Jan 15
3
To worship God in the Spirit is to worship without the use of idolatrous images and rituals. It is a heart worship of the living God. Yet, it is much more than that. It is worshipping God in the power of and under the influence of the Holy Spirit. True worship is born in the heart by the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit speaks to us through the Word of God, revealing Christ in us; and He causes us to worship God. It is the Spirit of Christ in the heart that produces all characteristics of true worship: humility, faith, repentance, submission, adoration, and obedience to God. Pastor Don Fortner
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The believer is a mystery to others and to himself also. He is sanctified, yet feels himself to be the chief of sinners. He loves God’s law, yet he wrestles with an inward desire to have his own way. He has great sorrow and heaviness of heart over others, yet he rejoices in the Lord always. His spirit longs to be with Christ, yet his flesh clings to the earth. He knows that he is secure in Christ, yet he examines his faith continually. Pastor Henry Mahan
If all of God’s elect were “Sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Heb. 10:10), could we do anything to become more sanctified in the eyes of God, who sees us in Christ? If our Lord Jesus, “Perfected for ever them that are sanctified” (Heb. 10:14), could we do anything to make us more perfect than what we are in Christ? If Jesus Christ, “By Himself purged our sins” (Heb. 1:3), could we do anything to purge that which has already been removed? If the blood of Jesus Christ, “Cleanseth us from all sin” (I John 1:7), could we, who are washed in His precious blood, get any cleaner by our doings? These are questions the works religionists cannot give a Biblical answer to. Many believe that by keeping the Law of Moses, they can become more sanctified, more holy in the sight of God. What is it about these verses they don’t understand: “If ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law” (Gal. 5:18). “Ye are not under the law, but under grace” (Rom. 6:14). “Ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ” (Rom. 7:4). “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth” (Rom. 10:4). “The law is not of faith” (Gal. 3:12). Brethren, either Jesus Christ is all to us, or He is nothing at all to us. – Pastor Gene Harmon
CHRIST CRUCIFIED
The preaching of Christ Jesus and Him crucified is hated by this religious world. But those who believe, and are saved, love it with a perfect love. It is our only hope, our Salvation. If we compromise on this to please the people of our day, we compromise the Gospel, and make the death of our Lord Jesus Christ of none effect. We have no Salvation. We have no hope. We will stand before a thrice Holy God with a hope only in what we can do to satisfy His justice. We will be obligated to pay our sin debt with the works of the flesh, while the Scriptures declare that, “By the works of the flesh shall no man be justified in His sight.” What hope is there in this? None whatsoever. – Unknown
“Thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.” – Matthew 1:21
When we feel oppressed and overcome by our sin and our sins, what a precious promise. He shall save. Notice the certainty of the language. His people are the objects of this great salvation. From their sins. Here is what I need to be saved from. My sins! He shall save His people from the punishment of sin. He shall save His people from the power of sin. We can now do what we previously could not do when we were under the power of sin. We can now believe, repent, and love because sin no longer has dominion. And one day, blessed thought, we will be saved from the presence of sin. We will commit sin no longer. We will no longer remember what is was to be a sinner. Then we will understand. “Thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.”
Todd Nibert.
BORN KING
Matthew 2: 2: Where is he that is born King of the Jews?
Christ Jesus was born King. No sinner makes him Lord. He was born King of the Jews, whom he redeemed out of every kindred, tongue, people and nation. (Rom 2: 28-29; 9: 6-8; Php 3: 3; Rev 5: 9; Is 9: 6-7) The government of his kingdom rested upon his shoulder from eternity. (Is 42: 1) He established his kingdom, every member in particular, with equity and justice by magnifying and making honorable the law of God for his people. (Is 42: 21; Rom 3: 26; Eph 2: 19; Gal 3: 13)
Now, from his throne of grace, our King orders his kingdom with the same judgment and justice through the preaching of the gospel, ruling in the midst of his people, as well as over his enemies. (Ps 110: 1-4; Pro 21: 1; Is 11: 4-5; 32: 1-2; Mt 28: 18; Rev 19: 11) When he has made the last of his servants bow in faith he shall return, gathering all his people in heaven and in earth together in him. (Eph 1: 10) In the great day of judgment every knee shall bow, confessing him Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Php 2: 10-11; Heb 10: 13) There shall be no end of his government. (Dan 7: 27; Ps 145: 13; Mt 6: 13)
Believer, what does this mean for us? “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” (Heb 12: 28) Clay Curtis.
How is salvation recieved
Most everyone would agree that there is immense need of salvation in the soul of all people. Just look around, there are churches and different denominations of religion everywhere. Surely, people are saying there is a necessity of salvation. The scriptures certainly make it plain that there is a need of salvation. For we read, “ For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). The difference among men is, how is salvation received and who accomplished it? Some say it is received and accomplished by works, efforts and ceremony or being a member of a certain church. However, the scriptures plainly teach that salvation (the Lord Jesus Christ) is received by faith, and accomplished by Christ. It was said of Abraham, “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform” (Rom.4:20-21). God in His infinite wisdom has sovereignly chosen faith as the method and means to receive His salvation (Rom.5:1). God reveals to us at least two reasons why salvation is received by believing and not by doing.
1). “That it might be by grace.”
Grace and works are opposites and pull apart. Grace and faith are cooperative and pull together (Rom.11:6). Faith is the fruit of the sovereign grace of God given to the sinners in regeneration (1John 5:1; Eph.2:8-9). Faith traces its very existence, cause, reason and purpose to be all of grace (1Cor.15:10). True saving faith when it is given to the sinners quickly recognizes that it is the gift of God and glorifies Him alone (Rom. 4:20-21; Phil.1:29).
2). “To the end the promise might be sure to all the seed.”
If salvation were determined and dependent upon the works of the sinner it could never be sure to anyone. Who could produce and continue in perfect righteousness by the efforts of the flesh? God says that our best efforts at righteousness are nothing but sinful, stinking rags (Isa. 64:6). However, because salvation is totally determined, accomplished and dependent upon the excellent, perfect person and priestly work of the Lord Jesus Christ it is certain and sure to all of God’s elect. Christ Jesus did provide for them righteousness, salvation and redemption (Psa. 57:2; 1 Cor.1:30), therefore the promise and certainty of salvation must be sure to the believer (2 Sam. 23:5; 2 Cor. 1:20-21; Heb.2:17; Heb. 9:12). Tom Harding
ONLY ONE THING USEFUL WHEN IT IS BROKEN
I cannot think of many things that are useful when they are broken. We are either forced to discard them or to try to have them repaired. You cannot drive a broken car. You cannot use a broken computer. A broken arm will not be of much service to you nor can you walk on a broken leg. I can only think of one thing that is very useful when it is broken, a broken and a contrite heart. When God in His infinite mercy is pleased to call us to Himself and reveal the gospel to us, He breaks the hard and stony heart of sin and gives us a heart of flesh to humbly approach the throne of grace (Ezek. 36:26). Consider the advantages of a broken heart!
1). A broken heart is acceptable and pleasing unto God! “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise” (Psalm 51:17).
2). It makes the soul a fit vessel for God to dwell in! “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones” (Isaiah 57:15).
3). It draws the sinner close to his Lord and Saviour! “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit” (Psalm 34:18).
4). It exposes the sheep to the sweet healing of the Shepherd! “I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick”
(Ezek. 34:16).
5). It is the evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit within us! “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of
judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged” (John 16:8-10).
Rejoice my friend, if you find that your heart has been convicted and broken over your sin against God (Psa. 51:4). It is not everyone that has this experience of God’s grace in the heart. Our Lord has said that He came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (Matt. 9:13). If God has given you a broken heart, rejoice because He came to heal the broken hearted. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised” (Luke 4:18). Tom Harding, Pastor of Zebulon Baptist Church, Pikeville, KY