“For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Hebrews 4:10 As we, through the cross of Christ and our co-crucifixion, cease the competition of the flesh, we discover God’s seasons spoken of by Solomon, “To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to count as lost,…
Healing at the Cross Posts
A complexity, “soul” is more simply observed as feelings, judgments, opinions, rationalizations, and self-consciousness; all muddying the will, making decisions difficult. In soul, we trip over ourselves, stumble in the dark, and accept the confused state as our “normal.” Notwithstanding, the state of soul with personality traits, still guides men and women and some discover “soul power,” spoken of in Watchman Nee’s book, “The Latent Power of the Soul.” Nevertheless, “Holy Spirit imparts spirit” to some, enabling a new person to emerge, overruling the fallen nature embedded in depraved mankind. Born again, a person becomes a new creation. “created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 Ephesians 4:24 adds, ” … put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” and Colossians 3:10 says , “put on the new man, which is renewed in…
“As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.” Proverbs 25:25 “And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house.” Matthew_13:57 Quoting a proverb, Jesus above tells a truth. Yes, familiarity of natural surroundings kills joy but unexpected blessing from unfamiliar resources gives un-before-experienced thrill. ” What good news that His purpose and plan for our lives moves in a different direction from ours!” Tullian Tchividjian Yes, what joy it has been to fall into a better fate than expected. Another quote from the author goes, “Contrary to popular assumptions, the Bible is not a record of the blessed good, but rather the blessed bad. That’s not a typo. The Bible is a record of the blessed bad. The Bible is not a witness to the best…
” …cleanse thou me from secret faults. “ Psalm 19 speaks loudly: “for its full effect we need divine grace to show us our faults, acquit us, restrain us from the practice, and free us from the power, of sin.” JFB “God knows a great deal more evil of us than we do of ourselves. In many things we all offend, and who can tell how often he offends? It is well that we are under grace, and not under the law, else we were undone.” MH “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me.” Psalm 19:13 John Gill adds, ” …the petition supposes, that these may be committed by good men, if left to themselves; and that there is a proneness in them to them; and that they would rush into them, were they not kept back and restrained by the powerful and…
Hebrews 12:15 teaches us: Look diligently, lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. To fail the grace of God: “The implication is “to be inferior; to fall short, to be deficient: to come behind.” “The image is taken from a company of travelers, one of whom lags behind, and so never reaches the end of the long and laborious journey” [Chrysostom]. The word “fail“, “fall back from,” implies a previous attainment. Vincent ” … failing of the grace of God; it is to become bankrupt…want of a good foundation and suitable care and diligence; it is failing of the grace of God, coming short of a principle of true grace in the soul, … and so coming short of the love and favor of God here and hereafter.” MH Beloved, we must never be-little…
“A child is born, a son is given.” In Proverbs, The Son as “wisdom personified” speaks, When he (Yahweh), gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I (wisdom), was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. Proverbs 8:29-31 As a babe in swaddling wrap, as a young man at the Temple, we only must imagine the Christ child growing up. Magnificent to behold as surrounded by kings and shepherds; prophesy ushers his appearing, see Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:5-6. Bethlehem birthed Him. Luke reports: And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. Luke 2:40 “His was…
By a multiplication of grace may be meant a larger discovery of the love and favour of God; which though it admits of no degrees in itself, being never more or less in God’s heart, yet, as to the manifestations of it, Like the large sheets in the cherry tree, every manifestation of grace is John 1:16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. Here the picture is “grace” taking the place of “grace” like the manna fresh each morning, new grace for the new day and the new service. AT Robertson “And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till the morning. Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: Exodus 16 Under the Christmas tree of God’s gifts, there is yet another and yet another. James 4:6 But…
What is patience? Where do we get some? Patience is the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering calmly without getting angry, upset, or complaining. “cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy:” from the Greek translation of “hupomone” ” Luke 8:15 explains …in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. ” this is the good soil for receiving seed and growing. The best fruits require time, cultivation, patience. AT Robertson A good and honest heart? from Luke 8:15? “The expression rendered ’honest’ (better translated ’noble,’ καλός) has reference to aims or chief ends, and describes one whose mind is raised above moral vulgarity, and is bent, not on money-making and such low pursuits, but on the attainment of wisdom, holiness, and righteousness. The epithet rendered ’good’ (ἀγαθός) denotes generous self-abandonment in the prosecution of lofty ends; large-heartedness, magnanimous, overflowing devotion.” Mary…
“If you have doubts about moral matters, smash the bottle.” “Every one who debates a question within himself is already divided, and He should not be.” “There is within him the questioner and the questioned.” — all taken from Richard Wurmbrand, ” Answer to Half a Million Letters.” James 1:8 gives us “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. “ The double-minded man is two-souled, and is “at variance with one’s self, hesitating, doubting.” Thayer He exists as a “diakrino” person — he wavers between belief and unbelief. Psalm 107:27 in the Berean Bible says “They reeled and staggered like drunkards, and all their skill was useless. ” KJV says “at wits end.” But Abraham was not so, He staggered not at the promise of God, see Romans 4:20. He was a “plērophoreō,” completely assured. Not entertaining the “impossible” aspect of a positive outcome, and doubting in a depraved soul;…
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105 The times, perilous, appear to have come and fierce they are. “Intensively aggressive, violent, or powerful — such as a “fierce storm” or “fierce, competitive rivals”. It commonly means wild or menacing, but can also describe strong emotions, intense heat, or, informally, a bold, confident, and stylish appearance. Synonyms include savage, ferocious, intense, and vehement.” Webster Proverbs 30:14 instructs us, “There are those whose teeth are swords, whose fangs are knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, the needy from among mankind. “ So we are warned, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 1 Peter 5:8 Benson comments on this word, “devour “— “Swallow up both soul and body. This manner of speaking strongly expresses the insatiable rage of this…