Received From Above

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Reflections A man can possess nothing, except it be given him from heaven. (John 3:27) John the Baptist was, of course, referring to the things of God. It is certainly possible for people to possess much through their own efforts, and to possess things that are outside of the will of God. John is saying that what is of God must come from God. Paul the apostle said the same thing: “Don’t you know your own selves that unless Christ is in you — you are a reprobate?” (II Cor. 13:5) A reprobate is a person who is of no …

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Service Is Not an Option

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Regardless of how large or small their task, all believers should serve God to enlarge and equip His kingdom Titus 2:11-15 11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 15 …

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One Mediator

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REFLECTIONS For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. (1 Tim 2:5) A, “mediator,” is a proxy; one who connects two parties. Jesus Christ is the sole Mediator between the believer and God. If Christ is in us, then by His very presence in us, we are joined to both Him and the Father. Now, notice what this means: It means that there must NEVER be introduced anyone or anything into our relationship with God who acts as ANOTHER mediator. There are no mediators in addition to Christ – there is no …

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OUR WAY OR GOD’S WAY

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Moses learned the hard way that relying on our own understanding and strength is a mistake.   Exodus 2:11-25 (KJV) 11 And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren. 12 And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. 13 And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews …

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Taking Up the Cross

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Reflections If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. (Matt. 16:24-25) If I am saved — if I am raised in Christ — it is only because I have taken my place in His Cross. That is a once and for all and forever reality. But here we see the working out of that finished reality. We have to progressively relinquish all that is contrary to Christ to …

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CALLED TO COURAGE

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Joshua 3:1-17 3 And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. 2 And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host; 3 And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. 4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two …

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A New Creature

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“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Cor. 5:17) We are saved when Jesus Christ joins us to Himself. Since He is THE LIFE, then when we are joined to Him, we are ALIVE in Him. We are planted together with Him in His death — and then what is birthed through His resurrection is the new creature in Christ Jesus. “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his …

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Genesis Message 58 The Abrahamic Covenant Transfers to Jacob

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The fact is that God had determined in advance who should get it and announced that to Rebecca in Genesis 25: 23. Esau had violated his birthright for a bowl of stew and permanently removed himself from consideration. Now it seems that Isaac is about to attempt a reversal of the birthright over a bowl of venison. Perhaps his taste for venison governed his behavior. With Isaac’s action here Rebecca made a crucial decision to correct this. Most Bible commentators and pastors who elucidate these passages find fault with Jacob for “stealing” the birthright. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Esau was not worthy, Jacob had been prophesied as the rightful Covenantal heir and Rebecca saw Isaac’s failure to carry out God’s will. This speaks volumes to the problem we have in Christianity. Most people do not read the Bible carefully. The theological term for letting the text speak to us is exegesis. When we read what we want the text to say instead it is called eisegesis.

Itching Ears

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Reflections For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (II Tim. 4:3-4) If I have been deceived, there are REASONS – there are reasons why people believe error rather than the Truth. And it is a fact that those reasons are found in our own hearts. Only through knowing Jesus Christ and giving ourselves to Him can our heart be made pure, and can it be …

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Who Will You Tell?

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Romans 10:14-15 “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!’” _____________________________________________________________ Many Christians have made a grave error in failing to live this passage out in their lives. The Christian church at large today believes that telling others about Jesus Christ …

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THE POSITIVE POWER OF COURAGE

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Obeying the Lord requires bravery—a firmness of spirit that can face crises without retreating THE POSITIVE POWER OF COURAGE Joshua 1:1-9(KJV) 1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying, 2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto …

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ISRAEL URGES TRUMP, UN TO ACT AGAINST IRAN AFTER BALLISTIC MISSILE TEST

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BYJPOST.COM STAFF 31 JANUARY 2017 The United Nations Security Council was scheduled to hold an emergency meeting on the test; Iran says such trials don’t breach nuclear deal, UN resolution. Israel is urging the world to take action after a US official said Monday that Iran carried out a test launch of a medium-range ballistic missile over the weekend, seemingly in violation of UN Resolution 2231, which forbids the Islamic Republic from carrying out such tests for a period of eights years. The United Nations Security Council was scheduled to hold an emergency meeting on the test at the request …

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“The Lord our Righteousness.” Jeremiah 23:6

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It will always give a Christian the greatest calm, quiet, ease, and peace, to think of the perfect righteousness of Christ. How often are the saints of God downcast and sad! I do not think they ought to be. I do not think they would if they could always see their perfection in Christ. There are some who are always talking about corruption, and the depravity of the heart, and the innate evil of the soul. This is quite true, but why not go a little further, and remember that we are “perfect in Christ Jesus.” It is no wonder …

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Discovering God’s will is a daily process of trust.

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2 Timothy 3:14-17 (KJV) 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. God’s plan ensures every believer can reach his …

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