Two Minutes With The Bible

[nChrist]

Oklahoma Howdy to Ambassador4Christ,

I love your new graphic. If you don't mind me asking, did you do it yourself? I'm curious because I'm trying to learn animation right now. So far, I've been able to animate some Bible verses, but they aren't as pretty as your graphic.

I've finished about 10 and plan to start giving them away. If you have some special software or tricks, I would love to hear about them.

In Christ,

Tom

[Ambassador4Christ]

August 8 th

DOES MISERY LOVE COMPANY?

We have all heard the statement: "Misery loves com-
pany."  It is true that when one is sick or in trouble he does
not feel quite so sorry for himself when he realizes that
others are as unfortunate, and perhaps more so, than he.

However, some have used this phrase:  "Misery loves com-
pany," in speaking lightly of hell.  Perhaps you have heard
someone say:  "Well, if I go to hell, at least I'll have lots of
company."  This is true, but the company the lost will have
when cast out of God's presence will hardly afford them
comfort.

The Bible story of the rich man and Lazarus brings this
fact out with great force.  The rich man, you will remember,
"fared sumptuously every day," while Lazarus "was laid at
his gate, full of sores, desiring to be fed with the crumbs
which fell from the rich man's table."

In the process of time both died, and the rich man, having
felt no need of salvation, suddenly was made to experience
God's wrath upon sin, for the sacred record says: "In hell he
lifted up his eyes, being in torments" (Luke 16:23).  From
his place of torment the rich man saw Lazarus with Abra-
ham "afar off," but this surely afforded little comfort, while
we do read that "Lazarus was comforted."  The rich man,
then, still with haughty superiority, asked Abraham to
send Lazarus back to earth to warn his five brothers, "lest
they come into this place of torment."  He did not wish his
brothers to join him in hell.  "Misery" among those cast out
of God's presence, then, does not "love company."

The story is brought to a close as Abraham refuses the
rich man's request, explaining that if his brothers would
not hear the Word of God "neither will they be persuaded
though one rose from the dead" (Luke 16:31).

The way to avoid the lot of the rich man, then, is to be-
lieve the Word of God, particularly that part of the Word
which tells how Christ died for our sins that we might be
justified by grace through faith.  Don't be deceived by the
old adage: "Misery loves company."  Receive Christ as your
Savior today.  "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou
shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31).

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[Ambassador4Christ]

Two Minutes With The Bible

August 9 th

NOT DYING FOR LACK OF LOVE

It has been said that "the world is dying for the lack of a
little bit of love."  When this statement is examined in the
light of Scripture, however, it is found to be the exact op-
posite of the truth.  Listen to what God's Word says about
this:

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).  "God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom 5:.  "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him.  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (I John 4:9,10).

Many about us are dying in their sins, but not "for the
lack of a little bit of love."  It is rather because they reject
the great love that God has manifested to us in His Son.  
We are told in John 1:10,11 that "He was in the world, and
the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.  
He came unto His own, and His own received Him not."  
This is the problem:  men are rejecting His love.  "And this is
the condemnation," says John, "that light is come into the
world, and men loved darkness rather than light"  (John
3:19).

But while others reject Him, you may accept Him as your
Savior and know the joy of sins forgiven and of everlasting
life, for "as many as received Him, to them gave He the pow-
er [Lit., right] to become the sons of God, even to them that
believe on His name" (John 1:12).

"The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand.

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on Him" (John 3:35,36).

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31).

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[Ambassador4Christ]

Two Minutes With The Bible

August 10 th

A CHRISTIAN OBLIGATION

Three times in Rom. 1:14-16, the Apostle Paul uses the
phrase "I am," and each one carries an important message
for every true believer in Christ.

First he says in Verse 14:  "I am debtor" -- debtor to all
men, to tell them about the saving work of Christ.  But why
was he indebted to people he had never even seen?  For
several reasons.

First, he had in his hand what they needed to be saved
from the penalty and power of sin.  If I see a drunkard lying
across the railroad track and I do nothing about it, am I not
a murderer if he is killed by the train?  If I see a man
drowning and I have a life buoy in my hand but do not
throw it to him, am I not a murderer if he goes down for
the last time?  If I see millions of lost souls about me and,
knowing the message of salvation, do not tell them, am I
not guilty if they die without Christ?

Further, Paul felt himself a debtor to others, because the
Christ who had died for his sins had also died for the sins of
others.  As he says in II Cor. 5:14,15: "Christ died for all,
that they which live should not henceforth live unto them-
selves but unto Him who died for them and rose again."

Finally, the Christ who had died for Paul's sins, had
commissioned him to tell others of His saving grace.  Thus
he says in I Cor. 9:16,17:

"Woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel!  For... a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me."

Paul could say further what every true believer should be
able to say:  Not, "I am debtor, but," but rather, "I am debt-
or... SO, as much as in me is I AM READY" (Rom. 1:15).  
He was ready to discharge his debt because he had that
with which to discharge it -- the wonderful "gospel of the
grace of God."  And he did indeed make this message known
to others with all that was in him.

And now the third "I am": "I am debtor... so I am ready
.. for I AM NOT ASHAMED of the gospel of Christ, for it
is the power of God unto salvation to every one that be-
lieveth..." (Ver. 16).  Paul was always proud to own Christ
as the mighty Savior from sin.  Do you know Christ as your
Savior?  Do you tell others about Him?

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[Ambassador4Christ]

August 11 th

FOR JESUS' SAKE

"Delivered unto death for Jesus' sake" (II Cor. 4:11).

There is much that we all do for our own sake, for the
sake of our children, our loved ones or others, but the real
test of the believer's love for the Lord is what he does "for
Jesus' sake."

Under the dispensation of Law our Lord told His disciples
that to be forgiven they must forgive:  "Forgive, and ye shall
be forgiven" (Luke 6:37), "but if ye forgive not men their
trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses"
(Matt. 6:15).

But now, under the dispensation of grace, He exhorts us
to forgive one another "even as God for Christ's sake HATH
forgiven you" (Eph. 4:32).  The difference is striking.  Before
the cross: If you would be forgiven, forgive.  Now, in the
light of the cross: You have been graciously forgiven for
Christ's sake.  In the light of this be tenderhearted and
forgiving toward others.

And we are to go farther than this: Not only are we to
forgive our brethren in Christ, but we are to be prepared to
show this attitude toward the world as well.  St. Paul said:
"For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself
servant unto all" (I Cor. 9:19), and referring to his perse-
cutions by unbelievers, he said: "We... are always delivered
unto death for Jesus' sake" (II Cor. 4:11).  How many un-
believers would be won to Christ; how many of our Chris-
tian friends would be strengthened and helped, if we adopt-
ed this attitude toward others!

As to suffering itself, the Apostle also gladly bore this
"for Jesus' sake."  In writing to the Corinthians, he said:  "I
take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in
persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake; for when I am
weak, then am I strong" (II Cor. 12:10).  He had learned that
in weakness he leaned the harder, prayed more, and was
brought closer to His Lord, and herein lay his spiritual
strength.

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[Brother Love]

Brother A4C No 12 th ?


Brother Love

[Ambassador4Christ]

For You Brother Love

Two Minutes With The Bible

August 12th

THE WONDER CURE

Most of us remember the drugstore product which swept
the country like wildfire years ago and netted one man
more than $3,000,000.00 in one year. It was called Hada-
col. Whatever was wrong with you, Hadacol could cure it!  
Radio commercials and newspaper advertisements ac-
claimed its healing powers. Some small drugstores dis-
played signs over their doors reading, "MAIN ENTRANCE
FOR HADACOL."

One humorous story was told at that time about a woman
who was supposed to have testified over the radio: "Before I
began taking Hadacol I couldn’t read nor write; now I’m
teaching high school"!

Some people seem to think that Christianity is like Hada-
col was supposed to be. In fact, some evangelists give the
erroneous impression that if one accepts Christ everything
will suddenly go right. Nothing could be farther from the
truth. The Christian life is a battle, and we cannot win this
battle without much diligent, earnest Bible study and
prayer. In fact, it is this battle that makes the Christian
life rewarding. Formerly we were "taken captive by [the
devil] at his will" (II Tim. 2:26), but now God provides us
with complete armor, including "the sword of the Spirit"
and "the shield of faith" (Eph. 6:16,17), and says, "Stand
fast." Indeed, James 4:7 says: "Resist the devil, and he will
flee from you."

God has enlisted every true believer in His "armed
forces," as it were, and He encourages us each one to be
"a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (II Tim. 2:3). Indeed, He
expects this of each corporate assembly of believers as well,
for Paul, by divine inspiration, wrote to the Philippian
saints:

"Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel" (Phil. 1:27).

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[Ambassador4Christ]

Two Minutes With The Bible

August 13 th

THE SECRET OF THE GOSPEL

Significantly, it was to Paul, not Peter, that "the secret of
the gospel" was first revealed. (See Eph. 3:1-3; 6:19). It was
he who was first sent forth to proclaim the doctrine of
salvation, and to reveal all that had been accomplished at
Calvary.

The Old Testament Scriptures had predicted that the sins
of others would be laid upon Christ, but they had not
explained how Christ’s death would be the basis for the
sinner’s justification.

Many a criminal has gone free because his crimes have
been "pinned on" another, but this has by no means
justified the criminal! Some sincere Christians seem to
think that substitution is the very acme of Bible truth,  
when in fact it is but the beginning, for substitution in
itself does not imply the sinner’s justification.

It is also true that salvation had been offered before Paul.  
Men were told what to do to be saved -- though the terms
varied from time to time -- and were even instructed, upon
Christ’s arrival, to believe in Him for salvation. At that  
time sacrifices, circumcision, water baptism, etc., were still
required for the remission of sins -- and any believer would
approach God in His way. This is why these religious rites
were observed throughout our Lord’s earthly ministry and
even through Pentecost.

The Apostle Paul, however, was later raised up to make
known "the secret of the gospel," and to proclaim the
glorious accomplishments of Christ at Calvary. All the rich
blessings so thrillingly set forth in Paul’s epistles flow to us
from Calvary. Ours is a heavenly position because He came
to earth to die for our sins. Ours is "the hope of glory,"
because He suffered our shame. Ours is the blessing of  
"peace with God" because He bore God’s wrath upon sin.  
Ours is relief from the load of sin because He bore that
load. Every one of our "all spiritual blessings" comes to us
from Calvary. Paul’s "secret of the gospel" centers in Cal-
vary. Little wonder St. Paul calls his preaching "the preach-
ing of the cross."

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[Ambassador4Christ]

Two Minutes With The Bible

August 14 th

THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE PENTECOSTAL BELIEVERS

The prophesied work of the Holy Spirit in connection
with His people Israel should be clearly understood if we
would understand His work today in connection with the
members of the Body of Christ. In Joel 2:28,29 God prom-
ised to supernaturally cause them to prophesy, etc., but in
Ezek. 36:26,27, He also promised to supernaturally cause
them to do His will:

"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

"AND I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT WITHIN YOU, AND CAUSE YOU TO
WALK IN MY STATUTES, AND YE SHALL KEEP MY JUDGMENTS,
AND DO THEM."

Thus God would show that the only way in which even
His own people can perfectly obey Him is when He takes
possession of them and causes them to do His will. Indeed,  
He is still demonstrating this. Though we today have all
the advantages and blessings of the dispensation of grace,
and though we desire most earnestly to obey and serve God
as we ought, we still continually fall short. This is because,
contrary to popular opinion, none of us has been baptized
with the Spirit (See Acts 1:5 and cf. I Cor. 12:13).

We must be careful to notice the immediate change that
took place in the behavior of the Pentecostal believers, now
that the Holy Spirit had come to take possession of them.  
Not only did they speak with tongues and prophesy and
work miracles, but they all began living for one another.
         
"And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul; neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common" (Acts 4:32).
         
We have not observed this way of life among those who
call themselves Pentecostalists today.

[Ambassador4Christ]

Two Minutes With The Bible

Aug 15

THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE BELIEVER TODAY

Grace and faith are the characteristic features of the
present dispensation. Not only is salvation now declared to
be by grace, through faith, but the Spirit also operates in
the believer by grace, through faith. He does not take pos-
session of us and cause us to do what is right, but dwells  
within each believer (I Cor. 6:19) to provide needed guid-
ance and the strength to withstand temptation, and we may
avail ourselves of this provision by faith.
         
The Spirit, Who first imparted life to us will also impart
strength to withstand temptation and overcome sin. In our
inability to even pray as we ought, "the Spirit... helpeth our
infirmities" and "maketh intercession for us" (Rom. 8:26).  
In our weakness we are "strengthened with might by His
Spirit in the inner man" (Eph. 3:16) and God even stoops to  
"quicken [our] mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in
us" (Rom. 8:11).
         
"THEREFORE, BRETHREN, WE ARE DEBTORS, NOT TO THE
FLESH, TO LIVE AFTER THE FLESH" (Ver. 12).
         
The implication from the above passage is that though
sorely tempted we are debtors to the Spirit who dwells
within and provides overcoming power.
         
The question, in times of temptation, is generally wheth-
er we truly desire to overcome, for we may overcome in
any given case by grace, through faith. In the present
dispensation it is not true that it is not possible for the
believer to sin, but it is blessedly true that in any situation
it is possible for him not to sin, for the Spirit is always there
to help.

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[Ambassador4Christ]

Two Minutes With The Bible

August 16 th

THE BIBLE ON THE FLOOR

"...Thou hast magnified Thy Word above all Thy name" (Psa.
138:2).
         
As I passed by my study the other night, I noticed that I
had left a Bible lying on the floor next to a chair. In study-
ing I had put it down momentarily to consult a reference
book and had neglected to pick it up again.
         
Now, as I caught a fleeting glimpse of that blessed Book
lying there, it bothered me; in fact it bothered me enough
to make me go back and pick it up and put it where it be-
longed.

Then I began wondering why so trivial a matter had trou-
bled me. Was it because I remembered how dad would
never allow anything to lie on top of the Bible? Had mere
sentiment confused my thinking?
         
Surely the Word of God is forever settled in heaven and
that book lying on the floor was only paper, ink and a
leather cover. Or was it? Was it not also the Word of God
as given to us? And as such, was it not representative of
God Himself? If our country’s flag must be treated with
honor and respect; if it is sacrilege to treat it as mere cloth,
how much more is this so where the Holy Bible is con-
cerned!
         
No, it was not merely dad’s example that came to mind as
I saw the Bible lying there: certainly it was not only that.  
Rather it was a Scripture passage of which he often re-
minded us; the inspired words of David quoted above:
         
"Thou hast magnified Thy Word above all Thy name."
         
To be sure God would have us use His Word as a text-
book from which to learn His will. It is no sign of reverence
for this great Book to leave it lying untouched on the shelf.  
He would have us use it and study it, perhaps underlining
important passages and marking significant connections.  
But with all this we must never forget to treat it with the
reverence and honor due the written Word of God.

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[ollie]

 1 Corinthians 15:58.  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

[lizmom]

Thanks for cluing me in on a good thing. These are great little devotionals.

[nChrist]

Thanks for cluing me in on a good thing. These are great little devotionals.

Oklahoma Howdy to Lizmom,

Yes they are, and they are a great way to just stop, enjoy HIS WORD, and give us some strength to carry on.

In Christ,
Tom

[aw]

Yes indeed and we are STANGERS in this foreign land- sojurners and pilgrims. I heard it put this way- our citizenship is in heaven but we have been sent temporarily to a foreign land as "ambassadors" for Christ. We are to invite people to become co-citizens with us; eg., change their citizenship.

aw