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Keep Past Sins Under the Blood

Keep Past Sins Under the Blood He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him (Psalms 103:10-13). Our enemy wants to render you ineffective. The tools he employs are lies and guilt. Paul calls them flaming arrows of the evil one (Ephesians 6:16b). So, he says, . . . be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6:10-11). The enemy’s flaming arrows are all extinguished by that piece of armor called faith. Consider this. Jesus was brought a boy with an unclean spirit, which the disciples could not cast out. Before Je...

He Is the Image of the Invisible God

He Is the Image of the Invisible God He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything (Colossians 1:15-18). Without God’s revelation we would be like the pagans ignorantly worshiping rocks and trees with no hope of eternal life. Give praise to God that He did not just create and let go like the Deists believe. Praise Him that God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world (Hebre...

How To Restore a Trespasser

Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. For each one will bear his own load (Galatians 6:1-5). It is not wrong to recognize faults and want to correct them. These Scriptures clearly tell the spiritual to restore such a one. However, it qualifies the conditions under which this must happen. The corrector must be spiritual, gentle, and contemplative. He must be spiritual to have discernment; he must be gentle to gain an audience; and he must be contemplative to keep from falling into a reactionary sin. The key of course is found in the latter part of ...

Trust God Not the Flesh

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:3-8). VAIN is the man who puts his trust in men, in created things. Do not be ashamed to serve others for the love of Jesus Christ and to seem poor in this world. Do not be self-sufficient but place your trust in God. Do what lies in your power and God will aid your good will. Put no trust in your own learning nor in the cunning of any man, but rather in the grace of God Who...

Riches

Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity Than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool (Proverbs 19:1). The world’s philosophy is to get as many riches and as much power as possible without going to jail. OK, maybe that is on the extreme end of worldliness, but the underlying principle is worldliness. Jesus told the rich young ruler, who wanted eternal life, One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me (Mark 10:21). Unfortunately, that man went away sad. Then Jesus made this statement, How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God (Mark 10:23)! Why is this true? It is true because, No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth (Matthew 6:24). The key word in the verse above is “serve”. No man can serve two masters because he will have a divided ...

Wrestling with God

Now he arose that same night and took his two wives and his two maids and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream. And he sent across whatever he had. Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob's thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him. Then he said, "Let me go, for the dawn is breaking." But he said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." So he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." He said, "Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed" (Genesis 32:22-28). We often cry out to God when circumstances are beyond our control. Jacob was facing a difficult, really scary meeting with Esau. Remember, Jacob tricked his father into giving him the ...

Wisdom

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy (James 3:16-17). “Those who live in malice, envy, and contention, live in confusion; and are liable to be provoked and hurried to any evil work” (Matthew Henry). It is easy to confuse cleverness and intelligence with wisdom. Wisdom is not measured by what you know, but by what you do with what you know. “ . . . Knowledge makes [one] arrogant, but love edifies” (1 Corinthians 8:1b). Knowledge is a good thing. We are encouraged to add it to our faith (2 Peter 1:5). However, at the end of Peter’s chain is love. Love is the ultimate goal. Love of God and love for others, notice. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your s...

Avoid Distractions

“No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of [this] life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier” (2 Timothy 2:4 NKJV). This passage may apply best to the man in the pulpit, but all may gain a valuable lesson from it. There’s an old saying, absence makes the heart grow fonder. However, when it comes to your spiritual life it isn’t true. Absence makes the heart grow colder, harder, and more distant. Our love for God grows as we fan the spiritual fires with Bible study, deep mediation, and prayer. Avoid your time with God and soon you will feel more like a casualty than a soldier. The key is to understand that the Christian life is warfare. It is hard to live a holy life amidst a crooked and perverse generation. Not that we have it any worse than the Christians in the first century. Oh, the delivery system for vile passions may be more “High-Tech” now, but I haven’t seen anyone eaten by a lion or hung up to die by the roadside lately. Still, the d...

Stones of Obedience

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. "And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. "Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. "The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall" (Matthew 7:24-27). A solid foundation is built with stones of obedience. Jesus said hearing His words and acting on them is the key. But to what words was He referring? Just prior to the above declaration He said. "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? "So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. "A good tree cannot produc...

Encourage Others

For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother (Philemon 1:7). Wouldn’t it be wonderful to hear those words spoken to you? We should strive to be a blessing to others. You never know what people are struggling with from day to day. A kind word, a smile, or some testimony of God’s blessing might make all the difference in a person’s outlook. It is good to let your light shine! Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselv...

Acquiring Peace

WE SHOULD enjoy much peace if we did not concern ourselves with what others say and do, for these are no concern of ours. How can a man who meddles in affairs not his own, who seeks strange distractions, and who is little or seldom inwardly recollected, live long in peace? Blessed are the simple of heart for they shall enjoy peace in abundance. Why were some of the saints so perfect and so given to contemplation? Because they tried to mortify entirely in themselves all earthly desires and thus they were able to attach themselves to God with all their heart, and freely to concentrate their innermost thoughts. We are too occupied with our own whims and fancies, too taken up with passing things. Rarely do we completely conquer even one vice, and we are not inflamed with the desire to improve ourselves day by day; hence, we remain cold and indifferent. If we mortified our bodies perfectly and allowed no distractions to enter our minds, we could appreciate divine things and exper...

I Know Whom I Have Believed

“ . . . I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day (2 Timothy 1:12b). What great assurance there is when we have an intimate relationship with Jesus! Paul wrote that He was not ashamed even though the Gospel is foolishness to those who are perishing (1 Cor. 1:23). I know Whom I have believed, declares Paul. Knowing someone intimately builds trust. Paul knew Christ intimately and so can you. It really is not complicated. Peter gives us the solution. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in ...

The Refining Pot

The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests hearts (Proverbs 17:3). God does not allow His children to suffer without design. As silver and gold are refined by the furnace, so our hearts are refined by the trials we suffer. Gold and silver are heated to cause the dross or impurities to float to the top. Those impurities can then be skimmed off and discarded. What’s left is purer. The same is true for believers. We need refining. Struggles often cause us to seek the Lord in a more intentional way. In doing so, the dross of sin is exposed by the burning light of God’s holiness. So, if you find yourself struggling to understand why God has allowed you to experience your current difficulty, seek Him in His Word and prayer. Let the light of God's Word expose the dross so confession and repentance can take place. Run into the light, never hide. "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the ...

Make the Most of Your Time

I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder, knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me (2 Peter 1:13-14). Paul knew that his time on this earth was limited. His desire to be busy about the work of ministry should also be our desire. None of us knows how long we have to serve God. So, let us be intentional in the way we live our lives. Don't wait to share the Gospel with that person God has laid on your heart. Don't squelch the impulses of the Holy Spirit. You never know what difference a day could make. I remember going to a man's house, and as I stood on his porch sharing the Gospel—which he rejected—feeling a great sense of loss. Disappointment for me, but sadness at his lost opportunity. I spoke with great boldness (in the Spirit) and I believe accuracy, yet he would have none of it. Following up a week later, I discovered he had died. Oh how...

Be Anxious for Nothing

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7). When we are anxious, we are usually fearful about the harm some actual or possible calamity might cause. Anxiety builds the more we look at the problem. Therefore, don’t keep looking at the problem. Look to Christ in prayer to calm your fears. This is the first step toward peace of mind. Unfortunately, panic sometimes takes over and we run to humanistic solutions seeking peace. When we do that, we sabotage the balm God has provided for us. Consider the verse above. The very first thing to notice is the scope of this promise. We are to be anxious for nothing. Have you ever cried out to God, “Why is this happening?” Really you don’t need to know why, unless you think God is trying to teach you a lesson. If you think that,...

Trust and Pray

We often cry out to the Lord for mercy in times of trouble. This is a good thing we do. David writes, In my distress I called upon the LORD, And cried to my God for help; He heard my voice out of His temple, And my cry for help before Him came into His ears (Psalms 18:6). What a great resource and blessing it is to have a God who hears our cries. No matter the foe, God is stronger! He delivered me from my strong enemy, And from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me (Psalms 18:17). David knew his way of escape went through the door of prayer. “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. "For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. "Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? "Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? "If y...

Be Careful with Your Liberties

Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one. For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak (1 Corinthians 8:4-9). The purpose of offering meat to an idol was to remove evil spirits from the food. It was thought that evil spirits would attach themselves to the mea...

Looking for the New Heavens and New Earth

If you had to walk between two mountain peaks on a narrow swinging bridge, you would be advised not to look down. However, everyone looks at least once, right? When you take that quick peek over the edge, the view can be dizzying and disturbing. So, you steady yourself, focus on the other side and venture out--not looking down. If you watch the news these days, it is like looking over the edge of that cliff. It can be disturbing. Evil is called good and good is called evil. So, two things are really important. You should keep looking for the new heavens and new earth, and keep yourself unspotted from the world. Peter wrote, But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13). Oh, what a thought. Someday righteousness will dwell and sin will be abolished. Try not to get caught up in today’s politics and worry about what could happen. Trust our great and loving God Who will set all things right in due time. However, u...