|
             
This book of the bible is frequently and erroneously referred to
as the start of "The Church, The Body of Christ". 99.44% of
fundamental, bible-believing teachers and pastors embrace this
falsity as truth! The fact is, The
Book of Acts
is primarily about the unbelief of Israel and God's postponement
of her program.
|
Click here to
contact LMM
For though
I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for
necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I
preach not the gospel! For if I do this thing
willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a
dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the
gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge,
that I abuse not my power in the gospel. - 1
Corinthians 9:16-18
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
REMEMBER,
THE FOUR SYNOPTIC GOSPEL ACCOUNTS OF THE EARTHLY MINISTRY OF JESUS
CHRIST WERE WRITTEN
TO
ISRAEL UNDER THE LAW:
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
| |
|
 SINCE
PROPHECY IS SUCH A HOT TOPIC THESE DAYS, DID YOU EVER WONDER WHAT THE
TRIBULATION SAINTS WILL STUDY AFTER THE BODY OF CHRIST IS RAPTURED?
Doctrine
for
The
Tribulation Saints after the rapture of the Body of Christ:
Here Israel is now back at the forefront under the law against the
imminent judgment and earthly return of The Messiah, Jesus Christ.
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
1 For this cause I Paul, the
prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 2 If ye have heard of
the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to
you-ward: 3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the
mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 Whereby, when ye
read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5
Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as
it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the
Spirit; 6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the
same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the
grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his
power. 8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is
this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the
unsearchable riches of Christ; 9 And to make all men see what is
the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the
world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus
Christ: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and
powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the
manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose
which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12 In whom we have
boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. 13
Wherefore I desire that ye faint not
at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. -
Ephesians 3:1-13
|
Creation From a "Grace"
Perspective - Part III ....
I have always been
fascinated with the creation story recorded on the pages of
Genesis. In Ephesians 1, the apostle Paul mentions
something specifically for today's grace-age saints. The passage
in verses 1 through 6; (especially verse 4) may prompt us towards
further study as we learn about the richness of God's grace
which was planned before the creation account: - RICK
1 Paul, an
apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which
are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace be
to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus
Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in
heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as
he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus
Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6
To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us
accepted in the beloved.
|
In part two of our series we discussed what the earth
looked like prior to Adam and Eve. We successfully
identified passages in scripture (in Ezekiel) that spoke
of a pre-earth state where God Himself ruled and reigned
amidst "the stones of fire". God in His love and
greatness created the angelic host to reign and rule
with Him in this "Center of Justice" until Lucifer, (now
Satan) the highest ranking angel, along with 1/3 of the
angelic host, rebelled against God (see Isaiah
14). |
God,
who cannot rule with sin or be in the presence of iniquity,
vacated planet earth to operate from the third heaven!
And the earth
was without form, and void; and darkness [was] upon the face of
the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the
waters.
-
Genesis 1:2
God
the Holy Spirit moved or hovered over the waters prior to
creating a place suitable for man to exist. One pastor described
the word "moved" in this context as a mother bird who broods
over her young. After creating Adam, He then entrusted
stewardship of the earth to Adam as noted in the following verses:
-
And God
said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and
let them have dominion over the
fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the
cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping
thing that creepeth upon the earth. -
Genesis 1:26
-
And God blessed them, and
God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish
the earth, and subdue it: and have
dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl
of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the
earth. - Genesis 1:28
He
told man to replenish the earth and have dominion over it two
times in these verses. The Hebrew word for "and have
dominion" radah {raw-daw'}
tells man to dominate, tread down, subjugate,
rule or scrape out. Those are very powerful
instructions given to man by God. In fact, God was telling man
to be on guard and rightly so as Satan would eventually deceive
Eve while causing Adam to sin willfully! Therefore, Adam did
not do as God instructed him; he did not dominate,
subjugate or tread down the enemy and as a result plunged the
human race into sin while giving Satan legal control of what was
the Headquarters of God!
I
always wondered why God said to "replenish" the earth; as if to
imply that some creation had existed prior to man! And now we
know why as God's angels previously occupied the "pre-earth"
state with God before the fall of Lucifer.
Existence of Angels
There is
sound biblical evidence that shows the angelic host existing
prior to man as shown below in Job:
4 Where wast
thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou
hast understanding. 5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if
thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? 6
Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the
corner stone thereof; 7 When the morning stars sang together,
and all the sons of God shouted for joy? -
Job 38:4-7
In fact
their are many scripture references that detail man's
interaction with angels throughout the bible. However, for the
purpose of this study I want to focus on the habitat of angels
as it pertains to the fall of man.
Angels in the Earth-field
In
addition, evidence of the angelic host dwelling on Earth starts in Genesis 28:10.
Here, the bible tells us that Jacob, while on his way to Haran,
encountered angelic host as he slept upon rocks in what would
later be named Bethel!
10 And Jacob
went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. 11 And he
lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night,
because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that
place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place
to sleep. 12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the
earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the
angels of God ascending and descending on it. -
Genesis 28:10-12
Notice how angels were ascending and descending friends! They
were going up and coming down, (in that order) which implies
their starting point as being on the earth. In Genesis 32:1,2 we
read again where angels of God met Jacob:
And Jacob
went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And when Jacob
saw them, he said, This [is] God's host: and he called the name
of that place Mahanaim.
Literally we have a host or encampment of angels as the name of
the city indicates ("Mananaim").
We read
later in the same chapter where Jacob has a "close encounter"
with an "angel" of God. Here, Jacob fearful for the life of his
family as well as his own life in anticipation of meeting his
brother, (whom he deceived earlier...) prays to God.
24 And Jacob
was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the
breaking of the day. 25 And when he saw that he prevailed not
against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow
of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. 26
And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I
will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27 And he said unto
him, What is
thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28 And he said, Thy name shall be
called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou
power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. 29 And Jacob
asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he
said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he
blessed him there. 30 And Jacob called the
name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and
my life is preserved. 31 And as he passed over Penuel the
sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh. 32 Therefore
the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which
is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he
touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank. -
Genesis 32:24-32
Many
scholars believe that this is a "Christophany" or an appearance
of the Pre-Incarnate Christ. Verse 30 of chapter 32 testifies of
this as Jacob himself names the place "Peniel" for he saw God
"face-to-face" and lived to tell about it!
More
importantly; God changed his name from Jacob to Israel
: for as a
prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast
prevailed.
God was now on the offensive in His
plan to reclaim the earth from Satan who had usurped control
from Adam who failed as God's steward in the garden located east
of Eden.
THE HOLY SPIRIT AT
PENTECOST
by
Cornelius R. Stam
The
one hundred twenty disciples in the Upper Room had, of
course, been much like any other group of believers in
history. They had not all been equally spiritual or devoted,
or faithful. Some had been more so than others, and where
some had excelled in one virtue, others had excelled in
another. Yet now they were all FILLED with the Spirit, from
the least to the greatest of them.
The thoughtful student of Scripture will, of course, ask why
all these believers were now filled with the Holy Spirit.
Was it, perhaps, because they, as a group, had been more
godly than those before them? The gospel records prove that
this is not so. Peter boasted, Thomas doubted, James and
John sought personal gain, and when our Lord was taken
prisoner, "they all forsook Him and fled."
Was it then because they had prayed long enough or
earnestly enough for the Spirit to come upon them and take
control? No; they had been instructed to go to Jerusalem,
not to pray for the Holy Spirit to come, as some suppose,
but to "wait for the [fulfillment of the] promise" regarding
the Spirit (Acts 1: 4,5) -- and right here is the answer to
our question.
The believers at Pentecost were filled with the Holy Spirit,
not because they had prayed long or earnestly enough for the
Spirit to come, but because the time had arrived for the
fulfillment of the divine promise. The Old Testament
prophets and the Lord Jesus had promised that the Holy
Spirit should some day come to take control of God’s people
(Ezek. 36:26,27), and that day had come. They were filled
with the Spirit because God, according to His promise, had
baptized them with the Spirit (Acts 1:5).
 |
Today's World News
Book of The Month Club:
Colossians 1
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our
brother, 2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at
Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ. 3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, praying always for you, 4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ
Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, 5 For the hope
which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word
of the truth of the gospel; 6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all
the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the
day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: 7 As ye also
learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful
minister of Christ; 8 Who also declared unto us your love in the
Spirit. 9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not
cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the
knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 That
ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in
every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 Strengthened
with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and
longsuffering with joyfulness; 12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which
hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in
light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath
translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have
redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15 Who is
the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For
by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in
earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or
principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he
is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn
from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For
it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20 And,
having made peace
through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto
himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in
heaven. 21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your
mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 In the body of his
flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and
unreproveable in his sight: 23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and
settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye
have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under
heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; 24 Who now rejoice in my
sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions
of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: 25
Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which
is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 26 Even the mystery
which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made
manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what is the
riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ
in you, the hope of glory: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and
teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect
in Christ Jesus: 29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his
working, which worketh in me mightily.
Colossians 2
1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for
them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and
unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the
acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 And this
I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. 5 For though
I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and
beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. 6 As
ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7
Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been
taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil
you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men,
after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him
dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete
in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 11 In whom also
ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting
off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12
Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through
the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 13
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh,
hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which
was contrary to us, and took it out of
 the
way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and
powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 16
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an
holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a
shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. 18 Let no man
beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of
angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly
puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 And not holding the Head, from which
all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit
together, increaseth with the increase of God. 20 Wherefore if ye be
dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living
in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not; taste not;
handle not; 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the
commandments and doctrines of men? 23 Which things have indeed a shew of
wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in
any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
Colossians 3 1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above,
where Christ sitteth
on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on
things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ
in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also
appear with him in glory. 5 Mortify therefore your members which are
upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil
concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things'
sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7 In the
which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8 But now ye also
put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication
out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off
the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is
renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11 Where
there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision,
Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 12
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of
mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a
quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And
above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye
are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ
dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another
in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your
hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in
the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the
Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. 20
Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing
unto the Lord. 21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they
be discouraged. 22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according
to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of
heart, fearing God; 23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the
Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the
reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he that
doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is
no respect of persons.
Colossians 4
1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing
that ye also have a Master in heaven. 2 Continue in prayer, and watch in
the same with thanksgiving; 3 Withal praying also for us, that God would
open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for
which I am also in bonds: 4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to
speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the
time. 6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye
may know how ye ought to answer every man. 7 All my state shall Tychicus
declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and
fellowservant in the Lord: 8 Whom I have sent unto you for the same
purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts; 9 With
Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall
make known unto you all things which are done here. 10 Aristarchus my
fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas,
(touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive
him;) 11 And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision.
These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been
a comfort unto me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ,
saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may
stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him
record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea,
and them in Hierapolis. 14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet
you. 15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the
church which is in his house. 16 And when this epistle is read among
you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and
that ye likewise read the epistle from
 Laodicea.
17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast
received in the Lord, that thou fulfill it. 18 The salutation by the
hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.
 |
COFFEE
CORNER
How do
we take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in
necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's
sake?
Shortly after church one Sunday morning we discussed a
very challenging topic: How do we take pleasure in the
sicknesses, heartaches and trials of life? We all know
of many churches who on Wednesdays and Thursdays
actually pray the opposite of what the apostle Paul
encourages us to do! My brother Bruce and I decided that
we most certainly do not take pleasure as we
should!
But the best way to examine what Paul had in mind for us
is to understand what was going on when he wrote to the
saints at Corinth.
2 Corinthians 12: 1-10
- 1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to
glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the
Lord. 2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago,
(whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of
the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one
caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I knew such a man,
(whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell:
God knoweth;) 4 How that he was caught up into paradise,
and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for
a man to utter. 5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of
myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. 6 For
though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool;
for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any
man should think of me above that which he seeth me to
be, or that he heareth of me. 7 And lest I should be
exalted above measure through the abundance of the
revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh,
the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be
exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the
Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said
unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my
strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly
therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that
the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I
take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in
necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's
sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
In verses 1 and 2 Paul tells us
that it is not advantageous for him to glory in what he
is about to tell us; almost feeling guilty of what he
had seen by revelation from God. In a vision and
revelation from Christ about fourteen years earlier from
this writing to the saints at Corinth or about 44 A.D.,
he knew about a certain man. This "man" was in Christ; a
believer who was either alive, dead, in a dream or
somewhere in between (although Paul is not certain).
Only God knows that this man was called up to the third
heaven:
In verses 3 and 4 Paul again testifies
that only God knew of the actual state of this person
and that this individual was caught up into the
third heaven or paradise to hear unspeakable words! In
fact it is believed that Paul is speaking about himself
which correlates directly to his stoning in Acts 14:
19,20.
19
And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and
Iconium, who persuaded the people, and having stoned
Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been
dead. 20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about
him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next
day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
In Acts 14:19 certain Jews rose up against the apostle
of the Gentiles, stoned him, took his body out of the
city and left him for dead. As the stunned disciples
stood around him, Paul rose up and went back into the
city before leaving with Barnabas for Derbe!
It is this experience that leads many bible
students to believe that Paul was stoned "to death" and
therefore continued to receive visions and revelations from Jesus
Christ. I fully support this theory although in 2
Corinthians 12 Paul does not plainly disclose his
identity as to not appear to be "puffed up".
It is at this point where we begin to "mine" into
"taking pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in
necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's
sake"
Paul, being completely honest with himself and with his
audience in verses 6 and 7 tells us that
though he would love to glory in what he was shown by
Christ, he will not be a fool! He tells us: "I'm
going to tell you the truth but I need to withhold some
detail lest you think more about my sayings or about me.
As a matter of fact, Christ Himself has left me with my
own personal affliction to assure that I won't exalt
myself above measure (so great and awesome were these
visions...).
The apostle continues in verse 8 as he
tells us that he prayed three times for the Lord to
remove this sickness, weakness or affliction from him.
However, the Lord Jesus' response was that His very
grace was sufficient for Paul! Friends, it does not
matter what was bothering Paul. God did not tell us so
that each one of us could plug in our own "thorn in the
flesh" or "messenger of Satan" in order to take full
advantage of understanding the sufficiency that rests in
Jesus Christ for His strength is made perfect in
weakness. Why you may ask???? Because at this
point in our lives; in our weakest moments, we have no
other choice but to look towards Him. Paul then
exhorted:
Most gladly therefore will I rather
glory in my infirmities,
that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore
I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in
necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's
sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
If we are honest with one another, we are scared,
frightened and worried when we wrestle with the
afflictions of life. Paul doesn't tell us that we should
pray for afflictions. Neither does the apostle suggest
that we should intentionally harm ourselves in order to
find favor with God friends. But he knows through his
experiences that sicknesses or trials are a natural part
of this pitiful life and only the contentment of Christ
can give us the rest we need!
If we are also honest with ourselves we know that when
things are going smoother in life our flesh does
not have a tendency to be as thankful as we ought.
However, Jesus Christ is not waiting for us to fail
so that He can rub our noses in it to assure that we
will remember Him. Instead, He wants us to have full
assurance that His grace and His complete
sufficiency is all that we need in our most
difficult of times! In Philippians, Paul tells us that
Jesus wants to know all of our hearts prayer and
supplication:
6 Be
careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made
known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth
all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus. -
Philippians 4:6,7
Later in his prison epistles Paul becomes the model for
us to look heavenward during extreme circumstances and
suffering. Thankfully, many of us will not have to
endure the type of persecution that Paul endured for
'the faith". We will likely not have to endure a
physical "life and death" battle to contend for the
faith as past saints have had to do. And most
importantly, Jesus Christ endured all of the suffering
we would ever have to endure on our behalf so that He
could proclaim "my grace is sufficient for you"!
Friends, I don't have lightening in a bottle or a silver
bullet to assure that we will not go through suffering,
loss or pain because this is what we can most definitely
expect in this sin-soaked world. I cannot tell you that
despite being complete in Christ that we won't
experience doubt or fear. But I can tell you this:
Whatever negative thing does occur in our lives is
not due to judgment from God! He loves us and gave
His Son for us while we were estranged from Him, while
we were aliens (Romans 5, Ephesians 3). Much more
then as sons and daughters of the living God we have
the Holy Spirit indwelling us permanently (Eph. 1:13)
and praying for us and we have an advocate; Jesus Christ
who not only saved us from the debt and penalty of sin
but gave us His very righteousness! We have The Creator
(Col. 1:14-17) of the universe preciously interested in
every detail and prayer of our lives... good or bad.
When Christ revealed to Paul that His grace was
sufficient for him, he meant it friends and He will not
disappoint us! During times of infirmities, reproaches,
necessities, persecutions and distresses let us take
pleasure in the fact that God is in control and that he
has provided the grace needed to overcome what life will
most assuredly dish out. May the grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ find you content and desiring to learn more!
THE REVELATION OF JESUS
CHRIST
by
Cornelius R. Stam
The last
great book of the Bible opens with the words: "The revelation of
Jesus Christ," and from these words it derives its title: "The
Revelation." In this book St. John deals largely with the return
of Christ in glory to judge and reign.
II Thes. 1:7,8 tells us that one day "the Lord Jesus shall be
revealed from heaven... in flaming fire taking vengeance on them
that... obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." This is
what the book of the Revelation is basically about. But this
phraseology is also used in Paul’s epistles, for in Gal. 1:11,12
he says:
"I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by
me is not after man, for I neither received it of man, neither
was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ."
Surely this is not the same "revelation of Jesus Christ" of
which John wrote. St. Paul refers not to "the revelation of
Jesus Christ" in glory, but to "the revelation of Jesus Christ"
in grace while He delays the judgment; not His revelation to the
world in person, but His revelation to the world through Paul
the chief of sinners, saved by grace. In Verses 15,16 of Gal. 1,
the Apostle says: "...it pleased God... to reveal His Son in
Me." What a revelation of grace to a sin-cursed world when God
saved Saul, His bitter, blaspheming enemy! He tells about it in
I Tim. 1:13-16, where he says:
"[I] was a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious...
Howbeit, FOR THIS CAUSE I OBTAINED MERCY, THAT IN ME FIRST JESUS
CHRIST MIGHT SHOW FORTH ALL LONGSUFFERING, FOR A PATTERN TO THEM
WHICH SHOULD HEREAFTER BELIEVE ON HIM TO LIFE EVERLASTING."
This is why Paul says: "...it pleased God... to reveal His Son
in Me." By saving the chief of sinners (as Paul calls himself in
I Tim. 1:15), God would show us that He is willing to save any
sinner, "for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord
shall be saved" (Rom. 10:13).
|
been revoked".
Joe
knew that this could be a major problem in that he would not be able
to get his work completed without access to area XYZ! However, after
further review of the e-mail, the man quickly discovered that he was
not the intended recipient but instead "copied" or "cc'd" as a
reference only! As it turns out, a collogue of his was the man who lost
his access! Joe, as the superintendent of area XYZ, simply needed to
be aware of this. For a brief moment, Joe confused his TO
mail with his CC mail. Not understanding that distinction for
those brief seconds after reading the message caused severe anxiety for
Joe until he realized the message was indeed TO someone else!
In a much similar example, when
we
read the bible, identifying our TO
mail is very important lest
we make the same fundamental mistake as the person above. Without
understanding the distinction between our "to" mail and our
"cc" or our "reference only" mail, believers inadvertently
"read themselves" into areas of the bible that God did not intend.
The result when this happens: confusion!
(see
