God is Love

Calvin C. Toy

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” I John 4:7-10.

As we study God’s Word we find our God to be many things. Heb. 12:29 tells us that God is a consuming fire. Jn. 4:29 - God is a Spirit, they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” I Pet. 1:15-16 and Lev. 11:45, As He which has called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation…Be ye holy for I am holy.” A few of the many Scriptures along this line.

That “God is love is stated in both verses 8 and 16 of I Jn. 4. I don’t believe we will ever be able to fathom the full depth of this statement, at least not in these bodies in which we now live. As we seek to give definition of such love, we realize that we come far short. Webster says it is a strong affection for another, arising out of kinship or personal ties, but God loved us when we were sinners and enemies. Read Rom. 5:8-11.

Webster also gives this definition, “The Fatherly love of God toward men.” This tells me of God’s love reaching out to man, but it doesn’t give me understanding of that love. We know that God’s love is a great force, filled with strength, loaded with energy. It will bring forth action. When we permit the Lord to fill us with His love, we find ourselves doing those things that nothing else could bring us to do, and do them cheerfully. I Jn. Makes us know that we must have in us that life that has ability to love and permit it to rule, in order to love another. We must be born again. God is the source of love. Just as he is the fountain of life, so is he the fountain of love. We speak of love that goes beyond the love of a mother for her child. David said, “When my father and mother forsake me, then will the Lord take me up” Ps. 27:10. God’s love never quits, never forsakes His children. Nothing can come between us and His love for us, Rom. 8:35-39.

Considering John 4:9-10, God’s Word gives us some wonderful manifestations of His love. Herein we find some knowledge of it’s energy and power. It works in tenderness, mercy, pity, chastisement, in trials and tests. These are designed to bring us to the spiritual maturity that God desires for us. His love was manifested down through the ages, and was so greatly shown forth to the children of Israel.  They for the most part have shunned His love, but yet He will draw them. His love will draw a remnant to Christ during the great tribulation. Consider Jer. 30:24-31:6.

“Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast. How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O  God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied…and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light” Ps. 36:5-9. David speaks of God’s lovingkindness, wherein is love and grace.

We talk of the love of God going out to the whole world. In John 3:16 the Holy Spirit seeks to bring home to us a knowledge in some degree of God’s great love for us. His love for mankind moved Him to drastic and severe steps. God so love that He gave not just anything nor anyone, but His own Son. On occasion he spoke of His Son as one “beloved,” one very dear to Him.

In my feeble way I have attempted to search out such love. I picture in my mind having a son in my home, there with me enjoying the comforts, blessings, glory, the fellowship, doing things together, enjoying each other, but somehow I have love for an enemy in another land. Those with no loveable qualities but in desperate need of my help, so I send my Son. I watch as he goes, leaving all that he has there with me. There in that foreign land I watch as he is despised and rejected, becoming a man of sorrow and grief. I see him there in the garden pleading with me, Oh Father, if it be possible deliver me from all this terrible agony. Now I cannot step in and deliver him for I am held at bay by love for the unlovable.

My Son knows what is ahead for Him. He knows why he came. He knows He must bear the sin of the world. There He must die the horrible death of the cross. His life blood must be poured out for the world that His Father loves. The  suffering for the sin of the world bears down more intensely until I began to notice as it were great drops coming from the pores of His skin and splattering on the ground. Yet love binds the Father’s hand from delivering the Son. Love for those who had no respect for the Son. Yet they so greatly need the deliverance that only he can bring to them.

So I think as a Father continues to watch as they come to lead him away. Now this Son has the power to resist, but He is the obedient Son who desires to fulfill His Father’s will. He also loves as the Father loves. The Father watches as those close to Him and followed Him forsake Him as fear grips them. He is led as a lamb to the slaughter and the Father watches as they mock, and smote him, spitting upon Him, lashing Him with a whip that cuts long gashes in His back. Then they shove a crown of thorns on His head in mockery. They make a wooden cross, and nail him to it with spikes through his hands and feet. The cross is lifted and dropped into a hole in the ground, so that He hung there suspended between heaven and earth, His weight rested on those spikes.

The Son there crucified who had no sin of His own. He was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. God the Father had to turn away as the Son bore all our horrible sin. Consider Heb. 2:9-10. He tasted more than physical death, and now we don’t have to go through the second death, separation from the presence of God and all His blessings. After Jesus had hung on the cross for hours, He cried out “My God, my God why hast thou forsaken me” but he stayed on the cross until He could say it is finished. He then dismissed His spirit. What was finished? Redemption for the human race, for you and I. Eternal life to all that believe, abundant life in time, in peace, joy in glory. The abundant wealth of abiding in that great love of the Father and Son forever. Such is the love wherewith God so loved.

We find as we go on with Him that there is so much more. He doesn’t tell us of it to gain our sympathy, but to draw us to Himself and fill us with his love. He has made it so we can manifest it in a world that is more and more filled with rebellion and hate. What a wonderful Lord is ours, all our praise goes to Him. May His love compel us to love Him and others.

 Light of the World

Vicky Moots

Isaiah. 60:1-2: “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.”  This is a prophecy concerning the coming of the promised Redeemer, the Messiah, the Light of the world.

The glory of the Lord was first revealed to the shepherds on the night of Jesus’ birth, as we read in Luke 2:8-11: “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

That was a dark time in the world, both in the natural realm and the spiritual realm.  The sudden appearance of a bright light frightened the shepherds because they didn’t know what it was until the angel told them of the birth of Jesus, the Savior.  The gory of the Lord had entered into this world veiled in flesh in the form of a helpless baby who was destined to become the Savior of mankind.  

John declared in John 1:4-5 that the Light had penetrated the darkness, but a darkened world did not comprehend who He was: “In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”  However, the shepherds, who had seen the light, believed the words which the angel spoke concerning the newborn babe and went quickly to Bethlehem to seek Him and found Him.  Then, in Luke 2:17, we see that they became the first missionaries to tell of the birth of the Messiah, Christ the Lord.

The apostle Paul had also seen the Light, and was blinded by it, for the glory of God had shined upon him one day on the road to Damascus before his conversion.  This account is recorded in Acts 9:1-18.  Verses 3-4 state, “…and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul [Paul], why persecutest thou me?”  The bright light was radiating from Jesus Himself.  Paul, who was named Saul at that time, was initially blinded for three days, but as a result of that encounter, God opened his blinded spiritual and physical eyes and called him to preach the gospel.

Then, later, Paul writes to the Corinthian saints, and to us, in II Cor. 4:4,6 regarding that light: “…the god of this world [Satan] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them… For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Do you have the simple faith of the shepherds? Has the light of the glorious gospel shined upon you? Have you believed the good news from heaven and sought for and found Jesus as the shepherds did? If so, then let the glory of the Lord shine out through you unto a darkened world.

The light of Jesus still shines today, but it must shine out from us as believers.  Paul admonished the Philippian believers, as well as us, in Phil. 2:15 that we are to be “…blameless and harmless, the sons of God… in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye [we] shine as lights in the world.”

 A Heartbeat From Home

 

He was marked and scorned and

Crowned with thorns

But He showed the love of God above

As He hung there willingly.

He said unto the thief that day

That was hanging by His side,

“My father’s waiting at the door

Soon we’ll be in Paradise.”

We’ll be home in a heartbeat

We’ll be home in a heartbeat

For we’re only a heartbeat from home.

There was a mighty man of God

Stephen was his name.

He served the Lord with faithfulness

And did God’s love proclaim

One day they stoned him as he knelt

And called upon the Lord

But Jesus said, “Come home my child

For great is thy reward”

You’ll be home in a heartbeat

You’ll be home in a heartbeat

For you’re only a heartbeat from home.

A precious saint beloved by all

Was injured in a fall

Now living in a nursing home

To weak to walk at all.

So “Granny” cries unto the Lord

At the ending of each day

“How long before I can go home?”

And then she heard Him say,

You’ll be home in a heartbeat

You’ll be home in a heartbeat

For you’re only a heartbeat from home.

Oh, sinner is you’re heart prepared

To hear the Savior’s call

His precious blood was shed for you

Salvation is for all.

A mansion He’s prepared for you.

A heavenly home on high.

And when your life on earth is thou

You’ll meet Him in the sky.

You’ll be home in a heartbeat

You’ll be home in a heartbeat

For you’re only a heartbeat from home.

– Vicky Moots

 THAT WORTHY NAME

Jack Davis

“Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?” James 2:7.

Who knows the true worth, the full value of our dear Lord’s lovely name? To us His name is one of beauty, value, and virtue. Often in scripture names are given to express ones nature, or the character of a person. In the many names and titles given to our dear Lord Jesus Christ, this three-fold ascription seems to encompass what He wants to be for us, to us, and in us. And possibly recognizable universally, and eternally. 

There are many names by the which we are called, but none so worthy to be placed above us. What other, who else is so deserving of our highest praise, and our most humble acknowledgment? We are told to walk worthy of our vocation or calling – Eph. 4:1, and to walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing – Col. 1:10. To walk worthy of  God who hath called us unto His kingdom and glory – I Thess. 2:12, that we may utterly glorify Him. In II Thess. 1:11, Paul prayed that the saints might be counted worthy of this calling. To be counted worthy (of weight or worth; as an estimation formed by God, favorably carrying the strongest suggestion of grace).

HIS NAME EXALTED

God counted the man, Christ Jesus worthy of exceedingly more glory than any man on whom He ever, or ever will look – Heb. 3:3. He has exalted the name of His beloved Son, (Phil. 2:9-11) the bringer of many like sons unto glory, above all creation old and new – Rev. 4:11. He’ll be exalted by and above all the redeemed forever, for He has been their Redeemer – Rev. 5:8-9. No one else is worthy or has the right to bear the cross that He humbled Himself to such depths to carry. Who else could offer such a sacrifice, or fulfill the ministry, or perform the service that our beloved did and does? He excelled all. Those crown worthy, full overcomers will lead the universe in acknowledgment of His ultimate, uttermost worthiness.

HIS NAME IS EXCELLENT

“O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! Who hast set thy glory above the heavens” – Psa. 8:1. We may grasp in the Word, or the term translated “excellent” one who is ample, great, splendid, and powerful. It also speaks of one to be magnified as glorious, honorable.

Considering Psa. 8, 113, and 148 together, may we not sense our Lord’s excellence indicated and expressed in the way He reached down to lift up fallen humanity? Herein revealed the name that prevails, provides peace, as ointment poured forth. His name soothes the troubled irritated heart with healing balm. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe” – Prov. 18:10. Oh, it is wonderful the way His name exudes power, and provides protection, but it has also provoked persecution. There are those yet today that blaspheme that worthy name by the which we are called. There is also the emanation of a holy perfume in the essence of His marvelous name.

Saul of Tarsus tried to promote blasphemy against that lovely name, of which he himself was guilty – I Tim. 1:13. He testified, “I verity thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.” He told of shutting people up in prison, and testifying against them that they might be put to death, punished and compelled them to blaspheme – Acts 26:9-11. These were people that called upon and were called by that name. We are glad that God so gloriously turned this man around and made him a man that hazarded his life for the name of Christ – Acts 15:26, I Cor. 15:30. The one he so fervently persecuted, he was turned to fervently preach.

It was under this man Paul’s (changed from Saul) ministry, that the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch – Acts 11:26. Many had suffered shame for the name of Christ in the years preceding Saul’s conversion, that is for being identified with Him – Acts 5:40-42. These anointed vessels suffering shame weren’t ashamed, but glorified God on this behalf – I Pet. 4:16. Shall we be any different? Oh Beloved Lord, help us be bold and not brash with our testimony.

To be continued

 What Is In Your Hand?

Earlene Davis

I will glean a few thoughts from the account of the woman Tabitha. Acts 9:36, “Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.” Tabitha was her Hebrew name which means “a gazelle,” an emblem of beauty. In the Greek it was Dorcas, meaning (a Doe). 

We don’t know if she was physically beautiful, but we do read how beautiful her life was. She was a Christian, for it says she was a certain disciple. The life of Christ shinned out of her, manifested for all to see. For she “was full of good works and alms deeds which she did.” So she served Christ by giving of her money and with good works which as we will read was her ability to sew. 

Vs. 37-39, “And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them. Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.”

She did what she could in serving Christ. Now the giving of alms and the making of garments for the widows in themselves gain no merit with God. But when God claims our hearts, then in love for Him we yield to Him what we have. We desire to be used in what ever capacity we may serve our beloved Lord. This is the “pure religion” and undefiled before God and the Father, that James writes of in James 1:27. That comes forth from the new creation life of Christ. “To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”

Dorcas’ good works flowed from a grateful heart to God for His saving grace. This is faith in action. James 2:17 tells us that faith without works is dead. For real faith, is not just words, but is manifested in works of faith. I will say this, that works without faith also gains no merit with God for they are just works of the flesh. 

Dorcas, yielded her hands to make garments and dispensed alms, being inspired by Him whose hands were nailed to a cross for her. Titus 2:14, “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” 

Did not God say to Moses, “What is that in thine hand?” Moses said, “a rod” – Ex. 4:2. And that rod became the symbol of divine power. It is as though the Lord asked Dorcas, What is that in thine hand? And she said a needle and He took what she had and she stitched, ministering the Gospel in a practical way. God’s provisions are to be made practical in our lives. We rejoice in reading the provisions of God (the provisional Gospel). But God would have us to lay hold of those provisions by faith letting Him make them practical in our lives.

Did not Jesus say, “I was naked and ye clothed me” of those who helped His poor people – Mt. 25:36. This I say again, this is faith in action. There are many, many like Dorcas recorded in Scripture of their faith in action. I will only name a few that come to mind. Like Anna the prophetess for her fasting and prayers day and night (Lk. 2:36-37). Mary with her box of fragrant ointment and anointed Jesus with it (Mk. 14:3). Joanna for ministering unto Jesus of her substance (Lk. 8:3), etc. What is in your hand?

Well, I must finish the story of Dorcas, it was a sad day for the church at Joppa when this devoted saint died. The widows weeping in grief and showing the garments Dorcas had made them. V. 40, “But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.” What a moving scene that must have been. Dorcas was alive again. The mourners were comforted and she could return to her ministry of good works and almsdeed. Her resurrection from the dead caused a revival. 

V. 42, “And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.” So it was not just a miracle for the sake of a miracle. Dorcas raised from physical death became the cause of the resurrection of many persons who had been dead in trespass and sins. They had a spiritual resurrection coming into the realm of life. That meant the church at Joppa grew. 

We read in  Rev. 19:7, “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” (or the righteous acts of the saints).

Dorcas did not aspire to be a leader, she was content to do what she could to honer her Lord. Jesus said in Mt. 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” 

And in Ecc. 9:10, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” It may be a hidden work, like giving of our means to the Lord for the work of the Gospel; or holding people up in prayer before the throne of grace; or it may be cooking a meal for someone unable to do for themselves. Some may say that is not a spiritual work. But do we not read in Acts 10:38, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”  Jesus life was poured out to others and He is still doing good through saints yielding to His life within them. Eph. 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”  

I thank the Lord for two faithful workers who every month help me on preparing Glorious Gospel for mailing. Jack and Kathie French – collating the pages and after being stapled, the trimming, sealing and labeled for the bulk mail (for individuals), the rest for packages. It is a big help, what they do in a couple of hours would take me a week working alone. They say they enjoy working on the magazine and I know they do it as unto the Lord.

 CONCERNING SPIRITUALS

Part 4

W. J. Franklin

(VII) The Gift of Tongues

The gift of Tongues is a supernatural utterance by the Holy Spirit in languages never learned by the speaker nor understood by the mind of the speaker. It has nothing whatever to do with  linguistic ability, but is a manifestation of the Mind of the Spirit of God employing human speech organs.

“What is the use or purpose of speaking with Tongues?” some may ask. Let us consider some of the Scriptural purposes of speaking in Tongues:

1) Evidence of being filled with the Spirit, (Acts 2:4) and eight years later the same sign was seen, (Acts 10:46) and again in 23 years after Pentecost was seen again. When anyone in Apostolic days was heard to speak in tongues, it was known of a certainty that he had received the Holy Ghost. Without this sign, there was no Scriptural evidence at all. And so it is today.

2) That men may speak supernaturally to God. (I Cor. 14:2)

3) That believers may magnify God. (Acts 10:46) There are no terms in natural speech appropriate to express the Greatness and Excellence of God. Those who have had the joy of seeing others filled recall that in every case, those that were filled lovingly adored Jesus.

4) That we may edify ourselves. (I Cor. 14:4) Compare I Cor. 14:18.

5) That our spirits (as distinct from our understanding) might pray. (I Cor. 14:14) Praying in the spirit is quite different from praying with the understanding. (Verses 15 and 16) You cannot pray with the spirit unless you speak with understanding as in Eph. 6:18, but this is not through the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit. You can pray or sing with the spirit as in Verse 15 unless you speak with Tongues, Compare Romans 8:27.

6) That with the gift of Interpretation of Tongues, the church may be edified. I Cor. 14:5,12-13, 26-28. When the Gift of Tongues is manifested in a public meeting, it must be accompanied with its sister gift–the Interpretation of Tongues. Note verse 28. If there is no interpreter, the person is to be silent; yet, he may speak to himself and to God.

7) Tongues are a sign to the unbelievers. Verse 22 There are certain rules and regulations for the Gift. These are guidelines that should be observed in the local church. We learn that the number of messages in one meeting is limited to three; and these are not altogether, but one after another in decent order, that is by course. The words two and three refer to different speakers. In verse 28, we are prohibited from speaking in tongues at all in a public meeting if that is no one present with the Gift of Interpretation. Any confusion in the use of the Gifts arises not from God, but from neglect of God’s Word. (Verse 33)

God expressly says we must not forbid to speak with Tongues. Vs. 39

(VIII) The Gift of Interpretation of Tongues

Seven of the Gifts are common to both Testaments, but two Gifts– the Gift of Tongues and the Gift of Interpretation of Tongues– have come into operation since Pentecost. The Gift of Interpretation of Tongues is the only Gift that is dependent upon another; it could have no meaning whatsoever without the Gift of Tongues.

Interpretation of Tongues is the supernatural showing forth by the Spirit of the meaning of an utterance in other Tongues. It is not an operation of the mind of the person, but of the Mind of the Spirit of  God. The interpreter never understands the Tongue he is interpreting. The interpretation is just as much a miracle as the original utterance in Tongues.

The purpose of this Gift is to render the Gift of Tongues intelligible to others, so that the Church may be edified. I Cor. 14:5 & 27

1) Note that the title of the Gift is Interpretation of Tongues, not translation of tongues. A “translation” is a rendering from one language to another in equivalent words. An Interpretation is a declaration of the meaning. (Vs. 11) (Chapter 14) The Greek word means to explain thoroughly– not to translate. Many varieties of expression might be used and many details added without altering the sense of the words. This explains why sometimes the message in Tongues is much briefer than the interpretation, or the reverse. The interpreter is not translating. The Holy Spirit is explaining the meaning in a miracle of utterance.

2) The temperament, natural gifts, and training of the person interpreting the Tongue will have some measure of influence on the interpretation. For example, the delivery of a farmhand and of a professor would be entirely different.

3) Those who speak in other Tongues are expressly instructed to pray for this further  Gift. (Vs. 13)

Continued next issue

 The Encouraging Word

“For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness.” Is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

II Corinthians 4:6

“Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your Heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth more than they?” Matthew 6:26

“Some boast in chariots and some in horses, But we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God.” Psalm 20:7

“Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:2

“The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge – our high tower and stronghold.” Selah!

Psalm 46:11

“Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His face continually.” Psalm 105:4

“For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; the upright will behold His face.” Psalm 11:7

Martha Wainright