Divine Sugar Sticks for May 2000

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Wednesday, May 31, 2000

The Law of Supplement!

One truth flows out from another
As the root produces the tree
And the trunk the branches
And the branches the leaves, blossom, and fruit.

Christ’s atoning death is the fact of the Gospel, but flowing out of that fact is the living factor of our identification with Him, which causes the sinner to die to sin and self.

Rom 5 is the Gospel for the sinner for He is justified by the blood of Christ. Rom 5:9

But Romans 6 is the Gospel for the saint, for it proclaims we are baptized into His death. Rom 6:3-17

The death of Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice cuts off the old associations of sin and self and unites us to the vitality of Christ’s risen and vitalizing life.

Further examples may be found in the “alsos” of John 14 and John 17, the “much mores” of Romans 5, and the repeated, “Ye have heard,” “But I say unto you” of Christ’s sermon on the mount.

An Adverb of Time

Frequently the adverb of time, “then,” is used and gives the sequence of what follows.

The five “thens” of Isaiah 6 gives the subsequent steps in the prophet’s experience. The sight of the Lord’s holiness made him realize his sinfulness. “Then said I, woe unto me, for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”

After that confession, “Then flew one of the seraphim and placed a coal upon the lips of the prophet and said, thine iniquity is taken away and thy sin atoned for.”

When he had been cleansed by his sin being answered for, then he heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send and who will go for us?” Having heard the voice, he could respond and say, “Then said I, here am I, send me.”

Following the answer to the call, he could speak to the Lord about the message he had to deliver. “Then said I, Lord how long?”

The adverb of time as found in Matt 24 and 25 in connection with our Lord’s return as the Son of man gives the steps and associations of His judicial action. And the “then” is found in relation to Christ’s temptation in the wilderness as showing the time and testing is of telling importance.

Matt 4:1, Matt 4:5, Matt 4:10, Matt 4:11. Then, then, then, then.

The Law of Full Mention

We have been told that the Bible does not give us a full revelation in any one section of any given Truth. But we find that it does!

A full revelation of love’s traits is made known in 17 particulars in 1 Cor 13:4-13

It endures for it “suffereth long”
It is benevolent in ministry for it is “kind”
Iit is unsuspicious for it “envieth not”
It is real for “it vaunteth not itself”
It is humble for “it is not puffed up”
It is thoughtful for “it doth not behave itself unseemly”
It is unselfish for “it seeketh not her own”
It is sweet tempered for “it is not provoked”
It is guileless for “it thinketh no evil”
It is holy for “it rejoiceth not in iniquity”
It is true “for it rejoiceth with Truth”
It is unbending for “it beareth all things”
It is faithful for “it believeth all things”
It is expectant for “it hopeth all things”
It is lasting for “it endureth all things”
It is unfailing for “it never faileth”
and it excels for “the greatest of all” of the graces is love.

Why? Because love is not a thing, but a Person. “God is love.”

Full Mention – Part Two

A full revelation of the characteristics of faith is found in Heb 11, where we are reminded of the nature of faith.

It makes the unseen real. The objective of faith and the basis of faith, the Word of God, and the God of the Word.

The activities of faith in the several persons mentioned and what they did. And the excellencies of faith and its rewards.

For faith honors God to His glory and God honors faith in its benefit and reward.

Full Mention – Part Three

In 2 Cor 8 and 9 there is unfolded the worth and wealth of Christian giving. Money, as such, is not mentioned, but it is described as

2 Cor 8
Verse 2, the riches of liberality
Verse 3, power
Verse 4, the gift and the fellowship
Verses 6, 7, this Grace
Verse 14, abundance

2 Cor 9
Verse 1, ministering
Verse 5, bounty
Verse 13, this ministration and liberal distribution

The Law of Exegesis!

”Exegesis” means the bringing out the meaning of the words employed. A true exposition of God’s Word is an exporter and not an importer, that is, He does not import His own thoughts into the Scripture, but seeks to know and bring out the mind of Christ.

The following is an apt illustration of true exegesis on sin as referred to in John’s first epistle.

1 John 1:7, “The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin.” But it is literally “from every sin.”

The noun “sin” in the singular denotes the sinful principle, the old sin nature, while “sins” in the plural are its specific manifestations.

The verb “to sin.” There is as everyone who knows Greek is aware, a significant difference between the present tense on the one hand and the perfect or the aorist tense on the other.

The perfect tense denotes the pass commission of a sin or sins, at which it is written, 1 John 1:19, “If we say we have not sinned we make Him a liar.”

While the aorist tense refers to a definite act of sin, whether actual or prospective. Thus it is the aorist that is employed where we read, 1 John 2:1, “These things have I written unto you that ye sin not” and “If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father.”

What of the present tense? Well, it means  to be sinning, to keep on sinning. And so it is written, 1John 3:6, “Whoso abideth in Him doth not keep on sinning. Whosoever keeps on sinning hath not seen Him.” Which is committing sin, or doing sin, making sin one’s business.

See how he interchanges these phrases? 1 John 3:8, “Whosoever is begotten of God, doeth not sin. Because His seed abideth in him. And he cannot keep on sinning  because he is begotten of God.”

Exegesis!

Elohim – the Hebrew Word for God

Elohim and its relatives:

Eloah, El, Elah, El Shaddai

Elohim – God in the unity of Divine personality and power

Eloah – in the exclusiveness of His Deity, as the Supreme Object of worship.

El – God in the expressiveness of His character and action

Elah – Chaldean form of Eloah

El Shaddai – God in the sufficiency of His Grace and government

Elohim occurs about 2,500 times

Eloah occurs 57 times

Elah occurs 90 times

El occurs 250 times

El Shaddai occurs  8 times, Shaddai  40 times.

Lord – The Greek Word is “KURIOS”

The first time the word “Lord” occurs in the New Testament is, Matt 1:20, “The Angel of the Lord appeared unto Joseph about taking Mary, the mother of Jesus to wife.”

Under the circumstances we can quite understand the hesitancy of Joseph and in his quandary of thought, we have the principle that should govern our actions.

Namely, when we are uncertain about anything, we should seek the Lord’s will and act according to His instructions.

Tuesday, May 30, 2000

You Would be Surprised Who is Watching You

And I don’t mean Big Brother. I don’t mean creatures from outer space. But you would be surprised who is watching you and why. Oh, I know you are spiritual and you think I am thinking about the Lord. But I am not. Angels are constantly watching you and learning the Word of God from you.

I have found at least eight verses that say so.

1 Tim 5:21, “I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another doing nothing by partiality.”
Angels know when you favor one son over another.

When a person accepts Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour, the elect angels clap their hands in victory. Angels know when you accepted Christ as your personal Saviour.

Luke 15:7, “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in Heaven over one sinner that changes his mind more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no change of mind.”

Luke 15:10, “Likewise I say unto you there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that changeth his mind.”

1 Cor 4:9, “For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.”
The word “spectacle” is literally a theatre or a stage.

1 Cor 11:10, “For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.”

1 Tim 1:12, “Unto whom it was revealed that not unto themselves but unto us they did minister the things which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the Gospel unto you with the Holy Spirit sent down from Heaven. Which things the angels desire to look into.”

This is an “Earth Bowl” and the angels are in opposite stands — elect on one side and fallen on the other — and each time a person accepts Christ as Saviour, the elect angels stand up and shout. Resolving the angelic conflict.

”Earth Bowl” not Super Bowl. The Super Bowl is where criminals become millionaires.

Angels are watching you. What is the Gospel according to you???

The Division of the Book of Genesis

Gen 2:4, the generations of the Heaven and the Earth.

Ten generations:
    5:1-6:8, the generations of Abel
    6:9-9:29, the generations of Noah
    10:10-11:9, the generations of the sons of Noah
    11:10-11:26, the generations of Shem
    11:27-25:11, the generations of Terah
    25:12, the generations of Ishmael
    25:13-25:18, the sons of Ishmael according to their generations
    25:19-35:29, the generations of Isaac
    37:1-37:1, the generations of Esau
    37:1-to the end of Genesis, the generations of Jacob.

Dull, boring, not interesting!

Notice the men of the flesh such as Ishmael and Esau and their descendants are summarized in 50 verses. While the men of faith and their seed such as Terah, Isaac, and Jacob cover no less than over 50 chapters. Now, I knew you knew that.

But from this we gather that those who are to play only a minor part in the drama of human history, while they are recognized, they and theirs are dismissed with a few statements of fact. While those who are in the Covenant of promise are prominent throughout.

One’s names are written in the Earth. The other’s names are written in Heaven. Now you know that I just wanted to refresh your memory.

 In this dull list of names …

We Have Seen the Ten Generations Listed in Genesis

Another thing of interest in the realm of the numbers is that there are three other references to prominent men in the Old Testament.

Exodus 6:16-19, the generations of the sons of Levi
Num 3:1, the generations of Aaron and Moses
Ruth 4:18, the generations of Pharez

This brings the generations up to 13, which is an imperfect number. We need one more to make a double perfection, i.e., 14.
Can we find one to complete it? Yes! The New Testament begins …  

Matt 1:1, “The book of the generations of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.”

Do You Know the 14 Titles of the Hyphenated Names of the Lord?

”Lord of lords and King of kings.”

Christ is the Substance of the Divine Provision

Christ is the Effulgence of God’s glory

Christ is the Express Image of His Person

Christ is the Revealer of His fullness. Heb 1:3

God has nothing to give apart from Him. And there is no more when He is given. Rom 8:32

As the diamond flashes forth its excellence in the gold ring of its setting, so is the ring this Scripture Christ’s glory is revealed.

The personal pronouns and His Names and His titles enshrine and illustrate ...  Ephesians chapter four.

The “Lord” is the strength of His support, verse 1

The “One Lord” is the supremacy of His glory, verse 5

The “Christ” in the Grace of His bestowment, verse 7

The “He saith” in the authority of His Word, verse 8

The “He ascended” of His acceptance, verse 8

The “He led” of His splendid triumph, verse 8

The “He descended” of His loving abasement, verse 9

The “He might fill” of wonderful accomplishments, verse 10

The “He gave” of His gracious endowments, verse 11

The “Christ” of the uniqueness of His mystical body, verse 12

The “Son of God” in the glory of His inspiring knowledge, verse 13

The  “Christ” in the fullness of His supply, verse 13

The “Head” in the compacting and controlling ministry, verse 15

Union With Christ, Eph 5:29-33

 Key sentence: verse 30, members of one body.

This union is:
    Loving in its care, verse 20, nourisheth
    Attentive in its regard, verse 20, cherisheth
    Vital in its action, verse 30, members
    Separating in its attraction, verse 31
    Mystical in its nature, verse 32

Responsibility to Christ, Eph 6:1-7, 9

Key verse ... “in the Lord” ... verse 1

Those who are subordinate as children and servants, recognize that they take the place subordinate to Christ, and do all for Him in obeying them.

Those who are over, as parents and masters, are responsible to the Father and Lord of all in acts toward the subordinates with consideration.

Reward from Christ, verse 8. Key sentence ... “Receive the Lord.”

Everything done for love’s sake for the Lord will bring recognition at the Judgment Seat in the glad day of the Lord’s return.

The Divine Panoply, Eph 6:10-20

The key sentence is  “the armour of God,” verse 11

There are “seven star words” which shine out in the sky of this section.

“Star words:”

The  BE STRONG of the Lord’s empowerment, verse 10
The TAKE of the Lord’s equipment, verses 13, 16, 17
The STAND of the soldier’s endurement, verses 11, 13
The SHOD of the feet’s protectment, verse 15
The ABOVE ALL of faith’s encasement, verse 16
The PRAYING of the Spirit’s environment, verse 18
The WATCHING of the patrol’s alertment, verse 18

The condition of soul that can commune with the Lord in order to understand and experience the Grace and Truth found in this mine of wealth is found in the last verse and in the sentence, “Grace be with you all that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.”

When the soul of the believer is free from the corruption of sin and has in it the love of incorruption, then there is the obedience of faith and the love of sacrifice.

The Importance of a Small Word Like “Therefore” or “Wherefore”

We find again and again in the Bible in explaining the reason or ground of the Lord’s action, a “therefore” or a “wherefore.”

1. The “therefore” of the incarnation, Luke 1:15, “Therefore also that Holy Thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” There is a good title for a Christmas message. The “therefore” of Christmas.

2. The “wherefore” of inspiration, Acts 13:35, “Wherefore He saith, Thou shalt not suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption.”

3. The “therefore” of justification, Rom 4:22, “Therefore, it was imputed to Him for righteousness.”

4. The “wherefore” of ascension, Eph 4:8, “Wherefore He saith when He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.”

5. The “wherefore” of exaltation, Phil 2:9, “Wherefore God hath highly exalted Him.”

6. The “wherefore” of intention, Heb 10:5, “Wherefore when He cometh into the world, He said a body Thou hast prepared Me.” Baby talk!

7. The “wherefore” of sanctification, Heb 13:12-13, “Wherefore Jesus also that He might sanctify the people with His own blood suffered without the gate.”

Wherefore. Therefore.

Monday, May 29, 2000 - Memorial Day

There are Seven Things “of God”

1. The Word of God – the basis of all authority. 1 John 2:14
2. The love of God – the secret of all godliness. 1 John 2:5, 4:9, 5:2
3. The will of God – the bliss of all Heaven’s glory. 1 John 2:17
4. The children of God – the relationship of all privilege. 1 John 3:1-2, 19, 5:2
5. The son of God – the center of all revelation. 1 John 3:8, 4:15, 5:5, 10, 12, 13, 20
6. Born of God – the involution of all life. 1 John 3:9
7. The Spirit of God – the power of all ability. 1 John 4:2

John’s Writings

 It is generally recognized that John’s writings are the latest. Supposing the Gospel was written about 85 or 90 A.D., the epistles in 90 A.D., and Revelation in 96 A.D. There is a sequence of thought and a world of suggestion in these dates.

The Gospel takes us back to the eternity of the past. The epistles lead us on to the life of the present. And Revelation unfolds to us the glory of the future.

The Gospel was written: John 20:31, “Was written that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and believing in Him we might have life in His Name.”

The epistles were written: 1 John 1:4, “That we might have fellowship with the Father and with the Son, that our joy may be full.”
1 John 5:13, “And that we might know that we have eternal life.”

Revelation was written: Rev 1:19, that we might know what is going to happen in the hereafter.
And to show unto us, His servants, the things which “must shortly come to pass,” Rev 22:6.

Unity of Prophecy!

Jesus Christ is the key to prophecy. All Scripture centers in Him and is fulfilled in Him.

Among the many prophecies relating to Christ, let us look at the following:
To Adam was made known Christ’s miraculous birth. Being called not, “the seed of man” but “the Seed of the woman,” Gen 3:15.
To Abraham was revealed the nation with which He would be identified, Gen 12:3, Acts 3:25.
To Jacob it was made known that He would be of the tribe of Judah. Gen 49:10.
To David it was communicated that He would be of his family, 2 Sam 7:12-14.
To Daniel  was unfolded the time He would appear, Dan 9:25
To Micah was declared the town in which He would be born, Micah 5:2.
To Malachi it was stated that He would be preceded by a forerunner, Mal 3:1.
To Zechariah it was shown that Christ would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver, Zech 11:22, and the way He would enter into Jerusalem, Zech 9:9.
To the psalmist was made known the manner of His death by crucifixion, Psa 22:16. That not a bone of Him should be broken, Psa 34:30, and that He would rise from the dead, Psa 16:10.
And to Isaiah was revealed God’s part in Christ’s death, Isa 53:10. And that He would be identified with transgressors and pray for them, Isa 53:12.

I think there may be a message in these prophecies ...

The Unity of the Books of the Bible!

 John’s Gospel is associated with Genesis by the corresponding expression, “in the beginning.”

Hebrews  is joined with Leviticus by the parallel Truths of worship based on the ground of atonement.

Romans is united with Exodus by the similar blessing of redemption by the blood of atonement by faith.

The pilgrim life of the believer emphasized in Peter is illuminated in Numbers.

The spiritual nature of the Law laid down in Christ’s teaching as recorded in Matthew finds it counterpart in Deuteronomy. And a further correspondence is seen in Christ’s quotation from the book in meeting Satan’s temptation.

The book of Joshua is connected with Ephesians, by the contrast between Israel’s earthly inheritance and the believer’s riches in heavenly things in Christ.

Daniel’s sealed book is explained by the book of Revelation.

And the apostasies recorded in the book of Judges are repeated in the second epistle of Peter and John and Jude.

The Oneness of Christ and God the Father

24 times in the “real” Lord’s prayer in John 17 this oneness is expressed — which is a study all in itself. “I and the Father are One.”

1. Oneness in purpose. Verse 1
2. Oneness in gift. Verse 2
3. Oneness in knowledge. Verses 3, 7
4. Oneness in work. Verse 4
5. Oneness in Deity and position. Verse 5
6. Oneness in manifestation. Verse 6
7. Oneness in mission. Verse 8
8. Oneness in possession. Verses 9, 10
9. Oneness in glorification. Verse 10
10. Oneness in keeping. Verses 6, 11, 12, 15
11. Oneness in Scripture. Verse 12
12. Oneness in joy. Verse 13
13. Oneness in being opposed. Verse 14
14. Oneness in separation. Verses 15, 16
15. Oneness in the Truth. Verse 17
16. Oneness in commission. Verse 18
17. Oneness in aim. Verse 19
18. Oneness in outlook. Verse 20
19. Oneness in end. Verse 21
20. Oneness in glory. Verse 22
21. Oneness in love. Verse 23
22. Oneness in place. Verse 24
23. Oneness in fellowship. Verse 25
24. Oneness in intimacy. Verse 26

Now, here are some principles to appropriate.

The Bible

The fact of Christ’s death for our sins is said to be “according to the Scriptures,” 1 Cor 15:3, 4.
This “according to” is full of suggestive meaning. The preposition is “KATA” and the accusative case suggests one object bending over another to meet its need. Even as a nursing mother bends towards her baby to feed it.

The Holy Spirit again and again in referring to the death of Jesus Christ emphasizes that His death was the fulfillment of Scripture. Luke 24:27, 32, 45; John 13:8, 17:12, 19:21, 28, 36, 37; Acts 8:32, 33.

Remove the atonement from the Bible and we have a casket without a treasure,  a body without a soul, a tree without a root, a check book without a balance in the bank, and a Gospel without its message.

God!

There are seven great facts about the acts of God relative to Christ’s death, each of which are mentioned in the book of Romans.

1. The first fact is that God hath set Christ forth to be the propitiation for our sins, and that by means of His blood. Rom 3:25
2. God’s love is commended to us because Christ has died for us. Rom 5:8
3. God sent His Son in the likeness of sinful flesh. Rom 8:3
4. God condemns sin in the person of His Son on the Cross. Rom 8:3
5. God did not spare His Son when dealing with sin. Rom 8:32
6. God delivered Christ up for us when He gave Him over to death. Rom 8:32
7. The death and resurrection of Christ is God’s answer to every charge that might be brought against us. Rom 8:32, 36

Therefore, at the Cross, God is seen at His best in giving His Son for the worst. And in all that Christ did, God was acting, therefore in that death there is all the value of what He is in Himself.

God cannot die, but He who died for us is God.

Man!

At Calvary man is seen at His worst. We are told, “Where sin abounded, Grace did much more abound,” Rom 5:20.

This super-abounding of sin and Grace is not a general statement, but a specific and formal one. Wicked hands nailed the Christ to the Cross, Acts 2. It does not say “sinful hands,” but “wicked hands” which means rebellious hands, defiled hands, and shows man in the climax and concentration of his guilt.

The believer in Christ in the tripartite nature of his being is made up of spirit, soul, and body. Man is identified with Christ, and Christ is identified with him in that He suffered in spirit and soul and body:

His body was pierced for “He was wounded for our transgressions,” Isa 53:5.
His soul was poured out for “He is the good Shepherd who laid down His life, His soul, for the sheep,” John 10:11.
And, He suffered in the Spirit for in anticipation of His death His Spirit is said to be troubled on more than one occasion. John 12:27, 13:21.

Christ!

Christ’s goal was His death. His star of destiny was His death at Calvary.

His death was no accident. On many occasions Christ in His teaching referred to His death on the Cross. If the Gospel of John alone is read with this thought in mind, it will be found that Christ directly and indirectly was indicating the nature and the necessity of His death.

There loomed before Him the momentous hour when He would pass through the suffering for human guilt. Till the hour was come, He could not die! But, when He arrived, He gave Himself up to the answer for sin, John 17:1.

There is one special occasion when Christ indicated the nature of His death. In John 10 we find He stated that the good Shepherd would lay down or give His life for His sheep. John 10:11, John 10:15, John 10:17, John 10:18.

And it is the Gospel of John that we read of Christ’s triumphant cry when He, in His sixth utterance on the Cross exclaimed, John 19:30, “It is finished,” in the past with a result that lasts for ever. But He uttered only one word, “TETALESTAI,” which means  completed, finished. How much was completed in that death!

If He had stopped one step short of the Cross, His mission would have been a failure. For the Holy Spirit had declared that the climax of Christ’s ministry, as well as its nature, was, Heb 9:28, “That He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.”

Salvation!

The three-fold cord of salvation finds its fiber in the Cross. We are saved from condemnation through faith in Him who gave Himself for us. Therefore, we are said to be saved from wrath through Christ. Rom 5:9

Believers are being saved from the control of sin as the vitality of the risen life of Christ pulsates within them and overcomes the law of sin and death. Therefore, Rom 5:10, “Much more being reconciled to God by the death of His Son, we shall be saved by His life.”

And, believers will be saved from the body of sin and death when Christ comes back again. Therefore, 1 Thes 5:9, 10, “God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain the
salvation by the means of our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us that whether we watch or sleep we shall live together with Him.”

And all the people said, I believe it, “Amen.”

The Church! The Body of Christ! The Bride of Christ!

The Church always finds her basis in the Rock, the smitten Rock. And it is her business to remember she has been purchased by Christ, as Paul reminded the elders at Ephesus when he charged them to tend the flock which the Lord “had redeemed with His own blood.”

This is proclaimed in the Lord’s Supper and in the believer’s baptism. It is also the Church’s business to proclaim the evangel of the Lord’s passion.

Now, a few believers grow weakened and exhausted by sporadic efforts to assist in countless good causes. They forget in their breathless activity that Christ has not set His
Church on Earth primarily to do things. But to bear witness that He has done everything and that the burden of humanity lies upon the Rock of Ages. “Upon this Rock I will build My Church,” the Rock of Ages.

If you are interested in witnessing, I have through the years found a very easy and light way of witnessing for the Lord. I have been using a Free Ticket to Heaven. If you are interested, I would be glad to send them to you. They are very effective.

Angels!

The objective fact of Christ’s sufferings is always the object of the study of good angels. As the cherubim is made out of the same piece of gold which constituted the Mercy Seat, he is represented as gazing upon the blood upon it. Exodus 25:18-22

So, we read of the angels who desired to look into those things that related to Christ’s sufferings and glory. 1 Pet 1:12

Wicked angels are found too in connection with Christ’s death. The prince of the angels has been overthrown in his authority and power by means of the death of Christ. Heb 2:14

In the great battle which shall take place between Satan and his angels, before Christ sets up His Millennial Kingdom, and those whom he sought to overcome are able to overcome him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the Word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death. Rev 12:11

The Last Things!

The word of the last things, the book of Revelation, reveals Christ in a peculiar and unique character, namely, as a little Lamb. The word alone is found in the book of Revelation. For it is literally “a little lambkin,” and not a full-grown lamb, as in four other places where He is mentioned as the Lamb of God.

28 times in the book of Revelation Christ is seen as the little Lamb. As the Lamb, He is worshipped by all Heaven’s host.
As a Lamb, He makes His enemies to feel His power and indignation. For they are made to know “the wrath of the Lamb.”

And, in the Golden Age, after the Millennium, Christ with His Bride is seen coming forth in His glory and the glory is glorious in the heavenly city because the light of it is the light of the glory of the Lamb.

”Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.”

Once a Lamb, always a Lamb.

”They will look upon Him whom they have pierced.”

The Meat Offering

I know this is a very popular subject, but anyhow …

8 times in Lev 2 we have the expression “unto the Lord.” Verses 1, 2, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16

Once we have the sentence, “the salt of the covenant of thy God.”  Verse 13

And twice the words, “the offerings of the Lord made by fire.” Verses 3, 10

In all Christ was said and did, he ever was, “Unto the Lord.”

He walked in His Father’s ways, John 16:28
He willed His Father’s will. John 5:30
He spoke His Father’s Word. John 14:24
He did His Father’s work. John 17:4
He rejoiced in His Father’s love. John 10:17, 15:9
He sought His Father’s aid. John 11:41
He aimed at His Father’s glory. John 8:49

The salt of the covenant of Thy God, is indicative of God on His part, keeping to His covenant promise to Christ, John 17:24

And on Christ’s part, indicative of His faithful service seasoned with the salt of Grace, in perfectly fulfilling our obligation to God and tasting death in so doing. Heb 2:9

To this day among the most diverse people, salt is the recognized symbol of incorruption and unchangeable perpetuity.

Among the Arabs of today, for example, when a compact or covenant is made between different parties, it is the custom that each eat of salt, which is passed along on the blade of a sword by which act they regard themselves as bound to be true, each to the other, even at the peril of life.

In like manner in India and other eastern countries, the usual formula for perfidity and breach of faith is literally, unfaithfulness to the salt. And a man will say, “Have I not eaten of your salt?”

”Ye are the salt of the Earth.” You have made a covenant with the Lord. Don’t throw it over your shoulder for good luck.

Lord! 

The Greek word for “Lord” is “KURIOS.” Eight times in John 20 Jesus Christ is called “KURIOS,” Lord.

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

Peter reverenced the Lord when he “saw it was the Lord” and covered up his nakedness.

The disciples “knowing that it was the Lord” did not need to put the inquiry, who are Thou?

Peter responded twice to the Lord when he said, “Yes, 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 it that betrayeth Thee?”

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

Jesus Christ is Lord. Jesus Christ is KURIOS. Jesus Christ is Deity.

The Doctrine of the Bible

One of the earliest of the epistles, if not the earliest, is Paul’s letter to the Church in Thessalonica. It is generally agreed that this epistle was written A.D. 54–56. We are sometimes told that these earlier epistles do not give us the larger view that the later ones do. But is that so?

We will find in these letters the ten great Truths of the Bible. The doctrine of God, the doctrine of the Bible, the doctrine of Christ, the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, the doctrine of man, the doctrine of sin, the doctrine of salvation, the doctrine of the Church, the
doctrine of angels, and the last things.

Now, do you remember reading all that in these epistles? I know you do.

The doctrine of the Bible:
1 Thes 1:5, “Our Gospel came not in Word only.”
1 Thes 1:6, “Received the Word.”
1 Thes 1:8, “The Word of the Lord.”
1 Thes 2:4, 8, 9, “The Gospel of God,” “The Gospel.”
1 Thes 2:13, “The Word of God.”
1 Thes 3:2, “The Gospel of Christ.”
1 Thes 4:15, “The Word of the Lord.”

Sunday, May 28, 2000

Miracles

The Scripture says that John the baptist never performed a miracle. Miracles do not save you. The lame may walk, but they are still walking according to the course of this world.

Miracles were designed to draw attention to the hearing of the Word. There is a perfect illustration of this in John 6.

Two miracles and four messages — John 6
A. First miracle – the feeding of the 5000, John 6:1-15
B. Second miracle – walking on water, John 6:16-21
C. Four messages, John 6:22-71
    1. First message –John 6:2-40
    2. Second message – John 6:41-51
    3. Third message – John 6:52-59
    4. Fourth message – John 6:60-71

It is better to walk into Heaven lame than to jump into hell with both feet.

Four Days From the Divine Diary, John 1:15-51

A. Religion’s ire aroused, John 1:15-18
B. First day, John 1:19-28
C. Second day, John 1:29-34
D. Third day, John 1:35-42
E. Fourth day, John 1:43-51

Wine, Money and a Three-Day Building Program, John Chapter Two

Grace is the Greek word “CHARIS” and it occurs 12 times in Ephesians.

Accepted in the Beloved, Eph 1:6

To be accepted of the Lord means to be well-pleasing to Him. The Greek word is “EUARESTOS,” which is a compound word. “EU” means that which is well and is translated “well done” in Matt 25:21, 23, ”good” in Mark 14:7 and “well” in Eph 6:3. ”ARESTOS” signifies that which is fit, agreeable, pleasing. It is rendered “pleasing” in 1 John 3:22.

The compound word “EUARESTOS” is rendered “well-pleasing” in Phil 4:18, Col 3:20, and Heb 13:21. It is “acceptable” in Rom 12:1-2 and Eph 5:10, ”please well” in Titus 2:9 and “accepted” in 2 Cor 5:9.

The more correct rendering of each of these verses  would be “well-pleasing.” Therefore, to be accepted in the Beloved and well-pleasing to the Lord are different.

Righteousness is Used in Seven Different Ways in Romans

The primary meaning is to be right, and the context suggests the sense in which it is to be understood.

1. Personally. What God is or His acts consistent with His nature, therefore that which is right. Rom 3:5, 9, 25

2. Righteousness of the law, or what God demands from man. Rom 10:5, Rom 10:9, 25

3. Righteousness displayed in the Gospel, God’s Grace consistent with His character. Rom 1:17, 3:22-26, 3:17, 21, 8:10

4. The righteousness of God personified in Christ. He is all that God wishes and fulfilled all that He required. Rom 10:3, 4

5. The righteousness of faith. What God puts to our account when we believe in Christ. We are made the righteousness of God in Christ. Rom 4:3-22, 9:30, 10:6, 10

6. The righteousness of the spirit and what He produces in the life of the believer. Rom 14:17

7. The righteousness of the believer or the produced outcome of union with Christ. Rom 6:13, 16, 18, 19, 20

”He made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him,” 2 Cor 5:21

Your Next Trip

Do you realize all the planning you need to take a trip?
    Pack your bags.
    Make airline reservations.
    Be on time.
    Walk through a metal detector.
    Hope the plane arrives on time.
    Hope you have nice weather.
    Hope you get to the place of your destination safe and sound.
    Anxious about all the terrorists.

How about this next trip?
    Your reservations are already made for you.
    And your plane and pilot are safe and sound and sure.
    And you don’t have to pack your bags.
    There are new clothes waiting for you when you arrive.

1 Pet 2:4, “An inheritance reserved for you in Heaven.”
And the pilot ...
1 Thes 4:11, “The Lord Himself shall descend for us and those who remain will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air.”

Destination: Heaven.

He will be on time and you will be on time and there will be no need to pack your bags. You will wear white linen. I guess it will be summer time all the time.

Believe

Faith is a self-abasing Grace and is a God-reliant one. It detaches itself from earthly supports and attaches itself to God by resting in Him.

Faith has God for its Object, the Word of God for its warrant, prayer as its outlook, obedience as its expression, love as its accomplishment, the Spirit as its life, and Christ as its Lord.

1. The first time the word “believed” occurs is in Gen 15:6 where we read “Abram believed in the Lord and He counted it to him for righteousness.”

The Hebrew word means to build up or support, and therefore it is used of a nursing mother carrying her child on her hip, as the mother does in the East. The word is rendered “nursed” in Isa 60:4. How beautiful is the picture of Abram’s faith — as a child rests upon its mother’s hip, with the parent’s arm around it, and it is thus supported. So, Abram resting in God’s Word had the Lord’s protecting arm to keep Him.

Believe — Part Two

The key verse on believing is

Acts 16:31, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.”

To believe on the Lord Jesus Christ signifies to believe on Him as Jesus, and thus to be saved. To believe on Him as Christ, and thus be sanctified, set apart. And to believe on Him as Lord and thus be swayed by Him.

This is not one act merely, but a life’s attitude.

This is implied in the preposition “on” which is the word “EPI,” and as it means with the accusative case, signifies direction towards. And thus motion is implied. It denotes pressing upon as when one is letting one’s self go in order to trust absolutely in the object of its faith.

Believe — Part Three

The book in the Bible where believing God is emphasized is John. The word “PLEROO” occurs 99 times. It is once rendered “commit” in John 2:24.

The whole subject focuses around seven pivotal points.
1. The object of faith. “Believe on Him whom He hath sent,” John 6:69
2. The warrant of faith. “They believed the Scriptures,” John 2:22
3. The call to faith. “All men through Him might believe,” John 1:7
4. The chapter in which a full revelation of what believing in God means is John chapter three, where we have Christ’s own teaching about it. John 3:32
5. The word in the New Testament which corresponds to the one in the Old Testament is the one we have been considering. For there is implied not only confidence in God’s Word, but also commitment to the Lord Himself. Gal 2:7, 1 Thes 2:4
6. The derived word “PISTEUO” is derived from “PISTIS” and this comes from the primary verb “PEITHO,” which means “to convince by argument true or false.”
The word is rendered “agree” in Acts 5:40, “assure” in 1John 3:19, “believe” in Acts 17:4, “have confidence” in 2 Thes 3:4, “persuaded” in Rom 8:38, “trust” in Phil 2:24, and “yield” in Acts 23:21.

7. The practical outcome of faith in the Lord is evident when we read the many applications and associations of believing in Him.

Believing in Christ expresses itself in appreciation of Him. 4:41, 42
Satisfaction with Him, 6:35 
Confession to Him, 11:36-38
Manifestation of Him, 14:12
Acknowledgment of Him, 20:8
Walking with Him, 12:46 and
Blessing from Him, 20:31

Saturday, May 27, 2000

What We Were and What We Are! From the Book of Ephesians

What we were, what we are. Our past and our present. That is, if you are a believer in Christ, If not, your past is your present.

”For by Grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Instructed by Christ, Eph 4:17-21

Key verse, “Ye have not so learned Christ,” verse 6

Instructed by Christ:
    About the life of the walk, verse 17
    About the old man of past, habit, verse 22
    About the new man and holy living, verse 24
    About the mastery of the wayward tongue, verses 25, 26
    About the obtrusiveness of the devil, verse 27
    About the commendableness of honest labor, verse 28
    About the hopefulness of helping others, verse 29
    About the sensitiveness of the Holy Spirit, verse 30
    About the blight and bitterness of unholy temper, verse 30

Illumination in Christ, Eph 4:3-20

Key verse, “Now light in the Lord,” verse 8

Out of darkness of sin, verses 3-8
Into the relationship of light, verse 8
Swayed by the Spirit of light, verses 9, 18
Acting to the God of light, verse 10
Keeping from what is not light, verses 11-13
Walking as children of light, verses 11, 15
Worshiping in the light, verses 19, 20
Submission to Christ, verses 21-28
Evidence of being Spirit filled, verse 21
Evidence of being under Christ’s authority, verse 24

The Law of Emphasis!

The word “to abide” will illustrate:

The command of Christ to abide in Him is fruitful. And is one of the things He emphasizes. Let us see how the following questions are answered.

First, what does the word “abide” (MENO) mean? The word means “to be in the same place all the time.” It is used to where a person dwells, as when the disciples asked Christ in John 1:38, “Where dwellest Thou?”

It is used for a person tarrying in a place as when the Samaritans “besought” Christ to “tarry with them,” John 4:20.
It represents something that lasts. Here, the Lord exhorts us to labor for the meat which “endureth unto everlasting life,” John 6:27.
And Christ also used the word when He speaks of “the sin which remaineth,” John 9:41.
The continued presence of one person with another finds its explanation when Christ says, “These things have I spoken being yet present with you,” John 14:25.
The word is used when a ship is stuck fast on the rocks as when the vessel in which Paul was being conveyed to Rome. ”Stuck fast and remained unmovable,” Acts 27:41.
The word is translated “might stand” in speaking of the “fixed purpose of God,” Rom 9:11.
Christ states that those “who continue in the Word are His disciples indeed,” John 8:31.

The word is translated “dwellest, tarry,  endureth, remaineth, present, might stand, and continue.” The Greek word “MENO.” The word is interpreted in the way in which it is used.

How Did Christ Use the Word MENO?

The word MENO is mentioned by Christ in John 15, 12 times. And it is translated, “abide,” “continue,” and “remain.”

1. Command to abide. Verse 4, “Abide in Me,” This is a call to obedience.

2. Christ’s abiding in us depending on our abiding in Him. Verse 4, the order of our obedience secures the omnipotence of His presence.

3. Necessity of abiding. Verse 4, the branch is useless and helpless in itself. Ezek 25:1-6, its fruitfulness depends upon being united to the Vine. So, union and communion with Christ are essential for fruitfulness.

4. Result of abiding. Verse 5, the “much fruit” of His dying. 12:24 finds its counterpart in the “much fruit” of His living in us by our abiding in Him.

5. Consequence of not abiding. Verse 6, want of fruit proves we are professors and partakers. There may be a fruitless vine, but there cannot be a fruitless Christ. Our union with Him proves itself by fruit from Him. Hosea 14:8.

6. Blessing of abiding. Verse 7, as we answer to the Lord in our obedience, He answers to our prayers with His blessing.

7. Sphere of abiding. Verse 9, “Continue in My love.” As we live in the element of God’s love, we inbreathe His affection to our comfort and we outbreathe to others help.

8. “How to abide.” 10 “If ye keep My commandments ye shall abide in My love.” The royal road of God’s benediction is the loyal road of our faithfulness.

9. Fellowship of abiding. Verse 10, Christ does not ask us to do anything He has done to God for us, and which He promises to do in us to God’s glory.

10.  Joy of abiding. Verse 11, “The things of the world pass away, but the joy of the Lord comes to stay.”

11. Reward of abiding. Verse 16, abiding in the Son, we as abiding sons find the abiding fruit. For He not only gives the fruit of union, Verse 4 and the “much fruit” of His disciples, Verse 2 and the “much fruit” of His indwelling and abiding life to God’s glory. Verses 5, 8, but the “fruit that remains,” Verse 10, which puts us in the place of prevailing prayer.

Abide, abiding. MENO.  Christ’s teaching of the Word.

Friday, May 26, 2000

Divine Formula!

Grace always precedes peace.
You can’t have peace apart from Grace.
By “peace” we mean inner peace, not the stopping of wars. Peace with God, which is salvation, which comes from Grace, Eph 2:8-9.
And the peace of God, which is the Christian way of life. Gal 5:22-23.

When it comes to national peace, peace from military victory, the formula is that you can’t have peace apart from righteousness. Righteousness always precedes peace and the illustration is the Second Advent of Christ.

We always try to have peace. “Peace, peace and there is no peace.” We need righteous wars. When the Righteous One comes back, we have peace on Earth, i.e., the Millennium.

1 Pet 1:2, “Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
A Divine formula.

The Double Action of the Lungs of the Soul!

As we have lungs that breathe in and breathe out air, so we find that we have “lungs” of the soul that also breathe in and breathe out.
We find that there is a double aspect of every Christian Truth. And the great example is the First and Second Coming of Christ.
Every blessing that comes to us through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ has a double meaning.

Here is that which God gives to us in His objective Grace. There is the result of that Grace in a subjective sense, operating in our souls and in our life.

I have found just briefly 12 such illustrations. I won’t bore you.

Here is one:
”Two-fold meetness.” God the Father, in His love and Grace, Col 1:12, “made us meet for the inheritance of the saints in light.”

And we are responsible to see that we are, 2 Tim 2:21, “Vessels meet for the Master’s use in being sanctified and prepared unto every good work.”

”Two-fold meetings”
”Two-fold acceptance”

God in His Grace has made us:
Eph 1:6, “Acceptable in the Beloved.” And because of this we are to make it an aim and ambition, 2 Cor 5:9, “that it is well-pleasing to Him.”

”Two-fold justification.”
We are justified before God without works. Rom 3:26, 28. But, we justify our faith by our works, James 2:14-26.

Does this whet your appetite for more??

To the depth of studying the Bible there is no end.

Double Action of the Soul — Part Two

The Two-Fold Work of Grace

The Grace of God saves us from what we deserve as sinners. But it also teaches us that we should deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and live soberly , righteously, and godly.

Titus 2:11-12, “The Grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and live soberly, righteously and godly.”

The Grace of God saves and the Grace of God teaches — teaches the Christian way of life. This is the School of Grace. Grace School.

Double Action of the Soul — Part Three

Two-Fold Deliverance

God has delivered us from the power of darkness, Col 1:13, that we should be delivered from this present and evil world. Gal 1:4.

Two-fold forgiveness.
God in His wondrous love, graciously forgives us of our sin, Eph 1:7
And that is to be the incentive to forgive one another even as He has forgiven us, Eph 4:32.

Two-fold rest.
Christ promises the rest of salvation to those who come to Him. And thus they find rest of conscience from their sins.

But there is also a deeper rest, the rest of soul from anxiety. We take the yoke of God’s will upon us and keep in that yoke with our Lord, Matt 11:28-29.

“In Christ” — This is the Emphasis in the Book of Ephesians. “In Him, in Him, in Him.”

We know who the “Him” is, but what about Him?

The centralization is in “The Christ.” Not in the national blessings of Israel. Not in the doom of the world. Not in the many-headed monster of mystified 21st century development, but in Christ.

Verse 1, In the Christ of Deity, Lord.
Verse 7, In the Christ of Calvary, His blood.
Verse 5, in the Christ of Sonship, by Jesus Christ.
Verse 3, in the Christ of the heavenly places.
Verse 10, in the Christ of God’s purpose.
Verse 13, in the Christ of the Holy Spirit.
Verse 14, in the Christ of the coming glory.

Also, blessing is in Him and in no one else.

The centralized are spoken of as:
Verse 1, “saints,” as to their standing – set apart unto God for all eternity.
Verse 1, “faithful,” as to their service.
Verse 3, “blessed,” as to enrichment.
Verse 5, “children,” as to relationship.
Verse 6, “accepted” as to their position in Him.
Verse 7, “redeemed,” as to their liberty.
Verse 13, “sealed,” as to possession.

Thursday, May 25, 2000

The Personal Pronouns That the Lord Uses

Christ speaks of the Holy Spirit as another Comforter, a distinct Individuality apart from Himself.

The personal pronouns of John 14 and John 16 are these:
    The personal Helping. “He will abide with you.”
    The personal Friend known. “Ye know Him.”
    The personal Companion indwelling. “He dwelleth in you.”
    The personal Teacher instructing. “He shall teach you all things.”
    The personal Witness testifying. “He shall testify of Me.”
    The personal Ambassador coming. “I will send Him unto you.”
    The personal Comforter arriving. “When He is come.”
    The personal Reprover convicting. “He will reprove, convict.”
    The personal Title proclaiming. “When He, the Spirit of Truth.”
    The personal Guide directing. “He will guide you.”
    The personal Voice declaring. “He shall not speak of Himself.”
    The personal Ear attending. “He shall hear.”
    The personal Tongue rehearsing. “That He shall speak.”
    The personal Revealer unfolding. “He will show you.”
    The personal Glorifier enhancing. “He shall glorify Me.”
    The personal Receiver initiating. “He shall receive of Mine.”

The third Person of the Trinity. Another Comforter — another of the same kind of Comforter.

There Are 13 Greek Prepositions Connected with God the Holy Spirit

For example:

”PROS” is mentioned twice in connection with God the Holy Spirit in the accusative case. And it signifies the coming of one person to another, as Nicodemus when he came to Christ. John 3:2

Christ said of the Spirit, John 16:7, “The Comforter will not come “unto” PROS, you, I will send Him.”

”Unto you” is “PROS.” The word “PROS” means “face-to-face” with you. Intimate.

Christ promised the Comforter to carry on His work while He was away. “PROS” is used in a great sense when we find that, when we are absent from the body, we are present “PROS” face-to-face with the Lord. It’s the same preposition.

The Law of Gravitation!

This law is a power which causes objects to draw to a center, like the law of gravitation, which causes the falling apple to fall on the ground.

The bride in the Song of Solomon prays to her beloved. S.O.S. 1:4, “Draw me and we will run after thee.” The drawn one draws others. 

Notice the “me” and the “we” of the early disciples when the authorities let them go. It is said, Acts 4:23, “They went to their own company.” When Peter was let out of prison, he went immediately to the company who were, Acts 12:12, “gathered together praying.”

One of the first things that Saul of Tarsus did after his conversion, Acts 9:26, “He assayed to join himself to the disciples.”

The very names of believers demonstrate how they gravitate the one to the other — brethren, disciples, branches, members, saints, sheep, and children.

”If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me.”

Let gravity have its sway.

The Law of Geological Intent

To study the strata of the Earth and to understand its formation is always of captivating interest. And to study the Words of Scripture and to get to know the soul of their meaning is of paramount importance.

What a world of clinging meaning is made known in Psa 63:8, “Followeth hard,” when the psalmist exclaims, “My soul followeth hard after Thee,” literally “my soul is glued to Thee.”

There is the thought of not only following, hard but so close that nothing can come in between.

The same words are used of the scales of the sea monster Levithan of which it is said in Job 41:15-17, “His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal. One is so near another that no air can come between them. They are joined one to another. They stick together that they cannot be sundered.”

When the soul is so joined to the Lord, no blighting air of the world can contaminate and nothing of self or sin can come between.

Cleaving unto the Lord.

Greek Grace Gems!

The words “exceedingly, abundantly, above” are worthy of careful analysis. The word “abundantly” means “beyond measure and overmuch” in Mark 6:5 and 2 Cor 2:7. ”Exceeding” means “what is beyond measure and beyond measure.” And “above” means “what is beyond what is beyond measure. And what is beyond what is beyond measure.”

That is not all for this passage. It is an elliptical one. That is, there is something wanting yet.

So God is able to do what is beyond measure.
And what is beyond what is beyond what is beyond measure.
And what is beyond what is beyond and what is beyond measure.

Yet, what is beyond what is beyond and what is beyond what is beyond of beyond measure? That is the literal translation.

 We also must not forget “the two accordings.” What He can do for us is according to what we allow Him to do in us.

If we allow Him to work unhindered in us, He can work unlimited for us.

Wednesday, May 24, 2000

When Saul Became Paul

Religion kills. Christianity makes alive.

Christ’s Superiority! Col 1:15-19

Superior to all. “The image of the invisible God.”
Superior in order. “Firstborn before all creation.”
Superior in creation. “In Him were all things created.”
Superior in power. “In Him all things consist.”
Superior in position. “Head of the body.”
Superior in resurrection. “First begotten from the dead.”
Superior in place. “Pre-eminent.”
Superior in possessions — “All things” dwell in Him.

There is no subject as glorious as Christ. No theme so affecting to us.

Divine Source!

If we take one book of the Bible, the book of Acts, we find “the Word” is referred to
35 times as “the Word of God.”
8 times as “the Word of the Lord.”
1 time as “Thy Word.”

”The Word” is dynamic in its operation. Notice what it says about His Word in the book of Hebrews (verses 1:3, 2:2, 4:12, 6:5, 11:3, 13:7).

There lies in the dynamics of God’s Word all the latent possibilities of the life of the Almighty …  “The Word of God is alive and powerful.”

Definite in its Claims.

The book of Thessalonians illustrates the claims of the Word.
”The Word” in its authority. 1:8, 4:15, 2 Thessalonians 3:1
”The Word of God” in its power. 2:13

The Word claims the faith of our obedience and the loyalty of our love and the desire of our hope.
”I have magnified My Word above My Name.”
”Man cannot live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
”Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I may not sin against Thee.”

The Word of God is Distinct in its Prophesy

The book of Revelation illustrates what is found in many other 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 Word of God is Distinguishing in its Message

The many qualifying words of the Word of God indicate a manifold message.

It is a Word of life to quicken. Phil 2:16, “Holding forth the Word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.”

The Word of faith to beget faith. Rom 10:8, “But what saith it? The Word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;”

The Word of reconciliation to assure. 2 Cor 5:19, “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the Word of reconciliation.”

The Word of God to slay. Eph 6:17, “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God:”

The Word of Christ to indwell. Col 3:16, “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with Grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

The Word of the Lord to reveal. 1 Thess 4:15, “For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.”

The Word of faithfulness to keep. Titus 1:9, “Holding fast the faithful Word as He hath been taught, that He may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.”

The Word of righteousness to adjust. Heb 5:13, “For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the Word of righteousness: for he is a babe.”

The Word of incorruption to endure. 1 Pet 1:23, 25, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. But the Word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the Word which by the Gospel is preached unto you.”

And, the engrafted Word to fructify. James 1:21, “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted Word, which is able to save your souls.”

The Word of God is Dedicating in its Influence

When we call to mind what the Lord says He will do by means of His Word, we can see how beneficial and practical it is in its in-working and out-working. Christ taught:

To Whom a Scripture is Written!

The book of Titus may be divided into seven sections.

1. Personal salutation, 1:1-4
2. Personal supervision, 1:5-9
3. Personal subjugation, 1:10-16
4. Practical shepherding, 2:1-10
5. Precious supplies, 2:11-3:1-9
6. Perverted sinners, 3:10-11
7. Partners serving, 3:12-15

Give God What’s Right, Not What’s “Left”

Are you wrinkled with burdens? Come to church for a “faith lift.”
A lot of kneeling with keep you in “good standing.”
Don’t put a question mark where God puts a “period.”
A family altar can “alter a family.”
We don’t change the message. “The message changes us.”
In prayer don’t give God instructions. “Just report for duty.”
Exposure to “The Son” will prevent burning.
Many people want to serve God only in an advisory capacity.
Grace is difficult to give away because it is always coming back.
Forbidden fruit creates many “jams.”
Be fishers of men. You catch them and God will clean them.
God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called.
If God is your co-pilot, swap seats.
To be almost saved is to be totally lost.

The Word of God and the Word of God!

There was once an artist who made a wonderful shield and worked his own name so cleverly into it that it could not be removed without destroying the shield. The Bible is like that shield.

Christ is so identified with it that the one cannot be taken away without destroying the other. The Living Word and the Written Word are so identical, the One with the Other that they cannot be separated.

As we cannot have music without notes, eggs without shells, kernels without husks, diamond ring, without the ring, tree without life, body without soul, light of moon without sun. Neither can we have the Christ apart from the Bible.

This is true if we will call to mind one fact, namely that which is applied to Christ is designated of the Bible.

His Name is called the Word of God. Rev 19:13, “And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His Name is called The Word of God.”
Pressed upon Him to hear the Word of God. Luke 5:1, “And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon Him to hear the Word of God, He stood by the lake of Gennesaret.”

I will be unto you as a wall of fire. Zech 2:5, “For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.”
My Word is like a fire. Jer 23:29, “Is not My Word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?”

His Name shall be called Wonderful. Isa 9:6, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
Thy Testimonies are wonderful. Psa 119:129, “Thy Testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.”

Worship Him that liveth for ever. Rev 4:10, “The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne,”
The Word of God liveth for ever. 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.”

My beloved is chiefest among ten thousand. SOS 5:10, “My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.”
The Law of Thy mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver. Psa 119:72.

A bone of Him shall not be broken. John 19:36, “For these things were done, that the Scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of Him shall not be broken.”
The Scripture cannot be broken. John 10:25, “25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in My Father's Name, they bear witness of Me.”

Christ taught the Truth and He is the Truth.

The Description of Believers in Eph 1:1-13

”Saints,” verse 1, as to their standing.
”Faithful,” verse 1, as to their service.
”Blessed,” verse 3, as to their enrichment.
”Children,” verse 5, as to their relationship.
”Accepted,” verse 6, as to their position.
”Redeemed,” verse 7, as to their liberty.
”Sealed,” verse 13, as to their possession.

The Divine Power, Eph 1:15 - Eph 2, Omnipotence

The Divine power is demonstrated in two ways:

Christ’s resurrection, 1:18-20, there are three “whats” of meaningful importance which the Holy Spirit’s illumination enables us to see.

What is the hope of His calling.
What is the riches of His the glory of His inheritance.
What is the greatness of His power.
The hope of His calling is what we will have when the Lord has accomplished all of His purposes.
The riches of His inheritance is what the Lord has in His people.
The greatness of His power is what He demonstrated in Christ’s resurrection on our behalf. And what He can do for us and in us.

The sweep and the substance of that power is apprehended as we ponder these seven words.
”Power, greatness, exceeding, mighty, working, wrought, power”

The first word “power” signifies power as an inherent quality. The second word “power” is the manifestation of power in action.
Power is latent in the inactive dynamite. But its power is patent when it explodes and rends the massive rock.

The Power of God in Eph 1:19-20

Greatness, exceeding, power, mighty, working, wrought.

Greatness: The word only occurs here. But it is derived from a word which signifies magnitude, and magnificence, and so we read of
The Great God. The Great High Priest.  The Great Shepherd.

Exceeding: This is a compound word and one part means “that which is over and above something else.” The other part meaning “to throw.” And therefore, the word means “to go beyond a given point.”

Power: The second word. Denotes the manifestation of power,