GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

[nChrist]

The God of Peace
By K. Blades
Part 1 of 7



Peace. Even the sound of the word has something soothing and pleasant about it. Though not strictly classified as an onomato-poetic word, it  possesses the essential quality of such, both in English as well as in other languages. It has no sharpness in sound nor in appearance; no jarring impact occurs when it is spoken, heard, or read. Rather in accordance with its meaning it possesses the exact opposite features, being quiet in sound and gentle on contact.

Hence in meaning and in sound the word "peace" is welcomed by our inner man. It is no intruder or unwanted guest. Of all the visitors that come 'knocking on the door of our mind,' peace is one that we long to see and readily receive. It is the most welcome of guests. Moreover we want it to reside with us; to make itself at home with us. It can never overstay its welcome, for it is always welcome. Because of this we are grieved whenever peace takes its leave, and when unwanted guests arrive to take its place in our minds. We are not at ease and relaxed when we are intruded upon by such characters as stress, distress, grief, sorrow, perplexity, anxiety; carefulness, worry, fear, dread, despair, and the like. Their visits are always unsettling and upsetting. Hence we long to see them leave, and for peace to pay us a visit again.

Peace, therefore, is something we much desire. We also view it as a most precious commodity. For often we will seek it at great cost; sometimes even at all costs. This is because there is little that compares with 'being at peace,' both in our inner man and in our relationships with others. In view of this, being 'at peace' is often the consummate expression used by psychologists and the like when referring to what best characterizes 'good mental health.'

Now peace in its various forms and occurrences is not only something that we naturally desire in the details of our lives, it is also something that God Himself wants us to possess. Hence He has fully provided for us to have it, and as such He both deliberately and constantly extends it to us. In fact understanding and appreciating the reality of this is so fundamental to our relationship with God, and to our fellowship with Him in our daily lives, that He has Paul preface each of his epistles to us with this very offering by saying,..

"Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ:"

"May God, Whose grace is irresistible and
all sufficient, be glorified!"

___________________________________
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 God of Peace
By K. Blade
Part  2 of 7



Moreover in the outworking of our sonship edification, (as we progress through its curriculum for our godly edifying, processing its numerous forms of doctrine and so growing and maturing), we encounter God presenting Himself to us as "the God of peace" in various contexts and for various reasons. For example,...

     "Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. (Romans 15:33)

      "And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.  Amen. (Romans 16:20)

       "Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. (II Corinthians 13:11 )

         "Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 6:23)

          "Those things, which ye have both learned,and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. (Philippians 4:9)

           "Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all. (II Thessalonians 3:16)

God is indeed "the God of peace." And though realizing this is not something that is exclusive to us in this present dispensation of God's grace, there is a real sense in which we today are to have a special understanding and appreciation for God as such. For the fact is that knowing God as "the God of peace," deeply appreciating Him as such, and hence loving Him as such, is a definite and preplanned objective in our sonship education and edification. It is not only one of the specific ways in which we as "sons" have intimacy of fellowship with God our Father, it is also one of the primary ways in which we learn about the excellency of the power of God's word operating within us. Moreover this particular aspect of our education and edification provides for the development within us of an increasing ability to trust in, and operate upon, the power of the effectual working of God's word within us no matter what.

Wherefore our God and Father presents Himself to us as "the God of peace" a number of times and in several different contexts. With this being so, as we proceed through the curriculum for our sonship edification we are taught to understand and appreciate the issue of "peace" in a number of different ways, ranging from the fundamental issue of having "peace with God" being justified in His sight, to the issue of possessing complete inner peace,  along with joy, even when encountering the most extreme adversities from the Satanic policy of evil against us.

Therefore the "peace" that God extends to us is manifold and varied, existing in many forms. Yet of all its forms and occurrences, one of the most fundamental is the Godly peace for our inner man that our Father wants us to possess when we experience disquieting, disturbing, and trying circumstances in the details of our lives. And though this is a fundamental matter, and we are taught about it right from the outset of our sonship edification, it is also something that God has designed for us to benefit from throughout the growth and maturing of our Christian lives. In view of this the Godly peace that our Father extends to us is far-reaching and mighty in its capacity, being able to deal effectually with whatsoever may come our way as we progress through our sonship edification.

Wherefore it behooves us to be certain that we understand and appreciate the issue of possessing such Godly peace. Especially the particular mechanism by which God has purposed for us to acquire it and enjoy it, and also through which we are to grow to love Him as "the God of peace." And the mechanism for all of this is the direct communion and fellowship we are able to have, and should have, with our Father through prayer.

___________________________________
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 God of Peace
By K. Blades
Part 3 of 7



Peace and the Role of Prayer

Prayer truly is designed to be an integral component of our peace. For this reason when we are in the initial stage of our sonship edification and the apostle Paul deals with us about properly responding to tribulation in our lives, he teaches us to be,...

     Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; (Romans 12:12)

Likewise in God's program with Israel is this so. Hence, for example, as James says to the members of the remnant of Israel,. . .

     Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. (James 5:13a)

Prayer, therefore, is a pivotal mechanism for producing peace when needed. It is designed to have a tranquilizing ministry to it. And as we partake of its tranquilizing ministry, and benefit from it amid the details of our lives, we come to know, understand, appreciate, and love our God and Father as "the God of peace" that He is.

Now before considering this any further, there is an important matter that needs to be addressed regarding prayer itself.

An Intelligent Communion; Not an Abstract or Mystical Experience

Unfortunately a lot of Christians lack a real solid and clear understanding of what prayer is. Hence their ability to appreciate its tranquilizing ministry, and fully benefit from it, is hindered. Moreover there is also much misunderstanding, misinformation, and erroneous teaching about prayer today, which contributes to a lack of proper understanding and so compounds the problem all the more. Because of this a lot of Christians actually look upon prayer as something different from what it really is. Likewise many seek to obtain benefits from it that either do not exist, or that do not pertain to what God is doing today.

Now when Christians learn the need to be "rightly dividing the word of truth" in accordance with the great dispensational change that God has made, this certainly goes a long way towards rectifying the problem. For at least they are no longer trying to operate upon doctrines and promises about prayer, and examples of it, that pertain to God's program and dealings with Israel, and not to us in this present dispensation of His grace.

Yet this does not clear up all the misunderstanding and misinformation about prayer. For often times the very nature of prayer itself is either not clearly understood, or it is badly misunderstood. And sadly this seems to be on the rise today, with prayer more frequently being taught and described as something other than what it really is. Consequently instead of prayer being understood to be an intelligent, thoughtful activity that we participate in with God, in which we have heart-to-heart fellowship based upon specific knowledge that God has given to us in His word, Christians are given to understand it to be something other than this; something more lofty and transcendental in nature; something more experiential.

Hence increasingly prayer is being looked upon, and actually taught to be, 'an incomprehensible experience that transcends our knowing,' through which one 'feels God's presence' or 'experiences contact with God' in an inscrutable way and on a 'higher or different level of consciousness.' Though expressions and descriptions like these are normally encountered in mysticism, idolatry, the occult, and mystical forms of men's religions, such ideas and thinking about prayer also exist 'under the umbrella of Christianity.' Sometimes even among ones known for being 'Bible-believing' and 'fundamentalists. '

However neither the tranquilizing ministry of prayer, nor prayer itself, is some unintelligent or abstract or inscrutable experience. It is not some mindless, or mind-emptying experience by which one achieves a state of mental relaxation and inner peace. Hence it is not a yoga-like exercise or practice. Nor is it a transcendental meditation of any kind. Neither is it some process for the abstraction, or the distraction, of the mind; nor a practice involving the concentration of the mind by which a mind-over-matter state is reached, through which our disquieting thoughts and overwrought emotions are mastered. Nor is it a relaxation technique; or a calming exercise.

The tranquilizing ministry of prayer is also not some mystical, mysterious, and unexplainable experience. It is not an ethereal thing, which is beyond comprehension; or something that takes place unconsciously, passively, magically, or subliminally. Hence it is not an experience in which you just let the Spirit of God infuse you with a calming sensation, as you shut out all outside distractions and concerns by focusing upon God in prayer; intoning His holy name, letting go, and feeling the Spirit take control.

Instead the tranquilizing ministry of prayer is a function of what prayer itself is: i.e. intelligent, communicative communion and fellowship with God based upon specific knowledge that God has given to us in His word. There is nothing abstract, inscrutable, or mystical about it. In accordance with this, the tranquilizing ministry of prayer is the product of intelligent, thoughtful communion with God, by which our minds are actively occupied with knowledge, understanding, and thoughts that God has designed to produce peace. To put it more pointedly, the tranquilizing ministry of prayer is the product of specifically designed living words of the living God effectually working within us to displace what is disturbing our inner man and replacing it with intelligent Godly thinking that produces peace.

___________________________________
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 God of Peace
By K. Blades
Part 4 of 7


Once again, there is nothing abstract, mystical, or mysterious to this. Instead both prayer itself and its tranquilizing ministry are functions of the intelligent, information-based functioning of our inner man, which God has designed to be both the source and the foundation for the Godly lives that He has purposed us to live with Him.

Accordingly, therefore, prayer and its tranquilizing ministry are functions of Godly thinking. With this being so, the mechanics of prayer's tranquility are easily described. Indeed they are just what Isaiah declared to Israel in Isaiah 26:3 regarding God's provision for the peace of their inner man, ...

     Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,
      whose mind is stayed on thee: because he
      trusteth in thee. (Isaiah 26:3)

So it is then that as we intelligently and doctrinally commune with our Father in prayer, it functions to keep our minds and hearts sober and sound in godliness, instead of the opposite. Through prayer we deliberately and pointedly hold ourselves accountable to sound doctrine that we have learned as "sons." In so doing "the doctrine which is according to godliness" controls and governs our thinking; stabilizing it, adjusting it, and thereby settling our minds and hearts.

Moreover this is something that prayer does especially when our minds and hearts have become unsettled by some situation, circumstance, or event with the result that we are upset, disturbed, distressed, and lacking inner peace. This, once again, is prayer's tranquilizing ministry. And it is something that we should deeply appreciate and enjoy when we are experiencing any of the afflictions belonging to "the sufferings of this present time" and/or any of "the sufferings of Christ."

Godly Peace

Now as was previously stated, specific living words of the living God are designed by God to effectually work within us to displace what is disturbing our inner man and replace it with Godly thinking that produces peace. And indeed this is accomplished by specific living words of the living God. In fact they are the very same words that live and operate in God's own mind. They are the very words that form and comprise His thinking about us and about our situation, which in turn has Him in a state of peace and contentment regarding us.

It may seem almost silly to put it this way, but the truth of the matter is that neither God our Father, nor the Lord Jesus Christ, nor the Spirit of God within us, become distressed when we encounter and experience disturbing situations. With God there is no onset of anxiety or worry; no racing of the mind; no 'fight or flight response'; no wringing of the hands, pacing of the floor, sleepless nights, or any other product of distress and uneasiness of mind. Instead our Father, our Lord, and the Spirit within us, are at peace within themselves regarding us.

Yet this is not simply because God is God, and anything but contentment is impossible for Him. For though God is God, He is not a detached, impersonal, or unaffected God, as He clearly testifies. Rather He has a direct, interactive and personal relationship with His creation as a whole, and more specifically with His people. Because of this God is personally affected by what occurs, having not only purposed and designed for this to be so, but also having enabled it to be so. And this is true both in His program with Israel and with us in this present dispensation of His grace. With this being so God acts and reacts with real actions and reactions; not merely with sentiments that are anthropopathisms in description, but not true sentiments in nature. For God is not only the "true" God, He is also the "living God." As such God lives and has a living, involved relationship both to us and with us. So much so that He is neither a casual, nor detached, nor unaffected observer of us or of what occurs with us. Instead God is genuinely touched by us and by what occurs with us; and this is true and real with God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the Holy Ghost that dwells in us.

So it is, therefore, that God is genuinely touched by any and all of the disturbing and distressing things that we may encounter in our lives.

Now though God is genuinely affected by them, He is not disturbed and distressed by them. For operating within Him is some particular peace-producing and peace-maintaining knowledge, which is the product of His own counsel and purpose regarding us as His "sons." And on the basis of this particular knowledge God thinks differently about our situations and circumstances than we do. Hence His mind generates responses to our situations that differ from those that are typically generated by our natural minds. Consequently with this particular knowledge operating within Him, God is not distressed regarding us. Instead, He is at peace and content.

==================
...neither God our
Father, nor the Lord
Jesus Christ, nor
the Spirit of God
within us, become
distressed when we
encounter and
experience disturb-
ing situations.
==================

                           

___________________________________
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 God of Peace
By K. Blades
Part 5 of 7


Godly Peace from "The God of Peace"

Now it is God's own brand of peace that He not only offers to us, but expects us to receive and operate upon in our lives. In connection with this, what the Lord said to His disciples in the climactic stage in Israel's program is also true regarding us in this present dispensation.

 

Peace I leave with you, my
peace I give unto you: not as
the world giveth, give I unto
you. Let not your heart be
troubled, neither let it be
afraid. (John 14:27)

The peace that God provides for us to have in this present dispensation is also "not as the world giveth." It too is "my peace"; i.e. God's own peace.

Furthermore just as the peace that the Lord gave to the remnant of Israel comes from specific information and knowledge about God's counsel and purpose with them in the climactic stage of their program, so too does our peace come from specific knowledge and information regarding God's counsel and purpose with us as His "sons" in this present dispensation. Through both general and specific information thereon God provides us with the ability to possess the very thinking and understanding that He operates upon regarding us. This makes it so that when we likewise think what He thinks, and understand what He understands, it effectually produces within us the same peace and contentment that it produces in Him.

Therefore when this is the case with us we not only have peace from "the God of peace," but we truly have Godly peace. That is, we have the very same peace that God Himself possesses.

Let's appreciate the reality of this by briefly considering some examples of it. First in God's program with Israel. Then we will deal with our Godly peace today.

Godly Peace in God's Program with Israel

The book of Psalms deals with many of the distressing, worrisome, and dreadful situations that the remnant of Israel will experience throughout the climactic stage in Israel's program. In particular, as their program enters its final installment, the intense afflictions that will come upon them will have the tendency to easily overwhelm them and drive them to despair. Indeed, this will be one of the objectives of the Adversary's persecution as he works to 'wear them out' and have their hearts fail them in their stand for the truth.

___________________________________
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 God of Peace
By K. Blades
Part 6 of 7


However they will not be 'in a lurch.' For they will have much knowledge from God's word upon which to operate at  that time. Knowledge that is specifically designed to produce peace and stability within them in the very situations they find themselves, and knowledge that does this by being specifically about God's counsel and purpose with them during that time. Hence, as the following examples show, it will be by having their minds occupied with this specific knowledge, and communing with God about it in prayer, that they will have the peace that the Lord promised them when He said to them,...

In your patience possess ye
your souls. (Luke 21 :19)

God has given them specific knowledge and information for 'their patience.' And when they operate upon it, and hold themselves accountable to it in prayer, they will be able to 'possess their souls' and be at peace within.

Note the reality of this, for example, in Psalm 94.

17Unless the LORD had been
my help, my soul had almost
dwelt in silence.
18 When I said, My foot
slippeth; thy mercy, a LORD,
held me up.
19 In the multitude of my
thoughts within me thy com-
forts delight my soul. (Psalm
94:17-19)

This Psalm has the final installment in God's program with Israel in view. In that time the remnant of Israel will be experiencing the temporary 'triumphing of the wicked' described in the beginning of the Psalm, along with all of the afflictions that they will experience as that apparent 'triumphing' takes place. However during that time there is a specific doctrine that God expects the remnant to have learned, and hence to have operating within them. This is the doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ functioning as Israel's Avenger, fulfilling the third mandate of the Davidic Covenant. By its effectual working within them it is designed to give them the clear understanding of what is happening at that time and why. It teaches them about God's counsel and specific purpose with them during that time, including why the wicked are allowed to triumph to the extent they will and the wisdom of God in connection with it. As such this specific knowledge is design-ed to be  the subject of their prayers and their cries to God for vengeance, as the 'triumphing' is underway and the afflictions are experienced.

Wherefore as this specific knowledge of God's counsel works effectually within them, the Psalmist declares,.. .

12 Blessed is the man whom
thou chastenest, 0 LORD,
and teach est him out of thy
law;
13 That thou mayest give him
rest from the days of adver-
sity, until the pit be digged for
the wicked. (Psalm 94:12-13)

So then when the distress of this particular situation becomes over-whelming for the believing remnant during that time, as the Psalmist says there is tranquility, rest, and even delight for their souls as their prayers hold them accountable to the specific doctrine that God has given to them for this situation and it effectually works within them.

Hence as the Psalmist says, "In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul"; with those "comforts" being the specific knowledge from the law about the Lord being their Avenger at that time.

A similar type testimony is found earlier on in Psalm 55 and Psalm 61 in connection with some different afflictions.

16 As for me, I will call upon
God; and the LORD shall save
me.
17 Evening, and morning, and
at noon, will I pray, and cry
aloud: and he shall hear my
voice.
18 He hath delivered my soul
in peace from the battle that
was against me: for there
were many with me. (Psalm
55:16-18 )

1 Hear my cry, a God; attend
unto my prayer.
2 From the end of the earth will
I cry unto thee, when my heart
is overwhelmed: lead me to
the rock that is higher than I.
(Psalm 61 :1-2)

___________________________________
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]

The God of Peace
By K. Blades
Part Seven Conclusion


Our Godly Peace Today

The Godly peace is true and with us today. When we too through prayer intelligently commune with our Father about specific matters of His counsel and purpose with us as His "sons," it effectually works within us to displace disturbing thoughts about what may be happening to us and have them replaced with the Godly thinking that produces peace.

For this reason after our sonship edification gets underway in Romans 8:14ff, and we are taught the fundamentals of God's specific counsel and purpose with us as His "sons" in this present dispensation, we are then immediately exhorted to make use of that knowledge as we encounter the inevitable "sufferings of this present time" and tribulations of this life. Hence, for example, in Romans 12:12 we are told to be,...

12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in
tribulation; continuing instant
in prayer; (Romans 12:12)

Through what we are taught regarding God's counsel and purpose with us in this present dispensation we learn about the particular "hope" in which we should be "rejoicing." We also are taught to understand and appreciate a number of specific, fundamental reasons why we should be "patient in tribulation" when it occurs in our lives. Hence when such tribulation does occur, the issue for us is to think on the things that we are taught regarding God's counsel and purpose with us, and to commune with our Father about them by being "instant in prayer" in connection with them.

Now when we do occupy our minds with this information, and do intelligently commune with our Father about our tribulation specifically in the light of this information, it effectually works to produce within us the Godly peace that our Father Himself has regarding our situation. The tranquilizing ministry of prayer occurs within us as the disturbing and distressing thoughts that we have in response to the tribulation are displaced by the effectual working of God's word regarding us, making it so that our thoughts become the same as our Father's thoughts, and thereby producing Godly peace within us.

And not only so, but Godly peace is able to be effectually produced within us throughout the entire range of sufferings, afflictions, tribulations, and trouble to which we can be subject in this present dispensation. Nothing is outside its range, or beyond its capacity. For it is produced within us by the excellency of the power of God's word to us, which in perfect accordance with God's counsel and purpose regarding us has been specifically written to address and deal with every form of suffering to which we are subject as His "sons."

Wherefore even when it comes to facing the extreme tribulations belonging to the policy of evil against us, as was the case when Paul wrote to the saints in Philippi, the tranquilizing ministry of prayer is effectual. Hence as they faced death and were being 'terrified by their adversaries,' Paul said to them,...

      4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
      5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
      6 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
      7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7)

Indeed our Father is "the God of peace." He truly has provided for us to have His peace - Godly peace - in all areas of our lives. Both within and without; from mild disturbances to the most extreme occurrences of carefulness, anxiety, or distress.

May it be that through our sonship edification and sonship prayer, as we learn both general and specific matters regarding God's counsel and purpose with us and commune with Him about them in prayer, that we truly learn to know our Father and love Him as "the God of peace" that He is, and thereby possess peace "always by all means." Especially may this be so as we frequently encounter and experience any of the common "sufferings of this present time," but more so as we are privileged to bear any of "the sufferings of Christ." - K.R. Blades

___________________________________
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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PROGRESSIVE REVELATION
By Pastor Joel Finck

Scripture Reading: Romans 3:21

Two of the smallest words in the Bible actually carry the greatest impact of how we understand Scripture. These two words are, "but now." While the Bible is the Word of God from cover to cover, it was not all given at once or to the same audience. What was spoken to one group of people in an earlier time may not directly apply to another group of people in later times. This is called the principle of "Progressive Revelation," and we find many examples of this in Scripture.

In Romans 3:21, the apostle Paul writes, "But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets." At one time, the law of Moses played an integral part in righteousness. Not that the law itself could bring righteousness, it could not. But before the dispensation of the grace of God was committed to Paul (see Ephesians 3:1, 2), the law was God's prescribed method of demonstrating the righteousness which comes by faith. In other words, if a godly Jew under the law wanted to show that he believed God, there was only one way to do it: be in obedience to the law. Therefore, while the law did not bring righteousness, keeping the law went hand in hand with living a righteous life.

But according to Romans 3:21, God's righteousness is no longer associated with law-keeping. This is why Paul goes on to proclaim, "for ye are not under the law, but under grace" (Rom. 6:14b). Those who do not recognize the principle of progressive revelation continue to draw people back under the law with its sabbaths and ordinances. But let us rather move on in grace!

___________________________________
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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THE CHURCH WHICH IS HIS BODY
By Pastor Joel  Finck

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1 :22, 23

Many Christians believe that every time the word "church" appears in Scripture, it refers to the same thing. This is unfortunate, for this thinking has led to much error and confusion. The fact is, at least three churches can be distinguished in Scripture.

The first church we find in the Bible is "the church in the wilderness" (Acts 7:38 ). This was the Old Testament congregation of Israel. Some would object to calling Israel a church, but this is exactly what the Holy Spirit calls her. In fact the Hebrew word for "congregation," found numerous times in the Old Testament, is equivalent to the Greek word for "church" (see Psalm 22:22 & Hebrews 2:12). Yet, the Old Testament Israelite church is not the church of today.

The next church we read of in Scripture is yet future. Christ spoke of it in Matthew 16:18 where Christ told Peter, "I will build my church; and the gates of hell (Gk. 'hades') shall not prevail against it." This church is still future, for it is begun with a resurrected people. The "gates of hades" is not a reference to Satan's forces, an many teach, but a reference to the entrance (and exit) of the place of the dead (cf. Isaiah 38:10 where "gates of the grave" is literally "the gates of sheol" ---sheol being the Heb. equivalent to the Gk. hades).

The third church is the church of today. Paul calls it "the church which is his body" (Ephesians 1:22, 23). All true believers today are members of the Body of Christ, the one true church in this dispensation of grace. Are you a member of this church?

___________________________________
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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PRAYER PROMISES
By  Pastor Joel Finck

Scripture Reading: Matthew 21:22; Philippians 4:6, 7 ; Ephesians 3:20

It is popular these days to "claim" the great prayer promises of Scripture, regardless of to whom these promises were addressed. For example, we read in Matthew 21:22, "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." This is certainly a remarkable promise, and countless thousands have attempted to claim it as their own. However, many have experienced great disappointment when their prayers went unanswered. Some suffer great disillusionment and conclude that "the Bible just doesn't work." Others undergo spiritual depression as well meaning "friends" tell them that they "just didn't have enough faith." If a few cases, some have even turned against God, concluding that He went back on His promise.

The solution to all these problems, of course, is to "rightly divide the word of truth." Christ's promise to His disciples in Matthew's gospel pertained specifically to them as participants in the kingdom program for Israel. God's prayer promises to the body of Christ in this dispensation are found in Paul's epistles, and in these, we never read that God will give us whatsoever we ask. Rather, God promises us that when we truly leave our requests with Him, then "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7). Sometimes God's withholding of what we ask is actually blessing in disguise, "for we know not what we should pray for as we ought" (Romans 8:26). Who knows what trouble we would heap to ourselves if we got everything we asked for? But praise God, He gives peace to the trusting child!
 
We emphasized the fact that in this dispensation of grace, God does not always give us what we pray for, but He does promise peace when we leave our worries with Him (Philippians 4:6,7). But just because God doesn't always answer our prayers the way we want them answered doesn't mean we should stop praying. Paul instructs us to "Pray without ceasing" (I Thessalonians 5: 17). Neither does it mean that God does not answer our prayers at all. Indeed, one of the greatest prayer promises in all the Bible is found in today's text.
 
"Now to him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us" (Ephesians 3:20). Meditate on these words for a moment. Our God is certainly able to give us what we pray for, but Paul does not stop there. God is able to go far beyond our short-sighted requests and give us what is truly needed in our lives. Imagine a billionaire telling you, "ask whatever you want, and I will give it to you." Now imagine this same billionaire being someone who knew you intimately and loved you with all his heart, and saying, "trust me and I can do far more for you than you could ask or even imagine." Which of these would be a better promise? The wise man would choose the second.
 
This is exactly what God has done for His children today. He does not promise to give us whatever we ask, as He promised the twelve apostles of Israel. Instead, He tells us to leave our cares and requests with Him, then trust Him to do what is best. Do this by faith, and you will find true peace and blessing!

___________________________________
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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THE GREATEST COMMISSION
by Pastor Joel Finck

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3:9
 
In the last lesson, we saw that God has always had a commission for His people to carry out. Our commission today is not the one given to Noah, Abraham, or to the twelve apostles. Rather, we currently operate under the commission given to and through Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles. This commission is found in II Corinthians 5:14-21, and involves the ministry of reconciling men to the God who has already reconciled the world to Himself.
 
But as great as this responsibility is, there is a second part to our commission. This is stated by Paul in Ephesians 3:9, "And to make all men see what is the fellowship (Gk-"dispensation") of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ." This was the burden on Paul's heart when he wrote to Timothy, "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will (desires to) have all men saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (I Timothy 2:3, 4).
 
This is the pattern Paul followed at Corinth. When he first came into town, he says, "For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified" (I Cor. 2:2). But after men were saved, Paul continued on with the second part of his commission: "Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect...we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery" (I Cor. 2:6, 7). We must all do our part to bring the gospel of salvation to a lost and dying world. But let us not be content with only half a job; we must also proclaim the mystery to those who are saved!

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From Grace And The Truth Ministries

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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BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST
By Pastor Joel Finck

Scripture Reading: Romans 6:3 & 4

It is truly sad that one of the most precious truths of Scripture is also one of the least understood. The truth we are
referring to is the believer's identification with Christ.
 
In today's text (Romans 6:3, 4) we read of our baptism into Christ. Unfortunately, most commentators, and therefore most Christians, do not understand the true meaning of "baptism." To these, baptism always means "water," but the original word actually means "identification." This can be demonstrated from I Corinthians 10:2, "And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea." The children of Israel were not made wet in the sea, but they were identified with Moses' leadership through the Red Sea experience.
 
Likewise, when we trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, the Holy Spirit baptizes (identifies) us into the Body of Christ (I Corinthians 12:13). This is why Romans 6:3 says we "were baptized (identified) into his death." This means Christ's death for our sins is made effective in our life. Next, we are identified with His burial ("buried with him by baptism into death" Romans 6:4a). When Christ's human body laden with the sins of the world was put away in that tomb, its as though we were there, too. Finally, we are identified with His resurrection "that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4b).

How tragic that many Christians miss these blessed truths, and substitute a man-made water ceremony for true, spiritual baptism.

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries

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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FAITH or FEAR?
By Mike Watson

Blessings on Memorial Day 2008!

September 11 is now a tragic exclamation mark on a long string of 20th Century events. Most of them continue to chip away at our Christian foundation, but I think the terrorist attack is a wakeup call for the Body of Christ. We are reminded how fragile and temporary life really is. Each day is a gift from God as well as an opportunity to demonstrate where our priorities lie. Where you live and how you approach your vocation communicate the meaning of the Gospel and, ultimately, who this God is that we proclaim.
 
Just reading this article demonstrates your zeal for the Lord Jesus Christ. The question is how to focus your energies so that your life's ministry leaves an eternal impression on those around you. The message of the Gospel must be accompanied by Christlike examples observable in a whole-life setting.
 
When our society doesn't support the Christian worldview, we lack the necessary model that, on a larger scale, can help transform individuals and sometimes an entire group of people. So we must create a whole-life setting that folks can be a part of 24 hours a day. In this way, people can know the Gospel message in harmony with God's commandments for life and relationships. That's where a Christian camp comes into play.
 
On a typical Friday, the average American has endured a week of baseless values from the media, work, and often enough, unfortunately, at home. The result is ungodly music, humanistic motives, shootings; it's all there. On that evening, just imagine he's arrived at camp as part of your group.

Once moved in, there's a warm welcome from our staff where he learns there are loving boundaries, positive activity options, and a commitment to the Scriptural values of a retreat. As if that's not enough, the first meal convinces the entire group this is definitely the place to be. As the program continues through the weekend, he and his friends become primed for change (the work of the Holy Spirit) because all the dimensions of daily life are used to create a powerful learning dynamic.

The numbers are plain. A very high percentage of people are saved prior to age seventeen. Of those, many come to the Lord at a Christian Camp. We strive to prepare the field even before a group arrives. That way the seeds being sown stand a better chance of yielding fruit for the Lord.
 
In the end, it doesn't matter if terrorists assault the United States, or if any number of calamities threaten hearth and home. The great question is this: Upon what does our peace rest? Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ elevates a person's trust beyond the circumstances of this life.
 
If I emphasize the value of a person's retreat dollar, I think we agree there's more to it than the usual offerings of a great menu and a peaceful setting with all of the activity options. It's a matter of bringing people into the greater sphere of life that says the message of the Gospel and Godly living must go together. I'm always partnering with the local church so we can use the at-camp, whole-life experience and build the eternal Body of Christ. I hope to see you at a Christian camp soon!

In Christ Always,

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From Grace And The Truth Ministries

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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UNSEARCHABLE RICHES
By Pastor Joel Finck

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3:8

As the Apostle Paul traveled on his missionary journeys, his procedure was to go first into the synagogue of the Jews and reason with them out of the Scriptures, "Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ" (Acts 17:3). When the noble Bereans heard Paul's preaching, they "searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so" (Acts 17:11). Of course, these were the Old Testament Scriptures, for the New Testament was not yet written at that time.
 
However, God was in the process of giving further revelation to Paul, and these new truths could not be traced back to the Old Testament. This is why Paul calls them "the unsearchable riches of Christ" (Ephesians 3:8 ). The word "unsearchable" is a hunting term meaning, "unable to be tracked or traced." This describes the nature of the great mystery revealed to Paul for the Gentiles. It was hidden from ages and generations (Colossians 1:26; Ephesians 3:5), but now has been made known for all to see in the epistles of Paul.
 
What are these unsearchable riches? They are too numerous to mention in this short article, but they include the catching away (rapture) of the Body of Christ (I Corinthians 15:51), the joining of Jew and Gentile in one body (Ephesians 3:6), the unique Gentile program of God during the time of Israel's blindness (Romans 11:25) and many more blessed truths. These things were simply not revealed in the Hebrew Scriptures; search and see. But thank God they are now made known to the saints!

When we take time to read God's Word, Our heart is filled with pleasure;
So let's relate the truth we've heard - With others share the treasure.

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries

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 APOSTASY
PART 1 OF 3
by Dr. Harry Bultema (1884 - 1952)

The Thessalonian letters were written first and placed last. Many in our day say: "This position is all wrong for since they were written first, they should be placed before all the other Epistles," but let us be careful and not monkey with God's Word. Whenever man in the realm of nature tries to alter God's order, things go wrong. If he dams the rivers, there are floods in other places; if he uproots the prairies and plows the forest lands, there are choking sandstorms as a result, and this is especially true of God's Word. Not only were the books crystallized into the one canon by a special providence, but every book was divinely put in the right order. Regarding Paul's letters, the mono- gram in Christ binds them all together, but with this bond of union there is, at the same time, a remarkable order and progress of thought.
 
Romans: in Christ justified by faith.
I Corinthians: in Christ sanctified in church life.
II Corinthians: in Christ fellowship in church life.
Galatians: in Christ crucified to the world and law.
Ephesians: in Christ seated and blessed in the heavenlies.
Philippians: in Christ satisfied and beautified with joy.
Colossians: in Christ, the Head, complete.
Thessalonians: in Christ glorified and triumphant.

Now do you not see that you could not put the glory and the triumph, the victory and vindication of the believers first? Here was progressive revelation. High manifestations of truth as there may be in Romans, Ephesians, and Colossians, there is, nevertheless, an elevation of truth divinely revealed in Thessalonians which is still higher; the saints not only glorified in Christ but Christ glorified in His saints and to be admired by all believers in that day.
 
The apostle finds nothing to rebuke in this letter, except a wrong application of the second coming truth, just as we see this so often today. He starts this chapter with a prayer by the coming, parousia,
 
The Thessalonian saints had been shaken by a seducing spirit, acting through false words and even a falsified letter pretending to be from Paul as that the day of the Lord was present. (The unfortunate mistranslation: day of Christ at hand, has led to confusion.) Some thought that the terrible day of the Lord was actually present. He tells them that the awful day of the Lord could not come until there be first a falling away, an apostasy, the word he actually uses.

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From Grace And The Truth Ministries

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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