Divine Sugar Sticks for June 2001

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Friday, June 1, 2001

The Gospel – Titus 2:11-14

“The Grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world looking for that Blessed Hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”

What is said of the nature of the Gospel?

1. The name – “the Grace of God”
2. The subject – “bringeth salvation”
3. The manifestation – “hath appeared”
4. None are excluded from its benefits – “to all men”
5. None are exempt from its appointments – “to all men”

What the Gospel teaches:

1. It teaches us to “deny ungodliness and worldly lusts.”.
2. What it teaches us to do – “to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.”
3. What it teaches us to expect – “Looking for the Blessed Hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”
   

A Christian Family

3 John 4, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in the Truth.”

1. Christian parents.
   A. Praying parents
   B. Exemplary parents
   C. Watchful parents
   D. Happy parents
   
2. The children.
   A. They believed the Truth.
   B. They loved the Truth.
   C. They lived the Truth.

The Christian education of children is a duty.

”As we received commandments of the Father,” Deut 6:6-7, it is a very old commandment.

The Church’s Amen – Rev 22:20-21

1. The last testimony.
2. The last prophecy. “Surely I come quickly.”
3. The last prayer – “Amen.”
4. The last blessing – “The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.”
5. The last amen.
   

   

The Redeemed in Heaven – Rev 7:9-10

1. The great number of the redeemed.
2. The extensive variety of the redeemed.
3. The beautiful appearance of the redeemed.
4. The delightful song of the redeemed.

”And after this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb with white robes and palms in their hands.”

”And cried with a loud voice saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne and unto the Lamb.”

The greatest period of evangelism will take place in the Tribulation.

The Devil’s Work in Humanity – 1 Peter 5:8-9

1. His inspiration is malignant – “a roaring lion.”
   
2. His purpose is destructive – “Seeking whom he may devour.”

The devil’s work counteracted by humanity.

1. Thoughtfulness, “be sober” – mental stability.
   
2. Diligence – “be vigilant.”
   
3. Steadfastness – “Whom resist steadfast in the faith.”
   

   

A Bag With Holes – Haggai 1:6

1. Those persons come under this description who pride themselves on the accumulation and possession of wealth.
   
2. The man is dropping his money “into a bag with holes” who is spending any large proportion of it in things which minister chiefly to pride and vain glory.
   
3. Those persons who put their wealth “into a bag with holes,” that are more concerned about leaving their children a better world than they are of supporting the ministry of the Word of God.
   
4. Those persons who are putting their money into “a bag with holes,” who spend it in the earthly and temporary joys and pleasures.
   

   

Salvation is of the Lord – Jonah 2:9

1. Salvation is wholly of God in its origin with the Father.
   
2. Salvation is wholly of God in its execution by Jesus Christ.
   
3. Salvation is wholly of God in its application by the Holy Spirit.

”But I will sacrifice unto Thee with the voice of thanksgiving, I will pay that that I have vowed, salvation is of the Lord,” Jonah 2:9.

Isaiah’s Solemn Message – Isaiah Chapter One

1. A high charge exhibited in God’s Name against the Jewish assembly and the nation.
   A. For their ingratitude, verses 2, 3.
   B. For their incorrigibleness, verse 5.
   C. For the universal corruption and degeneracy of the people, verses 4, 6, 21, 22.
   D. For their rulers’ perverting of justice, verse 23.
   
2. A sad complaint of the judgments of God which they had brought upon themselves by their sins, and by which they were brought almost to ruin, verses 7-9.
   
3. A just rejection of those shows and shadows of spiritual defection and apostasy, verses 10-15.
   
4. An earnest call to a change of mind setting before them life and death, verses 16-20.
   
5. A threatening of ruin to those who would not be reformed, verses 24, 28-31.
   
6. A promise of a happy reformation at last, and a return to their primitive purity and prosperity, verses 25-27.

And all of this is to be applied to us, not only to a community of which we are a member, or a nation, but to the state of our souls.

As goes the believer, so goes the nation.

“PLEROMA” – “The Fullness of the Gospel”

Rom 15:29, “And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ.”

”PLEROMA” is a Greek word which means to fill full with a quality and to totally possess.

1. The fullness of the Gospel in what it consists:
   A. A full Christ for empty sinners.
   B. A full salvation for lost sinners.
   C. A full assurance for doubting sinners.
   D. A full restoration for fallen sinners.
   E. A full comfort for sorrowful sinners.
   F. A full food for hunger sinners.
   G. A full love, joy, hope, and peace for all.
   
2. What are we to do with this fullness?
   A. Believe it.
   B. Receive it.
   C. Enjoy it.
   D. Live it.
   E. Impart it.
   F. Depart with it.
   

Saturday, June 2, 2001

The Heart of the Gospel

“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.

1. Who was made sin for us?
2. What was done with Him who knew no sin?
3. Who did it?
4. What happens to us in consequence?
   

   

The Ascension of Christ – Luke 24:51

1. Consider the ascension of Jesus Christ as the crowning fact of the life of Christ.
2. Consider Christ’s ascension as His enthronement as King over all.
3. Consider Christ’s ascension in relation to His coming again.

The death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and session of Christ.

God’s Gracious Love – John 3:16

1. Its characteristics.
   A. Eternal “loved” – who can tell when it began?
   B. Compassionate – “the world”
   C. Unspeakable – “So”
   
2. Its manifestation.
   A. Condescending.
   B. Limited – “believeth”
   C. Blessed.
   1. Negative – “Shall not perish”
   2. Positive – “Have everlasting life”

”God so loved the world, that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”

“What time I am afraid I will trust in Thee, in God I will praise His Word, in God I have put my trust, I will not fear what flesh can do unto me,” Psa 56:3-4.

David is saying that whenever he is fearful, he is going to trust in the Lord in that particular time.

Fear of circumstances is evidence that you have lost confidence in the Lord at that time. We should find it just the reverse. It is when we are fearful of circumstances and conditions that we ought to turn to the Lord.

Fear drove David to the Lord. ”What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee.”

Does fear drive you to the Lord? Or does fear drive you away from the Lord?

”I have not given you the spirit of fear, but of love and a sound mind.”

“Thou tellest my wanderings, put Thou my tears into Thy bottle, are they not in Thy Book,” Psa 56

Notice this phrase, “Thou tellest my wanderings.” Our Lord knows all of our sorrows, griefs, and misunderstandings, the bewilderments, heartaches, and the confusion that comes into the souls of His children.

You may be in deep distress and feel that you have reached the end of yourself, and can’t go on any further. It is easy to get that way in this day and age.

You may feel that there is no use in living. Life has disappointed you. Life has failed you.

In fact, you yourself haven’t accomplished the things that you set out to accomplish. You may feel that you are a complete failure.

The Lord knows how you feel. Your tears are in a bottle. Your tears, your sorrows, your heartbreaks, your spiritual agonies are in a Book.

The Lord knows and He is conscious of your need and He wants to help you.

“When I cry unto Thee, then shall mine enemies turn back, This I know, for God is for me,” Psa 56:9

Here is one thing we need to be conscious of, and it is one of the most wonderful truths in the world. Satan and his emissaries are fearful of our prayers.

When we pray meaning business, we know that God will hear us. We find that promise in Psa 145:18, “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, that call upon Him in Truth.”

The cry of a little child in agony, in pain, in distress, brings the mother and the father to them right away and they pick him up and hold him. You can’t stand to listen to the cry of your child when there is a broken heart, when the child has been hurt spiritually or emotionally and is confused and can’t understand. The sobs of distress touch your heart. If that is your reaction to your child in need, can’t you understand that your cries of sorrow touch the heart of the Lord?

Therefore, when we cry out to Him with a broken and distressed heart, the Lord always comes to us right away.

”We cry, Abba, Father.”

“Jesus, Thou Son of David, Have Mercy on Me”

In the Bible we find many illustrations of the Lord’s concern for those with broken and distressed souls. We see that He always answers those who cried out to Him in need.

The poor, blind beggar, Bartimaeus, when he cried out, our Lord stopped. There was a great multitude around Him, yes, but when he cried out, “Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy upon me,” the Lord stopped. There was a cry of a soul in need.

Just as our Lord responded to the cry of Bartimaeus, He will respond to our cries in need.

Remember the poor woman who had an issue of blood for 20 years? She spent everything she had on physicians and they couldn’t help her. But she heard the Lord was coming. There was a great multitude around Him, and she touched His garment, suddenly the Lord stopped. Why? Because a hand reached out in need and touched Him.

God will stop whatever He is doing to hear your cry and help you. This is the reason that Satan is fearful. David knew that Satan would be afraid and all of his enemies would be fearful when he prayed.

Mary of Scotland said one time that she feared the prayers of John Knox more than all the armies of England. The most powerful thing on Earth today is prayer because it releases the infinite, almighty power of the Lord.

Call upon Me, I will deliver thee glorifying Me.

“It is Well” “It is Well” “It is Well” “It is Well”

2 Kings 4:26, “Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say to her,”
”It is well with thee.”
”It is well with thy husband.”
”It is well with the child.”
”And she answered, it is well.”

1. “It is well” – Death is not a calamity to the Christian, “It is well.”
   
2. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of life Paul said, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
   
3. And he yet testified, “To depart and be with Christ is far better.”
   
4. In view of the home prepared for the saved, “I go to prepare a home for you, that where I am ye may be also.”
   
5. It is well with the child of God, even in this life.
   
6. Appeal to the living – “Is it well with your soul?”
   
7. The word in our text repeated four times “well” is the Hebrew word “SHALOM,” which means peace.

To depart is peace, peace, peace, peace. Well, well, well, well.

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

”Absent from the body, face-to-face with the Lord.”

Forbidden Marriages

Ezra 9:12, “Now, therefore, give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever, that ye may be strong and eat the good of the land and leave it for an inheritance in your children for ever.”

Forbidden marriages:

1. are contrary to the express command of God, 2 Cor 6:14.
2. are inconsistent with the most sacred aspects and ends of marriage.
3. imperil the salvation of the soul.
4. are inimical to wise and harmonious home relationships.
5. are detrimental to the best interests of the children of the marriage.
   

   

God Protects His People

Job 1:12, “And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold all that he hath is in thy power, only upon himself put not forth thine hand, so Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.”

1. The protection God gives to His people and servants is vexation of Satan and his instruments.
2. Satan, the father of lies, sometimes speaks Truth for his own advantage – quoting Scripture.
3. The people and servants of God dwell in the midst of enemies, in the midst of dangers.
4. God Himself undertakes the guarding and protection of His people.
5. You see how the hedge goeth, not only about his person and household, but about all that he has, his most insignificant things are hedged about.
   

   

Standing at the Foot of the Cross!

On the Cross lifted
Thy face we scan
Bearing that Cross for us
Son of man.

Thorns form Thy diadem
Rough wood Thy throne
For us Thy blood is shed
Us alone.

No pillow under Thee
To rest Thy head
Only the splintered Cross
Is Thy bed.

Nails pierced Thy hands and feet
Thy side the spear
No voice is nigh to say
Help is near.

Shadows of midnight fall
Though it is day
Thy friends and kinfolk
Stand far away.

Loud is Thy bitter cry
Sunk on Thy breast
Hangeth Thy bleeding head
Without rest.

Loud scoffs the dying thief
Who mocks at Thee
Can it, my Saviour, be
All for me?

Gazing afar from Thee
Silent and lone
Stands those few weepers Thou
Callest Thine own.

I see Thy title, Lord
Inscribed above
”Jesus of Nazareth”
King of love.

What, O my Saviour
Here didst Thou see
Which made Thee suffer
And die for me!

Sunday, June 3, 2001

The Joy of Joys!

O joy all joys beyond
To see the Lamb that died,
And count each sacred wound
In hands, and feet, and side.

To give to Him the praise
On every triumph won,
And sing through endless days
The great things He hath done.

Look up, ye saints of God,
Nor fear to tread below,
The path your Saviour trod
Of daily toil and woe.

Wait but a little while
In uncomplaining love,
His own most gracious smile
Shall welcome you above.

”When I awake, I will awake with Thy likeness.”

Homeward Bound!

There is a blessed home
Beyond this land of woe,
Where trials never come,
Nor tears of sorrow flow.

Where faith is lost in sight
And patient hope is crowned,
And everlasting light
Its glory throws around.

There is a land of peace
Elect angels know it well,
Glad songs that never cease
Within its portals swell.

Around its glorious throne
Ten thousand saints adore,
Christ, with the Father one
And Spirit, evermore.

”No more sorrow, no more tears, no more pain, no more death.”

Eternal Conversation!

The following words are taken from the incarnate life of our Lord. They consist of words He heard, prayers He prayed, and quotations from the Psalms which the New Testament writers consider appropriate upon the lips of our praying Lord or in the mouth of the Father.

These expressions of the love of the Father and Son-made-man are surely more than a hint of the “eternal conversation” enjoyed within the glorious life of the Godhead. How Jesus Christ prayed on Earth is a powerful echo of the eternal intercessions of the priest in the Holy Place.

”Thou hearest Me always,” John 11:42.

Christ listening.

”I will be to Him a Father and He shall be to me a Son,” Heb 1:5, 2 Sam 7:14.

”The Father said unto Me ...” John 12:50.

”Thou art My Son, This day have I begotten Thee,” Heb 1:5, Psa 2:7.

”Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever. A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Thy Kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity, therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows,” Heb 1:8-9, Psa 45:6-7.

”Sit on My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool,” Heb 1:13, Psa 110:1.

”Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec,” Heb 5:8, Psa 110:4.

”Thou art My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,” Mark 1:11.

”This is My Beloved Son, hear Him,” Mark 9:7.

”For He received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a Voice to Him from the excellent glory, This is My Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, and this Voice which came from Heaven we heard, when we were with Him in the holy mount,” 2 Pet 1:17-18.

Holy Conversation!

Adoration and Thanksgiving

“I honor My Father,” John 8:49.

”He gave thanks,” Luke 22:19.

”I will declare Thy Name unto My brethren, in the midst of the assembly will I sing praise unto Thee,” Heb 2:12, Psa 22:22.

”Abba, Father,” Mark 14:36.

”Blessed be Thou, O Lord, our God, Eternal King, Who bringeth forth bread from the Earth,” Luke 22:19, Mark 8:6.

The Jewish Grace said before meat, which would be used by our Lord:

”Not that any man hath seen the Father, save Him which is of God, He that seen the Father,” John 6:46.

Holy Conversation!

Fellowship

“Behold I and the children which God hath given Me,” Heb 2:13, Isa 8:18.

”... As His custom was He went into the synagogue,” Luke 4:16.

”Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and His praise in the congregation of the saints. Let Israel rejoice in Him that made him. Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise His Name in the dance. Let them sing praises unto Him with the timbrel and the harp. For the Lord taketh pleasure in His people. He will beautify the meek with salvation. Let the saints be joyful in glory. Let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand. Praise ye the Lord,” Psa 149:1-6, 9.

”Go to My brethren and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father, and to My God, and your God,” John 20:17.

”Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings ...” Eph 1:3.

“Who Will Show Us Any Good?”

I imagine that there are many Christians over the world today that are asking the question which we find in Psalm 4, “There be many that say, Who will shew us any good?”

Yes, there is a great deal of distress, anxiety, confusion, bewilderment, and disappointment in the souls of may Christians today.And probably there are many who are saying what is the use? Who can help us? Who can show us any good?

But the psalmist goes right on and says, ”Lord, lift Thou up the light of Thy countenance upon us.” In other words, let the light of Your face shine on us.

Remember that is the great blessing we find in Num 6:22, “And the Lord spoke unto Moses saying speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel saying unto them, the Lord bless thee and keep thee.” The Lord will bless you and keep you.

We find preservation here in verse 25, “The Lord maketh His face shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee.” There is a guarantee of help in time of trouble through God’s Grace.

Remember, “Where sin abounded, Grace did much more abound.” The sin of some may be tremendous, yet the Grace of God can overdo and undo anything that the sins of others might do. There we find help in time of trouble.

In verse 26, “The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee and give thee peace.”

This is perfect peace, a God-given peace, an eternal peace, the powerful, guarding, protecting peace. How true that is.

So we find in Psalm 4,”There be many that say, Who shall shew us any good?” Then the psalmist goes on and says, “Lord lift Thou up the light of Thy countenance upon us.”

Psalm 4:7, “Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.”

You may lose material things. But the Lord has put a greater gladness in your heart than any material wealth can give. Remember this: The spiritual joy is greater than material pleasure.

We need to learn to put our trust in the Lord. We need to be conscious of the fact that His eye is ever upon us.

He is looking over us and wants to help us and will if we only give Him the opportunity by going to Him.

David goes right on and says, “I will lay me down in peace, and sleep, for Thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.”

There is the answer.I know there are heartaches, confusion, distress, anxiety, depressiveness in the minds of God’s children. You may feel “Who will show us any good? Who can help us?” The Lord can. The Lord can give you strength. He can help you in time of trouble.

He can give you perfect peace. Because remember, “For Thou, Lord, only maketh me to dwell in safety.”

“Thou hast put gladness in my heart more then in the time that their corn and their wine increased.”

”The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee and give thee peace.”

”I will lay me down in peace, and sleep, for Thou, Lord, only maketh me dwell in safety.”

The three things that you and I need anywhere, in any walk of life, the Lord alone can give and no man can take from us.

1. He gives contentment. Spiritual joy is greater than material pleasure.
   
2. Restfulness. We can lay down and sleep. We need not only a contented life but a restful soul.
   
3. We need a sense of security. “For Thou, Lord, only maketh me to dwell in safety.”

The three things that man needs to enjoy life God can give you and will give you, regardless of where you are.

No man can take away restfulness from you if it is the restfulness that God gives you.

No man can destroy your sense of security if you will just trust the Lord, put yourself in His hands.

It is wonderful to be a Christian even in time of distress, heartache, disappointment, and loss.

Monday, June 4, 2001

The Confidence That Christians Need!

God deals with man according to man’s faith. “According to thy faith, so shall it be unto you.” “The just shall live by faith.” The word “faith” means confidence. The root word from which we get the words “faith” and “believe” is the Greek word “PISTIS,” which means confidence.

There are five things we need to be convinced of our Lord to have a life of faith.

First, we need to be convinced that He loves us.

1 John 4:16, “And we have known and believed that the love that God hath to us. God is love, and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him.”

We have to make a correction here because this is a poor translation, which certainly contradicts thousands of other Scriptures. “Herein has love for us been made perfect.”

This is the perfect love that brought our Lord down from Heaven, made of a woman under the law, He went about doing good and then He gave His life on Calvary’s Cross for our sins.

”Herein ... Because God is love, we believe this, has love for us been made perfect.” Why? That we may have boldness in the day of judgment because as He is, so are we in this world.

”There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

If we trust God because of His love for us, we will never fear anything. You may love a person and still be very fearful. Women love their husbands and the more they love their husbands, the more distressed they become. Because they fear that their husband is not true to them. They fear that their husband doesn’t love them.

So, if we are going to walk by faith and remember that “the just shall live by faith,” first you have to be convinced of God’s love for you.

”We love because He first loved us.”

Christian Confidence – Part Two

Second, you have to be convinced of God’s faithfulness to you. We have to be convinced of God’s motives in His acts toward us. Psa 86:15, “But Thou, O Lord, are a God full of compassion and gracious, longsuffering, plenteous in mercy and Truth.”

A God that loves us, a God that is full of compassion, a God that is full of mercy and Truth, a God that is gracious and longsuffering, certainly will be faithful to us and we need to have faith in His motives.

And when we do, we can say with Paul, “For we know that all things work together for good to those that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose,” Rom 8:28.

So, if we are going to walk in faith, we have to have faith in God’s love and in God’s motives.

God is faithful and His compassion is renewed every morning.

The Confidence Christians Need – Part Three

Thirdly, we have to have faith in God’s faithfulness. God is faithful. God wouldn’t gain anything by lying to us. He would lose everything.

”He is not a man who lies, or a son of man who can repent (change His mind).” We find this is the Book of Numbers. “He is faithful that promised.”

Way back there in the dawn of man’s history He promised Adam and Eve a Redeemer. He promised them One whose heel would crush the head of the serpent. Gen 3:15.

It took His Son’s life on Calvary’s Cross to fulfill that. Do we question His faithfulness? Of course not!

He loves us, therefore we know that whatever He does to us or for us or with us it will work out for good because He is faithful.

Confidence Needed by Christians – Part Four

Fourth, we need to have faith in God’s power. He is able to do everything He said He would do. He created the Heavens and the Earth.

The One that came and died on the Cross for us revealed His great love for us. And that love should cast out any fear in our lives.

He is the One who created the Heavens and the Earth. We know God is able to do all things, so we need to have faith in God’s power.

”With God nothing is impossible.”

”Christ is the wisdom and the power of God.”

Christian Confidence – Part Five

Fifth, this is the one I am afraid that causes so much distress today in the minds of many of God’s children.

We need to be satisfied with what God gives us. This is the lesson we have to learn if we are going to enjoy the Christian way of life.

Paul wrote in Phil 4 to the Church at Philippi, thanking them for the help that they had sent, the money they had sent to him. Phil 4:10, “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last your care of me hath flourished again, wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.”

He rejoices in the fact that the Philippian Church had sent help to him and he goes on to say, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need,” or loss.

”I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me.”

Paul had learned a great and important lesson, if we are going to walk in faith, and really enjoy the Christian way of life, knowing that God said, “According to thy faith so shall it be unto you.”

First – we have to have faith in God’s love.
Second – we must have faith in God’s motives.
Third – we should have faith in God’s faithfulness.
Fourth – we must have faith in God’s power.
Fifth – we need to be satisfied with what God gives us.

The Advantage of Being a Christian

Have you ever stopped to realize what it costs a person in not being a Christian?

If you have never yet made a decision to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour because you felt it was not important to be a Christian, then let me mention a few things that it has cost you. I hope this will also help Christians in dealing with lost loved ones and friends.

First, it costs you peace of mind. “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

There is nothing in this world that will bring peace in the soul of man outside of the Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ we have peace. He is our Peace, and not only do we have peace with God, but we also have the peace of God.

Life is not worth living if you don’t have peace of mind. It is only in Christ we find peace. Failing to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour costs you peace.

”I will keep him in peace, peace, because his mind is stayed on Me.”

”He is our Peace, Who hath broken down the wall of partition.”

”The Prince of Peace”

Advantage of Being a Christian – Part Two

Second, it costs the most over-flowing joy that can be known on Earth. 1 Pet 1:8 speaking of our Lord, “Whom having not seen, ye love, in Whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.”

It costs you that wonderful joy, the joy that only our Lord can give through trusting Him.

Rejecting Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour costs you not only peace, but joy.

When Christ arose from the grave He said, “Hail,” but the word is “joy.”

The joy of salvation. Unspeakable joy.

Advantage of Being a Christian – Part Three

Third, it costs you hope. Without Christ you have no hope.

Ephesians 2.we find that the Gentiles have no Messiah, no Christ. “They are aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”

It costs you hope. Titus 2:13, “Looking for that Blessed Hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”

Hope for the future is much more important than any possession of today. When you reject Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, it has cost you not only peace, but joy and hope.

Hope is the word “ELPIS,” which means an anticipation of something joyous to happen in the future.

Two more advantages to being a Christian will follow, if you follow.

June 6, 1944 D-Day!

The God of war goes forth to war,
A kingly crown to gain.
His blood-red banner streams afar
Who follows in His train?

Who best can drink His cup of woe
Triumphant over pain;
Who patient bears His Cross below
He follows in His train.

The martyr first, whose eagle eye
Could pierce beyond the grave;
Who saw His Lord in the sky
And called on Him to save.

Like Him with pardon on His tongue
In midst of mortal pain;
He prayed for those who did the wrong
Who follows in His train?

A glorious band, a chosen few
On whom the Spirit came;
Twelve valiant saints, their hope they knew
And mocked the Cross and flame.

They met the tyrant’s brandished steel,
The lion’s gory mane;
They bowed their necks, the death to feel
Who follows in His train?

A noble army, men and boys
The matron and the maid;
Around the Saviour’s throne rejoice
In robes of light arrayed.

They climbed the steep ascent of Heaven
Through peril, toil, and pain;
O God, to us may Grace be given,
To follow in their train.

The Good Fight

Fight the good fight with all thy might,
Christ is thy strength, and Christ is thy right.
Lay hold on life, and it shall be
Thy joy and crown eternally.

Run the straight race through God’s good Grace
Lift up thine eyes, and see His face.
Life with its way before us lies
Christ is the Path, Christ is the Prize.

Cast care aside, lean on thy Guide
His boundless mercy will provide,
Trust, and thy trusting soul shall prove
Christ is the Life, and Christ its love.

Faint not nor fear, His arms are near,
He changeth not, and Thou art dear.
Only believe, and thou shalt see
That Christ is all in all to thee.

“I have fought the good fight ...”

Tuesday, June 5, 2001

The Advantage of Being a Christian – Part Four

Fourth, it costs eternal life if you reject Christ.

”God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him shall never perish, but have everlasting life,” John 3:16.

In Romans it says, “That the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.”

You have no eternal life without Christ, and your life consists of only a few years that you live here on this Earth, without Christ, and then you have a Christless eternity.

It costs you eternal life, which means life without our Saviour Lord throughout all eternity. It costs you peace because you are not a Christian. It costs you joy because you are not a Christian.

You have given up any chance for hope because you are not a Christian. And you have given up eternal life.

I don’t think that anybody with any degree of intelligence at all would want to do something that would cost them all of that.

The Advantage of Being a Christian – Part Five

Fifth, it costs you a heavenly home, without Christ, a home through all eternity.

In John 14 Christ said, “Let not your heart be troubled. Ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. I will come again, and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, ye may be also.”

Just stop and ask yourself if it is worthwhile to be a Christian. Consider what it has cost you in rejecting Christ as your personal Saviour.

1. You have no peace of mind.
2. You have no overflowing joy.
3. You have no hope.
4. You have no eternal life.
5. You do not have a heavenly home being prepared for you.

So we ask again, is it worthwhile to become a Christian? And we say, “Yes.”

You become a Christian by putting your faith and trust in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection for your salvation.

I think it is a shame that people don’t realize what it is costing them to reject Christ as their personal Saviour. They will not have hope or eternal life or a heavenly home. You do not have One to intercede for you now in your hour of need and weakness.

Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of God the Father, interceding for Christians, and if you reject Him, you have no help for the present.

It is worthwhile to become a Christian? It certainly is.

A Guarantee of the Lord’s Presence!

Psa 16:8, “I have set the Lord always before me.”

The trouble with so many people is that they are in such a hurry that they don’t do what the Lord says. “Be still and know that I am God.”

So few of us get as much out of the Christian way of life as God intends us to because we are in such a hurry. And we don’t think of our Lord, which is the basis for our difficulty.

Remember in this golden Psalm of David, “I have set the Lord always before me.” David kept the Lord ever before him. Just begin today by putting the Lord before you. Be ever mindful of Him.Keep your mind on Him and that will make a great difference in your life.

David goes on to say, “Because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.”

The trouble with so many of us today is that we are slaves to problems, slaves to conditions and circumstances. When everything is going good, we feel good. But if something goes badly, we feel bad. If someone says something bad about us we get hurt, if someone compliments us we feel good. We don’t live within ourselves. We are subject to circumstances and conditions and people’s opinions of us. We are moved so easily.

But in this great golden Psalm, David said, “Because the Lord is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” After all, if the Lord is for us, who can be against us? What difference does it make?

Isa 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with thee.”

If we will start out today by putting the Lord before us, remember that He is at our right hand, and depending upon Him, we are going to find out that we will live a stable, calm, rich life.

You may be in difficulties. You may be greatly distressed. You may be confused and greatly hurt. Put the Lord before you and you will have peace.

Omnipotence – the Power of God

It is wonderful to know that we are safe in God’s hands and that God hears us and answers our prayers.

The value of prayer to us depends entirely upon our conception of God. When we pray to our heavenly Father, let us be reminded of God’s Grace, His love and power, and prayer becomes very valuable to us.

The ability to turn a problem over to the Lord depends our conception of the Lord. As we study His attributes, His characteristics, our faith in Him is strengthened. We know He loves us, He is faithful, and He is powerful. Therefore, we can turn our problems over to Him and have peace.

God is omnipotent. God is all-powerful. This knowledge brings great peace and rest into our souls. When we realize the great power of the Almighty God can work for us, we rest in Him. But so few of God’s children seem to remember that God is powerful, or they have never been taught the meaning of God’s power to them personally.

If we are going to be convinced of God’s ability to help us, we must be convinced of His power. When we look around us at the universe and realize that everything was created by Jesus Christ, we realize in a small way the extent of His power. He spoke and the world came into existence.

God’s power is so great that the finite mind cannot begin to grasp its magnitude. Meditate on the power behind creation. God is not limited to tools and materials. He willed and the whole world came into existence.

Until we realize the great power of God, we can never have a true conception of Him. In times of difficulty we may go to a loved one for help. Even though our loved ones want to help us more than anything else in the world, they may be limited and unable to help us.

But there is One who is not limited, One who can help us, One who has all power and that is God our heavenly Father.

Psa 62:11, “God hath spoken once, twice have I heard this, that power belongeth to God.”

God is all powerful. He shall work and who shall turn it back?

Wednesday, June 6, 2001

June 6, 1944 D-Day Remembered! Love of Country!

I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above.
Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love.
The love that asks no questions, the love that stands the test,
That lays upon the altar, the dearest and the best.
The love that never falters, the love that pays the price,
The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.

And there is another country, I’ve heard of long ago,
Most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know.
We may not count her armies, we may not see her King,
Her fortress is a faithful soul, her pride is suffering.
And soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase
And her ways are ways of graciousness and all her paths are peace.

June 6, 1944 Remembered

Brief life here is our portion
Brief sorrow, short-lived care;
The life that knows no ending
The tearless life, is there.

For thee, my dear, dear country
Mine eyes their vigils keep;
For very love, beholding
Thy happy name, they weep,

Their grief is turned to pleasure
Such pleasure as below;
No human voice can utter,
No human soul can know.

And now we fight the battle
But then shall wear the crown;
Of full and everlasting
And passionless renown.

Omnipotence and the Power of God! “Is Anything too Hard For Me?”

Nothing can resist the power of God

All through the Old Testament we find evidence of God’s power. In the New Testament we find our Lord coming to reveal God to man and we see the power of the Godhead in His life.

We see God’s power over the elements, His power in holding back the Red Sea, in destroying the enemies of Israel, in protecting them in their wilderness wanderings. ”Is anything to hard for Me?”

We find the Lord saying to Abraham and Sarah, “Stop and meditate on the power of God.”

Then realize that this great power can be put into effect into your life, you can see the power of God working for you, if you will only believe in Him. “Christ the wisdom and power of God.”

You can see God’s power in your life over sin and the world. You can see God’s power in your life to destroy all doubt, fear, and anxiety.

God’s power can be experienced in your life to give you a peace, so great that it passeth the understanding of human minds.

Omnipotence – God’s Power!

The love of God and the faithfulness of God would be ineffective to help in our lives in bringing peace in time of need, if it were not for the great power of the Lord.

Sometimes we limit God’s power in our life and permit Him from doing for us what He would like to do because of unbelief. ”He could perform no miracle there because of their unbelief.”

When we doubt the omnipotence of God, we limit His power and you are sinning because all doubt is sin. If your conception of God is not as almighty, all powerful, all loving, gracious, righteous, the faithful God, then prayer has little meaning for us.

When you are convinced that God is gracious, that God is faithful, that God is righteous, that God is powerful, that God loves you, you are going to turn your problems over to Him and forget all about them because you know you can depend upon His help.

Because you are convinced that He loves you, you know He wants to help you. He is all-powerful, therefore He can help you. He is faithful, therefore He will help you as He has promised.

The value of prayer to you depends upon your conception of God.

I hope that the power of God will bring you a greater knowledge of the Lord, learning to know Him better, and strengthen your faith. Then you will be able to turn all your problems over to Him and you will have the perfect peace that passeth understanding.

The Faithfulness of God!... “He Abideth Faithful”

There is only one thing in this world that man can absolutely depend upon, and that is the laws of God. A lot of people never give that a thought. They take the faithfulness of God for granted. It is God’s law and not man’s law.

Suppose the Lord removed the law of gravity temporarily. What would happen? Every unattached object in the world would fly off into space. The average human being in ten minutes would be 6,000 feet in the air, if God became unfaithful to His laws.

Then suppose while we were 6,000 feet in the air, going higher, God suddenly put the law of gravity back into force again. Down we would come, and a lot of people would be hurt.

But because the law of gravity is a law of God, we can depend on it. All around us we see the faithfulness of God. Whatever God has ordained is certain.

”God is not a man that He should lie, neither the Son of man that He should change His mind, hath He said, and shall He not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall He not make it good?” Num 23:19.

”Great is Thy faithfulness.”

God’s Faithfulness!

In the life of Abraham we have a wonderful example of God’s faithfulness in His promises.

In Gen 21 we read “And the Lord visited Sarah, as He had said.”
”And the Lord did unto Sarah as He had spoken.”
”For Sarah conceived and bare Abraham a son in his old age.”
”At the set time of which God had spoken to him.”

Here is the fulfillment of God’s promise to Sarah. Here is the faithfulness of God revealed to Sarah.

The Lord did as He had spoken. God always does as He says.

God’s Faithfulness

Psa 33:19, “The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought, He maketh the devices of the people of none effect. The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations.”

The determinations, agreements of man and counsels of mankind do not mean a thing because God says they are of none effect. But the counsels and determinations and statements of our Lord are certain and continuous.

God is faithful, therefore, we can really depend upon Him. And that is the reason why in verse 12 we have, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord and the people He hath chosen for His own inheritance.”

Because He is faithful, we can depend on Him. There are many people who say that they believe God is faithful, but their lives show that they don’t trust Him. Believing that God is faithful and depending on Him to do everything He said He would do are two different things.

”He is faithful who hath called you.”

Faith in the Promises of God!

When it comes to faith in the promises of God, are you like Sarah or are you like Abraham?

What we need to do is to keep our minds on God’s faithfulness, in waiting for the fulfillment of His promises to us.

God promised Abraham and Sarah that they were going to have a son. Sarah, couldn’t believe God’s promise because she looked at her own body and she felt she was too old to bear children. So she laughed at God’s promise. Abraham was not weak in faith because he did not consider that which might keep God from fulfilling the promise.

Many of us are like Sarah. We believe that God makes His promises, but we take our mind off of His faithfulness in fulfilling them. We look at the things that might keep Him from fulfilling His promise and become impatient. We become unwilling to wait for His set time, His appointed time.

We believe that God is faithful, but we don’t depend upon Him if He doesn’t answer us the moment we pray.

”Wait I say, and again I say, wait on the Lord.”

”Wait patiently for Him.”

June 6, 1944D-Day!

O faith of America taught of old,
By faithful shepherds of the fold,
The hallowing of our nation;
Thou wast through many a wealthy year
The Rock of our salvation.

Arise, arise, good Christian men
Your glorious standard raise again,
The Cross of Christ who calls you.
Who bids you live and bids you die,
For His great cause, and stands on high
To witness what befalls you.

Our fathers heard the trumpet call
Through lowly cot and kingly hall,
From overseas resounding.
They bowed their stubborn wills to learn
The truths that live, the thoughts that burn
With new resolve abounding.

Arise, arise, good Christian men
Your glorious standard raise again,
The Cross of Christ who guides you.
Whose arm is bared to join the fray,
Who marshals you in stern array
Fearless, whatever betides you.

Our fathers held the faith received
By saints declared, by saints believed,
By saints in death defended.
Through pain of doubt and bitterness,
Through pain of treason and distress,
They for the right contended.

Arise, arise, good Christian men
Your glorious standard raise again
The Cross of Christ who bought you.
Who leads you forth in this new age
With long enduring souls to wage
The warfare He has taught you.

Though frequent be the loud alarms
Though still we march by ambushed arms
Of death and hell surrounded.
With Christ for Chief we fear no foe
Nor force nor craft overthrow,
The Church that He has founded.

Arise, arise, good Christian men
Your glorious standard raise again
The Cross wherewith He sealed you.
The King Himself shall lead you on
Shall watch you till the strife be done.
Then near His throne shall find you.

Thursday, June 7, 2001

God’s Faithfulness

Gen 18:11, “Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age, and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. Therefore, Sarah laughed within herself saying, after I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also??”

She questioned God’s promise. But how does God answer? Gen 18:14, “Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life and Sarah shall have a son.” We need to keep our minds ever on this verse when we are waiting for the Lord’s promises to be fulfilled in our life.

Notice first, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”
God told Abraham that there was nothing too hard for Him. He could do everything He promised. God is almighty and He can do everything He promises to do. He is all-powerful. Nothing is too hard for Him. God is able to change the laws of nature to fulfill His promises. No obstacle will stand in the way of God when it comes to fulfilling His promises.

Second – Notice what else God said, “At the time appointed I will return unto thee according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”
God was going to do everything that He promised, but He was going to do it in His own time, at the proper time, the set time, the appointed time. In Genesis 21, “And the Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as He had spoken, for Sarah conceived and bare Abraham a son in his old age at the set time of which God had spoken to him.”

That is the second thing we need to keep our minds on when we are waiting for the fulfillment of God’s promises. God is faithful to do everything He said He would do. Nothing is too hard for God. But His promise will be fulfilled at the set time, the appointed time, the proper time, the time God ordained.

God’s Faithfulness!

In waiting for God’s promises to be fulfilled, we should do as we find in Psa 37, “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. It is good to both hope and patiently wait for the salvation of the Lord,” meaning, as a believer, to save out of the difficulties and troubles in our lives. A lot of Christians find it difficult to wait for God’s time.

2 Tim 2:15, “If we believe not, yet He abideth faithful, He cannot deny Himself.” Notice this is written to a young man and it is good for all young Christians to be ever aware of.

Impatience is a sign of two things.

1. First – we have not submitted our wills to the Lord.
2. Second – we are spiritually immature.

If we have submitted our wills to God’s will and are willing to do as our Lord did and that is to say, “Nevertheless, Father not My will but Thine be done.”

We will wait patiently for the fulfillment of His promises because we are depending on His faithfulness. We are willing to wait for Him patiently for the fulfillment of His promises to us. Then there will be a high degree of joy, of anticipation, “hope.”

God’s faithfulness can be depended upon. The time might not be right or the thing we asked for may not be good for us, in which case God in His faithfulness will withhold it from us.

We have to learn to depend entirely upon the Lord’s knowledge. Don’t try to subject God’s will to your will. Learn to submit your will to God’s will. When you have perfect confidence in the faithfulness of God, you can be assured that whatsoever He has promised, He is able to perform.

Once we have these Truths in our minds, a change will come into our lives.

The Mid-East Crisis Because Sarah Laughed at the Promise of God

Notice the result of impatience in Sarah’s life – the Mid-East Crisis.

In Genesis 16 we find that Sarah sends her handmaid unto Abraham that Abraham might have a child of the handmaid – an Arab is born.

Sarah felt that God was not able to perform the promise through her. Then she sent the handmaid (an Egyptian) and consequently multiplied her sorrows. When the handmaid conceived, the handmaid despised her mistress. Sarah became jealous, was unfair to her handmaid, and dealt harshly with her.

All through the Old Testament we find the seed of Ishmael, the son after the flesh, and the seed of Isaac, the son after the promise, are at enmity one with another. The Mid-East crisis – same father different mothers. ”The child of the bondmaid persecutes the child of the promise.”

For 14 years, from the time Abraham was fourscore and six, and Ishmael was born, until the time he was a hundred years old, when Isaac was born, the presence of this child brought sorrow to Sarah’s soul. Had she not laughed at and doubted the power of God and had she been willing to wait for God to fulfill the promise instead of trying to bring it to pass of her own efforts, she would not have to bear this burden.

Many of the burdens we bear are of our own making and are the direct result of failure to trust the Lord to do that which He said He would do.

When He does not give us something the minute we ask for it, we try to get it by our own efforts. Then we have to bear the consequences of our acts – sorrow, heartaches, and distress come into our lives.

But notice God’s faithfulness in spite of Sarah’s failure to trust the Lord. He was faithful and merciful.

”At the appointed time Sarah conceived and bare a son.” If Sarah claimed the promise of God, there would be no Mid-East crisis.

At the appointed time Christ came, born of a woman.

Thought For the Day

What caused the Mid-East crisis?

Sarah not claiming the promise of God!!

There is only one thing we are told to fear in the Bible – that is not claiming the promises of God.

It is Amazing That as Children of God We Have to be Reminded Over and Over Again of God’s Faithfulness to Us

Here is another example of God’s faithfulness.

We find it in Abraham’s life when God brought comfort into Abraham’s sorrowing soul.

”And Sarah saw the son of Hagar, the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking, wherefore she said unto Abraham, cast out this bondwoman and her son, for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac, and the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight because of his son.”

Sarah does as so many of us try to do. We try to get rid of the things that are unpleasant to us. There is a great deal of sadness in Abraham’s soul because he loved the son, Ishmael.

I imagine it made him very greatly distressed, but notice Abraham’s reaction. ”And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of the bondwoman, in all that Sarah had said unto thee hearken unto her voice, for in Isaac shall thy seed be called, and also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.”Another illustration of the Mid-East crisis.

God answered Abraham’s troubled soul with Divine Grace which was sufficient for his needs. God always answers our problems and difficulties with Grace, and His Grace is always sufficient to meet our needs. God always helps us if we are willing to look to Him in time of difficulty, when we have to make decisions that hurt us, in times when we see we must do things we would rather not do.

Abraham turned to God, and we need to turn to God. When we do, He will not fail to comfort us and give us Divine Grace sufficient for our needs.

”My Grace is sufficient for thee.”

Friday, June 8, 2001

God’s Faithfulness and Wisdom!

“If any man lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God.”

We see that Abraham preferred God’s Word. He was willing to do what God told him to do. Therefore we find God’s wisdom guiding Abraham. God told him to do as Sarah had told him.

God is faithful in giving us wisdom to make every decision we have to face.

”If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

God was faithful in guiding Abraham.

There is one thing that many of us forget, that is, God gives wisdom to those who are seeking it, to those who really want it.

You may have decisions to make, decisions that are hard to make. You don’t know which way to turn. Turn to the Lord in faith and He will show you the right thing to do.

”He guideth thee with His eye.”

The Faithfulness of God and His Immutability!

“God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

Whatever He did for one man, He will do for every man if every man will let Him. God will give you wisdom. His wisdom will guide you.

”Thy Word is a Light unto my path.”

But you must be willing to depend on Him. He knows your mind and soul. If you are willing to depend upon Him, He will guide you. But God cannot guide you unless you trust Him. He cannot give you His wisdom unless you are depending upon Him. He knows your mind. You can’t fool God. He knows whether or not you are sincere.

God is interested in guiding His children because He is our Good Shepherd.

”Jesus Christ, the power and the wisdom of God.”
”The entrance of Thy Word giveth light.”
”Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way, but taking heed thereunto Thy Word.”

God’s Faithfulness and Ishmael

God not only gave Abraham comfort, but He also encouraged him. God encouraged Abraham by telling him that from the son of the bondwoman, God would also make a nation. ”Because Ishmael was also the seed of Abraham” – the Mid-East crisis.

God was not going to forget Ishmael. You can experience God’s faithfulness in encouraging you in time of difficulty.

In Psa 27:13 we find a Truth that all of us need to remember. David said, “I had fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”

The majority of Christians have put their trust in Christ’s death on Calvary’s Cross for their sins. They believe that when they die, He is going to take them from this Earth to Heaven. But they have been led to believe that they cannot expect His help today, right now. All of the blessings of being a child of God are in the far, far future and nothing is in the present, they feel.

If you are in deep distress, confusion, and heaviness of soul, you have the right to expect Grace from God in your life today. You can expect God to meet your needs now because God has promised and He is faithful to do everything He said He would do.

If you really believe that God is going to do good things for you today, if you really believe that you can see the Grace of God now in the land of the living, then this verse will be your motto. Psa 27:14, “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.”

The Lord encouraged Abraham through His Word, and the Lord encourages us today through His Word.

God’s faithfulness can be experienced in your life if you are just willing to trust Him to do everything He has said He would do. We must keep our eyes on His faithfulness. We must keep foremost in our minds His faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to us. When we do, we are going to know God is faithful, and that this is for our good or it wouldn’t have happened.

We are going to keep depending upon His faithfulness.

”He is faithful who hath called you.”

God’s Faithfulness and Sodom and Gomorrah!

We have another example of God’s faithfulness. One Truth that God’s children must ever be mindful of is that God does hear and answer prayer.

Here we have a marvelous example of God’s faithfulness in answering prayer.

Gen 18:17-22, “And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the Earth will be blessed in Him? For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of him.” Train up a child. ”And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto Me; and if not, I will know. And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the Lord .”

In this 18th chapter of Genesis, we find the Lord appearing unto Abraham. Abraham became the host of our Lord, and the Lord said He was going to reveal to Abraham what He was going to do.

Hasn’t the Lord revealed to us through His Word His future plans and purposes? When we study His Word and draw nigh unto Him in prayer, God reveals to us through His Word His great plans and purposes.

”Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath entered into the mind of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.”

”But, God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit, for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God, for what man knoweth the things of man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God, now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God. That we might know the things that are freely given unto us of God.”

When we walk in the Spirit, the Spirit reveals to us the things of God. We find that just as Abraham had communion and fellowship with God, we must have fellowship with God before His plans and purposes are revealed to us.

God told Abraham that He was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah.

God’s Faithfulness Regarding Sodom and Gomorrah!

God told Abraham that He was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of their great wickedness.

Now we find a blessed truth regarding intercessory prayer. “And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt Thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city, wilt Thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?”

Notice first – Abraham drew near to God. Everyone can’t do that, but what a blessing it is to know that we have Christ as our personal Saviour Who can draw near to God.

Heb 4:14-16, “Seeing that we have a High Priest that is passed into the Heavens. Jesus Christ the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession, for we have not a High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of Grace that we may obtain mercy, and find Grace to help in time of need.”

We draw near unto God through prayer, and when we pray, God opens the doorway of Heaven and we become into the very presence of the throne of Grace. Prayer draws us close to God.

Psa 34:18, “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”

Every cry from one of God’s agonizing children not only draws that one close to God, but it also draws the Lord close to that one.

God gives to you and me who put our trust in Him the privilege of approaching Him on the throne. And throne of judgment becomes a throne of Grace because our Lord and Saviour is there.

Prayer brings us close to God. We find that first Abraham drew near, and then he prayed.

Jerusalem.... City of Peace ...

And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon America’s mountains green?
And was the Holy Lamb of God
On America’s pleasant pastures seen?

And did the countenance Divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among those dark satanic mills?

Bring me my bow of burning gold.
Bring me my arrow of desire.
Bring me my spear, O clouds, unfold.
Bring me my chariot of fire.

I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
Till we have built Jerusalem,
In America’s green and pleasant land.

God’s Faithfulness in Answering Prayer!

What did Abraham pray for? Lot, his nephew, was in Sodom. But Abraham didn’t pray for Lot. He prayed for the entire city. This is a blessed truth, and it is good to keep in mind that the Lord is praying for all of His children.

In Gen 18:24-26 we find a definite prayer.

”Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city, wilt Thou also destroy and not spare the place for fifty righteous that are therein. That be far from Thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from Thee. Shall not the Judge of all the Earth do right? And the Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city. Then I will spare all the place for their sakes.”

First Abraham asked for fifty. He had a definite purpose in his prayer. Abraham knew what he wanted and prayed very definitely.

One of the reasons we doubt God’s faithfulness in answering our prayers is that we never pray for anything definite. We ask for things in general and then wonder why our prayers are not answered.

Matt 7:7, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son asketh bread, will He give him a stone? Or if he asketh a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in Heaven give good things to them that ask Him?”

Here we find one asking for fish. A very definite prayer. A definite request. God doesn’t give a stone. When we go to our Heavenly Father in prayer, we should have something definite in our minds, and we should keep in mind that He is only going to give us good things.

Some people question the faithfulness of God in answering prayer because they have prayed for something they haven't received. If it had been good for them, God would have given it to them. God does not promise to give us everything we ask for. He promises only to give us “good things.”

”There is no good thing that He will withhold from them that walk uprightly.”

The Faithfulness of God in Answering Our Prayers

Abraham appeals to the righteousness of God in prayer. “Shall not the Judge of all the Earth do right?”

We need to depend upon God’s righteousness. God has promised in the day of trouble He will deliver us if we call upon Him.

Do we depend upon that? Do we depend upon God’s righteousness? If you do, you will have perfect peace and rest for your soul because you know He is righteous. Therefore, you know He will hear and answer your prayer.

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

If you are willing to depend upon God’s righteousness, you will have perfect peace and rest. Because He has promised you and He is righteous. You can depend upon His faithfulness.

Notice God’s response to Abraham’s prayer. “If I find, I will spare for their sakes.” God was not going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah if He could find fifty righteous people there.

Fifty righteous people would have withheld God’s wrath against those cities ... How does our country stand in lieu of this same principle?

Saturday, June 9, 2001

God’s Faithfulness in Withholding His Wrath – Even in Houston

Abraham appeals to the righteousness of God in destroying Sodom. “Shall the Judge of all the world do right?”

We need to depend upon God’s righteousness. God has promised in the day of trouble He will deliver us if we call upon Him. Now, do we depend upon that? Do we depend upon God’s righteousness? If we do, we will have perfect peace and rest for our souls because we know He is righteous. Therefore, we know He will hear and answer our prayers.

If we sin, we are to confess our sin, as Christians. 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

If you are willing to depend upon God’s righteousness, you will have perfect peace and rest, because He has promised and is righteous. You can depend upon His faithfulness.

Notice the Divine response to Abraham’s prayer. “If I find ... I will spare for their sakes.”

God was not going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah if He could find 50 righteous people there. Fifty righteous people could have withheld God’s wrath against those cities.

Have you ever stopped to realize that the only thing withholding God’s wrath today against the nations of the wicked is the righteous in those nations?

There is a day coming when the Lord is going to take His Church home to be with Him. I believe it because He said it and He is faithful. Then God is going to pour out His wrath upon the Earth. But God is not going to pour out His wrath upon this Earth as long as His children, His bride is here. One of the things we are saved from is the wrath to come.

”For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from Heaven whom He raised from the dead.”

”Even Jesus Christ which delivered us from the wrath to come.”

The Faithfulness of God and Persistent Prayers

Abraham was very persistent in prayer. He kept on interceding. First, for 50, and then for 45, then 40, then 20, and then 10. Rom 12:12, “Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation.” “Continuing instant in prayer.”

We are never to stop praying. But we find that Abraham had a limit. “And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet this once, Peradventure ten shall be found there, and He, speaking of God, said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake. And the Lord went His way as soon as He had left communing with Abraham.” When Abraham got down to 10 he gave up, because he felt it was hopeless and helpless.

Notice the contrast in the intercession of men and the intercession of our Lord and Saviour. ”Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” He ever lives to make intercession for us.

Man has a limit to his endurance in intercession. But thank God our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ does not have a limit. Why? Because He is faithful.

Lam 3:22, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed. Because His compassions fail not, they are new every morning. Great is Thy faithfulness.”

God’s Faithfulness and Promise to Abraham Destroying Sodom

Notice how Abraham prayed. First, he drew near to God. Secondly, he interceded unselfishly for the entire city. Thirdly, he prayed for something very definite. Fourthly, he appealed to God’s righteousness. Abraham’s prayer was not based on anything he had done, but he prayed to God appealing to God’s righteousness. Fifthly, he was persistent in prayer. Sixthly, but Abraham had a limit to his intercession.

Now we find God’s faithfulness in answering Abraham’s prayer. The Lord sent two angels to Lot with a Divine message. “And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters which are here, lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.”

Lot didn’t deserve to be delivered. In Gen 19 we find that Lot behaved dishonorably toward his daughters. He would have sacrificed his daughters’ own honor in order to have peace. He associated with the ungodly, the wicked, and “vexed his righteous soul.” What was Lot doing down here with the ungodly, the wicked? He had no business here.

But notice the faithfulness of God. Abraham prayed for the righteous. And God was merciful unto Lot because of Abraham’s prayer,

Notice that Lot held back and had to be dragged out of the city. The angels had to take him by the hand and take him forth out of the city. He lingered. He held back.

Certainly we see not only the faithfulness of God, but also the mercy of God toward this man.

God’s Faithfulness and Grace

We are like Lot, not worthy of anything, but because of our Lord and Saviour in interceding for us and praying for us, we experience the mercy and Grace of God daily in our lives.

God answered Abraham’s prayer. “And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham.And sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot dwelt,” verse 29.

Abraham prayed for ten righteous and God saved Lot and his daughters. Abraham had given up, but God remembered His prayer and delivered Lot.

Can’t you see the faithfulness of God in this lesson? God has promised to hear and answer our prayers. God is faithful to do everything He has promised. He is faithful to answer our prayers.

Whenever you pray, remember God’s faithfulness. Never give up, keep on praying. Remember, whatever God does for one man, He will do for every man if the man only will let Him.

Pray for others. God is faithful. He will answer your prayer, because God is faithful. He will not deny Himself.

“He Restoreth My Soul,” Psa 23

Restoration is the means by which a person out of fellowship, a carnal believer, gets back into fellowship, i.e., spirituality. This is for believers only and the key word is “confess,” as used in 1 John 1:9.

1. Jesus Christ was judged for our sins on the Cross.
   A. Old Testament, Isa 53:3-5.
   B. New Testament, 1 Pet 2:24, 2 Cor 5:21.
   
2. Under the law of double jeopardy, these sins cannot be judged again. Jesus Christ does not have to bare our sins again.
   
3. Restoration is the extension of propitiation, literally, satisfaction.
   
4. The blood of Jesus Christ, which speaks of Christ bearing our sins, is the foundation for forgiveness. 1 John 1:7,Heb 9:22.
   
5. The work of the blood of Christ is twofold:
   A. Cleansing at the point of salvation.
   Old Testament, Isa 44:22, Psa 103:12, Gal 3:6-8.
   New Testament, Eph 1:7, Rev 1:5, Heb 9:2,Rom 5:9.
   B. Cleansing in time.
   Old Testament, Psa 32:5, Psa 51:1-5, Isa 43:25-28.
   New Testament, 1 John 17 linked with 1 John 1:9.
   
6. The reason restoration works is that the blood of Christ keeps on cleansing, 1 John 1:7, from all sins.
   A. All sins were paid for at the Cross.
   B. Forgiveness was provided at the Cross.
   C. Restoration results in cleansing. 1 John 1:9.
   
7. Decision to be restored. Let us enter into judgment.
   A. Old Testament, “Let us plead together,” Isa 43:26.
   B. New Testament, “Let a man examine himself,” 1 Cor 11:28, “If we judge ourselves.” 1 Cor 11:31, the communion table.
   
8. Therefore, confession of sin is recognition of:
   A. Old Testament – God knew, omniscience, what would be accomplished at the Cross.
   1 Pet 1:18-29, “winked at sin,” which means He held up judgment of sin until the Cross. Acts 17:30.
   B. New Testament – What was accomplished at the Cross, 1 Pet 2:24.
   
9. This means:
   A. Old Testament – God looked forward to the Cross.
   B. New Testament – Go back to the Cross where sin was judged.
   

   

Biblical References For Believers Being Restored to Fellowship!

1. “Confess,” 1 John 1:9
   
2. “Judge self,” 1 Cor 11:31
   
3. “Yield,” Rom 6:13, 12:1
   
4. “Lay aside every weight,” Heb 12:1
   
5. “Be in subjection of the Father,” Heb 12:9
   
6. “Lift up the hands that hang down,” Heb 12:12
   
7. “Make straight paths,” Matt 3:3, Heb 12:13
   
8. “Arise from the dead,” literally, “stand up again our from deaths,” Eph 5:14
   
9. “Put off the old man,” Eph 4:22
   
10. “Acknowledge thine iniquity,” Jer 3:13
    
11. Old Testament restoration commands. Psa 32:5, 38:18, 51:3-4, Prov 28:13
    

    

The Doctrine of Restoration

1. Restoration must be understood in the light of relationship with God, Jer 3:13, or in the light of positional Truth, Rom 8:1.
   
2. The frame of reference for restoration is the efficacious death of Christ on the Cross, where He paid for our sins. 2 Cor 5:21, 1 Pet 2:24, John 1:7.
   
3. Eternal security is the prerequisite to understanding the restoration technique. Rom 8:38, 39. The believer sins after salvation, but such sin is categorized as “carnality,” not loss of salvation. 1 Cor 3:1-3, 1 John 1:8, 10.
   
4. Restoration means restoration to fellowship with God and the filling of the Holy Spirit. Prov 1:23, Eph 5:14 cf, Eph 5:18.
   
5. The mechanics of restoration is confession of sin, 1 John 1:9. Then forget it, Phil 3:13. And then isolate it, Heb 12:15.
   
6. The alternative to restoration is Divine discipline. 1 Cor 11:31, Heb 12:6.
   
7. The discouragement to restoration is legalism and other Christians, Luke 15:11-32.
   
8. The Grace provision for helping other believers to restoration.
   A. The mechanics, Gal 6:1.
   B. A mental attitude of Grace, Matt 18:23-35
   C. Grace orientation, Col 3:13
   D. Reward for assisting others, James 5:19-20

”He restoreth my soul,” Psa 23

An Exegetical Categorical Study of Restoring Another Believer

James 5:19, “Brethren, if any of you do err from the Truth, and one convert him.”

James 5:20, “Let him know that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death and shall hide a multitude of sins.”

”If” is a third class condition in the Greek. It is potential. You have a choice. You may or you may not.

”Any of you believers do wander from the Truth.” Maybe you will and maybe you won’t, but if you do.

”And one,” a believer, restores or brings him, the believer out of fellowship, back.

”Let him,” the restorer, “know to that which restores or brings back the sinning one, from the error of his way, shall deliver the soul from temporal death, or the sin unto death, and shall cover a multitude of sins.”

The washing of the disciples’ feet in John 13:2-20 speaks again of restoration to fellowship, rather than getting saved.

The context teaches that the one is saved once and for all, but needs many restorations to fellowship.

The analogy is that the bath, washing the whole body, speaks of salvation. The washing of the feet was done many times, referring to the getting back into fellowship via 1 John 1:9.

Sunday, June 10, 2001

Biblical Instructions for Awaiting the Rapture

1. Resting in the promise of the Rapture. 2 Thes 2:1-2, “Now we beseech you brethren, by (concerning) the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and by our gathering together unto Him (the Rapture). That ye be not soon shaken in mind (know the Word of God) or be
   troubled (emotionally), neither by spirit (demon), nor by word (false teacher), nor by letter as from us (a forged letter), as the day of Christ (day of the Lord), the Second Advent is at hand.”
   
2. Have patience. James 5:7. Continue claiming the Word of God. “Be patient, therefore, unto the coming of the Lord.”
   
3. Have confidence. Phil 1:6. “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ (the Rapture).”
   
4. Stay in fellowship. 1 John 2:28. “And now little children, abide (stay in fellowship) in Him, that when He shall appear, we may have confidence and not be ashamed (result) before His coming.”
   
5. Get where you can learn the Word of God. James 5:8. “... Be ye also patient, stablish your hearts (minds), for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”
   
   This refers to using the mind as a staging center for transferring the Word by faith. As the believer does this, a spiritual structure is erected ...edification.

Paul in Col 1:9-10 was desiring that the “Colosse pocket” there have a breakthrough, “filled with the knowledge of God.” Isa 33:6, “And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of the times.”

2 Tim 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.”

A ”workman” is a person who witnesses, making the issue clear. The issue is: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved,” Acts 16:31.

Helping Another Believer to Get Back Into Fellowship With the Lord

“Restore such a one,” Gal 6:1.

1. Do not run down a believer out of fellowship or malign them. This does not help them.
   
2. Do not get “carnal” (out of fellowship) when helping others. Remember you have failed, too. Consider the source as per Gal 6:1.
   ”Brethren, if a man be taken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such as one in the spirit of meekness, considering yourself, lest thou also be tempted.”
   ”Restore” is a medical term for a setting a broken bone.
   
3. Do not try to be the Lord’s whip. Rom 12:19, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath (step aside, let the Lord work), for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord.”
   Give wrath a wide berth. Two angry people cannot communicate.
   
4. Have an attitude of Grace. Matt 18:23 and following. Always deal with a person in Grace. Understand and operate on the principle of Grace. This does not compromise your convictions. Forgive as the Lord Jesus Christ forgave, completely and immediately. Rom 7:14.
   
5. There must be an attitude of fellowship. James 5:19-20.
   ”If” (third class condition) “any of you believers do wander from the Truth (maybe you will and maybe you won’t, but if you do), and one (believer) restores or brings him (believer out of fellowship) back, let him (the restorer) know that he which restores or brings back the sinning one from the error of his way, shall deliver the soul from temporal death or the sin unto death, and shall cover a multitude of sins.”
   
6. The washing of the disciples feet, John 13:2-20, speaks of restoration to fellowship rather than getting saved. The context teaches that one is saved once and for all, but needs many restorations to fellowship. The analogy is that the bath, washing the whole body, speaks of salvation. The washing of the feet many times referring to getting back into fellowship. 1 John 1:9.

Case history – the prodigal son. Once a son, always a son.

Old Testament Restoration Back to Fellowship With the Lord

Isa 43:25, “I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions, for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.”

1. Here is the principle of restoration.
   ”Thy transgressions” – confessed sins.
   ”For Mine own sake” – for the sake of Jesus Christ.
   ”Will not remember thy sins” – unknown sins.
   When we confess the known sins, He blots out the unknown sins. The same as 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins,” the known sins. ”And cleanse us from all unrighteousness,” the unknown sins.
   
2. The mechanics of restoration.
   Isa 43:26, “Put me in remembrance. Let us plead together, declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.”
   ”Put me in remembrance” – cause me to remember to be restored. It is the only hope for me as a believer, and for the nation. The health of the nation depends upon the spiritual life of its born-again individuals.
   ”Let us plead together” – Let us enter into judgment. All sins were judged on the Cross in Christ.
   ”Declare thou” – Confess, name it to God the Father. You do the confessing, acknowledging. You never confess your sins to Jesus Christ.
   ”That” – Result clause, as a result of confessing.
   ”You may be justified” – cleansed, be made experientially righteous.
   
3. The alternative to restoration.
   Isa 43:27-28, “Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against Me. Therefore, I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches.”
   
   A. Verse 27, “Thy first father” – King Hezekiah.
   ”Hath sinned” – Reference to the sins of Hezekiah whereby the Assyrians invaded the land. So, starting at the top there had been sin.
   ”Thy teachers have transgressed” – The teachers did not teach the Word of God. Only Isaiah did.
   
   B. Verse 28, “Profaned” – Destroyed, referring to the fifth cycle of discipline as it would come, Leviticus 26.
   ”Given Jacob” – Unbelieving Israel.
   ”To the curse” – Fifth cycle of discipline.
   ”Israel to reproaches” – Believers. Believers suffer with unbelievers in national discipline. The fifth cycle refers to the Babylonian captivity.
   
   The alternative to the Word of God and restoration back to fellowship is Divine discipline. ”Many are weak, sickly, and sleep.”
   
4. Other restoration passages in the Old Testament.
   Psa 32:5, Psa 51:1-5, Psa 38
   

Psalm 23!

Down through the ages the 23rd Psalm has brought joy to many of God’s children. It has been a blessing to all that read it. The secret of the great joy which this Psalm brings is found in the very first verse, “The Lord is my Shepherd.”

To fully appreciate the blessing of this wonderful Psalm, we should first understand what the word “shepherd” means. Secondly, what characteristics of a shepherd are. What does the word shepherd imply?

In the original manuscripts, the word “shepherd” was “JEHOVAH-ROHI.” What does “ROHI” mean? It has several applications which show a little bit more than we usually attribute to the term “shepherd.”

2 Sam 5:2, “Thou shalt feed My people, Israel, and thou shalt be a prince (ROHI) over Israel.” The word “prince” or “captain” is translated from the Hebrew “ROHI,” the same word from which we get the word “shepherd.”

We find another application of “ROHI” in Exodus 33:11, where “ROHI” is translated as “friend.” The word “friend” implies affection and interest. So, the moral attitude is right between the Lord, “our Shepherd” and ourselves.

The “Lord as our Shepherd” not only has complete authority over us, but also, as a “Friend,” He is interested and concerned with us.
More to follow …

“The Lord is My Shepherd” – Part Two

In Psa 78:70 we see in type the work of our Lord as the “Shepherd.” ”He took David ... from following the ewes great with young, He brought him to feed Jacob, His people, and Israel His inheritance.”

Notice, how He fed them. This is the way the Lord feeds and guides us. ”So He fed them according to the integrity of His heart, and guided them by the skillfulness of His hands.”

Because of the integrity of the heart of our “Shepherd,” we shall never have to worry. He does not feed us according to our stalwartness or froward ways. Of course, we do things which prevent Him doing as He would like to do. But that desire to help never leaves the heart of our Lord. He guides according to the skillfulness of His hands, not our understanding.

In Isa 41:10-11 we find the gentleness and kindness of our Lord as “Shepherd.” He is not harsh. He is gentle, kind, and considerate. He will gather the lambs in His arms.

In other words, He will strengthen the weak. He picks them up as a “Shepherd” of great love and carries them in His bosom close to His heart. He is ever ready to help those who are weak and immature. He is gentle to those who are with young.

He feeds His flock with concern and interest. How wonderful to know that we are kept by the power of God and we are in the heart of God. The affection of God’s heart is upon us as His sheep. He loves us just as He loves His Son.

In Ezek 34:11-16, we find that He is devoted to His own. We see His devotion exhibited in His searching and seeking out His own to give them rest.

More to come ….

“The Lord is My Shepherd!”

These passages of Scripture in Psalms and Isaiah are all directed to Israel.Israel is the name for the believing remnant in Israel. Jacob is the name for the unbelievers in Israel. But we know the Lord is the same to all of His children, to all who have been born again.

In John 10 we find our Lord speaking of the Church saying that He had “another flock” which was not of this fold, referring to Israel.

So, we see that everything that a “Shepherd” could do or be to His own sheep, our Lord does for us and is to us.

More to come …

Monday, June 11, 2001

“The Lord is My Shepherd”

In order to have this Psalm do for you what God intended, that is to bring you joy and peace to sorrowing and distressed souls. We must see the characteristics of the Lord as the “Good Shepherd” as well as understanding what the term “Shepherd” implies.

In John 10, we see some of the characteristics of our Lord as our “Shepherd.” John 10:11, “I am the Good Shepherd.”

First, we see that the Good Shepherd gives His life for His sheep. Christ, as Shepherd, thought more of His sheep than He did of His own life. What a great love that is. He willingly gave His life for His sheep.

His love is a love that gives everything one can possibly give. This is a love which we cannot thoroughly understand, but we can accept it and appreciate it. Assurance and a sense of security come into our souls when we realize that our Lord and Saviour thought more of us than He did of His own life.

That is the basis for our faith.
That is the basis for our hope.
That is the basis for assurance and peace.

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

“The Lord is My Shepherd”

In John 10:27 we find that He knows His sheep. “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”

It is wonderful to know that there is One who really knows us. Sometimes we think that we know our friends, but we really don’t. Our friends feel they know us, but they don’t. All others know about us what we permit them to know. They don’t understand the great strife and trouble within our souls – sorrow of soul – the great grief and sorrow we suffer. They do not know the battle we are having with our weaknesses.

But there is One who knows. Christ knows us just as we are. He knows the desire in our souls to please God, in spite of our weaknesses.

Our friends are more influenced by our mistakes, weaknesses, and failures, than by our virtues. But our Lord knows our virtues as well as our weaknesses. We have a Shepherd who “knows His sheep and loves them.”

John 10:3, “He calleth His own sheep by name and leadeth them out.”

Mary, on the morning of the resurrection, was looking for the Lord. One came to her and asked her why she wept and she did not recognize Him. But as soon as our Lord said, “Mary,” her eyes were opened and she recognized Him. She didn’t recognize Him, but He knew her.

“The Lord is My Shepherd”

“He calleth His own by name and leadeth them out.”

”My sheep hear My voice, and I know them and they follow Me.”

Lazarus was in the tomb. Jesus Christ called, “Lazarus, come forth” and he came out. There is a good picture of the Good Shepherd calling His sheep by name.

One of these days our Saviour is going to call us by name and He will lead us forth.

In John 10:14 we find that the sheep know Him, “I am the Good Shepherd and know My sheep, and am know of Mine.”

Unfortunately some of us do not know Him well enough. We do not know His great love for us, His concern and compassion. Compassion means to suffer with. We do not realize th