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Tuesday 31 July 2012

I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice. (John 16:22)


I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice. (John 16:22)

Surely He will come a second time, and then, when He sees us and we see Him, there will be rejoicings indeed. Oh, for that joyous return! But this promise is being daily fulfilled in another sense. Our gracious Lord has many "agains" in His dealings with us. He gave us pardon, and He sees us again and repeats the absolving word as fresh sins cause us grief. He has revealed to us our acceptance before God, and when our faith in that blessing grows a little dim, He comes to us again and again and says, "Peace be unto you," and our hearts are glad.

Beloved, all our past mercies are tokens of future mercies. If Jesus has been with us, He will see us again. Look upon no former favor as a dead and buried thing, to be mourned over; but regard it as a seed sown, which will grow, and push its head up from the dust, and cry, "I will see you again." Are the times dark because Jesus is not with us as He used to be? Let us pluck up courage; for He will not be long away. His feet are as those of a roe or young hart, and they will soon bring Him to us. Wherefore let us begin to be joyous, since He saith to us even now, "I will see you again."

Monday 30 July 2012

so salvation is 50 percent by faith and 50 percent by works? If that question is too easy, then is it 99 percent by faith and 1 percent by works?


Does the Bible teach a "balanced" view of righteousness by faith, so salvation is 50 percent by faith and 50 percent by works? If that question is too easy, then is it 99 percent by faith and 1 percent by works?
It appears superficially--on the surface--that the apostle James says it's 50/50 by both: "ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (2:24). He seems--superficially--to contradict Paul, for Paul says boldly that "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" (Eph. 2:8, 9).
When he says emphatically it's "not of works" he means not even 1 percent. His impassioned Letter to the Galatians is on one side of the perennial debate: "I do not frustrate the grace of God [even 1 percent 'works' will frustrate that grace!]: for if righteousness come by law, then Christ is dead in vain" (2:21). There's no "balance" between righteousness by faith and righteousness by works (Laodicean lukewarmness, hot and cold water "balanced"; this confusion is Laodicea's problem).
The apparent conflict (it troubles many) is resolved as clear as sunlight: salvation is TOTALLY of grace through faith, but the "faith" is not dead; it's a living faith "which works." Its fruit: obedience to all the commandments of God (Gal. 5:6). James is not pitting faith against works or vice versa; he pits a living faith against a dead faith. "Faith without works is dead"! Both apostles are totally agreed on that.
In modern language, "law righteousness" can be translated as "egocentric motivation." Paul points us to Christ's cross: in His sacrifice, was He motivated even 1 percent by egocentric concern for Himself? His assurance to the believing thief APPEARS to say yes ("Hang on, fellow victim; you and I will be in Paradise today!"). But that was in the morning when the sun was shining; "at the sixth hour there was darkness over all land," including the heart of the Son of God. He cried, "My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" He "poured out His soul unto death," even the second (Isa. 53:12). Not even 1 percent of an egocentric motivation--totally love for us, none for Himself. That was agape.

Friday 27 July 2012

We now think of Jehovah, our God (Hosea 2:16-17)


And it shall be at that day, saith the Lord, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali; for I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name. (Hosea 2:16-17)

That day has come. We view our God no more as Baal, our tyrant lord and mighty master, for we are not under law but under grace. We now think of Jehovah, our God, as our Ishi, our beloved husband, our lord in love, our next-of-kin in bonds of sacred relationship. We do not serve Him less obediently, but we serve Him for a higher and more endearing reason. We no longer tremble under His lash but rejoice in His love. The slave is changed into a child and the task into a pleasure.

Is it so with thee, dear reader? Has grace cast out slavish fear and implanted filial love? How happy are we in such an experience! Now we call the Lord's day a delight, and worship is never a weariness. Prayer is now a privilege, and praise is a holiday. To obey is heaven; to give to the cause of God is a banquet. Thus have all things become new. Our mouth is filled with singing and our heart with music. Blessed be our heavenly Ishi forever and ever.

  

Thursday 26 July 2012

The cross of Calvary alone could destroy the works of the devil.


In assuming human nature that He might reach to the very depths of human
woe and misery, and lift man up, Christ has shown what estimate He
places upon the human race.  In this work everything was at stake.
Satan claimed to be the lawful owner of the fallen race; and with what
persistent efforts did he seek to overthrow Christ through his subtlety!
It was only by most desperate conflict with the powers of Satan that
Christ could accomplish his purpose of restoring the almost obliterated
image of God in man, and place his own signature upon his forehead.  It
was a desperate battle; for Satan had so long worked in league with
human intelligences as to about completely intercept every ray of light
shining from the throne of God upon the human mind.  The cross of
Calvary alone could destroy the works of the devil.  In that wondrous
sacrifice all eyes were called to "behold the Lamb of God, that taketh
away the sin of the world."  The love of Christ kindles in the heart of
all who continue to behold him.

        -- Paulson Collection, page 164

The cross of Calvary alone could destroy the works of the devil.


In assuming human nature that He might reach to the very depths of human
woe and misery, and lift man up, Christ has shown what estimate He
places upon the human race.  In this work everything was at stake.
Satan claimed to be the lawful owner of the fallen race; and with what
persistent efforts did he seek to overthrow Christ through his subtlety!
It was only by most desperate conflict with the powers of Satan that
Christ could accomplish his purpose of restoring the almost obliterated
image of God in man, and place his own signature upon his forehead.  It
was a desperate battle; for Satan had so long worked in league with
human intelligences as to about completely intercept every ray of light
shining from the throne of God upon the human mind.  The cross of
Calvary alone could destroy the works of the devil.  In that wondrous
sacrifice all eyes were called to "behold the Lamb of God, that taketh
away the sin of the world."  The love of Christ kindles in the heart of
all who continue to behold him.

        -- Paulson Collection, page 164

Wednesday 25 July 2012

What do you think of a man in the best of health and vitality just lying down and dying?


What do you think of a man in the best of health and vitality just lying down and dying? That was Moses at 120. "His eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated." Peterson renders it, "His eyesight was sharp; he still walked with a spring in his step" (Deut. 34:7).
Even though God said Moses couldn't cross Jordan, He was good to His old servant, gave him a grand video show of His people's land in all its pristine beauty. Then a video of world history down to the second coming of Jesus and the creation of a new earth. Then the tired man simply lay down and went to sleep; God enfolded him in His everlasting arms, and that was it until the Angel awakened him in a special resurrection (vs. 5; Jude 9).
To be so healthy at 120 catches our interest. Moses must have been careful of his diet, counted his calories, made sure he had nutritional balance, etc. Zipporah his wife must have been a super health-cook. And yes, he must have watched his exercise program.
True! We know Moses ate manna for the last 40 years of his life. You couldn't get a better diet even today with all our nutritional expertise. And the Lord was constantly calling Moses to climb up mountains. Great health reform living. It pays. Better than any medical treatment, it stops disease.
But maybe there's another reason why Moses retained his physical and mental vitality so long. He knew how to pray; he actually communed with God as a man talks with a friend "face to face" (Deut. 34:10). "My servant Moses ... has the run of my entire house; I speak to him intimately, in person, in plain talk without riddles" (Num. 12:7, 8, Peterson).
Communion is a two-way communication street; you empty your heart before God as to your closest friend. (That means also, you don't share tidbits of gossip with anyone else!) You spill all your beans of sin before Him in secret prayer. Your soul is naked in His presence. Welcome His agape into your sinful heart; "in Christ" God shares Himself with you. Not to give you a special diploma, but simply to make you be a blessing to someone else who is "weary."

Tuesday 24 July 2012

Would you like to have some bona fide evidence that the Lord loves you personally?


Would you like to have some bona fide evidence that the Lord loves you personally and especially? That would be better news than winning the lottery, wouldn't it? Well, maybe you can find out. Does He chasten you, reprove you? Does He remind you, convict you, of your sins and your weaknesses and your failures?
There's a special Hebrew word found in Psalm 73:14, that encompasses all those thoughts, and it might bring great encouragement to you if you can say Yes to my questions. The psalmist is praying and he says, "all day long I have been plagued, and chastened every morning." Listen to his prayer as it is in the Good News Bible: "O God, ... every morning you have punished me. ... I tried to think this problem through, but it was too difficult for me until I went into your Temple [sanctuary]. ... When my thoughts were bitter and my feelings were hurt, I was as stupid as an animal; I did not understand you. Yet ... you hold me by the hand. You guide me with your instruction and at the end you will receive me with honor. What else do I have in heaven but you? Since I have you, what else could I want on earth?" (vss. 14-25).
Hebrews 12:6-8 picks up on this insight, saying: "Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? If ye be without chastisement, ... then are ye illegitimate, and not sons."
In other words, the Lord is talking about DISCIPLINE. He is not punishing you in the sense of making you suffer for your sins, to pay a debt; that's the Hindu idea of karma. No, He is training you to stand in the time of trouble, to be a member of His parliament, of His cabinet, to sit with Him on His throne (Rev. 3:21). And all that is the practical result of His work in the Most Holy Apartment, in the cleansing of the sanctuary--preparing a people for translation. His chastening is an evidence of His special love. Accept it!

Monday 23 July 2012

Lovingkindness warrants that this is a love union,


And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving kindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness; and thou shalt know the Lord. (Hosea 2:19-20)

Betrothment unto the Lord! What an honor and a joy! My soul, is Jesus indeed thine by His own condescending betrothal? Then, mark it is forever. He will never break His engagement, much less sue out a divorce against a soul joined to Himself in marriage bonds.

Three times the Lord says, "I will betroth thee." What words He heaps together to set forth the betrothal! Righteousness comes in to make the covenant legal; none can forbid these lawful bans. Judgment sanctions the alliance with its decree: none can see folly or error in the match. Lovingkindness warrants that this is a love union, for without love betrothal is bondage and not blessedness. Meanwhile, mercy smiles and even sings; yea, she multiplies herself into "mercies" because of the abounding grace of this holy union.

Faithfulness is the registrar and records the marriage, and the Holy Spirit says "Amen" to it as He promises to teach the betrothal heart all the sacred knowledge needful for its high destiny, What a promise!

Friday 20 July 2012

Who is stronger--Christ, or the angel who fell from heaven--Satan?


Who is stronger--Christ, or the angel who fell from heaven--Satan?
Which is stronger, light or darkness?
Which is stronger, love (agape), or hatred? Which is stronger, that "much more abounding grace" of the Lord Jesus (Rom. 5:20, 21), or the power of our evil appetites and habits and obsessions and addictions?
Which is stronger: the power of death (that held Jesus Christ captive in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathaea), or the resurrection power of the Father that raised Him up after three days?
We can't say it often enough: that much more abounding grace is stronger than all the power of sin the devil can invent. In fact, there is in that grace "much more" power! "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound."
Let's not try to serve God with anything less than that full power of that much more abounding grace that is revealed in Christ. That grace of Christ is the enemy of sin; it condemns it, defeats it, conquers it, annihilates it, so that we might be free indeed. Then the grace of God will be manifested in us in "newness of life" (6:4). That grace "reigns through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."
Then we discover something precious: it is easy to be saved and it is hard to be lost, when we begin to appreciate that much more abounding grace! We must not conclude that the upward path is the "hard path" and the downward path is the "easy one;" it's the opposite. All the way that leads to hell there are impediments and obstacles to hinder us in that way; God is constantly trying to tell us this. It's like we are driving on the freeway, you're at the wheel (because you are the boss), but the Holy Spirit is sitting beside you in the front seat. He is saying, Don't stay on this freeway to hell; take this exit to the kingdom of God! That's what Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would do when He gave Him the name "Parakletos," the One called to sit down beside you and never leave you (John 16:7, 8; "para" = beside you; "kletos" = called).
Don't misunderstand. You DO have something to do: it's to make the constant choice to let the Holy Spirit guide you. But please remember, you are not your Savior yourself: you let the Lord save you. It is you who turns the wheel on to the blessed Exit coming up that leads to eternal life. But He guided you to do it; and you praise the Lord forever and ever.

Who is stronger--Christ, or the angel who fell from heaven--Satan?


Who is stronger--Christ, or the angel who fell from heaven--Satan?
Which is stronger, light or darkness?
Which is stronger, love (agape), or hatred? Which is stronger, that "much more abounding grace" of the Lord Jesus (Rom. 5:20, 21), or the power of our evil appetites and habits and obsessions and addictions?
Which is stronger: the power of death (that held Jesus Christ captive in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathaea), or the resurrection power of the Father that raised Him up after three days?
We can't say it often enough: that much more abounding grace is stronger than all the power of sin the devil can invent. In fact, there is in that grace "much more" power! "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound."
Let's not try to serve God with anything less than that full power of that much more abounding grace that is revealed in Christ. That grace of Christ is the enemy of sin; it condemns it, defeats it, conquers it, annihilates it, so that we might be free indeed. Then the grace of God will be manifested in us in "newness of life" (6:4). That grace "reigns through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."
Then we discover something precious: it is easy to be saved and it is hard to be lost, when we begin to appreciate that much more abounding grace! We must not conclude that the upward path is the "hard path" and the downward path is the "easy one;" it's the opposite. All the way that leads to hell there are impediments and obstacles to hinder us in that way; God is constantly trying to tell us this. It's like we are driving on the freeway, you're at the wheel (because you are the boss), but the Holy Spirit is sitting beside you in the front seat. He is saying, Don't stay on this freeway to hell; take this exit to the kingdom of God! That's what Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would do when He gave Him the name "Parakletos," the One called to sit down beside you and never leave you (John 16:7, 8; "para" = beside you; "kletos" = called).
Don't misunderstand. You DO have something to do: it's to make the constant choice to let the Holy Spirit guide you. But please remember, you are not your Savior yourself: you let the Lord save you. It is you who turns the wheel on to the blessed Exit coming up that leads to eternal life. But He guided you to do it; and you praise the Lord forever and ever.

Thursday 19 July 2012

for "whom the Lord loves He chastens,(Heb. 12:5-9).


The Lord loves to "turn the captivity" of people who have suffered, and bring them out of the painful shadows of rejection into the bright sunlight of His favor.
Take Joseph for example. We think of the text that says "Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth" (Eccl. 11:9). Boys should be full of fun. But Joseph at the age of 17 or maybe 18 is crying his eyes out one night in an agony worse almost than death--he has just been sold as a slave to some hard-hearted Midianites. A life of torture is before him, when he had thought that God's favor was on him.
And those who sold him? His fellow church-members, his ten brothers in the faith. No, they are more than that--they are the church leadership of his day, for they were all older than he, the heirs of the glorious promises God made to Abraham's descendants. Condemned to Egyptian slavery, Joseph appears to be God-forsaken, and he feels like it except for the little glimmer of faith he has.
His slavery goes from bad to worse and he ends up in a dark Egyptian prison. At least 12 or 13 years of this “chastisement” discipline go on; the Lord must have loved him enormously, for "whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives" (Heb. 12:5-9).
The Lord gave Joseph a little sunlight when he was made prime minister of the realm of Egypt and he realized that his painful suffering had prepared him to become the famine "savior" of the Middle East civilization of his day.
But still the years of soul captivity dragged on; his constant temptation was to think that the prophetic dreams of his boyhood were a deception; no one can suffer a deep, private pain more agonizing than the fear that the Lord truly has betrayed your trust. You can’t talk to anyone about it. Not until his ten brothers come and kneel before him in fulfillment of his prophetic childhood dream is Joseph finally led out into the bright sunshine of the heavenly Father's vindication.
There are little Josephs all over the world today, people whose faith is tried to the utmost (it seems to them) when everything seems to shout at them that God has forgotten them. In some cases as in the life of the prophet Jeremiah, the pain goes on and on until death is the final release from it (then the Jews realized that he had been the prince of prophets).
If you must look through tears, remember that "God is love"--your "Abba, Father" (Rom. 8:15-17) who has adopted you into His family. Remembering brings joy.

Wednesday 18 July 2012

The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. (Daniel 11:32)


The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. (Daniel 11:32)

"The Lord is a man of war, Jehovah is his name." Those who enlist under His banner shall have a Commander who will train them for the conflict and give them both vigor and valor. The times of which Daniel wrote were of the very worst kind, and then it was promised that the people of God would come out in their best colors: they would be strong and stout to confront the powerful adversary.

Oh, that we may know our God: His power, His faithfulness, His immutable love, and so may be ready to risk everything in His behalf. He is One whose character excites our enthusiasm and makes us willing to live and to die for Him. Oh, that we may know our God by familiar fellowship with Him; for then we shall become like Him and shall be prepared to stand up for truth and righteousness. He who comes forth fresh from beholding the face of God will never fear the face of man. If we dwell with Him, we shall catch the heroic spirit, and to us a world of enemies will be but as the drop of a bucket. A countless array of men, or even of devils, will seem as little to us as the nations are to God, and He counts them only as grasshoppers. Oh, to be valiant for truth in this day of falsehood.

Tuesday 17 July 2012

I will save her that halteth. (Zephaniah 3:19)


I will save her that halteth. (Zephaniah 3:19)

There are plenty of these lame ones, both male and female. You may meet "her that halteth" twenty times in an hour. They are in the right road and exceedingly anxious to run in it with diligence, but they are lame and make a sorry walk of it. On the heavenly road there are many cripples. It may be that they say in their hearts--What will become of us? Sin will overtake us; Satan will throw us down. Ready-to-halt is our name and our nature; the Lord can never make good soldiers of us, nor even nimble messengers to go on His errands. Well, well! He will save us, and that is no small thing. He says, "I will save her that halteth." In saving us He will greatly glorify Himself. Everybody will ask--How came this lame woman to run the race and win the crown? And then the praise will all be given to almighty grace.

Lord, though I halt in faith, in prayer, in praise, in service, and in patience, save me, I beseech Thee! Only Thou canst save such a cripple as I am. Lord, let me not perish because I am among the hindmost, but gather up by Thy grace the slowest of Thy pilgrims--even me. Behold He hath said it shall be so, and therefore, like Jacob, prevailing in prayer, I go forward though my sinew be shrunk.

Monday 16 July 2012

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee (Psalm 55:22)


Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee; he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. (Psalm 55:22)

It is a heavy burden; roll it on Omnipotence. It is thy burden now, and it crushes thee; but when the Lord takes it, He will make nothing of it. If thou art called still to bear, "he will sustain thee." It will be on Him and not on thee. Thou wilt be so upheld under it that the burden will be a blessing. Bring the Lord into the matter, and thou wilt stand upright under that which in itself would bow thee down.

Our worst fear is lest our trial should drive us from the path of duty; but this the Lord will never suffer. If we are righteous before Him, He will not endure that our affliction should move us from our standing. In Jesus He accepts us as righteous, and in Jesus He will keep us so.

What about the present moment? Art thou going forth to this day's trial alone? Are thy poor shoulders again to be galled with the oppressive load? Be not so foolish. Tell the Lord all about thy grief and leave it with Him. Don't cast your burden down and then take it up again; but roll it on the Lord and leave it there. Then shalt thou walk at large, a joyful and unburdened believer, singing the praises of thy great Burden-bearer.

Friday 13 July 2012

A Bond Servant.


A Bond Servant.
"Paul, a servant of Jesus." It is thus that the apostle introduces himself to the Romans. In several other epistles the same expression is used. Some people would be ashamed to acknowledge themselves servants; the apostles were not.
It makes a vast difference whom one serves. The servant derives his importance from the dignity of the one served. Paul served the Lord Jesus Christ. Everybody may serve the same Master. "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey?" Rom. 6:16. Even the ordinary house servant who yields to the Lord is the servant of the Lord, and not of man. "Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye service, as men-pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God; and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve the Lord Jesus Christ." Col. 3:22-24. Such a consideration as this can not fail to glorify the most menial drudgery.
Our version does not give us the full force of the term which the apostle uses when he calls himself a servant. It is really "bond servant." He used the ordinary Greek word for slave. If we are really the Lord's servants, we are servants bound to him for life. It is a bondage that is itself freedom, "for he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman; likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant." 1 Cor. 7:22.

Thursday 12 July 2012

CHRIST AS GOD


WHAT, then, is the thought concerning Christ in
the first chapter of Hebrews?
First of all there is introduced "God"—God the
Father—as the speaker to men, who "in time past
spake unto the fathers by the prophets;" and who
"hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son."
Thus is introduced Christ the Son of God. Then
of Him and the Father it is written: "Whom He [the
Father] hath appointed heir of all things, by whom
also He [the Father] made the worlds." Thus, as
preliminary to His introduction and our consideration
of Him as High Priest, Christ the Son of God is
introduced as being with God as Creator and as being
the active, vivifying Word in the creation—"by whom
also He [God] made the worlds."
Next, of the Son of God Himself, we read: "Who
being the brightness of His [God's] glory, and the
express image of His [God's] person ["the very impress
of His substance," margin R. V.], and upholding
all things by the word of His power, when He
had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the
right hand of the Majesty on high."
This tells us that, in heaven, the nature of Christ
was the nature of God; that He, in His person, in
His substance, is the very impress, the very character,
of the substance of God. That is to say that,
in heaven, as He was before He came to the world,
13
14 THE CONSECRATED WAY
the nature of Christ was in very substance the nature
of God.
Therefore it is further written of Him that He
was "made so much better than the angels, as He
hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name
than they." This more excellent name is the name
"God," which, in the eighth verse, is given by the
Father to the Son: "Unto the Son He [God] saith,
Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever."
Thus, He is "so much" better than the angels as
God is better than the angels. And it is because of
this that He has that more excellent name,—the name
expressing only what He is, in His very nature.
And this name "He hath by inheritance." It is
not a name that was bestowed, but a name that is
inherited.
Now it lies in the nature of things, as an everlasting
truth, that the only name any person can possibly
inherit is his father's name. This name, then, of
Christ's, which is more excellent than that of the
angels, is the name of His Father: and His Father's
name is God. The Son's name, therefore, which He
has by inheritance, is God. And this name, which is
more excellent than that of the angels, is His because
He is "so much better than the angels." That name
being God, He is "so much better than the angels"
as God is better than the angels.

Wednesday 11 July 2012

Christian Education


Whatsoever is not Christian, is not becoming to Christians. A Christian education is the only education that can possibly be becoming to Christians. In Christian education the Book of Christianity must be preeminent. The Bible is the Book of Christianity.
The purpose of Christian education is to build up Christians. Nothing that is not Christian can ever properly be brought into the education of a Christian, any more than can anything that is not Christian be properly brought into any other phase of the life of the Christian. Therefore, the Book of Christianity, - the Bible, - must be the standard of Christian education; it must be the test of everything that enters into the education of a Christian; and it must supply all that is needed in the education of the Christian. And this contemplates education in the highest, broadest, and best sense - the all-round, practical development of the individual, mentally, physically, and morally.
It has been, and it is, too much supposed that Christianity has to do only with a sort of spiritualized existence, apart from the real occupations and practical things of life. This will never do. Christianity belongs in the deepest sense as a vital working force, in all that ever rightly can go to make up the sum of human life upon the earth. And Christian education is true to its name and profession only when it demonstrates this all-pervading power of Christianity as a vital element in all that can properly enter into the course of human life.
It can not be denied that the life of Christ is the demonstration of Christianity. He is the model Man: the Pattern of what every man must be to be a perfect Christian. And it is certain that Christ in human flesh demonstrating the Christian life on earth, put Himself in vital connection with every true relationship of human life upon this earth. He came into the world an infant; He grew up from infancy to manhood, as people in this world do; He met all that human beings in this world meet as they grow up; He met all the vicissitudes and experiences of human life, precisely, as to the fact, as all people meet them; for "in all things it behooved Him to be made like unto His brethren." He was "in all points tempted like as we are;" and He worked as a carpenter with Joseph, until the day of His showing unto Israel in the active work of His preaching, healing, ministry. And He was just as much the Saviour of the world when He was sawing boards and making benches and tables, as He was when He was preaching the sermon on the mount. And this demonstrates that Christianity just as truly and as vitally enters into the mechanical or other affairs of every-day life as it does into the preaching of the divinest sermon that was ever delivered.

Monday 9 July 2012

"The just shall live by faith." Rom. 1:17.


"The just shall live by faith." Rom. 1:17.

Without faith it is impossible to please God. The reason for this is that "whatsoever is not of faith is sin" (Rom. 14:23), and of course sin cannot please God.
This is why it is that, as stated by the Spirit of Prophecy on the first page of the Review, Oct. 18, 1898,
"The knowledge of what the Scripture means when urging upon us the necessity of cultivating faith is
more essential than any other knowledge that can be acquired."
In order to be able to know what the Scripture means when urging upon us the necessity of cultivating
faith, it is essential to know, first of all, what is faith.
Plainly, it must be to little purpose to urge upon a person the necessity of cultivating faith, while that
person has no intelligent idea of what faith is. And it is sadly true that, though the Lord has made this
perfectly plain in the Scriptures, there are many church-members who do not know what faith is. They
may even know what the definition of faith is, but they do not know what the thing is. They do not
grasp the idea that is in the definition.
Faith comes "by the word of God." To the Word, then, we must look for it.
One day a centurion came to Jesus and said to him, "Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy,
grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and
said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof, but speak the word only, and my
servant shall be healed . . . When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I
say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel." Matt. 8:6-10.
There is what Jesus pronounces faith. When we find what that is, we have found faith. To know what
that is, is to know what faith is. there can be no sort of doubt about this, for Christ is "the Author . . . of
faith," and He says that that which the centurion manifested was "faith"--yes, even "great faith."
Where, then, in this is the faith? The centurion wanted a certain thing done. He wanted the Lord to do
it. But when the Lord said, "I will come" and do it, the centurion checked Him, saying, "Speak the
word only," and it shall be done.
Now what did the centurion expect would do the work? "The word ONLY." Upon what did he depend
for the healing of his servant? Upon "the word ONLY."
Now, brother, sister, what is faith?
Faith is the expecting the word of God to do what it says and the depending upon that word to do what
it says.
As that is faith and as faith comes by the word of God, it is plain that the word of God, in order to
inculcate faith, must teach that the word has in itself power to accomplish what itself says.
And such is precisely the truth of the matter: the word of God does teach just this and nothing else, so
that it is truly "the faithful word"--the word full of faith.

Friday 6 July 2012

We all know that King Solomon was the wisest man in the world, and probably the richest; but was his thinking dominated by the Old Covenant, or the New?


We all know that King Solomon was the wisest man in the world, and probably the richest; but was his thinking dominated by the Old Covenant, or the New? There were many good, faithful Israelites who did many good works, under the Old. In ancient times, it was better than paganism (Old Covenant "Christian" living is better today than being in "Babylon"; we can be proud that we've "come out").
Solomon's Ecclesiastes is certainly not gospel-oriented, although by much searching we can find a little good news hope therein; but Solomon's enormous ego dominates. God gave him the wisdom that he requested when a youth, but he later came to see it as his acquirement. His message in Ecclesiastes is basically egocentric: do what's right and you'll reap a great reward. "Wisdom"!
(The "good news" is that after his descending to the level of paganism and even offering a child as a burnt offering, and tragically mis-feeding his people with theological poison that eventually ruined the kingdom, God forgave the foolish old king and restored him personally, drooping with contrition, to salvation-favor--giving hope to any sinner today who has gone the length in rebellion against the Lord.)
But was it really Solomon's fault totally that he fell? Reality is that he inherited Old Covenant thinking all the way from Mt. Sinai. Jeremiah later saw it clearly--the New Covenant in that day remained the one that the Lord "will make [future tense] with the house of Israel; after those days, says the LORD" (31:33, emphasis supplied). Revival after revival under "good kings" was only temporary in nature (the Northern Kingdom never had even one!), until the Old Covenant finally drove Israel into captivity in Babylon, and then in the end to crucify their Messiah.
Moral: it's time for us to grow up out of the Old into the New!


Thursday 5 July 2012

Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4)


Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4)

If God so willed it we could live without bread, even as Jesus did for forty days; but we could not live without His Word. By that Word we were created, and by it alone can we be kept in being, for he sustaineth all things by the Word of His power. Bread is a second cause; the Lord Himself is the first source of our sustenance. He can work without the second cause as well as with it; and we must not tie Him down to one mode of operation. Let us not be too eager after the visible, but let us look to the invisible God. We have heard believers say that in deep poverty, when bread ran short, their appetites became short, too; and to others, when common supplies failed, the Lord has sent in unexpected help.

But we must have the Word of the Lord. With this alone we can withstand the devil. Take this from us, and our enemy will have us in his power, for we shall soon faint. Our souls need food, and there is none for them outside of the Word of the Lord. All the books and all the preachers in the world cannot furnish us a single meal: it is only the Word from the mouth of God that can fill the mouth of a believer. Lord, evermore give us this bread. We prize it above royal dainties.

Wednesday 4 July 2012

esus wants a soul-winning evangelism explosion that will outdo anything our denominational committees have dreamed of:


A five-times divorcee with a heart like stone comes casually, flippantly, to Jacob's ancient well. Casting only a side glance at the Jewish Stranger, she makes sure she won't notice Him.
But He notices her. Tired, hot and thirsty as He is from His long journey, He does not sit in silence; He is ready to win a soul. He knows precisely the right way (often to us unknown) to arouse this worldly person whose prejudice has already closed all doors--she thinks.
And look what happens: in the space of a few minutes she is in tears, her cold heart melted, ready to receive joyous Good News and start a genuine new life as a missionary.
How can Jesus have such phenomenal, insightful power to win sin-alienated hearts? We can answer, "He was divine, and had something we don't have!" But He tells us, "Greater works than these shall [ye] do, because I go unto My Father" (John 14:12). We have come to the time when those "greater works" must be done.
Jesus wants a soul-winning evangelism explosion that will outdo anything our denominational committees have dreamed of: a worldwide network of humble church members as at the well of Sychar. His secret? We suggest: He had experienced corporate repentance.
Without approving of the lady's sins, He understands the inner pain of her beaten-down heart and thus has found an avenue of entrance, touching a chord of music that has been silent even through four or five marriages.
But was it really mysterious, what Jesus knew? Or can we learn from Him? Yes! If we will humble our proud hearts, to follow Jesus!