Confess All Sin Quickly and Make Restitution
Where Appropriate. "3
For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my
sin is ever before me. 4
Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and
done this evil in Thy sight: that Thou mightest be justified when Thou speakest,
and be clear when Thou judgest" (Psalm 51:3-4). Self-defense
of our past, sinful actions must never be present on our lips or in our heart. "This is a faithful
saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save
sinners; of whom I am chief" (1Timothy 1:15). How can we
claim to know the Saving Grace of God, when we are clinging to rebellion against
the Throne and Grace of the LORD Jesus Christ?
"He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His Commandments, is a liar, and
the Truth is not in Him" (1John 2:4). Our profession
to Sonship must be coupled with an admiration for the
"Beauty of Holiness" (1Chronicles 16:29) and a holy hatred for the sin that crucified the Saviour. "And let the
Beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish Thou the work of our hands upon
us; yea, the work of our hands establish Thou it"
(Psalm 90:17).
Of course, like Zacchaeus, who demonstrated his repentance by restoring four times
what he stole (Luke 19:8),
we need to make restitution wherever possible, where we have injured others. "15 If the wicked restore the
pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the Statutes of Life, without committing
iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die. 16 None of his sins
that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful
and right; he shall surely live" (Ezekiel 33:15-16).
Allow the Holy Spirit to Search Us to Make
Us Clean and Keep Us Pure. "23 Search me, O God, and know
my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 and see if there
be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way Everlasting" (Psalm 139:23-24). It is God's business to know minutely the condition of our heart. "Oh let the
wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the Righteous
God trieth the hearts and reins" (7:9). Without the Spirit's
intervention, any purely human attempt at Holiness must be abortive. "Who can bring
a clean thing out of an unclean? not one"
(Job 14:4). Holiness
must proceed from a Holy God to His people.
"Who shall not fear Thee, O LORD, and
glorify Thy Name? for Thou only art Holy: for all nations shall come and worship
before Thee; for Thy Judgments are made manifest"
(Revelation 15:4).
After the Spirit has revealed our transgressions to us, only He can cleanse us, i.e., "Wash me throughly
from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin"
(Psalm 51:2),
based upon the Atoning work of Christ on the Cross. "In
Whom we have Redemption through His Blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to
the riches of His Grace" (Ephesians 1:7). But, if we
have confessed "our sins, He is Faithful
and Just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1John 1:9). Therefore, at that time, we have been forgiven, and God
has pronounced us holy. "What God hath
cleansed, that call not thou common" (Acts 10:15).
Never Depend Upon Self. "I can
of mine own self do nothing" (John 5:30). If we comprehend
that both Holiness and sin cannot exist in ourselves at the same time, i.e.,
"No man can serve two masters: for either
he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise
the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon"
(Matthew 6:24),
then we must appreciate that we are responsible in part for our choice to be sinful
or holy. [See "Unity
of Moral Action"
---New Window by Charles G. Finney
---New Window, for a systematic exposition
of this Scriptural concept of Matthew 6:24.]
However, rather than making ourselves the petty rulers of our own fate, we must wisely
choose to lay down our wills at the feet of the Throne of the LORD Jesus Christ,
for He is worthy. "Worthy is the Lamb
that was slain to receive Power, and Riches, and Wisdom, and Strength, and Honour,
and Glory, and Blessing" (Revelation 5:12-13). Even
as the Apostle Paul told the Corinthians that he (an Inspired Apostle and Pillar
of the Church) along with others, did not "trust
in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead"
(2Corinthians 1:9),
we need to cast aside the humanistic creed of self-reliance. Understanding that God
can only use a vessel that has voluntarily emptied it of itself, we must place ourselves
upon the altar of absolute consecration to God. "I
beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies
a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service" (Romans 12:1). Instead of emaciating ourselves through this rejection
of humanistic self-reliance, we enlarge ourselves by entering fully into our marriage
of trust with the LORD Jesus Christ, who "loved
us, and washed us from our sins in His Own Blood" (Revelation
1:5). [J. Hudson
Taylor's "Union and Communion" ---New Window expounds the Song of Solomon
for understanding of our dependence on the Heavenly Bridegroom.]
Worship God With a Growing Understanding of Who He Is and What He Has Done, Is
Doing, and Will Do. "But grow in Grace,
and in the Knowledge of our LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ" (2Peter 3:18). Life would not frighten us so, if we would but realize that Jesus
is the "Prince of Life" (Acts 3:15), Who supremely controls our circumstances, if we would only trust
Him. [See Charles G. Finney's "The
Relations of Christ to the Believer" ---New Window to learn
the relationship between worship and sanctification. Also, "In
Christ Jesus"
---New Window by A. T. Pierson ---New Window, explores the Believer's relationship
to the Christ that is worshipped.] What is
the Sacred History of God's dealing with man, but an ongoing revelation of the character
of the Self-Existent God with those to whom He desires to commune? "And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and He said, Thus
shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you" (Exodus 3:14). Rather than recoiling from the opportunity of acquainting
ourselves with our Creator, Saviour, and Maintainer, we ought to rejoice that He
has condescended to make Himself known to us. "13 And
it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked,
and, behold, there stood a Man over against him with His sword drawn in His hand:
and Joshua went unto Him, and said unto Him, Art Thou for us, or for our adversaries?
14 And He said, Nay; but as Captain of the Host of the LORD
am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the Earth, and did worship, and said
unto Him, What saith my LORD unto His servant? 15 And the Captain of
the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place
whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so"
(Joshua 5:13-15).
The darkness that surrounds the Professed Church about
"things to come" (John
16:13) in Bible Prophecy lies much in the ignorance
of the testimony of the LORD Jesus Christ, e.g., "3 And
if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself;
that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go
ye know, and the way ye know. 5 Thomas saith unto Him, LORD,
we know not whither Thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto
him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by
Me" (14:3-6).
The better we understand what Christ testified about Himself, the greater will we
understand Bible Prophecy. "And I fell
at his [the angel's] feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am
thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship
God: for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy" (Revelation 19:10).
Depend on the Promises of God. "Whereby
are given unto us Exceeding Great and Precious Promises: that by these ye might be
partakers of the Divine Nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world
through lust" (2Peter
1:4). If Holiness is both consecration to God
and apartness from sin, then the Promises of God most certainly will beautify His
people. "For the LORD taketh pleasure
in His people: He will beautify the meek with Salvation" (Psalm 149:4). Promises from the Word of God have been so designed by God to meet
an answer to every aspect of our lives, but always through the exercise of
our faith. "Having therefore these Promises,
dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit,
perfecting Holiness in the fear of God"
(2Corinthians 7:1).
God already knows that we have particular needs and lacks, so He has prepared the
Promises for just such occasions. "20 He staggered not at the
Promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 and
being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform" (Romans 4:20-21). Notice how your countenance is transformed into quiet
and peacefulness, after having taken time to dwell upon, consider and trust the Faithful
Promises of the Word of God that exactly deal with your circumstances. Is this not
beautiful Holiness? "He that spared not
His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely
give us all things?" (8:32). [See our article, "Exceeding Great and Precious Promises" ---New Window, to learn more how the LORD
has planned His Promises to cause us to escape the world's corruption, making us
to become more like Him.]
Expect God Always to Be Faithful to His Word. "Heaven
and Earth shall pass away: but My Words shall not pass away" (Luke 21:33).
[See our article, "How
to Trust God"
---New Window, for encouragement to do what
God created us to do-- that is, to trust Him.]
The Almighty is the very definition and essence of Faithfulness. "God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man,
that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken, and
shall He not make it good?" (Numbers 23:19). Worshipping
and extolling God for His Faithfulness and Truth, demands that we place our confidence
in Him and sincerely act like we trust Him, e.g., bring an umbrella, if you're praying
for rain. "For the gifts and calling of
God are without repentance" (Romans 11:29). Think of it.
When Jesus appears in the sky, returning to begin the Judgment and rule of the Millennial
Earth, He chooses to be remembered and identified by the Faithfulness and Truth in
which He has called upon all men to confide. "And
I saw Heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called
Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war" (Revelation 19:11). Confidence
in God that He will perform His Word, will not go unrewarded. "He that putteth his trust in Me shall possess the land, and
shall inherit My holy mountain" (Isaiah 57:13). Anyone who
separates himself from the world through trusting in God's Word, clothes himself
with beautiful robes of Righteousness and Holiness.
"I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for
He hath clothed me with the garments of Salvation, He hath covered me with the robe
of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride
adorneth herself with her jewels" (Isaiah 61:10). God separates
NOT Himself from His Word, so much so, that when the LORD Jesus soon appears the
Second Time, He further chooses to identify Himself as "The
Word" that He faithfully keeps, which
at that time judges His enemies, as He has so long and continually warned. "And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood:
and His Name is called The Word of God"
(Revelation 19:13).
Pray Not to Be Led Into Temptation. (This excerpt
is our editorial, "Lead Us Not Into Temptation.") "Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil" (Matthew 6:13) means, Help
us not to sin, i.e., not to succumb to temptation, and thereby sin. Jesus
implied that everyone, including His Human Self, has tendencies of habit, circumstances
of the flesh, and predispositions of circumstances in the world, that will inevitably
cause us to sin unless identified and countered by a strength of God's
character, that can be claimed in faith as a Promise. "For
in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour [literally, help] them
that are tempted" (Hebrews 2:18). For instance, if I understand that I have a tendency to lose my
patience with a certain person in a familiar circumstance, i.e., the "sin which doth so easily beset us" (12:1), then it behooves me to seek by prayerful searching of the Word
for a revelation of the LORD's strength of patience, that the Holy Spirit may apply
to me, should the circumstance arise yet again. "A
prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are
punished" (Proverbs
22:3). Further, Christ Jesus "pleased not Himself"
(Romans 15:3),
leaving me the example of patience "for
our learning" (15:4); thereby, holding forth the opportunity that the "God of patience and consolation [would] grant you to be likeminded
one toward another according to Christ Jesus"
(15:5). This is
the anatomy of praying not to be led INTO temptation. "For
even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an
Example, that ye should follow His steps"
(1Peter 2:21).
[See our article, "What
the Bible Says About Temptation" ---New Window, for an
amplification of this subject.]
If we are to be holy, we must not be continually falling prey to sin. "Follow peace with all men, and Holiness, without which
no man shall see the LORD" (Hebrews 12:14). And, if we
seek not to be caught perpetually in the teeth of sin, we need to be continually
claiming Promises in prayer not to succumb to temptation. "There
hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is Faithful, Who
will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation
also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1Corinthians 10:13). Christians underestimate the necessity of prayer in overcoming
temptation, perhaps because they incorrectly assume that God's unwillingness that
we commit any kind of sin, prevents Him from allowing the world, the flesh, or the
Devil to tempt us. Remember, Christ "was
in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). The purpose of God allowing temptation is to get us to turn to
Him for help. "Let us therefore come boldly
unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find Grace to help in time
of need" (4:16).
[R. A. Torrey's "How
to Pray" ---New Window gives insight into the basics
of prayer.]
Our LORD Jesus Christ was allowed by the Father to be tempted in the wilderness by
the flesh (i.e., "2 And
when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterward an hungred. 3 And
when the Tempter came to Him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these
stones be made bread" [Matthew
4:2-3]), and to be tempted by the world
(i.e., "8 Again, the Devil
taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth Him all the kingdoms of
the world, and the glory of them; 9 and saith unto Him, All these
things will I give Thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship me" [4:8-9]). The LORD Jesus countered and overcame the temptation by resorting
to the help of the Word of God each time, i.e., "It
is written" (4:4,
7, 10). Our victory over temptation is no different.
You must also "resist stedfast in the
faith" (1Peter
5:9) before Satan "will
flee from you" (James
4:7). If the Father saw fit to allow
His Only Begotten Son to be tempted, to benefit us by the example of Jesus overcoming
by actively and purposely depending on the Word of God, then the Father will
also allow us to be tempted to glorify Himself by our overcoming temptation.
"Let no man say when he is tempted, I
am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man" (James 1:13). Also, remember that the Apostle Peter denied the LORD Jesus after
he failed to avail himself of the opportunity to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane,
because he was tired and did not see the need. "Watch
and pray, that ye enter not INTO temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the
flesh is weak" (Matthew
26:41). [Read
our editorial, "What Happened in Gethsemane?" ---New
Window for more concerning this.]
Do Not Be Surprised at Testings. "12 Beloved,
think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some
strange thing happened unto you: 13 but rejoice, inasmuch as ye
are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His Glory shall be revealed, ye
may be glad also with exceeding Joy" (1Peter 4:12-13). If we understand
that the "trying of [our] faith worketh patience" (James 1:3), then we should be all the more willing to undergo trials. On the
one hand, we know that we will not "grow
in Grace, and in the Knowledge of our LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ" (2Peter 3:18) without testing; but, on the other hand, we have been created
to not hate our "own flesh" (Ephesians 5:29). What are we to do? We are to trust the Father to wisely
choose for us when and what is to be the occasion for our testing. "Wherefore let them that suffer according to the Will of God
commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a Faithful Creator" (1Peter 4:19). God is the Master Craftsman that knows exquisitely how
to achieve the best effects in the "Beauty
of Holiness" (Psalm
29:2) in our lives. "But
now, O LORD, Thou art our Father; we are the clay, and Thou our Potter; and we all
are the work of Thy hand" (Isaiah 64:8). Instead of objecting to His right to exert sovereign choice
in the occasion and form of our testings, we need to acknowledge that He is worthy
"to receive Glory and Honour and Power" because He it is that "created
all things" (Revelation 4:11). We trust Him to choose our testings because we love Him. "We love Him, because He first loved us" (1John 4:19).
Expect Suffering as an Instrument for Your Sanctification. "Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things
which He suffered" (Hebrews
5:8). Modern Christians will most probably
be surprised at such talk of suffering as a means of our Sanctification, but the
concept is as old as man, for it was our first parents who learned that their sin
necessitated the Creator to achieve our Salvation and Sanctification through laboring
for our daily bread, as well as laboring for the birth of our children. "16 Unto the woman he said, I
will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth
children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. 17
And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened
unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee,
saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt
thou eat of it all the days of thy life"
(Genesis 3:16-17).
Even now the effects of childbearing, i.e., puberty, menstruation, and menopause,
bring about some of the greatest tests for the Sanctification of the Feminine Saints.
"Notwithstanding she shall be saved in
childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety" (1Timothy 2:15). Likewise, the Masculine Saints will most often find the
greatest tests for their Sanctification in their necessity to make physical and financial
provision for their families, i.e., "But
if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath
denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel"
(1Timothy 5:8).
As Christ learned obedience through His sufferings, God will beautify us through
our sufferings, and not destroy us. "22 It
is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new
every morning: great is Thy faithfulness"
(Lamentations 3:22-23).
Pray for Wisdom in All Things. "If
any of you lack Wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and
upbraideth not; and it shall be given him"
(James 1:5). [See our "Promises" ---New Window section
of our website for "Promises
for Wisdom"
---New Window.] Humanity may think that Wisdom is a poor substitute for
the reality of greater material possessions or increased standing in the estimation
of the world, but those who know the "Secret
of the LORD" (Psalm
25:14), appreciate that "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get Wisdom: and with
all thy getting get Understanding" (Proverbs 4:7). If we seek
"first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness...
all these [necessary material] things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33). And, why is Wisdom so principal a thing? Because "Christ the Power of God, and the Wisdom of God" (1Corinthians 1:24) personifies all that our understanding lacks. King Solomon
was instructed by his father David that the "fear
of the LORD is the beginning of Knowledge" (Proverbs
1:7), and to "get
Wisdom: and with all thy getting get Understanding"
(4:7). The lacking
of Wisdom is prime evidence that we have been created as finite human beings, for
even the Son of God, when He "was made
flesh, and dwelt among us" (John 1:14), "increased in Wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and
man" (Luke
2:52). How beautiful it is for a man to comprehend
that the "way of man is not in himself: [that] it is not
in man that walketh to direct his steps"
(Jeremiah 10:23)!
We need what only the Father through Christ can give us-- Wisdom. "For in Him [Christ] dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" (Colossians 2:9). Only as the Holy Spirit acquaints us with our great lack
of Wisdom and Christ's great supply, will we be motivated to prayerfully "search the Scriptures"
(John 5:39) for
the Wisdom and Understanding that we need. If we sense our lack of Wisdom, then the
Spirit is already teaching us our need. "For
as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" (Romans 8:14). Diligently seek through prayer and the Word for the understanding
needed, and "it shall be given you" (Luke 11:9). "For every one that
asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall
be opened" (11:10).
Pray for God's Help in All Things. "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). How can we walk in Holiness, while
we are in fear for our safety or uncertain of physical provision? "9
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for
ever: the Judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired
are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of
them there is Great Reward" (Psalm 19:9-11). God's help
is God's Grace. "Let us therefore come
boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find Grace to help
in time of need" (Hebrews
4:16). Who could not be all that he should
be, if given God's help in all things? "I
can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13). But, the reason we do not have a greater measure of God's help
in all things, is that we do not ask Him for that help. "Thus
saith the LORD GOD; I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to
do it for them" (Ezekiel
36:37). The Epistle of James teaches us, "Ye have not, because ye ask not" (James 4:2). True, Divinely speaking, we do not know the right objects for prayer,
i.e., "we know not what we should pray
for as we ought" (Romans
8:26); but, the Holy Spirit has been given
to us to lead our minds aright, i.e., "but
the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" (8:26). It is our Gospel privilege to petition the Almighty for help in
all things in Jesus' precious Name-- and expect to receive our petition. "And whatsoever ye shall ask in My Name, that will
I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son"
(John 14:13).
Love God With All Your Heart. "37 Jesus
said unto him, Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all
thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the First and Great
Commandment" (Matthew
22:37-38). [Read
"The Ten Commandments" ---New Window by D.
L. Moody ---New Window,
to appreciate better the significance of love, obedience, and the Ten Commandments.] It is only appropriate that the God Who "is love" (1John 4:8) would require of
His moral creatures the return of His love to Him. Obedience to His Commandments
is "reasonable service" (Romans 12:1) because it is the expression of our love to Him. "If ye love Me, keep My Commandments" (John 14:15). Obedience has
always been our bounden duty to God. "Let
us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His Commandments:
for this is the whole duty of man" (Ecclesiastes 12:13). He created
us with the capacity to obey Him, i.e., "God
said unto [Adam and Eve], 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).
Even after the Fall of our First Parents, we still have the moral capacity of obeying
God and loving Him with all our heart; but, we never will obey without Divine
Assistance. "Teach me to do Thy Will;
for Thou art my God: Thy Spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness" (Psalm 143:10). This is the purpose for the giving of the Holy Spirit
in these New Testament times-- to secure our obedience! "26 A
New Heart also will I give you, and a New Spirit will I put within you: and I will
take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
27 And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you
to walk in My Statutes, and ye shall keep My Judgments, and do them" (Ezekiel 36:26-27).
Do Not Fail to Love Your Neighbour as Yourself. "And
the Second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" (Matthew 22:39). Any kind of regard for our neighbour that is not based
upon or motivated by the love of God, is mere humanism. "And
though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,
and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing"
(1Corinthians 13:3).
The earthly mission of the LORD Jesus Christ was not to destroy the Law of Love,
"but to fulfil" (Matthew 5:17) it. Unfortunately, many have mistakenly assumed that fulfilling
the Law meant Jesus completed the Law in such a sense that no one else needed to
obey it any longer; however, only the Old Testament Ceremonial Law for Temple worship
and Ancient Israel's Civil Law are now completed and set aside. "For the Law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a
better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God"
(Hebrews 7:19).
The Saints are still called upon to obey the Law of Love for their neighbour,
and especially for their Brethren, as they would that others obey that Law toward
themselves. "7 Beloved, let us love
one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth
God... 11 Beloved, if God so
loved us, we ought also to love one another"
(1John 4:7, 11).
Some have also mistakenly assumed that only the Old Testament enjoined the loving
of our neighbour, while the New Testament restricted love to exclusively our Brethren
in the Faith; but, Jesus clarified that the standard of love toward our neighbour
should be just as rightly applied to our enemies. "But
I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that
hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you" (Matthew 5:44). If Jesus only did good to those who are good, then Jesus
would never have died for us, for "there
is none good but one, that is, God" (Mark 10:18). May God grant
that we be beautified in Holiness by loving our neighbour, as we ought. "For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning,
that we should love one another" (1John 3:11).
Labour for the Material Support of Yourself and Your Family. "But if any provide not for his own, and specially
for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel" (1Timothy 5:8). [Read a discourse on "Money" (Chapter
48) ---New
Window by Andrew
Murray ---New Window, of his extremely useful book, "The
New Life: Words of God for Young Disciples of Christ" ---New Window.] As the Saints come even more closely to the Endtime Economy
of Antichrist's global control of our ability to buy or sell, the difficulty of Christian
husbands and fathers to provide for their families will become increasingly difficult--
"no man might buy or sell, save he that
had the mark, or the name of the Beast, or the number of his name" (Revelation 13:17)-- but, "with
God all things are possible" (Mark 10:27). Willingness for
the Christian breadwinner to work and make that provision, is not enough. We need
the assistance that only God the Sustainer can provide! "Except
the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep
the city, the watchman waketh but in vain"
(Psalm 127:1).
We need to become intimately familiar with the Promises of God for the material support
of ourselves and our families, for if His Word caused the universe to be formed,
surely He can make provision for us by the Word of His Promises. "O fear the LORD, ye His Saints: for there is no want to them
that fear Him" (34:9). Further, if the Father cares for the life of even the
sparrow, how much more does He care for the lives of the family entrusted to us?
"6 Are not five sparrows
sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? 7
But even the very hairs of your head are all
numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows" (Luke 12:6-7).
Relieve the Wants of Those Who Have Need Around You. "1
Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the
LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. 2 The LORD will preserve
him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the Earth: and Thou wilt not
deliver him unto the will of his enemies"
(Psalm 41:1-2).
[John Wesley's classic sermon on "The
Use of Money"
---New Window supports
the idea of relieving the needs of others, under his sermon's third and final point,
"Give All You Can".] The Saints have
not been called upon to relieve only the wants of the Saints, but also the needs
of all men. "As we have therefore opportunity,
let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:10). The material relief of those outside of the "household of faith"
(6:10), may serve
the purpose of bringing that person to the loving arms of the Saviour; but, if they
still and finally reject the Saviour, God will be even more justified in His Judgment
of that rejecter of the Grace of God with "destruction
and perdition" (1Timothy
6:9). However, our relief of those around us,
is not simply a blank check, waiting for petitioners to fill in the amount, i.e.,
Is this due them? Do you have the power to do it? "Withhold
not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do
it" (Proverbs
3:27). If we are right with God, then our giving
should be coupled with faith that God is our Storehouse (Malachi
3:10) and our Heavenly Banker, who will more
than amply disgorge our deposits with Him, which deposits we made when we relieved
those around us. "Give, and it shall be
given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over,
shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it
shall be measured to you again" (Luke 6:38). How beautiful
is this Holiness of giving! "Bring ye
all the tithes into the Storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove
Me now herewith, saith the LORD of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of Heaven,
and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it" (Malachi 3:10).
Support the Work of Christ's Church Through Time, Tithe, and Intercession.
"And all the tithe of the land,
whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S:
it is holy unto the LORD" (Leviticus 27:30). The Church
of the LORD Jesus Christ is constituted of all those who "have
obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour
Jesus Christ" (2Peter
1:1). Because we have not all had the opportunity
of the same circumstances and the same teaching, we may honestly understand (or,
think we understand) doctrine differently; but, that does not mean that we are not
to attempt to "speak the same thing, and
that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in
the same mind and in the same judgment"
(1Corinthians 1:10).
Love demands that we support and forbear our brethren "for
whom Christ died" (Romans
14:15). Ensuring that the ministry is supported,
i.e., "the labourer is worthy of his hire" (Luke 10:7), and that godly widows and orphans are relieved, is the duty of
the Church. "Honour widows that are widows
indeed" (1Timothy
5:3). "Pure
Religion and Undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless
and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world" (James 1:27). What we cannot give in time and tithe, we have the privilege to
give through intercession. "I pray for
them: I pray not for the world, but for them which Thou hast given Me; for they are
Thine" (John
17:9). The LORD Jesus is our example of intercession
for the Church. "Wherefore He is able
also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He [Christ] ever liveth
to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25).
Witness to the World of Its Need of Christ. "For
God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth
in Him should not perish, but have Everlasting Life"
(John 3:16). [See A. T. Pierson's "The
Heart of the Gospel"
---New Window, to read
a sermon preached from C. H. Spurgeon's Metropolitan Tabernacle about the glories
of the Gospel.] If the Father was compelled
by love for the world and respect for His Law of Love, to devise a plan to redeem
Lawbreaking Sinners based upon their repentance and the ingenious sacrifice of His
Son to satisfy the demands of the broken Law, then how could we not but enter into
labour with Him for the Salvation of the world? "Say
not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you,
Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest" (John 4:35). The Gospel is the Good News of a second chance of forgiveness for
our selfish rebellion against obedience to the "First
and Great Commandment" (Matthew
22:38), i.e., "Thou
shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all
thy mind" (22:37),
and against the "Second" (22:39) Commandment, i.e., "Thou
shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" (22:39). We are not to preach
to the world a Gospel that invites the forgiveness of sins without a return to obedience
to the Royal Law. "If ye fulfil the Royal
Law according to the Scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well" (James 2:8). God will still be glorified by a complete exhibition of Christ
and His Atonement to the world, whether or not the hearers believe. "14 Now thanks be unto God, which
always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His Knowledge
by us in every place. 15
For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ,
in them that are saved, and in them that perish: 16 to the one we are
the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And
who is sufficient for these things? 17 For
we are not as many, which corrupt the Word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of
God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ"
(2Corinthians 2:14-17).
[See Charles G. Finney's "The Gospel the Savor of Life
or of Death" ---New Window to see
how God "will be as truly honored in the damnation
of those who reject, as in the salvation of those who receive Christ... Because it
will be known that He did all the nature of the case admitted, to save those who
are lost."]
Testify to the Truthfulness of God's Word by Your Life and Deeds. "Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and
read of all men" (2Corinthians
3:2). [D. L. Moody's
"The Way to God" ---New Window and "Heaven:
Where It Is, Its Inhabitants, And How to Get There" ---New Window are wonderful
tools for inquirers to read about the way of Salvation. "All
of Grace" ---New Window by C.
H. Spurgeon ---New Window, will also greatly enlighten those seeking the way to God.] We are, therefore, signposts that point to Christ, for
He is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life" (John 14:6). The more we understand that Jesus is the answer to our every
need, will we be able to testify of His ability to meet every need of all men. "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Experimental
knowledge of Jesus Christ is experiential knowledge of the truth of God's Word, that
we may live out daily in the sight of man, but always in the sight of God. "Be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only" (James 1:22). Even if we are not so privileged to live our lives in plain enough
view of the world that they may "see [our] good works,
and glorify [our] Father
which is in Heaven" (Matthew
5:16), "Thou
God seest me" (Genesis
16:13), and "thy
Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly" (Matthew 6:18). The world may never read a Bible, hear a Gospel sermon, or study
a Gospel tract, but they may still encounter a Real Christian, whose life testifies
to the Truth. "13 Ye are the Salt of
the Earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it
is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot
of men. 14 Ye are the Light of the World. A city that is set on an
hill cannot be hid. 15
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under
a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your
good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven" (5:13-16).
["Sermons
on Gospel Themes"
---New Window, "The Way of Salvation" ---New Window, and "Sermons from the Penny Pulpit" ---New Window are an
extensive library of Gospel sermons from the 19th Century evangelist, Charles
G. Finney ---New Window, that may instruct even a 21st Century dweller in Gospel Salvation.]
Meditate Continually Upon the Word of God in Its Application to Your Circumstances.
"1 Blessed is the man
that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners,
nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the Law of the LORD; and in His Law
doth he meditate day and night. 3 And
he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit
in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper" (Psalm 1:1-3). [Visit C. H. Spurgeon's "Faith's Checkbook" ---New Window for daily
encouragement from the Promises of the Word of God.]
Man's ability to make a moral choice separates him from being merely an animal, and
specifically, to meditate upon the Word of God, gives him the opportunity to be like
His Creator, Saviour, and Sanctifier. "God
created man in his own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female
created He them" (Genesis
1:27). Meditation is pondering and considering
the Word of God, like a cow chews its cud; but, also like a cow, the Word must be
digested to do any good. "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, O LORD God of Hosts" (Jeremiah 15:16). Our ability to make the wisest possible application of the Word
of God to our circumstances is directly proportional to our willingness to do whatever
we discover to be its meaning. "If any
man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine"
(John 7:17). [See our article, "The Word of
God" ---New Window, to learn Who the Word is and
what He means to the believer.] Meditation
upon the Word of God may occur when we read, hear, memorize, study, or even attempt
to minister the Word. Typically, we settle upon some aspect of the Scripture that
we do not fully understand or have never considered in that application, then we
turn it about in our mind, until we understand it. "15 I
will meditate in Thy precepts, and have respect unto Thy ways... 5 I remember the days
of old; I meditate on all Thy works; I muse on the work of Thy hands" (Psalm 119:15; 143:5). Sometimes we may be considering the wording of a prophecy
of Scripture or a declaration about the character of God that we are attempting to
reconcile with our present understanding, then our meditation becomes more like answering
a riddle or solving a conundrum. "Hope
deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life" (Proverbs 13:12). Meditation on the Word causes us "to be conformed to the image of His Son" (Romans 8:29) by making us to mentally travel the same paths as Jesus did, when
as a maturing young man, He "increased
in Wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man" (Luke 2:52).
Read the Word of God Continually to Become Familiar With the Voice of the Holy
Spirit. "14 I am the Good Shepherd,
and know My sheep, and am known of Mine... 27 My sheep hear My
voice, and I know them, and they follow Me"
(John 10:14, 27).
[We invite you to listen online to the KJV
Audio Bible read by Alexander Stephen Johnston ---New Window, which
is only one of many ways God has provided for us to become "doers
of the Word, and not hearers only" (James 1:22).] Familiarity with the Word of God will not breed contempt
because it is the Voice of God, just as it was originally with Adam and Eve, when
"they heard the Voice of the LORD God
walking in the Garden in the cool of the day"
(Genesis 3:8).
If we walk with God, Scripture should not intimidate us; but, "if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door" (Genesis 4:7), and we will not be able to bear the hearing of the Voice
of His Word. We are privileged to have the Greatest Resource Imaginable to Mankind,
which is the Word of God, complete with its own Illuminator, Teacher, and Mentor,
who is the Holy Spirit. "But the Comforter,
which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My Name, He shall teach you
all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto
you" (John 14:26).
If we sometimes wish that we could have been with Jesus during His earthly ministry,
then we have the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to be able to hear exactly what
He said and meant, when He walked the dusty roads of Israel some 2,000 years ago.
"He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive
of Mine, and shall shew it unto you" (John 16:14). Unfortunately
for many, other things have been attached to the voice of the Holy Spirit that contradict
or diminish the clear Word of God, that being "filled
with the Spirit" (Ephesians
5:18) no longer means abiding in Him, who is
the Word of God. "If ye abide in Me, and
My Words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (John 15:7).
Especially Study the Offices, Relations, Names, and Capacities of Christ in His
Relationship to the Believer. "Take
my yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall
find rest unto your souls" (Matthew 11:29). [See our exposition, "An
Urgent Call to Christian Perfection" ---New Window, where
Christian Perfection is simply to "appropriate
Christ by faith in all of His offices, capacities, and relations to meet our every
need in life."]
Beautiful Holiness must comprehend the relations of Christ to the Believer for the
Believer to avail himself of all that Christ is. "But
of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, Who of God is made unto us Wisdom, and Righteousness,
and Sanctification, and Redemption" (1Corinthians 1:30). The Believer
must understand that we are unable to succeed against the world, the flesh, or the
Devil without the intervention of the LORD Jesus Christ in all of His offices, relations,
names, and capacities. For example, as the Overcomer of the World, Christ invites
us to stand in His victory through faith. "These
things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall
have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). "For whatsoever is born
of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even
our faith" (1John
5:4). Another illustration, in our victory
over the flesh, Christ furnishes us His Spirit to mind not the "things of the flesh"
(Romans 8:5),
i.e., "For they that are after the flesh
do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of
the Spirit" (8:5). "9 But
ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell
in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His... 11 But
if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised
up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that
dwelleth in you" (8:9,
11). An additional example of how a capacity
of Christ meets our need of overcoming the Wicked One, the LORD Jesus Christ is the
Binder of the Strong Man, where the strong man is the Devil. "25
And if a house be divided against itself, that
house cannot stand. 26
And if Satan rise up against himself, and be
divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end. 27 No man can enter
into a strong man's house [Satan's house], and spoil his goods
[Captive Sinners], except he [Christ] will first bind the
strong man [Christ bound the Devil through
His Cross]; and then he will spoil his house" (Mark 3:25-27). When we "resist
the Devil" (James
4:7), "stedfast
in the faith" (1Peter
5:9), which is the "faith
of the Son of God" (Galatians
2:20), then the Archenemy "will flee from you"
(James 4:7). As
you can see, the LORD Jesus claimed to be the very capacities that we most desperately
need. "I am the Way, the Truth, and the
Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me"
(John 14:6).
Learn the Importance of Sound Doctrine, But Be Careful Not to Become Contentious
With Honestly Differing Brethren. "But
speak thou the things which become Sound Doctrine"
(Titus 2:1). [See our "Topical
Links on Sound Doctrine"
---New Window for more
on Sound Doctrine, of which the Spirit and not man must persuade us.] The only Sound Doctrine is the teaching of the Word of
God. "All Scripture is given by inspiration
of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction
in righteousness" (2Timothy
3:16). And, the purpose of Sound Doctrine is
the Perfection of the Saints. "That the
man of God may be perfect" (3:17). The result of Sound
Doctrine's perfection is the Wholesome Conduct of the Saints, i.e., "throughly furnished unto all good works" (3:17). Man is such a small thing in the Grand Scheme of Things, i.e.,
"LORD, what is man, that Thou takest knowledge
of him! or the son of man, that Thou makest account of him!" (Psalm 144:3); yet, the humanist, like a fool, takes the greatest pride "that his heart may discover itself" (Proverbs 18:2), instead of devoting His life to mining the "Unsearchable Riches of Christ" (Ephesians 3:8) that may be found only when the Blessed Spirit teaches a man "every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the
LORD" (Deuteronomy
8:3). Even when we have been taught Sound Doctrine
by God Himself, our glory is not to be in ourselves or our learning, but in God Himself.
"23 Thus saith the LORD,
Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his
might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: 24 but let him that
glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the LORD
which exercise Lovingkindness, Judgment, and Righteousness, in the Earth: for in
these things I delight, saith the LORD"
(Jeremiah 9:23-24).
As much as the study of Sound Doctrine will separate us from the foolishness of man,
our desire must be for harmony in the Body of Believers, "in
Earth, as it is in Heaven" (Matthew 6:10). "Now I beseech you, Brethren, by the Name of our LORD
Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among
you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (1Corinthians 1:10). As willing as we must be to "earnestly
contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the Saints" (Jude 3), "holding fast the Faithful
Word as [we have] been
taught, that [we] may
be able by Sound Doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers" (Titus 1:9), we must prayerfully distinguish between Sinful Gainsayers and Honestly
Differing Brethren, and never strive, debate, or argue the Scriptures with Honest
Brethren, for the LORD Himself must do the persuading, if they are to be convinced.
"Behold, how good and how pleasant it
is for Brethren to dwell together in unity!"
(Psalm 133:1).
Study Scripture for Understanding of How to Live. "This
Book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein
day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein:
for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success" (Joshua 1:8). [See Ian Paisley's "Seven Reasons Why I Believe
the Bible Is the Word of God" ---New Window for a
greater appreciation of what the Scripture is.]
The world looks for beauty in itself, while the Saints seek for the Beauty that is
in Christ alone. "10 My Beloved is white
and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand... 16 His mouth is most
sweet: yea, He is Altogether Lovely. This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend, O
daughters of Jerusalem" (Song
of Solomon 5:10, 16). It is only fitting that
the Saints see life and living through the perspective of the Beautiful Son of God. "13 And in the midst of the seven
candlesticks one like unto the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the foot,
and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. 14 His head and His
hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire;
15 and His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in
a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters. 16 And He had in His
right hand seven stars: and out of His mouth went a sharp Twoedged Sword [The Word of God]:
and His countenance was as the sun shineth in
[its] strength"
(Revelation 1:13-16).
Through the usefulness of the Wisdom of the Old Testament Book of Proverbs and the
New Testament Epistle of James, the encouragement for the heart of the Psalms, the
instruction of example of the Pentateuch, the Old Testament Historical Books, and
the New Testament Book of the Acts of the Apostles, the helpful explanations of doctrine
of Paul's epistles, the emphasis of love of John's epistles, the practicality of
suffering and glory of Peter's epistles, and the understanding of the future through
the Old Testament Prophets, the Book of Daniel, and the New Testament Book of Revelation,
our LORD gives us a complete set of instructions about how to live our
life. "And thine ears shall hear a
Word behind thee, saying, This is The Way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right
hand, and when ye turn to the left" (Isaiah 30:21). Whatever we
need to understand to live our life, is found in the Scriptures. "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceedeth
out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). Our ignorance
of God's Word deprives us of the benefit of God's Power on every aspect of living.
"According as His Divine Power hath given
unto us all things that pertain unto Life and Godliness, through the Knowledge of
Him that hath called us to Glory and Virtue"
(2Peter 1:3).
Education, vocation, and daily living require us to master a body of knowledge to
properly function, but all of this temporarily useful knowledge pales by comparison
to the eminently more valuable knowledge of God. "7 The
Law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the Testimony of the LORD is sure,
making wise the simple. 8 The Statutes of the
LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the Commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening
the eyes. 9 The Fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the Judgments
of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired
are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of
them there is Great Reward" (Psalm 19:7-11).
Study Prophecy to Comprehend What the Church Ought to Do in These Last Days.
"Blessed is he that readeth, and they
that hear the Words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein:
for the time is at hand" (Revelation 1:3). [See our "Commentary
on the Book of Revelation"
---New Window for a
more comprehensive perspective on Biblical Prophecy.]
With all the interest in knowing tomorrow's news today, the world still does not
pay heed to the prophetic Scriptures; but, the prophecies have no moral benefit than
to the extent that they are believed. "For
unto us was the Gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the Word preached did
not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it" (Hebrews 4:2). Not only may the prophecies of impending doom "warn them that are unruly" (1Thessalonians
5:14), but they are intended to guide the Righteous.
"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" (Hebrews 10:25). Some argue
that too much emphasis upon the Prophetic Scriptures will cause the Saints to be
so focused on the Coming of the LORD Jesus that they will not pay enough attention
to the affairs of this life; but, this is to neglect the fact that the Spirit of
God has covenanted Himself to guide the Church in the way it should go in light of
Christ's Soon Return. "Howbeit when He,
the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all Truth: for He shall not
speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will
shew you things to come" (John 16:13). It appears that
our LORD intended us to have this mindset of "Occupy
Till I Come" (Luke
19:13), because both the Ordinance of the LORD's
Supper and obedience to the Great Commission hinge upon the continual remembrance
of His Soon Return, i.e., "For as often
as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the LORD's death till He
come" (1Corinthians
11:26), and "Teaching
them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you
alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen"
(Matthew 28:20).
As far as the Saints' having a greater sense of understanding of the "times and the seasons"
(1Thessalonians 5:1)--
to the Wicked, the End will come as "sudden
destruction... and they shall not escape"
(5:3), while the
Saints "are not in darkness, that that
day should overtake [them] as a thief" (5:4). How the Spirit may make
this understanding known to the Watching and Waiting Saints, may mean that the Spirit
may resort to the use of Modern Prophets in conjunction with His Prophetic Scriptures;
but, both must be in agreement, for the "Scripture
cannot be broken" (John
10:35). "16 But
this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17 and it shall come
to pass in the Last Days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh:
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 and on My servants
and on My handmaidens I will pour out in those days of My Spirit; and they shall
prophesy: 19 and I will shew wonders in Heaven above, and signs in the
Earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: 20 The sun shall be
turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day
of the LORD come: 21
and it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall
call on the Name of the LORD shall be saved" (Acts
2:16-21).
Separate Yourself From Sinning Professed Brethren, But Always Pray and Labour
for Their Restoration. "And if any
man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him,
that he may be ashamed" (2Thessalonians
3:14). [See our
article, "How to Deal With
Backsliders"
---New Window, for more
background on this matter of Church Discipline.]
Lukewarm Laodicea is the description of the Church Age, i.e., "15
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold
nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou
art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth" (Revelation 3:15-16), at the time the LORD Jesus Christ is outside the door
ready to return, i.e., "Behold, I stand
at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come
in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me"
(3:20). "Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye
be condemned: behold, the Judge standeth before the door" (James 5:9).
Professed Christians have become disobedient to the plain commands of Scripture,
specifically in their toleration of sin, and allowing for abortion, etc., and consequently,
have incurred the displeasure and wrath of Almighty God. "If
ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD
hath spoken it" (Isaiah
1:20). [See our
article "What the Bible Says
About Abortion"
---New Window, for an
explanation of why God is displeased.] "When the Son of Man cometh, shall He find faith on
the Earth?" (Luke
18:8). The purpose of separating from Sinning
Brethren is for their restoration. "Brethren,
if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in
the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted" (Galatians 6:1). If they do not repent now, then they may miss the Pre-Tribulational
Rapture, and enter the Tribulation Week-- to be reformed then. "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted
worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the
Son of Man" (Luke
21:36). [See our
article, "Must There
Be a Pre-Tribulational Rapture?" ---New Window, for understanding
of this Scriptural event.]
Be Willing to Stand Alone With Christ. "Let
us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach" (Hebrews 13:13). [See our editorial, "Alone , But Not Lonely" ---New Window, to see
how loneliness is impossible to those who walk with God. Also, "The
History of Protestantism"
---New Window by J. A. Wylie ---New Window, introduces Christians to their
past struggles with the Harlot of Rome. Our series, "Babylon
the Great" ---New Window, brings the readers current
with the great struggle of the Saints with its great spiritual foe.] Since Holiness is separating unto Christ from sin, then
we must stand alone, if no one else will stand with us. "Blessed
are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company,
and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake" (Luke 6:22). At times, our separation may be simply because the world will have
no part of us, but at other times it is because we cannot have any part of the world.
"15 Love not the world,
neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of
the Father is not in him. 16
For all that is in the world, the lust of the
flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but
is of the world" (1John
2:15-16). When Professed Brethren depart from
obedience to the LORD, we cannot be walking in fellowship and agreement with them.
"And if any man obey not our word by this
epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed" (2Thessalonians 3:14). We cannot walk with Disobedient Brethren because it would
be agreement with their disobedience. "Can
two walk together, except they be agreed?"
(Amos 3:3). But,
we have the Promise that our Sinning Brethren will be restored, if we deal with them
in faith. "4 In the Name of our
LORD Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the Power of
our LORD Jesus Christ, 5
to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction
of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the LORD Jesus" (1Corinthians 5:4-5).
Learn to Discern the Holy Spirit's Leading in His Day-to-Day Providence. "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they
are the sons of God" (Romans
8:14). What could we ask more than to be led
by God's Spirit Himself? "And I will bring
the blind by a Way that they knew not; I will lead them in Paths that they have not
known: I will make darkness Light before them, and crooked things Straight. These
things will I do unto them, and not forsake them"
(Isaiah 42:16).
Life is not a series of accidents for the Christian, but learning to read the leading
of the Spirit's Providence in our day-to-day circumstances. "I being in the way, the LORD led me" (Genesis 24:27). It takes patience and faith to keep on our course, because we are
most prone to become "weary in well doing" (Galatians 6:9), but "in due
season we shall reap, if we faint not"
(6:9). Discerning
the will of God must be a certainty for the Saints, or how can we ever hope to walk
consistently in the path of righteousness? "Teach
me Thy Way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain Path, because of mine enemies" (Psalm 27:11). How tragic to watch as Professed Christians vacillate
between sin and Holiness-- sometimes sinning, then repenting and turning back to
Holiness, then back again! "I know thy
works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot" (Revelation 3:15). As we approach
the End of the Church Age, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find Consistent
Christianity that knows the will of God and performs it; but, the LORD will not leave
Himself without a "remnant according to
the election of Grace" (Romans
11:5). May God grant us the Grace to know and
do the will of God! "23 Search me, O God,
and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in
the Way Everlasting" (Psalm 139:23-24).
Pray and Labour for the Soon Return of the LORD Jesus Christ. "And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached
in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the End come" (Matthew 24:14). [See our article, "Meet Mr. Philadelphia" ---New Window, to read
about one of the major figures of the 1800's, who promoted the evangelization of
the world by 1900-- Arthur T. Pierson ---New Window.] Scoffers mock that many (including this writer) expected
to be Raptured before the turn of this last century, but the history of Christianity
is replete with examples of the 1st Century, the First Millennium (Year 1000), etc.
where Christians have been persuaded that they would be seeing the Second Coming
of the LORD Jesus Christ or be Raptured. However, the LORD is only disappointed
in us when we leave off praying and labouring for His Return. "And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the
plough, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62).
Scoffers will always mock us, when we honestly engage ourselves in doing the will
of God, so we must seek only that God is comfortable with us, rather than ourselves
to be comfortable with the scoffers, for "evil
men and seducers [will only] wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived" (2Timothy 3:13). Not so strangely, our Brethren, e.g., A. J. Gordon and
A. T. Pierson, from the late 1800's discovered a truth from the Scriptures that propelled
the Modern Missionary Movement, that when the Gospel of the Kingdom would be "preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations" (Matthew 24:14), only "then
shall the End come" (24:14). Instead of accommodating the scoffers with a retreat into
secret enclaves, these holy visionaries launched out to attempt to complete the spread
of the Gospel to the entire world in their generation! "And
again, I will put my trust in Him. And again, Behold I and the children which God
hath given me" (Hebrews 2:13). May God use the World Wide Web to complete the process! "The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but
those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that
we may do all the Words of this Law" (Deuteronomy 29:29). [Read A. J. Gordon's poem about the return of the LORD, "The King Draws Near"---New Window.]
The Power of prayer to hasten the return of the LORD Jesus Christ is underestimated
because it has taken close to two millennia of prayer like that to get this far.
"Thy Kingdom come" (Matthew 6:10). But, how much longer would it be had the prayer never gone forth?
"Looking for and hasting unto the coming
of the day of God" (2Peter
3:12). [See our
article, "Hastening
the LORD's Return"
---New Window, for a
development of the idea that we have any effect upon how quickly our LORD returns.] Our Sovereign God most certainly knows the most pregnant
time for His Return and our escape, but still He commands us, "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted
worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the
Son of Man" (Luke
21:36). If we would but remember to pray for
the Brethren the same things that we pray for ourselves, we would do much toward
ensuring that our Heavenly LORD has a worthy host to escape, when He sounds the call.
"Brethren, pray for us" (1Thessalonians 5:25). And, if we could but be encouraged to pray for mercy on
our Lost Neighbours, Eternity alone will tell how much our prayers availed. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth
much" (James
5:16). [Read E. M. Bounds ---New Window for encouragement to pray, in
his books, "Power Through
Prayer" ---New Window, "The
Necessity of Prayer"
---New Window, "The Possibilities of Prayer" ---New Window, and "The
Weapon of Prayer"
---New Window.]
essiah Jesus
most certainly will see the day of His Power, when He will begin His Earthly Millennial
Reign, seated on the "Throne of His father
David: And He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His Kingdom there
shall be no end" (Luke
1:32-33). However, is He not already
seated at the "right hand of the Throne
of the Majesty in the Heavens" (Hebrews 8:1)? And, has He
not already amazed the Heavenlies with the
"Power of His Resurrection" (Philippians 3:10)? King David the Psalmist declared: "The LORD said unto my
Lord, Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool. The LORD
shall send the rod of Thy strength out of Zion: rule Thou in the midst of Thine enemies" (Psalm 110:1-2). Is not the "rod of [Messiah
Jesus'] strength" (110:2) the Gospel of the Grace of God, and is it not the "Power of God unto Salvation" (Romans 1:16)? Multiply this with the understanding that Christ's New
Covenant has wonderfully pledged the Power of the Divine Presence of the Holy Spirit
of Almighty God to "whosoever
will" (Revelation
22:17). "38 Then
Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the Promise is unto you, and to your children, and to
all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call" (Acts 2:38-39). Did not even the Old Testament writers comprehend that
there would come a day when Pentecost's Promised Blessing of Divine Presence would
invigorate all those that repent and turn to Jesus Christ in faith-- and, most importantly,
cause us to walk in Perfect Obedience? "26 A
New Heart also will I give you, and a New Spirit will I put within you: and I will
take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
27 And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk
in My Statutes, and ye shall keep My Judgments, and do them" (Ezekiel 36:26-27).
s you can see,
we may be beautified by Holiness, but it is inescapable that our beautification cannot
be but a boon to the Church and the World. "And
I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great;
and thou shalt be a blessing" (Genesis 12:2). Only with the
greatest Wisdom will the All Wise God honour us with the
"Beauties of Holiness" (Psalm 110:3), for He knows all too well that we must be first and continually
metamorphosized by faith, before growth in His Holiness becomes us. "5 And beside this, giving all
diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6
and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance
patience; and to patience godliness; 7 and to godliness brotherly
kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things
be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful
in the Knowledge of our LORD Jesus Christ"
(2Peter 1:5-8).
Never on Earth or in Heaven will we truly say that the Holiness with which we have
been graced, is our own, but the LORD's that purchased us. "1
Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto
the LORD Glory and Strength. 2 Give unto the LORD
the Glory due unto His Name; worship the LORD in the Beauty of Holiness" (Psalm 29:1-2).
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