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The Only Resurrection

Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead. (2 Corinthians 1:9)

We shall not be able to raise ourselves any more than we can crucify ourselves, but we must recognize that the Lord's dealings with us are with that in view. In order to display the power of His resurrection, He will very often have to take the attitude toward us of letting things get well beyond all human power to remedy or save, of allowing things to go so far that there is no other power in all the universe that can do anything whatever to save the situation. He will allow death, disintegration to work, so that nothing, nothing in the universe is of any avail, except the power of His resurrection.

We shall come to the place where Abraham came, who became the great type of faith which moved right into resurrection: "He considered his own body now as good as dead" (Rom. 4:19). That is the phrase used by the apostle about Abraham: "as good as dead." And Paul came into that: "We had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead" (2 Cor. 1:9). Whatever else men may be able to do in the realm of creation, they stop short when death has actually taken place; they can do no more. Resurrection is God's act, and God's alone. Men can do very many things when they have got life, but when there is no life it is only God who can do anything. And God will allow His Church and its members oft-times to get into such situations as are altogether beyond human help, in order that He may give the display, which is His own display, in which no man has any place to glory.

The fruit of the Spirit is . . . goodness.

Be imitators of God as dear children. § Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. § Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.

When the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior. § The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works. § He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

Gal. 5:22;  Eph. 5:1;  Matt. 5:44,45;  Luke 6:36;  Eph. 5:9;  Titus 3:4; Titus 3:5,6;  Ps. 145:9;  Rom. 8:32

“Thus far the Lord has helped us.”

I was brought low, and He saved me. § Blessed be the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplications! The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him.

It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes. § Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God. § He led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city for a dwelling place. § Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.

“When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?” So they said, “Nothing.” § Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.

1 Sam. 7:12;  Ps. 116:6;  Ps. 28:6,7;  Ps. 118:8,9;  Ps. 146:5;  Ps. 107:7;  Josh. 21:45;  Luke 22:35;  Ps. 63:7

Adults Only!

I have learned, in whatever state I am, in this to be content" (Phil. 4:11).

All we have to do is love the Lord Jesus - that will take us through all the fire necessary to conform us to His image.

"Hopes have precarious life; They are oft blighted, withered, snapped sheer off In vigorous youth, and turned to rottenness; But faithfulness can feed on suffering, And knows no disappointment."

"Adam might defy the will of God, Elijah might doubt it, but John would glory in it - even on Patmos. This is the way of certain triumph; to accept God's will, however painful it may be, and to trust Him in the certain faith that His will must triumph in the end. John stood his ground, maintaining his testimony in the face of every foe, and as a consequence has exercised a mighty ministry of life down through the centuries." -T. A-S.

"Much depends on the way great eras of our life are entered on. The germ of faith will outlive the sternest winds and roughest seas. We enter on them enthusiastically or stoically. Nature or disposition may have much to do with our external manner, but it is faith in our Father which stands the wear of years, and the sorrows of life."

"One does not feel the pain of the Cross when his mind is on heavenly things."

"Thou, therefore, endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2 Tim. 2:3)."

Our Perfect God - Character and Attributes of God (7)

Destructive Disinterest