Verse of the day — Mark 2:5
And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
Mark 2:5(NASB)
Open Windows by T. Austin-Sparks
An Unshakable Believer
nce more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.The words nce moreindicate the removing of what can be shaken that is, created things so that what cannot be shaken may remain. (Hebrews 12:26-27 NIV)
The fact is that, while certain things characterized the New Testament churches, the New Testament does not give us a complete pattern according to which churches are to be set up or formed! There is no blue-print for churches in the New Testament, and to try to form New Testament churches is only to create another system which may be as legal, sectarian and dead as others. Churches, like the Church, are organisms which spring out of Life, which Life itself springs out of the Cross of Christ wrought into the very being of believers.
This brings us to our particular point. What is the pressing imperative in view of this oncoming flood of testing, which has already carried away very many of those who were called Christian, and even evangelical Christians? Surely there is only one answer:- On the one hand, a ministry which has as its substance and object the "rooting and grounding," the establishing, the building up of believers, and the real increase of "the measure of Christ." This must get behind evangelism, so that the work is deep, not superficial; enduring, not transient; intrinsic, not general! On the other hand, believers must really take stock of their Christianity. Is it just a tradition, an assumption, an external system, the thing which is common acceptance more or less? Or is it really "by revelation of Jesus Christ" in the heart? A real walk with God, and a growing knowledge of Christ, a life in the Spirit? God has said it: the things which can be shaken will be. What have we got that, being unshakable, will remain?
Morning Daily Light by Samuel Bagster
He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.
Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? § Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; nor are there any works like Your works. § Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. § Hallowed be Your name.
Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people. § Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah, this One who is glorious in His apparel, traveling in the greatness of His strength?—“I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” § I have given help to one who is mighty; I have exalted one chosen from the people.
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us … be glory.
Luke 1:49; Ex. 15:11; Ps. 86:8; Rev. 15:4; Matt. 6:9; Luke 1:68; Isa. 63:1; Ps. 89:19; Eph. 3:20,21
Evening Daily Light by Samuel Bagster
The Dew of Hermon.
Mount Sion (that is, Hermon). § There the Lord commanded the blessing—life forevermore.
I will be like the dew to Israel; He shall grow like the lily, and lengthen his roots like Lebanon.
Let my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew, as rain- drops on the tender herb, and as showers on the grass. § As the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
God does not give the Spirit by measure. § And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. § It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard … of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments.
Ps. 133:3; Deut. 4:48; Ps. 133:3; Hos. 14:5; Deut. 32:2; Isa. 55:10,11; John 3:34; John 1:16; Ps. 133:2
None but the Hungry Heart by Miles Stanford
Loved, To Love
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Eph. 1:3).
His love is mine when I know what He did for me; my love is His when I know who He is to me - He who is Love, is my Life. He loved, and died; that I might live, and love. "I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine" (S.S. 6:3).
"My Father, in His grace, has come in and ended my history in the flesh, by the Cross, and now by the Spirit I am brought into association with His Son at His own right hand in heaven.
"The Lord Jesus wins my heart in His humiliation; He satisfies it in His glory. A won heart is not necessarily a satisfied heart. But if a heart is truly won by the Lord Jesus it never will be satisfied without Him. No heart that is won is ever satisfied but in the company of the One who won it. Absence does not make the heart grow fonder'! You only discover in absence what you have gained in presence."
"We talk of difficulties and perplexities. How little the heart is really in concert, in simple concert with the Lord Jesus! He has gone up to the right hand of the Father in greater power than ever, and He is using the elevation that He has gone to, to effect deliverance for me from all things that would break fellowship between Him and me. And He uses His Word to keep me from all that would interfere with that blessed communion."
"Thy Word have I hidden in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee" (Ps. 119:11).
Devotional Studies by Elizabeth Haworth
God Has Spoken - Character and Attributes of God (25)
STUDY - Character and Attributes of GOD
Desire of Man
Have you ever heard the voice of God? Would that be your desire – that God would speak to you.. personally? God has spoken to man – through nature, which speaks of His power. God has spoken to man – through man, which speaks of His wisdom. God has spoken to man through His Word.. opening up His very heart. God has spoken to each one of us, but do any of us really listen?
Priority of Man
How often people will take time and effort to learn some foreign language. How they delight to read writings and manuals that increase their knowledge. Or how avidly they drink in the thrill of a novel or pour over text-books of wisdom. All have a place, all can be enjoyable and none need be sinful.. but in the light of eternity – where should the priorities of the believer lie? God has spoken to each one of us – but do any of us really listen?
Message to Man
God spoke to many of the prophets of old – sometimes in great audible words. Abraham fell on His face as God talked with Him, giving him personal direction. Isaiah and Daniel fell on their faces, as God imparted heavenly wisdom to them. Angels descended from heaven to impart truth to prophets and kings alike, and Holy Scriptures grew into a library of understandings about the great God. The Bible became the medium through which God speaks to us today.
None Sufficed
But none sufficed. None could satisfy the heart of man, hungry to hear from God. None of the words of truth He longed to whisper into man’s heart, could be breathed through communications with his creatures, however beloved they were.
Son of God
The Son Himself had to come, to offer true living contact and communication. The Son Himself came to draw us into loving intercourse with His divine Self. The Son Himself is He that abides in and dwells deep within each of our hearts.
Word of God
God has
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Knowing Jesus Devotional by Elizabeth Haworth
God’s Little Remnant
Firstborn+Created
Adam – God’s firstborn CREATED son of God sinned. And the glory of the Lord departed from Adam. But the seed of the woman was protected through a remnant.
Firstborn+Adopted
Israel – God’s firstborn ADOPTED son of God – sinned. And the glory of the Lord departed from the Temple of His people. But the seed of the Word of God was protected through a remnant .. and God reserved for Himself 7000 who did not bow the knee to Baal.
Firstborn+Created+Adopted
The Church – God’s firstborn, created soon to be adopted sons of God sinned. And the glory of God has already departed from the church. But God continues to work His work through a small insignificant little flock. There is nothing new under the sun.. that which has been is what will be, and that which is done is what will be done. Ecclesiastes 1:9
Little Flock
God has indeed withdrawn His presence from the Church He loves so much, just as He withdrew from the nation He chose to be His inheritance. But He reserves for Himself a few – a remnant that will trust in His love. He keeps for Himself a little flock – a tiny ‘Gideon’s army’ who live by faith. And the increase of the world’s evil is commensurate with God’s withdrawing.. until the fullness of evil is come into the world. THEN will God justly judge.. until the fullness of the gentiles is come in. Then God will rapture His church.
Faithful Builder
But God never forgot His promise to Israel, His adoptive firstborn son: “and so all Israel shall be saved”. And He’ll never forget His promise to the Church – His adopted children: “I will build My church” – but I will build it in My way and not in the way that you think.
Man’s Vanity
Oh!—if I were God I know what I would do…. !!!!!!!!!!!!! But I am not…. and I thank God that I am not God!!!!! I guess you feel the same as me…. If I were God I’d . . . .
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