“My Grace Is Sufficient For Thee”

When, sin-stricken, burdened, and weary,

   From bondage I longed to be free,

There came to my heart the sweet message:

   “My grace is sufficient for thee.”

Though tempted and sadly discouraged,

   My soul to this refuge will flee,

And rest in the blessed assurance:

   “My grace is sufficient for thee.”

My bark may be tossed by the tempest

   That sweeps o’er the turbulent sea–

A rainbow illumines the darkness:

   “My grace is sufficient for thee.”

O Lord, I would press on with courage,

   Though rugged the pathway may be,

Sustained and upheld by the promise:

   “My grace is sufficient for thee.”

Soon, soon will the warfare be over,  

   My Lord face to face I shall see,

And prove, as I dwell in His presence:

   “His grace was sufficient for me.”

–Anonymous

 Wise Resolve

Jack Davis

“Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.” Acts 11:23.

When the saints at Jerusalem heard that Gentiles were being saved in other places. They sent brother Barnabas to Antioch. He was wise enough to realize that what he observed was indeed the hand of God. His heart was made glad to behold this working of grace.

It seems that God gave Barnabas special foresight during this special time of gladness and grace, to sense that even more perilous times were on the horizon. He gave them such wise advice that is good for all times, with which we may each face the future. The character of the man seemed to add weight to his words, or indeed the word that the Holy Spirit inspired him to speak.

Acts 11:24, tells that he was a “good” man, in other words, God used him to be beneficial to others. “Much people were added unto the Lord.” He was said to be full of faith and also full of the Holy Spirit. He was influenced, enabled, and controlled by Him who stirs, stills, and strengthens us today.

His excellent persuasion is so worthy of note. He exhorted, urged, or encouraged a fixed resolve, even a hearty purpose. It seems that he made clear, the need to be determined to remain dependant, as love’s clinging vine. As we purpose likewise, we will come up out of the most trying experiences having learned to lean on the everlasting arms.

To “cleave” in the sense given here is to adhere, join, glue, accompany, yoke together. When He is our Lord we enjoy being one with Him in entire dependance. The days are passing swiftly and we will be leaving this place shortly. Let us draw near with a true heart, unto the Lord in full assurance of faith. Glory to God, we will soon see Him face to face. Let us still cleave to our dear Lord with purpose of heart.

 All That Is Within Me

Gordon Crook, Pastor

Grace Assembly, Wichita, Kansas

Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Psalms 103:1

This is an interesting comment on worship. “All that is within me” implies more than just a superficial form of worship that is very prevalent today among God’s people. Is worship something we do on Sunday morning? Is it a response to someone leading the worship service? Is it just a superficial act of praise?

The psalmist seems to tell us about something deeper than that. It can be easy and convenient to just give an hour or two on Sunday morning or meet with friends to go to that Christian concert and call that worship. Those things can certainly be a part of our worship. 

Assembling with God’s people is important and encouraged in His Word. “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” Psalms 122:1. However, worship should not stop at the exit of the building. It should be an integral part of our life.

Good deserves our all; “all that is within me.” We tend to be willing to give our “all” for ourselves or for something we really enjoy. Some people seem to be able to give all for their favorite sports team. No matter where they go, you know for sure who their favorite team is. Do people know wherever you go who your Lord is?

“Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.” Psalms 111:1

“I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.” Psalms 138:1

“I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.” Psalms 9:1

“I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.” Psalms 18:3

Our God is worthy to receive our praise. He is worthy of all of our praise. No one and no thing is ever worthy of our praise like He is. Not just some words or some singing, but true worship. Our whole heart. Everything within us. Every action of our life. Every attitude of our heart. “I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.” Psalms 86:12

True worship comes from deep within us and is drawn out by a true understanding of who God is. It is not reserved for only when He does something for us. When we begin to have a true revelation of who God is, we will be unable to do anything other than worship Him. God is always calling us to know Him better and have a very personal and close relationship with Him. You cannot truly know God in this way and not be compelled to worship Him with all your being.

That “all that is within you” means that every aspect of your life becomes part of that worship. The way you speak, the way you treat others, the way you deal with business, every aspect. “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” Psalms 19:14. “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” Luke 6:31.

Worship in this life is just the beginning. When we get on the other side, our worship will only increase as we will know even more. I feel strongly that “knowing as we are known” will draw from us an even greater worship. This is what we find in Revelation. “The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, . . .” Revelation 4:10. 

Our worship of our amazing Lord will continue throughout eternity. Let’s get started now.

 DOING THE FATHER’S WILL

Anita Clark – Pastor

Grace Chapel, Carbondale, Kansas

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus; Who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant [slave] and was made in the likeness of men.  And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross”  

Philippians 2:5-8.

Because this was the will of God the Father, Jesus subjected Himself to obey exactly what His Father had designed for His life on earth. It meant He would give up His glory and equality with God for all time. He will always be a glorified human being. In the plan of God He was “...the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” Revelation 13:8. In Hebrews 2:9-18 we learn that He willingly was made lower than the angels (V.9).  Through this humbling, becoming a human, He brought “many sons to glory” (Vs. 10). Through this process He destroyed him that had the power of death, that is, the devil (V.14).  He did all this so that He might become our “merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation (for the sins of the people) V. 17.

In Luke 22:41-42 & 46, we see Jesus choosing to follow the will of His Father God. While praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, He cried out, “Saying Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but Thine be done.” He willingly chose to follow His Father’s plan to become the sacrifice for our sin, and not for ours only, but for all the world’s also. In Hebrews 10:5,7, the Lord speaks, “Sacrifice and offering Thou wouldest not, but a body  hast Thou prepared for me.” He willingly came to do His Father’s will. How precious this is!  

In Galatians 1:3-4 Apostle Paul says, “Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.” In John 4:34, Jesus said “My meat (my nourishment) is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish His work.” Also, in John 5:30, Jesus said, “...I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” In John 6:38-67, He repeatedly speaks of doing His Father’s will, “For I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him that sent me.”

One of the phrases in what is called “The Lord’s Prayer,” which we prefer to call “The Pattern Prayer,” reads, “Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.”  Do we ask the Lord for His will to be done in our lives?  The word “will” in the Greek means “determination, choice, purpose, decree, desire, or pleasure.” This is exactly what the Lord wants in our lives - a person who seeks His will, not their own.

Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 5:14-17. “Wherefore He saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,  Redeeming the time because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”  The word “circumspectly” in the Greek means “ exactly, diligently, or accurately.”  We need to be doing the will of God!  We need to be careful to follow His leading every day. The word “redeeming” means buying up the opportunity or making the most of our time.” Not wasting our time.  Why? “Because the days are evil.”  This world is growing more evil every day.  Can you see it and feel it?

Paul says “Be ye not unwise.” The word “unwise” means “stupid, ignorant or unbelieving.” He continues, “...understanding what the will of the Lord is.” God wants us to seek His will in our lives.  We can understand what it is that God wants for us.  The Scripture is plain as to what His will is for us as a believer.

 The Two Creations

Part 3

Pastor Vicky Moots

Kingman, Kansas

Yes, Jesus delivered Paul, but how do we claim the same victory that Paul experienced and make it a reality in our own lives? Paul explains this to us in Romans 6.  In v.6 he declares the facts concerning what Jesus accomplished for us through His death on the cross: “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him [Jesus], …” This first fact is something that Paul wants to make sure that we know without a doubt because it is the basis of our victory over the flesh. We must accept this and believe it by faith to be true.

He then continues on in this verse to give us the purpose of knowing this fact: “…that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” The Amplified Version clarifies this portion of Scripture for us this way: “…that [our] body [which is the instrument] of sin, might be made ineffective and inactive for evil, that we might no longer be the slaves of sin.” This means that instead of having to serve sin, we are free to serve Christ with our body.

Next, in v.7, Paul makes an obvious statement of fact: “For he that is dead is freed from sin.” When a person dies, his sinful nature no longer has power over him to cause him to sin.  Therefore, death frees us from continuing to live a life of sin.

But it doesn’t end there, because Christ rose from the dead, and so must we, as Paul states in v.8: “Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him.”

If we believe these facts to be true, then we are admonished in v.11 to apply them to our own lives so that we may personally experience the victory over the old creation (our old man): “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

In this verse, Paul tells us that there are two things which we must “reckon.” The word “reckon” means “to count it to be so.” This word is actually an old bookkeeping term which referred to counting up both sides of the ledger and balancing, or reckoning, the books at the end of the day. You had to be very careful to add up all of the numbers correctly or your books would be off.  You wanted your count to be true.  Both sides of the ledger had to agree.  Spiritually, this means that we must be willing to count things the way God counts them and to agree with what He says in His Word.

The first thing which we must reckon is to agree with God that our “old man” was indeed crucified with Christ, and therefore, we are dead to sin and free from its power over us.

The second thing that we are to reckon is that we, as a new creation, have been resurrected with Christ and are alive unto God.

When we reckon these two things to be true, and allow them to become a reality in our daily lives, then we can shout the victory along with Paul, who declared in Gal. 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

It is the resurrected life of Christ in us who gives us the victory over sin.  Our “new man” is Christ Himself living His life through us as we yield to the Holy Spirit.  So, we can now say, “It is no longer I (the “old man”), but Christ (the “new man”) that lives in me.” The “old man”, who was crucified with Christ, no longer has any authority over our bodies, because we reckoned him to be dead.

As a result of this reckoning, our bodies are free to serve God instead of serving sin, as Paul tells us in Rom. 6:12-13: “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.  Neither yield ye your members [of your body] 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.”

 Wise Counsel

Greg Gilliam 

Pastor,  Grace Christian Assembly, Kansas City, Missouri

“Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.” Genesis 41:33, 

“And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?” Pharaoh was in need of wise counsel.  He first turned to the magicians of Egypt first. Not one of them could interpret the dreams of Pharaoh. Then we are brought back to the chief butler, one that Joseph had interpreted a dream for before and told him to remember him. He tells Pharaoh all about the account and introduces Pharaoh to Joseph. Joseph is immediately called for and he prepares himself.

As we study Joseph’s life we have glimpses of the Lord Jesus. We have one here in our text. Can we find such a one as this is? Who will help us know what God is about to do? The answer is yes. The Lord Jesus Christ is our counselor. The Prophet Isaiah gives us an introduction.  Isaiah 9:6, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder:  and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Price of Peace.”

He has been with God the Father since before the world was in existence. John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Jesus holds all the characteristics of His Father.  John 1:14, “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.”  

John gives us a record that the Spirit came upon Jesus.  John 1:32-34, “And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not:  but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.  And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.”

The wisdom of God was on display in His earthly life.  Luke 2:40, “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom:  and the grace of God was upon him.” Others marveled at the wisdom He had - remember, we behold God’s characteristics in Him. Mat. 13:54, “And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?”

The Apostle Paul makes several statements about the wisdom and knowledge of God. These statements can be said of Jesus too.  Rom. 11:33, “O the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” 1 Cor. 1:24, “But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” Col. 2:3, “In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

He will give us wisdom if we but ask Him. James 1:5, “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.” 1 Cor. 1:30, “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”  Eph. 1:8, “Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence.” Eph. 1:17, “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto the you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:” Eph. 3:10, “To the intent that now the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.”  Col. 1:9, “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.”

 OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

Jack Davis

“Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification” – Romans 4:25. Our hearts rejoice and we stand amazed as we consider all that Jesus was delivered unto, and as the result all that we’ve been delivered from and shall be delivered unto.

“For Our Offenses:” before the foundation of the world, our dear Lord had a date with the cross. Several were involved on His path there. Humanity is so prone to pass the blame, but be it ever remembered that our offenses (misdeeds) put Him there. We read of Judas Iscariot, after seeing Jesus body anointed for burial with very precious ointment, going to the chief priests, and saying “What Will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you?” And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. Jesus said shortly thereafter, “The Son of man goeth as it is written of Him, but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It had been good for that man if he had not been born” – Mt. 26:15,24. After Judas had betrayed Jesus with a kiss, and saw Him condemned to die, he tried to undo his dastardly deed by giving back the silver, but instead it was used to buy the field of blood.

Then there were the Jewish religious leaders, “the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor? – Mt. 27:1-2. This counsel of puny, fumbling, bungling men seem to have laid their plans, and carried them out without any problems. We read that Pilate “knew that for envy they had delivered him” – Mt. 27:18. Thank God, there was a higher counsel which far pre-dated this one. “Jesus…a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain. Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that he should be holden of it” – Acts 2:22-24.

Pilate also played a part. Jesus, allowing Himself into Pilate’s judgment hall, spoke not a word in self-defense. Pilate marveled, and asked Him if he knew that he had power to crucify or release him. Thank God that Jesus’ destiny was in the hand of a higher authority. Shortly thereafter Pilate sought to release Him, then “delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified” – John 19:16. We read in Acts 3:13-15, “God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus, whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead.” In Acts 4, we read about the kings and rulers, Herod, Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel being gathered against Jesus, “For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.”

It is stated most clearly in Romans 8:32, who really delivered our dear Lord to the cross, and why He did it. God didn’t spare Jesus any measure of the wrath of divine judgment against sin, that He might be able to spare, deliver, and enrich us. But delivering Jesus up to the cross on account of our sins, He is just, and the justifier of the ungodly who believe in Jesus Christ.

“Raised Again:” Our right standing with God is also related to Jesus’ deliverance from death and the tomb. The Apostle wrote, that if Christ be not raised, we are yet in our sins. Praise God, we need to longer live under the guilt, condemnation, or control of sin. “The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” “…sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under law, but under grace” – I Cor. 15:56-67 and Rom. 6:14. Glory to  God for deliverance, body, soul and spirit, provided for us in the redemption and resurrection of our dear Lord.

“So Great a Death:” “But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who deliver us from so great a death, and doth deliver,: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us” – II Cor. 1:9-10.

“Hath Delivered Us:” This is a result from the past. We, being justified by faith, have a new standing, a secure position, knowing deliverance in our spirit from the penalty of sin.

“Doth Deliver:” As we presently experience sanctification of the Spirit, our soul also, progressively enjoys deliverance from the power of sin. As our affections are being set on things above we enjoy an ascending state, a transforming condition. As we let Him work in us, we are not conforming to this world, but being transformed inwardly from glory to glory. When the Apostle Paul cried out, “Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” he was dealing with the sin principle in the fallen human nature. We are now being delivered from selfishness, shamefulness, suffering and even shallowness and sickness. As we walk by faith and not by sight, in love, and in the light, we are also presently experiencing deliverance in our bodies because of the resurrection life of Christ and the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit. Our Lord Jesus Christ “Gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father, To whom be glory for ever and ever, Amen” – Gal. 1:4-5.

The present day conditions are evil because they are somewhat controlled by the god of this world, Satan. The course of this age seems to be going according to the prince and power of the air. But thank God, our deliverance is according to the will of God, and unto His eternal glory. Jesus, doing God’s will, came and gave Himself to ransom and rescue us from the present evil influence and tendencies which characterize this age. I believe that sanctification is the process by which he is now developing kings and priests unto  God.

“Will Yet Deliver:” Our future deliverance is glorification, when creation “shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” What a deliverance eternally from the presence of sin! We read of that eternal state, and rejoice that “There shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life” – Rev. 21:27. So now we await God’s “Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come: – I Thess. 1:10. God, that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all – that he might bring many sons unto Glory. We now, and shall forever give thinks unto the Father which hath made us meet to be partakers, of the inheritance of the saints in light. Who hath believed us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son - Col. 1:12-13. He was able to do that because He that descended first into the lower parts of the earth, hath also ascended up on high and led captivity captive.

 Another Message on Occupying

E. J. Davis

We considered Jesus’ words  in the February issue – Lk. 19:13, “Occupy till I come.” In other words, our occupying should be in view of our Lord’s return, in awareness and  in anticipation. I am reminded of our Apostle Paul’s admonition to his son in the faith, Timothy found in I Tim. 4:13-16. We may take these words personally to our selves. For in one sense, our salvation came to us through the message of God’s grace given to Paul. We find seven sayings in these verses that should be our chief occupation.

I Tim. 4:13-16, “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”

“Give attendance to reading” (of the Scriptures of course) to the exhortation or encouragement, and to the doctrine or teaching; because of their great importance. The word Exhortation literally means to call to one’s side for instruction and comfort. Jesus said, “Search the scriptures…for they are they which testify of me” – Jn. 5:39. May we not neglect reading the Word of God. It is so valuable for our growth in Christ. II Tim. 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 (or perfected) unto all good works.”

II Tim. 3:15, says, “the holy scriptures are able to  make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” It is not enough to know the letter of the word. “For the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life” – II Cor. 3:6. It is the Holy Spirit who enlightens us as we receive and believe God’s Word. The Holy Spirit makes the truth of God’s Word alive to us. I Cor. 2:9-12, God has revealed unto us the deep things of God by His Holy Spirit and it is Spirit that makes us to understand them. The Spirit only can make known the things of God, for He only knows the things of God. The purposes, execution and operations are wholly Divine. Read I Cor. 2:13-16, with spiritual discernment, we compare scripture with scripture. As Christ is our life, so also is  He our mind, our reliable strength.

“Neglect not the gift that is in thee.” Timothy no doubt received a special gift when he was set apart to the ministry (II Tim. 1:6-8). Paul says stir into flame your gift, for Timothy had been tempted with fear since his spiritual father was in prison.  Each of us need to fully exercise ourselves in the particular gift given unto us, that God may be glorified to the utmost.

“Meditate upon these things.” To Ponder with solemn reflection, thinking deeply, as a devotional act of thoughts, chew the cud like the cows. Then the Word will become a vital part of us.

“Give thyself wholly to them,” With entire consecration. Why? That thy profiting may appear to all.” Not only will we profit, but we will glorify God and others will see it.

“Take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine.” Walk in the spirit according to the Word of the Lord – Gal. 5:16,25. Doctrine means teaching, the teaching of God is what is means here. II Peter 1:19, “ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn…” Walking as an example.

“Continue in them” Be faithful, Don’t hide your faith or forsake it, stay true to your conviction, to your calling, and in doing so, the Lord rewards faithfulness- Col. 1:23. Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men, knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

“For in doing this, thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee.” Jesus spoke of service and rewards in Mt. 16:24, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Others also can be saved by our faithful service, not only to enjoy eternal life, but share in the honors and glories with Christ. A feting reward for faithful service and self denial. 

Let us press on until our Lord comes.

 He Is Coming For Me

Do you know why I’m longing for the coming of the Lord, And watching His glory to see?

‘Tis because He’s my Bridegroom, beloved, and adored,

And I know He is coming for me.

Do you know why no longer I can call the world my home, My heart from its fetters is free? 

‘Tis because I am waiting my Bridegroom to come, 

And I know He is coming for me.

Do you know why He’s robed me in garments of white,

And bidden me ready to be….

With oil in my vessel, and my lamp trimmed and bright?

‘Tis because He is coming for me.

Do you know why I’m sending the tidings to all,

And warning from judgment to flee?….

He has sent me His guests to the wedding to call,

For He’s coming, and coming for me.

OH! He’s coming after me, Like Him I shall ever be.

I’m so glad that He is coming after me.

He is coming after me, And His glory I shall see,

I’m so gad He is coming for me.

– A. B. Simpson

 The Encouraging Word

“Lord, turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.” Psalm 25:16

“Hear, O Lord, have mercy and be gracious to me! O Lord, be my helper! Psalm 30:10

“Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 124:8

“Rejoice and exult in hope; be steadfast and patient in suffering and tribulation; be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12 (Amp)

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me.” Psalm 28:7 (NIV)

“Be still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him, and patiently stay yourself upon Him; fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass.” Psalm 37:7

“The Lord God is my strength, my personal bravery and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet, and will make me to walk (not to stand still in terror, but to walk) and make (Spiritual) progress upon my high places (of trouble, suffering or responsibility). Habakkuk 3:19

Martha Wainright