Pressing On

To advance the Lord’s work in the new year, we must be found “pressing on.” Pressing on requires actions of the mind: (1) “forgetting those things which are behind” and (2) “reaching forth unto those things which are before.” (Philippians 3:13)

One’s own state of mind dictates. If a person is for something in their mind, they will be for it in their efforts. If down on something, even the good that is done will be under discredit.

Such was the declaration of our Lord in Matthew 12:30: “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.” According to Christ’s wisdom, until one is positive minded about their church, they will not promote it, but rather drag it down.

Being positive minded towards the church must prevail throughout the entire church to comply with the Divine requirements, “that there be no schisms in the body” (1 Corinthians 12:25) and “that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10)

One’s state of mind is the product of what is in the thinking of that mind. So to begin with, one must necessarily identify what the issues are that are responsible for that state of mind. It would be helpful to make a list, so as to be able to resolve the issues, one by one.

Should a person be upset with their church’s teachings, it would be good to identify which position, the church’s or the individual’s, is the closest to the Bible standard of “all scripture being the basis for doctrine, for reproof, for correction” (2 Timothy 3:16)

Should a person be offended at what someone has done, have you done what the Lord told you to do – go to them, in order to gain thy brother? (Matthew 18:15)

If you hold ill will in your heart towards others, have you obeyed God’s Word in doing good towards them, so as to “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good”? (Romans 12:20)

If you hold a “fault” against someone, have you gone the course of forgiving your brother their trespasses so your heavenly Father can forgive you and make you whole of your own shortcomings? (Matthew 18:35)

If it is just the “whole ball of wax” that you are dissatisfied with, have you tried the “Lord’s ball of wax?” – “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” (Philippians 4:8-9)

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Galatians 2:17-21

The argument of verses 17 & 18 is: Man is guilty and needs a spotless righteousness. This righteousness can be obtained, not through law keeping, but through Christ believing. Those who profess faith in Christ, but preach works as the conditional factor for salvation, re-erects the legal structure he supposedly has cast down and so proves himself to be a transgressor in having thrown it down. But he claims Christ told him to do this, which would make Christ the minister of sin! “God forbid,” exclaims the scripture. The law sets forth that which is perfect; man is hopelessly imperfect, hence it is useless for man to seek righteousness by the Law. Christ, who is the righteousness envisaged by the Law, becomes such unto and upon all who believe on Him; and thus He glorifies the righteousness required by the Law and redeems the sinner.

Man delights to return to those things which gratify the flesh. He eagerly accepts whatever appeals to him. Hence the popularity of “sacraments.” But to rest upon them is to rest upon the flesh. But since Christ is everything for the fulfillment of the believer’s righteousness, there is neither room nor necessity for “sacraments” to aid in one being reckoned righteous before God. To be relying upon “sacraments” is to be looking elsewhere but unto the Person and the perfections of the Great High Priest to mediate one’s acceptance with God.

But man likes to have some credit and some position. He likes that which he can see and handle. He refuses to be treated as depraved and incapable of being good in God’s sight, and is angered that he and his religious efforts should all be rejected as filthy rags. To accept the absolute judgment of death upon his nature, his religious energies, and his moral virtues, and to be commanded to be silent, and, as a spiritually dead sinner, to trust the life-giving Saviour and to find in Him all that is needful for righteousness and worship, is distasteful and repelling.

But this is the doctrine of the only salvation capable of saving fallen man. In Christ, Saul died to sin, and a new man, Paul, was born; and the life that quickened him was vitalized and sustained “by the faith of the Son of God,” in contra-distinction with the supposed religious life energized by the principle of salvation by works. If righteousness came upon the principle of one’s works, then Christ’s death was needless and impotent in the work of salvation. Thus it is easy to see how the grace of God is being frustrated and made of non-effect in the thinking of those who are taught to embrace a salvation conditional on works.

Thus, not all who claim to be preaching the gospel of Christ, really are; many are preaching another gospel, “Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.” Galatians 1:7

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What Does Dad Want For Christmas?

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” 3 John 4

You have heard the saying, “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” Well, since his wife (mom) usually keeps his stomach full, there is little passage left through this means, HA!

Parenting greatly (for the better) enlarges a person’s interests. Before you have the blessed addition of children (“Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward” Psalm 127:3) a person’s interests center around what they want for themselves, about being a winner themselves. But as children come along and blossom, one’s interests take on a new level, the desire to see the children prosper and be the winners.

Parental love, as God designed it, is one of the purest affections one can have as a human being. It is dedicated to helping the child succeed and do right, rather than repeat any failures or mistakes made by the parents. It is determination to do what is right and best for the child, rather than just do what pleases them at the moment.

Parents who know the Lord, who trust in and hope in the Lord, know that life is made or broken by what one does with God’s Word: “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.” Psalm 127:1 Thus, no matter what one’s circumstances may be, a parent knows that all will be well with their children who are walking in the journey of faith, because the Lord is their Shepherd, and they shall not want.

On the other hand, no matter how successful the child appears to be, any deviation from walking in the truth becomes cause for great concern on the part of the parent, as this indicates things are not what they should be and need to be between God and their child.

It is one’s actual steps, i.e., their walk, not their profession, that is the real indicator of one’s responsiveness to God as their Lord. Thus, excuses, taking exceptions to God’s will and way, yea, and even slackness on the part of children, smites the hearts of their parents, who fear for any and all failures on the part of their children to walk by faith.

The greatest and most heart warming gift a child can give their parents, is to walk in the light of the Lord!

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Christ’s Second Coming – As A Thief In The Night

“And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.” Malachi 3:17 God’s people are referred to as His jewels. God’s peculiar treasure will be taken out of this world, no longer belonging to this world.

“But know this, that if the Goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.” Matthew 24:43 People know a thief could come, but they are just not preparing for it to happen now. Thus, many are going to suffer great eternal losses, not being prepared when Christ does come.

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:52 In the twinkling of an eye it will all be over, unseen by the world. With this taking of God’s treasure home to be with Him, the only knowledge the world will have of the event is in what they see that is missing.

“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 We live in the age of grace. Satan and anti-christ are being prevented from prevailing over all. But with the rapture, the restraints are taken away, resulting in the ravages of the great tribulation overrunning all the world. The world will not realize what Christianity has afforded them, until it is taken away. “For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matthew 24:38-39

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Christ’s coming will result in the restraints being lifted and anti-christ will assume power over the earth. When this occurs, Christ and Christians will be outlawed – “as a thief.”

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Standing Alone

It is human to stand with the crowd; it is divine to stand alone. It is man-like to follow the people, to drift with the tide; it is God-like to follow a principle, to stem the tide. It is natural to compromise conscience and follow the social and religious fashion for the sake of gain or pleasure; it is divine to sacrifice both on the altar of truth and duty.

“No man stood with me, but all men forsook me,” (2 Timothy 4:16)wrote the battle-scarred apostle, in describing the events that took place, as Paul stood up to the attacks of powerful Alexander the coppersmith, who welded the support of the Roman world. God’s absolute, revealed Truth has been out of fashion since man changed his robe of fadeless light for a garment of faded leaves.

Noah built and voyaged alone. His neighbors laughed at his strangeness and perished in style. Abraham wandered and worshipped alone. Sodomites smiled at the simple shepherd, followed the world’s fashion, and fed the flames.

Daniel dined and prayed alone. Elijah sacrificed and witnessed alone. Jeremiah prophesied and wept alone. Jesus loved and died alone.

And of the lonely way His disciples should walk, Jesus said, “Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:14 Of their treatment by the many who walk in the broad way, He said, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world….Therefore the world hateth you.” John 15:19

The redeemed children of Israel in the wilderness praised Abraham and persecuted Moses. The people of God in the days of the kings praised Moses and persecuted the prophets. The court of Caiphas, the high priest, praised the prophets and persecuted Jesus. The church of the popes praised the Saviour and persecuted the saints.

And multitudes now, both in the church and the world, applaud the courage and fortitude of the patriarchs and prophets, the apostles and martyrs, but condemn as stubbornness or foolishness the same faithfulness in standing for truth today.

WANTED! Men and women, young and old, who will obey all scripture at the cost of fortune and friends and life itself. “Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach.” Hebrews 13:12-13

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