“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:1-4
It is our normal human nature to want to be accepted by others, and many times we are willing to put on a mask that is not our normal self. We can act in ways that make people think we are something that we are not. The old nature, that we all have, likes to act religious because it means that we do not have to recognize our failure before God. It is certainly possible to look like we are “spiritual,” when our heart is not right.
God is always dealing with our attitudes. He is not fooled by our outward actions even if they appear to be good. God is not in the business of making people that can put on a front and do things to be seen of others. He is in the business of changing our hearts to be like Him. The Christian life has never been about performance, but about change.
God has always looked at man’s heart and sees what others do not. “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:10. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
Everything we do is known by God, and He is the one that will reward accordingly. We are not talking about our salvation when we talk about rewards. We will receive a reward according to our deeds. However, those deeds should be done as unto the Lord and not to impress people. “And 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.” Colossians 3:23-24
When we are doing something for the Lord, it should be done as unto the Lord without considering whether others see us and recognize our efforts. While it is generally true that our actions are the effect of what is in our heart, we are certainly capable of doing things with the sole purpose of making others think something about us that is not really true. The real question is whether we really want to please God or man.
This is what Paul says about his intentions. “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a of Christ.” Galatians 1:10 (ESV) Every action should be in the attitude of pleasing God. This does not mean that we will act perfectly all the time. It is, however an attitude of heart that needs to pervade our life.
Many understand and agree that our salvation is by grace alone, but then they want to turn to performance for the rest of their spiritual growth. God has never desired “performance” from us. He desires only surrender. It is far harder to surrender all of our life to Jesus than to try to do something on our own.
Jesus makes it very clear in John 15 that we can do nothing apart from Him. He is speaking there about bearing fruit. Performance is not fruit, it is self effort. What Jesus does in us when we are truly abiding in Him, is a real change in our hear attitude. He is making us more and more like Him. This is what Paul means when he says we are being changed from glory to glory.
God’s people will find so much rest and spiritual growth when they begin to realize that Jesus wants to complete their sanctification if they will let Him. “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” Philippians 1:6. “The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me:” Psalm 138:8a. “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24. “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.” Hebrews 12:2. “For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.” Hebrews 4:10
Please consider that you are not expected to perform something that is defined by someone else in order to be spiritual. If you will yield your heart and life to Jesus, He will work a change in your life that you cannot on your own. I am so amazed at what He has changed in my life. I can really see many changes in my attitudes in my heart.
I saw this quote somewhere, and I think it is correct. “Nobody wakes up one day and decides to lock Jesus out. They just build something that works without Him.”
Leprosy, in the Bible, is a spiritual picture, or type, of sin. At that time, it was considered incurable, but now it is treatable. I would like to discuss the physical disease of leprosy and then give the spiritual comparison and meaning of it.
Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s Disease, is a slow growing bacterial infection affecting the skin, the mucous membranes of the nose and throat, testicles and peripheral nerves. It is caused by Mycobacterium leprae, a bacteria that is similar to the one that causes tuberculosis.
The first symptom that appears is patches of skin on the body that look like a rash, but there is no itching. One of the most marked manifestations of the disease is the loss of the ability to feel temperature or pain in the affected areas. This is due to the destruction of the nerves, which can lead to atrophy and bone damage and autoamputation of the fingers and toes. Leprosy is very disfiguring and can lead to paralysis of the hands and feet. The patients unknowingly burn or injure themselves, and then the wound becomes infected. Death was usually due to infected sores.
So, how is leprosy like sin? Sin, like leprosy, destroys a person a little at a time, and they do not feel it or realize it. As leprosy progresses, it affects the appearance, the speech, the ability to walk, and the ability to bear fruit. Untreated, it leads to death. Likewise spiritually, when we yield to the sinful old creation it affects our talk, our walk, and our outward appearance and causes us to become unfruitful.
The leper was considered “unclean” according to the Old Testament Law and had to be separated from the other people in a place outside the city. Sin, likewise, separates us from fellowship with God. Leviticus, chapters 13 and 14, give the regulations regarding the plague of leprosy and even how it was diagnosed.
In Lev. 13:45 the leper was commanded that he was to “...put a covering upon his upper lip and shall cry, unclean, unclean.” In other words, he was to put a covering over his mouth. This law was to prevent the spread of the disease to other people. It is interesting to me that no one at that time knew how leprosy was transmitted. We now know that it is spread through droplets from coughing and sneezing.
In the spiritual sense, just like the leper, the Christian who is yielding to the flesh instead of walking in the spirit, is unclean. But according to I John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This is the only cure for spiritual leprosy.
Leprosy is spread by prolonged close contact with someone who is infected, not by casual contact with them. And so it is with sin. The more time that we spend in an unwholesome environment, or the more time that we spend with unbelievers, the more likely that it will begin to affect us. Jesus occasionally ate with sinners and ministered to them, but He did not associate with any of their activities. We are commanded in II Cor. 6:17 to come out from among them and be separate.
In II Kings 5 we read the story of Naaman who was captain of the host of the king of Syria. Verse one describes him as “a great man … and honorable … he was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.” Naaman was a great man, but he was unclean, just like all of us who have sinned. He sought the prophet Elisha for healing. Elisha sent a messenger to him to tell him to go and wash in the river Jordan seven times, and he would be clean.
Naaman was angry and refused to obey at first because Jordan was a dirty river. He finally swallowed his pride, and v. 14 tells us that “... he went down and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.”
The river Jordan is a spiritual picture of our death and resurrection with Christ, and the number seven is God’s number of completeness (on the seventh day, creation was complete). The dirty river water of Jordan had no healing power, and it was not what cleansed Naaman. It took faith and complete obedience to the command to “wash and be clean.” He had to dip in the water seven times, not just two or three.
To have victory over sin, we must submerge our souls completely in the murky waters of the death of Christ and be raised up with Him as a new creation, as Paul testifies 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.”
I want to start by saying how thankful I was to grow up in the family I did. I’m thankful that I’ve was raised by a wonderful mom and dad who taught me so much in life and about the Lord and about the Grace of God. Also, I had a wonderful and ornery brother I enjoyed growing up with. I really enjoyed going to church and going to fellowship meetings and also to camp. It was fun for me.
I really can’t complain about my life. I love people that I have gotten to know over my life time. I was a single person for a long time and then, the Lord brought me a wonderful man to whom I have really enjoyed being married. I am so happy that my Dad got to perform our wedding. We went back to our honeymoon spot in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, and when we stepped back into Thorn Crown Chapel, I broke down in tears as it brought the memory of our wedding back to surface.
In 1997 my husband David was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Then, several years later I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. It seems like most of my life was medicine free and hospital free and I had pretty good health.
Last year David had to have half of his thyroid removed. That wasn’t easy and his recovery was rough. Two years ago I had to go to the emergency room and found out that I had blockage in my kidneys. Two years later, on the 9th through the 13th of March of this year, I was in the hospital. Before that, I had gone to my doctor’s and ended up having a lot of shortness of breath. That Monday they hooked me up to an E.K.G. and said I was in A-Fib .and told me I was going to have to go to the Hospital. I chose St. Theresa because the heart doctor that was there was from my doctor’s office.
When I was done with the E.K.G., David said he was feeling funny. He thought his blood sugars were dropping they checked his blood sugar and got him something to eat his blood sugar was doing fairly good. When I came back to the room, after I went to the bathroom David was talking but I didn’t understand what he said and then his hands started shaking and his body started convulsing and he started to fall forward I grabbed his body and held him back and yelled for help. When they came in the nurse tried to do what she could and David blacked out again.
When he came to they started to check his blood pressure, and blood sugar again and pulse, and oxygen. More than half the staff was in the room taking care of David. I moved to the hallway to give them room to work on David. We ended up at the same Hospital Emergency room.
I got out of the hospital on the 13th and have been at home recovering with watching my sodium closely and taking blood pressure and checking pulse taking lots of medications. I Thank the Lord for His love and care over me. My prognosis sounds positive if I make big changes for my health. I thank the LORD JESUS FOR HIS LOVE.
They also had to reset my heart beat on April 22, which was David’s and my anniversary. I stayed at St. Francis overnight. Since then it has taken me a while to recover. I had a life vest that I have worn since the 13th of March, that monitored my heart and could act as a defibrillator if necessary.
We had made some serious changes since I was released from the hospital with our sodium intake and making big changes but just took a step further. I do believe that God put that in my head to do that and watching our food closer has also paid off because when I went to the doctor last Monday I had an echocardiogram and this last Friday, 26th of June was my followup with my Heart doctor. He pointed at the battery pack that was part of the life vest and said you can get rid of that thing. He also lowered my medications. and said my heart was almost back to normal.
I love our gracious Lord how wonderful and faithful he is to take care of his children. God blessed us with all of you and your prayers. Thank you Lord for our spiritual family that has been praying for us all the way through this journey, and for God’s wonderful healing. Please continue to keep us in your prayers.
(Bless the Lord oh my soul and all that is within me bless his holy name he has done great things Bless his holy Name bless the Lord oh my soul and all that is with in me bless his Holy name!)
I Come Broken, Lord, with no place left to go.
I come broken, Lord, with nothing left to show
For a wasted life of sin and shame. I come broken Lord,
For You are my only hope. Yes, I’ve wasted my life on sin and frivolity; for a sinful life was the only life for me.
Now I know the folly of the sinful life I’ve lived,
so, I come broken, Lord, full of sin and sickness please
please won’t You take me in?
I’ve had no friends nor family to walk my road with me;
So, now I walk this lonely road with one last chance for me.
As I walk the lonely road, torn, tattered and filthy,
so full of sin and shame, I have come almost to roads end;
hoping that you will accept me and take me in.
For there is no place left to go, so I come to You, Lord, please won’t You take me in?
As I near the end of the road I have walked, so full of sin and shame, I look ahead and see a solitary figure, standing, looking back at me.
It is You, O Lord, I see, looking back at me;
It is You I see, with arms held open wide, and the love I see shining from Your eyes, I know is meant for only me.
You call my name and say, “I love you, Paul, please come and live with Me? That you have wasted your life is plain for all to see; Yet only I alone can redeem you, if you will come and live for Me. A life poured out in service, leading others unto Me,
a life redeemed, and lived in liberty.”
I am not perfect, it is plain for all to see, yet Jesus loved me, saved me, that I might live my life for Him, in perfect liberty.
A soul in distress,
cries out with grief.
Seeking an answer,
desiring relieve.
The Word goes forth,
Touching that soul.
Pointing to Jesus,
making it whole.
A healing takes place,
For all to see.
For a soul once bound,
Is now set free!
The name of Jesus!
His cross! His grave!
His resurrection!
A soul is saved!
Debra Isenbletter
Springfield, Missouri
“In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” Ephesians 3:12-19
Last month we ended considering God’s purpose and work to put on display, through the church, His great wisdom for all to see. Verse 11 ends with “eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This leads to our start here; “In whom.” We now know that Paul is here referring to Jesus.
We are being reminded that our access to the Father is through Jesus. “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;” Hebrews 10:19-20 Also read Ephesians 2:18, John 14:6 and Romans 5:2. There is no other access, and this access made available to us is a precious privilege.
Coming into God’s presence with confidence is never about being rude or demanding as some want to do. The confidence is about understanding that on our own merits, we could not survive in God’s presence. You can read in Leviticus 16 how specific it was for Aaron to enter into the Holiest which is where God’s presence dwelt among Israel. God was teaching about the Holiness of His presence. This is why Hebrews 10:22 encourages us to “draw near” in “full assurance of faith.” Fully assured that we are accepted in His presence. Ephesians 1:6.
God has always intended that humans would be in fellowship with Him. This is exactly why He made a way for us. He is not just “tolerating” us in His presence, we are eagerly invited to have fellowship with Him.
Paul is not preaching the gospel out of some expectation of applause or acceptance by people, but because he knows the importance and truly wants us to know what God has revealed to him. This is why he tells the saints to not be discouraged by his tribulations. He is not discouraged.
Even in his tribulations, he is able to pray for the saints that will listen to him. This is his second prayer in this letter. I have always been impressed with Paul’s prayers as I think they clearly show us how we ought to pray for each other. When we read these prayers, we should take away some understanding as to what God wants for us.
Consider what Paul prays for here. It is not their health. It is not their wealth. It is not even for their safety in light of persecution. It is for strength in the inner man. It is for them to be rooted and grounded in love. He prays for spiritual things because they are more important. What is the value of worldly things if the spiritual is neglected.
“Strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.” This is not our own strength. Paul is not trying to be a motivational speaker. He wants us to realize that we need the strength from the Holy Spirit for our spiritual life. If we just try to “muscle” through on our own, we will fail.
“That ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge.” The most important thing we need to understand is the love of Christ. “Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:36-40
Jesus ties all of the law to love. Paul tells us that it is briefly comprehended in this; “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” John tells us that; “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” And also; “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” 1 John 4:20
All of our understanding of God needs to be in relation to His great love. Jesus first loved us and gave Himself for us. For God so loved the world that He gave His beloved Son. Paul prays for these saints (and us) that we might comprehend; not just the basic love, but the breadth and length and depth and height. There is much more to the love of Christ than just knowing that He died for us.
Those that go on in the race for the prize of the high calling in Christ are going to realize there is much more to learn about Jesus every day. They will experience a deeper companionship with Jesus and His love will change them from the inside.
“That ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” I wrote a complete article on this in the May 2026 Glorious Gospel. You can read that if you have a copy, or online at www.gloriousgospel.org.
I feel certain that these prayers of Paul should give us a great example of what we should pray for, both for ourselves and for others. I do not want to discourage in any way saints praying for their health and finances and wisdom and all of those things, but Paul helps us understand the more important things.
“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.” Mt. 26:26. It is interesting to notice what Jesus did with the bread, which represented His body, as they were sharing this meal. What a fellowship! This memorial is to keep us aware, of what he bare, that we might enjoy our blood-bought share. I Pet. 2:24; I Cor. 10:16.
“HE TOOK BREAD”
He took that body from his Father’s hand, in perfect submission. God had provided that He dwell or live therein for a while. Heb. 10:5-10,14. A body prepared for Him especially as a vehicle in which to do all the Father’s will. I am persuaded that Jesus took it willingly. He accepted the physical being without quibbling, why hast thou made me thus? This human form was a necessity for his entrance into the world to be the redeemer of humanity. We also think of this event as “the word made flesh.” This body in which He lived was completely dependant upon His Father for his care.
We think of Mary who gave birth to and nourished Jesus, looking at Him as a mother would. We don’t know how much she understood of the prophecies concerning Him, but it must have been a great trial of her faith to see Him suffering there on the cross. We think of another Mary anointing His body for His burial. The care given by Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus preparing His body for burial. I believe God saw to it.
“HE BLESSED IT”
Oh, would not a body be blessed wherein Jesus lived for about thirty-three years? Wherein Jesus did nor knew no sin. He did far more than “take it” or accept it. We get a sense from synonyms given from the Greek…” to speak well of in praise and thanksgiving to attribute as belonging to God, to consecrate for use unto God’s glory.
Many put too much importance on our physical well-being. Some even equate such with spirituality. WRONG! Some of the most spiritual saints I have known suffered severely in body. Others fail to realize the proper importance God gives to the care of these bodies. There are those who abuse, misuse, neglect, and even reject them. Let us remember that by faith we are temples of the living God. We well appreciate the fact that they are a needed “house” to live in for a while, while we prepare for eternity. God cares about these earthen vessels enough to place the Christ life treasure within. He commanded the light of the glorious gospel to shine therein.
When we yield to Him He makes us vessels unto honor, meet for the Master’s use. These vessels in which there is to be manifested the life of Christ, and even to magnify Him. II Cor. 4:10; Phil. 1:20. I Cor. 6:15 says that our bodies are members of Christ. Don’t we glorify God in these physical bodies? II Cor. 6:18-20. Paul said “I keep under my body,” It is so needful to submit ourselves unto the control of the new life, and the Holy Spirit.
To me it is so sad and dangerous that so many saints allow their bodies to be boss in their life. Daily choices, and even spiritual decisions are being determined by physical conditions. Lord help us overcome wherever we are, content in whatever state we are in. Rom. 12:1-3. It is our privilege to present ourselves a living sacrifice. Has He promised that the Spirit shall quicken these bodies? Are we earnestly awaiting the Redemption of our bodies? OH GLORY, THESE WILL BE CHANGED IN A TWINKLING OF AN EYE. I Cor. 15:51-52. We shall soon be fashioned like unto His glorious body when He comes. Phil. 3:20-21. Who can estimate how blessed these bodies have been to have the life of the Son of God move in.
“HE BRAKE IT”
Or presented it for the breaking
The Greek synonym has the thought… “to break off, bust asunder, crack apart.” We read that not a bone of Him was broken. It is indicated by Scripture that His heart burst, water and blood flowed together out of His pierced side. His bones were out of joint.
We think of His marvelous walk, His wonderful words, His amazing works. As He talked and walked He taught, even illustrated His messages, with miraculous examples concerning the truth of His ultimate purpose for being here. He healed those oppressed of the devil, He made the lame to walk, the dumb to talk, deaf to hear, He fed the multitude, He stilled the storms. But He had a definite path, a sure destiny. The things mentioned before was not His whole mission for being here, not the total purpose. He was here for the breaking, and giving. Had He returned to heaven right after His transfiguration on the mount, where would we be?
The Scripture gives us memorials of several things broken, and teaches us of how God can use the broken things. We think of the alabaster box broken, in order that the fragrance could flow out and fill the house. Gideon’s men with their pitchers, which had to be broken to allow the lamps within to shine out for victory.
“HE GAVE IT”
Isa. 50:4-7, Fortells the giving of His body. Read Eph. 5:1-2; Gal. 2:20. But let us consider John 6:47-58. In verse 51, He speaks of Himself as the living bread come down from heaven, and refers to it as His flesh which He will give for the life of the world. Thank God! The bread of life can be also our daily bread. He is our sacrifice but also our satisfying portion. We will one day wear what we have been eating today.
“TAKE EAT”
He so graciously says “take eat. What shall we eat? What shall we wear? Physically it seems that some of us think that we wear much more than we eat. How do we eat or take in the bread of life? Are we not privileged to be partakers of His life? What type of life do we have by faith? He is HOLY, PURE, UNDEFILED, AND ALIVE FOR EVERMORE. We may enjoy from Him all the nourishment and satisfaction we need. V. 55. He seems to express here how we “eat” or take into our life the word of life. Verse 47: “He that believeth,” as we believe we are taking Him into our lives. Verse 56: tells us to “dwell in Him.” Speaking of our “living by Him.” Col. 3:4 speaks of Christ who is our life, Gal. 2:20 we live by His faith.
Consider what He has done to present us gloriously complete. Col. 1:21-23, “And you, that were sometime 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 unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: if ye continue in the faith…”
His part, “I give,” He asks of us, “take, eat.”
Psalm 119:45 “And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.” There is a connection between liberty and God’s precepts. The Hebrew word liberty means “wide, roomy, space.” This freedom to live as God meant us to live comes only from seeking His precepts. Precepts means “command” and it signifies THE WORD OF GOD. He gives us His commands for us to follow. Instead of being in a tight, restricted area with no room to breathe, we learn to follow God’s precepts. Then we can enjoy the “wide, spacious room” God gives us.
Our most important relationship is with God, more than political relationships we have with local, state and national government. This is not more important than our relationship with God. John Adams, one of our founding fathers and the 2nd President of our country wrote: “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. He firmly believed that a free, constitutional republic would only work if its citizens retained high moral standards. When John Adams said “religious” he meant the Christian religion, not just any religion. Our founding fathers came from a Christian culture.
Even with the best idea of government, if people aren’t able to control themselves, that form of government can’t last. Politicians may “pledge” to support the constitution and even mouth the words, “so help me, God,” but it means nothing if the heart is wicked and deceitful. I would rather preach the Gospel than to try to teach the philosophy and ideals of any political party. Only the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ can change our hearts and minds for a better life now and for eternity. The biggest problem we have is not political but spiritual. Who do we serve and worship? Only Jesus can change our hearts from DIRTY to CLEAN, from WICKED TO HOLY, and from DEATH to LIFE. Only Jesus! The Old Testament was God’s instructions to His people, Israel. They didn’t have to wonder what God wanted because He spelled out for them. But the only way this benefited them was by humbly receiving and obeying.
Psalm 119:133 “Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.” The writer asked the Lord to order his life with the Word. This is the only way to escape from the domination of iniquity. If we don’t make God our priority, then someone else or something else will fill that void in our heart. That may seem to be alright for a while, but no one can ultimately give us the love, peace, and joy that God gives in relationship with Him. Many people think that civil or political freedom is the ultimate, being able to “say what you want.” But just because we have the right to express our opinion doesn’t mean our opinion is right! We can be enslaved in our own wrong thinking, not knowing how bound up we are. But Jesus tells us the way to be FREE, and to know TRUE FREEDOM. John 8:31-32, Jesus said to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
We must first believe in Jesus and then continue to know Him on a personal level. What about those who quote His Word but don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus? They may know some things ABOUT God, but they don’t really KNOW God. We must open our heart to God’s way of salvation, which is Jesus Himself. The New Testament is so much more glorious than the Old Testament because Jesus took on a body of flesh and blood, and He fulfilled the requirements of the Law as a man. Jesus did what we could not do. “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). Jesus is our connection between knowing the truth and being free. Jesus paid the price for our Salvation and the price was His blood. He died in our place so that we don’t have to die. Not only that, He has given to us His RIGHTEOUSNESS. In Christ we are a New Creation and we are ACCEPTED in the Beloved (we are always welcome at God’s throne).
God meant for us to continue in Jesus, the Word of God, and to be His DISCIPLES (learners). CONTINUE, according to Strong’s Concordance, is to stay, abide, dwell, remain, or to stand. To be MADE FREE means to be liberated. From what do we need to be made FREE? from the sin that hinders our relationship with God. Salvation is a gift, but to FOLLOW Jesus will cost us something. Our desire to follow Jesus will be tested, but thank God we are learning we have the most FREEDOM when we look to Jesus and DEPEND upon Him!
A longer title of this article could be, “True Freedom Comes from Declaring Our Dependence upon God.” Think of what the Thirteen American Colonies did when they declared their INDEPENDENCE. How dare they separate themselves from and enter into certain war with one of the greatest empires in the world? We know what our founding fathers were thinking because it is written in The Declaration of Independence. They weren’t being “rebellious children” of their parent country but they declared their dependence upon God! They put themselves in the hands of the God who rules over the affairs of all people and nations. Right from the first paragraph of The Declaration of Independence, the colonists plead their right “to dissolve the political bands” which connected them with Great Britain and that they have the right “to assume the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them …”
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness …” It is important to realize that our rights come from God, not from any earthly government; government was meant to protect those rights, not to arbitrarily decide who has rights or who has “more rights” than others. Most of The Declaration of Independence is a record of the abuses that King George III inflicted upon these colonists. the relationship between them and their “mother country” was so impossible, they appealed to Heaven.
The last paragraph mentions God two different times: “We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States … with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” Our founding Fathers called God, “the Supreme Judge of the world” because the Court of Heaven is higher than any court in the whole world. In other words, they declared their DEPENDENCE on God while declaring their independence from Great Britain.
I wouldn’t say that every American colonist was a Christian, but most of them were and they lived and breathed a CHRISTIAN CULTURE. They prayed and read His Word. How do we know that the American Colonists put their trust in God? When they were in a terrible pinch, They asked God for help PUBLICLY, and they also thanked God PUBLICLY when their prayers were answered.
Galatians 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.” When we don’t have the faith or when we feel shaky in our faith, LOOK TO JESUS, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Jesus learned obedience by the things that He suffered. He trusted the Father and did everything according to the Father’s will. Jesus gave up His rights of being God and put His trust in the Father. After His death, Jesus was glorified and given “a name which is above every name” (Phil. 2:9). We are learning to DEPEND upon God through Jesus our Savior, more than we did yesterday. May we allow ourselves to be “fully persuaded” as Abraham was with God (Rom. 4:21) and may we know and experience the full, victorious life that comes from being DEPENDANT upon Jesus our Savior!
I’m happy with Jesus alone,
I’m happy with Jesus alone;
I’m rich in my Savior, as rich as can be;
And happy with Jesus alone.
“Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.” John 20:19
This seems to be the outstanding theme of Jesus’ activities during the 40 days after his resurrection. In one way or another He is always seen in the midst of His disciples, or other believers. Paul mentions that He was seen by over 500. 1 Corinthians 15:6.
Jesus has always been in the midst or middle of all of God’s plans for man, for time and eternity. “Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;” Proverbs 8:30. All through man’s history, Jesus has been in the midst, but even more so and in a greater way after the resurrection and the completion of man’s redemption. “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:” Colossians 1:16
After his resurrection, Jesus performed no miracles for the multitudes; He is seen mainly in the presence of his disciples. He made a promise while ministering to them. “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20 This promise is also for us. It applies to all believers since Jesus’ resurrection.
In the Old Testament we find Him as well. It should not be thought that Jesus suddenly appears in the New Testament and was absent in the Old simply because His incarnation as a man happens in the New Testament.
Consider the account in Daniel of the three Hebrew children that were thrown into the fire. “Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellers, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth of the midst of the fire.” Dan 3:24-26.
In the midst of their fiery trial, Jesus stood with them. He is not afraid to stand with us today in the midst of our fiery trial. We just need to be willing to see Him there.
Today, we find Jesus in the midst of His church. He is walking among the candlesticks as the judge. “And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.” Revelation 1:12-15.
We find Him judging His church in the second and third chapters of Revelation. We need not be afraid of Jesus judging His church, as He is preparing those that are allowing Him. Jesus “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,” Ephesians 5:25-26. Notice that He is preparing His bride out of the church by the Word.
The Word of God is exactly how Jesus is in our midst today. The Word is how He is working in the life of any believer that wants to be prepared for that bridal company.
And finally, we see Jesus in the midst in heaven. “And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.” Revelation 5:6 “They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” Revelation 7:16-17.
Jesus will be in the midst for eternity. We will be worshiping Him for eternity. Those that find Him in the midst today will not regret allowing Him to prepare them with the Word of God. My encouragement to you is to put Jesus in the midst (center) of your life today and every day.
Number six on the list of things which we have been instructed by Paul to think upon is “whatsoever things are of good report.” “Good report” means “reputable, well spoken of.” Today many people search the internet for answers to their questions, but unfortunately not all of the websites are reputable or reliable sources of information. However, there is one source that is 100% reliable and reputable, and that is the inspired Word of God. It is the “good report.”
In Acts 6:1-6 we read that the disciples needed help to serve the people, so in v. 12 we find that they chose seven “men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom” to appoint over the matter. If our desire is to be of service to the Lord, then we also should be of honest, or “good report,” because we are representatives of Christ Himself.
Hebrews chapter 11 is filled with good reports of many Old Testament believers who walked by faith and overcame obstacles. However, some of those who were considered heroes of faith, such as Samson, David, Abraham and Rahab, had done some things that were not of good report. That is because those men and women in this chapter were just ordinary people like you and I who stumbled and made mistakes. Why weren’t their mistakes listed along with their accomplishments? That is because the writer wished to proclaim only those deeds that were done by faith, only those things that were of “good report,” which he clarifies in v. 39: “And these all, having obtained a good report through faith…” And so, it is the things of “good report.” which we are encouraged by Paul to meditate upon when we look upon others or even upon ourselves.
The seventh thing listed by Paul for us to focus upon is “if there be any virtue.” “Virtue” in this verse refers to “moral excellence,” or “being pleasing to God.” This, of course, speaks of Christ who was without sin and was pleasing to His Father. After Jesus was baptized in the River Jordan by John, we read in Matt. 3:17 that there came a voice from heaven saying, “…This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. We also, as Christians should endeavor to be pleasing to our Heavenly Father.
In Prov. 31:10-31 we find a description of the virtuous woman. It starts out with v. 10 which exclaims, “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.” Then in v. 31 it summarizes her description by stating, “Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.” She is a picture, or type, of the bride of Christ. As we think upon these verses we may wonder how that could ever be said of us if we are to be in the bridial company. How could we ever attain unto such a standard as that? It is by reason of the fact that the virtuous character of the bride is actually the life of Christ in her, and not her own. We have nothing in ourselves of which to boast, for all of the glory belongs to Him. The more that we meditate upon Him, the more like Him that we become.
The 8th and final thing which Paul mentions for us to think upon is “if there be any praise.” The Hebrew word for “praise” is “halal,” which means “to commend, to shine, to celebrate, to give glory.” The word “Hallelujah,” meaning “praise the Lord,” is derived from this word.
Ps. 150 is a psalm of praise and is a perfect example of what we are to meditate upon. I would like to highlight the first two verses: “Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in the sanctuary: Praise Him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts; Praise him according to his excellent greatness.” No one is excluded from praising the Lord, for v. 6 closes with these words: “Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.”
In summary, all of the things which Paul has instructed us to think upon, (those things which are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtue and praise), paint a picture of Christ, our Beloved Bridegroom. As we meditate upon Him and His Word, we are changed into His image from glory to glory and prepared to reign with Him as His Bride.
My Jesus, as Thou wilt!
O may Thy will be mine;
Into Thy hand of love
I would my all resign.
Through sorrow, or through joy,
Conduct me as Thine own;
And help me still to say,
My Lord, Thy will be done.
My Jesus as Thou wilt;
Though seen through many a tear,
Let not my star of hope
Grow dim or disappear.
Since Thou on earth hast wept
And sorrowed oft alone,
If I must weep with Thee,
My Lord, Thy will be done.
My Jesus, as Thou wilt!
All shall be well for me;
Each changing future scene
I gladly trust with Thee.
Straight to my home above
I travel calmly on,
And sing, in life or death,
My Lord, Thy will be done.
Martha A. Wainright
Kansas City, Missouri
My Testimony
Looking forward to the light-house titled Glorious Gospel. Oh, the truth of God is working in us (Philippians 1:6) to draw us unto Jesus and inclose us into the secret place (Psalm 91:1) of dependence on His Love, Grace, Mercy, and Help by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 30:10, “Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper.”
To send Martha a greeting:
Martha Wainright
Tiffany Springs Rehap
9191 N. Ambassador Dr.
Kansas City, MO 64154
There are days when trials –
Seem to loom ahead.
Fears and doubts assail me
Filling me with dread.
Though my heart may tremble –
In a little while,
Jesus stands beside me
And I begin to smile.
Promises He has made –
Banish all my fears,
It is His gentle Hand
That wipes away my tears.
“Never will I leave thee” –
He whispers to my heart.
I stand upon the promise
He never will depart.
Debra Isenbletter Pastor
Christian Assembly
Springfield, Missouri
“For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.” Ephesians 3:1-7
It is very important to understand that Paul was chosen to deliver the message of God’s grace, especially to the Gentiles. So many are failing to understand that God had always intended to bring the Gentiles in to His family, but it was not openly presented to His ancient people Israel. Some still want to tell us that only Israel is a partaker of what Jesus did.
Others, want to take Israel completely out with a teaching that Gentiles now replace Israel in God’s future plans. A simple reading of Romans 11 will clear this up easily. God still has plans for His people Israel, but now, we are in an age of grace where Gentiles are being brought in.
The method for entry is the same for Gentiles today as it is for Jews. It is all through God’s grace extended through Jesus and His completed sacrifice on the cross. This “mystery” (a hidden or secret thing, not obvious to the understanding) was shown to Paul. Remember that Paul was well educated in the Law and Prophets. If anyone would have reason to think this was incorrect, it would have been Paul. Maybe this is why Jesus chose Paul to present this “mystery.”
The idea that Gentiles could also be God’s people was very foreign to the Jews. There are hints of this in the Old Testament, but it was not fully revealed before the book of Acts where God makes it plain that He will bring in the Gentiles to also be His people. Acts 11:18. This is not a sudden change in God’s mind. He always intended to bring people from all nations into His family.
We saw this already in chapter 2 of Ephesians. Paul explains that we are both (Jew and Gentile) brought together in one body. There is no difference in God’s view of a Jew that is saved through faith in Jesus or a Gentile that is saved through faith in Jesus. Here Paul refers to us as fellow heirs and of the same body.
“Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:” Ephesians 3:8-11
Paul reminds us that the gospel (good news) is exactly what he has been telling us. That Jesus is gathering from every nation those that will trust in Him by faith. It is God’s grace that brings us the gospel, and God’s grace that chose Paul and enabled him to bring us this good news.
It may be because this was a “mystery” in the Old Testament, that so many today fail to understand it. Many are still trying to fuse believers today into Israel and putting them under bondage to a law that was given to show that even having the written law of God did not enable Israel to be righteous.
What God had planned from before the foundation of the world was to bring all things together in Jesus and that group of people called the “church” (called out ones) would demonstrate that only God’s grace could accomplish such a thing.
This is not just intended for the world to see and marvel, but even “principalities and powers in heavenly places.” God’s wisdom through His grace accomplished something that no human or “principality or power in heavenly places” could accomplish.
I feel that it is extremely important to recognize this work that God is accomplishing through us. Failure to understand this will lead to a failure to yield our lives to God’s working. He is not creating a religion. He is not creating self righteous people. He is not creating a “Christian” nation. He is creating a display of His wisdom He is creating a people (individuals) who make up the body of Christ (the church), who will bring Him glory for eternity.
To some, this may seem like a silly thing. They want recognition for their accomplishments. They want to feel like they did better than others. They want to think that eternity is going to give them some recognition. However, I think that realizing that God is taking a failed human person and creating something that brings glory to the eternal, self existent, all righteous God, should be nothing short of amazing and glorious.
For those that think that the law and Israel was the fulness of God’s plan, they are missing out on the even more glorious part of God’s plan. This is not something that God thought of after Israel failed to keep His law and failed to be faithful to Him. It was always His plan. God is not yet done with Israel, but this time is something glorious.
I love this letter to the Ephesians. It lays out so simply and clearly God’s overall plan and helps us understand what our part of that plan is.
Matthew 25:14–30 takes us to the Parable of the Talents where we see the difference between those that possess Jesus as their Savior verses those that just profess to be Christian. As we study this parable, we see that the man traveling, which gave the talents, is representative of Christ himself and that the long time he is gone is the church age. He gives one of His servants 5 talents another 2 talents and another 1 talent. The last part of verse 15 though is very important to consider. Each was given according to their several abilities.
Now, what they were given were opportunities tol do something that would further the kingdom of their lord. It is the exact same for us today! We also are given opportunities (talents) according to our abilities. The lord entrusted them with these opportunities to gain or benefit him and his kingdom. It’s no different for us that work a job today. We are given opportunities according to our own abilities. Some are janitors, some are in parts, some sales, some fix things, some make things, some design things, some manage the budget, some manage people, some manage work load or flow, some the entire direction of a business or company but regardless of what ability each has, there is an opportunity to do the best they can with the ability they’ve been given to further the advancement of the company. Well, it’s no different in our spiritual lives today. The opportunities (talents) we are given are according to the abilities that we possess, and our Lord does know what to entrust to each one of us.
Immediately, we see the results in verse 16 because the one that received 5 talents doubled his allotment, verse 17 shows the one that had 2 talents also doubled his, but the one that received 1 did nothing. Now the part we’ve all been waiting for, the reward! Verse 20-21 says “And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Great, he had 5 and got 5 more but what about the guy that ‘just’ had 2 and only got 2, what does the Lord say to him? Verse 22-23 “He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
Note that the reward for each of these 2 individuals was THE EXACT SAME! WHAT, CAN’T BE???? YEP! THE EXACT SAME! Well, back to our earthly job example above, our thoughts are there’s no way this can be right, this isn’t fair, I do way more work than Bob and I should get more reward than he does and………hold on. What are we doing here? We are applying earthly wisdom to spiritual situations, and we must not do so. We must understand some very key principles. They were given opportunities according to their ability. Our earthly thinking is since I can do more, I SHOULD get more but with God’s kingdom, what was rewarded, the amount? NOPE! The FAITHFULNESS to what was given! They were BOTH faithful to what they were given so they both get the same reward. It is the faithfulness that is rewarded.
It is also important to note we don’t see how hard the tasks were, what they had to endure, how much they suffered, or struggled and why is that? Because it is irrelevant, that’s right, it just doesn’t matter. What’s important is the faithfulness. What does God want? He wants a faithful servant that is willing to be responsible with what HE wants us to do with the ability that’s been given. Take our abilities and be responsible with the opportunities we’ve been given.
Back to our parable as we have 1 more to account for. It’s the one that did nothing but hid his opportunity. He thought he knew about God, he told everyone he was a Christian but we see here he didn’t know the first thing about his lord. How do we know that? Well, he said himself that he was afraid. How could he have known the Lord (or his lord) and been afraid since There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18. There was no appreciation of what was given to him which led to outright rejection of God’s wonderful grace. Verse 26 shows us that very thing because those that are saved aren’t wicked.
So, the opportunity that was given to this one was taken and given to the one that had 10. The lord knew who to give that opportunity to so there would be return on his investment. If he would’ve taken that 1 and turned it into another 1 there would have been more to come. If he had taken it and done something to capture a bit of interest it would’ve been something but instead, we see complete rejection of all things.
For us today, salvation is the first step, but we must not stop there. Too many folks accept that gift then use it to live the earthly life they want to live. There is so much more to be had. We must NOT judge or compare our abilities with one another, as each ability has a purpose in the body of Christ. Again, what was rewarded, the amount? No, the eternal reward was the same for the two that were faithful with their earthly talents. Those abilities are what provide opportunities to further God’s agenda in this world. Not as great crusaders but as lights, as testimonies, as witnesses that we should show for the praises of Him! Be encouraged and press towards the prize.
Before Israel entered the Promised Land, God warned Moses about seven specific nations that stood in the land they were about to possess. These nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—would become obstacles that Israel would need to overcome. For the purpose of this lesson, we will simply refer to them as the “ites.”
In Deuteronomy 7, the Lord told Israel that when He brought them into the land, He would cast out these seven nations, even though they were greater and mightier than Israel. God commanded His people to utterly destroy them, make no covenant with them, show them no mercy, and avoid intermarrying with them. The reason was clear: these nations would turn Israel away from following the Lord. Their altars, images, groves, and idols were to be destroyed because God desired a holy people separated unto Himself.
The Lord reminded Israel that they were not chosen because of their strength, size, or ability. In fact, they were the fewest among the nations. God chose them because He loved them and because He was faithful to the covenant He had made with their fathers. He had redeemed them from Egyptian bondage with a mighty hand, and He would continue to be faithful to those who loved Him and kept His commandments.
A similar promise is found in Exodus 23:20-24. God promised to send His Angel before Israel to lead them into the place He had prepared. If they would obey His voice, God would become an enemy to their enemies and would cut off the nations that stood before them. Once again, they were instructed not to bow down to the gods of these nations or imitate their practices, but rather to completely overthrow their idols and images.
In Deuteronomy 20, God provided additional instructions concerning warfare. Israel was told not to fear when they faced armies larger and stronger than themselves. They were not to be intimidated by horses, chariots, or great numbers because the Lord who delivered them from Egypt would fight for them. God would go before them, save them, and give them victory. The chapter emphasizes that when confronting these enemies, nothing was to be left that would continue to influence or corrupt God’s people. The reason was simple: God did not want Israel learning the abominations and sinful practices of the surrounding nations.
There are several practical lessons we can draw from this Old Testament picture. First, God had given Israel a land to possess. Likewise, God has given believers a position in Christ. Ephesians 2 tells us that we are seated together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Yet Ephesians 6 reminds us that there is a spiritual battle involved in entering into and enjoying all that God has provided for us.
There is also a personal application. God gives each of us places of service and responsibility. Years ago, God called me to pastor an assembly. Along the way, there have been many “ites” that stood in the path—opposition from family, friends, circumstances, and even fellow believers. Yet I can testify with Paul, “out of them all the Lord delivered me” (2 Timothy 3:11). Even today, I continue to trust the promise of 2 Corinthians 1:10, that the God who has delivered will yet deliver.
The inhabitants of the land had to be removed. While this may sound harsh at first, the spiritual lesson is important. The flesh cannot be allowed to remain in control. It must be dealt with according to God’s instructions. We see this principle illustrated in circumcision, which symbolized the cutting away of the flesh. God knew that if Israel tolerated the practices of these nations, corruption would eventually follow. In the same way, we cannot make peace with the works of the flesh. They must either be brought into submission or cut off entirely.
God’s concern was not merely military victory but spiritual protection. He desired to protect His people from corruption. My heart likewise yearns for God’s people to be protected from the corruption that exists in this world, both physically and spiritually. The influences around us constantly seek to pull us away from wholehearted devotion to Christ.
Another important lesson is that these nations were stronger than Israel. The challenges standing before us today are often greater than our own strength and ability. The “ites” we face—temptations, fears, trials, weaknesses, and spiritual battles—cannot be overcome through human effort. We cannot deliver ourselves. Victory does not come through determination, talent, or personal strength.
So how do we gain victory over the “ites” in our lives?
The answer is found in the Lord Jesus Christ. Our victory is based upon the victory He won at Calvary. Through faith, we identify with His death, burial, and resurrection. We recognize that our old man was crucified with Him and that we have been raised to walk in newness of life. Furthermore, those who have been filled with the Holy Spirit have been given divine power to overcome. As we yield ourselves to the Spirit, He enables us to overcome the flesh. The Spirit accomplishes what we could never accomplish on our own.
Just as Israel was called to be a special people, so the church today is God’s called-out people. The Greek word ekklesia means “called-out ones.” God did not call us because we were strong, capable, or self-sufficient. Like Israel, we were incapable of overcoming our enemies apart from divine intervention. We were the weak, the needy, and the dependent.
Why, then, did God choose us? The answer is wonderfully simple: He loved us. He loved you, and He loved me. He also acts according to His Word and His promises. Just as He remained faithful to His covenant with Israel, He remains faithful to every promise He has made to His children.
As we face the “ites” in our own lives, let us remember that God has called us, loved us, redeemed us, and equipped us for victory. The battle may be greater than we are, but it is not greater than our God. Therefore, let us walk forward in faith, knowing that the One who has delivered in the past is still delivering today and will continue to deliver in the days ahead. Above all, let us remember this great truth: the Lord our God is faithful.
Praise ye the Lord! Let the glad carols ring!
Sweetest incense of praise while we worship the King.
Praise ye His name and His goodness adore.
Let us sing and rejoice evermore.
Praise ye the Lord! While the firmament high,
Wondrous work of His hand, echoes back the reply.
Let His great Name from rejoicing lips fall,
Blessed Savior and Master of all.
Praise ye the Lord! Let the grand anthem shell-
Like the sound of the sea, all His glory to tell.
Honor His name, laud and worship the King,
While the joy-bells of victory ring.
Hallelujah to Him Who is Lord over all,
Let His glorious praise from your lips gladly fall.
Hallelujah! Proclaim Christ is coming again:
Hallelujah! Oh glory amen.
–– A. Blenkhorn
Psalm 113:1-3, “Praise ye the Lord, Praise, O ye servants of the Lord, Praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord’s name is to be praised.”
Remember – if you want joy, peace, healing, or victory over the power of the enemy, Praise the Lord! From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same.
PRAISE YE THE LORD!
By R. E. M.
“Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things.”
Singing praise is central to the Christian life. “Praise” is a word we often use. Yet we may forget its true meaning. To praise means to honor, worship, and express admiration for God. The phrase “sing praises” comes from a Hebrew word that means “to make music in praise of God.”
The psalmist calls us to lift our voices, make music, and worship the Lord. When we sing praises, we declare His glory. But why should we praise Him? The answer is found in remembering what God has done: “for He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have worked salvation for Him.”
We are reminded of the song of Moses and Miriam at the Red Sea. When God delivered the people of Israel from Egypt with His mighty and outstretched arm, their response was to sing. They praised Him for His deliverance, salvation, victory over enemies, and preservation of His people.
As New Testament believers, we have an even greater reason to sing. God sent His Son, who lived a perfectly righteous life, dies sacrificially in our place, bore the wrath for our sins, and rose again. This is the greatest and most marvelous work, and it calls us to continual praise.
Written by Pastor Pani from India
“It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.” Psalm 118:8
“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.”
Psalm 138:7
“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalm 46:10
“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee (keep you moving forward): he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” Psalm 55:22
“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God…” I Peter 5:6
“Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” Psalm 37:5
“The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:” Numbers 6:24
Martha Wainright
“But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?” 2 Corinthians 3:7-8
Paul refers to the law as “the ministration of death.” This is an interesting title to use of the law, but he is trying to make a point that the law brought death. Look at verse 6. It had to. The wages of sin are “death” Romans 6:23. Because the law could not make a person righteous, it could not bring life. “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Romans 3:20
Paul knew the law well being instructed by Gamaliel (brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers) Acts 22:3. He was not just trying to show disrespect to the law. “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.” Romans 7:12. However, he also knew that God had done something better which is what the law was pointing to all along.
He is clear that the law is glorious. The giving of the law was well known and it was truly glorious. So much so, that the Israelites could not look at Moses’ face. The argument is not against the law, but rather a contrast between the law and something significantly better.
What could be better? “The ministration of the Spirit.” This is not some Plan B that God came up with because Pan A didn’t work. This has been God’s plan all along. A plan to send His Son to bring His glory down so that we could be brought up to Him. John describes what they witnessed. “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 1:14 “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” John 1:17
Jesus is more glorious because He is the Son of God and because He brought Grace and Truth to this world. He came to free us from the curse of the law. “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:” Galatians 3:13. Paul was addressing Christians who wanted to go back to the law after being saved by grace.
In 2 Corinthians 3 Paul uses another term. “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” 2 Corinthians 3:6 This is an important distinction. The New Testament brings life. So, the contrast is between life and death.
The New Testament is more glorious because it brings life where death was deserved. God’s grace gives what we could not get for ourself and what we did not deserve. This is the basis of the Gospel. Now we can live and serve God acceptably because of His life. “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4 “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:” Hebrews 12:28.
The New Testament is more glorious because we could not obtain righteousness through the old. “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:” Romans 3:20-22. The more glorious covenant brings righteousness to us through Jesus Christ, not an attempt at self righteousness. “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:” Philippians 3:9.
Paul understood the law, being well versed in it, so he also understood the importance of what Jesus had accomplished. “By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.” Hebrews 7:22-27. “But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.” Hebrews 8:6
So, we have learned that we have been made partakers of a better, more glorious, covenant; the covenant of Grace which brings us directly into the presence of God. “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water” Hebrews 10:19-22. Why then, would we want to go back to the Old “ministration of death” which cannot make us righteous or bring us directly into the presence of God.