“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” John 17:17<\/p>\n
When the gospel comes “not in word only, but also in power,” it comes
\n“in the Holy Ghost,” that is, in and with the teaching and testimony of
\nthe Holy Ghost. It is this coming “in the Holy Ghost” which gives truth
\nin its power such a sanctifying influence on the heart.<\/p>\n
But you will ask, perhaps, What is a sanctifying influence? It is the
\ncommunication of holy feelings, heavenly desires, and gracious
\naffections; in a word, it is the breathing into the soul of that sweet
\nspirituality of mind which is life and peace. If we are among the people
\nof God, he chose us in Christ “before the foundation of the world, that
\nwe should be holy and without blame before him in love.” If he chasten
\nus in this time-state, it is “for our profit, that we might be partakers
\nof his holiness” (Heb. 12:10). It is this holiness of heart, this
\nheavenly-mindedness which I mean when I speak of the sanctifying
\ninfluence of truth in its power.<\/p>\n
Now did truth ever come into your soul with any measure of this
\nsanctifying influence? Did you ever long to get away from the chapel, go
\nhome to your room, fall upon your knees, and have blessed fellowship
\nwith the Father and his Son Jesus Christ? And were you ever so favoured
\nwhen you did get home? Or sometimes when alone, in reading, or
\nmeditation, or secret prayer, did the word of God ever come into your
\nsoul with that sweet unction, savour, and dew that it seemed to make the
\nvery room in which you were holy ground?<\/p>\n
I remember when God was pleased to reveal his dear Son to my soul in my
\nsick room many years ago, I was afraid almost to go out of my room lest
\nI should lose the sweet, holy feelings and blessed spirituality of mind
\nwhich I then and there enjoyed. Depend upon it, there is a holiness of
\nheart and affection, an inward holiness, without which no man shall see
\nthe Lord; and depend upon it, whenever truth comes into a believer’s
\nsoul, it comes with that sanctifying influence, which not only gives him
\na meetness for, but is a blessed foretaste of the inheritance of the
\nsaints in light.
\nJC Philpot.<\/p>\n
Sinners are made the sons of God by the power of God alone. Sinners
\nbecame sons of God by God the Father\u2019s power of grace when he chose whom
\nhe would in Christ before the world began. Sinners are the redeemed sons
\nof God, by the power of God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who
\neffectually, freely, forever perfected all whom God gave him by his one
\noffering at Calvary. By the power of God the Holy Spirit, sinners are
\nbrought into the realization of sonship\u2014into the adoption of
\nsons–re-birthed, born again, when the new inner man is created and
\nrenewed in knowledge after the image of Christ Jesus our Everlasting
\nFather. Those who have experienced the power of the triune God say in
\nfull agreement, salvation is not of him that willeth, not of him that
\nrunneth but of God that sheweth mercy.
\nClay Curtis.<\/p>\n
The revelation of faith
\nBy the sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth the believer
\nis given spiritual eyes. Spiritual eyes are eyes that see what others
\ncannot and will not see. The apostle Paul describes this vision in II
\nCorinthians 4: 18 saying —\u201cWe look not at things which are seen, but
\nat the things which are not seen: For the things which are seen are
\ntemporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal..\u201d The faith of
\nGod\u2019s elect is the gift of God that enables the believer to see through
\nthe eyes of God. John said of Christ, \u201cWhat he hath seen and heard, that
\nhe testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. He that hath received
\nhis testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. (John 3: 32-33)\u201d
\nThe eyes of faith see through God\u2019s eyes. They see God as he is, man as
\nhe is, and Christ reconciling the two. They see the eternal, immutable
\npurpose of God in redemption, the everlasting covenant of grace and the
\none mediator between God and men accomplishing the will of God
\nconcerning these things. The eye of faith sees a bleeding substitute
\nsatisfying the justice of God concerning their sins and his righteous
\nobedience as their own righteousness making them \u201choly, unblameable and
\nunreproveable in his sight (Colossians 1:22).\u201d<\/p>\n
Seeing through his eyes we see the perfection of God in all he has done
\nand found as God did when he looked upon his work, that it is good and
\ncomplete and sufficient to cease from our labors and enter into his
\nrest. Darvin Pruitt.<\/p>\n
A Matter Of Revelation
\nTodd Nibert
\nNo mater how simply and clearly the gospel of Christ is presented, no
\nmatter how intelligent the person is that is listening, the gospel
\ncannot be understood or received apart from a revelation from God
\nAlmighty to the sinner\u2019s heart ( Matt. 16:17). This is a humbling truth.
\nNo amount of seeking or study will enable one to believe. God must
\nreveal Himself.<\/p>\n
But it is also a very encouraging truth. Although our ability to preach
\nand witness will not make a sinner more likely to believe and the
\nsinner\u2019s ability to listen, and comprehend what he has heard will not
\nmake him more likely to believe, yet God can and does make Himself known
\nin an instant; and that sinner to whom God makes Himself known will
\nbelieve! Not only will he believe when God makes Himself known, he can\u2019t
\nhelp but believe!<\/p>\n
Forsake Not The Assembly of Yourselves
\nDrew Dietz<\/p>\n
Every time Melinda and I are privileged to stay long after services to
\nfellowship with you folks I am reminded that our God is \u2018right\u2019 on this
\ntopic of \u2018gathering together unto the Lord\u2019. We are sheep, and as such,
\nneed to \u2018flock\u2019 and mingle and be around one another. Sheep are not
\nsolitary animals, they desperately need one another.<\/p>\n
This last Wednesday we did just that; mingled, talked and fellowshipped
\naround the blessed things just preached, His word and the hopes and
\nneeds of this little flock. I need you; you need me; I want to need the
\nfellowship of believers. It is as necessary as anything else I can think
\nof. I know that this is not always possible, but whenever possible the
\nconstant desire of the sheep is to seek the fold. There are just too
\nmany things that can be resolved, helped, and cared for when we are
\nphysically present among the remnant of His fold.<\/p>\n
I am so very thankful for the tapes, CD\u2019s and teleconference. However,
\nthere is nothing quite like that hug, that tearful eye and those
\nexpressions of joy on the faces of you folks as the gospel was heard,
\nreceived and believed! \u201cOne thing have I desired of the Lord, that will
\nI seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of
\nmy life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple\u201d
\n(Ps.27:4). \u201cHow amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! My soul
\nlongeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my
\nflesh crieth out for the living God\u201d (Ps.84:1,2). \u201cAnd when the day of
\nPentecost was fully come, THEY WERE ALL WITH ONE ACCORD IN ONE PLACE\u201d
\n(Acts 2:1). There are many things I think I need in this world which
\nwill be found unnecessary, yet that which I do have such a great need
\nfor is that blessed privilege we call gathering together with the saints.<\/p>\n
THE Promise of God
\nMaurice Montgomery
\nThe promises of God, \u201csaid one man, \u201care like the clothes we wear; if
\nthere is life in the body, they warm us, but not otherwise. Where there
\nis living faith, God\u2019s promises afford warm comfort.\u201d Thus we can say
\nwith Luther, \u201cAlthough I am a sinner, yet I despair not; for Christ, who
\nis my Redeemer and righteousness, liveth. In Him I have no sin, no fear,
\nno sting of conscience, and no fear of judgment. In Christ there is no
\ncondemnation. I am indeed a sinner as touching this present life, but I
\nhave a righteousness of God which is above this life, who is Christ my
\nLord. In Him I rejoice.\u201d<\/p>\n
TEN PROMISES FROM GOD\u2028 TO HIS TROUBLED SAINTS<\/p>\n
Isaiah 43:1-7<\/p>\n
Child of God, your afflictions in this world may be many, heavy, and
\nlong, but they will never destroy, or even harm you. Therefore the Lord
\nyour God says, “Fear Not.” Then He gives you these ten, blessed promises
\nto silence your fears.<\/p>\n
“I have redeemed thee!” Christ has redeemed you by the price of His
\nblood and the power of His Grace. If He has redeemed you, nothing and no
\none can harm you.<\/p>\n
2. “I have called thee by thy name!” All whom He has redeemed are
\ncalled, called with an effectual, irresistible, personal call. This is
\nefficacious Grace!<\/p>\n
3. “Thou art mine!” What a blessed word of Grace! You belong to God as
\nHis peculiar possession, His new creation. That means you are under His
\nprotection and provision.<\/p>\n
4. “I will be with thee!” Wherever God by His providence puts you, He
\nwill be with you in sympathy and in power to take care of you.<\/p>\n
5. “I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel!” The Almighty God,
\nthe Holy One, who is always faithful and true, is as much your property
\nas you are His property, because He has given Himself to you.<\/p>\n
6. “I am thy Saviour!” When He says, “I gave Egypt for thy ransom,
\nEthiopia and Seba for thee,” our Lord is saying, I have bought you at
\nsuch a price that I cannot afford to lose you.”<\/p>\n
7. “Thou art Precious in my sight!” You are God’s treasure, His jewel.
\nThough despised by men, if you are a believer, you are precious to God!<\/p>\n
8. “Thou hast been honorable?” You are not honorable by nature, nor by
\nany of your deeds, but God by His Grace has made you honorable. He has
\nwashed away your sin by the blood of Christ and robed you with His
\nperfect righteousness.<\/p>\n
9. “I have loved thee!” Let men talk all they please about a useless,
\nuniversal love, this is special love! God so loves His own elect that He
\nwill sacrifice men and nations for them!<\/p>\n
10. “I have created (you) for my Glory!” The very Glory of the triune
\nGod is wrapped up in the Salvation of His people. He will either save
\neveryone of the chosen seed, all who are called by His name, and save
\nthem from all evil, or He will lose His Glory; and that cannot be! Don
\nFortner.<\/p>\n
Facts about the election of grace
\nKnowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. For our gospel came not
\nunto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in
\nmuch assurance (I Thessalonians 1: 4-5)<\/p>\n
An election which does not lead a person to believe the gospel, confess
\nin his heart, confess Christ in baptism, and identify whole heartedly
\nwith the Lord\u2019s church is not the election of grace.<\/p>\n
Election which does not give a person a new birth, a new heart, a new
\nnature to love Christ, to love one another and to live and express that
\nlove daily is not the election of grace.<\/p>\n
An election which does not result in a new walk, a new attitude, a new
\nspirit of unity and fellowship is not the election of grace<\/p>\n
An election which does not make a person generous toward others, liberal
\nin his support of the gospel ministry, liberal toward his house and
\nother families and who had not learned that it is more blessed to give
\nthan to receive, is not the election of grace.<\/p>\n
An election which does not (in time) produce these fruits of the Spirit,
\na growth in grace, the knowledge of Christ, which delivers a person from
\na covetous spirit, the vanity of the flesh and the pride of self is not
\nthe election of grace.<\/p>\n
There was a time when only God knew we were His elect! There came a time
\nwhen we knew that we were elected by God! There comes a time when others
\nknow that we are His elect!
\nHenry Mahan<\/p>\n
Witnesses of Christ<\/p>\n
Acts 1: 8
\nIt is the privilege, responsibility and honor of every believer to
\naccurately and honestly relate to others that which he has heard with
\nhis own ears, seen with his own eyes, and felt and experienced in his
\nown heart (I John 1: 1-3). Therefore, let us be sure that our testimony
\ntruly is, “Salvation is of the Lord.”
\n1. We are witnesses by believing the Lord Jesus Christ is able to save
\n(Acts 1: 4.) The disciples had just seen the religious mob beat their
\nSavior till he was unrecognizable. Returning to Jerusalem was witness
\nthat they trusted the power of their Lord to keep them.<\/p>\n
2. We are witnesses by waiting on the Holy Spirit (Acts 1: 4-5.) The
\ndisciples had no more ability in themselves to strengthen their own
\nhearts, to preach Christ or to quicken dead sinners than they had
\nability to keep themselves assembled after Christ’s death. They were
\nwitnesses of Christ by waiting on the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n
3. We are witnesses by trusting the progress of the work to our all-wise
\nGod (Acts 1:6-7). The disciples asked this question only once; they were
\nsatisfied with the answer. God “hath appointed a day”; that is enough
\nfor Christ’s witnesses (Acts 17:31; I Co 3: 5-7; compare Acts 1: 5, 7
\nwith Luke 3: 16, 17.)<\/p>\n
4. We are witnesses by proclaiming Christ and by proclaiming Christ
\ncrucified. The one thing that separates true witnesses from false is,
\n“We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord” (2 Corinthians 4:
\n5; Acts 2: 36; 1 Corinthians 1: 23-25.) Clay Curtis.
\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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