Verse of the day — 1 Peter 3:9
not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.
1 Peter 3:9(NASB)
Open Windows by T. Austin-Sparks
The Heavenly Ground
Gone is the distinction between Jew and Greek, slave and free man, male and female you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28 Phillips)
In this dispensation God is not meeting Jews as Jews, and Gentiles as Gentiles, and a great many are making the mistake of thinking that He is. His Word to the Jew is: "You must leave your Jewish ground, and stand before God, not as a Jew, but as a man, and until you take that ground God has nothing to say to you; you will not have any light whilst you persist in coming before God on your own ground." The same has to be said to everyone else. We have to leave our own ground in every way. As that applies in these directions nationally, it applies in every other thing. Are you going to answer the Lord back: But I am this or that, or something else; or, But I am not this or that. It is not what you are, but what the Son is, that is of account. Come on to His ground. The Lord will not meet you on the ground of what you are, whether it be good or bad; He will meet you on the ground of the Heavenly Man. Do you answer back, "I am so weak!" The Lord is not going to meet you on that ground; He will meet you on the ground of His Son. That is what the Holy Spirit means by such words as He speaks through Paul: ..be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus(2 Tim. 2:1). God hears us exclaim, "But I am so weak, Lord!" but He does not pay any heed to what we mean to indicate by that confession, which is: "Come down on to the ground of my weakness and pick me up!" He says, "You forsake that ground, and come on to the ground of My Son, and you will find strength there." "I am so foolish, Lord!" The Lord says: "You will remain foolish until you get on to the ground of My Son, Who is made unto you wisdom."
That applies all the way along. We take our own ground before the Lord and are surprised that the Lord does not lift us right out of our own ground and put us into a better position, but He never does. We shall stay there forever, if that is our attitude. The Lord word to us is: "Forsake your own ground and come on to My ground. I have provided a Heavenly Man Who is full of all that you need; now come on to that ground." It does not matter what you are, or what you are not. There everything is adjusted and made good.
Morning Daily Light by Samuel Bagster
Let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.
Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. § Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breast- plate of righteousness … above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces; the rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; for the Lord has spoken. And it will be said in that day: “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the Lord … we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.”
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
1 Thess. 5:8; 1 Peter 1:13; Eph. 6:14, Eph. 6:16,17; Isa. 25:8,9; Heb. 11:1
Evening Daily Light by Samuel Bagster
The children of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of goats, while the Syrians filled the countryside.
Thus says the Lord: “Because the Syrians have said, ‘The Lord is God of the hills, but He is not God of the valleys,’ therefore I will deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord.” And they encamped opposite each other for seven days. So it was that on the seventh day the battle was joined; and the children of Israel killed one hundred thousand foot soldiers of the Syrians in one day. § You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
“They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you. For I am with you,” says the Lord, “to deliver you.
1 Kings 20:27; 1 Kings 20:28,29; 1 John 4:4; Isa. 41:10; Jer. 1:19
None but the Hungry Heart by Miles Stanford
Conditioned, Not Conditions
"We have received. . . the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given us of God" (1 Cor. 2:12).
The Spirit's ministry is to present a Person, rather than to produce an experience.
"Where man calls for conditions, God calls for the Cross. As the finished work of the Cross is applied to the life by the Holy Spirit, thereby progressively holding the old man in the position of death, the believer is conditioned for the Spirit's fulness. It is not a surrendered self, but a crucified self that gives the Spirit freedom in the life.
"The sixth of Romans comes before the twelfth. In the latter we have the surrender, but it is not to get, or to attain; it is because he has entered into what is his; he has accepted the wondrous fact of his death with the Lord Jesus, and of the Spirit's presence and ministry. A crucified man relies upon no experience. To him the Lord Jesus is his very life." -S.R.
"Whether it be for the initial revelation to our hearts of divine things, or amid the discipline that must follow ere those divine truths become a part of us, we shall find it necessary to turn again and again to this gracious comforter of our infirmities.
"It is by His revelation through the Word that we behold spiritual realities; it is by His loving discipline that we enter into those realities. By the former, He opens the gateway to progress; by the latter, He leads us on in the pathway of growth. The former is foundation, the latter is the temple. Without His scriptural revelation we cannot commence the course, but without the discipline of His ministry we cannot complete it. Both these aspects of the Spirit's work are equally essential, and for both we can assuredly count upon Him."
"The spirit of truth... will lead you into all truth" (John 16:13).
Devotional Studies by Elizabeth Haworth
Encouragement and Warning
My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge – and I say this, lest any man should deceive you with enticing words.
Colossians 2:2-4
Paul’s Epistles
Paul’s epistles give us much to rejoice our heart, for we are positioned in Christ. We are seated with Him in heavenly places and have been endowed with eternal life. We have become children of God, joint-heirs with Christ and in-dwelt by the Spirit.
Paul’s Teachings
Paul outlined in great detail these glorious positional truths to encourage our hearts. His desire was that we are united in love and understand the riches of God’s grace. He longed that we have complete assurance of the mystery of God – namely Christ: in Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:3 Paul’s epistles certainly are overflowing with much to rejoice our heart, but he also gives us some severe warnings, which encourage spiritual alertness.
Enemy’s Tactics
Our position is safe and secure – it is eternal and affords the riches of God’s grace, but we should not be complacent about the many dangers that stalk our path. We need to be aware of the many ways that the enemy desires to destabilise our faith. We should be aware that the enemy’s ploys to undermine the truth of our acceptance.
Multiple Disguises
The enemy’s tactics and strategies come to us in many guises and multiple disguises. He comes using beguiling words and deceptive tricks designed to deceive and delude, and Paul is keen that our security in Christ helps to ward off these seductive advances, this I say, lest any man should deceive you with enticing words. Colossians 2:4
False Teachings
Paul does not want any member of Christ’s body to be misled by false teachings. He knows that false teachers use a range persuasive words and plausible arguments. He knows
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Knowing Jesus Devotional by Elizabeth Haworth
Letter of Truth
God’s Love-Letter
From start to finish Scripture is a letter of love from the Lord God to humanity. It was written in the heart of God before man was created – and given to us in love. It was dispatched from heaven by means of the beloved Lord Jesus Christ – His Word. It is God's promissory note to all who trust Him – His unbreakable, legally binding bond.
Epistle of Encouragement
It is a scroll of covenant promises from God that can never be broken or changed. It is the history of redeeming blood, poured out to cleanse fallen humanity. It is a manual of instruction and correction from God to His children. It is an epistle of encouragement and hope, from Christ to His Church. It is a letter of love from the heavenly bridegroom to His beloved bride.
An Incomparable Book
Hidden in this incomparable book of books are excellences and incomparable glory – truth, that refreshes the soul; promises, that quicken the heart; love, that explodes in hope – a blessed hope, that is as firm and secure as the throne of God in heavenly places.
A Staff to Support
Within His written Word of love and hope is all that is needed for life and health. It convicts and converts in the power of the Spirit. It gives light, to lead and to guide you on your way. It gives wisdom, to advise and to counsel you. It is a staff to support and a rod to correct. It is refreshment and nourishment for the fainting soul. It gives sufficient grace to face the problems of life. It is a sword to defend in the evil day.
A Living Example
It reveals the character of God and His perfect will for humanity. It unfolds the plan of redemption to whosoever will trust in Christ. It discloses the battle of the ages that is raging between God and Satan. It identifies faith, obedience, humility, and thankfulness as pleasing to the Father. It presents Jesus as our federal Head – the living example of all God wants
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