More on the Most Precious Promise of Shared Life

More on the Most Precious Promise of Shared Life

By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature . . . Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.  (2Pe_1:4 and John_15:4-5)

This promise of shared life is so "exceedingly great and precious" that we would do well to consider it further. Being "partakers of the divine nature" (without becoming divine ourselves) is a difficult concept to grasp. The scriptures clearly invite us to live day by day through Christ sharing His life in us. "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me" (Gal_2:20). 
Yet, how to walk in this truth can seem quite elusive. 

In His teaching on the vine and the branches, Jesus provided a wonderful physical illustration of this tremendous spiritual reality.  
Jesus' visible example involves actual grapevines, grape branches, and the grapes that can potentially result. 
For grapes to grow, the appropriate life must be available and developing to maturity. The grape branches do not have this life in themselves. "The branch cannot bear fruit of itself." 
In order to bear grapes, the grape branch must share in the life of the vine. "The branch cannot bear fruit . . . unless it abides in the vine." 
This can be irrefutably demonstrated by separating a grape branch from its vine. No grapes can ever be produced on the branches, if the life of the vine is not flowing through the branches. The life of the vine is essential.  
The spiritual application concerns Jesus as the vine and us as the branches. "I am the vine, you are the branches." For Christlike fruit to develop in us, the appropriate life must be available to us and maturing in us. We branches do not have this life in us: "neither can you [bear fruit], unless you abide in Me." 
This truth is lamentably demonstrated daily by Christians who live self-sufficiently, not depending upon the life that is in Jesus, the vine. "Without Me you can do nothing." 
Day by day Christian living is only possible by the shared life of Jesus at work through us.  
Once again, we are reminded that humility and faith are the practical application for living as God intends. 
We must humbly depend upon Jesus for true fruitful living, just as grape branches must depend upon their vine for grapes.

Dear Lord Jesus, I thank You that I do not have to produce true life in and of myself. Teach me to live by Your shared life. I want to humbly and dependently abide in You, that You might live in and through me, for Your glory, Amen.

Now to the King of eternity

1 Timothy 1:17

Now to the King of eternity, incorruptible and immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever (to the ages of ages). Amen (so be it). 

Now unto the King eternal - This ascription of praise is offered to God in view of the mercy which he had shown to so great a sinner. It is the outbreak of that grateful emotion which swelled his bosom, and which would not be denied expression, when Paul recalled his former life and the mercy of God to his soul. It somewhat interrupts indeed the train of his remarks, but the heart was so full that it demanded utterance. It is just an instance of the joy and gratitude which fill the soul of a Christian when he is led along in a train of reflections which conduct him to the recollections of his former sin and danger, and to the fact that he has obtained mercy and has now the hope of heaven. 
The apostle Paul not infrequently, in accordance with a mode of writing that was common among the Hebrews, interposes an expression of praise in the midst of his reasoning; compare Rom_1:25; 2Co_11:31. 
God is called King here, as He is often in the Scriptures, to denote that He rules over the universe. A literal translation of the passage would be, “To the King of ages, who is immortal,” etc. The meaning of this expression - “the King of ages” -  βασιλει τὼν αἰώνων  basilei tōn aiōnōn - is, that he is a king who rules throughout all ages. This does not mean that he himself lives for ever, but that his dominion extends over all ages or generations. The rule of earthly monarchs does not extend into successive ages; his does. Their reign is temporary; his is enduring, and continues as one generation after another passes on, and thus embraces them all.
Immortal - This refers to God himself, not to his reign. It means that he does not die, and it is given to him to distinguish him from other sovereigns. All other monarchs but God expire - and are just as liable to die at any moment as any other people.
Invisible - 1Ti_6:16; see the notes on John_1:18.
The only wise God - notes, Rom_16:27. 
The word “wise” is missing in many mss., and in some editions of the New Testament. It is omitted by Griesbach; marked as doubtful by Tittman, and rejected in the valuable edition of Hahn. Erasmus conjectures that it was added against the Arians, who maintained that the Father only was God, and that as he is here mentioned as such, the word wise was interpolated to denote merely that the attribute of perfect wisdom belonged only to him. 

Wetstein regards the reading as genuine, and suspects that in some of the early manuscripts where it is missing it was omitted by the transcriber, because it was regarded as inelegant for two adjectives to be united in this manner. It is not easy to determine as to the genuineness of the reading. The sense is not materially affected, whichever view be adopted. 
It is true that Yahweh is the only God; it is also true that He is the only wise God.  Heb; 'elohim, el,  'elyon, shadday, yahweh,
Greek; theos.   
The Bible does not contain a formal definition of the word "God," yet God's being and attributes are displayed on every page.   "God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth."
It is fair to say that this definition faithfully sets forth what the Bible constantly assumes and declares concerning God.

The gods of the pagan are “vanity and a lie,” and they are wholly destitute of wisdom; see Psa_115:3-8; Psa_135:15-18; Isa_40:18-20; Isa_44:10-17.
Be honour - Let there be all the respect and veneration shown to Him which is His due.
And glory - Praise. Let Him be praised by all for ever.
Amen - So be it; an expression of strong affirmation; John_3:3. Here it is used to denote the solemn assent of the heart to the sentiment conveyed by the words used; see the Mat_6:13 note; 1Co_14:16 note.

Title - Worship leader "Saviour King" [introduction] (Marty Sampson) "I'm Not Ashamed" (Marty Sampson) "Break Free" (Joel Houston) "Hosanna" (Brooke Fraser and Darlene Zschech) "Here in My Life" (Darlene Zschech) "You Are Faithful" (Darlene Zschech) "In Your Freedom" (Marty Sampson) "To Know Your Name" (Jad Gillies) "In the Mystery" (Joel Houston) "God of Ages" (Darlene Zschech and Reuben Morgan) "You Are My Strength" (Reuben Morgan) "One Thing" (Darlene Zschech) "Lord of Lords" (Brooke Fraser) "You Saw Me" (Reuben Morgan) "Saviour King" (Marty Sampson)

He humbled himselfby becoming man and became obedient unto death

Philippians 2:8

And being found in fashion as a man,.... Not that He had only the show and appearance of a man, but He was really a man; for "as" here, denotes not merely the likeness of a thing, but the thing itself, as in Mat_14:5, ως here, answers to the Hebrew f2ë, which is sometimes by the Jews (k) said to be כף הדמיון, and signifies likeness, and sometimes כף האמתות, and designs truth and reality; which is the sense in which the particle is to be taken here: though He was seen and looked upon as a mere man, and therefore charged with blasphemy when He asserted himself to be the Son of God, he was more than a man; and yet found and known by men in common to be no more than a man, than just such a man as other men are; and so far is true, that His scheme, His habit, His fashion, His form, were like that of other men; though He was not begotten as man, but conceived in an extraordinary manner by the power of the Holy Ghost, yet He lay nine months in His mother's womb, as the human foetus ordinarily does; He was born as children are, was wrapped in swaddling bands when born, as an infant is; grew in stature by degrees, as men do; the shape and size of His body were like other men's, and He was subject to the same infirmities, as hunger, thirst, weariness, pain, grief, sorrow, and death itself, as follows: 

He humbled Himself: by becoming man, and by various outward actions in His life; as subjection to His parents, working at the trade of a carpenter, conversing with the meanest of men, washing His disciples' feet, &c. and the whole of His deportment both to God and man, His compliance with His Father's will, though disagreeable to flesh and blood, His behaviour towards His enemies, and His forbearance of His disciples, showed Him to be of a meek and humble spirit; He humbled Himself both to God and man: 

and became obedient unto death, or "until death"; for He was obedient from the cradle to the cross, to God, to men, to His earthly parents, and to magistrates; He was obedient to the ceremonial law, to circumcision, the passover, &c. to the moral law, to all the precepts of it, which He punctually fulfilled; and to the penalty of it, death, which He voluntarily and cheerfully bore, in the room and stead of His people: 


even the death of the cross; which was both painful and shameful; it was an accursed one, and showed that He bore the curse of the law, and was made a curse for us: this was a punishment usually inflicted on servants, and is called a servile punishment (l); and such was the form which He took, when He was found in fashion as a man: this is now the great instance of humility the apostle gives, as a pattern of it to the saints, and it is a matchless and unparalleled one, 


Left my fear by side of the road
Hear You speak, won't let go
Fall to my knees as I lift my hands to pray
Got every reason to be here again
Father's love, that draws me in
And all my eyes wanna see is a glimpse of You

All I need is You
All I need is You Lord, is You Lord
All I need is You
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/h/hi... ]
One more day and it's not the same
Your spirit calls my heart to sing
Drawn to the voice of my Savior once again
Where would the world be without Your Son
Gave His life to save the earth
Rest in the thought that You're watching over me

All I need is You
All I need is You Lord, is You Lord
All I need is You

You hold the universe
You hold everyone on earth
You hold the universeYou hold, You hold

JESUS IS WORTHY OF ALL HONOUR AND OUR HIGHEST PRAISE

Phillipians 2:3-8 

Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. 
Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. 
Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.  
Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of Himself.  
He had equal status with Almighty God but didn't think so much of Himself that He had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. 
When the time came, He set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human!  
Having become human, He stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. 
He didn't claim special privileges. 
Instead, He lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death--and the worst kind of death at that: 
a crucifixion.    
Because of that obedience, God lifted Him high and honored Him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, 
so that all created beings in heaven and on earth--even those long ago dead and buried--will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ,
Hillsong Live - I desire Jesus
Album: Cornerstone DVD

I desire Jesus
Precious Lamb who ransomed me
Upon the cross He took my sin
By His blood He set me free

I desire Jesus
Oh His name my soul esteem
For upon His thorn-scarred brow
Is the crown of victory

He is worthy of all honour
All glory to His Name
He alone deserves
Our highest praise
And forever He will reign

I desire Jesus
Triumphant One the earth awaits
For on that day the earth will shine
With the glory of Your name

You are worthy of all honour
All glory to Your Name
You alone deserve
Our highest praise
And forever You will reign

You are all glorious
You are all glorious
My heart leans in
My soul must sing
You are all glorious
(x3)

For You are worthy of all honour
All glory to Your Name
You alone deserve
Our highest praise
And forever You will reign

You are all glorious
You are all glorious
My heart leans in
My soul must sing
You are all glorious
(x2)

I desire Jesus
Precious Lamb
Who ransomed me
Unto You an offering
Will my life forever be

JESUS is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.

Philippians 2:9-11

Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, 

so that all created beings in heaven and on earth--even those long ago dead and buried--will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, 

and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father. 

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him,.... The apostle proceeds to observe the exaltation of Christ, for the encouragement of meek and humble souls; that whereas Christ, who so exceedingly demeaned himself, was afterwards highly exalted by God, so all such who, in imitation of him, behave to one another in lowliness of mind, shall be exalted in God's due time; for whoso humbled himself, shall be exalted. The first step of Christ's exaltation was his resurrection from the dead, when he had a glory given him as man; his body was raised in incorruption, in glory, in power, and a spiritual one; it became a glorious body, and the pledge and exemplar of the saints at the general resurrection, of which his transfiguration on the mount was an emblem and prelude; and he was also glorified then as Mediator, he was then justified in the Spirit, and acquitted and discharged from all the sins of his people, he took upon him and bore, having satisfied for them; and all God's elect were justified in him, for he rose as a public person, as their head, for their justification; yea, in some sense he was then glorified, as a divine person; not that any new additional glory was, or could be made to him as such; but there was an illustrious manifestation of his natural, essential, and original glory; he was declared to be the Son of God with power, by his resurrection from the dead: the next step of his high exaltation was his ascending on high up to the third heaven, where he is made higher than the heavens; when he was accompanied by an innumerable company of angels, and by those saints whose bodies rose out of their graves after his resurrection; and was received and carried up in a bright glorious cloud; and passing through the air, the seat of the devils, he led captivity captive, and triumphed over principalities and powers, having before spoiled them on his cross; and then entering into heaven, he sat down at the right hand of God, which is another branch of his exaltation; and shows that he had done his work, and that it was approved and accepted of; and had that glory and honour bestowed on him, which never was on any mere creature, angels or men, to sit down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; which as it is the highest pitch of the exaltation of the human nature of Christ, so by it there is a most illustrious display of the glory of his divine person as the Son of God; who was with God, as one brought up with him from all eternity; and was so likewise when here on earth, but not so manifestly; but now he is openly and manifestly glorified with himself, with that glory he had with him before the world began: moreover, Christ's exaltation lies in his having the gifts of the Spirit without measure, to bestow on his ministers and churches, in all succeeding generations, for the carrying on of his interest, and the enlargement of his kingdom; in having all power in heaven and in earth, to complete his work and great designs; in having dominion and authority over all creatures and things, which are made to be subservient to the execution of his mediatorial office; and in having the right and power of judging the world at the last day, when there will still be a more glorious display of his eternal deity and divine sonship; for he will come in his Father's glory, and in his own, and with his holy angels: now the causes of Christ's exaltation are these: the efficient cause is God; though he made himself of no reputation, and humbled himself, these were voluntary acts of his own; yet he did not exalt himself, but God exalted him, even God the Father; with him the covenant of grace and redemption was made, in which glory was promised Christ, in consideration of his obedience, sufferings, and death; and which he prayed to him for, and pleaded for with him, having done his work; and which exaltation of Christ is always ascribed to God, even the Father; see Act_2:33; the impulsive or moving cause, and indeed the meritorious cause, were the humiliation of Christ; because he, though he was originally so great and glorious, yet made himself as it were nothing, humbled himself to become man, and was contented to be accounted a mere man, and went up and down in the form of a servant; and because he became so cheerfully obedient to the whole law, and to death itself, for the sake of his people, and out of love to them, "therefore" God exalted him: the exaltation of Christ was not only a consequence of his obedience and death, and his humiliation merely the way to his glory; but his high and exalted estate were the reward of all this; it was what was promised him in covenant, what was then agreed upon, what he expected and pleaded, and had as a recompense of reward, in consideration of his having glorified God on earth, and finished the work he undertook to do: it follows as an instance of the exaltation of Christ, 

and hath given him a name which is above every name. The Syriac version renders it, "which is more excellent than every name"; and the Arabic version translates it, "which is more eminent than every name"; and the Ethiopic version thus, "which is greater than every name": by which is meant, not any particular and peculiar name by which he is called; not the name of God, for though this is his name, the mighty God, and so is even the incommunicable name Jehovah, and which may be truly said to be every name; but neither of these are given him, but what he has by nature; and besides were what he had before his exaltation in human nature: it is true indeed, upon that this name of his became more illustrious and manifest unto men; it is a more clear point, that he is God over all blessed for evermore; and it will still be more manifest at his glorious appearing, that he is the great God, as well as our Saviour: to which may be added, that the name Jehovah in the plate of gold on the high priest's forehead, was set above the other word; so says Maimonides (m), 

 "the plate of gold was two fingers broad, and it reached from ear to ear; and there was written upon it two lines, "holiness to the Lord"; קדש, "holiness", was written below, and ליהוה מלמעלה, "to the Lord", or "to Jehovah", above: 

whether here may not be an allusion to this, I leave to be considered: nor do I think that the name of the Son of God is meant; this is indeed a name of Christ, and a more excellent one than either angels or men have; for he is in such sense the Son of God, as neither of them are; but this is a name also which he has by nature, and is what he had before his exaltation; and was before this attested by his Father, and confessed by angels, men, and devils; though indeed upon his exaltation, he was declared more manifestly to be the Son of God, as he will be yet more clearly in his kingdom and glory: much less is the name Jesus intended, which was given him by the angel before his conception and birth, and was a name common to men among the Jews; but it seems to design such fame and renown, honour, glory, and dignity, as were never given unto, and bestowed upon creatures; as his rising from the dead as a public person, his ascending on high in the manner he did, his session at the right hand of God, his investiture with all gifts, power, dominion, authority, and with the judgment of the world; and whatever name of greatness there is among men or angels, Christ has that which is superior to it. Was a priest a name of honour and dignity among the Jews? Christ is not only a priest, and an high priest, but a great high priest; a priest not after the order of Aaron, but after the order of Melchizedek, Heb_7:11, and a greater than he himself. Is a king a great name among men? Christ has on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of kings, and Lord of lords. Is a deliverer of a nation a title of great honour? Christ is exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour of men of all nations; nor is there any other name but his, that is given among men, whereby we must be saved. Is a mediator between warring princes and kingdoms accounted a name of greatness and glory? Christ is the one only Mediator between God and man, and of a new and better covenant. Are angels, seraphim, cherubim, thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers, great names in the other world? Christ is the Angel of God's presence, an eternal one, the Angel of the covenant, the head of all principality and power. These are all subject to him, and he is set at God's right hand far above them, 



(m) Hilchot Cele Hamikdash, c. 9. sect. 1.

JESUS SHALL TAKE THE HIGHEST HONOUR

JESUS SHALL TAKE THE HIGHEST HONOR
Chris Bowater
Tuning: Standard
Key: A
Source: christiantabs.wordpress.com

Verse 1:
A  E  F#m
Jesus shall take the highest honour
D  E  F#m
Jesus shall take the highest praise
D  E F#m  A
Let all earth join heaven in exalting
D F#m E  Esus
The Name which is above all other names


Verse 2:
A  E  F#m
Let's bow the knee in humble adoration
D  E  F#m
For at His name every knee must bow
D  E  F#m  A
Let every tongue confess He is Christ, God's only Son
D F#m E  Esus
Sovereign Lord, we give You glory now


Chorus:
A  E  F#m
For all honour and blessing and power
D F#m A  E
Belongs to You, belongs to You
A  E  F#m
All honour and blessing and power
D F#m A  E
Belongs to You, belongs to You
F#m  A D E A
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God

Make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise

“Make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.”
John_2:13-25
John_2:13
We have seen him there once before as a son in his own house, and here we see him in riper years as a son over his own house, the heir, exercising authority in the Father’s palace.
John_2:14
They were necessary for public convenience that the worshipers might purchase offerings, and might exchange Roman for Jewish money, since that alone could be presented to the priests; but they had no right to transact this business within the house of God.
John_2:16
Now was fulfilled in measure the prophecy of Malachi: “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appears? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.” 
With like zeal will he drive out of His church all who seek their own advancement, and turn the worship of God into a means of gain for themselves. 
This was the first occasion upon which our Lord purged the temple, and He had to repeat the work a second time. Nothing is so hard to cleanse as a place which has once been holy and has become defiled. 
It does not seem that any one opposed the Lord Jesus; the majesty of His appearance probably held all in check.
John_2:20-21
The resurrection is the surest seal of our Lord’s mission, and the fact that He rose by His own power is a clear evidence of His deity. Who but He could say of His own dead body, “I will raise it up”? Since Jesus has risen we ought most heartily to believe on Him.
John_2:22
They no doubt before this believed both their Master’s word and the Scriptures, but when they understood them better, in the light of their accomplishment, they were as if they believed anew.
John_2:23
The gospel wins many converts, and some of them in after days do not turn out to be stable; this however we must look for, as Jesus did, for the next verse tells us that He did not trust those who were so eager to profess allegiance; for He understood the fickleness of human hearts, the superficial nature of much which passes for true religion, and the ease with which hasty conversions are turned into sudden and final apostacies. May the Lord cleanse our hearts and keep us to the end.

Savior, who dost with anger see
The lusts which steal my heart from thee,
The thieves out of thy temple chase,
And cleanse my soul by sovereign grace.

Thy blood hath made me wholly thine,
My body is thy Spirit’s shrine;
And now my God is dwelling there
My soul shall be a house of prayer.


“Ye must be born again.”
John_3:1-21
John_3:2
Perhaps he came by night because he was busy all the day, or because he would make private inquiries before he committed himself to the new teacher. Jesus did not refuse him a midnight audience, and Nicodemus came to him in courteous and candid spirit.
John_3:3
Thus he tried the faith which the inquiring ruler already had. The doctrine of regeneration has been a test question and a stone of stumbling to many; and always will be so. Jesus tried Nicodemus at the outset with this vital question, for he never suppresses truth to win followers.
John_3:4-6
Flesh at its best can only produce flesh; and since we must become spiritual in order to enter the spiritual kingdom of Jesus, it is inevitable that we must be born again, or else remain strangers to the things of God. Every man must be born twice or die twice: let this never be forgotten.
John_3:7-8
The regenerate man is a mystery, and whence his new nature came, and whither it tends, are both spiritual questions which the carnal mind is unable to answer.
John_3:10-12
earthly things or things belonging to this world
John_3:10-12
The higher truths are not opened up to those who are staggered by the simpler doctrines. It would be idle to attempt it.
John_3:13-13
It is remarkable that the same chapter which so strongly teaches us the need of the new birth is that which most clearly sets forth the gospel of faith in Christ Jesus. Both truths are to be cordially believed. We must be born again, and yet whosoever believe's in Jesus is not condemned.
John_3:18
Let this be well marked. All this family who have not believed are already condemned.
John_3:19-21
With such simple teaching before us, it will be terrible if any one of us should live and die in unbelief. It becomes us at once to believe in Jesus, for ere long we shall be gone where gospel promises are no longer presented as a ground of hope. Lord, we believe, and by grace we are saved.

You must be born again!

“You must be born again!”
John_3:1-21
John_3:2
Perhaps he came by night because he was busy all the day, or because he would make private inquiries before he committed himself to the new teacher. Jesus did not refuse him a midnight audience, and Nicodemus came to Him in courteous and candid spirit.
John_3:3
Thus he tried the faith which the inquiring ruler already had. The doctrine of regeneration has been a test question and a stone of stumbling to many; and always will be so. Jesus tried Nicodemus at the outset with this vital question, for He never suppresses truth to win followers.
John_3:4-6
Flesh at its best can only produce flesh; and since we must become spiritual in order to enter the spiritual kingdom of Jesus, it is inevitable that we must be born again, or else remain strangers to the things of God. Every man must be born twice or die twice: let this never be forgotten.
John_3:7-8
The regenerate man is a mystery, and whence his new nature came, and whither it tends, are both spiritual questions which the carnal mind is unable to answer.
John_3:10-12
earthly things or things belonging to this world
John_3:10-12
The higher truths are not opened up to those who are staggered by the simpler doctrines. It would be idle to attempt it.
John_3:13-13
It is remarkable that the same chapter which so strongly teaches us the need of the new birth is that which most clearly sets forth the gospel of faith in Christ Jesus. Both truths are to be cordially believed. We must be born again, and yet whosoever believe's in Jesus is not condemned.
John_3:18
Let this be well marked. All this family who have not believed are already condemned.
John_3:19-21
With such simple teaching before us, it will be terrible if any one of us should live and die in unbelief. 
It becomes us at once to believe in Jesus, for ere long we shall be gone where gospel promises are no longer presented as a ground of hope. 
Lord, we believe, and by grace we are saved.

THE PROVIDENCE OF THE TRIFLE

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THE PROVIDENCE OF THE TRIFLE
"O Lord, the God of my Master Abraham, send me, I pray Thee, good speed this day.., thereby shall I know that Thou hast shewed kindness to my master."--- Gen_24:12-14.

FROM THIS beautiful incident we can learn much of God's guidance of the soul. Evidently Eliezer, the faithful servant, had absorbed something of his master's faith and method; so that, as we read this artless narrative, we can realize some of the principles on which the entire camp was conducted. Four times he speaks of "the God of my master Abraham." When he had been taken into Abraham's confidence, he entered into the plan with as much zeal and interest as if it were his own private concern. Would that we were equally intent on our Heavenly Master's business, and that those who are our dependants and associates were equally impressed by the reverence and prayerfullness of our lives!
Each step was taken in fellowship with God; but that did not prevent him from exercising his own careful management of the successive steps for ascertaining the disposition of this young girl who was so suddenly summoned from the obscurity of Haran to become a link in the Messianic chain. Eliezer's faith in the Providence of a trifle is most interesting and instructive. He held his peace as the girl drew the water; then, in the assurance of faith that his prayer for guidance had been answered, without further hesitation he placed the bracelets on her arms. Be on the outlook to see God's hand in everything!
Count up the number of times in which this worthy man contrives to bring in the two words, "My master!" We may learn from him how to speak of our Saviour, whenever we get the opportunity--"Rabboni, which being interpreted, is, My Master!"

When asking for good speed to be sent to himself, he alleged as his plea that it would be showing kindness to his master Abraham. So when we ask great things from God, we can plead in the Name of Jesus and be sure that He will show kindness to us for His sake (John_15:16). This old-world story is a beautiful lesson for those who call Jesus Master and Lord.

PRAYER
Send me, O Lord, I humbly ask, good speed this day. May I know when to speak and when to be silent; when to act or refrain from action. In all details of daily life may I faithfully serve Thee, my Master and Friend. AMEN.

The Importance of God's "Unpopular" Promises

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The Importance of God's "Unpopular" Promises

Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.  (John_8:24)


Generally speaking, God's promises are "popular" with many people. When most of the Lord's promises are read or taught, people are delighted. 
"Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed... Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest... Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." (John_8:36; Mat_11:28; and Mat_4:19). 

Promises like these are so often received with favor, because they are so encouraging. They are embraced with approval, because they are so comforting. On the other hand, some of God's promises are definitely "unpopular" with certain segments of humanity. 
This type of promise is scorned or rejected, because of its convicting or sobering character. 
Nevertheless, these promises that are not always well-received have great importance in God's plan.  

One such promise is given two-fold in our present verse. "You will die in your sins... you will die in your sins." In a tolerant world that wants to deny the reality of sin and its consequences, this is an unpopular promise. Yet, the promise is true nonetheless. 
Sin brings spiritual death. 

From the beginning, this has been the case. "And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, 'Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die' " (Gen_2:16-17). 
This truth was restated by the prophets of Israel. 
"The soul who sins shall die" (Eze_18:20 ). 
It was also repeated by the apostles in the early church. "For the wages of sin is death" (Rom_6:23). 

Since everyone has sinned, this warning by promise that Jesus gave applies to us all. 
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom_3:23).  

To escape the inevitable consequences of sin, one must trust in Jesus as the promised, divine Savior. "If you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." This statement ("I am He") hints of Jesus' deity. 
Shortly thereafter, He openly declares that he is God, the Son. "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM" (John_8:58). 
Here, Jesus applies to Himself the same name that God revealed to Moses. 
"Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you' " (Exo_3:14). 
Thus, this important promise by Jesus warns that only faith in Him as the divine Savior will deliver a person from the certain consequences of sin.

Lord Jesus, I thank You for this important warning given by promise. I am delighted to have yielded to its truth and certainty. I rejoice that my sins are forgiven. Use me to pass on this promise to others who need to respond to it, in Jesus name, Amen.


The Unity of God.  God is one.   The OT condemns polytheism and declares that God is one and is to be worshiped and loved as such.
"Hear, O Israel:  The Lord our God, the Lord is One.   Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength" (Deut 6:4-5).  He said through Isaiah, "There is no God apart from me, a righteous God and Savior;  there is none but me"  (Isa 45:21) And this conviction of the unity of God is continued the NT (see Mark 10:18; 12:29;
Gal 3:20; 1 Cor 8:4; 1 Tim 2:5).
more on this in next post!

YOU WILL NOT RISE WITH THE SAINTS TO ETERNAL JOY & HAPPINESS UNLESS YOU HAVE CHRIST IN YOU!

Romans 8:11 

And if  the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, [then] He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you. Amp.

Romans 8:11
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead,.... These words are not to be understood as they are by some, of the continued work of sanctification in the heart by the Spirit of God; for regeneration, and not sanctification, is signified by quickening, which quickening occurs when the Spirit of God first takes up his dwelling in the soul; besides, the apostle had spoke of the life of the spirit or soul before; and they are mortal bodies, and not its mortal souls, which are said to be quickened, for these cannot mean the body of sin, or the remains of corruption, as they are said to be, and which are never quickened, nor never can be. To understand the words in such a sense, is not so agreeable to the resurrection of Christ here mentioned; whereas Christ's resurrection is often used as an argument of ours, which is designed here, where the apostle argues from the one to the other. The Spirit dwells in the saints as his temples: the Spirit that dwells in them is, "the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead"; by whom is meant God the Father, to whom the resurrection of Christ from the dead is here and elsewhere ascribed. This "periphrasis" of him is used, to express the power, justice, and grace of God in the resurrection of his Son; to show that the Spirit of God was concerned in it; and the greatness of the person of the Spirit that dwells in the saints; and what reason they have to believe the sanctification of their souls, and the redemption of their bodies, since such a divine Spirit dwells in them; wherefore, he that raised up Christ from the dead, which is the Father, shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you; not the souls of the saints, for these die not: but their "bodies", called "mortal", because appointed to death, are under the sentence of it, and in which it already works; "your" bodies and not others; mortal ones, and not airy, celestial, immortal ones; the very same they carry about with them here, and in which the Spirit of God had dwelt. These shall be quickened. The Jews frequently express the resurrection by תחיית המתים, "the quickening of the dead" some distinguish  between תקומה "the resurrection" of the dead, which is common to the wicked, and תחיית, "the quickening" of them, peculiar to the righteous: though, it is observed, this distinction does not always hold: however, this act of quickening seems here designed to express the peculiar blessing, of the saints; for though the wicked shall be raised from the dead, yet they will not rise with the saints, nor by virtue of union to Christ, nor to an eternal life of joy and happiness; in this sense the saints only will be quickened, "by the Spirit"; not as an instrument, but as a coefficient cause with the Father and Son: or "because of the Spirit that dwells in you", the bodies of the saints are the temples of the Holy Ghost, they are sanctified by him, where he continues to dwell by virtue of union to Christ, and in consequence of it will quicken them at the last day; so the Jews say, that the Holy Ghost brings to the resurrection of the dead. 

What is the TRINITY?
There is one eternal God, the Lord who is holy love.
Through His self-revelation He has disclosed to His people that He is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.   Yet He is not three deities but one Godhead, since all three Persons share the one Deity/Godhead.   The biblical teaching of the Trinity is, in a sense, a mystery;  and the more we
enter into union with and deepen our understanding of Him, the more we recognize how
much there is yet to know.
Based on the biblical teaching, the traditional Christian confession is that God is One in Three and Three in One. 
more about this in the next post coming soon!

Glory to God in the highest

“Glory to God in the highest.”
Luke_2:1-20
Let us read with great joy of the birth of Jesus, the incarnate God.
Luke_2:2
The census was taken by Augustus, but the actual collecting of the tax was not carried out till the time of Cyrenius.
Luke_2:3-6
The decree of Cæsar was made to fulfill the decree of Jehovah, that Jesus should be born in Bethlehem.
Luke_2:7
Little love had the world for the Redeemer. It could find no room for him, no, not even in the place where the meanest traveller had free accommodation.
“No peaceful home upon his cradle smiled, Guests rudely went and came where slept the royal child.”
Luke_2:8
To simple minds, humbly doing their duty, the good news first came.
Luke_2:9-12
The heavenly messenger had scarcely concluded his announcement before he was joined by others who had hastened after him to swell the glory of the proclamation of the newborn king.
Luke_2:15
They believed the news, were interested in it, and went to see. If we believe the gospel, let us show our faith practically.
Luke_2:16-20
Here were three ways of treating the news concerning Jesus. Some wondered, and there the matter ended, as, it is to be feared, it ends with many who hear it in these days. Mary weighed all these things in her heart; to her they would be a perpetual source of blessing. The shepherds showed their piety in another manner, for they glorified God by telling the glad tidings to others. Have we not good cause to follow their example?

Hark, the herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King,
“Peace on earth and mercy mild;
God and sinners reconciled.”

Veil’d in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity!
Pleased as man with men to appear,
Jesus our Immanuel here.

Mild he lays his glory by;
Born, that men no more might die;
Born, to raise the sons of earth;
Born, to give them second birth.


“Lo, this is our God—we have waited for Him.”
Luke_2:21-22; Luke_2:24-38
Luke_2:21
Jesus signifies “Jehovah the Saviour,” and is the most melodious of all names in the ears of penitent sinners.
Luke_2:22; Luke_2:24
Our Lord having placed himself, for our sakes, under the law, was obedient to it in all points, thus fulfilling all righteousness on our behalf. The poverty of his parents is showed by their presenting the second poorest offering accepted by the law; there was one offering poorer still, but they were not in abject poverty, that worst distress was reserved for Jesus in his after years, when he would not have where to lay his head. Though he was rich, for our sakes he became poor.
Luke_2:25
He was just before men and devout towards God, and his faith looked steadily forward for the coming of the Messiah, whom those who believingly searched the Scriptures were daily expecting.
Luke_2:35
The highly-favoured mother had to endure unusually sharp and killing griefs as she saw the sorrows and the death of her blameless son.
Luke_2:37
Having lost her husband for eighty-four years, she had devoted herself to the continual worship of God, and had, no doubt, as a prophetess, been spiritually useful to many. Women are much more honoured under the gospel than under the law. It was meet that two of the first witnesses to our Lord should be an aged man and a venerable woman.
Luke_2:38
O for grace to embrace Jesus, to love Jesus, to testify to Jesus, and to be so joyful in Jesus that we may be willing, like Simeon, to die, or, like Anna, to speak of him to all around!

Saints, before the altar bending,
Waiting long with hope and fear,
Suddenly the Lord descending
In his temple shall appear;

Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.
Sinners, wrung with true repentance,
Doom’d for guilt to endless pains,

Justice now repeals the sentence,
Mercy calls you—break your chains;
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

THE DAY OF RECKONING

THE DAY OF RECKONING
"After a long time, the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them."-- Mat_25:19.

THE THREE parables recorded in this chapter are of vast importance.
Each contains a striking contrast, and in each there is the possibility of supreme joy or the inevitable sentence of deprivation and rejection. In each there is instruction and encouragement on the one side, and on the other we are solemnly warned.
In the parable of the Virgins, we learn the necessity of having adequate reserves; of possessing more than the lamp of profession, however chaste and rare; and of procuring without money or price the oil of the gracious indwelling and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. That religion is entirely valueless which is not due to His kindling and maintenance.
In the parable of the Talents, we learn that the gravest peril in Christian experience attaches not to the highly, or even the moderately-gifted people, but to the poorest and humblest one-talented folk! Because they can do so little they often do nothing. The one talent, which it is death to hide, is lodged with them as utterly useless. But with God the smallest things count! He does not crush the bruised reed nor quench the smoking flax. He chooses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise, and the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.
In the Judgment of the Nations, we learn that the ultimate test of Christianity is not in profession or doctrine, but our care for those with whom our Lord has always identified Himself
--the outcast and helpless, the sick and sorrowful, the stranger and prisoner. Love to God has for its reverse Love to man. Even now the nations are standing before His judgment-bar, and some are being cast on the rubbish heap before our eyes.

PRAYER
Let me not be put to shame, O my Lord, but make me to love and fear Thee with all my heart. Help me to be faithful in the very little things, and to hear Thy well-done at the last. AMEN.

SALVATION IS TO BE FOUND AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS OF JESUS,SAVIOUR,LORD & KING

John 1:29-34  The next day John saw Jesus coming to him and said, Look! There is the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world! 
[Exod. 12:3; Isa. 53:7.] 
This is He of Whom I said, After me comes a Man Who has priority over me [Who takes rank above me] because He was before me and existed before I did. 
And I did not know Him and did not recognize Him [myself]; but it is in order that He should be made manifest and be revealed to Israel [be brought out where we can see Him] that I came baptizing in (with) water. 
John gave further evidence, saying, I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and it dwelt on Him [never to depart]. 
And I did not know Him nor recognize Him, but He Who sent me to baptize in (with) water said to me, Upon Him Whom you shall see the Spirit descend and remain, that One is He Who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. 
And I have seen [that happen--I actually did see it] and my testimony is that this is JESUS the Son of God! 

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The Pattern of Service

The Pattern of Service

I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day—- John_9:4

The Perfect Service of Our Lord

Our Lord came among us as one who suffered, and so He has taught us how to suffer. He also came as one who serves, and so He has taught us how to serve. And in this day, when the idea of service exercises such control in western Christendom, it is well that we should turn continually to the perfect service of our Lord. Sometimes out in mid-Atlantic a little boat is caught in a great storm. And she heaves and tosses in the wild of the waters till every timber in her frame is racked. And then not very far away from her making for the same port across the ocean, majestically there sails on some mighty liner. Many a worker has so thought of Christ when the winds were contrary and the sea was violent. With what an ease—with what a sense of power—with what unconscious triumph He goes by! And so it is well that we should think of Him and find anew the features of His service, and it is on some of these that I want to dwell.

The Union of Obedience and Originality in Christ

If I were asked what is the keynote to all the manifold service of our Lord, I think I should answer that it was obedience. We speak of the Gospel of John as the Gospel of love, and certainly it thrills and throbs with love; yet if you read that Gospel, at the back of love you will find something else. You will find that in every act He ever wrought, Christ was but doing what the Father showed Him; you will find that in every word He ever spoke, He was but uttering what He had heard. There is a beautiful instrument which some of you may have seen and to which is given the ugly name of seismograph. It is an instrument for recording the tremors and vibrations of the earth. And so delicate is it that if in the heart of Africa the earth should tremble with the shock of earthquake, it will be caught and registered in England. It is far from here to central Africa; it may be farther still from here to heaven. It was no skeptic, but a prophet of the Highest, who spoke of the land that is very far away. And yet so infinitely sensitive and delicate was the truly human soul of our Redeemer, that every whisper of the voice divine was caught and registered unerringly. Not the tide when it obeys the moon and moves to its fullness at the appointed moment; not the swallow when in the destined hour it makes for the sunshine of the south again—not these, nor any angel in the heavens speeding to fulfill the will of God, are so perfectly obedient as was Jesus.

Christ's Originality

Yet the singular thing is that when men looked on Christ, it was not that obedience which impressed them. It was something which seems quite different from obedience—what impressed them was His originality. On the tomb of Oliver Goldsmith there is written, Nihil tetigit quod non ornavit. It means that Goldsmith, with the charm of genius, touched nothing which he did not adorn. And if it be true of him, with all his weaknesses, a thousand times truer is it of the Master, who poured the infinite riches of His heart into His doctrine and His ministry. He touched the cottage, and from that hour to this, life in the cottage has been a different thing. He touched the heart, and in this heart of ours heights and depths appeared which had been hidden. And He touched language and it began to blossom, and He touched womanhood till it grew beautiful, and with His hands of love He touched the cross, and it has been bright with glory ever since. Had you asked Jesus with what eyes He saw, He might have answered "with the eyes of God." Had you asked Jesus with what lips He spake, He might have answered "with the lips of God." And yet men looked at Him and listened to Him and felt that here was a Man who was Himself. He was as fresh and wonderful and new as the first morning of another spring.

Now as you go out to serve, that is the first thing I want to leave with you. Your first duty is to be obedient to everything that you have learned from God. Never begin by trying to be original. That is always a tragic mistake. When men or women begin by trying that, they generally end by being useless. Begin by the great endeavor to be true to all that God has taught you and has shown you, and gradually in the lowliest service will come the touch that tells you are yourself. All service with that touch in it is blessed. All service without that touch in it is barren. It is a great thing to dare to be oneself whether in society or service. And Christ has shown us the way to that nobility—it is by being unfalteringly true to all that in the depths of our own soul we know to be the very voice of heaven.

In Christ, a Singular Union of Narrowness and Breadth

Now of course there is a sense of the word narrow which no one would ever apply to Jesus Christ. There is a narrowness which is very noble, and there is another which is very nasty. There is no love in it—no tenderness—no kindly touch as of a brother's hand. It is not generous as the sun is generous when it kisses the orchard of an autumn day. What then do I mean by narrowness? Well, take the story of the third temptation. "All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me." There, at the very outset of His life, when the world was all before Him where to choose, there was the stirring of imperial dream. "All these things will I give to thee." Might not this young prophet be a Caesar? Might He not go abroad into the world of men and show that He was the Master of them all? And instead of that He chose the narrow road and moved in quietness through little villages; and Roman historians, when He was dead, could not even spell His name correctly. Deliberately Christ drew His little circle, and inside that little circle He remained. And voices called Him, and hands were stretched to Him, and men besought Him, and He would not listen. Here was the place appointed Him of God, and not by a hand's-breadth would He swerve from it. That was the glory of His narrowness.

And yet once more the singular thing is this, that never was there a life so broad as Christ's. Narrowed in its sphere and in its service, the breadth of it is the marvel of the ages. Rich men like Nicodemus drew to Him. Poor men like Simon Peter loved Him passionately. Women of beautiful character revered Him. Women who were sunken would have died for Him. Men who were lawless like the zealot Simon would have fought for Him against the Roman army. And a centurion of that Roman army fell down at His feet and called Him Master. Was there ever a life so broad as this? Was there ever a life so rich in understanding? He knew the publican. He knew the mother. He knew the sufferer. He knew the child. And every bird that winged across the heaven and every flower that blossomed in the meadow, He saw, and, seeing, had these thoughts about them that oftentimes do lie too deep for tears. Intense with the intensity of God, He had the heart at leisure from itself. Feeling the infinite agony of Calvary, He felt the wonder and the joy of everything. Hating sin with an intense abhorrence, far more intense than we shall ever fathom, there was not a sinner from the streets of Magdala but somehow felt she had a friend in Him. It is such things as these that baffle me when I turn my eyes to Jesus Christ. So eaten up with zeal, and yet so tranquil; so narrow, and yet so infinitely broad. He had a baptism to be baptized with, and how was He straitened till it was accomplished—and yet He would dally with a little child as if He had nothing else on earth to do.

In Christ, a Singular Union of Failure and Success

I take it that when Christ was crucified, everybody thought that He had failed. Had you moved amid the crowds around the cross, that is the verdict you would have had from all. There was a time when He had seemed to triumph and when the people had been enthusiastic. And they would have taken Him and made Him King, and they cried "Hosanna to the son of David." But now the moment of the cross was come, and all the glory seemed to have been quenched, and the one word to write across the story was the most pitiful word in human speech. Perhaps there were one or two women who still trusted. Women can trust when everything is dark. Women will still hope about a man when every other voice is crying shipwreck. And so it may be that on the day of Calvary here and there a lamp of faith was still burning, each of them tended by a woman's fingers. But ask the disciples what they thought of it—ask the workmen what they thought of it—ask that young student, with his weary eyes, who had listened to the Lord until He loved Him. It was a splendid dream, but it was over now. It was a noble life, but it was ended. It was a fight for God in a corrupted church, and here at Calvary the church had won. Would Peter have written triumph on the cross? Could even John have written, This is victory? It was all dark to them, and all mysterious, for they had not grasped that He should rise again. If ever a service seemed to close in failure—failure dark and tragic and profound—it was the loving service of the Lord.

And then what happened? You all know what happened. On the third day He rises from the dead. Then there comes the Holy Ghost at Pentecost, and the conversion of three thousand souls. And Peter is off to Babylon to preach, and Paul is off to Rome to tell the news—and Augustine is on his way to England, and Columba is on his way to Scotland—until now throughout our western world and to the farthest borders of the east, Christ is living, Christ is working, Christ is powerful in ten thousand ways. Give any name you like to that brief life, you dare not call it by the name of failure now. In all that it has done for men and women it is magnificent in its success. And yet that service, so mighty and so wonderful—so rich in impulse for a million hearts—flows from a life that once, in human speech, was branded with the bitter name of failure.

Our Seeming Failures May Be Successes in the End

Now as you go out to serve, will you engrave that upon your heart? When a man is in earnest about Christian service, he will be dogged and haunted by the sense of failure. I was talking to a doctor—a man who is well-known in his profession—and he told me how frequently there came to him a sense of uselessness that was unbearable. And I could not help thinking if that were so with him who had but the body for his sphere of service, much more would it be so with us who handle the infinite mystery of soul. I want you to believe that when you fail you may be succeeding all the time. I want you to feel you may be doing most, just when you think that you are doing nothing. I want you to look right back to Jesus Christ and to remember what they thought of Him and then to take you to your task again, leaving the issue in the hand of God. The one thing vital is that you persist. The one great treachery is to despair. To hold to it, when everything is gloomy, is the first task of every mortal man. And then some day, when all the gloom is passed, and the sun is shining and the wind is hushed, you will discover that your sorry failure was not quite so sorry as it seemed.