Posted on 01/09/2006 10:27:37 PM PST by Alamo-Girl
This verse is the greatest example of the true essence of the message of a disciple of Jesus Christ in all of the New Testament.
God’s first sovereign work of grace is summed up in the words, ". . . that they may receive forgiveness of sins . . . ." When a person fails in his personal Christian life, it is usually because he has never received anything. The only sign that a person is saved is that he has received something from Jesus Christ. Our job as workers for God is to open people’s eyes so that they may turn themselves from darkness to light. But that is not salvation; it is conversion-only the effort of an awakened human being. I do not think it is too broad a statement to say that the majority of so-called Christians are like this. Their eyes are open, but they have received nothing. Conversion is not regeneration. This is a neglected fact in our preaching today. When a person is born again, he knows that it is because he has received something as a gift from Almighty God and not because of his own decision. People may make vows and promises, and may be determined to follow through, but none of this is salvation. Salvation means that we are brought to the place where we are able to receive something from God on the authority of Jesus Christ, namely, forgiveness of sins.
This is followed by God’s second mighty work of grace: ". . . an inheritance among those who are sanctified . . . ." In sanctification, the one who has been born again deliberately gives up his right to himself to Jesus Christ, and identifies himself entirely with God’s ministry to others.
In 1910 Chambers married Gertrude Hobbs. They had one daughter, Kathleen, who still resides in London (as of 1992).
In 1911 he founded and became principal of the Bible Training College in Clapham, London, where he lectured until the school was closed in 1915 because of World War I. In October 1915 he sailed for Zeitoun, Egypt (near Cairo), where he ministered to Australian and New Zealand troops as a YMCA chaplain. He died there November 15, 1917, following surgery for a ruptured appendix.
My Utmost for His Highest, his best-known book, has been continuously in print in the United States since 1935 and in this, the last decade of the century, remains in the top ten titles of the religious book bestseller list with millions of copies in print. It has become a Christian classic. [from the flyleaf of the book]
Absolutely no flaming! These daily threads are intended to be devotional in nature. If a particular day's offering says nothing to you, please just go on and wait for the next day. Consider these threads a DMZ of sorts, a place where a perpetual truce is in effect and a place where all other arguments and disagreements from other times and places are left behind.
I can attest from personal experience that reading from Chambers daily will almost certainly change - not one's faith - but one's perspective of his/her own faith, and open up new vistas in your spiritual life. If - when - this happens to a reader of these threads, and they choose to share what has happened within them - we are treading on hallowed ground. Be respectful.
- Religion Moderator
GOODMORNING AND GRACE TO ALL BRETHREN!!
"There is laid up for me a crown of righteousness."
- 2 Timothy 4:8
Doubting one! thou hast often said, "I fear I shall never enter heaven."
Fear not! all the people of God shall enter there. I love the quaint
saying of a dying man, who exclaimed, "I have no fear of going home; I
have sent all before me; God's finger is on the latch of my door, and I am
ready for him to enter." "But," said one, "are you not afraid lest you
should miss your inheritance?" "Nay," said he, "nay; there is one crown in
heaven which the angel Gabriel could not wear, it will fit no head but
mine. There is one throne in heaven which Paul the apostle could not fill;
it was made for me, and I shall have it." O Christian, what a joyous
thought! thy portion is secure; "there remaineth a rest." "But cannot I
forfeit it?" No, it is entailed. If I be a child of God I shall not lose
it. It is mine as securely as if I were there. Come with me, believer, and
let us sit upon the top of Nebo, and view the goodly land, even Canaan.
Seest thou that little river of death glistening in the sunlight, and
across it dost thou see the pinnacles of the eternal city? Dost thou mark
the pleasant country, and all its joyous inhabitants? Know, then, that if
thou couldst fly across thou wouldst see written upon one of its many
mansions, "This remaineth for such a one; preserved for him only. He shall
be caught up to dwell for ever with God." Poor doubting one, see the fair
inheritance; it is thine.
If thou believest in the Lord Jesus, if thou hast repented of sin, if
thou hast been renewed in heart, thou art one of the Lord's people, and
there is a place reserved for thee, a crown laid up for thee, a harp
specially provided for thee.
No one else shall have thy portion, it is reserved in heaven for thee,
and thou shalt have it ere long, for there shall be no vacant thrones in
glory when all the chosen are gathered in.
C.H.SPURGEON
SOLI DEO GLORIA!
I have seen this truth manifested time and again (both positively and negatively) and have learned that in whatever area I am missing the mark what is required is that I search for where I have missed the blessing. We love, forgive, bless, exhort, rebuke, encourage, build up, proclaim, remind, praise...all these (and more) only when and only because we have truly received them each and all through Jesus Christ the Word and Spirit: "No man comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6)."
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life: Having Him we have these. Because they have been freely received, therefore we freely give (Matthew 10:8).
I'm still learning! Oh, yes, I've far to go, but I am on my Way, rejoicing in the Truth, and partaking of the Life!
He leads me in The Way Everlasting. Amen.
Psalm 23The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Lovely!
Out of the depths,
the darkness of sin,
the darkness of being separated,
the darkness of doubt,
of chosing self over God,
the depths of hubris,
I have cried to thee,
O Lord,
the last anchor I know of,
the first truth that I learned of,
the light I long for,
the truth I hunger for
he who I have slighted,
he who knows my every move,
he who knows,
he.
Lord, hear my voice,
you who hear all,
you who weep in the garden
for the weight of all our sin,
you, who offer your wrists up to the nails,
your back to the scourge,
your face to the mocking,
you hear me,
crying in the darkness,
when I think it is only me,
and it is always two,
you and I.
In the bitterness of my tears,
you awaken my heart,
change me!
In the sorrow of my shortcomings
when you show me my reality,
heal me!
In the darkness of my grieving,
when you let me know that I am but dust,
and you are reality,
hold me,
mold me,
and let me be
as you would have me to be,
transformed
by your love
a love big enough
to transform the whole world,
tear by tear.
Amen
Thank you so much for the beautiful Spurgeon devotion!
I'm still learning! Oh, yes, I've far to go, but I am on my Way, rejoicing in the Truth, and partaking of the Life!
He leads me in The Way Everlasting. Amen.
Thank you so very much for the beautiful meditation and prayer! Amen!
Good morning all.
Good morning, abigail2!
Thank you oh so very much for the uplifting lyrics!
Thank you so much for your testimony and insight and especially, your blessings! May God bless you and your son always.
True.. The changing of the mind is not the changing of the heart.. The intellect is not the spirit.. and spirit is not the body.. Jesus was a spirit before he came to this planet, and still is a spirit.. If Jesus taught anything, he taught that we are spirits too.. God, Jesus, and ourselves are spirits.. That is what At-one-ness is all about.. The Father is one with Jesus and Jesus is one with the Father and We hopefully are one with both of them.. Its completely a spiritual thing.. What about the body, our human bodies.?.. Well; they are transportation.. on this planet..
What is the mystery ugh revelation of the Body of Christ?.. Its that Jesus human body on earth was merely transportation a vehicle.. He has another body at-ONENESS.. with each other and Jesus and the Father too.. Are You in this body?.. Well if so you have oneness with each other with Jesus and with the Father.. you are, its a spiritual thing.. Oneness is spiritual.. Both for the Evil and for the Good..
Conversion is not regeneration.. both must be present to be in the Body of Christ.. Converted from carnal thinking and regenerated spiritually.. Is your spirit regenerated?.. Well, are you one with each other, with Jesus, and with the Father.. Then I would say YES.. Who is "each other"?.. That is spiritually discerned.. If your spirit is regenerated you can recognize others that are too.. and can be "one" with them.. and can receive(in the process) "another portion" of Jesus and the Father as well..
Life in the spirit is different from life in the flesh.. Fleshy life is lonely, spiritual life is not.. Spiritual life is a life of oneness and at-one-ness.. with other spirits, the spirit of Jesus, and the spirit of the Father.. There is another spirit that facilitates all this happening.. That spirit is the Holy Spirit.. Who is the Holy Spirit?..
Ask him... He is present and available right where you stand, sit, or are reading.. He'll tell you.. The Holy Spirit is REAL... If he doesn't answer you THEN, ask him for conversion with a path to regeneration.. then it WILL happen, for he is REAL..
...identifies himself Entirely with God’s Ministry to others.
Our Lord, we Plead for this for ourselves, and for All Who Call Upon Thy Name. What a Wonder to be a Part of Anything our God Does! Help us, Enable us to Expend ourselves for those You Love, O King.
'If Anyone would Come After me, he must Deny himself, and Take Up his Cross, and Follow me.'
This is what we Long for, our Savior, to Love You and Love Your children. Please Grant it, Papa-Father, our Lord Whose Glory Covers the Heavens and the Earth. We Adore You, and Pray in our Christ's Name, amen.
I Bless the Holy Name of God with All my Heart! (Ps.103:1)
Amen! Thank you for your beautiful prayer and praise!
Faith-sharing bump.
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