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"The Fruit of the Spirit"
Part 2 of 4
by Darlene Homoki
Galatians 5:22-23

How Do We Obtain the Fruit?

It is given by the Holy Spirit. When an individual is presented with the
Gospel of Christ and responds positively putting his/her faith in the
finished work of Christ, he/she becomes a member of the Body of Christ.
At that very moment, the time of salvation, the believer is:

I.baptized by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13);
2.sealed by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13-14); and
3. indwelt by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16).

I believe these nine graces (nine fruit) are at that time placed in our
lives in seed form. Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith, meekness and temperance are the fruit of the indwelling
Holy Spirit in our lives. They are there waiting to grow.

Just as a seed planted in the ground needs to be watered, fed, nurtured,
and to have the weeds removed, so does the seed of the "Fruit of the
Spirit" need to be watered, fed, nurtured, and to have the weeds removed
by the Word. It is growing up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

The Fruit of the Spirit is not to be confused with the "gifts of the
Spirit." The Fruit of the Spirit is the result of believing the Gospel
and is given to all that believe.

Let us take a moment to think about that time in our life when we
trusted in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross and became a
believer or a Christian. I trust everyone knows beyond a shadow of a
doubt that should they die today, they would spend eternity with Jesus.
If perchance there is one who has not trusted Christ as Savior, then I
pray that you would do so now.

The Fruit of the Spirit Is:

1.Given to all that are saved;
2.Same fruit given to everyone; and
3.The fruit remains the same - only ripens as we grow.
In contrast, the gifts of the Spirit are given to individuals. Not
everyone has the same gifts. (1 Cor. 12:4 reads, "Now, there are
diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.") There are pastors,
teachers, evangelists, gift of helps, administration, etc.

These Gifts Work Together to Make up the Body of Christ:

1.Given to all that are saved;
2.Different gifts to different individuals; and
3.Gifts may change as circumstances change.

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* Our Purpose and Mission

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Material "All Scripture, 2 Tim. 3:16, 17
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Mission "To Make All See" Eph. 3:9

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the blood of Christ." Eph.2:13.

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*"The Fruit of the Spirit"*
*Part 1 of 4*
*by Darlene Homoki *
*Galatians 5:22-23 *

*
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is
no law. "

A tree is known by its fruit. We recognize an apple tree because it
bears apples. A cherry tree bears cherries, and so on (Ps. 1:3; Mt.
12:33). Wouldn't it be wonderful if we, as Christians, would be
recognized by others because of the fruit we bear?

Please note that in Galatians 5:22 the word "fruit" is singular. When we
think of a basket of fruit, we picture in our minds a basket filled with
various kinds of fruit - not just one kind of fruit (for example:
apples, oranges, grapes, bananas, etc.). Yet, we call it a basket of
fruit, not fruits. We can say the same is true of the "Fruit of the
Spirit." Though there are several kinds of fruit mentioned, they are all
considered one; that is the "Fruit of the Spirit." These fruit are all
consistent and connected together. They are one!

This fruit presents a portrait of Christ. It suggests the character of
Jesus in contrast with the "works of the flesh." The Spirit seeks to
produce these by reproducing Christ in the believers (Gal. 4:19). John
Gill puts it this way: "It is also the same as to be conformed to the
image of Christ, which in regeneration is stamped upon the saints, and
is gradually increased, and will be perfected in Heaven; and that this
might more manifestly appear, over which a veil was drawn, by their
departure in any degree from the truths of the Gospel, was what he
earnestly sought after: once more, it is the same as to have the form of
Christ; that is, of the Gospel of Christ upon them, or to be cast into
the form of doctrine, and mold of the Gospel, and to receive a Gospel
impression and spirit from it; which is to have a spirit of liberty, in
opposition to legal bondage; to live by faith on Christ, and not on the
works of the law; to derive comfort alone from him, and not from any
services and duties whatever; to have repentance, and the whole course
of obedience, influenced by the grace of God, and love of Christ; and to
be zealous of good works, and yet have no dependence on them for
justification and salvation. This is what the apostle so earnestly
desired, when, instead of it, these Galatians seemed to have the form of
Moses, and of the law."

In other words, the Christian life is the out-living of the in-living
Christ. "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless, I live; yet not I,
but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I
live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for
me" (Gal. 2:20).

We must recognize that living like Jesus would have us live and
manifesting the fruit of the Spirit does not include adding any rituals,
ceremonies or works to our salvation. Salvation is by grace through
faith alone. Living like Jesus would have us live is walking "worthy of
the vocation to which we have been called" (Eph. 5:1; cf Gal. 5:16).
Walking in or by the Spirit means living each moment in submission to
God - walking to please Him in thought, word and deed. It means letting
Him guide us each step of the way bringing glory to God.

The Fruit Defined

The fruit of the Spirit has been described as "those gracious habits
which the Holy Spirit produces in the Christian." A habit is that which
becomes so routine in our lives we don't even realize we are doing it.
We do it without thinking. It takes time, practice and work to develop a
habit whether good or bad. It doesn't happen overnight. For example,
let's say personal devotions ... Good intentions don't get the job done.

The fruit of the Spirit is Christian character as shown in the
possession of these nine graces. These nine fruit stand together and
make up our walk with God and our testimony to others. They work
together to make a whole.

These nine character traits are one and the same fruit, i.e., "the fruit
of the Spirit." We might give the example of a watch - it needs all the
little pieces in their right and proper place to keep good time. If one
little piece is out of place, the watch does not function properly. The
same is true of the Christian. We need to have a balanced life
displaying all the character traits mentioned here. In other words, to
function as a whole we can't pick and choose those character traits that
we like and not work on developing the others.

**
* If you knew what God had planned for you,*
* your knees would buckle *
* your heart would skip*
* and your mind do summer saults! *

*FAITH AND SIGHT*
*By Pastor P. Hume*
*
Where would we be without that wonderful gift of eyesight? How paramount
is this sense in our unique physical make-up. Yet there are many in life
who have either lost the sight of one or both eyes, or who were born
blind. The power of what goes through the eyegate is greater than most
of us realize. Therefore we need, as believers in Christ, to guard what
we look at. For like Achan of old (who 'saw', then 'coveted', and
finally 'took' of the forbidden goods in Jericho), we can be built up or
broken down by what we chose to look upon (not merely 'see').

But the Word of God refers us to another 'eyegate' -- that of the heart.
(I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened. ' (Ephesians
1:18a, New American Standard Bible) 'Open my eyes, that I may behold
wonderful things from thy law.' (Psalm 119:18, N.A.S.) 'So our eyes look
to the Lord our God.' (Psalm 123:2, N.A.S.) Then the writer to the
Hebrews, in concluding his great 'Hall of Faith' chapter, gave this
timely word of exhortation:

'Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us,
let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily
entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before
us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith .... '
(Hebrews 12:1-2a, N.A.S.)

Several truths could be commented on here, but one we want to lift out
and emphasize: ' ... fixing our eyes on Jesus ..... ' Certainly this
cannot mean to look physically upon 'Jesus' or a picture of Him. This is
the 'sight of the heart', or to put it as Dr. A.W. Tozer so uniquely
expressed, 'the gaze of the soul upon a saving God.'

Is this not true faith which God gives to those who are His? Faith is
not only 'the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things
not seen.' (Heb. 11:1, lit.), but it is a posture of the redeemed soul.
It is turning one's heart and mind unto 'Him who ever liveth'. It is
comprehending our lovely, all-sufficient Savior-God through His written
Word of Truth. It is to 'acknowledge Him' in all our ways. (Prov. 3:6)

'For we walk by faith, not by sight (or appearance)' (II Cor. 5:7; Does
what we have written contradict this divine declaration? Not at all. For
faith is the sight of the redeemed heart. How is your internal eyesight
today? Or do you have 20-20 vision? Or do you need the sight that only
He who can open the eyes of the blind can impart? God grant us a 'seeing
faith'.
Grace, Peace and Love
*
Lord Jesus, what an amazing path You walked — from humble servanthood to
a heavenly throne. What a grand exaltation will be Yours forever. What
an astounding joy to know that I will join You in that exaltation,
serving You eternally. Lord, I humble myself before You anew. Make me
Your faithful servant now while I await the glorious privilege that is
coming, Amen.

*RELIANT REST*
*By Miles Stanford*
*

"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him" (Ps.37:7).

Those who rest in Him are often accused of passivity. But the Lord
Jesus, who is our life, never was, nor ever is, passive.

"Do you suppose that the Father ever doubts the victory that has been
won by His beloved Son? Do you believe that He has a single cloud as to
the result? And faith looks at things as the Father looks at them. That
is the secret of all strength and courage.

"Why has the Father given us His revealed Word? That we may think the
same thoughts, have the same feelings, in our measure, as Himself. There
is not a thought or feeling that arises from the old man that is not
false. But we have new life capable of receiving and delighting in the
very thoughts of our Father."---J. C.B.

"How am I to know what is the Father's mind towards me? Is it by judging
of it from what I find in myself? Surely not! Supposing that I even
found good in myself, if I expected the Father to look at me on that
account, would it be grace? There may be a measure of truth in this kind
of reasoning; for, if there be life in my soul, fruit will be apparent;
but this is not to give me peace any more than the evil that is in me is
to hinder my having peace." ---J.N.D.

"The Lord Jesus 'has passed into the heavens,' 'now to appear in the
presence of the Father for us.' It is the Lord Jesus who gives abiding
rest to our souls, and not what our thoughts about ourselves may be.
Faith never thinks about that which is in ourselves as its ground of
rest; it receives, loves, and apprehends what the Father has revealed,
and what are His thoughts about the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom is His
rest." ---J.N.D.

"Let us labor, therefore, to enter into that rest" (Heb. 4:11).

**
*May you always be overwhelmed by the *
*Grace of God rather than by the cares of life. *

*SPIRITUAL PROSPERITY *
*By Miles Stanford*
*
"That you may be filled with a clear knowledge of His will accompanied
by thorough wisdom and discernment in spiritual things" (Col. 1:9, Wey.).

Service does not come first; neither does life! The proper sequence for
the believer is death to the old, from which emerges newness of life and
fruitful service.

"It is a sad thing when service interferes with soul-prosperity. It is
possible to be so engrossed with service that one's meditations are
colored by it, one's prayers are full of it, and the Word of God becomes
simply a quarry out of which material for sermons can be dug up. This is
a serious loss to the soul and many are thereby hindered from making
spiritual progress.

"Very often new believers who have not even peace with God are
encouraged to take up service, and they become so occupied with what
they are doing that they are not at leisure to learn or to take their
place in the favor of the Father. Hence, so long as the service
prospers, and they get on pretty well with it, they are happy. The
service is their life! But when there is no success, and the whole thing
seems to be a failure, their joy collapses. They have to discover how
little they have really got, and in many cases to find that they are
perfect strangers to the liberty and joy of acceptance." -CA.C.

"There must be a profound and genuine experience of Divine things; a
cultivation of the highest possibilities of godliness if the witness is
to be really effective and fruitful. There must be a man behind the
message - a saint behind the service. There must be the nameless
effectiveness that comes from true fellowship with the Father." -A.T.P.

"So that your lives may be worthy of the Lord and perfectly pleasing to
Him while you manifest the results of right action of every sort and
grow into a fuller knowledge of God" (Col. 1:10, Wey.).
**
*The cross that ended the earthly life of Jesus *
*now puts an end to the sinner;*
* and the power that raised Christ from *
*the dead now raises him to a new life along with Christ. *

* WHAT ABOUT ME, AND THE FUTURE?*
* by C. R. Stam*
* *
*Is it not amazing that men who can produce intricate electronic
mechanisms, build giant sky-scrapers, fly men to the moon and back -- is
it not amazing that such men often do not even know what will finally
become of themselves! And what is more amazing still is that most of
them do not even try seriously to find out.

They are intelligent enough to plan carefully for the future where
temporal affairs are concerned, but foolish enough to neglect their
eternal welfare. They make plans for themselves in case they become ill
and need additional funds for surgery, medicine and hospital care. They
even make plans for their loved ones in case of death and bereavement,
but fail to ask themselves: "What will become of me after death?"

Daily "the wise of this world" witness the truth of Hebrews 9:27, that
"it is appointed unto men once to die", and most of them know that the
Bible adds: "after this the judgment". They may hope that this is but a
false alarm, but they do not know. They can only wonder and worry.
Hebrews 2:15 declares that "through fear of death" they are "all their
lifetime subject to bondage". Like Adam, they run and hide from God
instead of running to Him and asking: "What must I do to be saved?" Too
cowardly to face up to their own grave, no hope beyond the tomb -- too
afraid, generally, to even discuss death.

The believer in the Word of God is not left thus in the dark. He glories
in the truth of the passages from which we have quoted in part above. We
quote them now in full:

Hebrews 2:14,15: "Forasmuch then as the children [of Adam] are partakers
of flesh and blood, He [Christ] also Himself likewise took part of the
same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of
death, that is, the devil;

"And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime
subject to bondage."

Hebrews 9:27,28: "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after
this the judgment.

"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that
look for Him shall He appear the second time without [lit., "apart
from"] sin unto salvation."

*"Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil - it has no point."*

TRIUMPH IN TRIAL*
* By M. Stanford*
*

"Always guarded by the power of God through faith. . .. In such a hope
keep on rejoicing, although for a little while you must be
sorrow-stricken with various trials" (1 Peter 1:5,6, Wms.).

There are testimonies, and there are testimonies. Some can testify as to
how God cleared up adverse circumstances for the victory; but others can
testify to the triumph God gave in the midst of difficult circumstances.
The essential consideration is that our Father be glorified in all His
dealings with and for us. How He brings it all about should be secondary
to us.

"If there is a great trial in your life today, do not own it as a
defeat, but continue, by faith, to claim the victory through Him who is
able to make you more than conqueror, and a glorious triumph will soon
be apparent. Let us learn that in all the hard places our Father brings
us into, He is making opportunities for us to exercise such faith in Him
as will bring about blessed results and greatly glorify His Name."

"God has put you in exactly the right crucible to burn up what He sees
needs to be burnt up. Many think 'victory' means getting your
circumstances put right. No! true triumph is within -when in the midst
of your circumstances the Spirit of God can so energize you and
strengthen you in spirit, that you can stand quiet in the thick of it
all, and say, 'God is God,' and know that you are held by Him - which is
infinitely better than all your trying to hold things steady."

"Therefore, my brethren. . . stand fast in the Lord" (Phil. 4:1).


*"KNOWN UNTO GOD ARE ALL HIS WAYS" *
*He knows from the beginning! *
*He moves forward to a purposed point and a glorious goal.*
* Man often fails to finish what he begins,*
* but God never begins what He does not finish. *

THE GREAT WHITE THRONE THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST *
*By the late Pastor R. Hanna*

Scripture Reading: Revelation 2l:11; 2 Corinthians 5:10

Many people - saved people - live in dread of death because they do not
understand the kind of judgment that they will face before God. There is
indeed a final judgment to come which is awesome and should strike fear
in the heart of those who will face it. The Apostle John wrote,
describing what was revealed to him in a vision on the Isle of Patmos:
"I saw a great white throne, and Him (Christ) that sat on it...and I saw
the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened:
and another book was opened, which is the book of life ... and whosoever
was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of
fire." (Revelation 20: 11-15) Those described here are the lost - those
who did not accept God's proffered salvation before they died. The lost
from all generations are raised from the dead to face this sentence of
eternal separation from God.

But you and I, if we have been saved by the grace of God by faith, are
not destined to confront the Great White Throne. Our apostle has
revealed that "We must all appear before the judgment seat (BEMA) of
Christ (not the great white throne); that everyone may receive the
things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be
good or bad." (2 Corinthians 5:10) The works for which we will be judged
are those accomplished in service to God during our lives after we have
been saved. "If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss (of
reward), but he himself shall be saved ... " (I Corinthians 3:15)


"There are many dangerous trends pulling folks away from true Bible
Christianity. Many of the newer philosophies of ministry employ methods
that are wholly carnal. Some have adopted objectives that have not one
line of Scripture to support them, and some employ conduct that differs
little from the world. "
----Tozer

Our Web site is now working, to ask for Devotions, Bible Studies, and to
put in your Prayer requests. We also have updated with many additions
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Paris

*GraceNTheTruth@ COX.NET*

THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST IN HIS ASCENSION *
*Part 2 of 2*
*by ~ Jack Trumm ~ *
*

So then, what does his ascension mean for us? First, we must understand
that no man ascended into heaven before our Lord. "And no man hath
ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son
of man which is in heaven." (John 3:13) Seeing then that our Lord has
ascended back into heaven, we too know that we will take part in this
same ascension. Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, tells us in II
Corinthians 5:1-8, "For we know that if our earthly house of this
tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made
with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly
desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so
be that being clothed we shall not be found naked For we that are in
this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be
unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of
life. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who
also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are
always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we
are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are
confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to
be present with the Lord." From this passage of scripture, we know that
if our earthly house (that is our body) of this tabernacle were
dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands,
eternal in the heavens; and we also know that if we are absent from our
body we are present with the Lord. Now in order to be with the Lord,
(and he is ascended into heaven) then we too must ascend into heaven to
be with Him. We know also from this passage that Paul is speaking of our
soul and our spirit. So this then brings up the question, what about our
body? What will happen to our body? Will it forever remain in the grave?
Or will it rise up (ascend) from the grave? I Corinthians 15 : 51-52
says, "Behold I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall
all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last
trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised
incorruptible, and we shall be changed." Also in I Thessalonians 4:13-18
it reads, " But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren,
concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others
which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again,
even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this
we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and
remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are
asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead
in Christ shall rise first; Then we which are alive and remain shall be
caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:
and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another
with these words."

So, we can see from these two passages that our bodies will rise up from
the grave and ascend into heaven to be with the Lord forever. With all
of this being said, this poses another question. To whom will this
happen? Romans 3:22, says "Even the righteousness of God which is by
faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there
is no difference." Also in I Timothy 4:10, "For therefore we both labour
and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the
Savior of all men, specially of those that believe.

This wonderful gift of salvation is offered to everyone; but, it is
given only to those that believe. Believe what?

1. Believe God concerning our need. The holy, righteous standard for
everlasting life is the righteousness of Jesus Christ, and we all come
short of that. God has concluded all in unbelief and thru Paul says:
"There is none righteous, no, not one. There is none that understandeth,
there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way,
they are together become unprofitable, there is none that doeth good,
no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulcher, with their tongues they
have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: whose mouth is
full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood.
Destruction and misery are in their ways, and the way of peace have they
not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes. " (Romans 3:1 0-18)

2. Believe that Jesus's death and burial paid in full the penalty for
sin. "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation" (Romans 3:25).
"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." "having made peace through the blood of his cross" "In the body
of his flesh through death, to resent you holy and unblameable and
unreproveable in his sight." Colossians 1 :20, 22, 2:14)

The religious world would tell us we have to work for our salvation, but
God's word says in Titus 3:5, "Not by works of righteousness which we
have done but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of
regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost." Also in Romans 4:5, "But
to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the
ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. " And in Ephesians
2:8-9, it tells us, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that
not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man
should boast."

So then with all of this being said, I would ask the reader, to whom or
to what are you putting your trust for salvation? If it is in your
efforts that you are relying on, or your own righteousness, you will
come short because in Romans 3:21-24, Paul declares that Jesus Christ is
the only righteous one and we all come short of it. But His death
through shedding His blood justifies us freely, today, by His Grace.
"But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being
witnessed by the law and the prophets, even the righteousness of God
which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that
believe, for there is no difference. For all have sinned, and come short
of the glory of God, being justified freely by his grace through the
redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

So this again leaves us with one option, we must put our faith (or
belief) in the five events of the cross of Christ. Have you done that?
What better time than now. II Corinthians 6:2 says, "For he saith, I
have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I
succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day
of salvation."

*The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to change the people of God.—ODB*

*THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION
By Pastor Hume*

*
Our era is one of power! There is hydraulic power, atomic power, nuclear
power and many other types of 'power' frequently spoken of. Many cars
are made to operate with much 'horsepower' . Large jet airplanes have
been constructed to carry hundreds of people and cargo at once,
operating with tremendous power.

But did you know that there is power in the resurrection of the Lord
Jesus Christ? Not atomic power or explosive power, but spiritual and
moral power. This 'power' changes the lives of people and affects whole
families, communities, and even the course of history.

Paul the Apostle speaks of his intense desire as a Christian to 'know
Him (Christ) and the power of His resurrection' (Phil. 3:10). Elsewhere
in his epistles, Paul spoke of 'Christ the power of God' (I Corinthians
1:24), the gospel of Christ being 'the power of God unto salvation to
all that believe' (Romans 1:16), and 'the power' of true godliness (II
Timothy 3:5). Christ, who once was 'crucified because of weakness' now
'lives because of the power of God' (II Corinthians 13:4).

What is this 'power'? The Greek word used suggests 'inherent energy'. It
also involves 'ability' and 'might'. God has the supreme monopoly on
power. We as humans can do many things. But that there is a limit to
what we can do is quite obvious. With God, however, there is no limit to
his ability, might, energy or power. This is why astonished Job cried
out to Jehovah, 'I know that Thou canst do all things' (Job 42:2). The
Psalmist also exulted, 'Great is our Lord, and abundant in strength'
(Psalm 147:5).

Therefore with a God such as He is, it is a small thing for Him to raise
the dead and transform the sinner into a Christ-like saint! This is why
Paul inquired of the doubting Roman governor Agrippa, 'Why is it
considered incredible among people if God does raise the dead?' (Acts
26:8). God DID raise the dead! Not only did Christ raise from the dead
Lazarus (John 11), the widow of Nain's son (Luke 7:11-17), and Jairus'
daughter (Luke 8:49-56), but God raised up Jesus Christ from the dead
'the third day' 'with power' (Romans 1:3-4). He, the crucified one who
had suffered at the hands of sinful men, came forth 'in the power of an
indestructible life' (Hebrews 7:16). No wonder we rightly may sing:

*
* 'Up from the grave He arose*
* With a mighty triumph o'er His foes;*
* He arose a Victor from the dark, domain,*
*And He lives forever with His saints to reign...'*
*
Now this same power with which God raised His Son from the dead gets
into all who truly are 'born again' by faith, alone in Jesus Christ.
Study carefully Paul's great prayer in Ephesians 1:17-23 and note how he
goes on to start Chapter 2 by saying, 'And you who were dead in
trespasses and sins.....hath (God) made us alive together with Christ
(by grace are ye saved), and hath raised us up together, and made us sit
together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.' The same power of the
living God which --'brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus' (Hebrews
13:20) is that by which each of us is saved and seated with Christ in
the heavenlies ' far above all'! This is soul-transforming power!

Are you experiencing the resurrection power of the living Christ in your
daily life? Don't be content with a mere 'form of godliness' or
'religion'! Make sure today that the Lord Jesus Christ is 'in you', so
that you may more and more 'know Him, and the power of His resurrection' !

Grace, Peace, Pastor P. Hume

*THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST IN HIS ASCENSION *
*Part 1 of 2*
*by ~ Jack Trumm ~ *

The ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ into heaven is the final event of
his fulfilling all righteousness on our behalf, from His:

1. Death on the cross
2. The shedding of His blood
3, His burial
4. His resurrection
5. His ascension

As we have seen what the previous four events have meant for all of
mankind, let us review what our Lord's passion has done for us.

1. His death (He died our spiritual death) Romans 5:8 says, "But God
commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ
died for us."

2. His shed blood (cleanses us from all unrighteousness) Romans 5:9
says, "Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be
saved from wrath through him." In Ephesians 1:7 we read, "In whom we
have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to
the riches of his grace. And Colossians 1:14 says, "In whom we have
redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.

3. His burial (our sin nature, or our old adamic nature was buried with
him.) Romans 6:4 it says., "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism
into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory
of the Father, even so we also should ~walk in newness of life." And
Colossians 2:12. "··Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not
as in my presence only but now much more in my absence, work out your
own salvation with fear and trembling."

4. His resurrection (God regards us as being just or innocent, free, or
being made righteous.) Romans 4:25 says, "Who was delivered for our
offences, and was raised again for our justification. "

So this brings us to the final event of our Lord giving of Himself on
our behalf, His ascension into heaven. Let's ask ourselves a few questions:

1. What does the word ascension mean?
2. How do we know our Lord ascended?
3. What does his ascension mean for us?

First. let's look at the word ascension or (ascend). What does the word
mean, according to the Strong's Concordance? It means "to go up, arise,
come up". So when we speak of our Lord's ascension, we are speaking of
him ascending or going back up to heaven after his resurrection. So this
brings up the second question. How do we know that our Lord ascended
back into heaven? "And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he
lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he
blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven."
(Luke 24:50-51) "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld,
he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while
they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men
stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why
stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from
you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go
into heaven." (Acts 1:9-11) "Now that he ascended, what is it but that
he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that
descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that
he might fill all things." (Ephesians 4:9-10)

*ABIDING FAITH
By M. Stanford *
* *
*
"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him"
(Col. 2:6).

One day we came to Him in utter need and reliance, and received life.
Every day we are to abide in Him in utter need and reliance, that He may
live that life in and through us. We are born again by faith, and we are
to live anew by faith. "He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same
bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5).

'There are earnest Christians who are zealous for a free Gospel, with
acceptance of Christ, and justification by faith alone. But after this
they think everything depends on their diligence and faithfulness. While
they firmly grasp the truth, 'justified by faith,' they have hardly
noticed the larger truth, 'the just shall live by faith.' They have not
yet understood what a perfect Saviour the Lord Jesus is, and how He will
each day do for the sinner just as much as He did the first day when
they came to Him.

"They know not that the life of grace is always and only a life of
faith, and that in the relationship to the Lord Jesus the one daily and
unceasing duty of the disciple is to believe, because believing is the
one channel through which Divine grace and strength can flow into the
heart of man. The flesh of the believer remains evil and sinful to the
last; it is only as he daily comes, all empty and helpless, to his
Saviour to receive of His life and strength, that he can bring forth the
fruits of righteousness to the glory of God." - A.M.

"Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have
been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving" (Col. 2:7).

*"THE GIFT OF CHRIST"*
*By Pastor Ivan Burgener*
*

"But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the
gift of Christ. Wherefore He saith, 'When He ascended up on high, He led
captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.' (Now He that ascended, what
is it but that He also descended first unto the lower parts of the
earth? He that descended is the same also That ascended up far above all
heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He gave some apostles, and
some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers; for
the perfecting of the saints..." (Eph. 4:7-12).

While this wording might seem strange to the modem reader, the point is
simple and must not be missed! The Lord Jesus Christ is the One Who came
into this world [the lower parts] in humiliation and was "found in
fashion as a man..." He was obedient unto death out of which He was
raised, ascended, and seated on high, "far above all principality and
power" in order that He might "fill all things."

>From that exalted position and place, He received gifts of ministry
from God and in turn gave them to "the church which is His body." His
"giving" is an expression of His grace with the stated purpose, "For the
perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying
of the body of Christ." And all this is to continue until "we all come
to the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a
perfect [mature] man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of
Christ" (Eph. 4:12-13). Unity of the Spirit leads to unity of the Faith.

Rather than spiritual gifts given to individual men, these gifts are
stated to be men with spiritual enablement being given to the church,
the body of Christ. They must be seen as the means used by the risen
Lord to continue to bless and guide this church in His absence. The
apostles and prophets were men whose works were inspired and who laid
the foundation by writing the scriptures. The works of evangelists and
teaching pastors were not inspired but were of a continuing and
subsequent nature ministering the scriptures. The latter were to
continue until the stated goals are reached, evidently until this church
is complete and rapture to heaven!

These apostles were not the twelve, chosen by the Lord on earth, but
called from heaven and associated with Paul in His ministry. And while
these have disappeared, evangelists, pastors and teachers continue
"until we all come to...unto a perfect man, ...the fulness of Christ,"
the rapture!

A Warning Against Mysticism~*
*By **Pastor Dick Ware*
*

Col 2:18 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,

In our verse we find that Mysticism was disqualifying the Colossian's
daily walk with Christ, and was robbing them of their future reward with
Christ (3:24). The false teachers probably intimidated the Colossians
into believing they would be disqualified if they didn't follow their
prescribed course. Mysticism is professing to have direct contact with
God or direct insight into truth by some special means. In our verse we
find four of the special means that were used.

The first was a voluntary or self-imposed humility, which could include
asceticism. We can accept ourselves in Christ, but this rigid
self-denial will only work toward self-occupation (vs. 23). The second
was the worship of angels. Angels are ministering spirits, but they
never were to be worshipped! This would be Demonism. It denies the union
of the believer with the Head, Christ in Glory. The third intruding into
the unseen. This would be visionary dreaming and Spiritism. This could
also include Demonism. What a wide scope this covers! The last one was
being vainly puffed up by the fleshly mind. God call-ed it "the wisdom
of this world" (1 Cor. 3:19); today it is called "Humanism." It could
include: Rationalism, Intellectualism; Higher Criticism; Liberalism;
Neo-Evangelicalism; Situation Ethics; etc. It is the mind of the sin
nature and can only produce death (Rom 8: 6).

In verse 19 Christ as the Head of the Body, is not so much an issue of
authority, as it is an issue that as the Head, He is the origin and
source of the Body's nourishment. Therefore, we are to hold fast to Him
"in Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (vs 3). As
the Body holds to the Head, we may experience "the increase of God!"

GOD-CENTERED OR SELF-CENTERED*
*By Paul Hume*

*

Scripture Reading: Ezek. 44:15-31; 2 Cor. 5:14-17

For centuries men believed that the sun was not the center of our solar
system. They thought that the sun revolved about our planet, and the
Earth was the center of our universe. Since the 16th century and the
discoveries of Copernicus, men have recognized that the sun, not the
Earth, is the true center of our solar system. The Earth, as everyone
now knows, revolves once a year about the sun. We have a system which is
"sun-centered. "

By nature we are intensely self-centered. Even after becoming saved, we
still tend to be self-centered. Only as we "grow in grace," and
experience the working of the Lord in breaking us from our innate
selfishness do we gradually move from being self-centered to being
Son-centered! This is why the ministry of the sons of Zadok in Ezek.
44:15ff is so unique. Did you notice it? "They shall enter into My
sanctuary, and thy shall come near to My table, to minister UNTO ME, and
they shall keep My charge."

The Apostle Paul therefore declares that as the result of the "new
creation" (2 Cor. 5:17), "they which live, should not henceforth live
unto themselves, but UNTO HIM which died for them, and rose again." This
is God-centered living: living to please HIM; living to know more of
HIM; living to make HIM known to others; living to do HIS will. Is this
your heart's desire? Or are you still in "prison"--the prison of self?

*
*"0 the bitter pain and sorrow,*
*That the time could ever be,*
*When I proudly said to Jesus,*
*All of Self and none of Thee. *
*But He sought me, I beheld Him,*
*Dying on the accursed tree,*
*And my feeble heart said faintly,*
*Some of self and some of Thee.*
*Higher than the highest mountain,*
*Deeper than the deepest sea, *
*Lord, Thy love at last has conquered, *
*None of self and ALL OF THEE." *
*

THE LIVING GOD*
*by C. R. Stam *

*
"My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God" (Psa. 42:2).

The recent "God is dead" theory had little true comfort or satisfaction
for men in trouble or sorrow.

For years we supposed that the term "the living God," in the above
passage, had reference to God’s power to help, in contrast to the
impotence of dead heathen idols. A careful examination of the context,
however, leads us to believe that it has rather to do with His ability
to respond. The gods of the heathen, by contrast, were like children’s
dolls; they could not even change their countenance or respond in any way.

"The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
"They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;
"They have ears, but they hear not, neither is there any breath in their
mouths" (Psa. 135:15-17).

But the true God is a living God. He does see, hear and respond. The
Psalmist, in Psalm 42, compares himself to a stag, panting with thirst.
It is sometimes supposed that the scene is one of a stag pursued in the
chase, but the passage says nothing of this. Palestine is a dry land and
entirely apart from being hunted down, a deer might well pant for
streams of running water.

Be this as it may, the stag, in this passage, is not seeking for help;
he is thirsting for refreshment, and so did the Psalmist long for the
refreshment of fellowship with God, the living God.

How wonderful it is that we may know the living God through faith in
Christ! This is why the Apostle Paul declares in Heb. 10:19:

"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the
blood of Jesus... a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us
through the veil, that is to say, His flesh. "

By His death at Calvary our Lord tore away the veil that kept us from
entering into God’s presence, and now in response to our need He says:

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may
obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb. 4:16).

Yes, God is a living God!

2Co 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in
Christ, and maketh manifest the Savior of his knowledge by us in every
place.

*"May God, Whose grace is irresistible and *
*all sufficient, be glorified!" *

*THE WILL OF GOD IN CHRIST*
*By Pastor Robert Hanna *

*

Scripture Reading: I Thessalonians 5:18

After having accepted God's great gift of eternal salvation by belief in
the finished work of His dear Son at Calvary and thereby being found IN
HIM, our most intense and cherished desire should be to comply with the
will of God. It is not difficult to know what is His will; the
difficulty is in becoming victorious over the weakness of the "old
man." To be spiritually adjusted and acceptable in our behavior in
God's sight, we would do well to adopt as our formula verses 16,17 & 18
as an independent declaration:

"REJOICE EVERMORE. PRAY WITHOUT CEASING. IN EVERY THING GIVE THANKS: for
this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

Another Pauline admonition in concert with the above is one addressed to
the Colossians saints. "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"
(Colossians 3:17).

The Apostle was not himself a stranger to the struggle between the old
and the new creations. "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,)
dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to
perform that which is good I find not" (Romans 7:18). And regarding
prayer, he is cognizant of how our petitions are presented and received.
"For we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit
Himself maketh intercession for us ... " (Romans 8:26). Knowing this,
Paul offers this comfort: "In every thing by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God, and the
peace of God ... shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

*

Eph 3:9 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

ACCESS BY FAITH *
*By RUSSELL S. MILLER, *
*
Scripture Reading: Romans 5:2

Everyone is invited, but everyone does not have access to God. God does
not hear the "vain repetitions" (Matt. 6:7) of the heathen. Yet the true
saint may enter the presence of God at his convenience; when and where
he chooses. This, the president of the United States does not allow.

Our "great God and Saviour" does, however, allow the unsaved "access"
into His presence "by faith" in the shed blood of Christ today. This is
a privilege that those under the Law did not enjoy. Only the high priest
could enter the Holy of Holies, once a year, with the blood of a lamb
without blemish.

And Paul declares in Romans 5: 1, 2 that simply believing what God says
today produces that initial "access by faith" into His presence.
"Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ: By Whom also we have access by faith into this grace
wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

Consequently the Apostle explains to saints far and wide, "Having
therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of
Jesus, [not the old dead sacrificial way, but] BY A NEW AND LIVING WAY,
which He hath consecrated for us .... And having an high priest over the
house of God; [1.] Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance
of faith ... [2.] Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without
wavering ... [3.] And let us consider one another to provoke unto love
and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together,
as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the
more, as ye see the day approaching" (Heb. 10:19-25).


*We have so much to be thankful for every day.*
*God continually provides for all our needs.*
* So let's make Thanksgiving a year-long celebration. *
David C. McCasland*

*SAFELY IN *
*By Miles Stanford*

"You are made partakers of His resurrection, through the faith wrought
in you by God, who raised Him from the dead" (Col. 2:12, Cony.).

All true believers are gratefully aware that they are not going to hell,
but few realize that they are already in heaven.

"There is no question about there being a beautiful new position for the
believer, but people limit it to its being theirs when they die.
Scripture shows that it is ours now! People say, 'You get to heaven when
you die.' No such thing. You have it now. It is not your death that
entitles you to it, but the Lord Jesus' death. There is not a single
shade that was between us and the Father, but the Lord Jesus has removed
in His death." -J.B.S.

"The great work of the Lord Jesus was wrought on the Cross to bring us
to the Father; His death and His Blood, His ascension and sitting on the
Throne; all mean one thing - our being brought nigh to dwell in the
Father's presence. And with what object? That the Father may have us, to
mature us, to work in us that which is well-pleasing in His sight. Let
no one think that the entrance into the Holiest is the end; it is only
the beginning. It brings us into the right position, in which the Father
in His divine power can work out His will and purpose in us conforming
us to the image of His Son." -A.M.

"The Lord Jesus stood where I was, and now I stand where He is, and that
is the only place I have before my Father. We may fail and grieve the
Holy Spirit, but that is where we are set." -J.N.D.

"If there be progress upward there must be progress in life and ways
down here; you cannot see the need for a change in your ways here until
you are transformed by the influence of nearness to Him there. You thus
gradually find things here are not suitable for the order and nature of
the things which are so attractive to the renewed heart up there." -J.B.S.

"Your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Col. 3:3).

APPRECIATION, NOT DEPRECIATION*
*By Miles Stanford*
*

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly" "Let the word of Christ
dwell in you richly"

As believers we rejoice in the fact that the Lord Jesus died for us, but
few are affected by the fact that He arose for us. Fewer still realize
that we died and arose with Him. Learn the facts! There will be
continual struggle and failure until we gain adequate understanding of
the liberating truth.

"The Lord Jesus on the Cross removed the barriers which separated me
from God - my guilt, my sin, the law; and He dealt with my enemies - the
world, the flesh, the devil. These six things were dealt with, so that
we need no longer be in bondage through fear and that we may come boldly
to the throne of grace.

"Have we given a hearty assent to these things which the Lord Jesus did
for us? Or have we, as we read the Word, drifted by them, taking it all
for granted? Let us lay hold of that for which God has laid hold of us.
Let us gird up the loins of our mind and consent to that which He did
for us. Let us enter into all that which being united to Christ as our
Life means. Let us rejoice in all that was accomplished for us on
Calvary." - L.L.L.

"It is necessary that the truth conferred by grace should be known as a
possession and the virtue of it apprehended, before there can be any
walk in keeping with it. For if there be ignorance or misapprehension,
the truer the conscience, the more defective is the practice." - J.B.S.

"Set your affection on things above" (Col. 3:2)

*"THE WORD OF HIS POWER"*
*by Russel S. Miller *

*
God is so powerful that by simply speaking, He created "Heaven and
earth, the sea, and all that in them is" (Ex.20:11). Yes, the Universe
was brought immediately into being: "by the Word of His power" (Heb.1:3;
IIPet.3:5)! And neither was His power confined to the animal creation,
for He "breathed into the nostrils" of Adam, "the breath of life, and
man became a living soul" (Gen.2:7). He is so powerful that He can
"inspire" mere men to write exactly what He wants them to write, in a
Book that we call the Bible (IITim.3:16) . So powerful that to enter the
stream of humanity and become a man, He was "born of a virgin"
(Matt.1:18-25; Luke 1:26-35), which, with men is a total impossibility.
And again, to show His mighty power, after "He [had] by the grace of
God, tasted death for every man" (Heb.2:9) HE AROSE FROM THE DEAD
(Rom.4:25).

God is so powerful that when we believe on Christ, He makes us one with
Christ in His death, burial and resurrection; saves us for time and
eternity, and nothing can separate us from His love. This is why the
Apostle Paul defends the doctrine of eternal security in his Epistle to
the Romans:

"FOR I AM PERSUADED, THAT NEITHER DEATH, NOR LIFE, NOR ANGELS, NOR
PRINCIPALITIES, NOR POWERS, NOR THINGS PRESENT, NOR THINGS TO COME, NOR
HEIGHT, NOR DEPTH, NOR ANY OTHER CREATURE, SHALL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US
FROM THE LOVE OF GOD, WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD" (Rom.8:38,39) .

Some people don’t believe in the Bible and all it says about Creation,
the Inspiration of the Scriptures, the Virgin Birth of Christ, His
resurrection from the dead, and the Lord’s Return to catch us away to be
with Him for all eternity, but those who do, can say with the Apostle Paul:

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is THE POWER OF
GOD UNTO SALVATION to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and
also to the Greek" (Rom. 1:16).

By the "word" of His power He shall catch us away to be with Him eternally.

"LOOKING FOR THAT BLESSED HOPE, AND THE GLORIOUS APPEARING OF THE GREAT
GOD AND OUR SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST" (Tit.2:13; IThes.4:13-18) .

"In whom WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD, the forgiveness of sins,
according to the riches of His grace" (Eph.1:7).
***

*The Adoption of Sons*
*Part 2 of 2*
*A Primer on this Wonderful Truth *
*By Keith R. Blades*

The Glory of Sonship

There are many wonderful issues associated with sonship. There are also
a number of differences between the way God dealt with Israel in
treating them as children and the way He now deals with us as sons. One
outstanding issue is that of the intimacy and direct personal union that
now exists between God and us. Instead of tutors and governors, we
possess the Spirit of adoption. Instead of intermediaries, God deals
with us directly through the Holy Spirit.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear;

but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba,
Father. (Romans 8:14-15)

And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into
your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6)

As Paul says, the major mark of sonship, (and one of its most glorious
features), is the issue of being led by the Spirit of God. When a father
adopts his child the relationship becomes much more personal between the
two, and hence much more intimate. No longer does the father want tutors
and governors to come between him and his child. And no longer does the
child need them. No longer does the father want his child's education
limited to elementary and rudimentary things. Instead, having placed his
child in the position of an adult son, now the father himself personally
becomes his son's teacher and guide. The father now personally assumes
the remaining education of his son. This is something not only looked
forward to by the father, but it is also a wonderful liberty for the
son. Going from tutors and governors to being personally dealt with by
his father is an issue of great joy and relief to a son. The adoption
commences a glorious intimate relationship never experienced under the
tutors and governors. In full accordance with establishing this new
intimate relationship that sonship brings, Paul says God has sent forth
the Spirit of his Son into (our) hearts. Possessing the Spirit of God to
be led by Him is in direct contrast tooth tutor and governor system of
the Law. The restrictions of relationship associated with that system
are not being employed with us. The weak and beggarly elements of the
world associated with that childhood system are not the basis of God's
dealings with us today. Instead, nothing less than the personal
operation of the Spirit of God within is what we possess as sons. In
view of this, just as with any adopted son, our hearts ought to overflow
with joy and relief. Hence, Paul says that the Spirit cries Abba, Father.

And because ye are sons, God hath sent the Spirit of his Son into your
hearts, CRYING, ABBA, FATHER. (Galatians 4:6)

The doctrine of our sonship status is full of glory. Being adopted sons
is one of the jewels of the riches of God's grace unto us in Christ. Yet
it remains one of the most least appreciated aspects of God's grace that
we are possessors of today. And this is a shame. This has been nothing
more than a very short primer on this wonderful truth. Yet may this
brief introduction to sonship motivate us all to learn more about this
privilege of God's grace unto us, and most of all to live as the sons
God has made us to be.

The Adoption of Sons*
*Part 1 of 2*
*A Primer on this Wonderful Truth *
*By Keith R. Blades*
*
In Romans 6-8 the apostle Paul teaches us about our sanctified position
in Christ and how God is dealing with us today under grace and not under
the law. As he does so he declares that in accordance with this God has
adopted us.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; BUT YE
HAVE RECEIVED THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION, WHEREBY WE CRY, ABBA, FATHER.
(Romans 8:14-15)

In this dispensation of grace we are the adopted sons of God. And this
is a wonderful privilege of God's grace. However, unfortunately it is
often not understood and appreciated as it ought to be due primarily to
the restricted meaning given to the present usage of the word adoption.
Today, when we speak of adoption we refer to the issue of someone, who
is not the natural born child of a couple, being taken in by them and
constituted a member of their family. By natural birth the child is not
theirs, but by adoption the child legally becomes their own. This is the
common meaning of the term today, and it certainly is an adoption.
However, it is not what we should think of when we read about God
adopting us. In Romans 8:14-15 Paul is not simply referring to the fact
that we now belong to God being saved. He is not simply referring to the
fact that we are part of God s family. Yet this is what is commonly
thought. To adopt a child not naturally your own is only one kind of
adoption. To adopt simply means to take something unto yourself and make
it your own. Hence, there are other kinds of adoptions, especially in
other cultures, one of which is the kind of adoption Paul refers to in
Romans 8. In Hebrew culture, and even among the Greeks of Paul s day,
parents adopted their own children. When they did this they recognized a
level of maturity that their child had reached and they no longer
treated him as a little child, but began treating him as an adult. By
this kind of adoption the child was declared to be no longer in a state
of childhood. He had now passed from childhood into adulthood. He was
now declared to be a son and no longer a child, and he was now going to
be treated as an adult by his parents. This is the kind of adoption Paul
is referring to in Romans 8. This is made perfectly clear in Galatians 4
where he deals with it in quite some detail.

Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing
from a servant, though he be lord of all;

But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the
father. (Galatians 4:1-2)

Here Paul cites this unique cultural issue of adoption so common in his
day. As he says, a father's own offspring is his heir. But for as long
as he is a child, or is in the state of childhood, his father doesn't
treat him any different from a servant. He may be lord of all being his
father's heir, but he is not treated as such by his father for as long
as he is in the state of childhood. Rather, in accordance with childhood
and being a minor, the father deals with his offspring through the use
of tutors and governors. The relationship between the two, therefore, is
restricted and is on a puerile level. However, the father does not
intend to always be treating his child as a child. There is an appointed
time coming at which the father will no longer treat his child as a
child, but will in accordance with his growth begin to treat him as an
adult. This appointed time of the father is the time at which the father
adopts his own child. He declares his offspring to no longer be a child
in the state of childhood, but now he is an adult, a son. He has
attained unto sonship. Being so his father is going to begin to treat
him as such and deal with him accordingly. Again, this is the kind of
adoption Paul is talking about when he declares that we in this
dispensation of grace are now the adopted sons of God. Having adopted us
God has put us into the position of adult sons. We possess sonship. He
is not treating us like children. Instead, He is dealing with us as
adults, as sons. The Privilege of Sonship in time past God's heirs did
not possess the adoption of sons. Rather, as Paul points out in
Galatians 4:3, they were children and God dealt with them as such.

Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of
the world: (Galatians 4:3)

The Law contract with its elements of the world functioned like tutors
and governors and through it God dealt with Israel as the children that
they were. However, the appointed time was coming when God would make
provision so that He could adopt His heirs and begin dealing with them
as adult sons and no longer have to deal with them as children. When
Christ came, He came in accordance with the appointed time of the father.

But when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a
woman, made under the law,

To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the
adoption of sons. (Galatians 4:4-5)

The provision to enable God to deal with His heirs as sons and no longer
have to deal with them as children was made by Christ on the cross. In
view of it, God could adopt His heirs and the glories of sonship could
begin to be enjoyed by them. God, however, suspended His program with
Israel and they have yet to receive the adoption of sons. We, the
members of the church the body of Christ, are the heirs of God in this
present dispensation of grace. In accordance with the provision God has
made through Christ for sonship to be a reality, and in view of the
riches of His grace unto us, God has wonderfully adopted us, putting us
in the position of adult sons and treating us as such. We are not being
treated by Him as children under the tutor and governor system of the
Law, but we are being treated as sons. (Israel will receive the adoption
when God resumes and fulfills His program with them upon the conclusion
of this present dispensation of Gentile grace. See Romans 9-11,
especially 9:1-5; 11:1-36.)
**

* THANKSGIVING*
* by C. R. Stam*
* *
*

God's verdict upon the pagan world is that "they are without excuse,
because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither
were thankful..." (Rom. 1:20,21).

The Psalmist, on the other hand, declares:

"IT IS A GOOD THING TO GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD, AND TO SING
PRAISES UNTO THY NAME, O MOST HIGH:

"TO SHOW FORTH THY LOVING KINDNESS IN THE MORNING.AND THY
FAITHFULNESS EVERY NIGHT" (Psa. 92:1,2).

Believers today have even more to be thankful for than did the
Psalmist, for we can rejoice in what God has done for us through Christ
and His redeeming work. Thus Paul, by divine inspiration, speaks of...

"GIVING THANKS UNTO THE FATHER, WHO HATH MADE US MEET [FIT] TO
BE PARTAKERS OF THE INHERITANCE OF THE SAINTS IN LIGHT:

"WHO HATH DELIVERED US FROM THE POWER OF DARKNESS,AND HATH
TRANSLATED US INTO THE KINGDOM OF HIS DEAR SON" (Col. 1:12,13).

It is because of this "deliverance" that the humblest believer can cry
with Paul: "Thanks be unto God, who always causeth us to triumph in
Christ!" (II Cor. 2:14) and "Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ!" (I Cor. 15:57). How appropriate, then,
are the following exhortations:

"In everything give thanks" (I Thes. 5:18) and "By [Christ],
therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise... giving thanks to His
name" (Heb. 13:15).

"For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace
might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God" (II
Cor.4:15).

Most of all, "THANKS BE UNTO GOD FOR HIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFT," our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ! (II Cor. 9:15).

TRUE THANKSGIVING*
* by C. R. Stam*
*

Many people entertain only vague notions about thanksgiving, just as
they do about faith.

They confuse faith with optimism, will power, presumption, imagination,
and all sorts of other things. A doctor tells his patient that but for
his faith, he never would have come through his illness. Somehow the
patient was "just sure" he would recover. A smiling mother encourages
her married daughter to "have faith, that everything will turn out all
right." But faith in God is believing God; believing what He has said.
True faith is based on the written Word of God (See Rom. 10:17).

But unregenerate men have vague ideas about thanksgiving. A man escapes
some great harm and thanks his "lucky stars." Another says: "I'm
grateful for a healthy body," but to whom is he grateful? He doesn't
say. In many cases it doesn't even occur to him to ask. He's "just
thankful"!

How refreshing, then, it is to open our Bibles, especially to the
Epistles of Paul, the chief of sinners, saved by grace, and to see him
giving thanks for specific blessings, and to a specific Person -- God!

"Giving thanks unto the Father, who hath made us meet [fit] to be
partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; Who hath delivered
us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom
of His dear Son" (Col. 1:12,13).

"Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift!" (II Cor. 9:15).

"Thanks be unto God, who giveth us the victory!" (I Cor. 15:57).

"Thanks be unto God, who always causeth us to triumph!" (II Cor. 2:14).

It is our prayer for all our readers that you may be especially
thankful for "the gift of God [which] is eternal life through Jesus
Christ, our Lord" (Rom. 6:23).

*"KNOWN UNTO GOD ARE ALL HIS WAYS" *
*He knows from the beginning! *
*He moves forward to a purposed point and a glorious goal.*
* Man often fails to finish what he begins,*
* but God never begins what He does not finish. *

*The Rejoicing of My Heart *
*BY RICHARD JORDAN *
*
So great were the depths of Jeremiah's despondency over the utter
failure of his beloved nation that he has become known as "the weeping
prophet." Indeed, he says of himself:

"MINE EYE RUNNETH DOWN WITH RIVERS OF WATER for the destruction of
the daughter of my people.

"MINE EYE TRICKLETH DOWN, AND CEASETH NOT, WITHOUT ANY INTERMISSION.

"MINE EYE AFFECTETH MINE HEART because of all the daughters of my
city" (Lam. 3:48,49, 51).

At one point his anguished cry rings out;

"Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears,
that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my
people!" (Jer. 9:1).

Jeremiah had made abundantly clear the reason God's anger was
kindled against the nation:

"YOUR INIQUITYIES have turned away these things, and YOUR SINS
HAVE WITHOLDEN GOOD THINGS FROM YOU" (Jer. 5:25).

"THOU HAS FORSAKEN ME, saith the Lord, thou art gone backward:
THEREFORE WILL I STRETCH OUT MY HAND AGAINST THEE, AND DESTROY THEE; I
am weary with repenting" (Jer. 15:6).

Yet Israel had refused to respond to God's warning and now
judgment was to be executed against her. Jeremiah laments sadly:

"My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart
maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, 0
my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war" (Jer. 4:19).

Little wonder, then, that he wept sorely and was heavy hearted as
he saw the threatened captivity closing in upon his nation.

And not only had the nation forsaken God, but they had turned on
His prophet, and he laments, "know that for Thy sake I have suffered
rebuke" (Jer. 15:15).

Thus it is out of the depths of crushing circumstances that
Jeremiah cries: "Woe is me, my mother, that thou has borne me, a man of
strife and a man of contention to the whole earth!. .. everyone of them
doth curse me .. .I sat alone because of Thy hand ... Why is my pain
perpetual and my wound incurable, which refused to be healed? Wilt Thou
be altogether unto me as a liar and as waters that fail?"

*
*THE REJOICING HEART *
*
It is touching to note that in the midst of his great despair he
was driven to God and His Word for relief:

"THY WORDS WERE FOUND, AND I DID EAT THEM; AND THY WORD WAS UNTO
ME THE JOY AND REJOICING OF MINE HEART; for I am called by Thy name, 0
Lord God of hosts" (Jer. 15:16).

The words of God to us always bring "joy and rejoicing" when they
are found! On another occasion when "Ezra opened the book in the sight
of all the people" and "read in the book in the law of God distinctly,
and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading" the
result was that "all the people wept when they heard the words of the
law ... because they had understood the words that were declared
unto-them~-( Neh-.8:5- 13). And it is in this context that we are told:
"The joy of the Lord is your strength"!

You will notice that Jeremiah found the words of God--not by
accident, however, for truth, like treasure, must be sought. He sought
and found them. There is no easy route to truth. Rather we must be
willing to "seek her as silver and search for he as for hid treasure"
(Prov. 2:4). Only as we apply ourselves diligently to the study of God's
Word can we know God's words to us. Thus Paul exhorts Timothy, and us:

"STUDY to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (II Tim. 2:15).

If we are unwilling to pay the price here, the joy which follows
can never be ours!

Not only did Jeremiah find God's words but he also ate them. He
was not content simply to have God's words; rather he devoured them--as
one who had long fasted! Grand truth this: It is not enough that these
words are heard, understood, believed, remembered or even admired--they
must be assimilated, as it were, in order-to provide the needed
spiritual nourishment and strength.

This is the plain meaning of Psalm 119:11:

"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against
Thee."

As we give ourselves to the regular and careful intake of sound
doctrine from the Word of God we are building into our lives resources
that will enable us to successfully handle the details of life for the
glory of God.

Little wonder, then, that the "word," discovered and consumed,
brought such spiritual revival to Jeremiah's heart! And we must not
overlook the ground of Jeremiah's "joy and rejoicing" -- "for I am
called by Thy name, 0 Lord God of hosts. "

It was in being reminded that he and his nation were so identified
with God as to be called by His name (see Isa. 43:1-7 for the full
import of this) that turned his depression and despair into rejoicing
and hope! Though they were enduring "troublous times" at the moment, God
was not finished with them yet! Thus he was to be faithful to his
commission, knowing that the hope for the future was secure in the
promises of God.

*
*A LESSON FOR US *
*
How this should speak to the heart of believers today--to us who
have been made "one with Him" in a far higher way than Jeremiah ever
dreamed possible; to us who have the completed Word of God as a present
possession --especially to us who have a rightly divided Word and the
unsearchable riches of His grace to proclaim!

Paul seems to echo Jeremiah's words as he writes:

"REJOICE IN THE LORD alway: and again I say, Rejoice" (Phil. 4:4).

For the believer today, everything centers "in the Lord. " We have
been "crucified with Christ" (Gal. 2:20), ''buried with Him" (Col.
2:12), "raised with Him" (Col. 3:1), enthroned with Him (Eph. 2:6), and
one day we will be "caught up together" to be eternally "glorified
together" with Him (I Thess. 4:17, Rom. 8:17)! Truly we have been made
"one with Christ"~-so much so that we are said to be "members of His
Body, of His flesh and of His bones" (Eph. 5:30).

Just as Jeremiah's difficulties and despair were turned into "joy
and rejoicing" as he contemplated God's purpose for his nation, so it is
that we today can rejoice together as members of Christ's body, knowing
that we are "complete in Christ, "having been made one with Him.

"Finally, my brethren, BE STRONG IN THE LORD AND IN THE POWER OF
HIS MIGHT" (Eph. 6:10).

*Thus while His death my sins displays .*
* In all its blackest hue, *
*Such is the mystery of grace: *
*It seals my pardon too! *

*THE JOY OF FAITH *
*By Miles Stanford*


"Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet
believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory" (1 Pet. 1:8).

Although both faith and joy are included in 'the fruit of the Spirit,'
joy can only flourish upon the foundation of faith. When faith is
present and active, favorable circumstances are not necessary for joy;
trials and tribulations cannot daunt it.

"There are some Christians who seem to be afraid of enjoying all the
rays of the Son of Righteousness. They are afraid of being too happy.
Perhaps some of us have not really considered that 'joy' is itself a
part of that fruit by which the Father is glorified. There is nothing to
be gained by despondency. Doubts are not marks of humility; unbelief is
really evidence of pride. And there is no cloud that so effectively
shuts out the glad sunshine of our gracious Father's face as the thick
cloud of unbelief."-- -E.H.

"Although as to His circumstances the Lord Jesus was the Man of Sorrows
and acquainted with grief, yet He had a joy always before His eyes. But
we never find Him rejoicing in anything but the will of His Father. 'I
delight to do Thy will' was His true testimony. So may we 'rejoice in
the Lord' though all is dark around, with the joy of faith that sees the
unseen and looks beyond the present and temporal to the eternal." ---G.G.

"The Old Testament believer had joy for God's gifts to him. God's power
made things here contribute to him. But the Christian's joy is in heaven
and springs from what the Father is to him there. He demands nothing
from this world, but in the life of the Lord Jesus he contributes to it,
of the grace that nourishes and comforts him outside it." -J.B.S.

"Blessed are the people that know the joyful sound; they shall walk, 0
Lord, in the light of Thy countenance. In thy Name shall they rejoice
all the day" (Ps.89:15,16) .

**

*Phi 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will *
*and to do of [his] good pleasure. *