness.
Within the heart of every true child (son) of God there is a desire to live a life commendatory to the risen Saviour. It is unnatural for a Christian to want to live in sin. 1 John 3:9 says, 'Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin (make life a practice of sin) for His seed remaineth in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.'
This is not teaching sinless perfection; it is simply stating that if you are a saved man or woman God's life abides in you and this life does not permit the enjoyable practice of sin. Romans 8:2 is very much like this. It declares: 'For the law of the Spirit of, life in Christ Jesus hath made me free.' A Christian having a defeated life must bring grief to the heart of the Saviour. Do you recall when David had fallen into sin that Nathan, the prophet, told him, 'Because of this deed, thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme.'
As Christians we do, therefore, want to live above reproach. But HOW? In the previous message we sought to show that there must first be 'a renewal of the mind.' To me this is Romans 7. There is the willingness but........how to perform that which is good I find not,' declares Paul in Romans 7:18. To this point Paul had not experienced what he wrote in Romans 8. You see my friend, there is not only renewal of the mind but there is the renewing of the Holy Spirit, Titus 3:5. When a Christian takes the stand Daniel did in Babylon, 'determining not to defile himself,' there comes the quickening power of the Holy Spirit enabling the believer to carry out holy dedications. There are two wonderful verses that come to my mind at this point. They are Rom. 8:11 and 1 Corinthians 6:14. Both speak of the same thing. The former often is used as a funeral text but has no relationship to a dead man but rather to the living. God's Spirit that quickened Christ's dead body will quicken our mortal bodies, not after death but NOW. The latter text has the same testimony. Romans 8 is an exposition of the thought brought forth in these texts.
The renewal of the mind and the renewing ministry of the Holy Spirit is well illustrated by an experience related by a veteran missionary from Africa. He told of the discipline necessary to be a faithful and ambitious servant of the Master in Africa. He said. "I found myself becoming lazy, tempted to sleep late in the mornings when I should be up, alert and active. My nature was to sleep and the climate was such that it was conducive to sleep, especially at the times that I should get up. Late hours of work at night gave me good excuse to sleep, and yet I felt I should be an example to those working with me. I wanted to break that habit that had formed in my life. -- but how? I was now willing to 'assist' (same word as in Rom. 12:1 'present' .and Rom. 6:13, 'yield') my body so I set my alarm clock. It awakened me out of a dead sleep. But I was still in bed. All forces of nature intrinsic and extrinsic said 'stay in bed,' but I jumped out of bed, raised my hands toward heavens in stretching, took a deep breath of fresh God-given invigorating air and said, 'Thank God for this new
day,' ran around my bed three times and by that time I was renewed in mind and renewed in spirit and was ready for the day."
This is crude perhaps as an illustration but it gives a good picture of the two important factors necessary for successful living. And so it is in the spiritual realm. God show us all how to be best for Him.
Pastor L. Peterson
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If this devotion has been a blessing to you, please share it with others. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.
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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WHAT DEATH MEANS TO THE BELIEVER - Part 1
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Reply #460 on:
June 28, 2007, 09:27:07 PM »
WHAT DEATH MEANS TO THE BELIEVER June 26, 2007
WHAT DEATH MEANS TO THE BELIEVER
Hebrews 9:27
Part 1 of 2
Death is a fact of life. Having lived, given time, we all must die! The Apostle Paul said that "death worketh in us" and that "our outward man perisheth " (2 Cor. 4: 10-18 ). All men give a great deal of time and discussion to the subject of death and yet it remains veiled in mystery. We have all witnessed, or read about, some tragic death and pondered its mystery. For me, I have always questioned: "Did they know Christ as their Saviour?" "Why did this happen"?
In this life, God gives to every person good gifts. God is the world's greatest giver (Jas. 1:17). He is an especially generous giver to all those who believe Him, giving salvation to all that "call upon the name of the Lord" (Rom. 10:12-13; 6:23; 2 Cor. 8:9; 9:15). God says to us through the death of a loved one: "In this life you gain many things and you lose many things. In this life you have loved ones and you lose loved ones. I gave you the loved ones and I have taken them away, but I am still here!" This is one of the reasons why Paul said to the believers who remain "that we sorrow not as those who have no hope, " and that we are to "comfort one another with these words." God is still here and will bring those who are dead in Christ with Him (I Thess. 4:13-18 ).
CONFIDENCE FOR THOSE WHO DIE
Paul must have solved some of this mystery that surrounds death because he was able to exhibit the same preparedness for dying as he did for living and serving (Rom. 1:15; I Cor. 9:16-18 cf. Acts 21:13; 2 Tim. 4:6-8 ). This is surely the reason why Paul could say that to "depart and be with Christ" was "far better" than living (Phil. 1:20-23).
Paul was ready because he knew: (1) that life is fragile and fleeting (2 Tim. 1:14; Jas. 4:13-15; I Pet. 1:14). Like David, he could say, "there is but a step between me and death" (I Sam. 20:3). Our life hangs by a very thin thread (Eccl. 12:6). (2) That the issues of life and death are in God's hands. Job understood this when he lost seven sons and three daughters in one day. He said, "The Lord giveth and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord" (Job. 1:21 cf. Matt. 6:25-30). (3) That God's warnings must be heeded, or pay the consequences. The warning of the Prophet Amos to the sinful nation of Israel, "to prepare to meet thy God" (Amos 4:12), is a warning to all men of all dispensations that "God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption" (Gal. 6:7-8 cf. 2 Thess. 1:5-10). The message is clear that unless a man makes preparation to be properly adjusted to a holy God, this will surely be a fearful day of reckoning (Rom. 2:5-10; Heb. 10:27-31). (4) That he had made the only decision that could prepare him for death. That decision was to "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 16:31).
It only stands to reason that if a person is spiritually prepared to die, that when it comes time for death, they will face death differently than the person who has made no preparation. It is encouraging to note that when it was "time for his departure, " the Apostle Paul had no regrets, having "fought a good fight, finished his course and kept the faith," he exhibits great confidence that God will give him a "crown of righteousness" in the not-too-distant future (2 Tim. 4:6-8 ). In Philippians 3:13-14, Paul describes himself as a runner consumed with only one ambition and that is to win the prize for which God had called him heavenward. And in 2 Corinthians 15:55-57, Paul thanks God for victory over the sting of death. Death is not a defeat for the believer: it is the final victory. Those who die and go to Heaven can laugh and shout: "I Won! I Won! I won through Jesus Christ my Lord!"
God sees something about the death of the believer that is hidden to us, at least we do not see it clearly (Rom. 8:18; I Cor. 13:12; 2 Cor. 5:7). Whatever that something is, God says that it is "precious in His sight" (Ps. 116:15). The Lord Jesus Christ is said to have "Abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel" (2 Tim. 1:10). Furthermore, the Lord Jesus Christ, as the mighty conqueror, encourages our hearts by declaring: "I am He that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore. Amen; and have the keys of Hell and death" (Rev. 1:18 ).
The believer, through the Word of God, accumulates more and more confidence about the true nature of death. His worst fears are found to be foundationless as he grows in grace and draws closer and closer to what the Bible calls his "long home" (Eccl. 12:5). The believer even discovers that his death is redefined as nothing more than a harmless "sleep" (Jn. 11:11-14; I Thess. 4:13-14).
By Evangelist S. Lee Homoki
continued June 27
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From Grace And The Truth Ministries
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If this devotion has been a blessing to you, please share it with others. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.
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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WHAT DEATH MEANS TO THE BELIEVER - Part 2 of 2
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Reply #461 on:
June 28, 2007, 09:29:07 PM »
WHAT DEATH MEANS TO THE BELIEVER 2 June 27, 2007
WHAT DEATH MEANS TO THE BELIEVER
Hebrews 9:27
Part 2 of 2
COMFORT FOR THOSE WHO REMAIN
Death for the believer means (1) That there will never be any more condemnation for them (Rom. 8: 1). According to Hebrews 9:27, man is faced with two appointments: death and judgment. Romans 8:1 tells us that the appointment with judgment has been canceled. It is true that believers will yet face a judgment for rewards (2 Cor. 5: 10), but never will our salvation again be in jeopardy because the Lord Jesus Christ was judged and condemned in our place (Rom. 4:23-25; Gal. 3:13; Col. 2:13-14). (2) That they will immediately be ushered into the presence of the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8; I Thess. 4:17). The key word to help us appreciate this is the word "home." Who is afraid to go home? Paul says he's at "home" in the body but would rather, willingly, be "at home with the Lord." The believer is perfectly correct in referring to the death of a saint as a "home going." (3) That they will never again know any more pain, sorrow, tears or death because "the former things are passed away" (Rom. 8:18-23; Rev. 21:4). How wonderfully comforting this promise must be for those who must daily suffer from emotional, mental and physical pain. (4) That we receive our eternal inheritance (Rom. 8:17; Col. 1:2; I Pet. 1:4). Death does not destroy our inheritance. Here on this earth all of our treasures are subject to corruption (Matt. 6:20). These things are "seen as temporal," but thank God, there are unseen treasures that are eternal (2 Cor. 4:18 ). The death of Christ and our identification with Him is assurance of an eternal inheritance (Heb. 9:15). The Holy Spirit is our down payment on this inheritance (Eph. 1:13-14). (5) That they will have a new home. We have already pointed out that wherever the Lord is, according to Paul, that is home. We are convinced that while Revelation 21 and 22 describes the eternal glories of the New Heaven and the New Earth, I believe that the new, eternal home for the Body of Christ in the heavenlies is beyond description - not even described in the Bible! When that "man" of 2 Cor.12:1-5 was "caught up into paradise," he heard and saw things that could not be described. Paul said, "of such a one will I glory." Oh, how beautiful our heavenly home must be! Perfect! Prepared by God and can't be improved upon! (6) That they await a glorious resurrection. Paul says that he will be glad to trade in his old "earthly tabernacle" for a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens" (2 Cor. 5: 1-3). It will be a glorified, resurrected body "fashioned like unto His glorious body according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself" (Phil. 3:21). (7) That they will be a part of a family reunion. The great, wonderful Body of Christ Family will be "caught up together," a reunion in the air (I Thess. 4: 17)! The songwriter has correctly written:
"There's going to be meeting in the air,
In the sweet, sweet bye and bye.
I will meet you, meet you, meet you there,
In that home beyond the sky.
Such singing you will hear never heard by mortal ear,
Twill be glorious I do declare!
For God's own Son will be the leading One
At that meeting in the air."
Praise God!
Dear Friend, do you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour? If not, why not take your place before Him as a ~Daily Inspirational~ ~ WHAT DEATH MEANS TO THE BELIEVER~ #2 NOV. 2, 2005 sinner? Sit in the sinner's seat. Acknowledge your need for a Saviour. Cast aside all other confidences and put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and His work on the Cross for your salvation. Tell Christ that you now believe on Him. Do it today!
By Evangelist S. Lee Homoki
___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
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If this devotion has been a blessing to you, please share it with others. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.
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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IT'S YOUR ATTITUDE
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Reply #462 on:
June 29, 2007, 12:21:40 PM »
IT'S YOUR ATTITUDE JUNE 28, 2007
IT'S YOUR ATTITUDE
No, bless your heart, you haven't done anything to hurt my feelings.
I would appreciate it, though, if you would give me a moment or two of your time. What I have to say is important and, who can tell, it might prove to be a wonderful turning point in your life. I well remember the day when, not only my outlook, but my whole direction in life was completely changed. What an experience! I've never ceased to thank God for it!
I once thought, as many people do today - perhaps you do - that one must keep the law, the ten commandments, to please God and be sure of heaven. The law, I thought, was God's rule of life, given to help us to be good and gain heaven at last. How wrong I was! In fact God's Word tells us again and again, in the plainest language, that the law was not given to help us to be good, but to show us that we are bad and need a Savior.
Romans 3:19 says that the law was given "that every mouth may be stopped and that all the world may become guilty before God." Chapter 5, Verse 20, of the same book says that "the law entered that the offense might abound" and Galatians 3:19 says "It was added because of transgressions." This is why we read in Romans 3:20:
"Therefore, by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His [God's] sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin."
Friend, if you want to be saved from the just penalty of sin, remember this: There is one thing that God, as Judge of all, expects from you. He expects you to stop saying things in your own defense. It is not sin that keeps men out of heaven, it's their attitude. God, in His love, has made full provision for sin. He paid its penalty Himself But He has made no provision for a self-righteous attitude.
Sometimes, you know, the defendant comes to the place where his attorney says to him: "It will be to your advantage to plead guilty and throw yourself upon the mercy of the court."
This is exactly our position. How can we talk about our law-keeping when we are all so guilty of law-breaking? Keep defending yourself and God will never save you, for He will have no boasting in heaven - especially false boasting. But confess your guilt and throw yourself upon the mercy of God and He will graciously forgive and justify you through Christ. This is why St. Paul exclaimed to one of his audiences:
"Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man [Christ] is preached unto you THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS; and by Him all that believe are JUSTIFIED FROM ALL THINGS, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses" (Acts 13:38,39).
Does this mean that it doesn't matter how we live: that the believer in Christ has a license to sin? By no means! Grace produces better living than the law ever did. In Romans 8:3,4 we read that Christ accomplished "what the law could not do":
"That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
Similarly, we read in Titus 2:11,12:
"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."
Thanks for taking the time to read this. It is my earnest prayer that you will simply, but sincerely, trust Christ as your Savior and accept eternal life as the free gift of God, if you have not already done so.
"For there is no difference...for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him, for WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED" (Rom. 10:12,13).
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 6:23)
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From Grace And The Truth Ministries
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If this devotion has been a blessing to you, please share it with others. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.
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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"THE LORD KNOWETH" - Part 1 of 2
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Reply #463 on:
July 01, 2007, 02:07:09 AM »
"THE LORD KNOWETH" Part One JUNE 29, 2007
"THE LORD KNOWETH"
PART ONE OF TWO
by Charles Wages
In a time when we are told that the "body of knowledge" is increasing with every giant step forward, we must be brought back to our senses and recognize that only God is omniscient. We must remember and acknowledge Romans 11 :33-36, "0 the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his counselor? Or who hath first given to him and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things; to whom be glory forever. Amen"
One of the ways man has tried to extend his natural knowledge is to delve into the human mind. Things psychological have taken on added interest and popularity. Something for all of us to keep in mind is that,
The Lord Knoweth the Thoughts of Man
Psalms 94: 11 reads, "The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity." It is interesting and enlightening to see this Scripture given prominence by the Apostle Paul in I Corinthians 3 :20, where it reads, "The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain." It has just been stated previously that, "the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness." We ask ourselves the penetrating question, What will we learn if we can read the mind and thoughts of mortal man? No doubt, a lot of foolish and vain information. People today speak of "brain-washing," "programming and deprogramming the mind," "blowing the mind" and "psychological readings" through dream or ink blot interpretation. Even if this became a "science," what would we learn? That man's thoughts are vain, that they are foolish, that they are deceitful, and that they are confused.
Yet, through it all, the gracious Lord, knowing our thoughts, can straighten and stretch our minds with the wonderful wisdom of the Word. If we would earnestly heed Philippians 4:5-9, we would have a first class spiritual lesson on how to think. In any event, we should guard our thinking habits carefully, knowing that the Lord knoweth our thoughts.
We should also be consciously aware of the truth that,
The Lord Knoweth the Ways of Man
It was Job of old who said inspiringly, "But he knoweth the way that I take; when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold" (Job 23:10). In fact, in 34:21, it is stated, "For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings." If one would attempt to trace and study all the references to this tremendous truth found in Job and Psalms, it would take a lifetime.
We should all be familiar with the statement in Proverbs 14:12, ''There is a way which seemeth right unto man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." An example of this is called in Jude 11, "the way of Cain." God looked upon the offering of Cain and rejected it. Why? Because it was the work or effort of sinful man to try to gain God's favor. This erroneous effort by Cain has become the basis for most of the religious dogma that has arisen through the centuries to the present. Man has tried in every age to work for his salvation, but God knowing man's thoughts and man's ways, has rejected them. We must ever keep in front of our minds and hearts. that our Lord Jesus said,
"I am the way, the truth, and the life; No man cometh unto the Father, but by me. " (John 14:6)
To be continued
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If this devotion has been a blessing to you, please share it with others. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.
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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"THE LORD KNOWETH" - Part 2 of 2
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"THE LORD KNOWETH" Part Two
JUNE 30, 2007
The Lord Knoweth Our Days
Part 2 of 2
By Charles Wages
In Psalms 37:18, David was led to say, "The Lord knoweth the days of the upright; and their inheritance shall be forever."
Yes, it must be true that the Lord knows how long we will live here on this present planet. But of more importance is how we live while here. In other words, the quality of our days is more important than the quantity of our days.
The days of our life are described in many vivid and interesting ways in Scripture. For instance in Psalms 90:9, it remorsefully remarks, "For all our days are passed away in thy wrath; we spend our years as a tale that is told." And another that is even more representative of our lesson is found in Psalms 144:4, "Man is like to vanity; his days are as a shadow that passeth away."
Yet, though all this seeming gloom and despair, God, who knoweth our days, can take the days of our lives and make them meaningful and useful for His glory! Every day can be a day of gladness and glory if we let Him have his way in our day!
Then, to the believing sinner, there is no more comforting and heartwarming truth than that.
The Lord Knoweth Them That are His
In II Timothy 2: 19, we read, "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are His, and let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity."
The Lord doesn't just "know" us as so many names in a book, or numbers in a computer. No, he knows us in a personal, loving way. No man will ever really know how God knows! However, we can appreciate a few of these ways. For instance, Jesus said to His disciples in Luke 12:29-30, "And seek ye not what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of a doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after; and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things." 0f course, He went on to say, "But rather seek ye first the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you." The gracious Lord knows that we need first spiritual things and then material things. Paul said, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:19).
The Lord knows that our lives are full of trials and testings. Surely, we have all felt sometimes, as if there was no way out of difficulties that beset us. But, we can take courage in the truth that,
The Lord Knoweth How to Deliver
I Corinthians 10:13, reads, "There hath no temptation (trial) taken you but such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
Deliverance is a continuous process with God. Paul in writing to Corinthian believers, shows the three-fold tense of God's deliverance. He wrote, "Who delivered (past) us from so great a death, and doth deliver (present); in whom we trust that he will yet deliver (future) us."
Yes, the Lord knows everything about everything. He also knows everything about everyone! But how ignorant man is in all his natural knowledge. The following dialogue will humorously illustrate.
A preacher, while driving through the country stopped and said to a farmer by the road, "Are you a Christian?" The farmer said "No, I am a Jones, Christian lives down the road about a mile and to the left about a quarter mile." "No, you don't understand," said the preacher. "Are you lost?" "Nope," replied the farmer, "I've lived here going on 43 years, and know every nook and cranny hereabouts." The preacher scratching his head, said, "Are you ready for the judgment?" Jones answered, "No, when is it?" Disgusted, the preacher finally said, "For you, it may be Tuesday or Wednesday. "Good," said the farmer Jones, "I'll tell my wife, she will want to go both days !"
Ignorance is not always bliss, as some say, but is serious business in regards to one's destiny. Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Saviour? He knows your heart, He knows your thoughts, He knows your ways.
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart. Lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." (Prov. 3:5-6)
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From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/
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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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