Divine Sugar Sticks for July 2000

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Monday, July 31, 2000

Verse for Today!

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

”He made Him” – God the Father made Jesus Christ
”Sin for us, who knew no sin” – Christ, being sinless is qualified as Saviour
”That” – purpose clause
”That we might be made the righteousness of God in Him”

At the point of salvation we receive the righteousness of the eternal Son of God qualifying us for Heaven and our guarantee. God looks at the believer and sees His Son’s righteousness in you, and you are accepted in the Beloved.

Eph 1:6, “To the praise of the glory of His Grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved.”

Your Defense Attorney!

1 Pet 2:24, “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

2 Cor 5:21, “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

Rev 1:5, “And from Jesus Christ, who is the Faithful Witness, and the First Begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the Earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood.”

B. The Father judged our sins when Christ was bearing them. Psa 22:1-6.

1 Pet 3:18, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”

C. Since a person’s sins were judged once and for all at the Cross, they cannot be judged again! Rom 6:10, the Law of Double Jeopardy.

“For in that He died, He died unto sin once: but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God.”

D. Therefore, since you can only be judged once for yours sins, Satan’s accusation are thrown out of court, because that sin was already judged at the Cross.

The basis of defense:
1 John 1:7, “The blood of Christ keeps on cleansing from all sin.” 

S.S.S. – Serious Students of Scripture

God’s disposition of the sins of the world:

A. Sins of the unbeliever.
    1. Christ bore his sins on the Cross. 1 Pet 2:24, “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
He also rejected human good. Eph 2:8-9, “For by Grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

    2. The unbeliever who rejects Christ stands on human good and this does not measure up, but his sins are never mentioned – because they have already been judged in Christ. Rev 20:12, “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”
They are condemned on the basis of rejecting Christ – John 3:18, “He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only Begotten Son of God.”

B. Sins of the believer.
    1. Christ bore his sins on the Cross.
    2. Therefore, when Satan accuses the believer in Heaven, Jesus Christ, our defense Attorney, pleads our case and the case is thrown out of court. He’s our Saviour-Lawyer!

The Roster of the Apostles

1. The 11 disciples were given the gift of apostleship, making them apostles to the Church.

2. The 11 as listed in Acts 1:13 are:
    A. Peter, Simon Peter
    B. James, son of Zebedee, the brother of John
    C. John, the brother of James
    D. Andrew, Peter’s brother
    E. Philip
    G. Thomas, doubting Thomas
    H. Matthew, the publican, tax collector
    I. James, the son of Aphaues
    J. Simon, Zelotes, Simon the zealot, Simon the Canaanite
    K. Judas the brother of James. Matt 10 and Mark 3. He is listed as Labbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus.

3. Number 12 was Paul. Rom 1:1, 1 Cor 15:9, Col 1:1

4. Number 13 was Barnabas. Acts 14:14, Gal 2:9

5. Number 14 was James, the half brother of Jesus Christ, the writer of the book of James. 1 Cor 15:7, Gal 1:19

6. Apollos appears to be an apostle. 1 Cor 6:4-9. Silas and Timothy also.

If you compare 1 Thes 1:1 with 2:6, Silas had a great ministry in witnessing and in the field of music. Timothy did not often use his Grace authority.

Unlimited Atonement!

Atonement means that Jesus Christ died for the sins of the whole human race – unlimited atonement.

1 John 2:2, “And He is the satisfaction for our sins and not for our sins only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

2. Jesus Christ paid for the sins of all members of the human race, not just for the redeemed, the ones who accept Him. 2 Pet 2:1, ”Even those who deny the Lord that bought them.”

3. He died for all.

1 Tim 2:6, “Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”
Heb 2:9, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the Grace of God should taste death for every man.”
Titus 2:11, “For the Grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.”
Ezek 18:4, “Behold, all souls are Mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is Mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”

4. Application of unlimited atonement to salvation.
    A. Jesus Christ died for all.
    B. Why? Because of Rom 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
        1. All have sinned. All were spiritually dead.
        2. Imputed sin. All sinned when Adam sinned. “In Adam all die …”
        3. 2 Cor 5:14-15, “If One died for all, then were all dead.”
        4. The volition of man is the issue in salvation. Will man choose for Christ or will man reject Christ?
        5. If man rejects Christ, He stands on His own good works.
        6. The issue at the Great White Throne judgment is human good.
        ”Judged according to their works,” Rev 20:12-15, “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the Book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”

7. Unlimited atonement in the Old Testament.
Isa 44:22-23, “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee. Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.”

Jacob = unbeliever. Israel = believer.

Sunday, July 30, 2000

For “S.S.S.” – Serious Students of Scripture!

The Doctrine of the Ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ

1. This vitally-important doctrine has been almost completely forgotten. Try to find a book on the doctrine of the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. The ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ is a central doctrine in the angelic conflict. Without it there would be no positional truth and no bumping of the angels.
   Heb 1:13, “But to which of the angels said He at any time, sit on My right hand until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.”

3. There is no indwelling ministry of the Holy Spirit until the ascension of Jesus Christ. Compare Acts 1 and 2 with 1 Cor 12:13.

4. There is no priesthood among believers without the ascension. The High Priest: Heb 1:2, Heb 1:13 and the whole context of the book of Hebrews.

5. It is impossible to have a Mediator without the ascension. 1 Tim 2:5, God the Father accepts Jesus Christ and we accept Jesus Christ as our Mediator. Job 9.

6. Jesus Christ would not be our Advocate without the ascension. Nor could He intercede for us. 1 John 2:1-2.

7. There would be no Church and no Rapture of the Church and no Second Advent without the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ.
   

For “S.S.S” – Serious Students of Scripture!

An Athlete with Six Illustrations

2 Tim 2:5, “Striving for masteries.”

1. To get into the gymnasium one must be a citizen. To serve the Lord, one must be born again.

2. They live in the gym for ten months. Preparation. The believer is prepared by the filling of the Holy Spirit and the intake and application of the Word.

3. The athlete must answer all trumpet calls. The Christian must be obedient to the Word.

4. Knowing the Word and doing it is spiritual exercise.

5. Oil was used on the athletes.
   The Holy Spirit’s ministry in the believer’s life is described with oil.

6. Specific diet.
   You can only serve to the extent that you feed on the Word.

7. Rewards. 2 Kinds: Seen and Unseen.
   A. Seen. At the games, the winners received ivy leaves.
   B. Unseen at the games:
       1. They would ride around in the equivalent to a Cadillac.
       2. Ode to the athletes.
       3. Statue erected.
       4. 10,000 Dracma = $50,000
       5. Life-time pass to the games.
       6. Exemption from taxation.
       7. Children supported and fed.
   

Verse for Today

Gal 2:16, “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ, even as we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith in Jesus Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”

The “S.S.S” – Serious Students of Scripture!

Attacks on the humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ
Satan made every attempt in Old Testament times to frustrate the line of true humanity and the virgin birth.

1. The murder of Abel.
When it became known that “the Seed of the woman,” the Lord Jesus Christ, was to come through Abel, Satan inspired Cain, the first religious man, to murder. So, the line had to come through Seth.

2. Angelic infiltration into the human race.
The attempt to destroy true humanity, the greatest attack made on our salvation. It was so successful that the line by which Jesus Christ could come into the world was narrowed down to one family, Noah and eight souls.

3. Several attacks on the line of Abraham.
    A. Sarah wound up in a harem in Egypt.
    B. Pharaoh commanded to kill the male line of Israel. Moses in Exodus 1.
    C. Pharaoh attempted to kill Israel immediately after the Exodus. Exodus 14.

4. Numerous attacks on the line of David.
    A. Jehosophat’s last grandson survived when mother, Atahila, attempted to kill him.
    B. Hezekiah, childless about to die because of discipline.
    C. Haman’s plot to annihilate the Jews. The Book of Esther.
    D. Prospect of Rahab being killed.

5. Joseph’s line.
He refused to have Mary killed when he found out she was pregnant, before he knew about the virgin birth.

Once Jesus Christ is born of a virgin, no longer does Satan try to attack the “Seed of the woman.”
Satan’s attack now is to: Distort, ignore, and discredit facts concerning the virgin birth and the Cross and central principles of salvation.

Saturday, July 29, 2000

Verse for Today!

Acts 16:30, “What must I do to be saved?”
Acts 16:31, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.”

The Book of Jude ... Your Protection From Apostates

1. Characteristics of apostates.
    A. Saturated with human viewpoint.
    Verse 8, “Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.”
    B. Despise authority. Verse 8
    C. Blaspheme God. Verse 8
    D. Mockers. Verse 18, “How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly    lusts.”
    E. Lust-centered. Verse 18
    F. Trouble makers. Verse 19, “These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.”
    G. Human viewpoint because they are not possessors of the Holy Spirit. Verse 19

2. Categories of apostates.
    A. Lust for praise    Cain – the unbeliever
    B. Lust for money   Balaam – a believer
    C. Lust for power    Korah – a believer

3. Types of apostates
    A. Believers, verse 5, “I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.”
    B. Angelic, verse 6, “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, He hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.”
    C. Unbelievers, verse 7, “Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”

Jude Part Two – Apostates and Illustrations From Nature

A. “Spots in love,” literally, “hidden rocks in shallow water.”
This destroys ships. The apostates sneak into fellowship dinners to gain acceptance and they destroy.

B. “Clouds without water.”
Water represents the Word. Unprofitable clouds in agricultural environment drift a great deal of the time.

C. “Trees.”
Autumn trees, which are expected to yield fruit. “Twice dead.” This is in the active voice, a result of their volition.
”Plucked up” is a passive voice, which receives the action of the verb, i.e., the judgment of God.

D. “Raging waves.”
They reach the shore and dissipate, destroying themselves by their own power. So apostates destroy themselves.

E. “Wandering stars.”
Great brief light. Apostates have short ineffective influence.

Jude Part Three – The Judgment of the Apostates

A. Jesus Christ at the Second Advent, verse 14, “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints.”
B. Jude as a pastor-teacher, verse 15, “To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”

The defense against apostates:
A. The Word of God, verse 17, “But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
B. Identification of apostates. See their characteristics.
C. Personal worship, verse 20, “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.”
    1. Bible study growing to maturity.
    2. Prayer.

Offense against apostates:
A. Refute, verse 22, the Greek word. “And of some have compassion, making a difference”
B. Witness to unbelieving apostates, verse 23, “And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”
C. Have compassion on believers, verse 21, “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”
Don’t get mental attitude sins as a result of pressure from the apostates. Understand the doctrine of separation. You will not have rapport with them and from many of them you should separate yourselves.
D. Despise the false doctrine of the apostates, verse 23, “And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”

No one teaches Jude anymore.

Appointment, Lev 2:6

1. God’s appointment was for Jesus Christ only.
2. Jesus Christ was appointed to go to the Cross in eternity past. Eph 1:4, Psalm 2:7
3. Only Jesus Christ was elected to do this and only Jesus Christ has a destiny at the Cross. Isa 42:1, “Mine Elect.”
4. The believer shares the election and the destiny of Jesus Christ upon conversion. He hooks into the great Plan of God at that point.
5. Both election and predestination are the same as the Plan of God and descriptive of the Plan of God.
6. Election and predestination only apply to those who are in the plan of God, believers.
7. The free will of Jesus Christ’s humanity had to agree to go to the Cross. Heb 10:5-7, Matt 20:22, Matt 26:39
   

Grace Commands!

People always talk about keeping the Ten Commandments and yet when you ask them what they are, they don’t know them. But what about the Grace Commandments? Like …

2 Pet 3:18, “But grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to Whom be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”
Notice the word “but” – a conjunction of contrast. A contrast from what? Well, the preceding verse. If you are not growing in Grace, you are groaning in disgrace.

Notice the previous verse of this contrast. You don’t stand still.

2 Pet 3:17, “Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also being led away by the error of the wicked fall from your own steadfastness.”

How can you stop from falling? Grow in Grace!

You have a choice! Grow or groan.

Grace and Faith!

There are basically two principles in life: Grace and faith God initiates Grace to us and we respond to His Grace by faith.

If it is not Grace, it is not God.
If it is not faith, we have nothing with God.

Eph 2:8-9, “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.”

What Peter, the First Pope, Thought was “Precious”

1. The trial of faith as being precious.
2. To them that believe in Christ, it is precious.
3. The precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
   These instances are in His first epistle.
   
   In the second epistle we have this:
4. Like precious faith.
5. And exceeding great and precious promises.

No pope ever spoke like that. The word precious is TIME', which means most valuable, most costly, most highly prized, and most worthy and honorable. And the people said Ahmen.

Friday, July 28, 2000

Verse for the Day!

Salvation is the same in the Old Testament as it is in the New Testament.
Rom 10:13, “Whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Joel 2:32, “Whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved.”

John 4:41-42, “And many more believed because of His own Word. And said unto the woman, now we believe not because of thy saying for we have heard Him for ourselves and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.”

Acceptability

1. Would the humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ be acceptable to God the Father?

Heb 1:3, “Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image His Person and upholding all things by the Word of His power, who when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

Also Heb 1:13, “But to which of the angels said He at any time, Sit on My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool?”
Heb 12:1-2, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

2. His acceptability indicated.

A. The completion of Christ’s work for salvation. Heb 10:11-12, “And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.”
B. That the Person of God the Son satisfied the righteousness of God the Father.
C. That the work of God the Son satisfied the justice of God the Father.

3. The acceptance of Jesus Christ as a man meant the acceptance of His sacrifice, and means that the entrance into the presence of the Father is through faith in Jesus Christ.

4. Through His redemptive work, His ascension and session, the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished bringing many sons into glory. Heb 2:9-10, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the Grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became Him, for Whom are all things, and by Whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”

5. Because the “God-Man” is accepted, every believer is also accepted by the Father. Eph 1:6, “Accepted in the Beloved.”

6. Because the “God-Man is seated,” every believer is seated positionally at the right hand of the Father.

Eph 2:6, “And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”

The Doctrine of Adoption

1. Adoption today means taking someone who was not born into a family and making them a legal child.
2. The Bible must be interpreted in the time in which it was written. That is called isagogical teaching. Adoption then always has to do with children born into a family. Every father adopted his son at age 14, at which time he received adult status with adult privileges.
3. The Greek word THESIA means to place, to place one who is already a son or of son recognition. THESIA has been translated “adoption.”
4. Adoption is one of the 34 things which every believer receives at the moment of salvation.
5. Adoption is always connected with positional truth, being in union with Christ.
6. The baptism of the Holy Spirit enters the believer into union with Christ, which is the mechanics of adoption. 1 Cor 12:13
7. Christ is HUIOS, which means “adult son.”
8. When we are entered into union with Christ at the point of salvation, we become adult sons positionally. This is our adoption.
9. At the same time, we are entered into fellowship in time. This speaks of our experience in time and experientially we are called NEPHOS, which means “little children,” or sometimes BRETHOS, which means a babe on the mother’s breast.
10. As little children, we need to grow up. In 1 John 3:1 TEKNON is for sons, the one who is caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
11. As adult sons, we have the right of an adult, the operation of volition. Heirs of Christ, etc.
    

The Doctrine of Advents – Two Advents of Three Persons

1. First Advent.
    A. Satan
    Satan, chief of the angels, came into perfect environment and destroyed it and changed it into sinfulness. Gen 1:3

B. Christ
    Christ came to provide salvation. He came to bring man something which was greater than that which he had before in innocence. He came to solve the sinfulness which originated with Satan.

C. The Holy Spirit
    He came at Pentecost to provide in the believer, all of whom represent Jesus Christ on Earth, exactly what God the Son produced while He walked in His humanity on the  Earth while sustained by God the Holy Spirit.

2. Second Advent.
    A. Jesus Christ
    At the Second Advent of Jesus Christ, “Operation Footstool” provides 1,000 years of perfect environment.

B. God the Holy Spirit
    The Holy Spirit comes in the Millennium. Joel 2:28-29, 2 Thes 2:7. The Holy Spirit provides appreciation of Christ on Earth, when Christ is absent from the Earth, the Church Age. In the Millennium, Christ is present and visible and there be a new type of spirituality.

C. Satan
    At the end of the Millennium, Satan leads a revolt. Rev 20:7-9

“All Things Work Together for Good”

1. Rom 8:28 is for believers only.
2. Suffering is mixed with the Plan of God, resulting in Divine Good.
3. God has only a short time in which to demonstrate His love to the believer through suffering.
4. The Plan of God is perfect therefore, it is greater than any sufferings or problems.
5. Therefore when any suffering comes to the believer, God’s plan calls for maximum blessing.
6. Romans 8:28 refers to all believers. All things are not good. But they work together for good. All things work together for good for all believers.
7. How would all things work together for good when a believer is out of fellowship? God’s plan provides for Divine discipline. Well, what about a severe trial like an automobile accident? God’s plan for the believer is bigger than the trial. 1 Cor 10:13
8. This verse, as all verses of Scripture, is a Grace-faith cooperation all the way. It must be believed to be enjoyed.
9. Once this verse is understood, then other verses such as 1 Thes 5:18 make sense by faith and application. “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
10. Rom 8:28 is one of the basic anchor verses in putting your faith in the promises of God and resting in them.
    

Ambassadors for Christ!

2 Cor 5:20, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ as God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ’s stead be ye reconciled to God.”

Eph 6:20, “For which I am an ambassador in bonds; that therein I may speak boldly as I ought to speak.”

1. An ambassador does not appoint himself. A believer is appointed by the Lord.
2. An ambassador does not support himself. Phil 4:19. God provides all our needs, the Doctrine of Divine operating assets.
3. An ambassador does not belong to the country where he is sent. The believer is not of this world, but of Heaven.
4. An ambassador has instructions in written form. The Word of God is for believers. Believers have the mind of Christ. 1 Cor 2:16
5. When an ambassador is recalled, it is because war is being declared. When the Church is recalled, hostility begins in the Tribulation. The Church is raptured before the Tribulation.
6. An ambassador does not take insult as personal. God takes care of His Name and Word and we are not here to defend it, but to spread it. The Holy Spirit takes care of the results.
7. An ambassador does not enter a country for his own personal interests. He is a representative of the country he represents. We believers, as ambassadors, represent the Lord Jesus Christ.
8. The privilege of being an ambassador is the highest calling. We are called to the highest calling for Christ.
9. Perspective in service. The prospect is reward. We serve Christ and we are rewarded in Heaven.
   

Anger and the Greek Use of the Word in Scripture

1. THUMOS – This is boiling of feeling or emotional turbulence, tantrums, and it is translated “wrath” in Eph 4:31. This type of anger is forbidden and involves the emotions.
   Luke 4:28 describes those in the synagogue as “filled with wrath.” Also look at 2 Cor 12:20, Gal 5:20, Eph 4:31, Col 3:8. In this passage, this wrath is not to be in the local Church.
   
2. PARAGISMOS – This is anger accompanied by antagonism, resentment, bitterness, exasperation. This anger is designed to make others angry. It is translated wrath in Eph 4:26. These emotional outbursts are forbidden. This is a mental attitude sin. Anger where individuals are angry, they burn on the inside. Eph 6:4
   

3. ORGE – This is mental attitude anger which can be legitimate.
   A. Legitimate ORGE
   This side of ORGE is commanded. It is legitimate when guided by the Word of God. Mark 3:5, Acts 13:9-11. This does not grieve the Holy Spirit.
   ”And when He looked around on them with anger, being grieved because of the hardness of their hearts,” Mark 3:5
   
       1. It is the mental attitude of resentment towards heresy.
       2. It is a mental attitude of resentment towards legalism.
       3. It is a mental attitude of resentment towards unbelief.
       4. It is a mental attitude of resentment toward religion or anything antagonistic to the Word of God.

“Be angry and sin not.” Loving Jesus got angry ...

Thursday, July 27, 2000

“We Sorrow Not as Others Which Have no Hope”

Regardless of your age, into your life at sometime or another some heartache or suffering or pain will occur. Regardless of your age, it may be physical or it may be mental, some tragedy will come into your life at some time.

”But we sorrow not as others which have no hope,” 1 Thes 4:13

We may find ourselves in a hopeless situation but we still have a hope. This suffering or pain or heartache that we have cannot be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us. Rom 8:18

So, we groan, but not for the pain to stop, as it were, but to receive a resurrection body. 2 Cor 5:2

Because we will be soon in the presence of our “Blessed Hope,” the Lord Jesus Christ. Titus 2:13

In His presence this is what we find:

Rev 21:4, “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes,”
”And there shall be no more death”
’Neither sorrow”
”Nor crying”
”Neither shall there be any more pain”
”For the former things are passed away.”

This covers it all – no tears, no death, no sorrow, no crying, no more pain. It sounds like Heaven to me!

A Full Revelation

A full revelation of the characteristics of faith is found in Hebrews 11, where we are reminded of the nature of faith. It makes the unseen real. It gives us the objective of faith and the basis of faith. And the Word of God and the God of the Word.

We see the activity of faith in the many 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.

We have here a full revelation of faith.

The Holy Spirit’s Gifts and Administrations

A full revelation of the Spirit’s gifts and administrations is unfolded and made known for us in 1 Cor 12.

There are nine bestowments, verses 8-11.
And several particulars of these gifts in their workings, verses 27-30.

Christian Giving!

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

A Full Revelation of the Suffering of Our Saviour is Found in Isa 53

Who can estimate such richly laden sentences as:
”A Man of sorrows”
”Acquainted with grief”
”Bore our griefs”
”Carried our sorrows”
“Wounded for our transgressions”
”Bruised for our iniquities”
”With His stripes we are reconciled”
”Laid on Him the iniquity of us all”
”Cut off out of the land of the living”
”For the transgression of My people was He stricken”
”It pleased Jehovah to bruise Him”
”Put Him to grief”
”Made His soul an offering for sin”
”He shall bear iniquities”
”Poured out His soul unto death”
”And bear the sin of many”

I think we can cast all our cares on Him for He cares for us.

The student of the Word of God can find many instances in Scripture where the full revelation of any subject is mentioned.

The sufferings of Christ are described in Psalm 22.

The Good Shepherd giving His life for His sheep is in John 10.

The person and the work of God the Holy Spirit can be found in John 14-16

The evidence of being born of God in John’s first epistle as found in the sentence, “born of God” and “born of Him.” The new birth as recorded in John 3.

And the eight rewards which come to the overcomer as made known in the Book of Revelation.

Good studies for students of the Bible.

The Law of Sequence Found in the Bible

Sequence speaks of that which follows as a consequence. The JEHOVAH Psalm is a beautiful illustration of this law.

The word “Lord” occurs no less than 12 times in Psalm 27. “Lord,” or JEHOVAH, means the unchanging One who will cause things to be.

This thought of sequence or what follows is recognizing the Lord as the faithful One as seen several times. First we have faith’s avowal then faith’s blessing.

”JEHOVAH is my Light and my Salvation.”
The sequence is:
”Whom shall I fear?”

”JEHOVAH is the strength of my Life.”
The sequence is:
”Of whom shall I be afraid.”

”I may dwell in the house of JEHOVAH.”
The sequence is:
”In time of trouble, He shall hide me in His pavilion.”

”When my father and my mother forsake me.”
And the sequence is:
”JEHOVAH will take me up.”

If the psalmist had not seen the goodness of JEHOVAH, he would have fainted. But the sequence of seeing that goodness was he did not faint.

”To wait on the Lord” is to find the sequence of “good courage” and to have the soul strengthened.

Verse for the Day

John 1:11, “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not,”
”But”

John 1:12, “But as many as received Him, to them gave he the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name.”

John 1:13, “Which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh.”
”But”

”But of God”     ..... Born of God .....

“The Only Begotten” and the “First Begotten”

When Christ is spoken of as the Only Begotten, His eternal existence is before us, and His manifestation in time.

When He is declared to be the First Begotten, His resurrection is before us, and His present existence as the Representative of those whom He has redeemed.

The Only Begotten is the One who has been given for us. John 3:16

The First Begotten is the One who is coming again in manifest glory, hence His return is revealed. It is said, “When He bringeth His First Begotten into the world.”

Being the First Begotten, He is the guarantee of those who will be glorified with Him.

What Christ Took???

We always hear of Christ giving, giving, giving, but not of “taking.”

What did Christ take?

Heb 2:16, “He took” not on Him the nature of angels but “He took” on Him the seed of Abraham.”

The forcefulness of Christ’s taking hold of our nature when He first came, enhanced when we know the word “to take” is the one word used of Peter when Christ “caught him” as he was sinking into the water.

Matt 14:31, “And immediately Jesus, stretching out His hand, took hold of him and said to him.” The translators use the word “caught.” Christ has “caught hold of our humanity” by becoming man and thus making it possible for us to be saved. As Paul declares:

1 Tim 2:5-6, “There is one God and one Mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all.”

Two-Fold Knowledge

Writing to the saints at Corinth on the incentive to Christian giving, the apostle says,
”Ye know the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich,” 2 Cor 8:9

His Grace of underserved favor is manifest in that He who was intrinsically rich, rich in Himself in every way, for our sakes, on our behalf, became a “beggar” that we out of His beggary might be enriched.

It is not “through” His poverty, as a medium, for the word is EK, which means, “out of.” Out of His beggary comes our riches.

The word “poor” is the same as used in describing Lazarus as a “beggar.”

Out of His death comes life.
Out of His curse comes blessing.
Out of His ignominy comes glory.
Out of his judgment comes salvation.
Out of His hell comes Heaven.
Out of His darkness comes light.
Out of His emptying comes fullness.

Do we know Him like this? Hallowed knowledge! Life-giving knowledge. This is no mere knowledge of mere intellectualism. But the knowledge of the soul’s experience and the soul’s culture.

Taunts are Testimonies!

Recently the governor of Minnesota thought he was degrading Christianity and every one got all upset, when the poor soul only told the truth. To him it was a taunt, but to me it was a testimony!

He said Christians are weak and they need a crutch and something to lean on, because they are so weak. Don’t take offence, Christian. We are weak and we do have Someone to lean on, the Lord Jesus Christ. We lean on Him and we stay on Him.

The Governor’s taunts turned into testimonies.

They taunted Christ to come down off the Cross, and since He saved others, let Him come down and save Himself. Taunts turned into testimonies.

Thanks governor! Now, go back to wrestling.

What Do You Expect to See When You First See Christ??

Looking forward to the future bliss of God’s children, the Holy Spirit, through the apostle John, says in 1 John 3:2, “We know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”

”See Him as He is!” Not as He was … He was the Man of sorrow and shame on the Cross.
But, “as He is” – He is honored and glorified.

A full description of Him as the Glorified One is given us in Rev one. “We shall be like Him.” And this we know because we are assured it shall be so.

”Like Him” – We shall be pure in nature, spotless in character, beautiful in form, clothed with light, perfect in body, incorruptible in being, and luminous in glory. What a prospect! Did you ever think of that??

What a hope! What manner of persons ought we to be with such a glory before us?
From Grace to Glory.

“No Place”

When Christ came into the world, there was “no room.” This word “room” is in other places given as “place” for Him in the inn. Luke 2:7

As Christ was about to go out of this world, His parting message and promise was, John 14:2-3, “I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself.” Not to the “place,” but unto Myself.

Thus the two advents are related and connected again. And yet one other place connected them, and that is the place called Calvary. By an indissoluble and living bond these three places are united.

There must have been no place for us in the glory of His presence if He had not been in the place of incarnate love and vicarious death.

No room for Him means no room for us.

The place called Calvary places us in the place of the many mansions.

“A Just Weight”

The importance of recognizing the double aspect of Truth is essential to have an even balance in the mind of our thought and in the testimony of our utterance.

”For a false balance is an abomination unto the Lord.”
And on the other hand,  “A just weight and balance is said to be His,” Prov 11:1, Prov 16:11

Error is always a part of Truth and is sometimes hard to distinguish from the Truth itself  as Tennyson said.

A lie which is all a lie
May be met and fought outright.
But a lie which is part of truth
Is a harder matter to fight.

Therefore, we ought to pray that we may be saved from an “untheological devotion and an undevotional theology.”

Absolute Concepts in the Christian Life!

1. Absolute concept: Romans chapter 8, spirituality.
    A. A believer filled with the Holy Spirit is in fellowship and is spiritual. Rom 8:2
    A believer not filled with the Holy Spirit is out of fellowship, carnal. Rom 8:6, 1 Cor 3:1-3, 1 John 1:6

    B. Spirituality and carnality are mutually exclusive and therefore absolutes. Gal 5:9

    C. Vocabulary indicating the absolute status quo:

Relative Concepts in Christianity: Growth – Heb 5:11-14

A. From the standpoint of growth, all believers range from a baby to a mature believer, depending upon the amount of time spent “living in the Word.”

B. Five things characterize the mature believer:
    1. Knowledge. Maximum knowledge of the Word of God, 2 Pet 3:18
    2. Wisdom. Application of the Word of God to your experience, from the human spirit, Gal 1:28
    3. Faith. The constant transfer of the Word of God in the mind to the human spirit, resulting in a strong faith, James 1
    4. Grace. A maximum use of who and what the Lord is in your life, having absolutely no illusions about yourself. This is the constant viewpoint of Grace being used.
    5. Production. Increased production goes with maturity.

C. Maturity is not spirituality, but a mature believer is spiritual, the filling of the Holy Spirit, a greater amount of time than a baby believer. Production is compounded triple Divine Good.

Wednesday, July 26, 2000

Verse for Today!

Acts 10:43 “ To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His Name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.”

The Hand of the Lord!

In the prophecy of Isaiah, “the hand of the Lord” is frequently said to be “stretched out” in judgment.  Isa 5:25; 9:12, 17, 21; 10:4; 14:26, 27
Five out of the eight times the words “for all His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still” occur.

Sin calls for judgment and the judgment is not abated until the purpose is accomplished.

The Trinity of Repetition!

Three times Christ uses the sentence, “Cannot be My disciple” in laying down the conditions of discipleship. Luke 14:26, 27, 33

Three times Christ reminded the Jews of the consequences of unbelief, namely they would “die in their sins” and “whither I go, ye cannot come.” John 8:21, 24

And three times Christ asked Peter the question, “Lovest thou Me?” John 21:16-17

Repetition is theological mucilage.

Two Small Words of Large Importance

“As” and “so” – The law of similarity

1. The “as and so” of love.
”As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you,” John 15:9
Who can fathom the unknowable and measure the innumerable love of God?

2. The “as and so” of strength.
”As thy days, so shall thy strength be,” Deut 33:25
The day may be long and dreary, sad and weary, but the key of His Grace fits the lock of our need and locks us into the chamber of His love, secluding us into Himself.

3. The “as and so” of service.
”As My Father sent Me, so have I sent you,” John 20:21
That sending meant for Him the humility of Bethlehem and the trial of temptation, the agony of Gethesame, the suffering of Gabbatha, the shame of the Cross, the victory of the resurrection, and the glory of the Father’s right hand and so it means to us.

4. The “as and so” of substitution.
”As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,” John 3:14
The necessity of His death is summarized in the word “must,” and the nature of that sacrifice is suggested the lifting up for as the uplifted serpent was like the serpent that caused the Israelites to be stung. So Christ was made sin for our sins.

5. The “as and so” of identification.
”As He is, so are we in this world,” 1 John 4:17
The associations of this sentence are that His love makes us one with Christ. Therefore, we are identified with Him in the acceptance of His worth and the completeness of His atoning work.

The Book of Proverbs abounds in these correspondences which may be found by the careful student of the Book of Wisdom.
”As cold water is to a thirsty man, so is good news from a far country,” Prov 15:25

The Law of Double!

It is said of a wise woman that all her garments are double. Prov 31:21

There is always the Divine side and the human side. God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility. John 6:37
We are justified before God through faith in Christ without works. Rom 3:28
But we justify our faith before men by our own works. James 2:14-26

Jesus Christ said that our union with Him is double and He says therefore, “Ye in Me and I in you.” John 14:20
Our privilege is to be “in Him” and the secret of power is “He in us.”

The double of acceptance is seen when we recall that believers are “accepted in the Beloved,” through Divine Grace. Eph 1:6
And we are acceptable to the Lord when we do those things that are well pleasing to Him. 2 Cor 5:9

The double of love is brought out in John 3:16 and 1 John 3:16
God proved His love to us by giving His Son, and we prove our love to one another by compassionate help.

We have the double of assurance when we confess our sins.
1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins.”
He is not only “faithful,” but He is also “just” that is, that He is faithful in His love and righteousness in His act. Not only to forgive us of our sin, but also to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The importance of recognizing the two sides of any great thing is paramount. “For what God has joined together let no man put asunder.”

A Full Mention Principle

We are being told that the Bible does not give us a full revelation in any one section of any given Truth. But we find out that it does. A full mention of love’s traits is made known in 17 particulars. 1 Cor 13:4-13

It endures for it “suffereth long.”
It is benevolent in ministry for “it is kind.”
It is unsuspicious for “it envieth not.”
It is real for “it vaunteth not itself.”
It is humble because “it is not puffed up.”
It is thoughtful for “it does not behave itself unseemly.”
It is unselfish for “it seeketh not His own.”
It is sweet tempered for “it is not provoked.”
It is guileless for “it thinketh not evil.”
It is holy for “it rejoiceth not in iniquity.”
It is true for “it rejoiceth with the 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 the Graces is love.”

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

Tuesday, July 25, 2000

Verse for the Today!

Rom 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

Salvation and the Power of God to Keep

Psa 17:8, “Keep me as the apple of Thy eye; hide me under the shadow of Thy wings.”

His keeping is instant, like the eye lid preserving the eye. His keeping is incessant, like the stream which keeps clean the stone lying in its bed.

Psa 19:13, “Keep back Thy servant also from presumptuous sins, let them not have dominion over me. Then shall I be upright and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.”

His keeping is invulnerable like the warrior who is encased in bullet-proof armor.

1 Pet 1:5, “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Power to Speak

Acts 4:31, 33, “They were all filled with the Spirit and with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Speaking without the Spirit is like talking in a foreign language to those who do not know the language. While speaking in the Spirit, every word is intelligible to those who hear.

Looking to ourselves, we will say with Jeremiah, ”I cannot speak for I am a child.” But filled with the Holy Spirit, we shall know the Lord’s assuring Word as He says, ”Behold I have put My Words in thy mouth,” Jer 1:6, 9

How many men owe everything in life to one young soul that trusted them when all was doubtful, one faithful love that kept them company as long as ever it could?

”I never was anything till I knew you,” wrote Tom Hood to his wife.

How true are those words, “I was never anything till I knew You,” applied to God the Holy Spirit, which is every believer’s testimony.

Power to Give!

Paul, in calling attention to the liberality of the churches in Macedonia, says, 2 Cor 8:3, “According to their power, I bear witness yea, and beyond their power they gave of their own accord:”

The moving power which caused them to give so frankly and fully was 2 Cor 8:1, “The Grace of God bestoweth.”

When the life of God is low in the experience of the child of God, then the giving will be small. When the warm heart of love is throbbing, then the willing hand of giving is liberal.

It is not then how little can be given, but how much is He worthy?

The principle that the spiritual believer observes is found in the Words of Christ’s prayer to His Father when He said, “All Thine are Mine, and Mine are Thine.”

When we know that what He has is ours, we recognize that what we have is His.

What have we that we have not received it from the Lord?

The Spirit of Christ!

One of the titles for the Holy Spirit is “the Spirit of Christ,” and He is that in many ways.

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

The Spirit of Christ!

“No Place to Lay His Head”

The word for “lay,” which occurs in the sentence, “He had not where to lay His head,” is the same as rendered “bowed,” in referring to the fact that on the Cross “He bowed His head and gave up the Spirit.”

He emptied Himself of His glory that He might go to the gore of the Cross. Christ placed Himself under human limitations by being man.

1. He was born in a manger.
2. He was thirsty and asked for a drink.
3. He was dependent on others for His needs to be met.
4. He taught from a borrowed boat.
5. He slept in a tired body.
6. He was buried in a borrowed tomb.
7. And the only place He had to “lay” His head was on the Cross.

”And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. And we beheld His glory, the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father.”

The Lord was Whirled in the Rapids and Whirlpool of Calvary

Christ in His sufferings on the Cross exclaimed in prophecy, Psa 42:7, “Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows have gone over Me.”

Jonah in the sea monster quoted this Psalm when he exclaimed, Jonah 2:3, “The floods compassed Me about and thy waves and thy billows passed over Me.”

Christ affirms Jonah’s incarceration was a type of His death and resurrection, therefore we are warranted in applying the words of the psalmist to Him.

Jesus Christ deliberately and of His own choice laid down His life.

“I Laid Down My Life; No One Taketh it From Me.”

In John chapter ten we have Christ’s five-fold declaration of His life.

1. “The Good Shepherd layeth down His life.”
2. “I lay it down of Myself.”
3. “No man taketh it from Me.”
4. “I have authority to lay it down.”
5. “And authority to take it again.”

His star of destiny was His death on the Cross.

”Deep called unto deep” on the Cross. “The deep” of man’s sin and Christ’s answer to it. “The deep” of God’s purpose and “the deep” of Christ’s fulfillment of it. “The deep” of God’s justice and “the deep” of God’s mercy.”

There is a Difference Between the Salvation Provided in the Death of Christ and the Acceptance of the Provision Made

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

This principle is very well illustrated in the following incident:
In 1829 and 1830, George Wilson in Pennsylvania was sentenced to be hanged by a United States Court in Philadelphia for robbing the mails and murder. Andrew Jackson as President of the United States pardoned him, but Wilson refused the pardon and insisted that it was not a pardon unless he accepted it.

That was a point in law never before raised in the U.S.A. The Attorney General said the law was silent on the point. The President was urged to call upon the Supreme Court to decide the point at once as the Sheriff must know whether to hang Wilson or not. Chief Justice John Marshall, one of the ablest lawyers, gave the following decision:

”A pardon is a paper, the value of which depends upon the acceptance by the person  implicated. It is hardly to be supposed that under the sentence of death he would refuse to accept a pardon, but if it is refused, it is no pardon. George Wilson must be hanged.”

And he was hanged. Who was responsible for his death? No one but the man himself. The law said he must die. The President stepped in between him and the law and the man refused the pardon.

Indirectly the Supreme Court of the United States decided that the Truth of the atonement of Christ in making provision for the salvation of the whole world is only beneficial to those who receive Him as their own personal Saviour. The righteousness of God is unto all in its offer. But it is upon them that believe in its benefit.

Rom 3:22, “Even the righteousness which is by faith in Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe, for there is no difference.”

 Unto all. Upon all. Them that believe.

Taches and Loops

Little things are often of great moment in the Bible. Christ emphasized the “jot” and “tittle” of the Hebrew language, which are two letters of the Hebrew alphabet. A jot can correspond to an “I,” and a tittle to a “t.”

The “taches and the loops” of the tabernacle which kept the curtains together might seem to be unimportant, but they kept them from being bedraggled, Ex 26:4-11

”We are exhorted to yield our members in detail, as well as yielding our bodies as a whole,” Rom 6:13, 16. Therefore the Lord calls for:

The eyes of our attention. Psa 123:2, “Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that He have mercy upon us.”

The ears of our obedience. John 10:27, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”

The feet of our walk. Eph 4:1, “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.” Eph 5:2, “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” Eph 5:8, “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.” Eph 5:15, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.”

The hands of our business. Ecc 9:10, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.”

The lips of our testimony. Titus 2:1, “But speak thou the things which become sound Doctrine.”

The speech of our tongue. Col 4:6, “Let your speech be alway with Grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

The heart of our affection. Col 3:12-14, “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.”

The soul of our desire. SOS 1:7, “Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?”

The will of our purpose. John 7:17, “If any man will do His will, He shall know of the Doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”

The spirit of our intelligence. 1 Cor 2:11, “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.”

The law of detail ...the hairs on our heads.

The Tracing of a Topic in an Epistle or a Gospel or a Book

Here are a few”
”In that day” in Isaiah.
”Thus saith the Lord” in Ezekiel.
”The kingdom of Heaven” in Matthew.
“Straightway” in Mark.
”The Son of Man” in Luke.
”Light and love” in John.
”The Holy Spirit” in the book of Acts.
”Righteousness” in Romans.
”Things of God” in Corinthians.
”Crucified” in Galatians.
”Riches” in Ephesians.
”Joy and rejoice” in Philippians.
”Christ” in Colossians.
”Christ’s coming” in Thessalonians.
”Better things” in Hebrews.
”Precious things” in Peter.
”Know” in 1 John.
”Truth” in 2 and 3 John.
”Blessed” and “overcome” in Revelation.

If you are looking for a subject or a topic, now you know where to go.

Each Thought Triggers an Emotion! ! !

“As a man thinketh in his mind, so is he.”
”Guard your mind with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.”

We started our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ by a single thought.
”For with the mind man believeth unto salvation.”
”I will keep him in peace, peace because his mind stayed on Me.”

Can you imagine what kind of Christians we would be if each thought triggered an emotion, and this was our continual pattern of thinking?
Phil 4:8, “Finally brethren,”
”whatsover things are true”
”whatsover things are honest”
”whatsoever things are just”
”whatsoever things are pure”
”whatsoever things are lovely”
”whatsoever things are of a good report”
”if there be any virtue”
”if there be any praise”
”think on these things.”

”These things which ye have both learned and received and heard and seen in me do and the God of peace shall be with you,” Phil 4:9

What it would be like when our mind triggered our emotions with these thoughts ...

Monday, July 24, 2000

Verse for Today!

Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.”

“Let Us”

“This is!”  In Case You Don’t Know What it is!

The Law of Distinctiveness

This law is finely and tersely made known in use of the word “this.” If students will look up the associations of the following sentences, they will see what a glorious unfolding of Truth there is found in this distinctive word in 1 John.

”This is the victory that overcometh the world,” 5:4
”This is He that came by water and blood,” 5:6
”This is the witness of God,” 5:9
”This is the record,” 5:11
”This is the confidence that we have in Him,” 5:14
”This is the true God and eternal life,” 5:20

The Law of Climax!

The Lord always has an end in view in calling attention to any given thing. Therefore, when the Holy Spirit speaks of the priesthood of our Lord in contrast to the priesthood of the past, He ends the whole of the teaching by saying,

”Now of the things which we have spoken, this is the sum, we have such a High Priest,” Heb 8:1

This is more definitely seen when we know that the word “sum” indicates a capital or a specific outcome. This may further be apprehended when we read such a sentence as we find frequently in the prophets.

”In that day,” meaning, of course, the time when Christ shall come in His power and glory to set up His millennial kingdom on Earth and if the prophecy by Isaiah alone is read, it makes known what will take place in that day.

“The Lord is Thy God”

It is frequently found in the book of Deuteronomy. It is found 20 times in chapter 16. And it looks like this: JEHOVAH-ELOHEKA, which is “The Lord thy God.”

Taking it in it use in the book of Exodus, we find it denotes the Lord’s relationship to His people and their responsibility to Him.

There are four definite thoughts namely:
Redemption  Relationship  Responsibility  Reward

Redemption by the Lord, “I am JEHOVAH, thy ELOHIM, which brought thee out of
the land of Egypt,” Exodus 20:2. Ransom by the blood of the atonement procures redemption by the hand of power.

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

Responsibility to the Lord, Exodus 20:3, 7. Privilege brings responsibility.

Reward by the Lord, Exodus 20:22. Obedience always brings blessing as well as bringing its own reward.

What is in a Name? “Lord JEHOVAH”

We remember that His Name is “holy and revered,” Psa 111:9.
Therefore holiness and reverence become us who bear His Name.

His Name is “pleasant,” Psa 135:3
Therefore let us gladly thank Him for who He is, “full of delight.”

His Name is “glorious,” Psa 72:19
Therefore, let us exult in Him for ever.

His Name is “excellent,” Psa 148:13
Therefore, let us speak well of Him.

His Name is “exalted,” Isa 12:4
Therefore, let us proclaim Him as the Supreme One.

His Name is “everlasting,” Isa 63:16
Therefore, let us count upon Him for continued blessings.

Our Redeemer from the age–Time past is Thy Name.

What do we find in this Name?
Joy, safety, supply, power, inspiration, victory, presence.

Sometimes we forget Who we are related to.

God Has a Plan for Your Life!

This is found for you in Ephesians 1:3-14

The first two verses of the epistle embody the salutation. Then we have the unfolding of the Divine Plan for you in Christ connected with the Redeemed.

Three points to consider: the Centralizer, the centralization, and the centralized.

The Centralizer is “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,” verse 3. Therefore, we read of the plan for your life.

1. He is blessing us with all spiritual blessings, verse 4.
2. His choice of us before creation, verse 4.
3. His placing us before Himself without blemish, verse 4.
4. His foreordination of us in Himself in adoption as His children, verse 5. This refers to place and not nature.
5. His sovereign act in doing all according to His good pleasure, verse 5.
6. His enhancing of His glory through His Grace, verses 6, 12.
7. His bestowment of Grace “in the Beloved,” verse 6.
8. His redemptive act by means of Christ’s sacrifice, verse 7.
9. His wisdom made known in His actions, verse 8.
10. His will unfolded in His revealed secret, verse 9.
11. His goal in summing all up in Christ, verse 10.
12. His mind revealed in our association with Christ, verse 11.
13. His sealing with the Spirit in claiming us as His own, verse 13.
14. His possession of the redeemed and their glory, verse 14.

God has a plan for your life!

Divine Power and the Resurrection of Christ, Eph 1:18-20

There are three “whats” of meaningful importance which God the Holy Spirit’s  illumination enables us to see.

”What is the hope of His calling.”

“What are the riches of the glory of His inheritance.”
”What is the greatness of His power.”

The sweep and substance of that power is apprehended as we ponder the seven words:

Power  Greatness  Exceeding  Power  Mighty  Working  Wrought

People Forget or Are Not Aware of the Fact that the Bible is a Spiritual Book to be Understood by Spiritual People

... Who are under the spiritual instructions of the spiritual Teacher, God the Holy Spirit.

One way in which the spiritual understanding can be exercised is to discriminate the words which are used in the translation of the Scriptures. The translators have put in words in italics to give the sense. But sometimes the italicized words, instead of giving the sense, mar it.

We are exhorted “to be looking unto Jesus. the Author and Finisher of our faith.” The word “our” is in italics, and mars the sense. If we leave it out, the text reads, ”The Author and Finisher of faith.”

Christ is the Prince and the Pattern of faith. And as the setting illustration, He was the One whose life and ministry was begun, continued, and ended in a life of absolute  dependence upon God. Therefore we are exhorted to consider Him, Heb 12:3

In Acts 2:41, 47 we are told how converts were “added” and the translators had supplied “unto them” and “to the Church.” The latter is not authorized by the best manuscripts. The inspired phrase found later on, “added to the Lord,” in Acts 5:14, suggests that the meaning  may be in all cases, added to Himself – a possible hint of the vast difference between Divine converts and human proselytes.

“Peace is not the end, righteousness is the end.”
 “If I must choose between righteousness and peace, I choose righteousness.”

–Theodore Roosevelt

“My Little Children”

John the aged and “the disciple whom Jesus Christ loved,” in the solicitude of personal love, was concerned about “the little children.”

”Little children” is a term of tender regard. John used two relative words for “children.” TEKNON, which means an offspring. Therefore, believers who are not merely adopted but those who are born into the family of God, 3:1. John comes closer in his “little children” by using the word TEKNION, which occurs seven times in the epistle: 2:1, 12, 28; 3:7, 18;  4:4; 5:21

Remembering it is an all endearing word how practical it is, in such sentences as these:

My little children sin not.
My little children, your sins are forgiven for His Name’s sake.
Little children abide in Him.
Little children let no man deceive you.
My little children let us love in deed and in Truth.
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome.
Little children keep yourselves from idols.

With What Words!

Truth  Fellowship  Know  Born of God  This  Manifest
These great words are life and love, of which we might say,

Life is the sum of all being.
Light is the sum of all knowledge.
Love is the sum of all moral excellence.

Besides these, there are seven things of God.

The Word of God, the basis of all authority, Eph 2:14
The love of God, the secret of all godliness, Eph 2:5, 4:9, 5:2
The will of God, the bliss of all Heaven’s glory, Eph 2:17
The children of God, the relationship of all privilege, 3:1-2, 10, 5:2
The Son of God, the Center of all revelation, 3:8, 4:15, 5:5, 10, 12, 13, 20
Born of God, the involution of all life, 3:9
The Spirit of God, the Power of all ability, 4:2

The soul of these words glows with an intensity of meaning. And it is vital with the energy of the Holy Spirit.

Sunday, July 23, 2000

Verse for Today!

John 10:28, “I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish, neither shall any one pluck them out of My hand.”

Thought for the Day!

The church has been singing what they call the Apostle’s creed. And it starts off like this:
”I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth.”

It is wrong! God the Father is not the Creator. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Creator.

Col 1:16-17, “For by Him were all things made that are in Heaven and that are in the Earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions, or principalities or powers, all things were created by Him, and for Him.”

”And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.”

The Unbeliever Coming into This World is “Without” – Without Seven Things

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

Without the Spirit, without strength, without life, without hope. without peace, without Christ, without the blood of Christ.

Life – ZOA

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

It is a Christ-identified and a Christ-associated life for He says, “Because I live, ye shall live also,” John 14:19

It is a God-derived and Christ-sustained life as Christ declared, “As the living Father hath sent Me and I live because of the Father, so He that eateth Me, even He shall live because of Me,” John 6:57

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

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

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

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

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

It is a God-controlled and a God-goaled life for being, alive from the dead, we recognize that we are “alive unto God,” Rom 6:11, 13

It is good to know what kind of a life you have!

Amos and the Law of Repetition

Eight times in the book of Amos we have a connection there with eight people and we have this one peculiar sentence, “For three transgressions and for four I will not turn away the punishment thereof.” Amos 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 13, 2:1, 4, 6

Then follows a reason why God deals in punishment with the several parties which are associated with the eight times and God uses the word “because.” Christ in the Gospel of Matthew uses this personal sentence. “Verily I say unto you” no less than 30 times.

His Word is final and His Word settles everything.

Christ in His Teaching Used Many Similes!

The Saviour in His submission giving Himself over to die for our sins is: “Brought as a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before his shearers is dumb, He opened not His mouth,” Isa 53:7

The Lord’s love for His people is, “Like a Father who pitieth his children,” Psa 103:13. His love is true, tender, providing, constant, and eternal.

The Lord’s care and discipline is, “As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh  them, beareth them to her wings,” Duet 32:11. What an appropriate and beautiful simile of the Lord’s tender service. 

The Lord’s ministry and mindfulness is like a shepherd for his sheep for, “He shall feed His flock like a shepherd,” Isa 40:11. He tends His own tenderly, watchfully, constantly, and well.

The Lord’s ability to secure His saints is happily expressed in David’s testimony when he says, “He maketh my feet like hind’s feet,” 2 Sam 22:34. When we trust Him, He makes our goings secure as we tread the difficult places in life.

The psalmist uses the word “like” in expressing his loneliness, sadness, and trial. “My days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned like an hearth. My heart is smitten and withered like grass. I am like a pelican of the wilderness, I am like an owl of the desert. Like a sparrow alone, a shadow that declineth and I am withered like grass,” Psa 102:1-11

Could a more mournful dirge be compared?

The Importance of the Word “Then” in the Law of Time!

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

The ”five thens” of Isaiah chapter six give us the subsequent steps in the prophet’s experience. The sight of the Lord’s holiness made him realize his sinfulness, “Then said I, Woe is me, for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”

After that confession, “then flew one of the seraphim and placed a large coal upon the lips of Isaiah 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 spoke to the Lord about the message he had to deliver. “Then said I, how long?”

Then he said, woe is me.
Then flew one of the seraphim.
Then I heard the voice of the Lord.
Then said I, here am I.
Then said I, how long?

The importance of the adverb of time. “Then, then, then, then, then”

Thought for the Day!

“I do not know how philosophers will ultimately define religion. But from Micah to James it has been defined as service to one’s fellow man, rendered by following the great rule of justice, mercy, wisdom and righteousness.”

”The test of our worth is the service we render. Sacrifice yes, as an incident in service, but let us think only of the service, not of the sacrifice.”

”There was not yet a service worth rendering that did not entail sacrifice and no man renders the highest service if he thinks overmuch of sacrifice.”

”Let us pay with our bodies for our soul’s sake.”

–Theodore Roosevelt

The Law of Order! We Have Often Been Told to Put First Things First!

Some things are first in the order of time. Other things are first in the place of importance. Paul said in speaking of the soul of the Gospel, “I declared unto you first of all how that Christ died and rose again according to the Scriptures,” 1 Cor 15:3-4

Peter, in his speaking of the characteristics of the last days, says “Knowing this first that there shall come in the last days, scoffers walking after their own lusts and saying where is the promise of His coming?” 2 Pet 3:3-4

Christ uses the word “first” twice in the Sermon on the Mount and in both of these instances is to the first things in the order of time.
Matt 5:23-24, when one brings his gift to the alter and remembers his brother has something against him he is leave the gift and “first to be reconciled to his brother.”
”Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and these other things will be added to you.”

First things first!

Saturday, July 22, 2000

Verse for Today

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

The Definiteness of Scripture

The Lord is always definite in His Truth and teaching. When the Lord speaks, it is for us to bow and obey. But when He speaks in a specific character and in a special way, it is for us to listen attentively and intensely.

This law can be illustrated from many Scriptures and we refer to Christ’s messages to the seven churches as found in connection with these words:

”These things”

1. The Holder of the stars.
”These things saith He that holdeth the seven stars,” Rev 2:1
The stars represent the ministers the Lord uses in His ministries to the churches. When they are held by Him and used in His service, He serves and speaks through them to purpose.

2. The First and the Last.
”These things saith the First and the Last, which was dead and is alive,” Rev 2:8
Between Him who is first in creation and last in consummation and revelation because He died for us and lives for us.

3. The Possessor of the two-edged sword.
”These things saith He which hath the sharp sword with two edges,” Rev 2:12
His Word cuts both ways as His message to the Church at Pergamos illustrates. It cuts into the inner life as well as the outward. He lays bear the heart of purpose and discovers where the life is barren and wanting.

4. The eye of fire.
”These things saith the Son of God who hath His eyes like unto a flame of fire,”  Rev 2:18
The flame will not burn unless it has fuel on which to feed, but when there is the combustibility of sin, it will scorch and burn to the hurt of the sinner.

5. The Possessor of the Spirit.
”These things saith He that hath the seven spirits,” Rev 3:1
Isa 11:2, 3 reveals the Holy Spirit in His sevenfold character. The Lamb and the Spirit are always associated. The Bible begins with a brooding Dove and ends with a bleeding Lamb.

6. The Holy One.
”These things saith He that is holy,” Rev 3:7
He is holy and true. Holiness and truth are not merely attributes with Him. They express what He is in the essence of His being.

7. The faithful Witness.
”These things saith the Amen, the faithful and the true Witness, the beginning of the creation of God,” Rev 3:14
The Amen comes first. And the beginning last. Between the two He is revealed as “the faithful and true Witness.” Does this not reveal to us Christ in His life and ministry as the revelation of God? And as such, He is the Amen. So let it be. And as the beginning, He can make it to be, as He did in the beginning.

”These things.”

Thought for Today

“With all my heart I believe in the joy of living, but those who achieve it, do not seek it as an end in itself. But as a seized and prized incident of hard work, well done, when duty demands that it must be faced. Woe to those for who invite a sterile death, not for them only. But for the race. The death, which is insured by a life of sterile selfishness. But honor, highest honor, to those who fearlessly face death for a good cause.”

”No life is so honorable or so fruitful as such a death. Unless men are willing to fight and die for great ideals , including love of country, ideals will vanish. And the world will become one huge sty of materialism. And unless the women of ideals bring for the men who are ready to thus live and die, the world of the future will be filled with the spawn of the unfit.”

–Theodore Roosevelt

Redeemer From the Age–Time Past is Thy Name!

What do we find in the name? Seven blessings.

1. Safety
Prov 18:10, “A tower of strength is the Name of the Lord. Thereunto runneth the righteous and is safe.”

2. Joy
Psa 5:11, “They may leap for joy in Thee who are lovers of Thy Name.”

3. Supply
Psa 9:10, “Lord a refuge for times of destitution, then let them that know Thy Name put confidence in Thee.”

4. Power
Zech 10:12, “I will make them mighty in the Lord and in His Name shall they march to and fro, declareth the Lord.”

5. Inspiration
Psa 119:55, “I have remembered in the night Thy Name, O Lord, and have kept Thy law.”

6. Victory
Exodus 15:3-4, “The Lord is a warlike one, the Lord is His Name. The chariots of Pharaoh and his train hath He cast into the sea.”

7. Presence
Exodus 20:24, “In every place where I may mention My Name will I come in unto thee and will bless thee.”

What’s in a Name? Safety, joy, supply, power, inspiration, victory, and presence!

“All Things”

The little words of the Bible are large in their claim and revelation. The manifold, matchless Grace and love of Christ are seen in the use of the words “all things” in Ephesians.

All spiritual blessings, Eph 1:3
All wisdom, Eph 1:7
All things, Eph 1:10
All things, Eph 1:11
All the saints, Eph 1:15
All principalities, Eph 1:21, 22
All in all, Eph 1:23
All things, Eph 3:9
All the fullness, 3:19
All we ask or think, 3:20
All ages, Eph 3:21
All lowliness, Eph 4:1-3

Eph 4:6  “all” “all” “all” “all”   Four “alls” in one verse.
One God and Father of all
Who is above all.
And through all
and in you all.

He is sufficient for all His children under all conditions.

Believe it “you’all.”

12 Looks at John 3:16

The greatest possible need is in the conjunction “for.” It takes us back to the previous verses which speak of the necessity of Christ’s death because of man’s sin.

The greatest possible Being is made known in the second word of the verse, “God.”
The One who is love, light, and spirit. And who in His being is holiness, justice, Grace, righteousness, mercy, Truth, and wisdom.

The greatest possible word is found in “so,” “so loved.”
This is the shortest word in the Bible with the greatest of all meanings. There is no sounding to the depths of this ocean, and no possible attainment to its height.

The greatest possible love is reached in this “God so loved.”
Love is revealed in its highest form, in its greatest givin