Divine Sugar Sticks for December 2000

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Friday, December 1, 2000

Four Categories of People in the Parable of the Sower

1. Category one. Luke 8 – unbeliever, hardened soil, i.e., Judas.
   
2. Category two. Luke 8 – believers, rocky soil, i.e., the rest of the disciples.
   
3. Category three. Luke 8 – believers, thorny ground, i.e., Simon the Pharisee represents the believer chocked with the details of life. Simon had invited Christ over for dinner because of the status symbol grid.
   
4. Category four. Luke 8 – believer, good soil, i.e., Mary Magdalene characterizes the believer who inhales and exhales the Word of God.

Application of the Parable of the Sower, Luke 8:16-18

1. Category one. Not represented, no light.
   
2. Category two. Light, but covers it with a vessel, verse 16. This represents believers who can’t take trials. They are emotional and have no manifested glory.
   
3. Category three. Light, but puts it under a bed, verse 16. This represents the believer who daily does not take in the Word of God. So, the soul breathing apparatus is choked, suffocated with the details of life, which results in calluses on the soul.
   
4. Category four. Light, but sets it on a lampstand, verse 16. This represents the believer who can take trials, is not choked with the details of life, and is inhaling and exhaling residual Doctrine. God is glorified because the believer is reflecting the glory of God, His light.
   He is Grace oriented.
   He has a relaxed mental attitude.
   He has inner happiness.
   He has a capacity for life and love.
   He has mastery over the details of life.
   

Isa 50:7 – “I Have Set My Face Like a Flint”

Expresses the positive volition in the humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ as He faces the Cross.

As Deity He can’t die. As humanity, it had to use His volition. The whole plan of God could have been ruined if the volition of the humanity of Jesus Christ had been negative.

1. “Flint” – Arrowhead
   Isa 49:2, “Polished shaft” that will go true to its mark. Polished, no blemish.
   
2. “I know” – key phrase. He knew from the Word that He had what it took to go through the six hours on the Cross.
   
3. “I shall not be ashamed” – I will carry through and accomplish the mission of bearing the sins of the world.
   His friends couldn’t help Him.
   God the Father and God the Holy Spirit couldn’t help Him.
   The Word of God sustained Him, Psa 138:2
   
4. Isa 50:8, “He is near” – God the Father is near to judge.
   ”That justifieth Me” – vindicated Him.
   A. He judged Him.
   B. He was satisfied with what the Son was doing on the Cross.
   The person of Jesus Christ satisfied the righteousness of God.
   The work of Jesus Christ satisfied the justice of God.

Now, the Father is free to love every member of the human race.

God is righteousness and justice and love. Righteous and justice is satisfied. Now comes love – John 3:16.

Love – AGAPE and PHILEO

AGAPE is Mental Attitude and PHILEO is Rapport

Rapport love is exhaled in three categories:

1. Category one. Rapport toward God. Exhale.
2. Category two. Rapport toward opposite sex. Exhale.
3. Category three. Rapport toward friends. Exhale.

AGAPE love is prior to rapport love. Why? Because rapport love is based on AGAPE love. As a man thinks. Rapport love cannot exist when there are mental attitude sins.

Both AGAPE and PHILEO are Divine love, if the believer is controlled by God the Holy Spirit.

The key to fueling rapport love is growing in Grace, which feeds on the Word of God and is the basis of rapport with God.

PHILEO is two people thinking the Word of God. You build your life around the Word of God. You talk about the Word of God. You love the Word of God. You even do your kidding around the Word of God. The Word of God is your life.

This rapport is built around the Word rather than compatibility of old sin natures. Behind this rapport love is thinking. You still have a relaxed mental attitude.

As one grows, his capacity for God and family and friends grows.

God’s Love to Mankind – Stage Two to the Believer in Christ

A. By providing a defense attorney when Satan accuses the believer.
B. By Divine discipline when out of fellowship.
C. By giving more Grace.
When you are out of fellowship, you have 1 John 1:9. More Grace, so that you can get back into fellowship and utilize all the assets of time that God has provided.
D. By enabling the believer to produce Divine love.
In fellowship is the place of mental attitude love produced by the filling of the Holy Spirit. You can love other believers when filled with the Spirit because:

1. They have eternal life like you do.
2. They are “in Christ,” just as you are.
3. God’s love for them never changes either.
4. So you stand upon this Doctrine and have a relaxed mental attitude minding your own business before the Lord.

Alternative of God’s love: John 3:36, “The wrath of God abideth upon you.”

God is just to forgive: love.
God is just to condemn: wrath.

Why We Should Love the Lord!

1. God is perfect. God is love. Therefore, His love is perfect Divine love.
   
2. The Cross was the greatest manifestation of His love that the world has ever seen, Rom 8:32
   
3. At the Cross, you connect with His love which is extended to all in salvation, John 3:16
   
4. God’s Divine love toward the unbeliever is a mental attitude love, John 3:16
   
5. God’s Divine love to the believer is in the area of mental attitude and in the area of rapport love – AGAPE and PHILEO.
   
6. Every believer is loved by God with exactly the same amount of love that He has for His own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
   
7. “Beloved,” when used for believers, refers to all kinds of believers – mature, immature, spiritual, and carnal. Eph 1:6, 1 John 3:1-2
   
8. Regardless of your status as a believer, God loves you with an infinite amount of love.
   
9. Love plus eternal life plus immutability means that God never changes His attitude toward you.
   
10. You can change your attitude about God, but He never changes His attitude toward you. God loves you knowing everything you think, do, and are.
    
11. It is your response to His love at salvation that begins the possibility of love to you as a believer. The filling of the Holy Spirit produces the fruit of the Holy Spirit, Divine love, AGAPE. This is spirituality. This is the start.
    
12. The Word of God in the human spirit produces the assurance of the love of God. This assurance grows as a frame of reference and reaches maturity and stability.
    

God’s Manifested Love to His Son – God’s Love to Mankind

God’s love to His Son – John 3:35, John 5:20
God’s love to mankind – Stage one – Salvation

1. In His plan. Eph 2:8-9, 3:11
2. In sending His Son, 1 John 4:9
3. By giving His Son, John 3:16, 1 John 4:10
4. By sparing not His Son, Rom 8:32
5. When mankind was dead in sin, Eph 2:4-5
6. While they were yet sinners, Rom 5:8-11, Christ died for them showing that Jesus Christ loved His enemies as well as His friends, John 15:13, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down His life.”
7. The Father’s reaction to the Son’s love for mankind.
   A. Matt 17:5, well pleased with His Son.
   B. Mark 9:7, Luke 9:35, Tell us “to hear Him.”
   C. 2 Pet 1:17, The Father gave Him honor and glory.
   

   

The Love of Man for God!

A. Pre-salvation: attractive love. Response to the Cross. Attracted to the Saviour, John 3:16, resulting in:
B. Point of salvation: positional love. Rom 8:28, when you make a one-time decision, a mental love.
C. Post-salvation love: knowing love.
1. Start: the filling of the Holy Spirit produces the fruit of the Spirit. AGAPE love, Gal 5:22
2. Continuance: growing to maturity, developing a capacity for love of the Lord and others.

Two problems when it comes to loving God. The Christian way of life:
Am I filled with the Spirit, in fellowship? Eph 5:18, 1 John 1:9
Am I functioning under the principle of growing in Grace? 1 Pet 3:18

No member of the human race can come to know God until he comes to the Cross.

The unbeliever does not have the equipment to love God. He must have a Holy Spirit and a human spirit.

God is the initiator and the believer is the responder. Consequently, the believer fulfilling the principle of having a human and holy Spirit is reflecting the love of the Father.

If growing in Grace is functioning, you will be relaxed about the Lord, your wife, and people. The great enemy to proper love response to God is false Doctrine – emotionalism, legalism, and religion. Both legalism and emotionalism disorient the believer to the Grace of God and distort love to God.

Three Hebrew Words Translated “Make” or “Create”

1. BARAH – To create something out of nothing.
2. AHSAH – To create something out of existing material.
3. YATZAR – To fashion or to mold.

Work of the Trinity

Work of the Lord Jesus Christ’s original creation:
Eph 3:9, “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.”

1. Universe, Gen 1:1. Created is “BARAH.” The universe originally was created out of nothing.
   

2. Man.
   A. Inner, invisible part of man, Gen 1:27. Created is “BARAH,” something created out of nothing.
   B. Structure of the body. Organic part. Created out of existing material, chemicals, Gen 2:7, “Formed” is “YATZAR” which means “shaped,” “molded out of existing material.”

Work of the Holy Spirit

Reconstruction of the Earth – “AHSAH”, which is made out of existing material.

1. Gen 1:2b, “The Spirit moved upon the face of the waters.”

2. Psa 104:30, “Thou, God the Father, sendeth forth Thy Spirit,” Holy Spirit. They, men, are created and because thy Holy Spirit renewest the face of the Earth.”

Summary

A. Man. Isa 43:7
1.”I have created Him for My glory” – BARAH
2. “I have formed Him” – YATZAR
3. “I have made Him” – AHSAH

B. The universe. Isa 45:18
1. ”The Lord that created the heavens,” BARAH
2. “God Himself that formed the Earth,” YATZAR
3. “And made it,” AHSAH.

What is Man? There are Three Types of Men

1. Immoral man.
2. Moral, self righteousness.
3. Religious, self righteous.

All categories of the human race are guilty before God. Rom 3:23, “All have sinned,” when Adam sinned, imputed sin, “and come short of the glory of God,” God’s essence.

The unbeliever cannot develop to the point where he reflects the glory of God. All are behind a barrier, essentially spiritually dead. All are condemned under the concept of absolute of good and evil. John 5:28-29

A. “Does good,” literally, done the good. Accepting Christ as personal Saviour.
B. “Done evil,” literally, does the evil, i.e., rejecting Christ as personal Saviour.

The immoral man is a sinner overtly. His sins are obvious. The immoral man is described in Rom 1:21-39.

The moral, self righteous man is described in Rom 2:1-16.

The religious, self righteous man is described in Rom 2:17-29.

God is absolute perfect righteousness, Psa 145:17.
Man is minus righteousness, Isa 64:6.
Righteousness is an absolute and God demands absolute righteousness.

Provision for acceptability in God’s sight was made by Jesus Christ at the Cross, where God’s righteousness and justice were satisfied.

Therefore, God’s absolute righteousness is imputed to man at the point of salvation, 2 Cor 5:21.

Saturday, December 2, 2000

The Religious Man of Romans 2:17-29

1. The religious man has the self-righteousness of the moral man and in addition, he observes certain rituals of religion.
   
2. The religious man regards himself as being superior to all others because he has done more in order to sustain a relationship with God. This is an illusion.
   
3. The purpose of the Mosaic Law is to show man that he is a sinner and the need of a Saviour. Keeping the law never saves.
   
4. The religious man says he is saved by keeping the Mosaic Law and yet he cannot keep it.
   
5. They were condemned by their own teaching. The religious man broke the law, Rom 2:21-23.
   
6. The religious man is guilty of teaching others a way of salvation which he himself cannot execute.
   
7. Religion is inconsistent. Rom 2:18-23
   
8. A religious man observes rituals but without reality.
   
9. Principle: Ritual without reality is meaningless.
   
10. Reality can be counted for ritual, but the ritual cannot be counted for the reality.
    
    Example: Ritual – water baptism
    Reality – baptism of the Spirit
    
11. Jesus Christ condemned religion. He called the scribes and Pharisees whitewashed tombstones. Matt 23:27
    
12. Every self-righteous person has an area of hypocrisy. He puts a facade over something whitewashing it. Christ called the religious people hypocrites – hiding under a mask.

Religion kills. The worst person in the world was a religious person.

Christmas is Cancelled in Bethlehem!

Peace on Earth and good will to all men?????????

”Wars and rumors of wars till I come!!”

”I didn’t come to send peace, but a sword ... neighbor against neighbor.”

Mediator

Adam and Eve were innocent, living in perfect environment, in fellowship with the Lord. Gen 1:28-2:25. Jesus Christ was walking and talking with them in the Garden. Sin, negative volition, separated them from the Lord. Gen 3:7, 8, 19. They lost fellowship with the Lord and died spiritually. They did not need to hide.

Isa 59:2, “Your iniquities have separated between you and your God and your sins have hid His face from you.”

First Act of Legalism

Sewed fig leaves together – Gen 3:7. Man tried to help himself.

First Act of Grace

Gen 3:8 – the Lord came to them

Adam and Eve were created in the image of God, Gen 1:26, Gen 5:1. His children were in His own likeness after His image, Gen 5:3

The human race is “in Adam,” 1 Cor 15:22. Imputed sin, spiritually dead, and with an old sin nature, inherent sin from which comes all personal sin. This puts the human race behind a barrier, Rom 3:23.

Man could come to God if someone would stand in the middle – A Mediator, a man in the middle. Man is completely hopeless to help himself. John 1:12, “But as many as received Him, to them gave He the power, the authority, to become the sons of God.”

A decision in the past to send a Mediator, 1 Pet 1:20. Gen 3:15 is the first promise of salvation. ”There is one Mediator between man and God, the man Christ Jesus.”

Sunday, December 3, 2000

The Secret to the Impact of Christianity is Thinking Divine Viewpoint

1. The only source of Divine Viewpoint is found in the Word of God.
   

2. 1 Cor 2:16 tells us that the Bible is “the mind of Christ.”
   

3. Therefore, I must know the Word of God to know the mind of Christ.
   

4. And then to apply it to realize His will.
   

5. Christianity is not a religion. And religion does not agree here.
   

6. The Bible is a critic of the thoughts and intents of the mind.
   

7. Heb 4:12, “The Word of God is alive and powerful.”
   

8. Our thinking must align with Christ’s thinking. We can’t have peace without it.
   

9. Four representative areas of mental attitude:
   
   A. Worldliness, Rom 12:2
   Worldliness is not what you do, it is what you think.The only answer to mental attitude worldliness is replacing human viewpoint with Divine Viewpoint. This is done through growing in Grace.
   One can have a beautiful outward life, the Pharisees did, and yet be completely shot through with human viewpoint. Col 3:12, “Set your affections on things above, not on things of the Earth.”
   
   B. Peace. Isa 26:3, Phil 4:6-8
   1. Peace is an inner mental attitude.
   2. Peace is not laying down arms and inviting some other foreign power to walk all over you.
   3. This relaxed mental attitude enables one to really enjoy the Christian walk regardless of outward people or circumstances.
   4. What do you do under pressure? When you get upset, think Divine Viewpoint and apply it. Relax. Be calm. Enjoy the battle.
   
   C. Giving – this is always backed up by a basis mental attitude. If you are not in fellowship as a believer, then your mental attitude is not right.
   Don’t give until you use 1 John 1:9 and don’t give because someone pressures you. The right mental attitude will express the fruit of joy. In giving it is the mental attitude that counts.
   
   D. Stability. This is a mental attitude resulting from a frame of reference by growing in Grace.
   Example: David and Goliath. David in his mental attitude thought Divine Viewpoint. He knew that “the battle was the Lord’s,” 1 Sam 17:27. He had that relaxed mental attitude that comes from knowing the mind of Christ.

”As a man thinketh in his mind, so is he.”
”Guard your mind with all diligence, for out of the mind are the issues of life.”
”With the mind man believeth unto salvation.”
”My thoughts are not your thoughts, saith the Lord.”

”What think ye of Christ?”

Four Characteristics of One Mind

1 Pet 3:8, “Finally be ye all of one mind. Having compassion one of another. Love as brethren. Be pitiful. Be courteous.”

1. Characteristic one.
   ”Having compassion” – sympathizes. The Greek word SUMPATHES is literally, “suffering with,” from which we get our English word “sympathy.”
   Believer number one thinking Divine Viewpoint from his frame of reference in a pressure point. Believer number two is under pressure but short circuits. Believer number one communicates the Word to believer number two by which he is helped in orienting to suffering. This connects with “one mind” because you are thinking for them, because at this point they are unable to think.
   
2. Characteristic two.
   “Love as brethren” – PHILADELPHOS. The Greek word PHILEO means rapport love. ADELPHOS is brother.
   This rapport love is a part of maturity, growth, and edification, which is based on knowledge of the Word of God in all facets of the soul – not just the mental attitude. In its application there is compatibility between two believers.
   
3. Characteristic three.
   “Pitiful” – EUSPLAGTHNOS. The Greek word EU is “good.” SPLAGTHNOS means “guts,” i.e., emotions, appreciators.
   A. Success – Mind thinking over emotions.
   B. Failure – Emotions over the mind, not thinking.
   
4. Characteristic four.
   “Courteous” – mental attitude grace. Grace thinking leads to Grace action. A believer who has good manners, which comes from thinking humility of mind, free from pride, gracious, orientation to Grace. We are to treat people in Grace.

In all four characteristics, the believer who has one mind thinks Doctrine. This one mind is the stabilizing factor.

Monday, December 4, 2000

Commands for Victory of the Mental Attitude

A New Mental Attitude is Commanded

Col 3:1-2, 2 Cor 10:4-5, 1 Cor 2:16

The swaying between two viewpoints must be fought from within. Through:
A. Knowledge of the Word of God
B. Application of the Word of God to experience
C. Maintaining fellowship, 1 John 1:9

We are commanded to “let this mind be in us which was also in Christ Jesus,” Phil 2:5. We are to have Divine Viewpoint, the Word of God, in our mind.

In order to know the mind of Christ, 1 Cor 2:16, we must be students of the Word of God. Looking at life from the Divine Viewpoint will give the believer victory, peace, power, and stability. Weapons of our warfare are given in Eph 6:10 and following.

1 Pet 1:13, gird up the loins of your mind.

1 Pet 4:1, be armed with the same mind as the Lord Jesus Christ.

Heb 12:3, lest ye be weary and faint in your mind.

Eph 4:32, mental attitude forgiveness.

Phil 2:3-4, mental attitude consideration of others.

”As a man thinketh in his mind, so is he.”

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

Grace – The Mental Attitude of Forgiveness

God treats the believer in Grace in salvation, spirituality, and resurrection. Grace means we do not earn or deserve this treatment. God treats us in Grace because of His character, because of who and what He is, not what we are.

The most important mental attitude of one believer toward another is that of Grace, Matt 18:23-28. Grace thinking leads to Grace action. When someone wrongs you, you should forgive as Christ forgave, Col 3:13, Luke 23:34.

A. Put it in the Lord’s hands, Psa 55:22, 1 Pet 5:7
B. No retaliation, Rom 12:9
C. Forgive as Christ forgave, Col 3:13
D. Forget it, Phil 3:13

When another believer hates you, you keep on thinking Doctrine. They have the same position in Christ as you have. They are subject to the same Divine discipline that you are and God can do His own disciplining. He does not need our help. If you interfere, you are subject to triple-compound Divine discipline, Matt 7:1-3.

We treat people in Grace because of who and what we are. We are what we think, Prov 23:7 and we are thinking Grace. You don’t treat them on the basis of their actions, but you treat them on the basis of what you think, not on the basis of what they think. You are in control of the situation when you think Grace, Divine Viewpoint. But you are out of control when you get down on the mental attitude sin level, their level.

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

December 7, 1941 – Remember Pearl Harbor!

God prepares believers for basic training. 2 Sam 22:35, Psa 18:34, 144:1

Psalm 18:14, “He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.” Psa 144:1, “Blessed be the Lord God, my strength, which teacheth my hands to war and my fingers to fight.”

Note here how the Lord enters into these verses. “A bow of steel” is speaking of decisive defeat and annihilation of the enemy. These two verses are dedicated to the conscientious objectors who enjoy the freedom of a land where men have died to keep it free.

Believers are protected in war by God, Job 5:20. ”In famine,” economic depression, “He shall redeem thee from death. And in war from the power of the sword.” Of course, if it is God’s will for a believer to depart in battle, it is a privilege. But if the believer is to live through the darkest hours of battle, he will.

Remember Pearl Harbor!

Peace propaganda is used as a weapon of warfare, Micah 3:5-7.
Micah 3:5, “False prophets” – these would be like the liberal unsaved clergymen of today.
“People err” – makes them wander, no leadership, literally.
“Bite with their teeth and cry” – means to be childish or unrealistic, lack of common sense, which tells us that they are monsters trying to destroy us.
”Peace” – they are crying peace and the Communists cry peace. But they prepare unjust warfare at the same time. Pearl Harbor.

Micah 3:6, “Therefore, night shall be unto you” – when a nation listens to a bunch of liberal theologians, they are blinded to the Gospel, 2 Cor 4:3-4, and they are blinded as to the danger of war. Liberalism always means non-preparedness. Blinded by peace propaganda, the blind leading the blind.

Micah 3:7, “All cover their lips, for there is no answer of God.” These blind leaders will reach the end of themselves. They have no answer. Nothing at all! One of the greatest invitations to the Communists are the peace platitudes coming from many of the pulpits of America. These pulpits advocate disarmament, world peace movement, visualize world peace. This peace movement is apart from the Word of God and all the time the Communists are planning to destroy us!

War is Used in Scripture as a National Discipline

Judges 5:8, 2 Chr 16:9, Isa 16:3-26, Jer 4:19-31

Judges 5:8 – three principles in one verse:
1. The Jews went apostate – “Choose new gods.”
2. For discipline, they found themselves in a war – “War in the gates”
3. They were caught unprepared, disarmament – “Was there a shield or spear seen?”

2 Chr 16:9 – The Lord is on continuous patrol. “Herein thou hast done foolishly, therefore, from henceforth thou shalt have wars.”

They didn’t take in the Word and apply it, therefore war is brought on for disciplinary purposes.

Isa 3:16-26. Notice in this passage what apostasy does to the women and notice what apostasy does to the men. This is national discipline.

Tuesday, December 5, 2000

Judgment of Satan at the End of the Millennium – Rev 20:10

“Devil” means “accuser.” Satan is a lawyer who pleads “not guilty” for himself and the fallen angels at the first fall of Satan. God sentenced Satan and the fallen angels, Matt 25:41. The sentence is carried out at the end of the Millennium. They are cast into the Lake of Fire, Rev 13.

First, the first beast, the dictator of the Revived Roman Empire. Second, the second beast, the dictator of the Holy Land during the Tribulation. Judgment of the fallen angels is apparently at this time and the sentence is the same, Matt 25:41. Judgment of unbelievers is at the Great White Throne judgment, Rev 20:11-15. They are judged according to their works.

Judgment of the universe, destruction, Rev 20:11, 2 Pet 3. Rev 20:11, “From whose face the Earth and Heaven fled away.” Destruction is prophesied in 2 Pet 3:10-12. Apparently everything goes into a gaseous form and will be used to enlarge the Lake of Fire, to accommodate all the fallen angels and unbelievers, Rev 21:1.

There are believers in physical bodies on the Earth during these judgments, and they will come through unscathed, which is the faithfulness of God. They will receive resurrection bodies before eternity is ushered in.

We Know That All Believers Are Saints and They Are All Priests, But …

Did You Know That All Believers Are Ministers?

The word “minister” is used three ways in Scripture:

1. Those who are in authority in a national entity, believer or unbeliever, for example. A judge, Rom 13:4, ministering a Divine Institution, nationalism.
   
2. Every believer is a minister, 2 Cor 3:6, 6:4
   
3. Pastor of a local church, Eph 3:7, 6:21, Col 1:23, 4:7

The context will determine which one is intended.

When it comes to pastors as ministers, several words are used:

The Second Advent of Satan

Satan is released, goes on parole, after 1,000 years of perfect environment is accomplished, after everyone has had a chance to be saved, and some have turned it down.

Comparison

The first advent of Satan was in the Garden, Gen 3. He found man in perfect environment and spoiled perfect environment.
The second advent of Satan is at the end of the Millennium, Rev 20:7. He finds man in perfect environment and spoils it.

While Satan always promises perfect environment as the solution to man’s problems, as do politicians, he always manages to destroy it with his system based on lies. Satan always promises more than he can perform, and so do politicians.

The devil promotes the idea that man by man’s own efforts can introduce a golden age. So do politicians. And the methods he uses:

Both the termination of 1,000 years and the release of Satan are under the control of the Lord. The purpose of God in letting Satan loose is to demonstrate at the end of time, as was demonstrated at the beginning of time, that the answer to man’s problem is regeneration and Satan cannot accomplish this.

There is no such thing as collective solutions to man’s problems apart from the personal solution to man’s problem, which is regeneration.

Thinking Divine Viewpoint

This is not a warmed-over version of the power of positive thinking. This is a Biblical technique for believers only. It has to do with fellowship based on meditation. It is “looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of faith,” Heb 12:2.

Occupation with Christ is for believers only. A believer is what he thinks. And this opens up the whole realm of the mental attitude. Prov 23:7, “As a man thinketh in his mind so is he.”

A believer’s physical beauty, success, depends on what he thinks. Often you equate a tough person with a profane vocabulary or someone with a strong physical stature. But toughness is mental attitude. You are not beaten till you give up mentally. This was brought out in Korea where some had “give-up-itis.” They had no desire to live, and if they were left alone for a day or two, they were dead.

There are two ways of thinking. Divine Viewpoint and human viewpoint. Isa 55:7-9 says. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways, saith the Lord.” The believer today needs mental attitude Divine Viewpoint. The believer can’t get it without Bible study. Bible study today is rare. The Christian public has stopped studying. It is interesting to note that where the Bible is taught, the believers learn to concentrate, to think, and to be stabilized.

A new believer has mustard seed faith and mustard seed Divine Viewpoint. Maturity is when a believer replaces human viewpoint with Divine Viewpoint and in this way the mind is renewed, Rom 12:2.

Wednesday, December 6, 2000

“The Self-Same Spirit”

We have the Holy Spirit described for us in His unity and sovereignty as the Administrator in the body of Christ. We read, “He divides His gifts to every man severally as He will.”

But, while there is a diversity of gift and administration, He is referred to seven times over as “the same Spirit,” 1 Cor 12:4-11.

The deliberate will here described to God the Holy Spirit implies His personality as the act of giving expresses His Divinity. His will is never self-will, nor is His independence selfishness, as so often in the case with us. He is absolutely disinterested in His actions, and unbiased in His determinations. His claims and His calls are never for His own aggrandizement. They are always for our blessing and benefit.

Night before Christmas, and all through the world,
A message was heard and a challenge was hurled.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved,
The sacrifice on the Cross is the way in which Heaven is paved.

Israel and the Promised Land

In Ezek 11:16-17 there are three things to notice in this passage:

1. First, the fact of the dispersion of the nation of Israel. They are a people without a land, scattered abroad like feathers of a pillow that has been torn apart and blown here and there by a mighty wind.
   
2. Secondly, the promise of the Lord “to be a little sanctuary” to the people of His choice, assuring them of His love, care, and protection in spite of all their distress and disloyalty.
   
3. Thirdly, He pledges Himself to recover His people and gather them back to their own land, even as the mother bird gathers her brood under her protecting wing.

Notice how emphatic the Lord is: “I will gather.” “I will be.” “I will give you the land of Israel.” And the authority – “Thus saith the Lord God.”

In View of the Mid-East Crisis – Look at This Promise

Ezek 20:34, 40, 41. The Lord says, “I will bring you out from the peoples (nations), and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm.”

”For in My holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord God, there shall be all the house of Israel, all them in the land, serve Me.”

”There will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.”

Is there anything clearer?

The Fat is the Lord’s!

The fat and the inwards were specially the Lord’s portion. Lev 3:3, 4.

These are typical of Christ’s inward excellence. In speaking of the “fat,” the word “fat” denotes the excess of excellence. “Who filleth thee with the fat of the wheat?” Psa 147:14. “All the best fat of the wine,” Num 18:12.

Where there is vigor in the powers of the inward being and where that inward vigor is found meet for the altar, there must indeed be perfectness. But where was such perfectness found? Only in Him who gave Himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.

No room at the inn, He died for my sin.

The Gospel of “Unto” is Emphasized in the New Testament Over and Over

”Unto the Lord” is found also in Lev 2:2, 8, 9, 12, 14, 16.

There Are Three Kinds of Offerings

The first was expressive of the gratitude for blessings received, Psa 116:16-17

The second was in fulfillment of promise, Psa 66:13, 15, Psa 116:14,18

The free-will offering generally offered in asking special favor of God, Jud 20:26, 2 Sam 24:25

All this is typical of Christ, who freely gave Himself, John 10:15
Who answered for all our broken vows, Psa 69:4
And Whose sacrifice was gladly rendered on our account, Psa 40:6-8.

Hebrew Honey

The Hebrew word “SHELEM,” meaning sacrifice, is confined to the peace offering. Or, the peace offering should be called, “peace sacrifice.”

In Psa 40:6, where all the four offerings of the first four chapters of Leviticus are enumerated, as side by side as being fulfilled in Christ Himself, the word “sacrifice” stands for “peace sacrifice.” The word “peace” is in the plural number, which is peace of every kind, perfect peace, peace, peace.

Peace that will answer every doubt or uncertainty.

Thursday, December 7, 2000

Melvin Cannon Went Into the Presence of the Lord Wednesday Afternoon

The Lord stood up and pinned on Melvin the medal of honor with the inscription, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

”This isn’t darkness, it’s light.
It’s not groping, it’s sight.
It is not even pleading for my last pain to be wiped away,
It’s sunrise, it’s morning, of my eternal day.”

”How did I ever bear this earthlife before I came up higher?
Before I knew my very own soul’s desire?
Of seeing face to face
The One who loved me
The One who sought me
The One who saved me
By His Grace.”

”Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.”

As begotten children of God, we become His heirs and joint-heirs with His Son, Jesus Christ, Rom 8:17 and thus come into an inheritance.

This inheritance is incorruptible because it belongs to the future life, which the risen saints share with God Himself. It is undefiled as our Great High Priest is undefiled, Heb 7:26. The same word it is “non failing,” “not able to whither away,” as a flower would.

The word “reserved” is from TEREO, which means “to watch, to observe, to guard, to protect, to reserve, set aside.” Heaven is the safe deposit box where the Lord is guarding our inheritance for us under constant surveillance.

The participle is in the perfect tense, speaking of a past completed action having present results. We should translate it, “has been laid up and is now kept guarded in safe deposit,” 1 Pet 1:4.

1 Peter 1:5

“Kept” is from PHROUOMENOUS, a present participle implying action constantly going on. It is a military term meaning to guard or protect. Illustrations of its use as “belonging to the guard at SOENOPAEI NESUS at KERKEOSIRIS, which is unguarded and not situated upon the great river.”

While our inheritance is being kept guarded in Heaven under the watchful eye of the Lord, we are being garrisoned about by God’s protecting care for it. This guard is never changed or relieved. No relieving of the guard here. It is on duty 24 hours a day, year in and year out until we arrive safely in Heaven.

This protection is God’s response to our faith, which we have exercised in the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour and which now rests in Him as our Preserver. Our faith lays hold of this power and this power strengthens our faith and thus we are preserved, not pickled.

The salvation spoken of here is the glorification of our bodies. We receive our justification the moment we believe. We are receiving our sanctification, namely victory over sin and growth in the Christian way of life now. We will yet receive that part of salvation which awaits us in glory.

Friday, December 8, 2000

The Pope announced since it has been stated that the Catholic Church is the only way to heaven, any one can go to Heaven “as long as they are good.” But, since there are “none good” (Mark 10:18), then none go to Heaven!

The Pope is like Santa Claus – you have to be good.

But naughty or nice, Christ paid the price!

1 Pet 1:6 – “Wherein”

The word “wherein” is most naturally render by the English readers to the word ”salvation” in verse 5. And it is true that we rejoice in our salvation. But, here the Greek text helps us to the correct interpretation. For the word goes back to “time” since the Greek word “salvation” is feminine in gender, and the word “time” is neuter referring back to the neuter antecedent.

Here we have the value of the Greek. The rules of Greek grammar are just as clear and definite as those of mathematics. It is as simple a matter as putting a round peg in a round hole and square peg in a square hole.

The saints are to rejoice in the last time. That is when they receive their glorified bodies in the Rapture.

”Rejoice” is from a Greek word that means extreme joy expressing itself externally in the exuberant triumph of joy.

Whom Having Not Had a Glimpse, Yet We Believe

We read Thy Word, O Lord, each passing day and in the sacred pages find glad employ, but this we pray, save from the killing letter. Teach my heart, set free from human forms, the holy art of reading Thee in every line, in precept, in prophesy, and sign, till all my vision filled with Thee, Thy likeness shall reflect in me.

Not knowledge, but Thyself my joy, for this we pray.

It is as we free ourselves from the conception of an artist may have of what he thinks the Lord Jesus Christ looked like in His life on Earth and depend upon God the Holy Spirit through the Word to reveal to us the likeness of our Lord Jesus Christ that we might come to some true conception of Him in His glorified state.

We will recognize Him in the glory over there. Not by what human artists have conceived Him to be, but by the Holy Spirit’s portrait of Him.

Whom Having Not Seen Yet Ye Love

These saints loved the Lord Jesus Christ even though they had not a glimpse of Him with their physical sense of sight. But one cannot love another unless one has some clear cut conception of that person. One must know the person in order to love him. It was the clear cut conception of the Lord Jesus Christ which God the Holy Spirit had given these saints through the Word of God that caused them to love Him.

The distinctive Greek word for “love” here, AGAPE, refers to a love that is called out of one’s soul by the preciousness of the One loved, but even the preciousness of the Lord would not have made these individuals love Him, if God in salvation had not produced in them the love which He is, with which to love Him. Rom 5:5, Gal 5:22-23.

One must have the nature of an artist to really appreciate and love art. One must have the nature of God, 2 Pet 1:4, to appreciate and love the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is this ideal combination of the study of the Word of God and a definite subjection to the Holy Spirit that results in the clear, vivid, portrait of the Lord Jesus Christ in the spiritual vision of the saint.

To know Him is to love Him.

The Greek Word for Women in Scripture is GUNE – Feminine Gender

The Greek word for soul is PSUCHE – feminine gender
The Greek word for salvation is SOTER – feminine gender.

All three are designed to respond. The woman is designed to respond to her man. The soul is designed to respond to her Lord.

Women are never told to love their husbands in Scripture, because they are responders and respond to received love. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for it.

As the bride of Christ, we respond to His love. As a soul, we respond to our Saviour. Salvation is something we receive, but never work for.

1 Pet 1:6-9, “Whom Having Not Seen … Whom Having Not Seen”

The secret of an intimate fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ

The secret of knowing Him in an intimate way is in the moment by moment control of the Holy Spirit over the life of the Christian believer.

Then here in context, Peter draws the same contrast between the present sorrow and future joy, of verse 6, in this verse where he contrasts our present seeing Him with the eye of faith and our future seeing Him face-to-face at the Rapture, at which time we will rejoice with an unspeakable and glorified joy. And at which time we will receive the consummation of our faith, namely the salvation of our souls. Delivered from the presence of sin in the glorification of our physical bodies.

1 Pet 1:7-8, “Whom Having Not Seen”

The Christians to whom Peter was writing were not the personal disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. But they were the converts of the disciples. They had not seen the Lord Jesus Christ on Earth during His incarnate residence here, either when in His humiliation or at the time of the post-resurrection ministry. The Greek says, “Of whom of not having had a glimpse.” Yet they loved Him.

They never saw the Lord Jesus Christ with the physical sense of sight, but what vivid portrait of Him did God the Holy Spirit paint for them on the canvas of their spiritual vision. And that is the perfectly proper order for this age of Grace.

The picture of the earthly Lord in His mortal body seen by human eyes is supplanted now by the picture of the glorified Man in glory painted by the Holy Spirit for the spiritual vision of saints.

Saturday, December 9, 2000

1 Peter 1:7

In this verse we are informed as to the reason and purpose of our trials, namely that the trial of our faith might result in praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

The word “trial” is a translation of DOKIMION – the noun, DOKIMAZO – being the verb of the same root, the latter referring to the act of putting someone or something to the test with a view of determining whether it be worthy of being approved or not – the test being made with the intention of approving, if possible. The word was used of the act of examining candidates for the degree of Doctor of Medicine.

It is the approval of our faith that is to resound to the praise of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Testing times put out faith to the test. And as we are submissive to God and remain faithful to Him and are ready to have Him teach us the lessons He would have us learn through them.

We demonstrate by our actions that the faith we have is a genuine God-given, Holy Spirit-produced faith. This faith and its working in our lives is to be the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is not the testing of our faith that is to be the glory of God, but the fact that our faith has met the test and has been approved that resounds to His glory.

1 Peter 1:7 – The Trial of Your Faith

The fact is that the Lord finds our faith to be one which He can approve is of far more value to Him and His glory than the approved faith. For He has something to work with, a faith He knows can stand the testings and the trials which may come to the Christian.

The fact that God can trust a Christian as one that is dependable is of great value to Him. God is looking for faithful, dependable workers, not necessarily gifted, or educated, or cultured ones.

It is a “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” that will greet the ears of the saint at the judgment seat of Christ. Peter tells us that this approval of our faith is much more precious than the approval of gold, even though that gold be approved through fire-testing.

The word “precious” is TIMÉ, which means most valuable, most costly, most worthy, desirable, and most highly praised.

1 Peter 1:10-12 – Prophets, Angels, and Believers Study the Word of God

Prophets in the past looking forward to the coming of the Lord, angels above looking into the Word of God, and believers in the future looking into the Word of God. Peter says the angels desire to look into these things. The word “desire” is a strong one, referring to a passionate desire.

To “look into” is the translation of a compound verb, PARAKUPTO, used in Luke 24:12 and John 20:5, 11, of Peter and John and Mary stooping down and looking into the empty tomb. The word means to look at with the head bent forward and to look into with the body bent to stoop and look into. Metaphorically it means to look carefully into, to inspect curiously. It is used in the latter sense in this passage. The preposition PARA prefixed to the verb means, “beside” and it is used at times with a case denoting separation.

Thus, the angels peer into the mysteries of the Church Truth from beside it like cherubim bending over the mercy seat, where man has access to God through a substitutionary Sacrifice that cleanses him from sin. They are not participants in salvation but are spectators of it.

I wish we had the intense desire for the Word of God that angels do.

To Depart to be With the Lord is Better

Two of our Christian friends departed to be with the Lord. We know of Melvin Cannon and we now understand that Mrs. Nesbitt also when home to be the Lord almost at the same time.

Mrs. Nesbitt is the mother of Allen Nesbitt, a good friend of ours for years and a supporter of our ministry.

Melvin left here from Seguin, Texas and Mrs. Nesbitt left here from Dallas, Texas.

They finished their course. They kept the faith. And they fought a good fight. And now no more sorrows no more pain and no more death and mo more tears. This Christmas with Christ.

Angels Are Watching You!

Paul says that the apostles are “made a spectacle unto the world and to angels and to men,” 1 Cor 4:9.

How the angels watch the saints. How they wonder at creatures once totally depraved now living holy lives that glorify God.

It is in the Church that they catch the supreme view of God’s love, sinners saved by Grace, raised to a seat in the heavenly places in Christ. The Church is God’s university for angels. “To the intent that now to the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be made know by the instrumentality of the Church the manifold wisdom of God.”

If you are unable to leave the house or the hospital, you can still witness and that is to angels. They can learn from you the Grace of God.

Sunday, December 10, 2000

Wise Men Seek Him!

Wise Men Still Seek Him!

After all, you don’t want to be lying to your children like some do about Santa Claus.

Matt 2:7-8, “Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and search diligently for the Young Child, and when you have found Him, bring me word again and I will come and worship Him also.”

Wise men: It doesn’t say three! In fact, there were more than three!

Matt 2:11, “When they were come into the house, they saw the Young Child with Mary, His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts – gold and frankincense and myrrh.”

”And when they come into the house” – They never made it to the manger.
”They saw the Young Child” – Not a babe any longer.

It took the Maji about two years to find Christ. They went seeking Him. But He came seeking you. “To seek and save those who are lost.”

You will have to take those three wise men out of the nativity scene.

But don’t take Christ out of Christmas.

1 Pet 1:15, “It is Written”

This is a translation of a verb in the perfect tense in the Greek which tense speaks of a past completed action having present results. ”It has been written and as a present result is on record.”

Peter is quoting from Lev 11:44, which was written by the stylus of Moses, the inspired man of God, 1500 B.C., and probably on clay tablets. At the time of the writing of this letter, A.D. 60, Peter spoke of Moses’ words as still on record, the eternal, unchangeable Word of God.

Our Lord used the same expression in Matt 4:4, 7. And Satan used it in Matt 4:6 when misquoting Psa 91:11-12, “It is written … It is written … It is written.”

1 Pet 1:17, “If”

This “if” does not introduce a hypothesis, but a fulfilled condition. Since, or in view of the fact, is the idea in the word, a first class condition: if and it is true. These to whom Peter was writing were Christians and they were calling upon the Father. The idea in the Greek is this:

In view of the fact that you call on Him as Father, that is that they recognized God as their Father since they had been brought into the family of God by salvation, they appealed to Him as a child would to his Father.

What a blessed thought to give us encouragement in our prayers. Faith that the answer is sure and a sweet feeling of nearness to God.

To think that He is our Father and we are His children. To think that He regards us as His children and thus the objects of His special care and love.

1 Pet 1:17-21

Peter describes the Father as being one, “Who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work.”

”Without respect of persons” is the translation of one word in the Greek that means literally, “Does not receive face.” That is God does not receive anybody’s face.

He is impartial. Outward appearance, wealth, culture, social position, family background, education, beauty, intellect, all things that more or less sway the opinions of men, do not count with God when it comes to appraising a person’s character of worthiness.

”The Lord seeth not as man seeth, for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the mind,” 1 Sam 16:7.

Peter says that God judges each man’s work with impartiality. His impartiality is an honest appraisal.

1 Pet 1:19, “Precious”

The Greek word “precious” has a two-fold meaning:

The blood of Christ is costly, essentially and instrinsically precious because it is God’s blood, Acts 20:28. For Deity became incarnate in humanity. For that reason it is highly honored by God the Father.

The order of the words in the Greek text is beautiful. It was not little silver and gold coins which set these Christians free from sin, but the blood of Christ.

Monday, December 11, 2000

A Mixed Marriage!

At physical birth the soul is joined to the body. This “marriage” may last some hundred years. The soul is from the Lord, the breath of the Lord. The body is of the ground, earthly. The soul is eternal and the body is temporal. The soul is immaterial and the body is material.

The soul’s desire is to leave this body, this mixed marriage. For as long as this soul is in this body, the soul is absent from the Lord. But when the soul leaves the body, it is face-to-face with the Lord.

The soul wants to leave this body and be with the Lord and receive its right body – a resurrection body – because while in this body we do groan, waiting to be clothed upon with our house from Heaven. The body does not want to let the soul go and it hangs on tenaciously because when the soul goes, the “tent” falls to the ground. The life of the flesh is in the soul.

So then death, departure, or the Rapture is the Lord just separating this soul from this body and breaking up this mixed marriage and making the right marriage for the soul.

And they live happily forever … Eternally ... Then there is domestic tranquility.

1 Peter 1:18 – Tradition

This manner of life they had received by tradition from their fathers. The phrase “received by tradition from their fathers” is the translation of one Greek word that means literally, “given from Father.” This is this futile manner of life that was passed down to the son from the father through the channels of heredity, teaching, example, and environment.

The child is born in sin, that is, comes into being with a totally depraved nature. If the parents are unsaved, it comes into a home where evil customs and practices are observed. What the child inherits, Peter calls a futile manner of life.

From this futile manner of life the recipients of this letter were delivered.

1 Peter 1:21 – Believe

The words translated in the Greek text “do believe” refer to the identity of the recipients, speaking of the fact that they were believers, rather than the act of believing.

”From” is the translation of a preposition meaning “out from.”
”Dead” refers not to the state of death, but to individuals who are dead. It is a plural noun in the Greek.

Our Lord was raised out from among those who were dead. They stayed in that condition called death, whereas He was given life.

This belief in God, of which Peter speaks, is faith in the Lord who saves sinners in answer to their faith, in the resurrected Lord who died for them.

1 Peter 1:22-25, “Love for the Brethren”

The recipients of this letter had purified their souls with the result that they came to love their Christian brethren with an “unfeigned love.”

The implication being clear that at one time these Christians were guilty of feigning love for certain of their brothers in Christ. The word “unfeigned” is the translation of the Greek word from which we get our word “hypocrite,” with the letter alpha prefixed which means not a hypocrite.

The Greek word of “hypocrite” was used of an actor on the Greek stage, one who played the part of another. The word means literally “to judge under” and was used of someone giving off his judgment from behind a screen or a mask.

Some of these to whom Peter was writing had put a mask of feigned love over their usual countenance when associating with certain others of their brethren.

Thought for the Day!

“Where sin abounded Grace did much more abound.”

Sin: “By the sweat of the brow, thou shalt work.”
Grace: “By the crown of thorns on His brow, thou shalt rest.”

1 Peter 2:3, “If You Have Tasted”

The “if” is a fulfilled condition, a first class condition. They, as new-born babes, had tasted the Word of God and had found in it that the Lord was Gracious. The word “Gracious” is the translation of a Greek word used in Luke 5:39 where it is translated, “better.”

The word means literally, “excellent.”

”Taste and see that the Lord is excellent.”

2 Pet 2:1, “Laying Aside …”

“Laying aside” is from a participle that has an imperative force.

In view of the fact that the Divine life has been imparted to the believer, it is imperative that he once and for all put away any sins that may be in his life.

The preposition prefixed to the verb implies separation. The believer is commanded to separate himself from sin. This act of separating himself from sin is a once and for all action as the tense of the participle suggests.

Peter then singles out five sins that the recipients of this letter were guilty of:

Taken over into the New Testament, it refers to a person we call a hypocrite, one who assumes the mannerisms, speech, and character of someone else, thus hiding his true identity.

Christianity requires that believers should be open and above board. They should be themselves. Their lives should be like an open book, easily read.

The words “evil speaking” are in the Greek text “speaking down” – a person referring to the act of defaming and slandering and speaking against another.

1 Peter 2:8, “A Stone of Stumbling”

The words “a Stone of Stumbling” are a translation of “LITHOS,” a loose stone in the path. And “PROSKOMMATOS,” meaning to cut against, which altogether means an obstacle against which one strikes.

The words “Rock of Offence” are from “PETRA,” a ledge rising out of the ground. And “SKANDALON,” a trap set to trip one. Our word scandal comes from this word.

These who are disobedient, the literal Greek word has it “non-pursuable,” are appointed to stumble at the Word, which is the penalty for refusing to believe it.

By faith we understand Heb 11:3 is the God-ordained way. “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”

Thus, unbelievers find the Living Stone, which is precious to believers, an Obstacle against which they strike, and a Scandal that which offends them.

Wednesday, December 13, 2000

A Veteran at Christmas

Before Christmas
He lived all alone
In a one bedroom house
Made of plaster and stone.

I had come down the chimney
With presents to give
And to see just who
In this house did live.

I looked all about
A strange sight I did see
No tinsel, no presents
Not even a tree.

No stocking by mantle
Just boots filled with sand
On the wall hung pictures
Of far distant lands.

With medals and badges
Awards of all kinds
A sober thought
Came through my mind.

For this house was different
It was dark and dreary
I found the home of a soldier
Once I could see clearly.

The soldier lay sleeping
Silent, alone
Curled up on the floor
In this one bedroom home.

The face was so gentle
The room in such disorder
Not how I pictured
A United States soldier.

Was this the hero
Of whom I just read?
Curled up on a poncho,
The floor for a bed?

I realized the families
That I saw this night
Owed their lives to these soldiers
Who were willing to fight.

Soon round the world
The children would play
And grownups would celebrate
A bright Christmas day.

They all enjoyed freedom
Each month of the year
Because of the soldiers
Like the one lying here.

I couldn't help wonder
How many lay alone
On a cold Christmas Eve
In a land far from home.

The very thought
Brought a tear to my eye
I dropped to my knees
And started to cry.

The soldier awakened
And a heard a rough voice
”Santa don’t cry”
This life is my choice.

I fight for freedom
I don’t ask for more
My life is my God,
My country, my corps.

The soldier rolled over
And drifted to sleep,
I couldn’t control it
I continued to weep.

I kept watch for hours
So silent and still
And we both shivered
From the cold night’s chill.

I didn’t want to leave
On that cold, dark, night
This guardian of honor
So willing to fight.

Then the soldier rolled over
With a voice soft and pure
Whispered “Carry on Santa”
”It’s Christmas Day, all is secure.”

One look at my watch
And I knew he was right
”Merry Christmas, my friend,
And to all a good night.”

1 Peter 1:24 – “Bare”

The word “bare” is the translation of a word used in the LXX, of the priest carrying the sacrifice up to the altar. The brazen altar was four and a half feet high. And was approached by an incline up which the priest bore the sacrifice. LXX is the Greek translation of the Old Testament Hebrew. This word belongs to the idea of sacrifice and it is not to be disassociated from it.

The Greek word translated “tree” does not refer to a literal tree, but to an object fashioned out of wood, in this case, the Cross. Thus, our Lord Himself, the High Priest, and the Sacrifice, carried our sins as a burden of guilt up to the Cross.

This phrase “being dead to sins” is literally, “having become off with respect to sins.” It speaks of the action of God in breaking the power of the sinful nature in the sinner when he puts his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Saviour. Henceforth, he need not be a slave to sin.

1 Pet 1:24 – “By His Stripes”

The word “stripes” in the Greek presents a picture of our Lord’s lacerated back after the scourging He endured at the hands of the Roman soldier. The Romans used a scourge of cords or throngs to which were attached pieces of lead or brass, or small, sharp-pointed bones.

Criminals condemned to crucifixion were ordinarily scourged before being executed – Capital punishment Roman style.

The victim was stripped to the waist and bound in a stooping position, with the hands behind the back, to a post or a pillar. The suffering under the lash was intense. The body was frightfully lacerated.

The Christian martyrs at Smyrna about A.D. 155 were so torn by the scourges that their veins were laid bare and the inner muscles and sinews and even the bowels were exposed.

The Greek word “stripes” refers to a bloody wale trickling with blood that arises under a blow. The word is singular not plural.

Peter remembered the body of our Lord after the scourging. The flesh so dreadfully mangled that the disfigured Form appeared in his eyes as one single bruise.

1 Peter 1:24 – “Stripes”

Thus we have the picture of the Suffering Servant of the Lord. His blessed face so pummeled by the hard fists of the mob, that it did not look like a human face anymore. His back lacerated by the Roman scourge so that it was one big mass of open, raw, quivering flesh, trickling with blood. His heart torn with anguish because of the bitter, caustic, malevolent words hurled at Him. On that bleeding lacerated back was laid the Cross.

This was all for the unsaved, just as if there were only one lost person in the universe. The Lord Jesus Christ died for you, in your stead, and took your place on the Cross. He paid your penalty. So that God could offer a salvation from sin based upon a justice satisfied. Right now you can appropriate Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour.

The blood of Christ heals our sin in that He, by one offering, put away sin forever. There is no room here for the healing of illness through the blood of Christ. The Cross was a purely judicial matter.

One goes to a hospital when one is ill, and to a law court to take care of legal matters. In the great law court of the universe, the Great Judge offers mercy on the basis of justice satisfied at the Cross. The matter of bodily illness is not mentioned in the context.

The Greek word used here is not confined in its meaning to physical healing. In Luke 4:18 it refers to the alleviation of heartaches, and in Heb 12:13, to the rectifying of one’s conduct. In Matt 13:15 it means “to bring about one’s salvation.”

This passage, therefore, cannot be made to teach the erroneous Doctrine that healing of the body is to be found in the atonement, as salvation from sin is found at the Cross. The context in which the word is found clearly decides the meaning of the word here, not that of the healing of the body, but that of the salvation of the soul.

1 Pet 2:25 – “Bishop”

The word “bishop” is the translation of the same Greek word rendered “visitation” in verse 12. God is the bishop of the souls of Christians in the sense that He is the Overseer of their spiritual welfare. We have the all-seeing eye of our loving Lord always upon us, watching tenderly over us in order that He may nurture our spiritual growth and keep us from falling into temptation which the world, the flesh, and the devil are ever placing before us.

It is for us to be ever mindful of the Lord’s loving care over us and of the responsibility we have to take in and obey His Word. The Right-Man for the Right-Woman is also called the bishop of your soul.

A great and mighty wonder
A full and blessed cure.
The rose has come to blossom
Which shall always endure.

The Word has dwelt among us
The true Light from on high.
And cherubim sing anthems
to shepherds, from the sky.

While thus they sing your monarch
Those bright angelic bands
Rejoice, ye vales and mountains
Ye oceans, clap your hands.

Since all He comes to succor
By all be He adored,
The Infant born in Bethlehem
The Saviour and the Lord.

And idol forms shall perish
And error shall decay.
And Christ shall wield His sceptre
Our Lord and God today.

Angels from the realm of glory
Wing your flight over all the Earth
Ye who sang creation’s story
Now proclaim Messiah’s birth.

Shepherds in the fields abiding
Watching over your flocks by night,
God with man is now residing
Yonder shines the Infant Light.

Sages, leave your contemplations
Brighter visions beam afar
Seek the great desire of nations
Ye have seen His natal star.

Saints before the altar bending
Watching lone in hope and fear
Suddenly the Lord, descending
In His temple shall appear.

Though an infant now we view Him
He shall fill His Father’s throne
Gather all the nations to Him
Every knee shall then bow down.

1 Pet 3:12 – God and Our Prayers

The word “over” is literally, “upon.” The eyes of the Lord are directed in favorable sense for the good of those are righteous.

”Unto” is literally, “into.” God’s ears are “into” the prayers of the righteous. What a picture of God bending down “into” the very prayers of His children, earnestly listening to their petitions, eager to answer them and come to the aid of those who pray.

We have no far-off Deity to make petitions. We do not have to plead with God to make Him willing to answer our prayers. He is more desirous of answering them than we are to have them answered.

1 Peter 4:13 – Suffering

Instead of thinking as alien to them, they are exhorted not only to expect such suffering, but to rejoice in the fact that they can be partakers of Christ’s sufferings.

The word “inasmuch” is rather “in so far as” that is the Christian has no cause for rejoicing because of suffering that is brought out by his own misdoing. But in so far as suffering is the result of doing well, he has cause for rejoicing.

His rejoicing arises from the fact that he shares in common with Christ, in suffering for righteousness sake. These sufferings of Christ which we share in common with Him are not His expiatory sufferings on the Cross.

But His suffering for righteousness’ sake while enduring the opposition of sinners previous to the Cross.

Paul speaks of the same things in Col 1:24.

1 Peter 5:6 – Humble Yourselves

The words “humble yourselves” are not in the aorist middle, but the passive voice, which is the voice of Grace, which means that the subject of the verb is passive in the hands of God and acted upon by Him.

The exhortation is “be humbled” or “suffer yourselves to be humbled.”

The humbling process which God was using was the persecution and suffering through which these Christians were passing.

Peter exhorts these believers to react towards these in a God-honoring way. To be submissive to the discipline which God was using to make them more humble, gracious.

But with this exhortation comes also a note of comfort and hope in that the prerequisite that God demands before he will exalt that Christian to a high place of privilege and honor in His service.

He must take a low place before God, who would take a high place before men.

Thursday, December 14, 2000

Luke is the Gospel for the Sinner

It brings out the compassionate love of Christ in becoming man to save us. It traces our Lord’s descent back to Adam. And shows Him as the Son of man and the Son of God, the Saviour for the whole human race. “The Son of the Highest” and the Son of the lowly virgin.

Instead of the visit of the Magi, Luke tells us of the humble shepherds to whom was announced the tidings of peace to all people. “To you is born a Saviour” and there among the cattle, the Saviour’s first quests would feel themselves at home. “Mine eyes have seen Thy Salvation,” said the aged Simeon as he took the Holy Child in his arms. And Anna “spake of Him to all that looked for redemption in Israel.”

We find Him beginning His ministry by taking His place in the synagogue at Nazareth, and applying to Himself the Gracious Words of Isaiah, which proclaimed His ministry of mercy to the broken hearted.

Luke Alone Tells Us ...

Luke Records the Lord’s Compassion to the Widow of Nain …

One of the Chief Features of John’s Gospel is our Lord’s Personal Interviews With Individuals

The Lord deals with the individual, not the masses. Christianity is a personal relationship with God the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ.

In all these He disclosed Himself as the Friend of the soul.

”Greater love hath no man than to lay down His life for His friends.”

”Ye are My friends if ye do whatsoever I command you. I have called you friends.”

The “I Am” in John’s Gospel Shows How Perfectly He Meets the World’s Need.

What does the world need?

In the Greek is it “EGO EIMI,” I am. This identifies Him with the JEHOVAH of the Old Testament.

Christmas 2000 A.D.

We celebrate Christmas and miss the bliss.
We exchange gifts with a mistletoe kiss.
We drink and sing and have a good time.
And miss the message of Isaiah’s sign.

The Baby in the manger, no room in the inn.
That is not where salvation for us did begin.
Long before the Babe was born
Long before the heavens were torn.

God existed in eternity past.
The plan for man was already cast.
God took on flesh and we beheld Him,
The One who came and died for our sin.

The wise men followed His star from the east.
The good news of peace will never cease.
Angels, shepherds, loudly all proclaim
There is salvation in no other Name.

They called Him “Immanuel,” God with us.
Now there is one that we all can trust.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.
The streets of Heaven with His blood are paved.

Merry Christmas to you and all of yours.
Hope for the new year with Christ just soars.
Gifts which were exchanged remind us of Him.
The victory of the Cross He did win.

Happy new year, also you can share
Because Christ your sins He did bare.
He is coming again to take us home
No longer as pilgrims will we roam.

Absent from the body and face to face with the Lord,
It is all promised and written for us in His Word.
Behold I show you a mystery, we shall not all die.
Christ will descend and we will fly high in the sky.

The Purpose of the Book of John is Stated and Illustrated!

What is the purpose of the book of John?

John 20:31, “But these things are written that (purpose clause) ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing, they might have life through His Name.”

Accordingly we find the word “believe” (PISTEUO) occurring nearly 100 times through John’s Gospel. And the word “witness” nearly 50 times.

For beginning with the Baptist, John 1:6, 7, John called in one witness after another to give evidence in proving the case. See especially chapter 5:31-40.

1 and 2 Corinthians and the Foolishness of the Message

1. The foolishness of the message.
   Christ crucified to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Gentiles foolishness.
   
2. The power of the message.
   Christ, the power of God to those who are saved.
   
3. The foolishness of the Messenger.
   His weakness from the human side.
   
4. The power of the Messenger.
   The all sufficiency of Christ.
   

The Theme of Paul in the Book of Corinthians

1. Christ crucified – 1 Cor 1:13-24
   
2. He