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The Only Divine Life

I can guarantee this truth: No one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. (John 3:5 GW)

No one has ever yet been "volitionalized" into the kingdom of God; that is, soappealed to in their wills to make a decision, and todetermine to be in the kingdom of God, as by thestrength of that decision and that determination to havegot through. It cannot be done.A great deal of mistake has been made in thatconnection, and an entirely false position has beenbrought about for multitudes of people because the efforthas been made along those lines, and they have beenappealed to along those lines to exercise their ownreason, and their own feelings, and their own wills, asthough that would regenerate them.

Thus interest and activity in Christianity is one thing,but being in the kingdom is quite another. Multitudes ofgood-meaning people are interested in Christianity, andare active in Christianity. They see the value of theChristian standard of life, and Christian teaching, andhave thought if only it could be applied, how different theworld would be. So they have become busy inChristianity, and have thought they were in the kingdomof God. Not at all!You can have all the interest in Christianity without beingin the kingdom.This is what the Lord Jesus said, in effect, and in otherand more concise words, to Nicodemus. The only way inis by our receiving Divine Life as a gift through faith inJesus Christ, and that becomes the new basis of the newcreation, the basis upon which everything begins and iscarried through, the basis of Divine Life. That Life has in itall the qualities and energies of the new creation. Itconstitutes our being in what is called the Kingdom ofGod.

“I will also let the house of Israel inquire of Me to do this for them.”

You do not have because you do not ask.

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. § This is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. § If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. § Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. § Men always ought to pray and not lose heart.

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry… The Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. § You will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me… Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Ezek. 36:37;  James 4:2;  Matt. 7:7,8;  1 John 5:14,15;  James 1:5;  Ps. 81:10;  Luke 18:1;  Ps. 34:15,17;  John 16:26,27;  John 16:24

Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?

I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me. § O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand. § It is the Lord. Let Him do what seems good to Him. § Righteous are You, O Lord, when I plead with You; yet let me talk with You about Your judgments.

He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver. § Whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. § It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. § Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.

But rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. § These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Job 2:10;  Ps. 119:75;  Isa. 64:8;  1 Sam. 3:18;  Jer. 12:1;  Mal. 3:3;  Heb. 12:6;  Matt. 10:25;  Heb. 5:8;   1 Peter 4:13;   Rev. 7:14

Abiding Faith

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him" (Col. 2:6).

One day we came to Him in utter need and reliance, and received life. Every day we are to abide in Him in utter need and reliance, that He may live that life in and through us. We are born again by faith, and we are to live anew by faith. "He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5).

"There are earnest Christians who are jealous for a free Gospel, with acceptance of Christ, and justification by faith alone. But after this they think everything depends on their diligence and faithfulness. While they firmly grasp the truth, justified by faith,' they have hardly noticed the larger truth, the just shall live by faith.' They have not yet understood what a perfect Saviour the Lord Jesus is, and how He will each day do for the sinner just as much as He did the first day when they came to Him.

"They know not that the life of grace is always and only a life of faith, and that in the relationship to the Lord Jesus the one daily and unceasing duty of the disciple is to believe, because believing is the one channel through which Divine grace and strength can flow into the heart of man. The old nature of the believer remains evil and sinful to the last; it is only as he daily comes, all empty and helpless, to his Saviour to receive of His life and strength, that he can bring forth the fruits of righteousness to the glory of God." -A.M.

"Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving" (Col. 2:7).

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Refuge and Strength