Scriptural Health
2 Timothy 3:16 “For all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable…”
With all the Bible versions pouring off the presses, the newest technologies of e-Bibles and helps available, why is the 21st century Christian the most anemic of all its predecessors? We read every book that promises life and security. We bath ourselves with the newest trends and methodologies, but Satan has blinded the minds of the masses and has tamed our appetite for the Truth. George Muller of Bristol realized this and took steps to rectify his personal problem of scriptural blindness. The following excerpt is from his biography.
“One lesson, yet to be learned, was that the one fountain of all wisdom and strength is the Holy Scriptures … After a true relish for the Scriptures had been created, he could not understand how he could ever have treated God’s Book with such neglect. It seemed obvious that God having condescended to become an Author, inspiring holy men to write the Scriptures, He would in them impart the most vital truths; His message would cover all matters which concern man’s welfare, and therefore, under the double impulse of duty and delight, we should instinctively and habitually turn to the Bible. Moreover, as he read and studied this Book of God, he felt himself admitted to more and more intimate acquaintance with the Author. During the last twenty years of his life he read it carefully through, four or five times annually, with a growing sense of his own rapid increase in the knowledge of God thereby…
So soon as George Müller found this well-spring of delight and success, he drank habitually at this fountain of living waters. In later life he lamented that, owing to his early neglect of this source of divine wisdom and strength, he remained so long in spiritual infancy, with its ignorance and impotence. So long and so far as his growth in knowledge of God was thus arrested his growth in grace was likewise hindered. His close walk with God began at the point where he learned that such walk is always in the light of that inspired word which is divinely declared to be to the obedient soul “a lamp unto the feet and a light unto the path.” He who would keep up intimate converse with the Lord must habitually find in the Scriptures the highway of such companionship. God’s aristocracy, His nobility, the princes of His realm, are not the wise, mighty, and high-born of earth, but often the poor, weak, despised of men, who abide in His presence and devoutly commune with Him through His inspired word.
Blessed are they who have thus learned to use the key which gives free access, not only to the King’s Treasuries, but to the King Himself!”
May God’s children turn to His word and find nourishment for their soul.
R.C.
Pierson, A. T. (1899). George Müller of Bristol (49–51). London: James Nisbet & Co., Limited.
Shepherds!!
Luke 2:11 “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”
The facts of this verse have always fascinated me. Here we have shepherds abiding in the fields, watching over their flocks. Shepherds; not considered among the affluent or those of any importance among men. No, although useful, occupied the lowest of tradesmen. Is it not amazing that God chooses the base among us to bring his blessing to mankind, and has revealed His will and purpose to babes? The city of David (Bethlehem) where Mary brought forth her first born, is the city of the King who was a shepherd boy. Our Lord is the King of Kings who is the Great Shepherd! So the Great Shepherd was born in the city of a shepherd, witnessed by shepherds. Yet another fact remains: the city of Bethlehem literally means “house of bread”. Jesus is the Bread of Life. He is our sustenance, and He will lead us. The question is, will you follow Him?
R.C.
And the world knew Him not!
John 1:10 states, “He was in the world, and the world was made by Him (Col.1:15), and the world knew Him not.”
There exists great near sightedness among the people of the world. While the Lord walked among men He was not known for who He was. No, “the world knew Him not.” The apostle John uses the Greek word that describes an intimate knowledge of, not a mere knowing of Jesus. There can be no doubt that much of the world presently, knows of Jesus, but few there are which know Him intimately. With the advent season upon us the masses are intuitively aware of the spiritual significance of the time regardless of personal belief, yet as quickly as it arrives it is once again driven away from their minds and hearts. They ease their conscience with a form of religion, which can never fill the void they so fervently deny. Jesus said that when the Spirit of truth shall come He will not speak of Himself, but proclaim Christ (John 16:13-14). If we as Christ’s ambassadors walk in the Spirit and proclaim His truth in love, then and only then, does the world have a chance of truly knowing the King of Glory.
R.C.
Putting it All on the Line
And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Acts 7:56
How could anyone, read the 6th and 7th chapters of the Book of Acts and not pause to consider this Godly man named Stephen? What kind of a man would put his own life in jeopardy for the chance that someone would hear the message of truth, and just what was the truth he spoke of? Stephens are a rare breed today, but not extinct. They can be found here and there. They are those courageous individuals that will not compromise God’s truth for any reason, not even their own health. The Stephens of the modern age are missionary minded. They know that the only way anyone can be saved is to hear the word of God (Rom.10:17). They do not pander to the crowd. They do not sweet coat the truth with some watered down version of loving bliss without accountability. No they speak the truth, and speak it in love, but the love is for the one who is perishing! Stephen’s message like the message needed today does not preach Heaven without first speaking of Hell. It does not preach deliverance without first mentioning the condemnation for sin. The message he preached, the message we must preach, is the personal responsibility for sin: the wages of that sin, the strength of that sin, and the inflexibility of a just God who although is love, is also just. Stephen preached a message that was difficult for the guilty Jews to hear, but it was not fruitless. And, the Lord of glory stood at the throne of grace to take notice.
R.C.
Thoughts
2 Corinthians 10:5b “…and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ:”
The scripture tells us that God looks on the heart, while man looks on the outward appearance (1 Samuel 16:7). Christians are so busy getting their lives in order, desperately trying to conform to some set of seemingly unattainable standards, that they have forgotten that how a man thinks is how he is (Proverbs 23:7). Every outward action first has an inward thought. What we as people fill our minds with will eventually control us. The Apostle Paul says to take every thought captive. There are moments when I can’t fathom why I had such a thought, but I do know that if I don’t do something with it, it will certainly turn to something more hideous. I take that thought and turn it over to the guard who locks it up in a cell called the “obedience of Christ”. I give it to God, change my mind and think on something true, honest, lovely, just, of good report (Phil.4:8). I must not allow myself to think on those false thoughts. I must not allow myself to be drawn in by their mesmerizing ways, or be poisoned by the nectar of their fruit. God says take those thoughts captive! It is a daily discipline that takes us from moment to moment. I must be vigilant I must be sober minded (1 Peter 5:8), if not Satan will use it to slay me.
Where’s The Outrage!
US military action in Libya ‘unconstitutional’
Michael Dorf, a constitutional law expert and a professor of law at Cornell University, has said that US President Barack Obama’s decision to take military action in Libya is unconstitutional.
He pointed out that conflict in Libya is unconstitutional because Obama has failed to seek Congressional approval. Under the US constitution, Congressional approval is required for declarations of war.
U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973 made the Libya action valid under international law, but compliance with international law does not automatically ensure compliance with the Constitution.
“Although the President was not required to seek a formal declaration of war, the assignment of powers in the Constitution suggests that some form of legislative consent was necessary,” said Dorf.
He further said that accoring to many observers the unilateral military action by Obama is a necessary accommodation to the demands for quick, decisive action in the field of international relations.
But the Congress clearly thinks otherwise as reflected in the War Powers Resolution of 1973. It makes clear that except in cases of an attack on the U.S. or its armed forces, the President must seek prior approval from Congress, Dorf added.
No More Sacrifice!
Hebrews 10:26 “…There remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.”
Since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, there has been a need for a sacrifice for sins. God’s promise was given to Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:15 when He told them that the seed of the woman (Jesus) would bruise the head of the serpent. Man has walked this planet for generations seeking to appease the debt owed for sin, feeling the overwhelming guilt of its presence; he has even made himself deities that need appeasing. But God in His mercy gave them a way which has been mapped out in the pages of His revealed Word. Prophets spoke about the coming of one (the seed of the woman), who, would provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering (Genesis 22:8). God gave the law to Israel through Moses, with the sacrifices of Leviticus as a type of Jesus. Job himself cried out, “I know my redeemer liveth.” Man needed a sacrifice to pay the sin debt, and Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world. Yet, the pride of man prevents him from seeing the freedom found in Jesus Christ. Man always wants to handle sin his own way. After they knew they were naked, Adam and Eve covered themselves with foliage. Interesting! Most would think this to be a display of rectitude, but really it was man’s feeble effort to hide the shame of his own sin. Mortal man looks for a way to atone for the sin he never intends to give up! If we admit to the merit of Jesus’ sacrifice, we admit to our own need for cleansing, and we admit that our sins are reprehensible. As believers in Christ, we understand that the one time sacrifice of Christ is all sufficient for our guilt, shame, and penalty of sin. Truly there is now no more sacrifice for sins; therefore, let us not refrain from holiness, mortifying the deeds of the flesh, through a constant presentation of our bodies as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1) by identification with Christ’s death and life (Galatians 2:20).
No Fear!
2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
The ability to act rationally within the Christian faith has much to do with our understanding of this verse. Over the years I have been given the ominous responsibility of counseling many Christian people who could not see their way clearly through a situation; occasionally, I have found myself the counselee. When we face the unexpected, the unsure, or some particular challenge, we are more prone to flee the situation and take the path of least resistance. God assures us through His word that He has not given us the spirit of fear. Because God has given us His Spirit as a down-payment and a seal of our new birth; and because His Holy Spirit resides within each born again believer permanently, fear is not of God. On the other hand, God has given us another kind of spiritual infusion; the presence of divine discernment. It is His Spirit that witnesses with our spirit that we are the children of God (Romans 8:16), and because of this we are able to understand the daily battle and how to overcome the enemy. I need not fall apart when the enemy strikes, though he strikes at my most vulnerable parts. He knows my weaknesses and how to exploit them for his purpose that, I would fear and be overtaken with much concern so as to cease trusting in the Lord. So then through this divine infusion He gives me a spirit of power, of love, and a sound mind which is really to be sensible in one’s thinking. This power is never derived through any innate trait, or manifest through them, but is the spiritual exercise of trust, faith, hope, in the one who intimately knows and is known of His Lord. God’s power in us is no where realized more perfectly than in the spirit of love. Unconditional love is the love that God sent His Son into the world by, the love that we are saved by, and the love that He keeps us by. When we have love one for another the world knows that we are Christ’s disciples (John 13:35), and the power of God is revealed. The Apostle also says that we have the spirit of a sound mind (sensible thinking). The Christian faith is not blind faith! It is that which stands firm on the promises of God. God has given us His word that we can know Him and be directed more perfectly in our lives. The failure of many Christians today is that they do not study the Bible and apply its rich teachings to their lives. They expect to fix their broken lives without using the God given manual. The true sensibleness in the faith is a firm reliance on the Word of God. These three: divine power, love, and a sound mind, will conquer the worst of our fears, and establish our faith in the one who loved us and gave Himself for us.
Arise and Shine!
Isaiah 60:1— Arise, shine; for thy light is come, And the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
The imperative command is here used. Arise! Shine! But, how Lord shall I shine, and why Lord, should I arise? God’s answer is clear: that Jesus is come, is undeniable; and yet, still many reject Him. I, however, will shine because I am the light of the world. I will shine that men will see my good works and glorify my father in heaven. I will shine because He was the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world. I also will arise! And my reason is simple: the glory of the Lord is risen upon me. Whether, therefore, I eat or drink, or whatsoever I do, I do all to the glory of God. Because, every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the father, Therefore, I gladly arise that now unto the king eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen
The Human Element
The tenth chapter of the book of Acts clearly shows that God’s purpose in reaching the lost includes, without exception, the human element. The angel of God that visits Cornelius, needed no human being to bring salvation to the house of Cornelius, but rather desired and even ordained it. Can God not save man without our help? Certainly! But He chooses to use His children as the vessels of light and truth in this present dark world. Peter was a great example of a useful vessel. He had already displayed his obedience to God, and now being summoned to Joppa, he went. Desiring only to please the Lord and help as many as possible, he raised Dorca from the dead, putting himself in the perfect place to be used in the service of the salvation of the house of Cornelius. If every believer took their service of the Lord as seriously as Peter, they would always be exactly where God desired them to be, and be used for such great service.
R.C.
