Divine Sugar Sticks for August 2000

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Thursday, August 31, 2000

Mutual Keeping. Mutual Security!

The double grip of Grace tells us that love’s fingers are interlaced in the warmth of their embrace for the keeping of the sheep in the place of the Lord’s preservation.

For the Lord assures us we are not only in His hand, but “My Father, who gave them, He is greater than all.”

”And no one is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand,” John 10:29

Preserved in the hand of power, we are kept safe from sin’s pollution.

Mutual Indwelling!

There is a mystic union between the sons and the “Son” with the “Father.”

Wonderful are the words:
”Ye shall know that I am in the Father” and "Ye in Me” and “I in you.”

And to those who know Him by their obedience, Christ further says,
”If a man love Me, he will know my words” and “My Father will love him.”
”And We will come into him, and make Our abode with him,” John 14:20-23

The  word “abode” is the same as rendered “mansion” in John 14:2

God’s home is in the obedient child and the obedient child is at home in God.

Mutual Bestowment!

“Behold I send the promise of My Father upon you,” Luke 24:49

The purpose of the Father culminated in the passion of the Son. And the passion of the smitten Son brought the power of the Spirit’s Grace, even as the struck rock of Horeb resulted in the gushing water.

Mutual Thought!

“In My Father’s house there are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you,” John 14:2

The place Christ is preparing is in the house of the Father’s many mansions, abodes. The home-coming of the children from the school of Grace of life will find many surprises of the Father’s thinking and planning and the Son’s working.

”You believe in God. Believe also in Me,” John 14:1

Mutual Work!

Christ speaks of “My Father’s business,” Luke 2:49

And the works He did as done “in My Father’s Name,” John 10:25

He says, “My Father worketh hitherto and I work,” John 5:17

The sphere of His service, the authority for His action, the plan which He followed, the business in which He was engaged, and the fellowship of His work were all begun, continued and ended from, in, through, with, and to the Father.

”I do always those things which please Him.”
”This is My Beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased.”
”It is finished.”

“My Father”

The many times that Jesus Christ uses the phrase “My Father,” you will find them in one of two relationships. Either in the fellowship of Their mutual love or in Their mutual service.

Or else They are mutually acting for believers.

Mutual work, Mutual purpose, Mutual keeping, Mutual indwelling, Mutual obedience, Mutual bestowment, Mutual thought.

“The Father”

When Christ uses the expression “the Father,” the exclusiveness of His being is emphasized as

”He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father,” John 14:9

To the sovereignty of His Grace — “No man cometh to Me except the Father draw him,“ John 6:44
To the claim of His Deity — “Worship the Father,” John 4:21
To the revelation of His love — “The Only Begotten of the Father, full of Grace and Truth,” John 1:14
To the holiness of His love — “The Father loveth,” John 3:35
To the power of His Spirit — “Whom the Father will send in My Name,” John 14:26
And to the character of Christ’s service — “The Father which sent Me,” John 12:49, 14:24

The Father as “the Father” is referred to again and again in the Gospel of John. Take one section, namely, John 5:19-21, as illustrating the Father in relation to the exclusiveness of His being as the source of all things.

Verse 19, “The Son can do nothing of Himself but what He seeth the Father do.”
Verse 20, “For the Father loveth the Son and sheweth Him all things.”
Verse 21, “For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them, so the Son quickeneth whom He will.”

The Title “EL-SHADDAI”

 EL-SHADDAI means “the Almighty God.” It occurs eight times in the Old Testament. SHADDAI means “mighty,” and occurs 40 times in the Old Testament. EL occurs 48 times. SHADDAI occurs 31 times in the book of Job.

The Hebrew word SHADDAI comes from the root SHAD, which means a breast. And it is so rendered in

Gen 49:25, “Even by the God of thy fathers who shall help thee, and by the Almighty who shall bless thee with blessings of the deep, that lieth under blessings of the breasts and of the womb.” This is the first time this word occurs.

The world “Almighty” is in the plural. But the title, EL, is in the singular. So, again, we have Trinity in unity. And yet only one Divine Personality.

The Almighty God!

The first time that is used is in Gen 17:1.

Abram had been walking before Sarah for 13 years in scheming to get the promised seed according to her idea, when God comes to His servant, and says, ”I am the Almighty God. Walk before Me and be thou perfect.”

He says in so many ways, I am all-sufficient to perform My promise without your projects.
Impossibilities according to man are possible according to God.

The last time “God Almighty” is mentioned in the Bible is in relation to judgment, when Christ is described as the One ”Who treadeth the winepress of the fierceness of the Almighty God,” Rev 19:15

God is all-bountiful to supply the need of His people. His promise is sure. His Grace is sufficient. His love is satisfying. His Truth is sanctifying. His joy is uplifting. His Word is certain. And He Himself is enough.

But it is equally true He is “all-powerful” to crush the devil, to destroy the Anti-Christ, and to overthrow evil, to stamp down oppression, and to consign the wicked to their own place.

”God Almighty”

Wednesday, August 30, 2000

Thought for the Day!

This is My Beloved Son
in Whom I am well-pleased.
Hear ye Him!

The Father!

The Father’s Unfolding — John 1:1-14

“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. And the Word took on flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory as the Only Begotten of the Father, full of Grace and Truth.”

The Divine Word reveals the loving Father in His Grace and Truth. “The Law came by Moses, but Grace and Truth came by the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Christ is all He was in the living expression of what the Father is.

The Gospel opens with the Son in the Father’s bosom. And before it closes, it reveals a saved sinner in the bosom of the Father.

John 1:18, “No man hath seen God at any time. The Only Begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.”
John 13:25, “He then lying on Jesus’ breast, saith unto Him, Lord who is it?”

The Father’s House — John 2:16

When the Son comes to the Father’s house, He finds it polluted and possessed by religious sinners.

Cleansing is the first act. For there can be no compact in Grace until the usurper is cast out from his government.

John 2:16, “And said unto them that sold doves, take these things hence make not My Father’s house an house of merchandise.”

Jesus Christ could have had peace in His time when He walked in and saw the money changers by just walking out. But He didn’t. Because peace is not the answer. Righteousness is the answer. Peace must always follow righteousness.

The Father’s Trust — John 3:35

The Beloved Son has given to Him the wealth of the Father’s treasure. Adam was trusted and failed. Christ was trusted and was faithful.

The Gospel reveals Christ as constantly “giving.” Look up His “I gives.” He has so much to give the “sons” because as the Son, He has received all the treasures of the Father.

John 3:35, “The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into His hand.”

”I give.” Love always gives.

The Father’s Worship — John 4:23

The spirit nature of the Father, God is a Spirit, seeks the spiritual worship of His children.

The locality of place and the hollowness of form are not recognized by Him, while the heart of faith and the reality of love’s gratitude are food and satisfaction to His being.

John 4:23, “But the hour cometh and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth for the Father seeketh such to worship Him.”

John 4:24, “God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.”

The Father’s Will — John 5:17-42

There breathes through Christ’s references to His Father, working, loving, honouring, committing, sending, witnessing, and fitting, one thought …

Namely … His delight to do all the Father wishes.

He wills and walks in His Father’s will, therefore, the Father is with Him in all His ways.

John 5:19, “Then answered Jesus, and said unto them, Verily, Verily I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do, for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.”

Tuesday, August 29, 2000

What is the Church?

The ascended Lord is the “Head of the Church,” His body, Eph 1:22, 5:23

Love is the motive and moving power of the Church and the members are to love one another “as Christ loved the Church,” Eph 5:2, 25

Prayer is the life of the Church, the power that brings release even as it did with imprisoned Peter when praying was made “without ceasing of the Church unto God,” Acts 12:5

Worship of the Lord is the privilege of the Church and Christ is ever the “One in the midst of the Church” leading her in praise to God. Heb 2:12

The Church is responsible as well as privileged to “Come together, to remember the Lord’s death,” 1 Cor 11:18-26

”Edification,” or the building of each other up, “is the role of the Church.” Therefore, the keynote of all ministry in the Church. 1 Cor 14:5, 12, 19

Unity of action is the responsibility of the Church. There is to be “No schism in the body,” but each member is to tarry one for the other and hold the Head by recognizing the members in mutual help and assemblage. 1 Cor 11:18-22, Eph 4:16

The Truth of God is in the custody of the Church. Therefore, “The Church is the pillar and ground of the Truth.” 1 Tim 3:15

God Himself is the Center and Circumference of the Church. The Church is called, “The Church of God,” and it is said to be, “in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ,” and it is also “the Church of the Firstborn.” 1 Cor 1:2, 1 Thes 1:1, Heb 12:23

”The glory of God is the end of the Church. It displays His manifold wisdom and is to be His manifested glory,” Eph 3:10, 21, 5:27

The Law of the Spirit!

“The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus makes us free from the law of sin and death,” Rom 8:2

”Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”

A Spirit-filled life is extensive in its meaning. There are several phases and phrases which have to do with the Spirit-filled life.

Thought for Today!

”There is no good thing
That I will withhold from you
If you walk uprightly.”

Signed ...
Your Saviour

“All”

Eph 1:23, “Which is His body, the fulness of Him, that filleth all in all.”

Eph 3:19, “And to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”

Eph 3”20, “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.”

Eph 4:6, “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

You’all!

According to God’s Divine Norm and Standard!

There is a Greek preposition, KATA, in the New Testament which reads “according to” and it means according to God’s Divine norm or standard.

Now, taking this KATA, “according to,” as it applies to the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, we find seven Divine norms or standards.

1. God’s standard of authority.
”According to the Scriptures,” 1 Cor 15:3-4

2. God’s standard of salvation.
”According to God’s mercy,” Titus 3:5

3. God’s standard of blessing.
”According to the riches of God’s Grace,” Eph 1:7

4. God’s standard of power.
”According to God’s power in Christ’s resurrection,” Eph 1:19

5. God’s standard of giving.
”According to the riches of His glory,” Eph 3:16

6. God’s standard of effectiveness.
”According to the effectual working of His power,” Eph 3:20

7. God’s standard of supply.
”According to God’s riches in glory in Christ Jesus,” Phil 4:19

God’s norm and standard

Christ’s Death is the Keystone in Arch of Truth

The Holy Spirit recognizes it when He says, “Christ died according to the Scriptures,” 1 Cor 15:3-4

The jewel of Christ’s atonement lies in the casket of Truth, the following seven facts of history declared in prophetic Scriptures will illustrate.

1. We are told He would die in Psa 22:16. He was “pierced” according to Roman law and not stoned to death according to Jewish law.
2. He was to be betrayed by “a friend,” Psa 41:9, and sold for 30 pieces of silver. Zech 11:12
3. He was by His death to restore that which He took not away. Psa 69:4, “He bore the sin of many,” Isa 53:12 and was “Numbered with the transgressors,” Isa 53:12
4. There was no compulsion in His sacrifice. His readiness is firmly expressed in His ”delight to do Thy will, O God,” Psa 40:8
5. The depth and intensity of His sufferings are heralded forth in the words of soul despair, “My God, My God, Why hast Thou forsaken Me?” Psa 22:1
6. The absolute identity with the sins of His people is tersely put when He speaks of their iniquity as His own. “My sin,” Psa 38:3
7. The Divine Actor behind all is beyond question for it “Pleased JEHOVAH to bruise Him,” Isa 53:10

Now there is a message for a sermon on Sunday!

There are 14 Titles for the Lord!

“They that know Thy Name will put their trust in Thee, for Thou, Lord, has not forsaken them that seek Thee,” Psa 9:10

1. JEHOVAH-HOSEENU — “The Lord our Maker.”
   ”Oh come let us worship and kneel before JEHOVAH our Maker,” Psa 95:6
   
2. JEHOVAH-JIREH – “The Lord will see and provide,” Gen 22:14
   
3. JEHOVAH-ROPHECA — “The Lord that healeth thee,” Exodus 15:26
   
4. JEHOVAH-NISSI — “The Lord our banner,” Exodus 17:15
   
5. JEHOVAH-MEKADDESHCEM — “The Lord that doth sanctify.”
   ”I am the Lord which sanctify you,” Lev 20:8
   
6. JEHOVAH-ELOHEENU — “The Lord our God,” Psa 99:5, 8, 9
   
7. JEHOVAH-ELOHEKA — “The Lord thy God” found frequently in the Book of
   Deuteronomy and 20 times in chapter 16.
   
8. JEHOVAH-ELOHAY — “The Lord my God,” Zech 14:5
   
9. JEHOVAH-SHALOM — “The Lord send peace,” Judges 6:24
   
10. JEHOVAH-TSEBAHOTH — “The Lord of hosts.” TSEBAHOTH is rendered ”armies,” Num 1:3
    ”The Lord of hosts is His Name,” Isa 47:4, 48:2, 51:15, 54:5
    
11. JEHOVAH-ROHI — “The Lord my Shepherd,” Psa 23:1
    
12. JEHOVAH-HELEYON — “The Lord Most High,” Num 24:16, Deut 32:8
    ”Most High God,” Gen 24:18, 19, 20, Psa 78:56
    
13. JEHOVAH-TSIDKEENU — “The Lord our Righteousness,” Jer 23:6, 33:16
    
14. JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH — “The Lord is there,” Ezek 48:35

Prov 30 – “What is His Son’s Name, if you can tell?”

Let’s Take One of the 14 Names of the Lord and See What it Says to Us

JEHOVAH-SHALOM — “The Lord sent peace,” Judges 6:24

We will develop a doctrine for you right in front of your eyes.

The comprehensiveness of the word SHALOM in its use in Isaiah tells us what the Lord is as our peace.

1. He is the Procurer of peace.
   ”The chastisement of our peace was upon Him,” Isa 53:5
   
2. He is the Personification of our peace.
   ”For He is the Prince of peace,” Isa 9:6
   
3. He is the Publisher of our peace.
   Isa 52:7
   
4. He is the Perfection of our peace, for He keeps us in “peace, peace.”
   Those who trust Him, Isa 26:3
   
5. He is the Power of peace.
   “He will ordain peace,” Isa 26:12
   
6. He is the Promise of peace.
   “The work of righteousness shall be peace.” Isa 32:17
   
7. He is the Perpetuator of peace.
   “His covenant of peace shall not be removed” and “of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end,” Isa 9:7, Isa 54:10

You can do that with each one of His 14 titles. Try it you will like it!

Thought for the Day!

“In My Father’s house there are many mansions
I go to prepare a place for you
that where I am, there ye may be also
if it were not so, I would have told you.”

Signed...
God the Son

Monday, August 28, 2000

“I am the Lord” JEHOVAH

This reminds us of the Lord’s immutability.

In Mal 3:6 he says “I am JEHOVAH.” Then He explains what it means – ”I change not.”

Then He gives the application – “Therefore the sons of Jacob are not consumed.”

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

Often in the Psalms You Find the Holy Spirit Playing Upon the Words

”The Lord, JEHOVAH, is” as coupled with the believer’s faith.

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

He is the Defense in which we can hide.
”JEHOVAH is my Defense,” Psa 94:22

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

What the Lord is!

The Lord is the Shield behind which we are protected.
”JEHOVAH is my shield,” Psa 28:7

The Lord is our Deliverance by which we are saved.
”JEHOVAH is my light and salvation,” Psa 27:1

The Lord is the Shade by which we are refreshed.
”JEHOVAH is my Shade,” Psa 121:5

The Lord is the Pastor to shepherd.
”JEHOVAH is my Shepherd,” Psa 23:1

Since the Lord is what He is, we may well come to the conclusion of faith as expressed in Psalm 37.
”Trust in JEHOVAH,” verse 3, for He supplies all needs.
”Delight in JEHOVAH,” verse 4, for He fulfils all desires.
”Commit unto JEHOVAH,” verse 5, for He accomplishes all things.
”Rest in JEHOVAH,” verse 7, for He looks after all His saints.
”Wait upon JEHOVAH,” verse 9, for He bestows all blessings.
”Look to JEHOVAH,” verse 34, for He rewards all waiters.
”Trust in JEHOVAH,” verse 40, for faith sees all Grace.

“JEHOVAH is His Name,” Exodus 15:3

“They that know Thy Name will put their trust in Thee for Thou, JEHOVAH, has not forsaken them that seek Thee,” Psa 9:10

The Name of the Lord stands for His nature, His character.
The meaning of JEHOVAH is “The Unchanging One,” namely the One who always was, is, and is to come. Rev 1:4.

The Lord Himself explains it by “I am that I am,” or “I am what I am,” Exodus 3:14

There are 14 titles of JEHOVAH – 14 hyphenated titles.
”They that know Thy Name will put their trust in Thee.”

The Name “Lord,” JEHOVAH, is Used With Special Significance

When coupled with ELOHIM, JEHOVAH refers to His relationship to man as Creator.

”Lord God,” “JEHOVAH ELOHIM,” occurs 19 times in Genesis two and three.
Among those references, you will find the following principles:

The whole story of man’s creation and fall and God’s provision for him in Grace is thus summarized.

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

What kind of a life is it that the Lord gives us?

1. It is a Christ-identified and a Christ-associated life, for He says,
   ”Because I live, ye shall live also,” John 14:19
   
2. It is a God-derived and Christ-sustained life.
   ”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 6:37
   
3. It is a self-displacing and a Christ-centered life. For all those who know Him cease to,
   ”live unto themselves but unto Him,” 2 Cor 5:15
   
4. It is a Spirit-inscribed and a Spirit-incited life for believers are the epistles of the living God and He inscribes His character on their inner being. 2 Cor 3:3
5. 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
   
6. It is a brethren-considerate and a Lord-controlled life, therefore, believers
   ”Who live unto the Lord do not despise nor judge each other,” Rom 14:7-9
   

Saturday, August 26, 2000

“With What Words”

There are a variety of gracious truths found in the Word of God, such words as: Truth, fellowship, know, born of God, manifest, and the great words are light, love, and life.

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

There are seven definite things of the Lord.

1. The Word of God – the basis of all authority, 1 John 2:14, “I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known Him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the Word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.”
2. The love of God – the secret of all godliness, 1 John 2:5, “But whoso keepeth His Word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him.” 4:9, “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.” 5:2, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments.”
3. The will of God – the bliss of Heaven’s glory, 1 John 2:17, “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
4. The children of God – the relationship of all privilege, 1 John 3:1-2, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.”
5. The Son of God – the Center of all revelation, 1 John 3:8, “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 4:15, 5:5, 10, 12, 5:13, 20
6. Born of God – the involution of all life, 1 John 3:9, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”
7. The Spirit of God – the power of all ability, 1 John 4:2, “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:”

The soul of those words glows with an intensity of meaning, and is vital with the energy of the Holy Spirit.

”Thy Word is a light unto my path.”

The Unity of the Books of the Bible

The Importance of Individuals and an Individual’s Decisions

In Genesis the men of the flesh such as Ishmael and Esau and their descendents are summarized in 50 verses. While the men of faith and their seed. such as Terah, Issac, and Jacob cover no less than over 40 chapters.

From this we gather that those who are only to play a minor part in the drama of human history, while they are recognized, they and theirs are dismissed with a few statements of fact. While those who are in the covenant of promise are prominent throughout. Some are written in the Book of Life and some are written in the Book of Earth.

Moses Wrote of Me!

Christ endorsed this fact in His well-known words when He said, “Moses wrote of Me,” John 5:46. The Jews, too, recognized that, “God spake unto Moses,” John 9:29, although they repudiated Christ.

When we look back over the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, even the most superficial reader must be immediately arrested by the tremendous sentence prefacing nearly every chapter. ”Then the Lord said unto Moses.” And, “The Lord said unto Moses.” Deut 18:17-20

It is only necessary to hold the Bible in your hand and just let page after page flit by and as though by a panoramic effect, these words seem to stand out as the root and essence, the heart and manifestation, the center and the circumference, of the whole Pentateuch as indeed they are. To take only a few references from the book of Exodus, we come across this frequent formula, ”The Lord had spoken.”

When Aaron, as the mouthpiece of the Lord, met the elders of the children of Israel, “He spake of all the words which the Lord had spoken unto Moses,” Ex 4:30

”As the Lord had spoken by Moses,” Ex 9:12, 34, regarding Pharaoh.

”He gave them in commandment all that the Lord had spoken with him,” Ex 34:32. As the lawgiver to Israel, this is declared.

When Christ said “Moses spoke of Me,” I think He wanted us to look it up and mark this specific expression, “The Lord hath spoken.”

The Emphasis on the Source of the Word

The Word is Divine in its source. Take one book, the book of Acts. The Word is referred to 35 times.

13 times as “The Word of God.” 
8 times as “The Word of the Lord.” 
13 times as “The Word.” 
“Thy Word” is referenced once in Acts 4:29.

The psalmist says, “Thou hast magnified Thy Word above all Thy Name,” Psa 138:2. Therefore, we do well to glorify it above everything else.

Matt 4:4. “Man cannot live by bread alone, but by but every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

Friday, August 25, 2000

Church and the Word is ECCLESIA

1. The meaning of the word is “that which is called out.”

2. Up until the time of the Lord’s ministry on Earth, the Church was a complete mystery.

3. The Church universal and invisible in the true biblical sense, is made up of both Jew and Gentile who accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour regardless of their badge or affiliation. Gal 3:26-28

4. From the moment of regeneration they cease to be Jew and Gentile and become ECCLESIA. Col 3:11, Gal 3:26-28

5. At the point of salvation the Holy Spirit baptizes all believers into the body of Christ. 1 Cor 12:13

6. In 1 Cor 12:12 the Church is called the body of Christ with many members. Rom 12:4

7. In Col 1:18, Christ is designated as the Head of the body, the Church.

8. The Church is the Lord’s redeemed called from the old creation from in Adam to in Christ. 1 Cor 15:22, 2 Cor 5:17

9. The Church is likened to a growing, but not yet completed structure. Eph 2:21-22, 1 Cor 3:9

10. When the last member is added to this perfect body or structure, the Lord will remove His Church from the Earth. John 14:3, 1 Thes 4:13-18

11. The Lord Himself builds His Church. Matt 16:18, Acts 2:47

12. The Church, when in Heaven, is called “the Bride of Christ.” Rev 19:6-8

Nomenclature (vocabulary)

Position “in Christ,” “Body of Christ,” “Church universal,” “Church invisible,” “Bride of Christ.”

For believers only!

The Things Believers Have in Common and the Things in Which They Differ

1. Areas in common. It is Grace all the way.

All believers are:
    A. All are in union with Christ
    B. All are indwelt by the Lord Jesus Christ
    C. All are indwelt by God the Holy Spirit
    D. All believers are priests
    E. All believers are ambassadors
    F.  All believers are equipped to stay in fellowship
    G. All believers are equipped to take in the Word and breath it out

All believers have:
    A. A human spirit
    B. A mind and factors of the soul
    C. The completed Canon of Scripture
    D. All believers have at least one spiritual gift
    E. All believers have the privilege of prayer and worship

Every believer is:
    A. Commanded to live a supernatural way of life, which requires the filling of the Holy Spirit, which is the basis for production, the continued use of faith in the Word and promises of God and resting in them, and growth to maturity. Eph chapter three and chapter five.
    B. Responsible for representing the Lord Jesus Christ accurately. Acts 1:8

Where believers differ:
    A. The old sin nature. Every  believer has an old sin nature which differs from the next person
in operation of patterns of interest – lust pattern, area of weakness, and area of strength. All of which is unacceptable to God.
    B. Spirituality. The believer is either spiritual or carnal at any given moment, when in fellowship Divine Good is produced.
    C. Growth. Different stages of growth, babe, teenager, adult. 1 John 2:12-14
    D. Physical or personal differences
    E. Spiritual gifts. These determine authority and responsibility in the Church. In human life, authority and responsibility come because of physical birth and ability, etc. In the Christian way of life, all authority and responsibility is based upon spiritual birth and the sovereign bestowment of spiritual gifts by God the Holy Spirit.

The Born Again Jew at the Second Advent Receives Four Unconditional Covenants

Each one of the four unconditional covenants have an “eternal life” clause, which means you have to be saved and have eternal life.

1. The Abrahamic covenant.
   A covenant made between God and Abraham. Gen 12, 13, 15, 17, 22. And a promise of Abraham and his seed forever.
2. The Palestinian covenant. Deut 30:1-8
   This is the promise of the land forever – has eternal life clause.
3. The Davidic covenant. 2 Sam 7:12-16
   A promise of a King forever, David’s greater Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
4. The New covenant. Jer 31:31-34
   A promise of the Word of God no longer on tablets, but on their souls.
   All have eternal life clauses in the promises, which means the Jews have to be born again, and that are they promised unconditionally.

A seed, a soil, a Son, a Scripture.
Abraham will always have a seed. The Jews will get the land. They will have a King. And they will have the Word of God. Forever!

The Lord’s Table – The Communion Service

This is the most solemn of all when it comes to worship. The Lord instituted this Himself and it should be entered into discreetly and honestly before the Lord.

Four principles of communion. 1 Cor 11:20-34

1. Harmony. Verses 20-22
    A. You should come together habitually for Church service. Heb 10:25
    B. A love feast, the Church supper, was eaten before communion. Emphasis was not to be on eating, but on sharing, harmony as the body of Christ.

2. Remembrance of the Lord Jesus Christ. Verses 23-26
    A. Bread. Speaks of the work of Christ. Emphasis on the Person of Christ, the incarnation, His impeccability. 2 Cor 5:21. Also as the Bread of Life. John 6:35
    B. “Which is broken,” which is Jesus Christ dying on the Cross. He was bruised. Isa 53:5. No bones were broken, John 19:33, 36. This fulfilled Scripture. Exodus 12:46, Num 9:12
    C. Eating of the Bread is a picture of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
    D. “Cup” speaks of the work of Christ, emphasis on the shedding of blood.
    E. “The New Testament in My blood” is a new covenant, salvation through the death of Jesus Christ.

3. Restoration to fellowship. Verses 27-32
    A. We as believers in the Church Age have two rituals.
        1. Baptism – only once. Speaks of positional truth.
        2. Communion – many times. Which speaks of fellowship with God in time.
    B. We are not to partake of the communion “unworthily” i.e., while out of fellowship.
    C. Let a man examine himself, himself not others, to see if he is in fellowship, you can’t partake out of fellowship.
        1. No Church board or Church government is to bar a believer from communion. It is a personal and individual matter.
        2. There is no Biblical basis for closed communion.
    D. If you partake of communion while out of fellowship, you are subject to damnation. This is Divine discipline – chastisement for the believer out of fellowship.
    E. Because when believers take communion out of fellowship, many are:
        1. Weak, feeble – loss of energy
        2. Sickly – chronic invalid
        3. And many sleep – Christian death
    F. If we judge ourselves and restore ourselves, we avoid discipline.

4. Fellowship. Verses 33-34
    A. When you come together for the love feast, the Church supper, “tarry” (wait) for all and partake together.
    B. If we are hungry, eat at home so you can wait for one another. Be courteous, and as a result, be in fellowship before you partake of the communion. By means of 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.”

The Indwelling of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit in All Believers!

1. The indwelling is prophesied for the Church Age.
   A. Holy Spirit. John 7:39, John 14:16-17
   B. Jesus Christ. John 14:20
2. This was impossible before Jesus Christ was glorified. John 7:39
3. Distinction must be made between the indwell Holy Spirit and the indwelling of the Lord Jesus Christ.
4. The Lord Jesus Christ indwells the believer. John 14:20, Gal 2:20, 2 Cor 13:5, Col 1:27
5. The Holy Spirit indwells the believer. John 14:16-17, 1 Cor 3:16, 1 Cor 6:19-20, Rom 8:9-10, Gal 3:2, Gal 4:6
6. The Lord Jesus Christ indwells the believer for the purpose of fellowship. Rev 3:20
7. The Holy Spirit indwells the believer to provide the power to execute the Christian way of life and to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. John 16:14, Eph 5:18, Gal 5:22-26
8. The power of the Holy Spirit is turned on through the cleansing provided through the use of 1 John 1:9. The Holy Spirit is God and God cannot control if there is sin in the life.
9. The Holy Spirit is the only One who can glorify the Lord Jesus Christ in the Church Age.
10. Relationship with Jesus Christ means a relationship with God the Holy Spirit.
    

Confidence – 1 John 5:14-21

1. Confidence comes from getting the Word of God into your mind through the filling of the Holy Spirit transferring it to the human spirit by faith, with the result you have a frame of reference and edifying maturity, and this gives stability and confidence.
2. To have confidence, you need to have daily Doctrinal intake and application of the Word of God to your circumstances.
3. Regardless of what happens to this country, to this world, regardless of disaster, catastrophe, which might surround us, God’s plan moves on day by day. You are a believer and you are a part of that plan, therefore you must regard every day with confidence.
4. The secret to your stability under all conditions is your confidence on knowing the Word of God and the reflection of the glory of God. Eph 3:13-21 with Eph 4:21-32
5. Therefore, your life will glorify the Lord. Your stability, your confidence, and inner resources will have an impact.
6. When you know the Word of God so well that you can’t forget it, you are in and have confidence.
7. 1 John 5:14-21 is the chapter for confidence.
   1. Verse 14 – Confidence in knowing the will of God
   2. Verse 15 – Confidence in prayer
   3. Verses 16-17 – Confidence in being alive
   4. Verse 18 – Confidence in function
       A. Spirituality
       B. Eternal security
   5. Verses 19-20 – Confidence in relationship
   6. Verse 21 – Confidence in separation
8. Do not confuse confidence with ego. A person can be dogmatic and confident regarding the Word of God, but this is not ego.
9. Confidence comes from having inner resources, the Word of God in your mind which produces stability in life. “As a man thinketh in his mind, so is he.”

We know therefore we are confident.
”Knowing we are confident.” 

Crowns!

Crowns are indicative of reward for the believer who has logged time in fellowship and operated as unto the Lord.

1. The crown of righteousness
The operation of putting your faith in the promises of God as believers. 2 Tim 4:7-8

2. The crown of joy
Mature believers with inner happiness helping other believers and winning souls. Phil 4:1, 1 Thes 2:19

3. The crown of glory
Glory here refers to reflected glory of Christ shining forth, refers to rewards for pastors with maturity. 1 Pet 5:4

4. The crown of life
For those who endure terrific testing and temptation and they stay occupied with the Lord Jesus Christ, Rev 2:1, James 1:12. Utilization of the faith-patience precept.

5. Crown of thorns
Not referring to rewards for Church Age believers, but speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ bearing the curse of sin. Matt 27:29

6. Incorruptible crown
1 Cor 9:21 refers to the nature of the rewards. They will be spiritual rewards that never fade away or perish like the Roman “garland and leaves.”

7. The many crowns
Rev 19:12, “His eyes were as a flame of fire and on His head were many crowns and He had a Name written, that no man knew but He Himself.”

Dying Grace. We Live by Grace and We Die by Grace

The death of a believer and an outline on dying Grace. Job 5:17-27
God provides Grace for dying just like He did for living. Whether living or dying, it is all the Grace of God.

1. Dying Grace removes the fear of death. Psa 23:4, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.”
2. Dying Grace depends on Who and What the Lord is. Psa 116:15, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.”
3. Provision of deliverance in extreme difficulties. Job 6:17-21, “What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place. The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish. The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them. They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed. For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid.”
4. Dying Grace provides inner peace. Job 21b-24
5. Dying Grace gives comfort to those who are left behind. Job 5:25, “Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, and thine offspring as the grass of the earth.”
6. God takes the believer at the right time. Job 5:26-27, “Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season. Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know thou it for thy good.”

The believer after death:

1. No judgment in eternity. Rom 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
2. No sin nature in eternity. 1 Cor 3:11-16, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this Foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”
3. Face-to-face with the Lord in eternity. 2 Cor 5:1-8, “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from Heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now He that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, Who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”
4. All sorrow is removed in eternity. Rev 21:4, “And 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.”
5. An inheritance for all believers. 1 Pet 1:4-5, “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in Heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
6. Death means a new eternal home. John 14:1-3, “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. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
7. Death means a fuller realization of eternal life. 2 Cor 4:18, “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Who is afraid to go home?

Thursday, August 24, 2000

A Word About the Word!

1. A Divine impossibility
”That there should proceed out of the mouth of the Most High evil and good,” Lam 3:38
An holy utterance must ever proceed from Him who is holy.

2.  A Divine statement
”The Word that goeth forth (or proceedeth) out of the mouth of the Lord shall not return unto Him void, but it must accomplish the thing He has determined,” Isa 55:11

3. Christ has endorsed the fact that the Word which proceeds out of the mouth of JEHOVAH must be of benefit to those who receive it, for it is by means of it that man lives to purpose. Matt 4:4, Deut 8:3, Luke 4:4

A Word About the Word!

The Word of God is definite in its claim! The epistles to the Thessalonians illustrate the claims of the Word.

1. “It is the Word” in its authority, 1:6, “And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the Word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit:”

2. “The Word of the Lord” in its message, 1:8, “For from you sounded out the Wword of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.” 4:15, “For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.” Second 3:1, ”Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:”

3. “The Word of God” in its power, 2:13, “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in Truth, the Word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”

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

A Word About the Word!

The Word is distinct in its prophecy. The Book of Revelation may illustrate what is found in many places.

1. Christ is the key, 19:13, “And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His Name is called The Word of God.”
2. To keep It is our responsibility, 1:9, 3:8, 10, 6:9, 20:4
3. And to bear record of it is our privilege, 1:2, “Who bare record of the Word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.”

Distinguishing Messages in the Word!

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

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

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

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

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

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

6. It is the Word of the Lord to reveal, 1 Thes 4:13, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.”

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

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

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

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

The Word in its Devotion to its Promises!

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

Solomon confessed that, “Not one Word of God’s good promise failed,” 1 Kings 8:56

His promises and the performances of them are continually referred to. Psa 105:42, Acts 13:23, 32, 26:6-7, Rom 4:20, Gal 3:14-29, Heb 6:13-17, 2 Pet 3:4, 2 Pet 3:9, 13

What Christ Taught About the Word!

When we call to mind what the Lord says He will do by means of His Word, we can see how beneficent and practical it is in its inworking and outworking.

Let us confine our thoughts to Christ and His teaching.

1. He taught that the Word was a fruit producer – Matt 13:23, “But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the Word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
2. He taught that the Word was a victory gainer – Matt 4:4, “But He answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
3. He taught that the Word was a disciple witnesser – John 8:31, “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed;”
4. He taught that the Word was a sanctifying obtainer – John 17:17, “Sanctify them through Thy Truth: Thy Word is Truth.”
5. He taught that the Word was a love prover – John 14:23, “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love Me, he will keep My Words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with Him.”
6. He taught that the Word was a prayer answerer – John 15:7, “If ye abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”
7. He taught that the Word was a heart assurer – John 5:24, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
   

The Doctrines of the Bible Found in the Bible

One of the earliest of the epistles, if not the earliest, is Paul’s letter to the Church at Thessalonica and it is generally agreed that that the epistle was written A.D. 54 to 56.

Doctrines of the Bible

1. Our Gospel came not in Word only – 1:5, “For our Gospel came not unto you in Word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.”
2. We received the Word – 1:6, “And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the Word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit:”
3. The Word of the Lord – 1:8, “For from you sounded out the Word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.”
4. The Gospel of God. The Gospel – 2:2, “But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the Gospel of God with much contention.” 4:8-9, “He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his Holy Spirit. But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.”
5. The Word of God – 2:13, “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in Truth, the Word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”
6. The Gospel of Christ – 3:2, “And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the Gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:”
7. The Word of the Lord – 4:15, “For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.”
   

A President’s View of Right-Man/Right-Woman

“'There is need to develop all the virtues that have the state for their sphere of action, but these virtues are as dust in a windy street unless back of them lie the strong and tender virtues of a family life based upon the love of one man for the one woman and on their joyous and fearless acceptance of their common obligations to the children that are theirs.”

–Theodore Roosevelt

Christ’s Present Ministry at the Right Hand of God the Father!

This ministry has to do with believers only. He appears in the presence of God “for us.”

1. As our Representative, He lives for us.
2. As our High Priest, He pleads for us.
3. As our Advocate, He answers for us.
4. As our Succourer, He aids us.
5. As our Keeper, He preserves us.
6. As our Shepherd, He tends us.
7. As our Friend, He cheers us.
8. As our Companion, He has fellowship with us.

We hear Him say as He said of His own long since, “I pray for them.”

Thus His present service is respective to God’s people.

The Day of Salvation is Elective in its Purpose

The Lord is taking out from the world a bride for Himself. In order to accomplish this, those who are saved go forth and proclaim the willingness of the Lord to save to the uttermost.

The bride being blessed by Him receives a seven-fold benediction.

1. They are saved by His Grace.
2. They are secure in His power.
3. They are sealed by His Spirit who selected the bride for Christ.
4. They are supplied at His board.
5. They are sanctified in His fellowship.
6. They are satisfied with His favour.
7. They are sent forth to His service.

Here comes the bride!

A Two-Fold Work of Grace

1. The Grace of God saves us from what we deserve as sinners.

2. The Grace of God also teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly.

One:
Titus 2:11, “For the Grace of God that bringeth salvation has appeared to all men.”

Two:
Titus 2:12, “Teaching us to that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.”

Grace upon Grace!

There is a Two-Fold Redemption

1. We are redeemed to God by the blood of Christ. Hence, “In Him we have redemption,” Eph 1:7
2. But the outcome of this means we are to be redeemed from all iniquity.

Titus 2:14, “Who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto Himself a peculiar people zealous of good works.”

All believers are redeemed, but not all believers are redeemed when it comes to the Christian way of life; they still walk in darkness.

Meet For and Not Meet!

The Father in His love and Grace has ”made us meet for the inheritance of the saints in light,” Col 1:12

And we are responsible to see that we are vessels “meet” for the Master’s use by being set apart and prepared to every good work, 2 Tim 2:21

You met Him at the Cross. Will you meet him in time?

Two-Fold Acceptance!

God in His Grace has made us “accepted in the Beloved,” Eph 1:6

And because of being accepted, we are to make it our aim and ambition “to be accepted of Him,” that is to be “well pleasing to Him” as Christians, 2 Cor 5:9

All these two-fold Doctrines make a distinction between salvation and the Christian way of life, spirituality.

Two-Fold Life!

Believers in Jesus Christ have eternal life as a gift from God, Rom 6:23
But we are to lay hold on eternal life as an experience, 1 Tim 6:19

Two-Fold Forgiveness

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

Again – forgiven is for salvation.
”Forgive one other” is for spirituality, forgiveness applied.

Double “D” – Double Deliverance!

God has delivered us from the power of darkness, Col 1:13, “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son:”
That we should be delivered from this present evil world, Gal 1:4, “Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:”

These few illustrations will indicate many doubles that are found in connection with the Lord’s blessings.

What God has joined together, we must not put asunder.
It is our privilege to recognize what is ours in Christ.
But, we are equally responsible to allow Christ to live in us that we may fulfill our responsibilities.

Christ in you – the Hope of glory.

Wednesday, August 23, 2000

Another Hebrew Honey!

TEPHILLAH

”TEPHILLAH” we are happy if we have friends who pray for us, but we are happier when we go direct to headquarters for ourselves. We are independent of others when we are dependent upon the Lord.

”TEPHILLAH” means to make supplication. It occurs 76 times and 31 of them are in  the Psalms. The individualism is seen in the fact that the psalmist says again and again:
”Hear my prayer,” Psa 4:1, 39:12, 54:2, 84:8, 102:1, 143:1
”Receive my prayer,” Psa 6:9
”Give ear to my prayer,” Psa 17:1, 55:1, 86:6
”Attend unto my prayer,” Psa 61:1

The individualism is brought out in the individual named in prayer — like David, Moses, Solomon, Daniel, Manasseh, Nehemiah, Mattaniah, Job, Habakkuk.

Another Hebrew Honey!

CHALAH

“‘CHALAH” is rendered “pray” three times and all three are found in Zech 7:2, Zech 8:21, Zech 8:22 and in each instance in the uniform sentence, ”Pray before the Lord.”

If the passages are studied, it will be found that those who prayed, pray, or will pray in a time of stress and pain, and cry out as a woman cried out in travail till her strength is nearly worn out.

The words are rendered “intreat,” Prov 19:6; “besought,” 1 King 13:6; “make prayer,” Dan 9:13; “make supplication,” 1 Sam 13:12; “make suit,” Job 11:19; “travail” Jer 4:31; and “become weak,” Judges 16:7, 17

Prayer and Waiting on the Lord!

Wait at His door with prayer
Wait at His feet with humility
Wait at His table with service
Wait at His window with expectancy

”Waiting on the Lord” means at least three things:

1. Dependence on the Lord.
”On Thee do I wait all the day,” Psa 25:5
To wait on the Lord is to live a life of dependence on God, as the child waits on his father in whom he has confidence and on whom he casts all his care.

2. Humility before the Lord.
The psalmist expresses the thought of humility’s absolute resources in Him when he says
”My soul, wait thou upon God,” Psa 62:5
”A God that worketh for him, that waiteth for him,” Isa 64:4

3. Blessing from the Lord.
Blessing of strength comes to those who wait on the Lord for the Word says, ”But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run, and not be weary and they shall walk and not faint,” Isa 40:31

The meaning of the word “wait” is to bind together by twisting or to collect in one place. The term is rendered “gathered together” in speaking of the waters under Heaven being gathered into one place. Gen 1:9

When our weakness is bound together with the Lord’s strength, His strength is make perfect in our weakness.

An Illustrative Chapter in the Old Testament!

There is one chapter in which a full revelation is given on atonement. We find that the verb “to make atonement” occurs 16 times in Lev 16. Fifteen times KAPHAR is rendered “make an atonement” and once “make reconciliation,” verse 20.

It is an interesting study to see the different places and the things for which atonement was made, for it emphasizes the fact that everything is based on atonement, whether it be the salvation of the sinner or the work and worship of the priest.

There is a corresponding word in the New Testament which is “propitiation.” It is found in Rom 3:25, 1 John 2:2, 1 John 4:10. In these passages, God has set forth Christ to be “a propitiation for our sins,” i.e., satisfaction.

Reconciliation

KATAALLASSO

The first time the Greek word “reconciliation” occurs is in Rom 5:10. ”For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by,” DIA with the genitive means “by means of,” “the death of His Son, much more being reconciled we shall be saved in,” not by, but EN in “His life.”

How do you study? Well, here we have four explicit thoughts:
    1. The person’s reconciled  “enemies.”
    2. The means by which the reconciliation is effected, “by the death of His Son.”
    3. The person to whom the rebels were reconciled “to God.”
    4. The power into which reconciliation brings “saved in His life.”

Now that didn’t hurt did it? Study is not a dirty word.

A Key Verse on Reconciliation

Rom 5:11, “And not only so, but also glorifying in God through our Lord Jesus Christ through Whom we have now received the reconciliation.”

”Atonement” as given in the Authorized Version is wrong. It should be as elsewhere rendered “reconciliation.” One of the blunders of the translators is that where the word should be “reconciliation,” we have given to us “atonement.” And where the word should be “atonement,” as in Heb 2:17, we have “reconciliation.”

The key verse here emphasizes that “reconciliation” is through Christ, which “we have now received.” Mark the word “now” and then “we have.” Because of this, we enjoy the high privilege of “joy in God” or boast in Him and thus cease from self and others and find our home in God Himself.

Reconciliation in 2 Cor 5:18-20

Reconciliation is mentioned five times in these verses.

1. The cause and means of reconciliation.
”God who hath reconciled us unto Himself by Jesus Christ.”

2. Co-workers in the ministry of reconciliation.
”Hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.”

3. Contents of the Gospel of reconciliation.
”To wit that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself.”

4. Committal of the word of reconciliation.
”Hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”

5. Call to reconciliation.
”We pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

I told you it doesn’t hurt to study.

Abba Father

In ELOHIM, we have revealed the glory of God’s power. 
In ADONAI we have the glory of the Lord’s possessions. 
In JEHOVAH we have made known the glory of His Divine Person.
In Father we have brought to us the glory of His loving paternity.

In the first, there is made known the skill and strength of His hands as Creator.
In the second, there is made known the claim and call of His authority as Lord and Master.
In the third, we see the Grace and constancy of His immutable purpose as the Unchanging One.
And in the fourth, we have the hand and heart of our Father’s love and aid.

Eph 1:7, “The Father of glory” is one of the designations of Himself, but the glory of the Father is only known, as we are in intimate fellowship with the Father of glory.

A Divine Outline of our Father!

The Gospel of John is especially the Gospel which reveals our Father. Tracing through John, a definite thought may be emphasized in each chapter where the Father is mentioned.

1. The Father’s unfolding – John 1:1-14
2. The Father’s house – John 2:16
3. The Father’s trust – John 3:35
4. The Father’s worship – John 4:23
5. The Father’s will – John 5:17-42

In addition to the general survey of the of the Fatherhood of God in Christ as revealed by the Holy Spirit, in John we find the Father’s specific act severally mentioned. See if you can see them.

6. The Father’s provision – John 6:27-57
7. The Father’s commission – John 8:16-54
8. The Father’s fellowship – John 10:15-38
9. The Father’s response – John 11:41
10. The Father’s glory – John 12:26-50
11. The Father’s confidence – John 13:1-3
12. The Father’s image – John 14:2-31
13. The Father’s ministry – John 15:1-26
14. The Father’s love – John 16:3-32
15. The Father’s keeping – John 17:1-24
16. The Father’s cup – John 18:11
17. The Father’s presence – John 20:17-21

The Father’s Acts Revealed in John

His definite seeking – 4:23
His earnest working – 5:17
His ardent loving – 5:20, 10:17, 16:27
His powerful raising – 5:21
His specific sending – 5:36, 8:16-18
His Divine sealing – 6:27
His holy giving – 6:32, 37, 10:29, 13:3
His attractive drawing – 6:44
His recognized honouring – 8:54, 12:26
His appreciative knowledge – 10:15
His distinct command – 10:18, 14:31
His consecrating act – 10:36
His unmistakable message – 12:50
His sufficient bestowment – 14:26, 15:26
His fruitful tending – 15:1
His safe keeping – 17:11

I think there is enough there for a couple of Sundays ... Maybe a parfait!

Thought for the Day!

“A just war is in the long run better for a man’s soul than the most prosperous peace.”

–Theodore Roosevelt

An Awesome Thought Not to be Looked at Too Lightly!!!

At Calvary man is seen at his worst! We are told that, “Where sin abounded, Grace did much more abound,” Rom 5:20. This super-abounding of sin and Grace is not a general statement! But it is a specific and formal statement!

”Wicked hands nailed the Christ to the Cross,” Acts 2. It does not say “sinful hands” but “wicked hands,” which means “rebellious hands, defiled hands.” It shows man in the climax and concentration of his guilt.

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

”His body was pierced for He was wounded for our transgressions,” Isa 53:5. ”His soul was poured out for He is the Good Shepherd who laid down His life,” literally “soul,“ “for His sheep,” John 10:11

He suffered in His spirit for in anticipation of His death, His spirit is said to be troubled on more than one occasion, John 12:27, 13:21, He dismissed His spirit.

The worst of man, wicked hands – and the Best Man.

Tuesday, August 22, 2000

Forgiveness

1. The Gospel is the proclamation of forgiveness. Luke 24:47, “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His Name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Acts 13:38, “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:”

2. God is the Author of forgiveness. Acts 5:31, “Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” Mark 2:7, “Why doth this Man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?”

3. Man is the receiver of forgiveness. Matt 8:2, “And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.”

4. The blood of Christ is the ground for forgiveness. Col 1:14, “In Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” Eph 1:7, “In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His Grace;”

5. Faith in Christ is the instrument to obtain forgiveness. Acts 10:43, “To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His Name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.” Acts 26:18, “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Me.”

6. The Word of God is the assurance of forgiveness. 1 John 2:12, “I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His Name’s sake.” James 5:15, “And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” Luke 7:47, “Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.”

7. Liberty is the meaning of forgiveness. Luke 1:77, “To give knowledge of salvation unto His people by the remission of their sins,” Luke 3:3, “And He came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;” Luke 4:18, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor; He hath sent Meto heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.

8. The words rendered “deliverance” and “liberty” in Luke are the same as is rendered “forgiveness” in Eph 1:7, “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His Grace;”

9. The condition of forgiveness is a forgiving Spirit. Matt 6:12-15, “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Eph 4:32, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

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

The Drink Offering – Numbers 28 and Numbers 29

The drink offering consisted of strong wine, Num 28:7. And it is typical of the joy which the death of Christ gives to God, and brings to Christ and the believer. For wine is represented in the Scriptures as the symbol of joy. It is said to cheer the heart of God and man and to make the latter glad. Jud 9:13, Psa 104:15

The Lord and the drink offering

Like all other offerings, this one was presented “unto the Lord.” The expression ”unto the Lord” occurs 18 times in Num 28 and 29 and is frequently used in connection with the drink offering, which is significantly said to be ”poured unto the Lord,” Num 28:7

The purpose Christ had in view in pouring out His soul in death for us was infinitely greater than to save us from hell and bring us to Heaven. It was to bring us to God! The Holy Spirit emphasizes this again and again in the New Testament when He speaks of Christ’s death and sacrifice, believers are said to be:

”Reconciled to God,” Rom 5:10, 2 Cor 5:19
”Alive unto God,” Rom 6:11
”Redeemed to God,” Rev 5:9
”Priests unto God,” Rev 1:6

To know we have been brought to the center of all blessings is to be in touch with all God is, has, done, promises, and will yet do.

Delivered from hell is minor compared to being alive to God.

Sharing the Seven-Fold Joy of Christ!

1. The joy of the anticipation for His delights were with the souls of men in the past eternity.  Prov 8:31, “Rejoicing in the habitable part of his Earth; and My delights were with the sons of men.”

2. The joy of incarnation for the angelic song at His birth was ”Behold I bring you tidings of great joy,” Luke 2:10, “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”

3. The joy of fellowship which Christ had with His Father. Luke 10:21, “In that hour Jesus rejoiced in Spirit, and said, I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth, that Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in Thy sight.”

4. The joy of confidence for He could say even in the pains of death ”My heart doth rejoice” for He knew His Father would raise Him up from among the dead. Acts 2:24, 26, 28, “Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that He should be holden of it.” “Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:” “Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; Thou shalt make me full of joy with Thy countenance.”

5. The joy of victory for His Word in John on the isle of Patmos. “I am He that liveth and was dead, and behold I am alive forevermore. Amen. And have the keys of hell and of death.” Rev 1:18

6. The joy of salvation which He proclaimed is the joy of the three persons. Luke 15:6, 9, 24, “And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.” “And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.” “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.”
   “Rejoice with me.” “Rejoice with me.” “And they began to be merry.”

7. The joy of satisfaction “For He shall see of the travail of His soul and shall be satisfied,” Isa  53:11, “He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall My Righteous Servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities.”

Rejoice, and again I say rejoice.

Thought for the Day!

“It is a good thing for all Americans and it is an especially good thing for all young Americans to remember the men who have given their lives in war and peace to the service of their fellow countrymen and to keep in mind the feats of daring and personal prowess done in time past by some of the many champions of the nation in the various crises of her history.”

–Theodore Roosevelt

The Spirit-Filled Life is Always a Joy

“The Fruit of the Spirit is Joy”

A Spirit-filled life is always a gladdened life, which glows with the Lord’s joy. “Gladness of heart” – the outcome of Pentecost. Acts 2:46, “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.”

”Rejoicing they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His Name” is consequent upon a Spirit-indicted testimony. Acts 5:41, “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His Name.”

”The face of an angel” is the outcome of the Spirit possessing Stephen. Acts 6:15, “And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.”

”He went on his way rejoicing” is the result of the result of the Spirit’s working through Philip to the eunuch. Acts 8:39, “And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.”

Barnabas “was glad” when he saw what God had been doing through others and the secret cause was because he “was full of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 11:24, “For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.”

The disciples were “filled with joy” because they were filled with the Holy Spirit when persecuted at Antioch. Acts 13:52, “And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Spirit.”

And the consequences of being filled with the Spirit is “speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,” Eph 5:19.

Gal 5:22, “The fruit of the Spirit is joy.”

“Rejoice, and again I say rejoice!”

“It Pleased the Lord to Bruise Him”

We miss much as Christians if we do not see the pleasure as well as the pain which the Godhead has in the mutual sacrifice of the Cross.
”It pleased the Lord to bruise Him.” He knew the necessity of the case, and met the case in all its necessities.
The Hebrew word ”pleased” in Isa 53:10 means, “to be inclined to,” “to bend towards an object with ardent desire and delight.” The word is frequently translated “delight.” Num 14:8. The use of the word as associated with the Father and the Son in relation to atonement will illustrate the joy of fellowship they had in Calvary.

Illustrations of the use of the word:
”Sacrifice and offering Thou didst not desire,” Psa 40:6
”I delight to do Thy will,” Psa 40:8
”It pleased the Lord to bruise Him,” Isa 53:10
”The pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hands,” Isa 53:10

Christ delighted to do His Father’s will and the Father delighted in Him as He did it.

The eyes of carnal reason see only a bloody scene of cruel enactment on the Cross. But the eyes of appreciative love behold a consecrated fulfillment of Divine intent.

Practical Application of the Offering

Paul in writing to the Church at Philippi says, ”Yea and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy and rejoice, with you all,” Phil 2:17. At the end of his earthly career he said to Timothy, “For I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand,” 2 Tim 4:6

In the first instance he views the Philippians in their character as consecrated believers, as a holocaust or burnt offering to God. And upon the sacrifice of their devotion he was willing to pour out his own life’s blood as a drink offering, in his endeavor to make known the Gospel which he had preached to them. And he expresses the same thought to Timothy as he looks death in the face from his prison in Rome.

The secret that will make us willing to sacrifice everything and to be sacrificed is the sacrifice of Calvary.

God ever directs our thoughts to the Christ that is His example we may find our inspiration and in His indwelling, we may have the secret force which makes us follow the perfect ideal.

Thought for the Day!

Young McCall of the Livingstone Congo mission, in the midst of his work in Africa, was suddenly struck down and called upon to give up his life. His last words were,

”Lord, I give myself to Thee, body, mind, and soul. I consecrated my whole life and being to Thy services, and now, if it please Thee to take myself, instead of the work which I could do for Thee, what is that to me? Thy will be done.”

Hebrew Honey!

ELOHIM and its relatives, ELOAH, EL, ELAH, EL-SHADDAI.

1. ELOHIM – God in the unity of His Divine personality and power.
2. ELOAH – God in the exclusiveness of His Deity, as the Supreme Object of worship.
3. EL – God in the expressiveness of His character and action.
4. ELAH – Chaldean form of ELOAH.
5. EL-SHADDAI – God in the sufficiency of His Grace and government.

Exodus 6:3, “And I appeared unto Abraham unto Issac, and unto Jacob by the name of, God Almighty, but by My name, JEHOVAH was I not known to them.”

He attaches significance and meaning to the names by which He calls Himself.

The Name of our Lord God should be like a precious jewel in the cabinet of our souls. To be taken out only at great times and with a loving awe.

“In the Beginning God,” ELOHIM, “Created the Heavens and the Earth”

The title ELOHIM occurs in ten ways as descriptive of His power.

1. God created – Gen 1:1, 21, 27. His power to bring into being. The word “created” is BARA, which means to bring into existence without the aid of pre-existing material.
2. God made – Gen 1:7, 16, 25, 31; 2:2, 3. His power to fashion and beautify. The word is ASAH, rendered “made.” It means to fashion out of what already exists.
3. The Spirit of God moved – Gen 1:2. His power to bring into life.
4. God said – Gen 1;3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26, 28, 29. His power to speak and cause to be.
5. God saw – Gen 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31. His power to discern and appreciate.
6. God called – Gen 1:5, 8, 10. His power to describe and name.
7. God divided – Gen 1:4. His power to separate and distinguish.
8. God set – Gen 1:17. His power to place and keep.
9. God ended – Gen 2:2. His power to accomplish and complete.
10. God blessed – Gen 1:28, 2:3. His power to enrich and sanctify.

Ten ELOHIMs in creation and recreation. Omnipotence.

Thought for the Day!

“No abounding of material prosperity shall avail if our spiritual senses atrophy. The foes of our own household will surely prevail against us unless there be in our people an inner life which finds its outer expression in a morality like unto that preached by the seers and prophets of God when the grandeur that was Greece and the glory that was Rome still lay in the future.”

–Theodore Roosevelt

Cheating in Business!

Eph 4:28, “Let him that stole steal no more but rather let him labour working with his hands the thing which is good that he may have to give to him that needeth.”

The phrase “let him that stole” is a present tense, which