Month: April 2021

The three expressions to be “… led by the Spirit … ” (Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:18), to “…walk…after the Spirit” (Romans 8:4), and to “…Walk in the Spirit… ” (Galatians 5:16,25) present the same great Christian experience: namely, to be under the rule or government of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit will guide us, teach us, help us, comfort us. When the Christian pilgrim accepts this divine work as part of God’s principle of grace for his life, he will enjoy fellowship with God, will be characterized by serenity of heart, and will be a blessing to many. However, due to the law of indwelling sin, which so easily solicits the submission of the flesh, there are times in the Christian’s experience when, to his detriment and loss, he refuses to be controlled by the Spirit. We all know something of the bitterness of heart that follows those occasions when we have resisted, grieved, or quenched the Holy Spirit.

The purpose of this meditation is to encourage fellow pilgrims to have complete faith in the Spirit’s work, and to submit wholly to His rule over every area of our lives. Are we willing to renounce our own will and desires, even our own wisdom? Are we willing to renounce the world’s present “mores,” the guidance of men, and even- on occasion the mandates or practices of the church? If so, the following benefits deriving from the work of the Holy Spirit will be ours to experience.

1. The Holy Spirit will prevent us from doing that which the self-life prompts (Galatians 5:17). We are thus saved from the sorrow and remorse that result from anger, revenge, jealousy, uncleanness, oppression, slander, and other outbursts of the flesh. He keeps us from yielding to the evil tendencies of our old nature.

2. The Holy Spirit will make us like a fruitful tree yielding such fruit as “…love, joy, peace, longs offering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance …” (Galatians 5:22-23) – fruit that is delightful to God and beneficial to our fellow men.

3. The Holy Spirit will give us both the inclination and the power to crush and mortify the flesh with its passions and forbidden desires (Galatians 5:24; Romans 8:13; Colossians 3:5). In His perfect wisdom, God has so willed it that this process must continue as long as we live. We cannot relax in our vigilance even for a day.

4. The Holy Spirit will bring Christ- in all His loveliness – before the eyes of our hearts (John 15:26), thus giving us a delight that cannot be excelled.

5. The Holy Spirit who has produced a final revelation and has completed inspiration will daily increase our knowledge of truth by illumination. According to our present need and problem, the Spirit’s teaching will provide adequate light (1 John 2 :27).

6. The Holy Spirit will create in us a growing love for God and for His Word, His will, His Son, and His people. By the Spirit’s strengthening this love will be manifested through continual obedience to God’s commandments, increasing conformity to the image of Christ, and willing service to others.

As we continue along the pilgrim way, let us remember that it is not ourselves who live, but Christ: that is, His indwelling Spirit who is the controlling and living principle of the inward and outward life of every believer.

Are not our thoughts upon Heaven more than ever before with all that our world is facing at this time? We are looking forward to that time when we will be taken Home to be with Jesus, but while here on earth we cannot know anything about Heaven apart from the Word of God. Here are some things revealed in God’s Word about Heaven.

These few paragraphs by no means exhaust the subject, but may be instructive and helpful to God’s people.

God is in Heaven. “Is not God in the height of heaven? …” (Job 22: 12), exclaimed Eliphaz.

God’s throne is in Heaven.“The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’s throne is in heaven …” (Psalm 11:4).

The Lord Jesus Christ is in Heaven. “…this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). “Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God …” (1 Peter 3:22).

Angels are in Heaven.“…angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him” (1 Peter 3:22). Of the angels, our Lord declared, “… for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 18:10).

Redeemed men and women are in Heaven. “… ye are come … to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect” (Hebrews 12:22-23).

The names of the Lord’s followers are in Heaven. “… rejoice, because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20).

Treasures are in Heaven “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven …” (Matthew 6:20). ” … knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance” (Hebrews 10:34). God ” … hath begotten us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ … To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4).

Perfect knowledge is in Heaven. “… behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard … said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter” (Revelation 4:1). Paul “… was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter” (2 Corinthians 12:4). “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known” (1 Corinthians 13:12).

Holiness is in Heaven.“And there shall be no more curse …” (Revelation 22:3). “For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God” (Ephesians 5:5). “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness” (1 Thessalonians 4:7).

Eternal glory is in Heaven. “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 4:17-5:1).

So, then, we “… wait for His Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10).

When we consider the fact that man was created in God’s image and given dominion over the earth (Genesis 1 :26-27), and soul winning is putting a person into a position where the lost image of God can be restored and dominion regained, how important is soul winning?

When we consider the fact that an unsaved person is open to demon possession, and a saved person is indwelt by God Himself, in the person of the blessed Holy Spirit, how important is soul winning (1 Corinthians 3:16)?

When we consider that the Bible, which is earth’s operational manual, is a closed book to the unsaved but taught to the believer by the indwelling Spirit (1 John 2:27), how important is soul winning? When we consider that prayer is only effective as a new-born child of God prays in the name of Jesus (John 16:23), how important is soul winning?

When we consider that the only thing that keeps the world from becoming so rotten that it is discarded by God is Christians who are the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13), how important is soul winning? When we consider that the only thing keeping earth from giving in to total moral and spiritual darkness is saved people who are

the light of the world (Matthew 5:14), how important is soul winning? When we consider how sin destroys lives and how only the indwelling Lord can give one power to conquer sin (1 John 4:4), how important is soul winning?

When we consider how badly children need Christian parents (Deuteronomy 6:7), how important is soul winning?

When we consider how many young lives are being destroyed and how only a Christian young person can hope to avoid such destruction (1 John 2:13), how important is soul winning?

When we consider how miserable most people are and how joyous the Christian life can be, how important is soul winning?

When we consider that unsaved people are destined to spend eternity separated from God in Hell (Psalm 9:17), how important is soul winning?

When we consider that only saved people can hope to enjoy the bliss of Heaven (John 5:24), how important is soul winning?

Is soul winning more important than visiting family or friends? Is it more important than a sports event? Is it more important than that vacation you planned for so long? Is it more important than being thought of as a “good guy” or a “great gal”? Is it more important than money, comfort, popularity, or even life itself? The questions all answer themselves.

The real new morality is the old-fashioned Biblical morality! It is real, sound, sensible, straight-laced morality. It is not a morality that is moral merely for fear of disease or for fear of pregnancy. It is not a morality that is moral merely for fear of the wrath of the parent, of society, or even of God. It is not a morality that is moral because everyone else is or was moral.

The real new morality is a morality that still sees engraven above the clattering confusion of today’s carnality the eternal Word of an eternal, all-wise, and loving God, Who has said, ” … thou shalt not … ” It is a morality which obeys this clear edict, knowing that what He has forbidden, He has wisely forbidden, and ” … blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it” (Luke 11 :28). The real new morality perceives that God did not say, “Thou shalt not commit adultery for fear of disease or pregnancy or of getting caught,” but for fear of self destruction, of soul destruction, or fear of loss of personal value and worth. “For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption … ” (Galatians 6:8), a corruption of spirit, of mind, of soul, of life itself. This same God has said, ” … Thou shalt do no murder … Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness” (Matthew 19:18). And though one may for a time not be caught while being a liar or a thief, these acts carry within themselves the poisons of inner destruction, and one is “caught” in a self-destroying way of life long before the heavy hand of a policeman rests upon him.

The real new morality is the morality of the youth who believes that his body was meant for something better than the barnyards of life; that man does not live by lust alone: of the youth who dreams of marriage, of a home, and of a family life built upon a solid and lasting foundation. It is not the fear of getting caught that keeps him moral, but a knowing that should he descend to such animalism his own stained conscience and memory would spoil every beautiful dream-picture that he holds in his heart. This youth also dares to believe that somewhere in this confused world there is a person of the opposite sex who is keeping herself; who has the same dreams, the same ideals, and that someday they two will meet, and that when they meet it will mean all the world to be clean, unsullied, undamaged, to enter what is still life’s noblest and most exciting adventure -marriage.

The real new morality is really not new. But in today’s world, against the black backdrop of today’s moral cannibalism, it is seen with a new beauty and with a new appreciation of its worth. The rewards of today’s real new morality never seemed more glamorous, lasting, and outrageously superior to those of the world’s used-car, trade-in moral policies than when contrasted with one’s neighbour’s ugly quarrels, embarrassing divorce wranglings, cheatings, alimonies, nomad children, and tumble weed existence. It leads one to cry out, “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name” (Psalm 103: 1) for the morality and sanctity with which thou hast surrounded my life and my marriage!”

” … Keep thysel fpure” (1 Timothy 5:22).

• Intro:
  • Text: 1 Corinthians 15:3-8
  • This Sunday is regarded by many as Easter Sunday, but “Easter” is the name of a female pagan goddess.
  • In actuality, for us, this is not Easter Sunday but rather Resurrection Sunday, the day on which the Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead following his crucifixion. 
  • So, today I am going to preach on some Biblical aspects of the resurrection that are helpful for all of us.
• The prophecy of his resurrection – 1 Cor 15:3-4
  • – his resurrection was “according to the scriptures”
  • – Peter knew where the principle verses were in Ps 16:10-11 which say, “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.  Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” 
  • On many occasions the Lord prophesied of his resurrection.  He said to the Pharisees, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up,” [Jn 2:19]. 
  • In another place he told them, “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth,” [Matt 12:40]. 
  • He told his disciples, “… that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be raised again the third day,” [Matt 16:21].
• The proof of his resurrection – Acts 1:3 says that,
  • “he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days”
  • – 1 Cor 15:5-8 identifies the different people that saw the Lord risen from the dead: Cephas, the twelve, above 500 brethren at one time, James, all the apostles, and Paul
  • – in Rev 1:12-18 John saw him in heaven
  • – Thomas wouldn’t believe until he saw him face to face and had the opportunity to touch the wounds
  • – when he saw him he worshipped him and said, “My Lord and my God,” Jn 20:28 – not the least of all of these proofs is the empty tomb.
• The purpose of his resurrection 
• – there are several very important reasons why Jesus had to rise from the dead
  • – first, for Israel, their hope is in the resurrection of the saints of their nation [Acts 23:6]
    • – according to Ezek 37, the saints who are laid in their graves will rise and inhabit the land of Israel forever
  • –    David is mentioned by name as one who will rise and lead the nation [Ezek 37:24-25]
  • – second, the gospel is incomplete without his resurrection
    • – in his death and burial our sins are paid for and the body of sins is destroyed [Rom 6:6]
    • – but in his resurrection is where we get to walk in the newness of life [Rom 6:4]
    • we are alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord [Rom 6:11]
  • – third, because of his resurrection his body in now in heaven seated at the right hand of God
    • – when we are baptized by the Holy Spirit into his body we are already seated in heavenly places in him [1 Cor 12:13; Eph 5:30, 2:6]
    • – his resurrection gives us proof and assurance that the life he offers us is, in fact, eternal.
• The power of his resurrection – in Phil 3:10 Paul said,
  • “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.” 
  • In Gal 2:20 Paul said, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me…” 
  • In 1 Cor 15:31 Paul said, “I die daily.” 
  • What all this means simply is that when you receive Jesus as your Saviour you don’t have to try to start living like you’re a Christian. 
  • You simply die to yourself and let Christ live his life through you.
  • You are crucified with Christ to be made conformable unto his death so that the power of God that raised him from the dead will work in you to change who you are and thereby change what you do.
• Take a thief, for example. 
  • He didn’t become a thief the first time that he stole something. 
  • He was already a thief at heart or he would have never stolen anything. 
  • Once he steals, he reveals that he is a thief. 
  • Now this thief gets saved; he’s still a thief. 
  • He comes to Christ and he says, “I am a no good, sorry, guilty thief and I need to change.” 
  • He repents of being a thief but, because he is a thief at heart, simply refusing to steal doesn’t change him. 
  • Under the wrong circumstances he will steal again. 
  •  So, in Christ he dies to being a thief and is risen to walk as an honest man. 
  • Christ living inside of him gives him the power to quit being a thief and, therefore, he quits stealing. 
  •  If the old fellow decides to come down off of that cross where he is crucified with Christ and start living his old life again, you can be sure that he’ll start stealing again one of these days. 
  • Why? 
  • He’s back to being a thief. 
  • You see, it is the resurrection power of Christ that changes us into God’s creatures. 
  • Without the resurrection, we would just be another brand of religion.
• The promise of his resurrection 
  • – the promise of his resurrection is simply this: as his body literally rose from the dead so our bodies will literally rise from the dead. 
  • We are buried in corruption and we will be raised in incorruption. 
  • We live in mortality but we will be changed into immortality [1 Cor 15:50-55]. 
  • Jesus Christ, because of his resurrection, is going to “change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself,” [Phil 3:21]. 
  • Folks, those of us who are saved are going to rise one day with a brand new, glorified body which will never sin, never suffer pain, never die and never sorrow again. 
  • Glory to God.
• Conclusion:
  • You have no need to doubt whether the bodily resurrection of Jesus is real: it was prophesied, it was proven and its purposes are being fulfilled. 
  • If you want the power of Christ to work in you to save you, to change who you are, to give you eternal life and to change what your body will be like in eternity, then you need to trust Jesus Christ today. 
  •  And if you are already saved and struggling with the same sin over and over with no change and no victory, you need to admit what you are, die to yourself on the cross with Christ and yield to the power of his resurrection within you. 
  • And remember to be comforted by this fact, Jesus is coming soon to give you a brand new body that will live forever with him in eternity!!