Divine Sugar Sticks for October 2000

What's the background behind Sugar Sticks? Click here to find out.

Tuesday, October 31, 2000

Our Lord’s Departing Thoughts!

Luke 24:51, “While He blessed them, He parted from them.”

The last attitude and activity of the risen Lord, of which the disciples were conscious as He left them to ascend to His Father, were these of the up-lifted hands and the uttering of a beatitude. This is a perpetual sign. Thus He remains until He comes again. His hands uplifted and His lips pronouncing the blessedness of His own. Behold those hands! In them are the sacred signs of His love and His all-conquering race.

Listen to His blessing! It is more than the expressions of a desire on His part for the happiness of His own. It is a declaration of His ability to give them the only true happiness. While we see those uplifted hands, there can be no room for doubt or fear when other menacing hands are stretched out to harm us or to vex us. Whether in life or in death, in adversity or prosperity, in sorrow or in joy, we know that by that token we are safe.

While we hear His voice pronouncing the blessing, it matters not what voices slander or curse. We know that our peace and joy are assured.

The clouds will enwrap Him and the bodily sight end. But the soul will know that beyond the clouds and beyond the physical manifestation, He ever lives with hands that argue our safety outstretched and with words that ensure our blessedness upon His lips.

A departing thought and activity of the Lord on behalf of us.

John 1:14, “Full of Grace and Truth”

In that phrase, John recorded the full and final impression made upon him and his fellow disciples by their time of comradeship with Jesus Christ. The result of being with Him. They were written in all probability long years after that time of comradeship, so far as His bodily presence was concerned, was over.

They lived with Him. They traveled with Him. And they listened to His teaching and watched His works. And above all, observed Him in the circumstances of the varied days. When one whole result needed to be written, John, through the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit said, “Full of Grace and Truth!”

The description moreover is given in a yet briefer way by the use one word in the preceding parenthetical statement. “They beheld His glory”  “Full of Grace and Truth.”

In the whole of that statement, the most sublime truth is declared. It was ”the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father.” Here, then, we find the content of the glory of God. It is the unity of Grace and Truth. Here then we have the exposition of Grace and Truth. It is found in Jesus Christ. The two ideas should hold our minds and direct our lives.

God is Grace and Truth. Not the one without the other. Not the other apart from the one.

In His government there can be no lowering of the simple and severe standard of Truth and there is no departure from the purpose and passion of Grace.

Then when we would know Truth, we must know Jesus Christ.
And when we would apprehend Grace, we must come to Jesus Christ.

”The law came by Moses, but Grace and Truth came by the Lord Jesus Christ.”

John 15:9, “Even as the Father Hath Loved Me, I Also Have Loved You”

This is surely Christ’s superlative word concerning His love for His own. It leaves nothing more to be said. It ends all counseling.

What the love of the Father is for the Son, who can tell? The very suggestion fills the soul with the sense of  profound depths which cannot be fathomed, f heights that cannot be scaled, or breadths which cannot be compassed, and of dimensions beyond our knowledge. And that love of God for the Son is the measure and the nature of the love of the Son for His own.

And how passing wonderful it is, when we remember that, however vast that love of God for His Son may be, that Son is worthy of it, while we are unworthy of love at all. Yet here is the glory of His love. He loves us in spite of our unworthiness, knowing that He is able to make us worthy.

Two thoughts are immediately suggested:

The first, by what He said before, “Therefore doth My Father love Me because I lay down My life that I may take it again.”
And the second, by what He added now, “I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”

The perfection in us which He sees, and which inspires His love is that of the selflessness which suffers to serve. The law of abiding in love is obedience.

We are accepted in the Beloved, therefore also called “beloved.”

“Two Other,” John 21:2

The suggestiveness of these words is arresting. This was a wonderful occasion on which the Lord was specially manifesting Himself to a group of disciples. Every phase of the doings of that morning is full of light and glory. The risen Redeemer and Ruler was showing men His interest and power in the commonplaces of their lives, and in the greatest responsibilities thereof.

He touched their daily doings with light, and glory, their daily fishing and preparing breakfast. The Lord made their breakfast! He gave them the grandest conception of their fellowship with Him in His work of gathering together in one, the sheep that were scattered abroad.

”I stand at the door and knock. If anyone will open it, I will come in and sup with him.”

Who were the men?  Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathaniel, James, and John – all outstanding figures. But there were “two other” and they are unnamed. Purposely unnamed. They represent the anonymous and hidden multitudes of faithful souls whose names are never published in human documents, and whose deeds are never recorded in human reports. To these He manifested Himself as surely as to the others.

Those “two other” represented the majority of the saints. Let all such remember that of His fullness they all receive.

Manifestations are needed for faithfulness in obscure places of service and they are granted, to all His own He ever comes with unveilings of His Grace and Glory and Truth.

Unknown but known!

Acts 3:7, “Silver and Gold Have I Not, But What I Have, That Give I Thee”

These are not the words of an apology. By comparison with what Peter had to bestow, silver and gold, are the veriest dross. To give gold and silver to a cripple is a good thing, if that is the best you can do for the handicapped. But it only maintains him in his disability. He is still handicapped … with money.

To give him strength to walk is to set him free from the need of alms. This is the difference between Christianity and all merely humanitarian efforts for the relief of the incapable.

They help to make the conditions of continued inability somewhat bearable. But Christianity cancels the inability and so ends the conditions and makes the efforts for relief unnecessary.

Therefore Christianity never has any need to apologize for itself. The service it renders to men individually and socially, is of the highest. It deals not so much with conditions as with causes.

The principle illustrated in this man is of the widest application. Apart from Christ  humanitarian efforts deal with surroundings, but cannot touch the man. Christianity begins with the man and so makes him the instrument for changing his own surroundings.

Humanitarian efforts plant a garden around the man and leave him to spoil the garden. Christianity remakes the man and he makes the garden.

So much for the improvement of environment! It is the man that needs to be improved.

Acts 23:11, “The Night Following, the Lord Stood by Him”

The words “the night following” are very suggestive. Paul had passed through two tremendous days. The bitterness of his foes was such that no limit would be set to what they would do to him if they could. The chief captain was afraid that they might tear him to pieces, and so had rescued him by force and secured him in the castle.

”The night following” – Such days would inevitably be a time of reaction. Bold and courageous and fearless during the day … but the night of loneliness finds the strength spent. And the enemy is never slow to take advantage of that fact. Oh the dreads and the shrinkings and the questionings of the night.

Then we must need help and then it was that the Lord “stood by him.” Through all the stress and strain of those terrible days, he had maintained in speech and demeanor the honor of the Name, and now the One who bore the Name came to him manifestly, definitely, and personally.

Very beautiful were the words that He spoke to His servant. Paul had long before declared his conviction that he must see Rome. And probably the form threatening him that night would be that he never would do so.

Loyalty to the Name will often bring the witnesses into days of strain and so to nights of foreboding. But He always comes, and yet if not manifestly, yet He always stands by.

As Long as We Are Without God, We Are Without Seven Vital Things

1. Without the blood of Christ.
   Which alone can remove the past and release the sinner from the hold of sin, Heb 9:22
   
2. Without Christ.
   Who alone can save, set apart, and satisfy, Eph 2:12
   
3. Without peace.
   Which alone can calm the mind and silence the conscience, Isa 57:21
   
4. Without hope.
   Which alone can clear the vision and make the future bright with coming glory, Eph 2:12
   
5. Without life.
   Which alone can qualify to see and enter the kingdom of God, John 3:3, 5
   
6. Without strength. 
   For the sinner has no ability to rise to the higher things, Rom 5:6
   
7. Without the Spirit.
   For those who are not the Lord’s are summed up in the destitution of their need as “having not the Spirit,” Jude 19.
   

An Interesting Study of the Word ZOA in the Greek

Rom 6:11, “Alive.” The Greek word “ZOA” is a primary verb and means “to live.” An interesting study is suggested by the use of the word as applied to the spiritual life. It is a God-imparted and Christ-secured life. For Christ came by way of the Cross that, “we might live through Him,” 1 John 4:9.

It is a Christ-identified and a Christ-associated life. For He says, “Because I live, ye shall live also,” John 14:19.
”As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he that eateth Me, even he shall live because of Me,” John 6:57.

It is a self-displacing life and Christ-centered life for all those who know Him cease to, “Live unto themselves but unto Him,” 2 Cor 5:15.

It is a Spirit-inscribed life and a Spirit-indicted life for believers are the epistle of the living God and He inscribes His character on their inner being, 2 Cor 3:3.

It is a Christ-indwelt and a Christ-revealing life for each indwelt believer recognizes what the apostle said, “I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me,” Gal 2:20.

It is a brethren-considerate and a Lord-controlled life, hence brethren “who live unto the Lord,” do not despise or judge each other, Rom 14:7-9.

It is a saint-helping and a missionary loving life for it ever hears the voice of the missionary plea, “Now we live if ye stand fast in the Lord,” 1 Thes 3:8.

And it is a God-controlled and a God-goaled life for being “Alive from the dead.” We recognize we are “alive unto God,” Rom 6:11, 13.

ZOA – alive and living!

Monday, October 30, 2000

John Chapter 21, The Deity of Christ in Contrast With Fallen Humanity

The Self Action of Man and the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ

Self-will is seen when Peter says, “I go a-fishing.”

Self-labor is evident when the disciples toiled all night and caught nothing.

Self-sight is revealed when the disciples “knew not” the Lord on the shore.

Self-resource is manifest when the Lord asked them if they had caught anything and they had to say “no.”

Self-boasting is made known when Christ asked Peter if he loved Him more than “these” for he had boasted, “Though all shall be offended because of Thee, I will never be offended,” Matt 26:33.

Self-sin is hinted at in Christ’s calling Peter by his old name of “Simon” and the reference to him of being “the son of Jonas,” literally, a silly dove.

Self-grief is evident when Peter was “grieved” by the searching and personal questions which Christ put to him.

Self-questioning is asserted when Peter seemed more concerned as to what John should “do” instead of following the Lord.

In contrast to the eight times Christ is called “Lord” in this chapter, which will follow ...

In John Chapter 21 Jesus Christ is Called “Lord,” Deity, Eight Times

The word “Lord” is the Greek word KURIOS, which means Deity. Jesus Christ is the God-man – absolute Deity and true humanity.

John was the first to recognize the Lord on the shore. Hence he said, “It is the Lord.”

Peter reverenced the Lord when he “saw it was the Lord.”

The disciples, “knowing that it was the Lord,” did not need to put the enquiry “Who art Thou?”

Peter responded twice to the Lord when he said, “Yea, Lord,” and further remarked to Him, “Lord, Thou knowest all things.”

Reference is made to the question of John when he asked the Lord at the table, “Lord, who is he that betrayeth Thee?”

And lastly, Peter’s enquiry as to what John was to do is recorded in his, “Lord, and what shall this man do?”

In John Chapter 21 Three Thoughts Are Brought Out in Reference to Christ as the Lord

Ownership:
”Ye serve, as slaves, the Lord,” Col 3:23

Authority:
Hence the Lord’s Supper is to be kept, 1 Cor 11:20

Power:
Therefore, we read “the hand of the Lord” was with the disciples, Acts 11:21

All of these thoughts are brought out in John chapter 21.

Ownership is claimed when Christ speaks of “My sheep.”

Authority is heard in Christ’s commands to “cast,” to “come,” and to “follow.”

His power is evidenced when he caused 153 great fishes to be caught in the net.

How Suggestive Is “I Am” Found in John’s Gospel!

At least 20 times we find “I am” occurring. Sometimes we read “I am He” and the “He” is in italics, and should therefore be omitted. Sometimes the “I am” is coupled with additional words such as, “I am the Way.”

The “I am” takes us back to what the Lord said to Moses: “I am that I am,” Exodus 3:14.

If you study these suggestive “I ams,” you can see how much they suggest and contain.

The unparalled speaker, “I that speak unto thee am,” John 4:26.
The unique Food, “I am the Bread of Life,” John 6:35.
The Heavenly Manna, “I am the Bread from Heaven,” John 6:41.
The Bread of Life, “I am the Bread of Life,” John 6:48.
The Living Bread, “I am the Living Bread,” John 6:51.
The Wonderful Illuminator, “I am the Light of the world,” John 8:12.
The Revealing One, “I am from above,” John 8:23.
And there are about 20 or so more. Just circle them in John.

If we meditate upon the setting of these sentences and see their meaning and think of their application, we will have to say:

Without the Word, there is no speaking.
Without the Bread, there is no feeding.
Without the Light, there is no shining.
Without the Door, there is no keeping.
Without the Life, there is no living.
Without the Way, there is no going.
Without the Truth, there is no knowing.
Without the Vine, there is no growing.
Without the Lord, there is no serving.
With I am eternal glowing.

We Are Taught to Enjoy What we Know About the Word of God!

What do we know about the Word of God???

When thou hast read what Heaven hath writ,
Let thy best practice second it.
Then twice the precept read shall be
First in the book and then in thee.

“Whom shall we teach knowledge? And whom shall be made to understand Doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk and drawn from the breast.”

”For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, and here a little and there a little,” Isa 28:9-10

Yea, it is a mine of precious jewelry
The Book of God, a well of streams Divine.
But who would wish the riches of that mine
To make his own, his thirst to satisfy.

From that pure well, must ear, eye, soul, apply
On precept, precept scan, and line on line.
Search, ponder, sift, compare, divide, combine
For Truths that oft beneath the surface lie.

Yea, there are things which he who runs may read
Nor few there are, which yield a harder part,
To mark, discern, and know, with cautious heed
Tis God’s command, survey the safety’s chart
Lest arduous things, distorted, death-ward lead,
The mind unlearned and the unstable heart.

The Whole of God’s Being is Represented as Being Alert for Our Blessing

He has a heart to love us.
Psa 33:11, “The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations.”

He has a hand to help us.
Isa 41:10, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.”

He has an eye to watch us.
2 Chr 16:9, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.”

He has feet to run to us.
Luke 15:20, “And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”

He has a mouth to speak to us.
Duet 8:3, “And He humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that He might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.”

He has a face to cheer us.
Psa 42:5, 11, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.” “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.”

He has a bosom to embrace us.
Isa 40:11, “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.”

He has arms to enclose us.
Deut 33:27, “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and He shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.”

He has a thought to encourage us.
Psa 40:5, “Many, O LORD my God, are Thy wonderful works which Thou hast done, and Thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto Thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.”

He has a soul to delight.
Isa 42:1, “Behold my Servant, whom I uphold; Mine Elect, in whom My soul delighteth; I have put My Spirit upon Him: He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.”

He has ears to listen to us.
Psa 116:2, “Because He hath inclined His ear unto me, therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live.”

Man Has Been Ccalled “a Praying Animal”

We would rather say that man has the capacity to pray, but in too many instances, he is dumb. It is when the spirit awakens man to his vocation in life, that it is said of him, “Behold, he prayeth,” Acts 9:11.

Happy are we if we “pray without ceasing,” 1 Thes 5:17.

For praying in the open sluice through which the water of life comes and feeds us, and it is the last act in the drama of the life as we say with Stephen, “Lord Jesus receive my spirit,” Acts 7:59.

”Pray” and “prayer” occur about 350 times in the Word of God. There are 12 Hebrew words and seven Greek words. In them we have a wonderful revelation of what true prayer is. And I know you know all these 19 words for prayer.

If we neglect the Grace of prayer, we shall be wanting in the Grace of life.
We cannot fulfill the responsibilities of life if we do not enjoy the privilege of prayer.

The words for prayer have a touch and a tension in their varied meanings, which reveal its many-sidedness and potency.

SHAAL  ANA  CHANAN  ATHAR  PAGA  PALAL  TSELA  SIACH   TEPHILLAH

No, not tongues, but the Hebrew words for prayer.

Solomon in his dedicatory prayer for the temple uses the word “pray” when he pleads that if any of those who got into captivity, shall “bethink” themselves and confess their sins that the Lord shall deal graciously with them, 2 Chr 6:37.

Now, which of the 12 Hebrew words does He use which would be fitting here??

”CHANAN,” which is Grace, and it means to seek the favor of another that they may stoop in kindness and exercise Grace towards the suppliant. This aspect of prayer suggests the applicant looks to the exercise of God’s Grace like the publican when he prayed to the Lord to be “merciful unto me, a sinner.”

It is not the merit of the suppliant which is seen, but the Grace and mercy of the One supplicated. The picture is that of a criminal who is doomed to die for his offence and who appeals for favor from the sovereign of the realm.

There is no merit in our praying, but there is in the One who answers. When we leave ourselves in the Lord’s hands, we find His hand on our souls to our benefit.

Specific words of prayer for specific prayers.

“ATHAR” – this word is rendered “pray” in Elihu’s statement and has wrapped up in it the thought of its meaning not only of entreaty, but also that of a “fragrance” like the aroma of a violet with the plant.

”To entreat” – to make earnest and fervent prayer which ascends like incense before God. Also power and abundance and a sweet odor.

The word is rendered “entreated” four times – Gen 25:21, Ex 8:30, 10:18, Judges 13:8, and sometimes “be entreated.” It is an entreaty of the soul’s expressed need which is always a fragrance to the Lord.

A sweet smelling savour.

12 Different Hebrew Words for Prayer and Six Different Greek Words for Prayer

And We Only Have One in the English Language

When you understand each and every one of those words that are used for prayer, you get a composite picture of the meaning and the motivation of each prayer. We have seen one, CHANAN, which takes in the Grace concept.

Now here is another, TSELA. It only occurs twice and in each case it is rendered “pray.”

Dan 6:10, “He kneeled upon his knees three times a day and prayed.”

”TSELA”" means to bend low in adoring worship. Humility of soul and lowliness of mind are requisites in prayer. The Grace of humiliation is always greeted by the Grace of God.

When we obey the commandments of the Lord to be humble, we command His attention to our uplifting. Those who bend low in true humility, find that the Lord bends low in answering our petitions.

Psa 95:6, “Let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker.”

The other time this word is used for prayer is in the case of Cyrus, when he made a decree of certain supplies which were to be granted to the elders of the Jews that the priests might fulfill their priestly office and also that they might, “pray for the life of the king and his sons,” Ezra 6:10. “TSELA.”

Here is a Great, Greek, Grace Word for Prayer! One of Six …

ENTEUXIS – it only occurs twice, and in each instance is in Paul’s letter to Timothy, and is there it is rendered “intercession” and “prayer,” 1 Tim 2:1, 1 Tim 4:5. In each case, it is used relatively when Timothy is requested ”to make intercession for all men.”

What we eat is to be received with thanksgiving and not to be refused if it is sanctified, set apart, by the Word of God and prayer.

To pray beyond our personal need in holy petition for others is to ally ourselves with Christ, who ever liveth to make intercession for us.

Some prayers are warped by the heat of selfishness and twisted by the limitations of human desire. The loving ministry of a prayer for others is the highest art of service. When we plead the cause of others, we plead our own need, and receive for them what we requested, and find ourselves receiving benefits, too.

Sunday, October 29, 2000

You Have a Choice – Smoking or Non-Smoking

In eternity … ??

Matt 25:41, “Then shall He say unto them on His left hand, depart from Me, ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”

You see, they are on the … left.

If You Don’t Like the Way in Which You Were Born …

Well, be born again!

1 Pet 1:23, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible by the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever.”

2 Tim 2:4, “No Soldier in Service Entangleth Himself in the Affairs of This Life”

This word of Paul took on new meaning for many during World War II. Today it seems to most that they have never seen it before. But we have seen it and we have given it a certain conventional interpretation. The thinking of the phrase, “the affairs of this life” is very superficial and we think of certain liberties and comforts which a soldier is denied. But you needed the stern and awe-inspiring experiences of warfare to be enabled to appreciate the full content of the phrase. Now we know that nothing is left out.

The soldier in combat breaks with everything except war. They left in millions leaving father and mother and brother and sister, wife and lover. They marched away from promising careers, loved occupations, high ambitions, and the finest things of responsibility. Nothing was permitted to entangle them, to hinder them, or in any way to interfere with the one thing. This new understanding has brought a new revelation of the claim which our Lord’s campaign makes upon us.

He only asks His people to do what the sons of America did ungrudgingly. Does not this consideration bring a sense of shame with it? How often have those, who as the salt of the Earth and the light of the world, “played at war”?

”He teacheth my hands to war and my fingers to fight.”

Titus 2:10, “That They May Adorn the Doctrine of God Our Saviour in all Things”

There are two ideas that flash with surprising brilliance. The first is that the Doctrine of God our Saviour can be adorned. Secondly, those who are spoken of as being able to adorn are slaves

We will understand the first better if we start with the second. The word “servants” here is distinctly the word for slaves. The condition of slaves in Crete where Titus labored, was the worst. Paul had said that the Cretans were liars, beasts, and gluttons. Slavery in such a society must have been a terrible thing. Among these slaves there were some who were saints. These were declared to be able in the very life of slavery, “to adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.”

Paul told them how it would be done, by being under subjection to their masters, by seeking to be well-pleasing, by not gainsaying, by honesty, by faithfulness. In short, by such actions in difficult circumstances, to win from their very masters a recognition of their godliness. Thus, we see that the Doctrine of our God our Saviour may be adorned.

Titus 3:8, “They Which Have Believed God May be Careful to Maintain Good Works”

Literally, “Careful to profess honest occupations.”

This helps us to understand what was in the mind of the apostle. The whole chapter reveals the kind of world in the midst of which these Cretan Christians were living. It was characterized by insubordination to authority, by laziness, by disaffection, and contention, and by every form of evil excess. It included a world of wrangling and disputes over all sorts of things.

In the midst of such conditions, the Christians stood fundamentally as those who believed in God. To believe God is to believe His Word – His revelation of the true order of life.

Those who stood on that belief could testify to the power of it in no other way than that of good works. That is by following a quiet and diligent life of devotion to duty, in callings in which themselves were honest.

There is no more powerful force of rebuking all evil things, whether of conduct or of opinion, than that of the quiet, strong, persistent life of a man or woman who goes on from day to day doing the duties of the day cheerfully and with joy.

”Be careful” – make a study of it and think about it because it is important.

“Forsake Not the Assembling of Yourselves Together”

“Church” is the Greek word “ECCLESIA,” which means an assembly of believers.

Ch _ _ ch:. That is what church looks like today. What is left out?

“u r”

Saturday, October 28, 2000

Greek Preposition “HUPER” in Relation to God the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit as the Gracious Intercessor. This preposition HUPER only occurs in relation to the Spirit with the genitive, and it signifies over and separate from, as though bending over to protect.

Therefore, it is often used to denote Christ’s substitutionary work on our behalf.
Rom 5:8, “Christ for (HUPER) on behalf of us.”

Of the Spirit’s work in us as the Pleader it is said,
Rom 8:26, “The Spirit maketh intercession for (HUPER) on behalf of us.”

The Spirit cannot always utter through human lips the sighing of His requests. But His sighs are interpreted by the other Intercessor at God’s right hand.

On our behalf!

Greek Preposition HUPO in Relation to God the Holy Spirit

The Spirit in His Leading!

This preposition occurs with the genitive as relating to the Spirit and the believer, and it denotes a position under something higher, the place from which anything comes forth, or the agent from under whose hand a thing is accomplished.

Often used in the sense of “by,” hence we read of Paul, Acts 25:14, “Left in bonds by (HUPO) under Felix.”

Five times the preposition HUPO is used in connection with the Holy Spirit and us.

”Led of (HUPO) under the Spirit,” Matt 4:1.

”Revealed by (HUPO) under the Spirit,” Luke 2:26.

”Sent forth by (HUPO) under the Holy Spirit,” Acts 13:4.

”Forbidden by (HUPO) under the Holy Spirit,” Acts 16:6.

”Spake as they were moved by (HUPO) under the Spirit,” 2 Pet 1:21.

Under the Spirit’s wisdom we act. Under His power we are upheld. Under His instructions we go forward.

We are conscious He is under us to carry the responsibility – HUPO.

Underneath are the Everlasting Arms.

Psa 136, “His Mercy Endureth Forever”

There are 26 verses in this Psalm and each verse says the same thing … “His mercy endureth forever.” Mercy is Grace in action.

The opening stanzas refer to the One to whom reference is made throughout by the great names by which He was known.

”JEHOVAH” – the title of Grace, verse 1

”ELOHIM” – the name of might, verse 2

”ADONAI” – the title of sovereignty, verse 3

The fact concerning this Supreme One which called the song, was that of His continued lovingkindness.

The first four groups should be sung as to the introductory words by the four soloists in turn. The second two groups by duet, the first contralto and soprano, the second tenor, and base. And the last two groups by the four voices.

Psa 144:15, “Happy is the People Whose God is the Lord”

This is a song of a king, a ruler, who understands the true secret of “national prosperity” and this is found in the expression in this closing exclamation. In the presence of the stern necessity for war, it is the Lord who:

Verse 1, “Blessed be the Lord, my Rock, who teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight.”

It is He who giveth victory to kings. As the result of victory which comes from Him, kings and people are rescued from evil politicians – men whose mouths speak vanity – and from evil doers – men whose right hand is guided by falsehood.

Such deliverance issues in a prosperity which is graphically and politically described in these closing stanzas. Verily then, “Happy is the people whose God is the Lord.”

Notice what makes the people happy and blessed in a nation.

Prov 7:4, “Say Unto Wisdom Thou Art My Sister and Call Understanding Thy Kinswoman”

Once more as in chapter 5, the subject is that of the folly of the prostitution of the highest function of personality. The method is that of a most graphic description of the ways of the wrong, evil woman and the weakness and stupidity of the one who is enticed and victimized by her. This description is prefaced by words of appeal in which the way of wisdom, which is the way of strength in the presence of such temptation, is revealed.

Wisdom is personified at a woman and she is a woman of strength and of purity. Let wisdom, the Word, take the place of the one the Lord has for you until she is brought to you. Wisdom is feminine in gender here. Let the man who has to meet this kind of temptation make wisdom his sister and understanding his kinswoman, that is his close personal friend. This is the fact that the Lord has someone in mind for you.

It is when the full figure is in full force that its value is discovered. Thousands of men are kept from evil courses by the love and friendship of sisters and women. Examples include sisters or a mother. Recognizing this, the father counsels the son to find strength against the seductions of evil, by cultivating that kind of defensive and defending familiarity with wisdom, which is typified by this love of a sister or a pure woman.

Friday, October 27, 2000

Today is Theodore Roosevelt’s Birthday

But, you won’t find him mentioned by our country. We have holidays for all kinds of people and occasions, but he is the forgotten man of history – a very important forgotten man of history.

”Stout of heart, we see, across the dangers, the grave future that lies beyond and we rejoice as a giant refreshed ‘as a strong man gird for the race’ and we go down into the arena where the nations strive for mastery, and our hearts lifted with the faith that to us and to our children and our children’s children, it shall be given to make the republic the mightiest among the peoples of mankind.”

”Ours is not the creed of the weakling and the coward. Ours is the Gospel of hope and triumphant endeavor.”

”If we fail the cause of free-self government throughout, the world will rock to its foundation.”

”A churchless community, a community where men have abandoned and scoffed at or ignored their religious needs, is a community on the rapid down grade.”

”You are not going to make any new commandments at this stage which will supply the place of the old ones. The truths that were true at the foot of Mt. Sinai are true now.”

Happy Birthday Teddy!

Jesus Christ Has Magnified His Word Above His Name – Psa 138

The importance of the Word of God because it is of Divine source. In the book of Acts, the Word of God is referred to 35 times as …

”The Word of God” – 13 times. Acts 4:31, 6:2, 7, 8:14, 11:1, 12:24, 13:5, 7, 44, 46, etc.

”The Word of the Lord “ – 8 times. Acts 8:25, 11:16, 13:48, etc.

”The Word” – 13 times. Acts 4:4, 6:4, 8:4, 10:36, 44, etc

”Thy Word” – once. Acts 4:29

”Man cannot live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

The Source of the Word is the Lord. He gives you His Word.

The Importance of the Word of God Because of its Dynamics

Notice what the Word says about the Word!

”Have tasted of the good Word of God.”

”The worlds were framed by the Word of God.”

”Who have spoken the Word unto you.”

”Upholdeth all things by the Word of His power.”

”The Words spoken by angels were steadfast.”

”The Word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword.”

Heb 1:3, 2:2, 4:12, 6:5, 11:3, 13:7

There lieth in the dynamics of God’s Word all the latent possibilities of the life of the Almighty.

The Importance of the Word of God Because of its Definite Claim

The book of Thessalonians illustrates the claims of the Word.

”The Word” in its authority, 1 Thess 1:6

”The Word of the Lord” in its message, 1 Thess 1:8, 4:15, 2 Thess 3:1

”The Word of God” in its power, 1 Thess 2:13

The Word claims the faith of our obedience and the loyalty of our love and the desire of our hope.

The Importance of the Word of God Because of its Distinct Prophesy

The Book of Revelation may illustrate what is found in many places.

Christ is the Key – Rev 19:13

To keep it is our responsibility – Rev 1:9, 3:8, 10, 6:9, 20:4

To bear record of it is our privilege – Rev 1:2

The Importance of the Word of God Because of its Distinguishing Message

The many qualifying words of the Word indicate its manifold message.

    It is a Word of life to quicken – Phil 2:16

    A Word of faith to beget faith – Rom 10:8

    A Word of reconciliation to assure – 2 Cor 5:19

    A Word of God to slay – Eph 6:17

    The Word of Christ to indwell – Col 3:16

    The Word of the Lord to reveal – 1 Thes 4:15

    The Word of faithfulness to keep – Titus 1:9

    The Word of righteousness to adjust – Heb 5:13

    The Word of incorruption to endure – 1 Pet 1:23, 25

    The engrafted Word to fructify – James 1:21

The Importance of the Word of God Because it is Devoted to its Promises

The Word, as such, is coupled with what the Spirit calls, ”the Word of all His goodness.”

Solomon confessed “that not one Word” of God’s great promise failed.” 1 Kings 8:56

His promises and the performance of them are continuously referred to.

Psa 105:42; Acts 13:23, 32, 26:6, 7; Rom 4:20; Gal 3:14-29; Heb 6:13-17; 2 Pet 3:4, 9, 13

”All the promises of God are in Him yea and amen to the glory of God.”

Another Interesting Study Might be Worked Out in Connection With the Words “He” or “the Lord” or “Hath Promised”

Exodus 12:15; Deut 12:20, 26:18; Joshua 23:10; 2 Chron 6:15; Rom 1:2 Heb 12:26; James 1:12, 2:5, 1 John 2:25

Which is more personal? “He, the Lord hath promised.”

And that should be enough.

The Importance of the Word of God Because of its Dedicated Influence

When we call to mind what the Lord says, He will do by means of His Word. We can see how beneficent and practical it is in its in-working and out-working. Let us confine our thought to Christ and His teaching of the Word.

    He taught that the Word was a fruit producer – Matt 13:23

    He taught that the Word was a victory gainer – Matt 4:4

    He taught that the Word was a disciple witnesser – John 8:31

    He taught that the Word was a sanctifying obtainer – John 17:17

    He taught that the Word of God was a love prover – John 14:23

    He taught that the Word of God was a heart answerer – John 5:24

    ”The flower fadeth but the Word of God abideth”

God the Holy Spirit Has Many Titles and Many Names

All the titles and names connected with God the Holy Spirit have meaning, definition, and purpose. Especially since He seals us and fills us and controls us, and most of all, is our Teacher. Everything we know about the Lord Jesus Christ from our second birth and on is attributed to Him, because He never speaks of Himself, but only of the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, He is called “the Spirit of Christ.”

1. He is the Spirit of Christ because He rested on Him – Luke 4:18
   
2. He is the Spirit of Christ because He testified of Him – 1 Pet 1:11
   
3. He is the Spirit of Christ as He is given by Him – John 1:33
   
4. He is the Spirit of Christ because He acts for Him – John 14:16
   
5. He is the Spirit of Christ. He will gather us to be with Him – Rom 8:11
   
6. He is the Spirit of Christ because He makes us like Him – 2 Cor 3:18
   
7. He is the Spirit of Christ because He unites us to Him – 1 Cor 12:12-13

Christ said He would send us “another Comforter.” There are two words in the Greek language for the word “another.” One is another of a different kind. The other is of the same kind.

The Holy Spirit is another Comforter, just like the Lord Jesus Christ.

Another Comforter of the Same Kind as Christ

Certainly the Holy Spirit ever did and ever will as “Author of Himself.” 
Christ’s statement is very emphatic. John 3:8, “The Spirit where it pleaseth doth breathe.”

In the chapter which describes the Holy Spirit in His unity and sovereignty as the Administrator in the body of Christ, we read He divides His gifts “to man sovereignly as He will.” But, while there is a diversity of gifts and administration, he is referred to seven times over as “the same Spirit.”

1 Cor 12:4-11, the deliberate will here ascribed to the Holy Spirit implies His personality as the act of giving implies His deity.

    Verse 4 – by the same Spirit
    Verse 5 – by the same Lord
    Verse 6 – by the same God
    Verse 7 – of the Spirit
    Verse 8 – by the Spirit
    Verse 9 – the same Spirit
    Verse 11 – the self same Spirit

Eph 3:16, 17 “That He would grant you according to the riches of His glory to be strengthened with the might by the Spirit in the inner man. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith that ye being rooted and grounded in love.”

The Holy Spirit communicates Christ to us, and in so doing, makes all He did and was not only facts to be believed, but living factors on order to form our life.

We have the Holy Spirit to interpret the story so that Christ is more than the Lord of ancient tale, but the Lord who holds Words with us now.

JEHOVAH — Reminds Us of His Immutability!

Mal 3:6, “I am JEHOVAH.” Then He explains what it means. ”I change not.” Then He gives the application: ”Therefore the sons of Jacob are not consumed.”

Being what He is, He cannot do other than He does.

How often in the Psalms we find the Holy Spirit playing upon the words. ”JEHOVAH is” as coupled with the believer’s faith.

    He is the Rock upon which we rest. “JEHOVAH is my Rock,” Psa 18:2.

    He is the Garrison by which we are preserved. “JEHOVAH is my Keeper,” Psa 121:5.

    He is the Shield behind which we are protected. “JEHOVAH is my Shield,” Psa 28:7.

    He is the Deliverance by which we are saved. “JEHOVAH is my Light and Salvation,” Psa 27:1.

    He is the Shade by which we are refreshed. “JEHOVAH is my Shade,” Psa 121:3.

    He is the Pastor to shepherd. “JEHOVAH is my Shepherd,” Psa 23:1.

Since JEHOVAH is What He is, We May Well Come to the Conclusion of Faith as Expressed in Psalm 37

”Trust in JEHOVAH,” Psa 37:3, for He supplies all needs.

”Delight in JEHOVAH,” Psa 37:4, for He fulfills all desires.

”Commit unto JEHOVAH,” Psa 37:5, for He accomplishes all things.

”Rest in JEHOVAH,” Psa 37:7, for He looks after all His saints.

”Wait upon JEHOVAH,” Psa 37:9, for He bestows all blessings.

”Look to JEHOVAH,” Psa 37:34, for He rewards all waiters.

”Trust in  JEHOVAH,” Psa 37:40, for faith sees all Grace.

One of the 14 Titles for the Lord is JEHOVAH-ELOHEKA!

This name signifies “the Lord, thy God.” It is of frequent occurrence in the book of Deuteronomy and it is found 16 times in chapter 16. It denotes JEHOVAH’S relationship to His people and their responsibility to Him.

There are four definite thoughts – redemption, relationship, responsibility, and reward.

Redemption by the Lord
”I am JEHOVAH thy ELOHIM which brought thee out of the land of Egypt,” Ex 20:2.

Relationship to the Lord
”Lord thy God” – Relationship is secured by redemption. The Son of God was our Ransom that we might become the sons of God by His Grace.

Responsibility to the Lord – Ex 20:3, 7, 10
Privilege beings responsibility. There is no blessing of the Gospel but has an attendant obligation.

Reward by the Lord – Ex 20:12
Obedience always brings blessing, as bringing its own reward.

Thursday, October 26, 2000

When Sarah Laughed in Her Tent!

Sarah was promised by the Lord to have a child in her old age and she laughed at God and His promise. Then she lied about it.
Gen 18:11-12, “Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”

Verse 14, “Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” Verse 15, “Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.”

Sarah laughed alone in her tent, at the promise of God.
Gen 21:1, “And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.” Verse 2, “For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.” Verse 3, “And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac,” literally “Laughter.”

First she laughed in her tent. Now she has laughter in her tent – for nine months.

God always has the last laugh.

Psa 38:21-22, O Lord ... O My God ... O Lord”

There are Psalms of confession. Psa 6, 32, 51, 102, 130, 143

I have stressed these words because they reveal the deepest value of this song. It is the cry of a soul in bodily agony and mental anguish, which he recognizes as the result of his own transgression, and therefore does not rebel against.

It is however the cry of such a soul to God. Its movement shows his knowledge of God and how in this dire need he is casting himself upon that God in all the fullness of the knowledge which he possesses.

The first movement speaks of his personal sufferings, both bodily and mental and is addressed to JEHOVAH Lord, verse 1. The second describes the attitude of friends and foes and this is addressed to the sovereign Lord, “ADONAI,” verse 9, God. The last movement is that of prayer for deliverance and it is addressed to both JEHOVAH and ADONAI as God, ELOHIM, verse 15.

In this final appeal, the three Names are found again and here is a wonderful unveiling of the refuge and hope of the confession of a believer’s sin. It may expect help in personal suffering from God for He is JEHOVAH, the one full of Grace. He may expect justice in regard to men for God is the sovereign Lord. He may look for complete deliverance for JEHOVAH the sovereign Lord, is the mighty One.

1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and justice to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

O Lord … O my God ... Lord.

“I Will,” Psa 101:1

This Psalm is attributed to David. It is evidently a song of a ruler, a prince, or a king.

Verses 1-4. The first movement. It reveals the ruler’s decision concerning himself.
Verses 5-8. The second movement. It declares his decisions concerning the administration of his kingdom.

It is a Psalm of volition, of free will, of freedom. That is why I emphasized the first two words. They run through all the stanzas. If you trace them, you will see there is no appeal to others. All the way through the singer is expressing his free will. His decisions prove that he is doing so under the inspiration of true intellectual apprehension, and pure emotional response.

The important thing is that he is responding. This is the matter always of principle importance. The nature of his decisions and the order of them are instructive.

This king is seeking to act in every way in harmony with the character and purpose of the One and only King. The things and persons that are in accordance with the will of God, He will cultivate and preserve. This is the true way of authority.

I will!  I will!   I will!

Psa 113:9, “He Maketh the Barren Woman to Keep House, a Joyful Mother of Children”

This song was sung at the Passover, at Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles. It is impossible for us to read it without remembering that it was the song that Jesus Christ sung with his disciples in the upper room before he passed out into Gethsemane and Calvary. Psa 113 and Psa 114 were sung before the meal. Psa 115 to Psa 118 were sung at the close.

The first song is one in praise of the Lord for His condescending Grace which characterizes Him. It is a daring utterance of a Truth which prose would fear to speak.

The singer says that the seat of God is so high that in order to behold the things in Heaven and on the Earth, he has to humble himself, and then the purpose of that stooping is revealed. It is that he may raise the poor and lift the needy. And the final note is what I have emphasized. In that, God acts so “as to crown womanhood with motherhood.”

When we think of it as the first-born under the shadow of the Cross, we find ourselves in the full glory of that romance. In Him, the God whom dwells in the heights above the Heavens, had stooped through motherhood, He being “God only-born” in order that He might lift the needy.

As He approached the ultimate depth in the stooping. He sang this song, which offers praise to God for this condescending Grace, which through motherhood reached men that they may be reborn and thus raised to sit among the royalties.

Wednesday, October 25, 2000

Ezra 7:6, “A Ready Scribe”

This phrase is descriptive of Ezra, and it is full of interest, as it is connected with the emergence of a new order in the life of the nation. And that namely of the scribes, which continued through four centuries and were found in strength numerically but in degeneracy spiritually in the times of our Lord’s earthly ministry.

It is a good thing to study it as the foundation head. During the time of the monarchy of the united kingdom, a scribe was a royal secretary. During the later period of the disrupted kingdom, the scribe had become men whose business to copy and study the laws of the nation.

With Ezra, a new order began. The scribes now became men whose chief business it was to interpret the law, and to apply it to all the changing conditions of life and the new circumstances constantly arising.

As messengers of the will of God, they took the place of the prophets with this difference. Instead of receiving new revelations, they explained and applied the old. Of this new order, Ezra was at once the founder and type.

The word “ready” does not apply to his pen, but to his mind. He was an expert in exposition and application of the Word of God. The qualifications for such work are very clearly set out in the statement made concerning him in verse 10, “He set his mind to seek ... to do ... and to teach.”

Neh 7:2, “For He Was a Faithful Man and Feared God Above Many”

This is a description of the man whom Nehemiah placed in authority over the city of Jerusalem, after the wall was completed. The whole of the arrangements for the safety of the city, as here recorded, were characterized by statesman-like caution throughout. All around there were enemies and the position of the partially restored city was one of perpetual peril.

Nehemiah was conscious of this and made the most careful provision for the hour of the opening and closing of the city gates, and as to the arrangement for the watchers. No greater mistake can ever be made in connection with work for God in difficult places than that of lack of caution. Carelessness is never the sign of courage. True bravery prepares for the possibility of attack.

His choice of the governor was characteristic and he was chosen for two reasons – his faithfulness to duty and his fear of the Lord. If we speak of these as two, they are yet two sides of one fact. Faithfulness to duty is the outcome of the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord always produces fidelity. There is no sanction sufficiently strong to produce true fidelity other than that of this holy and loving fear.

If a man is unfaithful in his appointed task while yet declaring his loyalty to the Lord, he lies and the Truth is not in him. The secret of the courage that is cautious of the caution that is courageous, is ever of a complete fear of the Lord.

Job 28:3, “God Understandeth”

These are the strong and central words of this wonderful chapter. After his protest of innocence and the passionate need of some solution of his sufferings other than that which his friends had suggested, Job discusses the question of wisdom. He first describes man’s ability to obtain and possess the precious things of Earth. Silver and gold and iron are mined and the description of how men do the work is full of beauty. Having described man’s ability, he asks, “But where shall wisdom be found?” and the answer is in these words, “God understandeth.”

The evidence of the Truth of this is to be found in the impossible things which God does:

Therefore, Job arrives at this conclusion, that for man, “The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom and to depart from evil is understanding.”

This is indeed at once our confidence and our comfort. “God understandeth.” The things that perplex us do not perplex Him. The mysteries by which we are surrounded, are no mystery to Him.

There is more for the Truth than “God understandeth.” He also knows our frame. “He remembereth that we are but dust.”

God Laughs. What Do You Think God Laughs About?

The things that are going on today in the national and international scene!

Psa 2:4, “He that sitteth in the Heaven shall laugh.” This is an arresting statement. Thrice only in the Bible is laughter predicted of God. Here in Psalm 2:4 and in two other Psalms. Psa 37:13, “The Lord shall laugh at him, for He seeth that his day is coming.” Psa 59:8, “But Thou, O Lord, shall laugh. Thou shall have all the heathen in derision.”

In each case it is the laughter of derision, of contempt, and in each case it is the expression of contempt for those who in foolish pride oppose themselves to Him and to the purposes of His love for men.

He laughs at the kings and rulers who oppose themselves to the King He has appointed to bring blessedness to the sons of men. He laughs at the wicked who plotteth against the just. He laughs at blood-thirsty men.

This derisive laughter of God is a comfort of all those who love righteousness. It is the laughter of the might of holiness, righteousness, and justice. It is the laughter of the strength of love.

God does not exult over the sufferings of sinning men. He does not hold in derision all the proud boastings and violence of such as seek to prevent His will for the blessing of humanity through the establishment of righteousness.

There is no note in the music of this song of the coronation of the Son of God more full of comfort than this that tells us the contempt of God for those who covenant together to revolt against His government.

His laughter is reinforced by the speaking of His wrath and the vexing of His displeasures. Yet this Hebrew singer knew the deepest things of his God.

For the last of the song is an appeal to kings and judges to yield themselves to the ordained authority and so to find the blessedness of those who put their trust in the Anointed Son.

Psa 35:3, “Say Unto My Soul, I Am Thy Salvation”

This Psalm in its entirety is an appeal for help in the midst of circumstances of cruel and unjust persecution. The sense of wrong is most keen from beginning to end. Those who are causing his sufferings had not only no cause to do so, but their action was that of base ingratitude. The psalmist’s sense of wrong found expression in the prayer to God to visit the evil doers with summary and complete vengeance.

These particular words, found early in the song, constitute a clear revelation of the state of the mind of the singer. So trying were his circumstances, so poignant the pain, that he was at least in danger of losing his assurance in God. Therefore, the plea that God would give him the inward sense of certainty, “Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.”

It was a request for a renewal of strength of the inner communion with God, which is ever the secret of strength in days of turmoil and of sorrow. How often we are driven to call out to the Lord like this. It is the reasonable cry of faith, and it is safe to say that it is always answered, when the pressure of circumstances is such as to create the sense of weakness to such an extent we feel in danger of collapse.

Then we need some reinforcement within, stronger than the pressure from without and that is ever to be found in communion.

Tuesday, October 24, 2000

Exodus 24:11, “They Beheld God and Did Eat and Drink”

Verses 9-11 give us an account of a most wonderful event in the giving of the law. 74 men were gathered together around the manifested presence of God and in that presence, “they did eat and drink.” No description is given of the form of which the manifestation took.

The declaration that they saw God is interesting. We know that as far as the material sense of sight is concerned, “no man hath seen God at any time.” How then can we explain this statement?

It is important that we should remember that two different Hebrew words are used in this story to describe the experience. The word “saw” in verse 10 is the common word for seeing, but the word for “beheld” in verse 11, is mental perception, or discernment. These men, in an exalted moment of communion, were given a sensible vision of the glory through which they rose to a spiritual vision of God. It was a great experience and the supreme wonder was that in such an hour, “They did eat and drink,” that is, they lived their natural lives in all fullness. Full-time Christian service.

Eating and drinking at the height of a  spiritual experience – Lasagna on the lawn!

There Must First be a Willing Mind!

Ex 25:2, “Of every man whose heart maketh him willing, ye shall take my offering.”

An abiding principle is revealed in these words. It is that the one value to God of gifts presented to Him by His people. Is that of the willingness of the mind which prompts them. All the materials for the building of the tabernacle were to be supplied by the people themselves. That was not because God could not have provided everything in some other way. Paul at Athens said that “God is not served by men’s hands, as if He needeth anything.” Nevertheless, he asks men to provide the necessary materials, but lays down the one condition that their offerings must come out of their willing minds.

When that is so, the simplest gift becomes of real value to Him, for it is the symbol of loyalty and devotion. And this Truth finds a most explicit statement in the New Testament. ”Let each man do according as he has purposed in his mind, not grudgingly nor of necessity, for God loveth a cheerful giver,” 2 Cor 9:7.

What isn’t freely given, isn't worth having.

It is a healthy exercise to test one’s gifts by this standard.

Lev 4:2, “If Anyone Shall Sin Unwittingly”

These words recognize an aspect of sin of which we are in danger of thinking too lightly. Because “God is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity.” This aspect of sin demands cleansing, while willful sin needs forgiveness.

Nothing is more clearly stamped upon these pages of Leviticus than the fact that sin must not be lightly treated. The Lord is the God of holiness and can make no terms with sin. But He is also the God of Grace who provides a perfect redemption for the sinner. In Christ, the promise was fulfilled and need met.

When it comes to known sins, “If we confess our sins (the ones we know to confess), He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins.” ”And to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” – the ones we don’t know.

Known sins confessed and forgiven causes the unknown sins to be cleansed.

2 Kings 4:44, “According to the Word of the Lord”

In this chapter we have four instances in the ministry of Elisha in which we see him carrying on his work among the people.

1. His provision for the need of the widow, whose creditors where threatening her.
2. His kindness to the Shunammite woman who had shown him hospitality.
3. His healing of the pottage at Gilgal.
4. And his feeding of a hundred men with 20 loaves.

The words we have taken are connected with the last of these incidents, and primarily have reference to it alone. But they apply with equal force to all the rest.

The ministry of this man was wholly a ministry of the Word of God. He had no other burden. Everything he did was in obedience to the Word of God and interpretation of it in the life of the nation.

By all this activity, he was demonstrating to those who had the spiritual capacity to apprehend, how good and beneficent were the thoughts and intentions of the Lord concerning His people.

At this time, Elisha was at the head of the prophetic schools, and as he journeyed from place to place, he was known as the messenger of God. His deeds were expositions of his message. His life was that of utmost simplicity. Yet his life was full of dignity.

A ministry according to the Word of God, interpreting the will of God, and illustrating it by deeds of goodness, is independent of all except the simplest ways of life, but it is ever full of sublime influence.

Ex 33:15, “If Thy Presence Go Not With Me, Carry Us Not Up Hence”

These words were the answer of Moses to the promise of the Lord. This is how he claimed the promise. The whole story is full of light. It is the account of a very intimate and wonderful communion between God and His servant.

Ex 33:11, “The Lord spoke unto Moses face-to-face as a man speaketh unto his friend.” And in that holy atmosphere of sacred intimacy, Moses was able to say all that was in his heart. All the sin of the people was on his heart. And about that he talked to God.

Realizing his responsibility as a leader of the people, he first pleaded for a fuller knowledge of the ways of God and of God Himself. To this plea, the gracious promise was returned. “My presence shall go with thee and I will give thee rest.” The very relief that that promise brought to his heart set forth this grand outburst. ”If Thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.”

He knew that no substitute could take place of the presence of God. And he recognized that it would be better for them all to perish in the wilderness than attempt to possess the Promised Land without that presence.

This is a great Truth. The very gifts of God are liable to curse us if we lose fellowship with the Giver. We may make the land of plenty, but the occasion of our poverty if we enter it without the Lord.

“But” – It is Where You Put Your But!

2 Kings 11:1-2, “She arose and destroyed all the seed royal, but …”

The significant word here is the “but.” It marks the futility of evil in the campaign against the plan and purposes of God.

Athaliah was the sister of Ahab and was of his corrupt nature and strong personality. When Jehu slew Ahaziah, she seized the throne, and made it sure by killing, as she thought, all the seed royal. For six years she swayed the scepter of her terrible power over the kingdom of Judah.

”But” – and there is always a “but.”

In the day when she was securing her position by slaying the seed royal, her own daughter, moved either by compassion for the baby Joash or by some higher motive, took the child and hid it and for six years nursed and cared for the young life within the temple precincts.

The evil always breaks down. It is extremely clever and it calculates on all the changes and seems to leave no unguarded place. But with unvarying regularity, it fails somewhere to cover up its tracks, or to ensure its victory.

God finds His forward highway in the compassion of a woman’s heart in some perfectly simple and natural circumstance. And thus the continuity and ultimate realization of His purpose is insured.

Similar in the case of Moses … “But the Lord ...”

Stop Giving! Stop Tithing!

Ex 36:6, “So the people were restrained from bringing.”

This is a wonderful chapter in its revelation of how these people were moved to high and holy things at this time. It is almost impossible to read these particular words without a sense of surprise. So rarely has it happened that it has been necessary in the case of work for the Lord to restrain His people from giving. And yet this is the natural result of those inspirations that are found in a previous verse.

Ex 35:22, “Every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, brought the Lord’s offering.”

When the mind is truly stirred and the Spirit makes willing, giving is robbed of all meanness and it ceases to be calculating. Nothing is too precious to be given and no amount is too great. Everything is poured out in glad and generous abandonment. And when this is so, the work of God never languishes for lack of means. All this is a matter for serious thought in our day.

When was the last time you heard a preacher say, “Stop giving,” “Stop tithing?” Most of the time you hear of a “double dip,” or “If you don’t tithe, God won’t bless you.”

In the work of the Lord, how it is that the hearts of Christians are ever devoid of the stirring which produces such giving? Why is it that there is ever unwillingness to bring our offerings to God? It is not always, because for some cause the vision of the glory of the work is dim? Why has the vision become dim? Can they be found in the Words of Jesus Christ in the parable of the kingdom. “Persecution.” “Tribulation.” “The care of the age.” “The deceitfulness of riches,” Matt 13:21-22.

Most of you remember the Church we had in Houston. It was free and clear and we never took up an offering. It was a monument to the Grace of God.

2 Chr 33:13, “Then Manasseh Knew That the Lord, He Was God”

Then, when?

This is a wonderful chapter giving us the account of two men – Manasseh and Amon, father and son. Both of them followed the way of wickedness. But one under discipline confessed his sin and was forgiven, while the other ”humbled not himself” and was cut off without remedy, like the two thieves on the Cross.

The confession of Manasseh was evidently the chief subject in the mind of the chronicler and that because the action of God afforded an unveiling of the Divine character. This is evident from these particular words.

”Then Manasseh knew that the Lord, He was God.” The “then” refers to the account of the Divine forgiveness and restoration in response to confession. It is a picture full of light and beauty in the midst of prevailing darkness. This of the readiness of the Lord to forgive and pardon.

The sins of Manasseh are faithfully described and revealed in their hideousness, but this is the background flinging up into clearer relief the ready and gracious attitude of the Lord to a confessing soul.

Monday, October 23, 2000

Inspiration!

The book of Jeremiah throws much light on the subject of inspiration. It is a helpful study to take your Bible and beginning with the first verse, to mark all the expressions which assert or imply that God spoke by Jeremiah, such as:
”Thus saith the Lord.” “The Lord said unto me.” “The Word of the Lord came.”

Such expressions occur some times a dozen times in one chapter, and in them Jeremiah unhesitatingly claims inspiration.

”God, who in sundry times and divers manners, spake in time past unto the fathers, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son,” Heb 1:1.

Lamentations!

The Message of 1st and 2nd Corinthians is Christ!

1. Christ crucified, 1 Cor 1:13-24
   
2. Determined to know nothing among them but Christ, 1 Cor 2:2
   
3. Christ the only Foundation, 1 Cor 3:11
   
4. Christ our Passover sacrificed for us, 1 Cor 5:7
   
5. Christ our Smitten Rock, 1 Cor 10:4
   
6. One Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Cor 8:6
   
7. The blood of the New Covenant, 1 Cor 10:16, 1 Cor 11:25
   
8. He died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 1 Cor 15:3
   
9. We preach Christ the Lord, 2 Cor 4:5
   
10. Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus Christ, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested, 2 Cor 6:10-11
    
11. Christ died for all, 2 Cor 5:15
    
12. “He was made sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him,” 2 Cor 5:21

It seems like Paul’s emphasis is Christ.

Jeremiah’s Questions Answered in the New Testament

1. Jer 5:7, “How shall I pardon thee?” Eph 1:7
   
2. Jer 3:19, “How shall I put thee among the children”” John 1:12
   
3. Jer 8:22, “Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there?” Matt 9:12
   
4. Jer 13:23, “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots?” Acts 8:37, 2 Pet 3:14
   
5. Jer 12:5, “How will thou do in the swelling of the Jordan?” 1 Cor 15:55-57
   
6. Jer 13:2, “Where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?” Col 1:28, Heb  13:17
   

   

Christ in Colossians!

1. Christ is the image of the invisible God, the Son of His love. Col 1:13
   
2. Christ is the Abode of God’s fullness. Col 1:15, 19,  2:3, 9
   
3. Christ is the Sovereign Creator of the universe. Col 1:16-17
   
4. Christ is from all eternity and has all pre-eminence. Col 1:17
   
5. Christ is the Reconciler of the universe through His Cross. Col 1:20-22, 2:14
   
6. He is the Head of all principalities and powers. Col 2:10, 15
   
7. He is the Head of the body, the Church. Col 1:18, 24,  2:19, 3:4
   
8. He is all in all. Col 3:1

The Church’s position is united to Christ and is complete in Him, dead, buried, and risen with Him. Therefore, she is to put off the old and put on the new. Col 1:27, 2:10, 3:1-10

What Timothy Faced We Are Facing Going into the 21st Century

Timothy, young and sensitive, is exhorted to endure hardness and fight the good fight of faith and to be an example to the believers.

1. A pure Gospel – Paul emphasized the need of sound Doctrine. The false teachers of the first century, which Timothy was exhorted to arrest, bear a close resemblance to that of the 21^st century.
   
2. A pure worship – Teaching with regard to prayer, etc.
   
3. A faithful ministry – The supreme duty of the devotion to the Lord’s service with an unqualified promise. 1 Tim 4:16
   
4. The importance and authority of the Scriptures – 1 Tim 6:3, 2 Tim 3:15-17, 2 Tim 4:1-4
   

   

Christ in Timothy!

1. Christ our Saviour – 1 Tim 1:15, 2:3,  4:10
   
2. Christ our Mediator – 1 Tim 2:5
   
3. Christ our Ransom – 1 Tim 3:6
   
4. Christ our Teacher – 1 Tim 6:3
   
5. Christ our King – 1 Tim 6:15
   
6. Christ our Captain – 2 Tim 2:3
   

   

The Epistle of Joy

The Word “joy” or “rejoice” occurs 16 times in the book of Philippians. And throughout it is rejoicing in tribulation.

Thus, Paul had rejoiced in prison at Philippi, when at midnight with bleeding backs, he and Silas sang praises.
Thus, he rejoiced now chained to a roman soldier, for his very bonds furthered the spread of the Gospel.
Thus, he exhorted his beloved Philippian converts to rejoice because they were allowed to suffer for Christ. Phil 1:29

He rejoiced in his converts – his joy and crown. Phil 4:1
In their growth. Phil 1:3-6
Again in their ministering to his needs even in Rome. Phil 4:10-19

Above all, he rejoiced in Christ. Phil 4:4

Ephesians and the Emphasis on Heaven and Heavenly Places!!

1. The heavenly places of blessing – Eph 1:3
   Notice the words “all” and “in Christ, the inheritance of the church,” Eph 1:11. “The Church, the inheritance of Christ.” Eph 1:18
   
2. The heavenly place of power. Eph 1:19-20
   The same power of God which raised Christ from the dead is to work in the believer.
   
3. The heavenly place of rest. Eph 2:6
   In Christ we enter our heavenly Canaan here below.
   
4. The heavenly place of manifestation. Eph 3:10
   The Church is to manifest Christ, His riches, His wisdom, His love, unity, and fullness.
   
5. The heavenly place of victory. Eph 6:12
   The wiles of the devil, Eph 6:11. The enmity of the prince of the power of the air. Eph 2:2, is as we might expect manifested in this epistle and is provided for us in Christian armour.
   

   

The Power of Christ’s Cross!!!

1. The power of Christ’s Cross to deliver from sin – Gal 1:4, 2:21, 3:22
   
2. The power of Christ’s Cross to deliver from the curse of the law – Gal 3:13
   
3. The power of Christ’s Cross from the self-life – Gal 2:20, 5:24
   
4. The power of Christ’s Cross to deliver from the world – Gal 6:14
   
5. The power of Christ’s Cross in the new birth – Gal 4:4-7
   
6. The power of Christ’s Cross in receiving the Spirit – Gal 3:14
   
7. The power of Christ’s Cross in bringing forth the Spirit’s fruit – Gal 5:22-23
   

   

The Fellowship Which is Full of Joy in 1 John Rests on Salvation Through the Atoning Work of the Lord Jesus Christ

1 John 1:7, 9; 2:1, 2, 12; 3:5, 16; 4:9, 10, 14; 5:11-13

It is received by faith – 1 John 3:23, 5:1, 13. And this faith results in:

    the new birth – 1 John 2:29, 3:1, 2, 9, 4:7, 5:1

    forgiveness of sins – 1 John 1:7, 9, 11, 12

    deliverance from the power of sin – 1 John 1:6; 2:1, 6; 3:3, 5, 6, 9; 5:18

    deliverance from the love of the world – 1 John 3:15, 5:4, 5

    victory over the devil – 1 John 2:13, 14, 3:8, 4:4

    keeping His commandments – 1 John 2:3-8, 5:2-3

    love of the brethren – 1 John 2:9-11; 3:10-19, 23; 4:7, 8, 11, 12, 20, 21

    the fullness of the Holy Spirit – 1 John 2:20, 27; 3:24; 4:2, 13; 5:6

    Divine enlightenment and knowledge  by which we may know Truth from error. 1 John 2:20, 21, 27; 4:1-3, 6; 5:20

    answering prayer – 1 John 3:21-22, 5:14-16

The Key Word in the Book of John is “Believe” – PISTEUO

John wrote his Gospel, “In order that men might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing, they might have life through His Name,” John 20:31

But he wrote his epistle, First John, to believers in order that those “who believed in Christ might know they have eternal life,” verses 9-13

Consequently we have the word “believe” running through and characterizing his Gospel. And in 1 John, we have the word “know” – OIDA – running through this epistle

John gives the evidence of his own knowledge that he has heard and seen and handled the word of life, Jesus Christ.

He seeks to bring his hearers into intimate knowledge and “fellowship” with the Father and with the Son, that their joy may be full. 1 John 1:3-4, 7, 2:13-14

Loyalty!

“Is thine heart right? said Jehu to Jehonadab, the son of Rechab.”
”Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart?” Jehonadab answered “It is.” “If it be, give me thine hand. And he gave him his hand and he took him up with him into his chariot.”

Our King sees us toiling along life’s journey and He put to us this question, ”Is thy heart right towards Me?” “Lovest thou Me more than these?” If we can reply “It is.” “Thou knowest Lord that I love thee.” Our King, as it were, stretches out His hand and draws us up and seats us with Himself in heavenly places and makes us ride in the chariot of His power.

”The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole Earth, to show himself strong on the behalf of those whose heart is perfect to toward Him.”

Sunday, October 22, 2000

The Bridegroom and the Bride!

S.O.S. 2:16, “My beloved is mine and I am his.”
Here the chief thought is that of her possession. He is mine for he has given himself for me.
”Husbands love you wife as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for it,” Eph 5:25
Second thought – ”I am his” – for he has given himself for me.

S.O.S 6:3, ”I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.”
Here the thought of his ownership of her holds the chief place.

S.O.S. 6:10, ”I am my beloved’s and his desire is toward me.”
Here his ownership swallows up every other thought.

In these three verses we have the double thought which is given us in the first chapter of the epistle to the Ephesians, Christ the inheritance of the Church.

Verse 11, “In Whom also we have obtained an inheritance.”

Verse 18, “The riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.”

Saturday, October 21, 2000

Eph 5:1, “Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children.”

The word ”followers” is ”imitators” and the word ”dear children” is “beloved.”

1. As members of the family of God, we should bear the family resemblance. Gal 3:26, 1 John 1:1
   
2. Jesus Christ as God is the manifested Person of the Trinity, John 1:18, 6:46, 1 Tim 6:16, 1 John 4:12. Jesus Christ as humanity set the pattern for the filling of the Holy Spirit, in His humanity Jesus Christ was the most perfectly adjusted Person. Luke 2:40, 52.
   
3. Believers are commanded to become imitators of the manifest Person of the Godhead, Jesus Christ. Eph 5:1, Gal 4:19
   
4. The Greek word translated “followers” is actually “imitators.”
   
5. This command can only be executed by the filling of the Holy Spirit. Gal 3:16-17, Phil 1:20-21
   
6. This is compatible with the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Church Age. John 7:39, 16:14, 1 Cor 6:19-20
   
7. The filling of the Holy Spirit produces the character of Jesus Christ. Gal 5:22-23, 2 Cor 3:3
   
8. This fulfills the command of Eph 5:1 “imitators.”
   

Imputation!

1. Definition: the act of God whereby He credits perfect righteousness to the believer in Christ.
   
2. 2 Cor 3-4. Shows that every believer is a minister, or has the responsibility of witnessing for the Lord Jesus Christ.
   
3. 2 Cor 5:21 – is a summary of salvation. “God the Father made God the Son to be sin on our behalf, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” On the Cross, Jesus Christ died spiritually, for us,  before He died physically.
   
4. In salvation, our sins are blotted out and we have eternal life, and credited to our account is perfect righteousness.

That is what happened to Abraham.
Gen 15:6, “Abraham believed in God and He counted unto Him for righteousness.”

The History of Civilization as Related to the Word of God

1. The Divine interpretation of history is set forth in the Word of God. The Bible gives the mind of Christ in regard to the ups and downs of civilizations.
   
2. According to the Bible, when there is a saturation of the Word of God in any one generation or period of history, there is prosperity and blessing from God.
   Examples:
   The period from 516 B.C. – 420 B.C. 
   The period from 400 B.C. to 323 B.C. 
   Also the time of the great Antonine Caesars  96.A.D. to 180 A.D. 
   Great Britain became great because of her adherence to the Word of God. When the Word of God was forsaken, down went the nation. Likewise, the United States of America.
   
3. History proves that God established four Divine Institutions for both believers and unbelievers for modus operandi in the devil’s world. The Divine Institutions are free will, marriage, family, and the national entity. Found in Genesis chapter 2 to 11.
   
4. God in history operates through different administrations, or dispensations. Eph 3:1-10
   A. Gentiles – Gen 1-11
   B. Jews – Gen 12 to the Gospels
   C. Church – epistles and Acts
   D. Kingdom – Millennium, Rev 20, Isa 65
   
5. History proves we learn nothing from history.
   A. Nations forget their adherence to the Word of God, which is the answer to stability.
   B. Nations forget that a strong military is the answer to stability from animal-like aggression.
   
6. Much history can be gleaned from an intense study of the battles and battle fields of bygone decades and centuries.
   

The Revelation of the Essence of Jesus Christ

1. Sovereignty – Eph 3:11 with John 5:20. The fact that He was revealed shows sovereignty.
   
2. Righteousness – Rom 3:24-25. Declared His righteousness.
   
3. Justice – Luke 23:39-43. The thieves on the Cross. He is just to forgive and just to condemn.
   
4. Love – John 15:13. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
   
5. Eternal life – John 8:58. “Before Abraham was, I am.”
   
6. Omniscience – Matt 26:34. He knew that Peter would deny Him.
   
7. Omnipresence – John 3:13. He was in Heaven and talking to Nicodemus.
   
8. Omnipotence – Matt 8:27. “Even the winds and the sea obeyed Him.”
   
9. Immutability – Heb 13:8. “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
   
10. Veracity – John 14:6. “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one cometh unto the Father but by Me.”
    

Friday, October 20, 2000

Eph 4:17, “This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind.”

1. Thinking as an unbeliever is human viewpoint.
   
2. It starts in the mind. The believer thinks as an unbeliever and the thought pattern of the carnal believer produces the behavior pattern of the unbeliever.
   
3. Christianity emphasizes what is on the inside, what motivates the believer. Prov 23:7
   
4. The walk of the unbeliever is vanity and emptiness of Divine Viewpoint.
   
5. The believer thinks as an unbeliever because he is minus the Word of God.
   

Ignorance of the Word of God

Eph 4:18, “Having the understanding darkened. Being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their mind.”

1. The ignorant believer keeps on being ignorant of the supernatural Christian way of life. Believers do not live the Christian way of life because they are minus the Word of God, which include the promises and the techniques and dispensations.
   
2. The believer receives (passive voice) darkness by catering to human viewpoint.
   
3. Principle: When you do not know the Word of God, you are alienated from God’s life even though you are born again and have eternal life. You fail to live the Christian way of life.
   
4. Believers minus the Word of God operate on tradition, emotions, and rationalism.

”My thoughts are not your thoughts, said the Lord. My thoughts are higher than your thoughts.”

Moral Apathy or Making a Vocation of Lasciviousness – Uncontrolled Lust

 Eph 4:19, “Who being past feeling, have given themselves over unto lasciviousness to work all uncleanness with greediness.”

1. The carnal believer is calloused to the Word of God and betrays himself  to unbridled lust and lasciviousness and dotes on the details of life. Power, prominence. Callousness takes place and then vocation, lasciviousness.
   
2. When the believer is minus the Word of God and looks at life from the human viewpoint. He is in status quo moral apathy. He has no concern for others and an example is not helping our country when it is fighting for its freedom.
   
3. “Past feeling,” verse 19, is an idiom for callousness or insensibility to moral issues. And as a result, they have given themselves over to lasciviousness. Resulting in:
   1. Darkness
   2. Alienation
   3. Callousness

Same pattern as in Rom 1:1-31.

Eph 4:20, 21 – Ignoring Bible Teaching

1. The believer does not learn this negative attitude from our Lord.
   
2. The order of learning the Word of God, hearing, and teaching, verse 21
   
3. Negative volition to the Word of God leads to negative volition to Bible teaching.
   
4. Why, having started with Divine Viewpoint (believer), accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour have you reverted to human viewpoint – the principle of believers  rejecting the Word of God. 1 Cor 2:16
   

Eph 4:22-24 – The Activity of the Old Sin Nature

1.  Negative command, verse 22
   ”That” ... A purpose clause indicating to stop. Stop grieving the Holy Spirit.
   
2. The old sin nature is in a constant state of corruption. And believers can only “put it off” by confession of sin, 1 John 1:9, and the result of the control of God the Holy Spirit. Gal 5:22-23
   
3. You put off the old sin nature as you would put off soiled clothes. The standard or criterion of your ways, are not to be those of the sin nature either in the area of human good or sin.
   

Eph 4:23  – A Positive Command

1. “Be renovated inwardly” – present tense, passive voice, imperative mood.
   ”In the breathing of your mind” – present tense, continually, passive voice is the voice of Grace and you receive the renovation, and the imperative mood is a command or an order  from God.
   
2. This refers to the inhale and exhale of the Word of God according to the principle of growing in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, 2 Pet 3:18.
   
3. Principle: The Christian way of life starts on the inside – “As a man thinketh in his mind so is he.”

”Guard your mind with all diligence for out of it come the issues of life.”