GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

[nChrist]

EXPERIENCE SUPERSEDED
By Miles Stanford



"And they who know Thy Name will put their trust in Thee" (Ps. 9:10).


Our experiences must be judged by God's Word, never the Word judged by our experiences. Normally, the Spirit of Truth will reveal a truth to us from the Scriptures and, as we exercise faith in what we have been shown, will begin to take us into the experience of it. Abnormally, a Christian will yearn for an 'experience,' and then attempt to find corroboration for it in the Word.

"Knowledge must carry the torch before faith." Always give God's Word first place, "for the Word of God liveth and worketh, and is sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, yea, to the inmost parts thereof, and judging the thoughts and imaginations of the heart" (Heb. 4:12, Cony.).

"A person may easily know his sins forgiven, but it is a further truth to know that he himself has 'died to sin.' He finds this conflicts with his experience. Suppose I tell you a debt of a thousand pounds which you owed was paid by someone, it would not be a question of experience, but of simply believing my statement. Just so with God. He tells us our sins are forgiven, and it is a question whether we believe Him. But when He tells us we have died to sin, we look inside and say, 'Ah, sin is still at work; how is that?' A person must be taught of God to know really the truth that he has died to sin."--J.N.D.

''It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God" (Luke 4:4).

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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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"BLESSED WITH ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS"

By Robert Hanna, Pastor

Eph 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ"

When considering our positional blessings as believers saved by grace, we do well to remember how these blessings were acquired. True, it was "not by works of righteousness which we have done" (Titus 3:5). Consider our position in its full magnitude. We are "blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heaven-lies IN CHRIST." "He hath chosen us IN HIM before the foundation of the world...having predestinated us unto the adoption of sons by Jesus Christ TO HIMSELF...He hath made us accepted IN THE BELOVED (ONE) (Christ).. in whom (Christ) we have redemption.. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance (in CHRIST)" (Ephesians 1:4-11).

All this--and we are totally undeserving of it. We earned none of it "For by GRACE are ye saved .. not of works.." (Ephesians 2:8- 9 .) Note, however, that it did not all 'just happen' to come to pass. Throughout all past dispensations, man has been instructed as to what he must do to satisfy God's requirements in order to attain acceptance in His sight. In time past God had required blood sacrifice, circumcision, works of law, works of ceremonial rite, etc.

But what of today, in the age of grace? "To him that worketh not, but BELIEVETH ON HIM. THAT JUSTIFIETH THE UNGODLY, his faith is counted for righteousness. Through verse 11 of Eph.  chapter 1 we have noted what we are and what we have IN CHRIST. Now on to verse 12: "IN WHOM (Christ) YE ALSO TRUSTED, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation."

___________________________________
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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mailto:GRACENTHETRUTH@COX.NET
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[nChrist]

The Offense of Grace
by Steve McVey
 
 
The thing about grace that many have a problem with is its appearance of being carelessly and indiscriminately thrown around by our Heavenly Father as if there is no limit to it. It just isn’t right by human standards. After all, fair is fair. Give people an inch and they’ll take a mile. Go soft on those who have sinned and the next thing you know everybody is doing it. People make their beds and they should lie in it. They need to learn their lesson. You’ve got to think about the message you’re sending!

Jesus didn’t seem to worry about all that in His ministry. He just loved people and poured out grace, grace, and more grace on the most unlikely candidates. It galls the self righteous when their own sense of justice is violated, but Jesus never seemed to worry about what they thought. He seemed to show such little discernment in how and to whom He gave so much. Even His stories seem to communicate a message that sounds downright wrong to religious ears.

In the parable of the laborers found in Matthew 20, those who came in to work at the last hour received the same salary as those who had worked all day. Those with the admirable ethic of hard work and dependability had been out in the hot sun all day long. Then the slackers show up at the last hour and get the same pay? Come on now! What’s fair about that?

Then there is the prodigal son – a religious zealots worst nightmare. Here, this young boy in the youth group decides he wants to leave it all and move to Los Angeles. He asks His father to give him his inheritance (a subliminal insinuation that he has been thinking he’d be better off if his Dad was dead) and off he goes to the big city. His life soon becomes a blur of Jack Daniels, marijuana and strip clubs.

When all his money is gone and he wakes up in bed one morning and rolls over to see a skanky-looking crack whore (a King James Bible word) who he doesn’t even remember meeting, he is jolted back to reality. “I’m outta here,” he thinks to himself. “Even Dad’s minimum wage guys at home don’t have to live like this.”

So off he goes, hitchhiking home and all the way thinking of how he will grovel when he gets there, how he will promise to do better if Dad will only give him back his old room. “I’ll even sleep in the barn if you want me to,” he figures he’ll say.

You know how the story ends. The moment comes when this scraggly looking, nasty smelling, son comes stumbling up the long driveway. His Dad sees him and immediately tears out running at full throttle.  He falls on his boy and, oblivious to the stench, starts laughing and crying, hugging and kissing him, all at the same time.  The son is forgiven before he even asks.

 The boy chokes up and tries to talk. This isn’t what he had expected. He gets out half a sentence when Dad interrupts and yells orders to fire up the grill, call our family and friends, see if JJT is available (Jerusalem Jazz Trio) and let’s get this party started!

 Hmm...that’s a strange story, Jesus. Don’t you think it might give the wrong message? “No,” our loving Savior would answer. “It gives the right message. The message is this: It doesn’t matter how pathetic you are, how low you have gone and how long you have been there, I love you and accept you.”

 It isn’t about you and me. It never has been and never will be. It’s about Him and His ridiculous, irrational, excessive, loving grace. The self righteous crowd might as well shut up. Jesus is Jesus and He’s not going to change to fit their expectations. Thank God.

___________________________________
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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[nChrist]

DEFECTIVE BEGINNING
By Miles Stanford


"Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:24).

Are we aware of the importance of a personal assurance of salvation? Healthy spiritual growth is founded upon it. Many Christians seem unable to enter Romans Six and Eight simply because they are not truly established in Romans Three, Four and Five. Full assurance as to our eternal security in the Lord Jesus is the basis for the ever-deepening experience of our identification with Him.

"The defect in souls in general is the incompleteness of their conversion. It is pardon that is apprehended and not acceptance. Acceptance embraces God's side ----how He feels, and this should be chief, for we as sinners have offended Him. The offender has been removed from His eye by a Man --- the Lord Jesus Christ, and He can receive us on the ground of the Man who glorified Him in bearing our judgment.

"We cannot enjoy acceptance but in the way in which it was acquired or effected for us, and if we are in the acceptance we know that no improvement of the flesh could commend us to God, and that we cannot be before Him but in Christ. But if we are in any degree dark as to the crucifixion of the old man, we are not in acceptance experientially, we are not in the daily benefit of it, and our liberty by the Spirit can never go beyond our conscious acceptance." -- J.B.S.

"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death" (Rom. 8:2).

___________________________________
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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mailto:GRACENTHETRUTH@COX.NET
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[nChrist]

Our Purpose and Mission

The ministry of "Grace and The Truth" has the purpose of encouraging Christians to believe what God says.

We read in in Ephesians. 1:18 "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints," and in Colossians 2:2 " That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment (epignosis) true knowledge of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ".

We are dedicated to helping Christians to a fuller knowledge of Him, and the Grace of God. Until we all come into the Unity, Ephesians 4:13 "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:"

___________________________________
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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Thankfulness Even Through a Drought
Dr. Bill Gillham

As you may know, this ministry is located in Fort Worth, Texas. Will Rogers said Fort Worth is where the West begins and Dallas is where the East withers away. In many ways this is a cultural truth, but lately I have found it to be a strange fact of meteorology as well.

During the past few summers Texas was plagued with drought conditions. Many farmers lost hope for a crop and kept hearing about ranchers trying to give away cattle since they can no longer afford to feed them. While I love this city and state, I don't love its weather, especially when it gets extreme like this. I tell folks that it's not so much the heat, or the lack of rain that bothers me. What really bugs me is the tease we get from watery clouds that carry their humid shadows across our parched lawns, only to dump their precious load 30 miles to the East...in Dallas! I'm not jealous, our brothers to the East need rain too, but couldn't those clouds skip the site-seeing detour over Fort Worth? Somehow knowing we never stood a chance seems easier to take than watching opportunity float gently away.

I was in what some might call a "funk" recently due to our weather, and nothing anyone could say would force me out. I guessed that bitterness at clouds would be somehow less sinful than bitterness toward another human. But during a road trip with friends I heard something that changed my perspective. Someone mention a couple who are going through some pretty tough times right now. The temptation for them to grow bitter is constant, yet they have a system for battling such thoughts. Each time they think of a blessing from God they write it down on one of those sticky notes and paste it to the back of a closet door. The blessing can be an answer to prayer, a special verse from scripture, or maybe just a memory of a special time with special people. As you might expect, the closet door gets full pretty fast, making a "trip to the closet" for some attitude adjustment very effective. I can suppose that anyone visiting such a place would be left with nothing else to say but "thanks."

We have neither enough sticky notes or door space to post all of the blessings that God has provided through around here. But I can imagine it! What a site of pastel squares we'd have covering our whole office suite as we consider what God has done!

Today's weather forecast calls for "scattered showers" and a high near 100. Already I see the spotty clouds making their pilgrimage to the East. But my view from inside the closet makes me realize that God's showers of blessing have already fallen here, and the thought leaves me with nothing left to say but thanks!

Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

___________________________________
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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[nChrist]

TRUE REVIVAL

By C. R. Stam

In the days of Ezra the prophet, Israel was in much the same state as the Church today. Happily, however, some of the leaders became convicted that they had been neglecting the Word of God -- especially that part which was addressed to them: the law of Moses.

As a result they built for Ezra a pulpit on which to stand and read the Scriptures to the people (Neh. 8:4). "From morning until midday" he read to them, while others mingled with the audience and "caused the people to understand."

"So they read in the book, in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense," with the result that "all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions [gifts], and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them" (Vers. 8,12). Similarly, after our Lord had explained the Scriptures to the two disciples on the way to Emmaus, they said to each other:

"Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the Scriptures?" (Luke 24:32). Well-meaning groups and individuals have for decades been praying in vain for a true spiritual revival in the Church, but the only sure road to revival is a renewed interest in the Bible, and especially in what God there says to us in the Epistles of Paul.

When we become convicted of our neglect of God’s Word to us as found in the Epistles of Paul; when men of God "study" to "rightly divide" the Word and begin teaching it from the pulpit, a great spiritual revival will inevitably follow but, alas, most of God’s people are too complacent, too satisfied with a shallow profession to enter into this blessed experience. However, as we study the Word of God for ourselves, and especially that part of His Word which applies particularly to us, we, like the Israelites of Ezra’s day, will experience the joy of understanding God’s love letter to us.

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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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[nChrist]

RESTING IN HIM


“REST”
by C. R. Stam

In Hebrews 1:3 we read how the Lord Jesus Christ, “when He had by Himself purged our sins, SAT DOWN on the right hand of the Mystery on High”. The tenth chapter of the same book tells us why He sat down:

“Every priest standeth, daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man [Christ] after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, SAT DOWN on the right hand of God …FOR BY ONE OFFERING HE HATH PERFECTED FOREVER THEM THAT ARE SANCTIFIED” (Heb.10:11-14).

There were several articles of furniture in the Old Testament tabernacle, but no chair. The priest could not sit down, for the work of redemption was not yet finished. His daily sacrifices only emphasized the fact that “it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” (Heb.10:4).

“But this Man [Christ Jesus] sat down”, because by His death on Calvary — by that one offering — He paid for all our sins and “obtained eternal redemption for us” (Heb.10:12; 9:12).

This is why Paul, by divine inspiration, now insists that salvation is “by grace”, that “it is the gift of God”, received “by faith” and “not of works, lest any man should boast”.

God has much for His people to do, but before we can do anything for Him we must learn to trust Him for our salvation, to rest in the finished work of Christ. God is satisfied with Christ’s payment for sin and together the Father and the Son are depicted as seated in heaven because the work is done. And now God would have us simply trust Him, entering into His rest:

“There remaineth therefore a REST unto the people of God, FOR HE THAT HAS ENTERED INTO HIS [God’s] REST, HE ALSO HATH CEASED FROM HIS OWN WORKS, AS GOD DID FROM HIS” (Heb.4:9,10).

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

___________________________________
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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mailto:GRACENTHETRUTH@COX.NET
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[nChrist]

A HIGHER CALLING
Part 1 of 3
By Mel Flogel



REALITY


The pursuit of happiness is said to be part of the American dream. No doubt, whether consciously or subconsciously, pursuing happiness, and pursuing wealth or at least a feeling of financial security are part of the goals and dreams of us in the USA. Add to this a desire to have or maintain good health.

For many of us, these are pursuits and may remain that way, simply a dream and a goal never reached. For others, this pursuit has become more like a rat race at times. And as one person has said, "It's been a real rat race here, and the rats are winning". Nevertheless, these motivations have brought about many accomplishments by us as a people.

But I submit to you that there is much more to life than this, that there is a much higher calling to each one of us individuals, a much more motivational power available to us. And what's more it is close to each one of us, and not just a dream. I'm talking about a relationship with God so personal that He takes up residence in your very being. We have some big words for this including: salvation, righteousness, redemption, justification and reconciliation. All of these terms, clearly defined can help us to understand it, and appreciate it, and often times to get it in the first place.

But has Jesus Christ taken up actual residence in your very being? I do not ask you if you understand the concept, rather, I ask you, Do you have the reality of Christ in you? Have you experienced the indwelling of God in the person of Jesus Christ? Has the Spirit of God born witness with your spirit that you belong to Him? Have you received the Spirit of adoption Who gives you the sense and assurance that God is your Father by relationship? Do you know (by experience) what it means to be "in the Spirit" and not merely "in the flesh "?

In Paul's gospel, we find God using "great plainness of speech" and asking straight forward questions like this. God wants us to know where we stand with Him. Paul said, "examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates? II Corinthians 13:5)

Unlike the American dream, which can remain that way, only a dream, God's desire is for each one of us to have the reality of "Christ in you, the hope of glory" which is the seal of peace with God, sins forgiven, and eternal life. Paul explains this by saying "you were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest (or down payment) of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory ", (Ephesians 1:13-14)

___________________________________
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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mailto:GRACENTHETRUTH@COX.NET
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[nChrist]

A HIGHER CALLING
Part 2 of 3
By - Mel Flogel -


CLOSE BY



Secondly, unlike the American dream, God has brought salvation close to each one of us. In Romans 10:6, Paul announces, "say not in thine heart, who shall ascend into heaven? (That is to bring Christ down from above:) or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead). But what saith it? The word is near thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. "

What Paul is saying, is that now because of the finished work of Jesus Christ in His death and resurrection, He has made salvation, righteousness, justification, redemption, and eternal life as close as believing the words. Now, the operation of God goes like this, "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise. " (Ephesians 1:13) And again in Ephesians 2:13, Paul declares "But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made nigh (near) by the blood of Christ. " So, much more than a dream, God's calling is a reality and rather than a far off hope, all the spiritual blessings of salvation and sonship are as close to us as believing.

A SURE THING

Thirdly, the American dream holds no promise of being a sure thing, but look at what our Lord Jesus Christ announces thru Paul, "Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed." (Romans 4:16) During this present dispensation, believing sets a process in motion. Paul called it conformation predestination. In Romans 8:29-39, he explains "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long: we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus
our Lord."

So then, the promise of eternal life, righteousness, salvation, redemption, justification, and glorification are a sure thing for the one who believes. Once we believe, we become a member of the church which is the body of Christ. Each of these members is now predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ.

Salvation during this present dispensation of grace is all about the love of Christ for us, not our love for Him. Our love for Him is only a reflection of gratitude for His great love and longsuffering toward us.

These wonderful and sure promises are made possible because of two things. First it's possible because of the all-sufficient sacrifice made to God for our sins (called propitiation) (see Romans 3:25) which was made by our Lord Jesus Christ in Calvary's cross. Secondly, these promises, and this conformation process is possible because of the Holy Spirit's power and work in us after we believe. That's why Paul said, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6) and "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10)

There is a teaching and a power which comes automatically to us when we believe. That's why Paul could say, "But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus; that ye put off the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind. And that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Ephesians 4:20-24) And again to Titus, Paul wrote "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." (Titus 2:11-12) So we have good news from our Lord Jesus Christ which was announced "afterwards" (Galatians 3 :23) thru Paul that is a "sure" thing.

___________________________________
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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mailto:GRACENTHETRUTH@COX.NET
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[nChrist]

A HIGHER CALLING
Part 3 of 3
By - Mel Flogel -



THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CHALLENGE & REWARD



Paul announced salvation as a sure thing to every one who believes during this present dispensation of grace. He proclaimed that in our Lord Jesus Christ "dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power." And that (positionally speaking) God already "hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:5-6). So, positionally speaking, God now sees us as hidden in Christ so that when He looks at us He sees Christ. "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory" (Colossians 3:3-4) Yet, the challenge to us is now to live like it. Paul exhorts us to live a life that fits one who possesses such a gift already. To the Corinthians he wrote "And that he (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 Corinthians 5:15) And "that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart" (Ephesians 4:17-18.)

So the challenge from our Lord Jesus Christ is now to follow Paul in this and "Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children" (Ephesians 5:1) And to seek perfection the way Paul did as he states, ''Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12-14)

Paul said, "I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereon." "Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble, every man's work shall be made manifest for the day shall declare it because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide (remain) which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire.  (I Corinthians 3:1 0,12-15)

These are things which God has brought close to us, and within our reach. Eternal life, the reality of relationship with God, salvation as a sure thing to anyone who believes, and in this present life, the challenge to live as a possessor of the inheritance with the promise of reward for doing so.

So why not choose the gospel of the grace of God and believe. Set in motion, in your very being, the power of God's conformation process and become a possessor of the life of God and of the inheritance of eternal life by trusting in the shed blood of Jesus Christ as the only payment for sins, trusting in Him as the only way of salvation. You'll be glad you did!

___________________________________
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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mailto:GRACENTHETRUTH@COX.NET
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[nChrist]

Set Free by God’s Truth
by Anabel Gillham

How could I have been so stupid?
Why, oh why did I do that?
What a loser I am!
When am I going to learn?
How long is God going to put up with me?
I’m still stumbling around and causing all sorts of problems.
Time and time again I fail.
I’m sick of myself and the things that I do.
I’ll never change.
I’m just kidding myself to think that I could ever . . .

Stop! Where are all of those destructive thoughts coming from? Who’s talking to me? Something’s going on here that doesn’t ring true. Sure. I was wrong. I failed and I confess that readily. But this is carrying things too far.

* * *

Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise [again]; Though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is a light for me.  Micah 7:8

Okay, I blew it! I was wrong!

But don’t you try to convince me that God is through with me. He’s not going to give up on Anabel. He’s the One who saved me in the first place. Don’t you suppose He knew what He was getting into with me? He knows everything about me—past, future, and present, and He still loves me—unconditionally!

And I am NOT a loser! I’m a new creation in Christ Jesus. I just haven’t learned how to walk like who I really am yet. But I will. One of these days I’ll be running instead of stumbling and falling—and I’ll win! You’ll see.

So you just go back to your lair and shut up, Satan! Even though I’ve fallen (and will undoubtedly fall again) you don’t need to think I’m down to stay. Don’t gloat over me, my enemy. It may look pretty bleak right now, but I’ll make it . . . because of the Lord. He lives within me and He loves me and nothing I can do will ever damage that love. Furthermore, He has told me, "Anabel, you will stand. I Myself will cause you to stand" (from Romans 14:4).

* * *

Sound theology is my only key to real hope.

Satan, the Deceiver, is a liar, and a very persuasive and convincing liar (John 8:44). How many times I have listened to his insidious accusations and allowed them to separate me from the One who loves me, who can help me. . . .

Lord, I don’t want anything to come between us. The knowledge of You and the awareness of Your presence is my most precious possession. How wise of the Evil One to try to drive a wedge that would separate me from You.

Truth is my most powerful weapon. You have said, "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. . . . If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed" (John 8:32, 36).

I’m free to be lovely
to be hateful and ugly
I’m free to stand or to fall.
I’m free to be sinful
to be headstrong and willful
I’m free to not sin at all.
So who makes me free
who gives me strength
how do I accomplish this feat?
I give Christ my life
Regardless of cost
Then rest in His love—complete.
He takes me and loves me
molds me and shapes me
To His image—beauty divine.
And all that He did
And all that He promised
Through His life and His death becomes mine.

© Lifetime Guarantee

Him we preach, admonishing every one and instructing every one, with all possible wisdom, so that we may bring every one into God's presence, made perfect through Christ. To this end, like an earnest wrestler, I exert all my strength in reliance upon the power of Him who is mightily at work within me. (Colossians 1 :28, 29, Weymouth)

... Christ is all and in all! (Colossians 3: 11)

___________________________________
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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[nChrist]

REST, AND REJOICE!
By Miles Stanford



"Rejoice in the Lord always!" (Phil. 4:4).


Exhaustive effort brings home the necessity of strengthening rest. The believer will not be ready to enter into his spiritual rest until he is utterly worn out by his unsuccessful efforts to conquer sin and the old man. There is no rest for the "wretched man" of Romans 7--that struggle must lead to the rest of Romans 8.

"Grace is sufficient for favorable circumstances, but they are by far the most trying (spiritually) to the believer. There is an easy way of going on in worldliness, and there is nothing more sad than the quiet comfortable Christian going on day by day, apart from dependence upon the Lord.

"It must be as with Israel and the manna; there must be the daily gathering and daily dependence upon God. If circumstances come between our hearts and God, we are powerless. If the Lord Jesus is nearer, circumstances will not hinder our joy in God."

"The heart of man naturally seeks rest, and seeks it here. Now, there is no rest to be found here for the believer; but it is written, 'There remaineth, therefore, a rest to the people of God' (Heb. 4:9).

"To know this is both full of blessing and full of sorrow: sorrow to the flesh; because it is always seeking its rest here, it has always to be disappointed; blessing to the spirit, because the spirit, being born of God, can only rest in God's rest, as it is said, 'If they shall enter into My rest' (Heb. 4:5). What God desires for us is to bring us into the enjoyment of all that which He Himself enjoys."-J.N.D.
 
"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him" (Ps. 37:7).

___________________________________
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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mailto:GRACENTHETRUTH@COX.NET
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[nChrist]

WITH CHRIST


There is a well-known Negro spiritual which begins with these words: 'Were you there when they crucified my Lord?' The immediate answer is 'No, I wasn't there.' But after deeper reflection we have to answer differently, 'Yes, I was there-in the person of Jesus Christ.'

   'How do you arrive at that?' we inquire. The Word of God-especially in the epistles of Paul-sets forth a marvelous truth. It centers in another 'big-little' word. This word is 'with.'

   When Christ was crucified, we were crucified 'with Him. 'When Christ died, we died 'with Him.' When He was buried, we were buried 'with Him.' Then when He arose from among the dead, we were raised 'with Him.' When He ascended and passed through the heavens, we ascended 'with Him.' When He took His seat at the right hand of the Majesty on High, we were seated together 'with Him.' When He appears in His glory, we will also 'appear with Him in glory.' Then the promise is that if we 'endure, we shall also reign with Him' (2 Timothy 2:12).

   Now all of this speaks not so much of our union with Christ as our association with Christ. We were 'with Him' in His death, burial, resurrection and enthronement. We are 'with Him' in His glorified life now. We shall be 'with Him' in the ages to come. This is glorious 'positional truth.' But what about the experiential side of this blessed truth? How does this affect my daily life here on earth?

   It means that by faith, based on the divine facts. I reckon myself to have died with Christ unto sin and 'the elements of the world' (Romans 6: 2-11; Gal.  2:20); to have been buried with Christ in death (Colossians 2: 12); to have been 'quickened together with Christ (Ephesians 2:1,5); to have been 'raised up together' with Christ (Eph. 2:6); to have been 'made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.' (Ephesians 2:6.) God has already accomplished these feats, and it is up to each one of us to believe what God has spoken and to rest upon them.'

   Then it also means that I presently share in the very life of Christ. We are 'saved by His life' (Romans 5:10). We have been called 'unto the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord' (1 Corinthians 1:9). This involves communing with Him, meditating in His Word of Truth, engaging in praise and prayer and drawing wisdom, grace and strength from Him. It means also not only to suffer for Him, but to 'suffer with Him' (Romans 8:17). Only His grace can enable us to do this, since we naturally are averse to suffering. But what eternal rewards will be ours if we do so!

   Finally, it means to walk with Him 'in newness of life.' 'How can two walk together, except they be agreed?' (Amos 3:3.) As we daily 'trust and obey' we can walk together in every circumstance, and experience what one hymn writer states, 'It is glory just to walk with Him!'

   You are not only 'in Christ' but 'with Christ' today?

Pastor Paul Hume

___________________________________
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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[nChrist]

~THE DAY OF THE LORD~



1 Thessalonians 5:2,3
"For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as
travail up a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


There are four key days that are proclaimed in the Word of God These days do not refer to literal twenty- four days, but rather to varying periods of time. Let us take a look at these four days in their proper order.

First of all, THE DAY OF MAN (1 Corinthians 4:3)-- This Day began (we believe) with the fall of man ~ continues to be in effect even to the present day. It is marked by the government of man as it progressively becomes more ripe for judgment. This Day will culminate with ....

THE DAY OF CHRIST (1 Corinthians 15:51, 52)-- This Day refers to the Rapture or home-coming of the Body of Christ. The judgment Seat of Christ is also included in this Day. The transpiring of this Day will usher in....

THE DAY OF THE LORD (1 Thessalonians 5:2,3)-- This Day speaks to us of God's Judgment and Justice being dispensed, first upon Israel, and then upon the Gentiles. This day begins immediately after the Rapture and continues on through the seventieth week of Daniel (the Tribulation). During this time we find Jehovah-God dealing basically with Israel (Jacob's Trouble) under Judgment until the Revelation (Second Coming) of her Messiah.

THE DAY OF THE LORD does not end here but rather continues on through the Millennium (2 Peter 3:10) as God deals with mankind as a whole, under the rod of justice and judgment. With this in mind it would seem that the Day of the Lord would also include the "Great White Throne Judgment. "

Finally we come to THE DAY OF GOD (2 Peter 3:12,13) -- This Blessed Day coincides with the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times (Ephesians 1:10) and has to do with the New Heavens and the New Earth, or the eternal state.

Richard Mazek, Bible Teacher

___________________________________
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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mailto:GRACENTHETRUTH@COX.NET
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