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A Vital Foundational Truth

Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ. (Ephesians 4:15 NIV)

We know of many children of Godwho have been the Lord children for years and they havebeen working for the Lord many of them, and yet they have come toa standstill; they have come under an arrest. Why? Well in someway, at some point, somehow, something of themselves, their oldself has come up, has come into evidence, and has come into the way.It may be some of their old mind, some of their old will, some oftheir old affections, desires and feelings. They are in their ownway somehow. They are in the Lord way. What is needed isnot that they should die again, but that they should come toaccept their once-for-all death in Christ in relation to whateverthat may be that has come up, and let it go and be set free fromthat law of sin and death. epentance from deadworks.That is exactly what the apostle is saying to theseHebrews: "You have come to a standstill. You simply ceased to goon. You went so far, now you have got to a certain point and foryears you have not budged a bit from that position. You havenever got past foundations, you are not going on to full growth.You have not settled it once and for all that you died whenChrist died. You ended the whole system and order of the oldcreation religiously and otherwise when you came to Christ.Christ is the end of the law and Christ is the end of the oldcreation, and He is the beginning of everything new. Do not bewearied at repetition of old truths, they are very important asfoundations, and this is foundational."

We are destined, whether we nowaccept it or not, whether we like it or not, we are destined todiscover that God foundation stands. This is true, and noone will ever get through in relation to God and His things whilestill bound by the old creation, on the old creation level. Thisnew way of Life is so narrow that we cannot take ourselves intoit, we have to leave ourselves behind.

A disciple is not above his teacher.

You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.

It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. § If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. § I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.

Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. § Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind.

Matt. 10:24;  John 13:13;  Matt. 10:25;  John 15:20;  Matt.17:14;  Heb. 12:3,4;  Heb. 12:1,2;  1 Peter 4:1

My son, give me your heart.

Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!

Your heart is not right in the sight of God. § Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

They first gave themselves to the Lord. § In every work that [Hezekiah] began … to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered.

Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.

Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord. § As bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men. § I will run the course of Your commandments, for You shall enlarge my heart.

Prov. 23:26;  Deut. 5:29;  Acts 8:21;  Rom. 8:7,8;  2 Cor. 8:5;  2 Chron. 31:21;  Prov. 4:23;  Col. 3:23;  Eph. 6:6,7;  Ps. 119:32

Behold, The Man!

[God] hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:6).

There aren't many truly happy Christians simply because there aren't many who really abide in the Lord Jesus Christ. Our risen Lord is the source of our happiness as we rest in Him - triumphant over circumstances; not hopelessly underneath them. Happy is the abiding believer, "hid with Christ in God" (Col. 3:3).

"I must not only see my position in the Lord Jesus, but I must come near to the One who set me there. Many are disappointed that after hearing with delight and receiving the truth of their position they are not more affected by it.

"The reason is that they rest too much in the position and have not occupied themselves increasingly with their risen Lord; have not drawn nearer to Him, and recognized Him as the only One who can make it all experiential in them." -J.B.S.

"Is the living Person now in heavenly glory really the Object of our hearts? For some time after I knew the Saviour I used to think of Him as One who had lived and died on earth long years ago, and I well remember the day when I knelt down with a dear brother who prayed that we might know the Lord Jesus as a living Person in heavenly glory, and it dawned upon me that there was a present Object for my heart in heaven. Our hearts will never be satisfied until that glorified Lord Jesus becomes our Object bright and fair." -C.A.C.

"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth" (Col. 3:2).

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