Verse of the day — Philippians 3:14
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:14(NASB)
Open Windows by T. Austin-Sparks
Christ - Our Promised Rest
Let us then be eager to know this rest for ourselves, and let us beware that no one misses it through falling into the same kind of unbelief as those we have mentioned. (Hebrews 4:11 Phillips)
Why all these exhortations in the New Testament to go on? Why is the New Testament just made up of exhortations and encouragements and warnings to the people of God about going on? And why is the New Testament such a practical Book? Because real spiritual progress and the Presence of the Lord depends upon bringing everything that we know right up to date. I wonder if you could tell me the number of times in the New Testament that that one thing occurs. It is a quotation from Israel's life in the wilderness. And it is this: "Today if you will hear His voice, harden not your heart." Again and again, those words are put in the New Testament. Today! Today! Today! You see, all this has got to be brought into NOW. All our progress for the future depends upon what we are doing with what we know NOW. So the Lord says to us, "I am with you if you are going on. And going on means putting into practice and effect all that I have said to you." Our growing knowledge of the Lord depends entirely upon our daily obedience to the light which we have....
So when the Lord speaks, and we bring that which He has said, and we say: "There is something to be done about this. I do not just put that into the store of my knowledge. I do not just add that to all that I know. I look to see what that requires of me in a practical way. And when I see what that means, then I get to the Lord to have that made real and living in my life." Brethren, the people who do that will be going on. They will be entering the Promised Land. They will be entering into His Rest. They will be entering into the joy of the Lord. Because that is what the Lord wants people who take hold of everything that the Lord says, and make it practical. So the writer of the Hebrews says, "Let us go on." In what other way can we go on? We are not on a literal journey on this earth. Our Promised Land is not somewhere on this earth, in this world. No. Christ is our Promised Land. Christ is God's fullness of purpose for us. So, we have got to take everything that has been said to us about Christ, and put it into practical effect. That is what it means to go on. And that is what it means to have the Lord fully with us!
Morning Daily Light by Samuel Bagster
Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. § Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.
How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you; understanding will keep you.
My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. § I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. § If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 17:17; John 15:3; Col. 3:16; Ps. 119:9,10; Prov. 2:10,11; Job 23:11,12; Ps. 119:99; John 8:31,32
Evening Daily Light by Samuel Bagster
Fellow citizens with the saints.
You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect.
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. § For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. • [The Father] has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.
As sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.
Eph. 2:19; Heb. 12:22,23; Heb. 11:13; Phil. 3:20,21; Col. 1:12,13; 1 Peter 2:11
None but the Hungry Heart by Miles Stanford
Our Weakness - His Strength
He said to me, My spiritual strength is sufficient, for it is only by means of conscious weakness that power is developed" (2 Cor. 12:9, Wms.).
Early in our Christian life the general conception is that God is a wonderful Helper. Later, as we experience failure, we come to know full well that if anything is going to be accomplished in and through us, He must do it all.
"Everything you need in the Christian life, no matter what it may be, comes from the Father alone. You will see more and more the utter futility of trying to make yourself a keen Christian; that your best efforts are as futile as your worst failures; that your Christian life is to be a continual miracle that the Father must work every minute; that the only thing you have to do is to depend utterly, and altogether, and all the time on Him. You will see that what you need is not more effort or determination, but more of the Father; a deeper, more continual trust and dependence upon Him." -D.T.
"For the discovery of our sinful condition and getting deliverance from the reign of sin, there is an experiential process in us. The doctrine is that we died unto sin with Christ: that is Romans Six. But the resting on the truth found there as a doctrine, is connected with the experience found in Romans Seven; the result being in Romans Eight.
"Now this experience is the painful learning that we have no strength to make good what we would and what is right. There is a point in the experience which often helped, but it is not deliverance; that is, hating the evil which yet works in me. But after this I find what I hate too strong for me, and I am brought to the consciousness of my being without strength - the point to which the Father was leading me all along." -J.N.D.
"For when I am weak (in myself), then I am strong (in Him)" (2 Cor. 12:10, Wey.).
Devotional Studies by Elizabeth Haworth
The Consecrated Life
Paul, a servant of Christ, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God.
Romans 1:1
Consecration
Consecration is being separated, sanctified, and set apart for the Lord. Consecration is being hallowed for God’s plans and purposes – set-apart for Him. What is the motivation of consecration? What is the point of being set-aside? What is the reason for this distinguishing mark? What does this isolation mean? What does it mean to be sanctified?– to be dedicated unto God? – to be consecrated?
Principles
The principle of consecration – is that God might use that one as a sign.. a sign of His immeasurable grace in the ages to come – to principalities and power – a sign of His grace right now – in this corner of the field where He has planted you. And every consecrated believer in one way or another point to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul-a Sign
Paul was “set apart for the gospel of God”. He was consecrated unto God, and like many before him – Paul was a sign that points us to Christ. Like the other apostles before him, Paul was required to suffer greatly..as a sign. Paul explained his special form of consecration to the Corinthian believers, “for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.” 1 Corinthians 4:9
Nehemiah-a Sign
The world often scoffs at the sanctified man or woman – set apart to do God’s will. Just as the world scorned the dedication of Nehemiah as he built Jerusalem’s wall. But through the generations, Nehemiah has become a sign in so many ways. Moses became a duel sign to the nation of Israel – as a pattern and as a warning, He became a sign to Israel through his outstanding life... and his disobedience.
Moses-a Sign
This humble man was first used of God to save Israel from Egypt’s oppression. This great man was chosen and separated by God to be His singular mouthpiece. This consecrated saint was once disobedient and judgment was passed on Moses. Moses was a
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Knowing Jesus Devotional by Elizabeth Haworth
Called and Chosen
We are become companions of Christ if we hold fast.
Hebrews 3:6
Chosen People
Israel was God’s chosen people, His inheritance, the Lord’s house, and God’s flock. Israel was God’s firstborn people, His adoptive son and God was a husband to His people. He purchased Israel with blood at the Passover – as a marriage contract with her God. He chose them to be a holy people; a separated nation; a people for His own possession. He called them to be holy for I am holy – but Israel chose the route of apostasy.
Israel and Judah
And for a time Israel has been set aside, and the dispensation of Israel placed on hold. But the days are coming when the Lord will make a new covenant with Israel: "behold, the day is coming I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah". Jeremiah 31:31 Israel will one day take up her former position on earth as God’s chosen people. Israel was temporarily set-aside at the cross through her rebellion and apostasy, but God continued to work with a heavenly people, a new creation - the body of Christ.
A Holy People
The church was commissioned a holy people; a separate nation; His own possession. The church has a heavenly calling and we are Christ’s companions in this heavenly role. The church is called the “heavenly Jerusalem;” “the holy city;” the body of Christ,” We have been commissioned to be partakers of Christ’s own heavenly vocation.
Heirs of God
Like Israel, we have a holy calling to be the little flock of our heavenly bridegroom. We have become the temple of the Holy Spirit, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ. We were bought with the precious blood of Christ, Who became our Passover Lamb. We are to be holy, for God is Holy and we are to be separated to our holy cause – for it is written, be ye holy; for I am holy 1 Peter 1:16.
Dearly Loved Bride
God betrothed Himself to Israel so that she would be His
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