Welcome

October 2024 is now posted.

We will be posting the Glorious Gospel articles individually below. A PDF file (large print) can be downloaded under the Archives tab and printed if desired, as well as past editions.

 THE PRAYER LINE

Jack Davis

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13

Throughout His Word the true and living God invites our call. Whoever truly calls upon Him by faith is included. “Saved,” what a great inclusive word. It implies total deliverance, body, soul, and spirit, including gracious preservation unto glorious presentation. We are told that His eyes are over the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers (I Peter 3:12). “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear” (Isa. 59:1.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” Rom. 10:9-10.

May we call from our own private phone booth, but He would have us announce before men the answer we received from faith’s call.

CALL TO RECEIVE

When we call upon God in Jesus name (Acts 4:10-12) we receive redemption through faith in His sin atoning blood. We are not only given a right standing with God, but are made partakers of regeneration. By new birth we receive a new heart and a new life.

CALL WITH REPRESENTATION

All God’s children have a strong adversary in Satan, who is the accuser of the brethren. He works at it day and night. First John tells us that we also have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. What a friend we have in high places. Since we have a great High Priest that has passed into the heavens, that was tempted in all points as we are yet without sin, and can be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, we are challenged to come boldly in His name. Never let us stop calling! Keep at it to realize a full salvation. Heb. 4:11-16 and 7:25.

Jesus spoke clearly about the attitude in which any that call upon Him may come (Lk. 18:9-14. Who do you trust? It is never on the basis of human merit. Self effort will not earn God’s favour. So we successfully call on the basis of divine mercy.

CALL FOR RELIEF

“Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me” Psa. 50:15.

He has wonderfully provided that we enjoy renewal in times of trouble, and the refreshing that comes from experiencing divine intervention.

CALL FOR REJOICING

“Thou shalt glorify me.” Oh what a joy to praise Him and glorify His name, giving Him thanks for His wonderful answers to our calls. It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord Psa. 92:1. One of the greatest good it does is to keep the channels open, enjoying closer and constant relations in sweet communications. He says, Let me hear thy voice – Song of Sol. 2:14. Let us draw nigh with a true heart in full assurance of faith.

CALL FOR REVELATIONS

“MOREOVER the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying, Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name; Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” – Jer. 33:1-3.

Thank the Lord, His shut-ins aren’t shut out from the throne of grace. When He allows us to be brought to confining conditions, limiting situations, who can we talk to, which way shall we look but up. What wonderful things He has to show us.

There are times that we have to be crowded into a corner before we will call. We don’t usually think of being shut up in a prison as an ideal position, or condition for receiving deeper and fuller revelations of our Lord and His purposes. How about John on the Isle of Patmos, Joseph in Egypt or Daniel in Babylon. Do you  think that Jonah realized in a deeper sense, during his submarine ride that salvation is of the Lord?

CALL REMEMBERING OTHERS

What a high and noble privilege, for the Lord’s priestly line. Calling on the Lord on behalf of others, lifting them up and bringing them before the Lord. Jesus told Peter, I have prayed for you. Jesus even prayed for those that took part in crucifying Him, saying, “Father forgive them” Lk. 23:34.

 Hear HIM

Gordon Crook, Pastor

Grace Assembly, Wichita, Kansas

“And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” Matthew 17:1-5

I was impressed with the emphasis God puts on this statement. “Hear ye HIM.” Peter was impressed with what he was seeing, and had a great idea that was intended to exalt Jesus and Moses and Elijah. However, God was more concerned with bringing the focus back to Jesus alone. It was His Son, Jesus that mattered here.

I am reminded that often we get in the same mindset as Peter. “Hey, I have a really great idea to exalt Christianity.” “I have a great idea to improve our culture.” And on and on we can go with our ideas or the ideas of others. I believe that Satan distracts us with so many things and so many philosophies and so many “Christian” ideas. Ways to get people to like us and to come into our church. And God reminds us. “Hear ye HIM.” Are you paying attention to what Jesus is saying? 

Some people will get really upset with Peter. “Why can’t he just shut up and pay attention to Jesus?” He was so privileged to spend time with Jesus in the flesh. I would have been always attentive to Jesus and just hung on His every word. But Peter was just like any one of us. We have the privilege of having Jesus in front of us at any time. I actually have a Bible in my cell phone. And still, sometimes I am distracted by my own ideas or by something the world is putting in front of me, or by something the Christian system is putting in front of me.

I need a reminder that I need to hear Jesus. What is He saying to me? Where is He guiding me with His Word? What does it mean to hear Jesus? In John 1:14 we read this, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” Jesus is the Word. We find Him speaking to us in the Bible as we read and meditate.

In Hebrews 1:1-2, we read, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;” We find that God is making it clear that Jesus is the only one that has been approved to speak to us. Even the Old Testament prophets all spoke to us of Jesus. For God, it has always been about Jesus.

So, if Jesus is the one that we are supposed to listen to, why do we sometimes find ourselves listening to the world? Listening to some person who claims to speak for Jesus, but does not speak according to God’s Word? We have an enemy that knows exactly what to say to us to cause us to listen. He tried to do this also with Jesus in the wilderness. Jesus’ answer to him is exactly the example we need. The answer is to speak the Word of God. 

This is just as important when we are hearing some “Christian” speaker that is using enticing words as it is when the world is trying to entice us. It is necessary when our own mind brings forth ideas that do not line up with God’s Word. God’s statement is not, “listen to this great charismatic preacher,” it is “hear ye HIM,” “my beloved Son.”

Many of God’s precious people today are failing to hear Jesus. They are listening to the call of the world, and sometimes they think it is good because it sounds like something that would be good for Christianity or they believe that they will be able to exalt Jesus with it. But it invariably turns out to be just monument to some human idea. Jesus always was clear about what He was teaching was not like this world and would not be accepted by the world. Don’t get caught up in the ideas that are not according to what Jesus tells us. Study God’s Word to know what He is speaking to you. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what He wants you to know. God is still reminding us today, “Hear ye HIM.”

 God Wants First Place

Anita Clark – Pastor

Grace Chapel, Carbondale, Kansas

The Lord desires to be number one in our lives.  From the very beginning of the Bible we see His desire for this full fellowship with mankind.  Jesus, when tempted of the devil quoted from the Old Testament, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God and Him only shalt thou serve.”

When God was about to deliver Israel from Egypt, He instructed them concerning the first Passover found in Exodus 12:1-13. God begins to tell them in detail what He wanted of them. Notice Vs. 2, “This month shall be unto you the beginning of months, it shall be the first month of the year to you.” Later He instructs them of what they are to bring as a sacrifice to Him.  Vs. 5, “Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year:” No old sheep who was about to die would do. Only the best was acceptable for God. All the Egyptians who did not slay the firstborn lambs, and apply the blood suffered the death of their firstborn son, and the first born of all their cattle also.

 Israel was also to offer to the Lord “the first ripe fruits, ... and the first born sons shalt thou give unto me” (Exodus 22: 29). They had to bring an offering to redeem the first born son.  Chapter 23:19 of Exodus speaks further of the first fruits, “The first of the fruits of the land shalt thou bring into the house of the LORD thy God..” In Exodus 29:38,&39 God tells them concerning the burnt-offering, which was a continual offering, “Now this is that ye shall offer on the altar: two lambs of the first year...One in the morning and one in the evening.””

And in Exodus 40:2, the LORD spoke to Moses saying,  “On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.”  When the preparation of the tabernacle was finished, God ordered it to be set up at this exact time, no doubt emphasizing that His things were to come first in their thoughts and in all of their lives.

When the Lord set forth the various Feasts Israel was to celebrate in their year in Numbers 23:4, He set forth Passover to be the first feast each year in the first month.” Then the others were to follow on their exact times. This was to be perpetual before the Lord.,  

In Numbers 15:20-21 He tells Israel they were to “Offer up a cake of the first of your dough...the first of your dough ye shall give unto the LORD.”  Why did God emphasize their giving first to Him?  Because He was training them to put Him first in everything they did.

In Isaiah 44:6, it says, “Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and His redeemer the LORD of Hosts; I am the first, and I am the last and beside Me there is no God.” This was His desire from the creation of the world and of mankind, to have them worship Him and put Him first.  This is foreign from the thoughts of humanity. Throughout the ages God has sought for a people who would put Him first, and love Him supremely.

Let’s look again at Exodus 22:9, God asked for the first born son to be given unto Him, and in answer to that in Luke 2:7, Mary “brought forth her first born son” and in obedience to the Law of God, in Vs. 22 “ they brought Him to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord. (As it is written in the Law), Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord.” Even in His birth all that pertained to the command of the Law by God was fulfilled.  He was truly the first begotten of the Father.

 Mystery of the Bride

Part 3

Vicky Moots

We read in Gen. 2:21 that God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam while He was removing a rib to form Eve.  Does this mean anything to us spiritually? We know that in the natural, in order for a surgery to take place, a patient must be anesthetized, or “put to sleep.”  Adam’s physical body was asleep, and therefore was not aware of the operation that was being performed.  Likewise, the majority of the spiritual body of Christ, the church, is fast asleep today and is unaware of the signs of the end-times and that the marriage of the Lamb is soon to take place.

So, what happened that caused the church to fall asleep? The church began on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out.  About three thousand people were saved on that day, and we read in Acts 2:47 that “…the Lord added to the church daily such as should be [were being] saved.”

The early church was very much awake and full of the Holy Ghost.  But it wasn’t long before we read that they began to murmur among themselves saying that not everyone was being treated equally (Acts 6:1).  Does that sound familiar? Satan was actively sowing disagreement and discontent among the church to try to stop it from growing.

In II Tim. 4:10 Paul speaks sadly regarding one of his previous followers: “…Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world…”  He warned Timothy in v.3 concerning the lukewarm, sleepy conditions that would soon invade the church: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.”  This condition results when the love of the world is greater than our love for the Lord or for His Word.

Many religious organizations today have fallen asleep to the voice of God and no longer heed it or teach sound doctrine from the Bible.  Instead, they have compromised with the world to please the people.  Jesus Himself also warned of such conditions that would prevail in the end-time: “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matt. 24:12).

God does not cause these things to happen, but He allows them to take place in order to fulfill His purposes, just like He allowed the church to fall asleep so that He may prepare a bride for Christ.  He is calling out from among the sleeping body of Christ a group of people whose love has not grown cold.

In I Thess. 5:1-8, Paul admonishes us to be awake and aware of the times and the seasons, because the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, and many will be asleep and not watching.  In v.4 he says, “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.”  In v.5 He states, “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.”  He then warns us in v.6 to be awake: “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.”

Paul is speaking of two different groups of believers in the church: those who are asleep and those who are awake.  This was true at that time and is true today.  Which group do you choose to be in? Even three of Jesus’ closest disciples fell asleep instead of watching while He prayed and agonized in Gethsemane, so we must always be on our guard.

Yes, the church is still alive.  It has a pulse, and it is breathing, but the majority of it is in a spiritual deep sleep.  It is time to wake up and listen to the Word of God.  Paul warns the sleeping believers regarding this in Rom. 13:11: “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep…”

Listen closely.  Can you hear the Holy Spirit calling your name? Do you wish to remain a part of the sleeping body of Christ, or do you choose to wake up and be a part of that small rib portion that is being called out and separated out from among them to be fashioned into His bride?

 The Lamb of God

Vicky Moots

The Lamb of God was crucified.

They pierced His hands;

They pierced His side.

For me He suffered, bled and died

To wash me in the crimson tide.

‘Twas love that held Him on the tree.

Oh, such love to die for me

To pay sin’s dreadful penalty.

Now I shall live eternally;

Amazing grace has set me free.

 All Things Working Together

Earlene Davis

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

We love this verse. It is a wonderful comforting promise for the afflicted. May we lay hold of this truth. Yes, we do know this, but we all have to be reminded, again and again that God is causing the things that come our way to work for our good. We  see God’s hand working good for us when we are enjoying His blessings; but often we don’t see God in the troubles and hurts we experience. 

Of course we don’t want to suffer or be hurt in any manner. One of the reasons we fail to see God’s hand in our trials, is because they often come through human instruments. Our focus then is not of faith, because our focus is on somebody’s failure or carelessness or ignorance. We think, why did God allow this to happen to me? We know God is not the author of such things, but He does allow these things, to test our faith. We can’t become an overcomer if we don’t have things to overcome.

I am reminded of that man of the family of Saul that cursed David and threw stones at him and his servants and all the people with him (II Sam. 16). One of David’s men wanted permission from David to take off this man’s head. David said, let him course because the Lord has bidden him to do so. It may be the Lord will look on mine affliction and requite me good for his cursing this day. David and all the people became weary, but they refreshed themselves. We also get weary in our trials, and we need to refresh ourselves in the Lord, seeking His comfort. 

We know God is over everything. He knows what He is doing and it is for our ultimate good. David in his submission trusted God. We also can say, “Thy will be done Lord.” There is a comfort, even sweetness while we are wounded, when we trust God in troubling times. If we only see our trials as inflicted by men, we become bitter. We don’t want to give Satan any credit, but receive everything as from the Lord. I was blessed to learn an important lesson from my Grandmother, for she saw God in Everything. 

I Peter 4:12-19, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings…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.” Everything that comes to God’s children, comes from the Father’s hand; no matter who may have been the apparent agent.

Jesus said in Mt. 10:29-31, Our Father knows when one sparrow falls to the ground…fear not for you are of more value than many sparrows. And in Phil. 4:6 we are admonished not to be anxious about anything, but bring it to God in prayer, accompanied with thanksgiving. How can we do that? I Peter 5:7, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” Also consider Rom. 12:19, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves … Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” May we just let the Lord handle the situation. We don’t even have to defend ourselves.

Heb. 13:5, “…for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” Rom. 8:31-39, “…What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? …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? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth…in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Lord says in Isa. 43:2, When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee…” He was with Joseph when he was sold as a slave. He was with Daniel in the lions den. He was with the three Hebrew children in the fiery furnace. He was with Paul and Silas when they were cast in prison. 

We read in Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear…” He knows our hurts, all things are under His control. Nothing can touch us except He allows it and then He is working it all together for our good. Even when God corrects us for yielding to the flesh. He corrects us because He loves us (Heb. 12:6). 

God knows what is best for us. He allowed the sin of Joseph’s brothers to work good for him. Even the sins of others, God will work for our good.

II Cor. 4:17, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

So when the unpleasant comes our way, may we have faith to accept it as from the lord. When we can thank Him for it as His will, then we have overcome and God is glorified. His will is sweet whether in joy or sorrow. We can have rest and joy in our spirit. Our Shepherd leads us to green pastures and refreshing waters.

II Cor. 2:14, “…thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ…”

 STATE and STANDING               

Gary Giddings, Sand Springs, OK

Romans 8:1-2 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”

Praise God for the truth of the teaching of the two natures of the Christian! We were born with the Old Nature that is selfish and stubborn. But when the Holy Spirit convinced us that we needed a Savior, we accepted Jesus Christ into our heart. Now we have the New Nature that loves to serve and worship God. Because of the New Nature, the Life of Christ within us, our STANDING is perfect before God. When the Father looks at us, He sees Jesus. The good news is that our STANDING is also constant because we are “accepted in the Beloved,” that is, in Jesus. He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. We are now in God’s FOREVER family.

There is no condemnation for the believer in Christ Jesus because we have been freed from the Law of Sin and Death. We WERE headed to eternal condemnation without Christ, but now that we have accepted Jesus into our heart, we are under a HIGHER LAW, the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. Do the last 10 words of verse 1 belong in the original text? I don’t know, but I do know that THE NEW NATURE (our true identity) does NOT walk after the flesh, but ONLY after the Spirit.

Romans 8:31-34 “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 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?  Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Jesus who was condemned for us. He died on the Cross and took the judgment that we deserved. When Jesus died for our sins, He died for ALL of our sins, not just part of them. Since that is true, why is Jesus interceding for us? We are not always consistent in our walk before the Lord. We may get discouraged at times because of our faults and failures. Yes, we are still human, but we would like to think that we are better than to fall back into some old sinful ways. Jesus is our advocate and lifts us up before the Father; that is why God still patiently works with us, comforting us and correcting us as needed.

We are leaning to Trust God even when we get bogged down. Sure, we want God to “fix it” and get us going again. But God allows trials to come our way so that we can grow and mature in the faith. Maybe we don’t care about that at first, because it can be slow and painful at times. But little by little, day by day, God is doing a work in us that will last for eternity! Because of Jesus, we have an ongoing RELATIONSHIP with the Father that will never end. Nothing can ever change this relationship because it is the Father’s gift to us through the Son. Because we have Jesus in our heart, our STANDING is perfect before God. That never changes, even when we sin by not doing God’s will for us.

1 John 1:3-4 “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.” We were created for FELLOWSHIP with God, but He doesn’t force us. He reaches out to us and waits for us because He wants a people that chooses Him and wants to be with Him. Thank God that He works in us, persuading us to respond to His love. We wouldn’t have figured it out on our own!  

Our STANDING or our RELATIONSHIP with God is fixed and cannot change. However, our STATE or our FELLOWSHIP with God can vary from time to time. How much FELLOWSHIP do we have with the Lord? When we open up to the Lord and follow His will for our lives, our STATE rises up to our STANDING. When we go our own way instead of listening to what God tells us, our STATE falls down below our STANDING. In the natural, a son or daughter born to their parents are biological children. Nothing can change that. But how close are the children to the parents, especially after the children move away? So it is in the Family of God. We may sin and be out of fellowship with the Lord, but we are still a child of God. We are always welcome before the Throne of Grace. But if we don’t call on the Lord, our STATE suffers and we will miss a blessing. 

1 John 1:5-7 “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. Our STATE with the Lord varies, depending on the everyday choices we make. Our STANDING is perfect because it is Christ in us who is perfect. Only as we walk in the light of God’s Word, being obedient, can enjoy His presence. Being disobedient to God, our STATE suffers. When we accepted Jesus as our Savior, ALL our sins were taken away. ALL our sins were in the future when Jesus died on the Cross. Does that mean that we don’t need to confess our sins AFTER being saved? No. We need to confess our sins for our FELLOWSHIP to be restored. 

Psalm 51:12 “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.” David had sinned against the Lord and he had missed the JOY that he had with the Lord. David tried going on as if nothing was wrong, but the prophet Nathan confronted him about his sin. David finally admitted his faults and went to the Lord for forgiveness. 

When Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, He said, “He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit” (John 13:10). We go to the Lord for our daily cleansing, because our flesh may have picked up things from the world that hinders our fellowship with the Lord. God doesn’t condemn us but He urges us to let Him clean us.

Romans 6:10-13 “For in that he [Jesus] died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” Every day we are choosing WHO we serve and worship. We may get distracted by something, but if we continue in that, we will be yielding less and less to God and His will.

1 Corinthians 6:12 “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” What can hinder our fellowship with God? Anything we hold to be more important than our relationship with Him. If we are not actively following Jesus, we will find something that will occupy us. As long as we give permission to whatever hinders our walk with the Lord, it will hinder us.

1 John 5:18-21 “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.  And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.” The New Man within us CANNOT sin. That is why our STANDING before God is perfect and constant. But notice the warning about idols. Can we, acting in the Old Man, sin? Yes, we can. That is why we have to be on our guard. Jesus is TRUE and that there is nothing false in Him. That is why Jesus is the One we TRUST with all of our heart, and ONLY HIM. Jesus IS our eternal life and we are learning to bring our STATE up to STANDING.

 Just A Thought

Pastor Sharon Townsend

Grace Assembly

Chesterfield, Michigan

Woke up this morning feeling so burdened over things I have no control over. Things within and without. Seeing my own inabilities and situations facing others. Everything seemed to hit me this A.M. 

At the same time, I woke up to a minister talking about Father. I don’t remember what he said, I wasn’t fully awake, but it was good. 

As I lay there, what came to mind was an incident that happened when Abby was about 3. We saw advertised in the paper a free Halloween Party. It was at night and free so we dressed Abby up in a costume and went. It was not in the best of areas, but it was free. 

The place was filled with people dressed in all sorts of costumes – children and adults. When Abigail saw all those strenge people facing her, her eyes got big and her little arms reached out to her father. 

I have told this story before but this morning what stood out to me is that the situation for Abby had NOT changed. She was still in a large strange room with strange sounds and strange people on a dark night. 

WHAT CHANGED WAS HER PERSPECTIVE. SHE COULD NOW VIEW EVERYTHING FROM THE SAFETY OF HER FATHER’S ARMS. She didn’t have to carry the burden of her fears. After all she was in the arms of her father. 

What a weight lifted off my shoulders. We don’t have to carry the situations. The arms of our Father hold us. The arms of my Father holds me.

 The Encouraging Word

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before-hand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

“But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.” Psalm 73:28

“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins.” I John 4:10

“The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him – who revere and worship Him with awe; and each of them He delivers.” Psalm 34:7 Amp

“The Lord takes pleasure in those who reverently worship fully fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy and loving kindness.” Psalm 147:11

“Glory in His holy name; let the heart of those rejoice who seek the Lord.” I Chronicles 16:10

“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving kindness toward those who fear (revere) Him.” Psalm 103:11

“God is faithful – reliable, trust worthy and (therefore) ever true to His promise, and He can be depended on; by Him you were called into companionship and participation with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” I Cor. 1:9 Amp

Martha Wainright

 Surrounding Sounds

Part 2

Jack Davis

“For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost…So that ye were ensamples to all that believe…For from you sounded out the word of the Lord.” I Thes. 1:5-8.

These to whom Paul wrote had their spiritual ears on, they had given the more earnest heed to the things they had the privilege of hearing. Those true and living sounds, were significant to them, they appropriated the message, it entered into them. These saints, like the strings on a violin were in tune or in harmony with heaven being put under pressure. The apostle Paul was thankful and so are we that they not only heard the sound of salvation, but also sounded it out.

Today, it seems that more and more are becoming dull of hearing, from neglecting to hear or give attention to God’s Word. Does it not seem that Amos 8:11, is again and again being fulfilled as it is in every dispensation?

SOUNDS OF PREPARATION

We do well to consider what sounds that surround us today signify. What are we aware of or listening to? There are many noises that we could get unduly exercised about, but we are told to exercise ourselves rather unto godliness. He that came from heaven as of a sound of a rushing mighty wind, is speaking in the church and in the world today. Who has ears to hear? He speaks expressly concerning the “latter times.” He forewarns us of the prevailing conditions with which our age will close (I Tim. 4, and II Tim. 3). It is my guess that the voice of the (turtle dove) Holy Spirit is being heard around the world saying, “O get ready evening shadows fall.” Rom. 13:10-14.

Jesus said, “Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many. (Have we heard of such in our day? Oh yes repeatedly). And ye shall  hear of wars and rumours of wars…nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows” – Mt. 24:4-8.

Have you heard of any thing such as these? How loud are the sounds of Jesus coming? Is the Spirit and the bride saying come? Is anyone hearing the voice of that heavenly Solomon, saying “Arise my love my fair one and come away?” The voice of our beloved, by some is being heard. In our tests, trials, and triumphs He beckons us on.

John the Baptist proclaimed that he rejoiced to hear the bridegroom’s voice John. 3:29. “And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him” Mt. 25:6. According to Paul‘s epistles before the midnight call, some believers will have already been gathered unto Him, for they have been listening to his voice for some time. They know the times and seasons. They can easily distinguish the sounds.

SOUND OF TRANSLATION

“For the Lord himself shall descent from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of  God” I Thes. 4:16. All that be in graves will hear his voice, and shall come forth.” Jn. 5:25,29. I am prone to doubt that we will be very quiet when we leave this earthly scene. HALLELUJAH! Are you listening? One day soon you will be exceedingly glad you did. Giving the more earnest heed to Him today, is preparing for that glorious tomorrow.

 Always Connected

Gordon Crook, Pastor

Grace Assembly, Wichita, Kansas

Our technology today allows us to be always connected. Well, almost always. Technology does have its limitations. As part of my job, I carry a cell phone which allows me to be connected everywhere I go. I can get phone calls, my work email, and my work calendar no matter where I go. This may or may not be a good idea, but it is possible. 

While it can be useful for work purposes to be connected as much as possible, and it may help my team, there are times when the service will go down for a while, or the server will fail temporarily, and then it is just a useless electronic device.

Many people today are connected all the time and have become so accustomed to being always connected, that they think it is an emergency if their service fails even briefly.

Being always connected reminded me of a great spiritual truth. Unlike modern technology, our connection with God does not fail and God’s server never goes down. We can be connected to our Heavenly Father at all times, no matter where you go in this world.

In Genesis 28:15, God told Abraham, “And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.” He promised to always be with Abraham no matter where he went. That is better coverage than any of the cell phone companies.

In Psalm 145:18, we find that, “The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.” Just a call away, that is all. Anywhere you go. You too can be always connected, not to your friends or work colleagues, but to God. The Creator of all things. That is a true connection, and one that has immeasurable value.

“In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.” Psalms 86:7. Not only is the line always connected, He always answers. He is never too busy to take your call. He also does not sleep (“he that keepeth thee will not slumber.” Psalms 121:3) so you can count on Him answering at all times.

I have always enjoyed thinking of how Abraham had such a close relationship with God, that he just conversed with Him. “And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake. And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.” Genesis 18:32-33. Do you see how personal and intimate this connection is? Your relationship with God can be this close as well. Prayer is just conversing with God. If you have a willing heart, you will hear God speaking to you as well. Not necessarily in an audible voice, but in ways that you will recognize, especially through His Word. 

It would certainly be a shame to waste such an important connection. I see people who seem forever glued to their cell phone, who would probably be lost if they had to go one day without service. How about your connection to God. Do you have to have that every day? Do you ever go a day without being connected to God? There is never a reason to not be connected to God, because He wants to connect with you. His lines are always open and He is always available.

I encourage you to become connected with the Creator of all things, the one that gave Himself to redeem you for all eternity.

 ENDURANCE

Anita Clark – Pastor

Grace Chapel, Carbondale, Kansas

“We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet (proper), because that your faith groweth exceedingly; and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecution and tribulations that ye endure.”  II Thess. 1:3-4  This text shows us specifically how God has worked in us through the many tests and trials in different things and ways.

For instance, “Vs.3 “because your faith groweth exceedingly, and ... we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecution and tribulations that ye endure.”  The word “endurance” means “put up with, bear with, forebear, suffer.” A wonderful verse in I Thessalonians 1:3, tells us “Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father.”  

In Hebrews 12:5-7 speaks of “Endurance of chastening.” The Scripture states “And ye have  forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him.  For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scougeth every son whom He receiveth.  If ye ENDURE chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons, for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?” The word “endure” in verse 7 means “to stay under, remain, undergo, bear trials, have fortitude, persevere, abide, take, patiently, tarry behind.”

In I Corinthians 13:4-7 we read of the “endurance of love.” Vs.4 & 7 says, Charity (love) suffereth long, and is kind... Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”  This word “endureth” has the same meaning as where it is in Hebrews 12:5-7

In this I Corinthian passage, we see our relationship with other people.  

In II Timothy 2:3-4, Apostle Paul spoke of the endurance of the Christian soldier. He wrote, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affair of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” We have a great enemy, Satan, but as we rest on the Lord Jesus Christ, and draw from His strength, we are triumphant in our trials.

The next thing we want to speak of concerning the word “endurance,” is the “meekness of endurance.” In I Peter 2:18-19, Peter says, “Servants be subject to your masters with all fear (respect)....For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.” Paul in I Corinthians 6:7 wrote, “Why do ye not rather take wrong? Why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded.”

In II Timothy 4:3 Apostle Paul wrote concerning “SOUND DOCTRINE,” “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.  They shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” Paul speaks of  “sound doctrine” in II Timothy 3:16-17 -

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction. For instruction in righteousness.  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished with all good works.”  Apostle Paul says in II Timothy 2:10, “Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”  Also, in II Timothy 3:11, Paul spoke of his persecution, and afflictions... which he said “...what persecutions I endured, but out of them all the Lord delivered me.”

Paul also wrote in Hebrews 10:32- 35 concerning the Believers enduring trials.  Vs.32 says, “But call to remembrance the former days, in which after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great flight of afflictions; partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.”

The greatest example of “endurance” is the suffering of the Lord Jesus Christ during his trial and crucifixion.  In Hebrews 12:2-3 we find our Lord Jesus and his suffering.  Verse.2 tells us, “Looking unto Jesus the Author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”  

THREE OTHER EXAMPLES OF “ENDURANCE” ARE -.

 No.1 - The Comfort of Endurance - in II Corinthians 1:3-7.  Whenever we suffer in trials and tests, we love the Scripture here.. (Vs.6) And whether we be afflicted, it is your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer.’    I Peter 4:12 says, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trials which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you. But rejoice insomuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”  

No. 2 - Blessedness of Endurance - James 5:7 - “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord, behold that Husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until He receive the early and latter rain.  Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”  “Take, my brethren; the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.  Behold, we count them happy which ENDURE.  Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy.’

No. 3 -  Reward of Endurance - James 1:12 - “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to them that love Him.”  The word “endureth” here in this place means “to stay under, remain, to undergo, bear trials, have fortitude, to take patiently, suffer, tarry behind.”  II Timothy 4:4 -5  “And they shall  turn away their ears from the truth...But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions....”   The coming of our Lord Jesus is at hand..  Be watchful and ready!

 Mystery of the Bride

Part 2

Vicky Moots

Now let us go back to the book of Genesis to examine more closely the account of the formation of the first Adam’s bride and compare it to the formation of the spiritual bride of Christ.  Whenever God does something in a special manner, He is doing it for a special purpose, and it always has a spiritual meaning.

Eve was not formed in the same manner, out of the dust of the earth, or at the same time as Adam was created.  Because of that, we find in Gen. 2:20 that Adam realized that even though all of the animals had mates, he did not have one.  This verse seems to imply that he was actually seeking a mate for himself: “And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found a help meet for him.” What does this mean to us spiritually? It is a picture of Christ, the last Adam, who also is seeking a bride for Himself.

The next two verses, vv.21-22, tell us how God responded to Adam’s desire for a mate and also how God’s plan and desire for Adam was fulfilled: “And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.”  In this surgery, note that only a small portion of Adam’s body, a single rib, was used by God to form Eve.  She was then presented to Adam to be his wife.  

What is the spiritual significance of this? Adam represents Christ, as we have already learned.  Paul tells us in Eph. 1:22-23 that His body is the church.  In these verses, he states that God raised Christ from the dead, “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body…”

In I Cor. 12:13, Paul makes it clear to us that the body of Christ, the church, is composed of both Jew and Gentile believers: “For by one Spirit [not by water, but by the Holy Spirit] are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.”  Then in v.27 he states plainly, “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”

This means that all true believers, all over the world, all those who have been born again, whether they have joined a church or not, are a part of the body of Christ.  God joins us to the living church, not a religious organization, and we become members of the body of Christ the moment we accept Christ as Savior.  Then out from among this large body of believers, God is separating out a small rib portion of saints, all those who desire to be a part of the bride of Christ, and who are willing to submit to the scalpel of His Word.

 Paul’s Faithful Sayings

Earlene Davis

There are four of these Faithful Sayings and we may trace a connection between them. The first one is I Timothy 1:15, “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.” What a golden precious saying, like a lamp of a lighthouse. It’s comforting ray of light has guided millions to the port of peace in this dark world. It is “worthy of all acceptation,” as true and valid. Jesus Christ coming into the world to save sinners is the very foundation of our salvation. John 3:16, “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.” Oh the grace of God, providing the great Redeemer.

The next faithful saying is found in I Timothy 4:8-9, “For bodily exercise profiteth little (or for a little time): but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.” This saying declares a double blessing we obtain through salvation. A blessing for time and of eternity.

The third faithful saying is II Timothy 2:11-12, “It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:” What a precious promise, “if we suffer with Christ, we shall also reign with Him.” We believe it and lay a hold of this faithful promise from God.

The last saying, Titus 3:8, “This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.” Maintain good works, be active in service to Him. It is not only good, but profitable for us and for others.

So in these four faithful saying, we have the root of our salvation, by God’s grace extended to us by Jesus coming to save us. Next the privilege of that salvation which is ours now and in that which is to come. Then as the people of God we are ordained to suffer with Christ with the promise, we shall also reign with Him. Our course of active service is to maintain good works, works of faith not works of the flesh. The believer is compensated in suffering and service for Christ with the fruit of the Spirit by the God of all grace. May we treasure these faithful saying and let them be a guide, comfort and instruction. Our Apostle Paul proved them to be faithful and they are faithful still, “worthy of all acceptation.” We may accept them and prove their faithfulness for ourselves.

My attention is especially drawn to the faithful saying about suffering with Christ (II Tim. 2:11-12). All who have received Jesus are counted as dead in Christ death, and raised and live in newness of life, because He lives. We live in union with Him. By the Spirit of God we are counted to have died with Christ to sin, to self-righteousness, to the world, the flesh and the power of darkness, to live with Jesus. His life becomes our life, as He was, so are we in this world. May we be rooted and grounded in this truth, our union with Christ Jesus. Suffering with Jesus has its reward just as denying Him has it penalty.

To suffer is the common lot of all men. Man comes into this world through suffering and the sentence of death on his life (Job 5:7 & 14:1). Jesus said in Jn. 3:3, “Except Man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” To suffer is not peculiar to the Christian, neither dose it necessarily bring a reward. We must suffer with Christ in order to reign with Him. A man can be in Christ, but it does not follow that all his suffering are with Christ. They can be brought on by passion taking the place of judgment, letting self-will reign or as the result of sin. Then what thanks have we? Cry out to God and confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I Jn. 1:9).

Paul ambition and prayer was to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death: if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection  out from the believing dead (Phil. 3:10-11). Paul sought a personal experience with His Lord, “that I may know Him.” We can know about Jesus, but like Paul, we want to know Him, Himself. To have  dealings with Jesus that bring us into enjoyable fellowship with Him. To know first hand His heart of love, His pity and compassion, to experience His deep personal love (for me). To think His thoughts, feel as He feels, love as He loves, to be moved by His very life.

“That I may know the power of His resurrection;” God raised Him up “according to the working of His mighty  power (Eph. 1:19-20). To know the dynamite of Christ resurrection to the uttermost. Paul experienced something of that power (II Cor. 1:8-10). By yielding to God who raises the dead and seeking His glory. Paul was continually tested, yet his life was one of repeated deliverances. His life was poured out, he died daily. He experienced resurrection power, divine enabling to fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ for His body’s sake” (Col. 1:24). Are We running the race with Paul? Then we as Paul live perpetually by the risen life of Christ. Moving in God’s will, pursuing the Prize, living a life we could not live apart from supernatural enabling (Rom. 8:11).

“And the fellowship of His suffering;” Paul suffered similar trials as the Lord did – persecution from the world, even from his own people, which wrung his heart. Through these things he had fellowship with Christ in His sufferings. Today few are absolutely out and out for God and standing for the truth and His perfect will. We read, He that is spiritual discerneth all things.” We discern that “the wife of the Lamb” will be like Him, so we discern the racer must be also to win the Prize (Christ).

“Being made conformable unto His death;” Jesus died to everything and everybody, being in jeopardy every hour, even as Paul said of himself. If not for divine intervention he would have been slain many times. Jesus experienced more inward pain and sorrow during His life here, but He was sustained by the Father. If we walk in the Spirit we will need to know and experience Christ resurrection life and power. The lack of active faith, the indifference, the falling away from the truth pains us. But we are being made conformed to the death of Christ and coming to know the dynamite power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings. Thus we are being fitted to reign with Christ (Phil. 1:6). We are confident of this very thing!

 FOUR SPIRITUAL ANCHORS

Jack Davis

In times like these, we need to be anchored on all sides! The apostle Paul wrote, in view of our hope of the resurrection and the victory that God has given us through our Lord Jesus Christ – Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord (I Cor. 15:58). Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong (I Cor. 16:13). God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.  Selah (Psa. 46:1-3).

Hear my cry, DO  God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the Rock that is higher than I. For Thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of Thy wings. Selah (Psa. 61:4). They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the LORD, and His wonders in the deep. For He commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit’s end. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and He bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.  Then are they glad because they be quiet; so He bringeth them unto their desired haven (Psa. 107:23-30). Each believer is allowed to pass through some stormy trials in order to cause him to put down, try, and prove his spiritual anchors. An anchor that cannot be tried is not worth much for security. “Be very sure your anchor holds and grips that solid Rock. That Rock is Jesus.”

Acts 27:29, Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day. Oh, what a day is coming! Are you wishing for that day? By that, I mean longing, waiting, praying, Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in Haven. Are we areally loving His appearing? The things that Paul and those that sailed with him did during this storm, illustrate for us many things about our journey. They cast four anchors out. Four anchors that can secure us from spiritual shipwreck are – grace, love, faith, and hope. We do well to appropriate these and have them applied to our lives.

GRACE: When we think of grace, we usually think of the blessings and favour of God that come to us without merit on our part. So it can be spelled, for definition, in several different ways:

God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense

Or God Revealed And Christ Extended.

The Apostle Paul told Timothy to be strong in grace, and thus be enabled to endure hardship (II Tim. 2:1,3). Being strong in grace is the result of growth, whereby we come to find Him sufficient in every trial (II Peter 3:15-18). Grace expresses the Divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life. We may grow in grace by receiving more grace. Growth in grace will keep us from being led away with the error of the wicked, and falling from our own stedfastness. For us not to grow in grace means to never reach our God-given potential of spiritual maturity, nor enjoy the nobility of Bridehood. This is development into the image and likeness of our Lord Jesus Christ: Him being formed in us. He is solid, dependable, always the same. So we are encouraged to become like Him by His grace. (Heb. 13:8-9). Thank God that Jesus was not moved from God’s purpose for His being here. The Apostle Paul said, By the grace of God I am what I am. Oh, let our hearts become established with grace. Paul was not moved from finishing his course with joy. The same can be true of us, as we are anchored by, and in grace.

Love: I Cor. 13:13, NOW ABIDETH: Oh, it is good to be anchored in the things that abide, that which stands and stays, enduring throughout the ceaseless ages. Faith, hope, love…the greatest of these is love. Though our faith will be made sight and our hope is to be realized in that eternal state, Yet we will still be dependent upon Him for the complete fulfillment of those exceeding great and precious promises and will continue to live in happy expectancy through the eternal ages. Faith is so very powerful, like a mighty dynamo; and under God’s engineering wisdom, love is the fuel on which faith’s engine runs. Love must also be the realm  in which faith operates. (Eph. 3:14-20) We are strengthened by His Spirit…that Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith; so that we may experience our roots in Him going deeper and our foundation becoming stronger, being enabled to grasp the full measure of Divine love. This love is ever increasing, and expanding in glorious dimensions.

Faith: 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. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering: for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. (James 1:5-8). Now, as we grow in grace, our hearts are established in grace so that we are not carried about by every wind of doctrine. The love of Christ does also constrain us. Then spiritual instability is greatly caused by unbelief. This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck (I Tim. 1:18-19). We can only fight a good fight when we are armed with faith. Let us never lay aside complete dependence on the Lord. Many of God’s precious people are headed for the rocks, wrecking their lives in regard to faith. We cannot just continue to go on that way and still get God’s best.

And having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were some time alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblamable and unreprovable in His sight: if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel (Col. 1:20-23). It is the Lord’s desire and purpose to present us holy, without blemish, and without charge in His sight. So the encouragement to continue here is not for the attempt to retain salvation; but for our perfection, and to lay hold of our inheritance. Being grounded deals more with the Divine support of our foundation. Being settled speaks more of the inward strength of the building. In Colossians 2:6-7 Paul encourages us to let our progress match our beginning, or our conduct manifest our conversion. Continue in the same way we began, expecting Him to perform that good work.

Hope: And be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel. For it is Christ in you, the hope of glory. He is the blessed hope of the ages; and being like Him, seeing Him as He is, is the hope that purifies our hearts and lives. Each of these anchors center upon Him. He is the Rock to which we anchor by grace through faith in love. We have access by faith, into this grace; and as we stand there, we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. This hope that makes us not ashamed is entered by grace through faith, and enjoyed in love by the heirs of promise. (Heb. 6:17-20) The heirs of promise are those who have fled to Him for refuge. God has made for us the strongest possible demonstration of the unchangeability of His promise and purpose by two solid facts: He cannot lie, and He could swear by no greater. He has done this out of His extreme desire to encourage us to lay hold upon the hope set before us. Also this secures and stabilizes us when laid hold of by faith.

 The Encouraging Word

“Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who HOPE in the Lord.” Psalm 31:24 NKJV

“Let us hold fast the confession of our HOPE without wavering for He who promised is faithful.” 

Hebrews 10:23 NKJV

“The Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their HOPE in His unfailing love.” Psalm 147:11 NKJV

“Blessing (praise) be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every Spiritual blessing in the heavenlies.” Ephesians 1:3

“Rejoice in the Lord always – delight, gladden yourselves in Him; again I say, Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4 AMP

“A merry heart does good like a medicine; but a broken spirit dries the bones.” Proverbs 17:22

“Feed on His faithfulness.” Psalm 37:3 RV

“To you who believe He is Precious.” I Peter 2:7

“The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.” II Corinthians 13:14

Martha Wainright

 Surrounding Sounds

Jack Davis

“And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? … There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.” I Cor. 14:7-10

Our Apostle Paul speaks of so many kinds of voices in the world, and that each are to give a distinction in sound, or signify something. He also speaks of uncertain sounds, and things without life giving sound.

CREATION’S SOUNDS

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.” Ps. 19:1-6

Is our God able to use inanimate things? Oh yes, He can and does. Consider Rom. 1:18-20. Why not, it is His creation. He is not hindered by, nor limited to human language to make His voice heard. All creation is at His disposal. Yet He has wonderfully used the tongues of men, David said my tongue is as a pen of a ready writer – Ps. 45:1, and check out Isa. 28:9-14.

Paul here in I Cor. 14: is teaching about the proper and profitable exercise of the spiritual gifts to the edification of the body of Christ. He speaks of the predominance and importance of prophesy for the edification of the church. Also, we are taught that he would that we all spake with tongues, and He was thankful to God for speaking in tongues more than all, and that speaking in tongues was not to be forbidden. He strongly indicates in this chapter that such is personally spiritually constructive. Such action was also inclusive of praying, singing, blessing and giving of thanks. Then he also says that he would rather speak five words with his own understanding than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

In Acts 19: we read that when Paul prayed for these twelve men at Ephesus, who were believers, the Holy Ghost came on them, and they spake with tongues and prophesied. In Acts 10: we read that while Peter preached in the house of Cornelius the Gentile centurion, the Holy Ghost fell on all them that heard the Word. Then the believing Jewish men that came with Peter were astonished, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. “For they heard then speak with other tongues, and magnify God.” Vs. 44-46. By the sound they heard they knew these men were filled.

On the day of Pentecost in the upper room, there came suddenly a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind. Sudden sounds startle us especially when they are sounds that we are not familiar with or if we were asleep – these people also heard some familiar sounds. Then they began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. The multitude that heard were impressed because they heard them speak every man in his own language. These men of  Galilee were not be-lingual nor multilingual, they didn’t even speak well in their own language heard them speak in about sixteen different dialects, of the wonderful works of God. Acts 2:2,4,6,8,11. When we read of these we also think of the things with life and of sounds of certainty.

The sound of the trumpet was used to guide Israel’s activities. The movement of their camps, travel, and going to battle was done on trumpet signal, so it was very important that the trumpeter get it right. It is very important today that our lives not give uncertain sounds. Our life here and now is a time to prepare for eternity. As we prepare for our Lord’s return our lives should be signal trumpets of the nearness of His coming. Consider II Pet. 3:10-14, and I Pet. 3:13-16.

When Lot had become so settled and satisfied in Sodom and tried to signal impending judgment to his sons in law, the scripture say that he seemed to them as one that mocked – Gen. 19:14. When those women returned from the empty tomb and told Jesus’ disciples about it, their words seemed to them like idle tales – Lk. 24:11. Of course the problem here was their unbelief. This shows us what a lack of faith will do with God’s Good News.

Whatever we hear, are aware of, or attending to, seems to have great bearing on the sounds we make. There are times that we would do well to stop talking long enough to consider what we have been saying, how it sounds to others. Lord help us, that our lives not give uncertain sounds to our families and acquaintance, for the time is short. The apostle Paul said repeatedly “for we know,” often in his letters, “I would not have you to be ignorant.” I like the way the young man that was born blind, and healed by Jesus answered those questioning him. “One thing I know…I was blind, now I see” – Jn. 9:25. Actions often speak louder than words. If you stand for nothing, you will likely fall for anything.

SOUNDS OF SALVATION

(SOULS SET FREE)

“Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.” Ps. 89:15-16.

Oh, how blessed we are to have ears to hear and hearts to understand our spiritual blessings – Mt. 13:16. How privileged we are to have the opportunity to express our appreciation with sounds of joy and rejoicing. Jesus admonished, “Let these things sink down into your ears.” It is wonderful to allow that which He speaks take lodging in our hearts. Truly wonderful to allow such to take control of our feet, so that we not only know, but walk in the light of His favor.

 Who is Like Him?

Gordon Crook, Pastor

Grace Assembly, Wichita, Kansas

We have a tendency to want to compare things and people to other things and other people. He’s just like so and so. She reminds me so much of such and such. However, there is no one and nothing to which we can compare our God. There is none like Him.

“Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger forever, because he delighteth in mercy.” Micah 7:18

This is a great passage about our God. We are reminded that there is none like Him, no one we can compare Him to. God reminds us of this many times in Scripture. I think we often forget and try to compare God to something we think He might be like. 

“Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” Exodus 15:11

“And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart:” 1 Kings 8:23

I am especially impressed concerning His willingness to pardon us. There are really so many aspects of God that we could consider, and He is unique in every one of them, but I am especially impressed with this characteristic. 

Imagine that God, the creator of everything that exists, including us (“All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” John 1:3), would be willing to pardon us. We were His enemies (“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” Romans 5:10, “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled” Colossians 1:21.) We transgressed against Him, and, being a righteous God, He must judge that transgression. We deserve His wrath, not mercy.

However, God chose to find a way to judge the transgression without requiring it at our hand. There really is no god like our God. Who is there that is willing to pardon at their own expense?

There are certainly many god’s in this world that of man’s own making. They worship all sorts of things and persons, but none is like unto our God. Without exception, man must find a way to appease their god’s. They must do something, and come up with the required payment. Their god’s are angry, and vengeful. It even shows in their own actions of anger and vengefulness. 

In Psalm 103, we see a description of God, and His mercy. Many think that the Old Testament is a record of an angry and vengeful God. Maybe even a different God than the New Testament. However, as we really study the Old Testament, we truly see a great God of mercy and compassion. He certainly is a just and righteous God, but what great mercy He displays. What great love. What great compassion. 

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; … The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.” Psalms 103:2-3, 8-11

There definitely is no god like our God, who delights in mercy. This fact should be of great comfort to us, as we rest on God’s mercy. It is a fearful thing to think about where we would be without God’s mercy.

Why is that some of God’s own people want to make Him into an angry and vengeful God? It just isn’t who He is. It doesn’t fit Him. The Word of God is so clear on this part of God’s character. “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,” Ephesians 2:4 “And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,” Exodus 34:6 “Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” 1 Peter 1:3

We would do better to rejoice in His mercy and love, knowing that there is no God like our God. “I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;” Psalms 31:7. “O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.” Psalms 90:14

 Love One Another & Jesus Christ

Anita Clark – Pastor

Grace Chapel, Carbondale, Kansas

“This is My commandment that ye love one another as I have loved you.” John 15:12

What more can be said about “LOVE.” It would seem that this topic would be exhausted by now, but it isn’t. As the song says, “If we with ink the ocean fill and were the sky of parchment made, and every stalk on earth a quill, and every man a scribe by trade; to write the love of God above, would drain the ocean dry; nor would the scroll contain the whole, though stretched from sky to sky” (The Love of God). God’s love for us is so immense because He is so immense. His love fills the universe. “Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool...” (Isa. 66:1). How can He truly care for me or you, little pusillanimous mankind?

John 3:16, says, “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.” Almost every Sunday School child can quote this familiar verse. I’m so glad I learned it when I was a child. It tells us how much God, the Father loves us - “He gave His only begotten Son.” This is the greatest gift ever given. This is a living gift that goes on and on, never wearing out. It reaches down through the centuries from that old rugged cross on the hill to the lowest sinner even in our day. What a gift! What a love! Although mankind has often rejected Him, yet He still loves them.

Jesus gave this new commandment (Jn. 15:12), not like the old commandments of the law. We cannot fulfill this new commandment in our own strength or determination, but only by having Christ in our hearts. When we were saved, Christ’s life entered ours, and as we yield to God, that life manifests characteristics that are like the Lord Jesus Christ. One of the greatest attributes is “love.” Jesus loved so much that He willingly went to the cross for us (Eph. 5:25). And now, He asks that we love others in the same way. If we say that we love others, but we never manifest it, then, it is doubtful that we really love as Christ wants from our lives.

I Corinthians 13 gives us examples of what “love” does. In short, love never does anything that harms or hurts another individual. Love never by it’s own actions deliberately stumbles another person. Love always thinks through a situation, “Will this thing I am doing edify another or tear down another’s faith.” My actions may not be to deliberately hurt someone, but if I knowingly do something that will hurt someone else, then I have failed to really love as God wants from me.

Think about this. An example is a weak brother or sister, who may not see the Word of God as deeply as we do.” Apostle Paul said, “Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no meat while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend” I Cor. 8:13. Can you imagine doing that? What love this act shows. It would be hard to give up meat entirely for the sake of another. In speaking of the “meat issue” – Paul said in I Cor. 8:9, “But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak.” Would we be willing to do this in order to not be offensive? Apostle Paul was a great example to all believers. Let us think about this and see what God can do through us in winning someone to faith in Christ, and to walk with the Lord. 

The most important work of Love in our hearts and lives is to love Jesus supremely - above all else. When this is true in a believer’s life, love is distributed to the members of our families and to all the believers we know or come in contact with, and even the people that are not Christians.

In Revelation 2:4, we read that the Church of Ephesus had “left their first love.” After a list of achievements credited to this church group, such as “works, labor and patience, and had not fainted, and recognized those that were false,” but verse four says, “Nevertheless I have some-what against you because you have left your first love.” 

Some interpret this to mean, the love you had right after you were born again. Think about it! At that point in our relationship with Jesus Christ we loved Him with a very immature love. As we go on with the Lord we come to a deeper place of love with Him. The word “first” in the Greek means “foremost, (in time, order or importance), best, or chiefest.” This is the kind of love the Lord wants reserved for Himself. Christ alone. Our relationship with Jesus should be a deep love. He should be number one in our lives and hearts, the most important person in our lives, the chiefest one. Song of Solomon 5:10, “My Beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.

 Mystery of the Bride

Part 1

Vicky Moots

The mystery of the church, the body of Christ, composed of all believers, both Jew and Gentile, is hidden in the Old Testament and revealed to us in the New Testament.  Inside this mystery, there is a second mystery: the mystery of the bride of Christ. Israel is mentioned several times as the wife of Jehovah, but that refers to Israel as a nation. These are two separate subjects and two separate groups. This study only concerns the bride of Christ, which includes both Jew and Gentile believers.

Paul first speaks of the bride of Christ in II Cor. 11:2, when he says, “For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” It is as though Paul were acting as the father of the bride, who looked forward to the privilege of giving his daughter away at the marriage of the Lamb. He desired that they would give up their childish ways and let the Word of God purify their hearts, so that they could truly become a chaste, pure virgin, perfect and spotless just like the Lamb, and be presented to Christ as His bride.  However, this letter to the Corinthians is also applicable to us today, as are all of Paul’s inspired letters.

The espousal invitation has been offered to the whole church, not just the Corinthian saints, but sadly, not all believers are willing to accept it. Many lukewarm Christians only desire a friendship relationship with Christ, or only wish to be a good servant. As we study this subject, allow the Holy Spirit to woo you into a deeper, more intimate, place of fellowship with Christ and give you the desire to lean upon His breast, as did John, the beloved disciple.

The marriage relationship was first instituted by God shortly after He created man. In Gen. 2:18, we read, “And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should dwell alone; I will make a help meet for him.”

This was not just an after-thought of God simply because poor Adam looked lonely. God had already created the animal kingdom, male and female, to have mates. Why didn’t He just create both Adam and Eve at the same time out of the dust of earth? Wouldn’t that make more sense? Instead, He created Adam and then formed Eve out of one of Adam’s ribs. The reason for this unusual surgical procedure is a great mystery that we would not be able to understand if it hadn’t been revealed to the apostle Paul, who then revealed it to us.

Everything that God did was done for a specific purpose, according to God’s plan. When God created the heaven and the earth, He intended for it to be a forerunner, or type, of the new creation, He had already planned that Jesus would later become the “last Adam,” the head of the new creation, as we read in I Cor. 15:45-47: “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening [life-giving] spirit.  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.  The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.”

So, we see that God intended the natural to be a picture of the spiritual.  The first man, Adam, was given life (God breathed life into him), but the last Adam, Jesus, gave life to us (His life is breathed into us by the Holy Spirit when we are born again).

Now, we are going to see that when God formed Eve, the first Adam’s wife, from his rib, He intended for her to be a spiritual picture of the bride of Christ (the last Adam).  Paul unfolds this mystery to us in Eph. 5:25-27.  He first gives us the natural order of the husband and wife relationship, and then he reveals to us that it is a spiritual picture of the relationship of Christ and His bride: “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church [assembly glorious] not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

Notice that it is Christ who is doing the work in us to sanctify and cleanse us by washing us with the Word, which not only removes every spot and blemish, but irons out all of the wrinkles, to make us pure and holy.  The word “sanctify” means “to separate” or “to set apart.” Our part is to submit. He then presents the “glorious assembly,” the ones who have submitted to His Word in order to be made pure, to Himself as His wife.

In vs.30-32 of Eph. 5, Paul refers back to Gen. 2:23-24 to confirm the connection between the physical process which God used to form a wife for the first Adam in the Garden of Eden and the spiritual work which God is doing now to prepare a bride for His Son, the last Adam.  Verses 30-32 state, “For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”

The word “of,” in v.30, used three times, means “out from among.”  In Gen. 2:23, Adam said concerning Eve, “…This is now bone of [out from among] my bones, and flesh of [out from among] my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” God formed Eve from a rib that He took out of the first Adam’s body.  God is also forming a spiritual bride from a spiritual rib that is being taken out of the body of Christ, the last Adam.

 Walk With The Lord

Earlene Davis

“… let us walk in the light of the LORD.” Isaiah 2:5

Enoch is a wonderful example of walking with God. He was no super being. He was an ordinary man who made a choice and he choose to walk with God. We all have a choice to either walk with God or go our own way, which is the way of the flesh. Enoch choose the high road.

Gen. 5:21-23, “… And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years.” He lived 365 years and of those years (300) he walked with God. He was a family man that had sons and daughters.

V. 24, “And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” What a marvelous testimony, and God translated him. For 300 years Enoch enjoyed fellowship with God as he walked in this life. His name means “dedicated” and he certainly was a consecrated man. He represents the full overcomers of this end time. He walked and talked with the Lord, and went to heaven without dying, translated. We have that hope of translation.

Enoch is mentioned in Lk. 3:37 in the genealogy of Christ. He was the 7th generation from Adam. He is also in the roll call of the heroes of faith. Heb. 11:5, “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” Enoch had faith for translation. He believed he should not see death and God honored his faith. He had the testimony that he pleased God. We all should desire such a testimony. How can we please God?

Heb. 11:6, “… without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” May we seek God as Enoch sought Him. When we seek Him, we are talking to Him. God desires our communication, it pleases Him. “He that cometh to God,” Enoch sought God, he trusted God, he pleased God. He not only talked to God but also listened, for we read in the book of Jude that he prophesied – Jude vs. 14-16. In other words he spoke to others for God. God gave him a message to speak, (Words from God to the people).

Think of it, to walk with God is a high privilege and this privilege is ours. But only a few seize upon the opportunity. Those few esteem such privilege worthy of their time and attention in their lives and seek Him for Himself. Most follow from afar and seek Him only in times of great need. But some want to know Him intimately. He has made Himself readily available to those who hunger and thirst for Him.

Apostle Paul in Philippians told of his desire, “that I may know Him,” I follow after, reaching forth, I press toward the mark for the Prize of the high calling. I count all things lost to win Christ. Oh, may we seek Him for Himself. Ps. 84:2, “My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.” Oh, may we seek Him for Himself, to know Him, to win Him. Ps. 84:11, He is our “sun,” our light (delivering us from the power of darkness to life everlasting); and “shield,” our protector. Who can separate, who can pluck us out, who can penetrate, when our life is hid with Christ in God? Col. 3:3. “The Lord will give grace and glory.” He Himself is the rewarder. He has given grace and He wants us to share His glory (I Pet. 1:10-11". The Lord would have us to behold it here and now by faith - II Cor. 3:18.

In Ps. 84:11, “No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” There is only one way to truly walk with God. Our God is indeed upright, faith and fellowship with Him makes us likewise upright on the way. The serpent lost his upright physical condition by submitting to Satan, (food for thought).

Some might think, “Oh, poor Enoch, he had to leave.” But what a privilege he had, 300 years walking in fellowship with the Lord. For that, he was highly favored with an unusual trip, a unique route – what a wonderful way to go! Walking with God is to make steady progress. What is the path of the just? It is to walk by faith, walk in the Spirit, walk in love, walk in the light. These are giant steps of a walk that is out of this world (an intended play on words). Heb. 11:6 again, He that comes to God “Must believe that God is (He exist”). Only a fool says there is no God – Ps. 14:1. He must believe God’s worth causing him to diligently search. And he must believe God’s faithfulness to reward.