Verse of the day — Ephesians 1:18
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
Ephesians 1:18(NASB)
Open Windows by T. Austin-Sparks
Christ The Power of God
Adam one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. (Romans 5:18 NLT)
The whole subject of spiritual power is most important. So many Christians find themselves involved in a continual struggle to live up to what they know to be God's standard. For them Christianity is a manner of life composed of various rules and regulations. They know what ought to be and what ought not to be, and they therefore struggle to attain to this level of living. Their consciences play a large part in this constant effort, and for this reason they suffer many fears and fail to experience the promised joys. Life for them has become a strenuous business, fraught with much disappointment and many failures. They may from time to time have a sense of attainment and success, with much resultant gladness, but with the fluctuating emotions of the soul, things seem to collapse and go all wrong. So it is that people find the Christian life burdensome; they long to know real victory, true deliverance and the joy of the Lord, whereas they experience the ups and downs of a constant struggle. The Christian life depicted in the New Testament seems so different from their actual experience that the devil is never slow to pounce in with his suggestions that a life of constant victory is quite impossible, so that all their hopes are but unreal dreams. Satan wants God's people to despair of knowing His power.
But there is an altogether different life, different because it is based on the entering into something already completed in Christ; not something to be attained to but rather that which has already been accomplished. It is not a standard to be lived up to, but a Person to be lived with. It is impossible to measure the vast difference between these two kinds of life. The former is one of self effort and defeat, while the other consists in enjoying the reality of Christ the power of God.
Morning Daily Light by Samuel Bagster
Endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
I have given him as a witness to the people, a leader and commander for the people. § It was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. § We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.
We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God. § We do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.
May the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
2 Tim. 2:3; Isa. 55:4; Heb. 2:10; Acts 14:22; Eph. 6:12,13; 2 Cor. 10:3,4; 1 Peter 5:10
Evening Daily Light by Samuel Bagster
Keep the unity of the Spirit.
There is one body and one Spirit. § Through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments.
Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart.
Eph. 4:3; Eph. 4:4; Eph. 2:18;19; Eph. 2:22; Ps. 133:1,2; 1 Peter 1:22
None but the Hungry Heart by Miles Stanford
All Glory To God
Whether, therefore, ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God " (1 Cor. 10:31).
The present and eternal ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Son; the past, present, and future ministry of the Son is to glorify the Father. Our life and ministry will bring glory to our Father to the extent that we abide in the Son, and are controlled by the Holy Spirit.
"When one's ministry or outreach flows from close communion with the Father, one's influence and moral authority will be recognized. Moreover, such a workman is not carried beyond what he has received from the Lord, so that his ministry finds sanction in hearts without any pressure." -J.N.D.
"The object of all Christian life and ministry, of whatever kind, must surely be to bring glory to God. Any lesser motive is inferior. If this were kept in the forefront of our thinking and praying, it would have two beneficial results. The hectic strain would be taken out of our lives and service, and spontaneous fruitfulness would follow.
"We can aim to meet the needs of people as a primary objective, and fret because so many of our efforts prove abortive. We may secretly pride ourselves on our ability to minister, or on our efficient service, and reap nothing but frustration. It is only when our whole outlook is made radiant by His glory, because we are hungry to do His will and that only, that our activities will be quickened into new life, and others be truly blessed." -J.C.M.
"He [Abraham]. . . was strong in faith, giving glory to God" (Rom. 4:20).
Devotional Studies by Elizabeth Haworth
Fellowship and Unity - Study in Prayer (5)
STUDY in PRAYER
If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
1 John 1:7
Plan of Redemption
Every member of the human race is a sinner – so all are under God’s condemnation, but God’s plan of redemption was so designed that sin could be eternally forgiven – the Lord Jesus willingly took the punishment to forgive the sin of the whole world.
Free Gift of Grace
God’s wrath and condemnation for the sin of the world was poured out on Christ. All that man has to do to receive this free gift of grace is to believe on Jesus Christ – simply believing puts us in union with Christ and places us into the family of God. Neither sinner nor saint are condemned for their sin, for all sin has been forgiven. Neither saint nor sinner will be judged for their sin for God's judgement fell on Christ. We are all judged for our works.
God’s Judgement
Jesus bore the sins of the world for sinner and saint alike. The price for all sin was paid at the cross. Those who believe are not condemned but those who do not believe remain under God’s condemnation. God’s judgement for all sin fell on Christ, but believer and unbeliever alike will be ‘judged’ on what they thought of Christ. Whoever believes in Jesus Christ is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. John 3:17-18
Blood of Christ
So if our sin is already forgiven – what does it mean when John tells us that: the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin? Well – this is not a verse that is telling the unbeliever how to be saved – This verse is telling the child of God how to remain in fellowship with the Father.
Permanent Union
The union we have with Christ when we first believed
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Knowing Jesus Devotional by Elizabeth Haworth
Thy Will Be Done
Born of God
Each member of the body of Christ has made a commitment to Him, a commitment to be a faithful follower right to the end of our earthly life. Our life’s end could be the door of death, The finish line of our terrestrial trail could be at the call of the last trump.. but none of us know the date and time that the end of our life will be, but from the moment of believing faith, we were accepted by God, through Jesus. From the first act of faith we were born again and accepted in the Beloved. From the instant we believed we were born of God – through Christ, and so we entered a covenant relationship with our Saviour.
Servant of God
As God’s children, servants and bond-slaves we should commit to loyalty of service. This service should be without reserve, without restraints, and without regret. To each servant the Lord has given gifts, talents, abilities, jobs, for it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants, and He entrusted to them his property. Matt.25:14
Gifts and Talents
Some gifts are to be exercised in a public ministry or communal service. Most talents are fitted to the individual for a hidden life of secret service. All spiritual gifts, however, have been given with infinite care by the Spirit of God. All talents have been carefully chosen by Him to match each servant’s personal potential. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Matt.25:14. How important that the gifts and talents bestowed to each of His servants are used – used to the glory of God and not used for the promotion of Self.
All in All
When John the Baptiser ‘saw’ the Lamb of God he immediately cried: He must increase and I must decrease. John 3:30. John knew that He is everything and we are nothing, (except those who are in the Beloved). When Paul was suddenly engulfed by the great light on the
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