Dislocated Limbs

 Dislocated Limbs

Now may the God of peace who by the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus Christ, equip you with every good thing to do his will, working in us what is pleasing before him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever. Amen. — Heb 13:20-21 NET

The Greek word here rendered perfect really means “to put in joint, to complete.” In his original creation man’s will was intended to register the Will of God, to say Yes to it, and to pass the divine impulses and commandments to the rest of our being. Sometimes on board ship, before the phone made it possible for the captain to speak to every part of the ocean-liner, I have heard him quietly utter his orders to a subordinate officer beside him, who in turn repeated them in a loud voice through a speaking-trumpet or tube. That intermediary may represent the will which was intended to receive its directions from the Will of God, and pass them throughout the economy of our being. Such was our Lord’s attitude throughout His earthly life. He said: “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me”; “I seek not My own will, but the will of Him that sent Me”; “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt.”

But in the Fall, the dominance of God’s will and the loyal response of man’s will became disorganised; and the human will instead of functioning in harmony with the Will of God, began to obey the will of the flesh in its grosser or more refined forms. Not what God wills, but what “I” will, has become the working principle of the great majority. Thus it has come about that the will, by constant misuse, has become dislocated, warped, “out of joint.” Tennyson says: “Our wills are ours to make them Thine!” Just so, but they are too stubborn for some of us to manage. Hence the suggestion that we should pass the matter over to the “God of Peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus.”

Sometimes at football, or on the ice, a player may lose his balance, or be tripped up, and in the fall his shoulder may become dislocated. His arm is still in the body, but out of joint, so that it hangs useless by his side, until the surgeon by one strong wrench forces the bone back into its proper place. Is not that true of us? We are in the Body of Christ by redeeming grace, but we need to be set, i.e., to be brought into articulated union with the Will of God in Christ Jesus. Let us humbly ask the great Surgeon of souls, by the pressure of His strong and gentle hands, here and now, to joint our wayward wills with the Will of God, and then to work in us and through us that which is well-pleasing in His sight!

Prayer

Gracious Father! I yield to Thee my will and desires, my members and faculties, the life of my body, the thoughts of my heart, and the aspirations of my spirit–perfect, I pray Thee, that which concern me. Amen.

FIGHTING THE TONGUE FIRE!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY JULY 30, 2024.

SUBJECT: FIGHTING THE TONGUE FIRE!

Memory verse: "He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit.” (First Peter 3 vs 10.)

READ: James 3 vs 5 - 12:

3:5: Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!

3:6: And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members, that it defines the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.

3:7: For every kind of beast and of bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed of mankind.

3:8: But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

3:9: With it we bless our God, and Father; and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.

3:10: Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

3:11: Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?

3:12: Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or grapevine bear fig? Thus no spring yields both salt salt water and fresh.

INTIMATION:

The tongue is the flexible muscular organ in the bottom of the mouth used for tasting, swallowing and human speech. In speech it boasts great things; it can damage and it can build up. The Scripture says, “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12 vs 37.) The fire of the tongue is something difficult for anyone to control. For instance, idle and hateful words are damaging because they spread destruction quickly, and no one can stop the results once they are spoken. We dare not be careless with what we say, thinking we can apologize later, because even if we do, the scars remain. A few words spoken in anger can destroy a relationship that took years to build. Before you speak, remember that words are like fire—you can neither control nor reverse the damage they can do. 

In the passage we read today, the apostle James compares the damage the tongue can do to a raging fire that can do great and terrible damages. The uncontrolled tongue can do terrible damages. Its wickedness has its source in hell itself. Satan uses the tongue to divide people and pit them against one another. Example of untamed tongue include gossiping, putting others down, bragging, manipulating, fake teaching, exaggerating, complaining, flattering, and lying. Before you speak, ask, “Is what I want to say true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?”

The Scripture says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18 vs 21.) What we say probably affects more people than any other action we take. It is not surprising, then, that tongue boasts of great power. Fighting the tongue fire requires a great deal of self-control. You can only control what you say if you have mastered self-control. Stop and think before you speak or react, know when silence is best, and give wise advice. This is the speech pattern of a self-controlled tongue. 

A man had an altercation with his wife. The woman let loose her tongue and called the man all kinds of name. At a point the man warned the wife to desist from insulting him or else he would machete her to death. Instead of holding back her word attack, she said to the man that three of him put together cannot try such attack on her. Then, the man attacked her with the machete and killed her instantly. The consequence of an uncontrolled tongue.

We are not fighting the tongue’s fire in our own strength. The Holy Spirit will give us increasing power to monitor and control what we say, so that when we are offended, the Spirit will remind us of God’s love, and we won’t react in a hateful manner. When we are criticized, the Spirit will heal the hurt and help us to not lash out. Even though we can achieve perfect control of our tongues, the Holy Spirit will help us learn self-control. 

Have you ever lied? Have you ever hurt someone’s feelings by your words or tone of voice? Are you bitter toward anyone? Do you become angry with those who strongly disagree with you? It is time we had a rethink, and learn self-control. Even as believers, we should bridle our tongues. The apostle James says, “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceived his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.” (James 1 vs 26.) No matter how spiritual we may think we are, we all could control our speech more effectively. 

Prayer: Abba Father, give me the grace to control my tongue, that I will say the right things at the right times, bridling my tongue, and controlling what I say in order to build up rather than destroy, to bless rather than curse, and to speak lovely words rather than hateful words, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Reigning In Life

 

Reigning In Life

For if, by the transgression of the one man, death reigned through the one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ! — Rom 5:17 NET

It would take a lifetime—nay, it will demand eternity—to explore the treasures of this paragraph from which our text is taken. Let us not, however, stand gazing into heaven, but avail ourselves of the privilege offered us during our earthly life of reigning through the One, even Jesus Christ. Do not postpone the fulfilment of this promise! We may have to wait for the future life to unfold depths of meaning which now transcend our thought; but any fair reading of this radiant verse compels us to appropriate it for here and now.

But, “how can these things be?” He, a master in Israel asked that question of Christ! This blessed life of victory is only possible to those who have been born from above. By nature we were born from below into the first Adam, who was “a living soul.” We must be born from above, into the second Adam, who becomes to all who trust in Him a Life-giving spirit (1Co 15:45). That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and cannot of itself rise into the Spirit; the Holy Spirit must stoop to lift it into union with Himself. But He will do this for you, if only you will lift your heart to Christ in simple faith and surrender.

The difference it will make! Each life has been planned by God with the intention of training it for high service here and beyond; and whatever happens in life, there is always an abundance of grace awaiting our use. But how often we are as blind to it as Balaam was to the Angel that stood on the wayside! We make our plans! We lie awake half the night in a fever of anxiety! We go to this friend or that! But we do not claim that abundance of grace which is intended to meet the need of the hour. It is only as we receive it by a childlike faith that we can reign in life. That word “abundance” in its Latin original speaks of ocean-waves. Stand on the shore and look out on that infinite expanse, and do not be content with scooping up enough to fill an oyster-shell!

What will result? A royal life! If a throne means power—we are strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man. If it means victory—we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. If it means largess—we have always all sufficiency in all things, and abound to every good work.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I thank Thee for the trials and pains that are ever working for my good, and making me a partaker of Thy holiness. May I receive the abundance of Thy grace, and reign in life here and hereafter. Amen.

The All-sufficiency Of Christ

 

The All-sufficiency Of Christ

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God – the one who is, and who was, and who is still to come – the All-Powerful! — Rev 1:8 NET

It is hardly needful to explain that these are the first and last letters in the Greek alphabet. They represent all the intervening letters which they enclose as in a golden clasp. This majestic announcement refers to the Eternal God. His Nature underlies the whole created Universe, all races of being, the entire work of redemption, the destiny of His children, and the ultimate victory of righteousness and peace. “Of Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things, to Whom be glory for ever and ever.” Let us, for a moment, join with the ceaseless chant of Heaven, saying: “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, which is and which was and which is to come.” We must never rush into His presence without due preparation and reverence of heart.

Jesus Christ is the Complement of our Need. From the alphabet of His Being we may obtain all the letters and words which will make good our own deficiencies. It is a question whether some of us would ever have learnt the fullness of Jesus, if we had not been brought face to face with the infinite needs of our own nature and condition. You may engage your guide in an Alpine village, but you only realise all the qualities that lie hidden within him when you have crossed the glaciers, bridged the yawning chasms, and escaped the descending avalanche through his knowledge and care. So as we walk with Jesus we find in Him the complement of our need.

Loneliness is an opportunity for Jesus to make Himself known as the Living One (Rev 1:17). When, like the beloved Apostle on the Lord’s Day in his lonely isle, you seem to hear songs and prayers on which you can only join in spirit, turn to the Lord Himself, and reckon on Him to bear you company. That loneliness constitutes a claim on Him! Call upon His Name out of the lowest dungeon. He will not hide His ear at thy breathing or thy cry. He will draw near in the day when thou callest upon Him, and will say, Fear not! He will plead the causes of thy soul; He will redeem thy life. The site of Polycarp’s death is still visible above the Smyrna coast-line and harbour; but Jesus stood there with him, enabling him to be faithful unto death, and encircling his brow with the Crown of Life. Be thou faithful unto death; the First and the Last is with thee! “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me!”

Prayer

Be Thou, O Lord, the Alpha and the Omega of every year, month, day, hour, and act of my life. Let all things be begun, continued and ended in Thee Amen.

THERE IS GREAT POWER IN THE WORD OF GOD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY JULY 29,, 2024.

SUBJECT : THERE IS GREAT POWER IN THE WORD OF GOD!

Memory verse: "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4 vs 12.)

READ: Isaiah 55 vs 8 - 11:

55:8: "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. 

55:9: For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.

55:10: "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

55:11: So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

INTIMATION:

The Word of God and God is One (John 1 vs 1). The Word is the revealed Will of God (Hebrews 10 vs 7). The written Word (Logos) is the message from the Lord, delivered with His authority and made effective by His power. The spoken Word (Rhema) is putting God into work with His power available to perform it. God is ever ready to perform His Word spoken in faith. The Bible states, “Then the LORD said to me, You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word.” (Jeremiah 1 vs 12.)

The significance of Rhema (spoken Word), as distinct from Logos (written Word) is exemplified in the injunction in the Scripture, to take "the sword of the Spirit, which the Word of God (Ephesians 6 vs 17). Here the reference is not to the whole Bible as such, but to the individual Scripture which the Spirit brings to our remembrance for use in time of need, a prerequisite being the regular stuffing of the mind with Scriptures.

The word of God is living, life-changing, and dynamic as it works in us. It reveals who we are and what we are not. It penetrates the core of our moral and spiritual life. It discerns what is within us, both good and evil. The demands of God's Word require decisions. We must not only listen to the Word, we must also let it shape our lives.

In Acts 20 vs 32, the Bible says, "And now I commend you to God, and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you the inheritance among all them that are sanctified." We are commended to God and the Word of His grace. This Word builds the Christ nature and the love nature of the Father into the individual. In other words, God is building Himself into us, making Himself a part of us as the Word dominates, rules and satisfies our spirit nature. Just as the Nature of God; immortal and all powerful, so is His Word; powerful and abides forever. God created all things by His Word, therefore, the creative ability and power is in the Word. 

We bring the power of God to bear in any circumstance or challenge of life when we bring the Word to bear in that circumstance or situation. Consequently, we become over-comers by the Word, as it is written, "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony..." (Revelation 12 vs 11). When the Word is built up in you, the exploiting power of God is readily available to you, and you are an overcomer in any life's circumstances you face. This is because whatever you ask of the Lord is done for you: "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." (John 15 vs 7.)

The Bible, in Colossians 3 vs 16, says, "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom......" We can only dwell in Christ and Him in us through His Word. It is in the Word dwelling richly in us that we are enabled to do all things through Him that strengthens us (Philippians 4 vs 13). Jesus Christ says, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15 vs 5.)

This counsel of the apostle Paul to believers in Colosse is one of the most striking sentences in his epistle. It means giving the Word—the message of Christ—plenty of room in your life. It is not only committing the Word to memory, which is valuable, but letting that Word become an integral part of your being, that is letting the Word live in and rule you that you may lead a life of exceeding exploits. The Word dwelling in you is equivalent to Christ personally being in you. The glory of God becomes your inheritance when Christ dwells in you. (Colossians 1 vs 28.)

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of continual meditation in Your Word, and Your Word dwell richly in me, that I may lead a life of exploits via Your Word, in Jesus' Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Abiding In Christ

 Abiding In Christ

“I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me – and I in him – bears much fruit, because apart from me you can accomplish nothing. — John 15:5 NET

Our savour’s perennial joy was due to His unceasing endeavour to minister help and blessing to others. He saved others; He could not save Himself. He said: “I am the true Vine,” i.e., the vine was made by Him in creation to represent a certain phase or characteristic of Himself. It is the reflection in the waters of materialism of eternal principles deep-seated in His own divine nature. The study of the vine is, therefore, specially precious in its teaching.

Behind the vine, as we know it, there is an immense pressure of energy. In the spring-tide, it seems as though the love of God were pressing for expression in the corn that supports life, in the oil that makes the face to shine, and in the grape that cheers. The vine cannot bear fruit, of itself; it is only the channel along which the energy of God flows in its endeavour to gladden the heart and life of man. So Jesus is the channel through which the life and love of God reach us, that we may pass them on in loving ministry, and in so doing we are creating and storing up for ourselves infinite joy.

Let each of us learn to abide in Christ with the heart open to Him on the one hand, and open to men, women and children on the other. Then let us trust Christ to pour His love and grace into our hearts, that the pressure within may lead us to perform acts of tender sympathy and helpfulness of which we would not otherwise have been capable. Let us resolve to let no day pass without doing something at cost to ourselves, to make the burden lighter and the path easier for someone else. Our willingness for Christ to do these things through us will always meet a response from Him; and His Spirit being in us will show us exactly what to say or do. It may be only a smile, a touch of the hand, or a word! Thus life will be filled with joy, and this will be perpetuated surely in that other life, when we shall awake and be satisfied. As we mingle with the throngs of happy spirits who have come out of great tribulation—the martyrs, prophets, apostles, and saints of every age—the greatest wonder of all will be that we are there. “Lord, when saw we Thee an hungred, and fed Thee? or athirst, and gave Thee drink? And He will say, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of these.., ye did it unto Me.”

Prayer

May I never forget, O Lord, that the best and happiest life must be lived in communion with the needs, sorrows, and trials of others. Give me closer sympathy with Thyself, who didst not please Thyself, but whose blessed life was perpetually laid down for others. Amen.

OUR EFFORTS VERSUS REST IN GOD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY JULY 28, 2024.

SUBJECT: OUR EFFORTS VERSUS REST IN GOD! 

Memory verse: "And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God." (Romans 6 vs 13.)

READ: Romans 12 vs 1 - 2:

12:1: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

12:2: And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect Will of God. 

INTIMATION:

To lead a life pleasing to God requires our own efforts on one part, and relying on the Holy Spirit leading on the other part. The apostle Paul, in the passage we read, states that we are required to dedicate everything about us; our possessions, time, energy, efforts, and our members and faculties (our heads, hands, and tongues, our minds, emotions, and attitudes) all of them to God as a living sacrifice, holy, devoted, and consecrated (sanctified) and pleasing to God, which is our reasonable, rational, intelligent service and spiritual worship.

In our memory verse, the apostle Paul uses the term “instruments of unrighteousness,” and “instruments of righteousness.” The terms figuratively refer to a tool or a weapon. It is indicative that our skills, capacities, and bodies can serve as a tool or weapon for many purposes; good or bad. In sin, every part of our body is vulnerable, and can be used to commit sin. In Christ, every part can also be an instrument for service. It is the one to whom we offer ourselves for service that makes the difference. 

We are like lasers (beam of concentrated light having immense energy) that can burn destructive holes in steel places (used for destructive service) or do delicate cataract surgery (used for good service to save life). We are required to give yourself completely to God, asking Him to put us to good use for His glory. God wants us daily laying aside our own desires to follow Him, putting all our energy and resources at His disposal and trusting Him to guide us. We are to do this out of gratitude that our sins are forgiven.

God has good, pleasing, and perfect plans for His children. He wants us to be transformed people with renewed minds; transformed into a new person by changing the way we think, live to honor and obey Him. Because He wants only what is best for us, and because He gave His Son to make our new life possible, we should joyfully give ourselves (everything about us) as living sacrifice for His service. 

However, It is possible to avoid most worldly customs and still be proud, covetous, selfish, stubborn, and arrogant. Only when the Holy Spirit renews, re-educates, and redirects our minds are we truly transformed. Therefore, we should earnestly seek the leading of the Holy Spirit to help us conform to that which God Wills for us.

Christians are warned not to copy the behavior and customs of this world that are usually selfish and often corrupting. Wise Christians decide that much worldly behavior is off-limits for them. Our refusal to conform to this world’s values, however, must go even deeper than just behavior and customs; it must be firmly planted in our mind. God made it clear that obedience from the heart is much more important. We are to serve and worship God totally with our body, mind, and spirit. We are not just to be physically and emotionally dedicated to the Lord, we are to be rationally and intellectually dedicated to Him as well. 

Our part in working with God is when we give this reasonable service of dedicating everything about us to God; making the conscious choice to follow after holiness, giving Him our mind and will. God's part then, is to give us His grace and Spirit to help us offer this reasonable service. The grace of God doesn't just fall upon us, we must choose it, earnestly covet it, and His grace cannot be wasted.

There is a delicate balance to be maintained between rest and effort, just as there is between casting our care upon God and casting our responsibility upon Him. Casting your care on God is good for God desires you do so. However, it should be backed up by prayer and faith, which is our responsibility, not God's. If you and I want to stay in balance, then we are going to have to stay in close fellowship with the Spirit of Truth. 

True holiness is a combined effort between us and the Holy Spirit. It requires a clear understanding of His part and our part, and a delicate balance between the two. Many believers keep the care and cast the responsibility. This is wrong! Cast the care, and enter God's rest, but be ever ready to fulfill your responsibilities empowered by the Spirit of grace.

Prayer: Abba Father, give me the grace to avoid carnality, helping not to live according to the dictates of the flesh, but according to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Endue with the spirit of grace to live forever for You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!