A Re-Post

Anne Ross Cousin, inspired by Samuel Rutherford's letters, wrote a poem which later was compiled into this great hymn. While there are many great hymns that I love and warmly embrace, I believe this hymn may top them all. It seems, that no hymn warms my heart like this one. Through the years it has been sung sparingly, I must admit it's sound is a bit melancholy, but do not allow that to keep you from enjoying it. Its words and message are one of the sweetest I've ever read or sung. For the truth and sweetness of it, it is one of my favorites. I hope you will enjoy it.



The Sands of Time are Sinking

The Sands of Time are Sinking

The sands of time are sinking, The dawn of heaven breaks;
The summer morn I've sighed for- The fair sweet morn awakes;
Dark, dark hath been the midnight, But day-spring is at hand,
And glory, glory dwelleth In Immanuel's land.

O Christ, He is the fountain, The deep, sweet well of love!
The streams on earth I've tasted More deep I'll drink above;
There to an ocean fulness His mercy doth expand,
And glory, glory dwelleth In Immanuel's land.

O I am my Beloved's, And my Beloved's mine!
He brings a poor vile sinner into His "house of wine".
I stand upon His merit- I know no other stand,
Not e'en where glory dwelleth In Immanuel's land.

The Bride eyes not her garment But her dear bridegrooms face;
I will not gaze at glory But on my King of grace.
Not at the crown He giveth But on His pierced hand:
The Lamb is all the glory of Immanuel's land.

By the grace of God--I am what I am!

By the grace of God--I am what I am!

In his old age, when he could no longer see to read, John Newton heard someone recite this verse, "But by the grace of God I am what I am." 1 Corinthians 15:10. He remained silent a short time, and then said:

I am not what I ought to be. Ah! how imperfect and deficient.

I am not what I might be, considering my privileges and opportunities.

I am not what I wish to be. God, who knows my heart--knows I wish to be like Him.

I am not what I hope to be. Before long, I will drop this clay tabernacle, to be like Him and see Him as He is!

Yet, I am not what I once was--a child of sin, and slave of the devil!

Though not all these--not what I ought to be, not what I might be, not what I wish or hope to be, and not what I once was--I think I can truly say with the apostle, "By the grace of God--I am what I am!"

But How Shall I Know That I Am Born Again? part 6 of 8

How Shall I Know That I Am Born Again?

By John Bunyan

Examination 6

Are you born again? Then you know that God has given you your faith that you have in His Son.
Then you are to say through grace, there was a time in which I had no faith; there was a time in which I could not believe in the Son of God for eternal life. But God, who in His rich mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins (and unbelief; which is the greatest) hath quickened us together with Christ, by grace ye are saved (Eph 2:4-5) "through faith" (verse 8).

Scripture Support

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,  even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;). Eph 2:4-5

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Eph 2:8

Our Faith

From the pen of Bro. Mike McInnis, pastor of Grace Chapel in O'Brien, FL

 

OUR FAITH

    For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.                                                                                                     I John 5:4

   The prevailing notion of what faith is in the present day is that of a means whereby men can influence GOD to grant unto them special blessings and favors.   Faith is viewed as a sort of “holy” bargaining chip, which, men can use to change GOD’s mind and alter the course of destiny, even to the point of causing HIM to rework HIS purpose in order to satisfy their requests if necessary.  They are not only ignorant of what faith is but have no understanding of the immutability (unchangeableness) of GOD either.  (see Mal.3:6, Isa.46:10)

   Those who contend that faith is the gift of GOD and not of works lest any man should boast are in the decided minority.   Yet many of those who would claim to believe that faith is a gift still present its value as being what they perceive to be its purchasing power from the storehouse of GOD. Few seem to see that it is simply a gift which is the evidence of GOD’s sovereign grace visited upon unworthy sinners apart from any cooperation from them..

    The writer of Hebrews gives us a worthy definition of faith when he says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Heb 11:1)   Faith is that substance (a real entity, i.e.; something transferred) which is (itself) the very evidence (i.e. incontrovertible proof) that those things promised to the saints of GOD in CHRIST are sure and steadfast because HE who cannot lie has established them.

   The common treatment of faith in the present day, by the great scholars, prophets, and preachers of our time, is subjective in nature, (i.e.; primarily concerned with the result of faith’s activity).  Yet the scriptures set forth faith as primarily concerned with its OBJECT, which is JESUS CHRIST.   HE is the faith of HIS elect, and apart from HIM, faith has no basis nor can true faith be exercised on any other foundation.   All that the sons of GOD expect or hope for is found in CHRIST alone as Paul said, “CHRIST is ALL” (Col.3:11)

    So when the Apostle John speaks of “our faith” the modern seers consider him to be speaking of a function which they can implement according to their free will to obtain peace as they exercise it, and to forfeit that peace when they fail to do so.   The man who is acquainted with his own depravity and inabilities, lamenting with Paul, “who shall deliver me from the body of this death” is driven deeper into despair at the thought of trying to gain peace by some activity which is dependent on himself.   What John is saying is absolutely objective in its nature because those who have been given the privilege to flee to CHRIST for refuge are only comforted by and recognize all of their “victories” as being signed sealed and delivered in the finished work of CHRIST.  “For he is our peace.”  (Eph 2:14)

   Paul emphatically says that “there is “one faith” (Eph.4:5).   Yet, while there is only one FAITH, there are several aspects of this “FAITH” which are spoken of in the scriptures.  All aspects of this FAITH squarely rest in its OBJECT, which is CHRIST.

   The gift of FAITH.   “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph 2:8-9)  If a man does not see this basic truth, then all else he might speak of concerning the faith of men, will of necessity be perverted and all applications he may make of faith are going to be distorted.   It’s by this gift, that GOD is pleased to manifest those who are HIS elect children in contrast to those who are merely of this world.  Even as our LORD testified, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18)  Why do some believe while others do not? The answer is found in Paul’s declaration, “For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” (1Cor 4:7)  “all men have not faith.” (2Thess 3:2)

   The gospel is our faith.  The gospel is the foundation upon which the gift of faith squarely rests.  It is analogous to the role of the constitution in our Federal government.  Jude says, “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude 1:3)  The reason that we are to “contend for the faith” is set forth in the verses which follow, “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Jude 1:4)

   As long as there are true believers there will always be counterfeit believers who while claiming to be followers of CHRIST distort the gospel and wrest it to their own destruction and carry many with them in their deception.   Those who are the called of GOD must earnestly and fervently be set “for the defense of the gospel” (Phil 1:17) against the gainsayers.  This gospel is “the faith” which we declare from which many have departed having loved this present world, who are “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2Tim 3:7) because “they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” (2Thess 2:10) even though they professed that they believed it.

   Operation of faith.  When GOD is pleased to do something HE always brings forth the result HE intends to produce.  Paul says; “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Eph 2:10)  That man who claims to have faith yet manifests no fruit of faith is deceived.   James clearly says, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” (James 2:17)  Where the SPIRIT of GOD dwells, HE will produce a conformity to CHRIST.  This is not a conformity which is always apparent unto those to whom it is given. They are often found mourning the very lack of that which they perceive in themselves to be a paucity of the example of CHRIST.  But it is in their weakness that CHRIST is magnified as they confess that apart from HIS performance of righteousness in their behalf they would be without hope.

   Exhortations to faith.  Luke records the activity of the apostles as “Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” (Act 14:22)  “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2Tim 3:12) Therefore we ought to  “consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.” (Heb 10:24)  It is through these exhortations and admonitions that the SPIRIT of GOD is often pleased to work “in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Phi 2:13)  These exhortations are like manna to a thirsty soul for those who believe, even though they find no ability in themselves to perform that which they are exhorted to, they rejoice ever in their PERFORMER who they know is faithful.  “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” (1Thes 5:24)

    The principle of faith.  “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.” (Gal 3:11-12)  Our hope and expectation rests completely on JESUS CHRIST and HIS righteousness which is the only basis of our faith upon which we shall hope to inherit eternal life.   “For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.” (Gal 5:5)       www.gracechapelobrien.net

 

           http://wayfarerblog.blogspot.com/

 

     mam

The Word

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God..... And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:1-2, 14


And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself. And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He hath on his vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Rev. 19:-11-16

Why are you still standing?

This is an excerpt from a message preached by Augustus Toplady in May 1774. While we know him today for his hymn Rock of Ages there is so much more to the man who died at the age of 38 years old. He wrote many, many hymns, served as a pastor, and was a very able writer of the truths of grace. He did, by the grace of God "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints".



This excerpt comes from a message titled, Men Not Their Own Saviors, on this occasion he was speaking from Psalm 115:1 which reads,

"Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy, and for Thy truth's sake".

We will break into the middle of his sixth point where he asked the question; Whom are we to thank for perseverance in holiness and good works, to the end?



Let me address myself to the true believer in Christ. You were called, it may be ten or twenty years ago, or longer, to the knowledge of God; and you still are found dwelling under the droppings of the sanctuary, and walking in Him you have received; following on, to know more of the Lord; sometimes faint, yet always wishing to pursue; tossed, but not lost; occasionally cast down, but not destroyed. How comes all this? How is that many flaming professors, who blazed out for a while, like luminaries of the first lustre, are quenched, extinguished, vanished; while your smoking flax(Isa. 42:3 & Mat. 12:20), and feeble spark of grace, continue to survive, and sometimes afford both light and heat? While more than a few, who perhaps once seemed to be rooted as rocks, and stable as pillars in the house of God, are become as water that runneth apace; why are you standing, though in yourself as weak, if not weaker, than they? A child of God can soon answer it thus: Having obtained help of God, I continue to this day(Acts 26:22). Not by my own might and power, but by the Spirit of the Lord of Hosts (Zec 4:6).

Jesus Cast A Look at Me

Jesus Cast a Look on Me
by John Berridge

"And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly." Luke 22:61-62

Other supporting scripture: Mat 5:3, 2 Cor. 11:3, John 17:3, 2 Cor. 10:6, Mat. 18:3-4, Mat. 11:28, Col. 1:20

It may be sung to the tune Rock of Ages.

Jesus cast a look at me,
Give me sweet simplicity
Make me poor and keep me low
Seeking only Thee to know

All that feeds my busy pride
Cast it evermore aside
Bid my will to Thine submit,
Lay me humbly at thy feet

Make me like a little child,
Of my strength and wisdom spoiled
Seeing only in Thy light,
Walking only in Thy might

Leaning on Thy loving breast,
Where a weary soul can rest
Feeling well the peace of God,
Flowing from His precious blood

In this posture let me live,
And hosannas daily give
In this temper let me die,
And hosannas ever cry!

Questions and answers from Psalm 24

Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He ........ who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity.

If I may paraphrase here; Who may approach the holy presence of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy presence? He who has not set his heart on things of the earth. He who has not given his soul (the real you) to the vain, empty, worthless things of this world.

The soul, that part of you that is you, the real you. The soul is that part of you that will live from now on. When your brain quits sending impulses, when your heart quits beating, when your blood quits flowing, hardens, and grows cold, when your body dies, your soul will continue on. It shall live from now on. The real you will never die.

With that thought in mind, what have you lifted your soul up to? what have you given yourself to in this life? When all is quiet and you have free time on your hands and free time to let your mind wander, where do you go? in your mind? what does your soul crave? what does your heart desire?

Do you desire God? do you crave after the Son of God? or do you desire vain things? worthless things? Be honest with yourself. Do not measure yourself with yourself? Do not compare yourself to others? What does the word of God say? What does the Holy Spirit say to your soul?

Some of you have written off the the Bible. You have come to think of it as just a book of men's writings, just a book of men's opinions. But, what do you say now? What do you say when Psalm 24 speaks to your heart? When it penetrates to your very soul? When it divides the spirit from the soul? When it discerns the thoughts and intents of your heart? Read it again, look at it. Think on it. Go ahead and try to run from it. Where will you go? You cannot hide from God, you cannot escape His holy word. Go ahead and try, go to the farthest point away, climb the highest mountain, take a submarine to the lowest depths of the sea. It's all His, "the earth is the Lord's"!

Others of you put great stock in your own keeping of religion. You credit yourself with some measure of righteousness. After all, you do believe there is one God. The problem with that belief, as James points out in the new testament: "thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble". You take pride in your religion, you've established your own form of righteousness. You think you will stand in the holy presence of God because you attend church regularly, you read your bible occasionally, you pray before you eat, you put money in the offering plate, you go through certain ceremonies at church and on and on. You have submitted yourselves to cold, empty, phrases and rituals. You lifted your soul to these things, you gave your heart to vanity, to empty meaningless rituals. Have you not read what the Lord Jesus says: "But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

So, who will ascend to the holy hill of the Lord? Who will stand in His holy place? The psalmist tells us: there is One, the Man Christ Jesus! The King of Glory! "Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle." Jeremiah called Him the "Righteous Branch": "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth."

Have you lifted your soul unto vanity? Have you fallen short of the glory of God? Have you trusted in your own righteousnesses, which are nothing but filthy rags? Are you guilty? Then look to this King! Look to the Righteous branch! Isaiah quoted this King; "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else." God the Father said: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, hear ye Him."

He, the Lord Jesus Christ is the only one who has clean hands and a pure heart, He is the only one who has not lifted His soul to vanity. He is the only one who has kept His word, he never swore deceitfully to God or man. He met the holy requirements of a thrice holy God. In that holy innocence He then submitted Himself to the worst death of His day, a public execution. He was hung on a cross. It was on the cross that He poured His life's blood out, He the guiltless One bore the sin of the guilty. The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of all His sheep, He bore the wrath of a holy God. But death could not hold Him, God raised Him from the dead, the chains of death were broken, the gates of hell shall not prevail against Him!

The King of Glory Himself says, even now; "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Oh, praise God from whom all blessings flow, praise Him all creatures here below, praise Him above you heavenly host, praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!

May God give you grace to see Him!

God's Faithfulness

The Faithfulness of God

God is faithful. He keeps His word, He keeps His promises. We can trust Him!

Believe Him!

He promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob He would give them the land. (Genesis 12, 13:15, 15:18, 26:3;28:4,13)

750 + years later He carried out His promise, He kept His word.

So the LORD gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it.

The LORD gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.

Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass. Joshua 21:43-45

He promised a Child would be born of a virgin in Bethlehem. He laid upon Caesar Augustus' heart to call for a worldwide taxing, a worldwide registration. So Mary and Joseph went to his hometown, the city of David and there she gave birth to a Son, the Son, the Savior, Christ the Lord! Luke 20:1-20

He is the same God today, He does not change, He has not changed!

He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:24

But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3

He has put all His eggs in one basket, He has invested all in His Son!

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us--by me, Silvanus, and Timothy--was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes. For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 1 Corinthians 1:19-20

Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; Philippians 1:6

"Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' "For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:31-33

God promises something and then He brings it about. By His great power He works all things out in order to fulfill and keep His word.

He is worthy of all our praise, honor, and worship!

Believe Him today, even in the midst of your circumstances, if you are His, He will keep you and will deliver you into His presence.

"To the praise of the glory of His grace!"

Receiving

A thought from Charles Spurgeon



"As ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord." --Colossians 2:6

The life of faith is represented as receiving-- an act which implies the very opposite of anything like merit. It is simply the acceptance of a gift. As the earth drinks in the rain, as the sea receives the streams, as night accepts light from the stars, so we, giving nothing, partake freely of the grace of God. The saints are not, by nature, wells, or streams, they are but cisterns into which the living water flows; they are empty vessels into which God pours His salvation. The idea of receiving implies a sense of realization, making the matter a reality. One cannot very well receive a shadow; we receive that which is substantial: so is it in the life of faith, Christ becomes real to us. While we are without faith, Jesus is a mere name to us--a person who lived a long while ago, so long ago that His life is only a history to us now! By an act of faith Jesus becomes a real person in the consciousness of our heart. But receiving also means grasping or getting possession of. The thing which I receive becomes my own: I appropriate to myself that which is given. When I receive Jesus, He becomes my Saviour, so mine that neither life nor death shall be able to rob me of Him. All this is to receive Christ--to take Him as God's free gift; to realize Him in my heart, and to appropriate Him as mine.

Salvation may be described as the blind receiving sight, the deaf receiving hearing, the dead receiving life; but we have not only received these blessings, we have received CHRIST JESUS Himself. It is true that He gave us life from the dead. He gave us pardon of sin; He gave us imputed righteousness. These are all precious things, but we are not content with them; we have received Christ Himself. The Son of God has been poured into us, and we have received Him, and appropriated Him. What a heartful Jesus must be, for heaven itself cannot contain Him!

The Kisses of His Mouth

From the pen of Pastor Mike McInnis

THE KISSES OF HIS MOUTH

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.

Song of Solomon 1:2

Man in his natural religious state is desirous of fulfilling duties and meeting whatever requirements that his religious tradition deems appropriate. This natural dedication can be so strong that a man is even willing to lay down his life to uphold his chosen belief and fulfill his desire to be faithful to it. Sincerity (to one degree or another) is a trait which is found among just about all types of religious adherents. Dedication to a particular cause can be discovered wherever men gather to express the tenets of this creed or that.

Counterfeit money which is easily detected would be useless. In the same fashion, counterfeit religions would not be so effective in keeping men in darkness if they were obviously false. Most religions in the earth are very effective in promoting morality and general order. In fact most religions are roundly approved by the rank and file of the earth as being beneficial for society in general. Even the government approves of the promotion of religion as long as equal opportunity is given to all, and one religion is not sanctioned above another, which is as it should be.

Multitudes in this country pay homage to what is called the “christian” religion, which as society defines it, has a multitude of facets and many different flavors. In fact many are fond of saying that the good old United States is a “christian” nation founded on “christian” principles. Some have even taken great umbrage at the possibility that one of the candidates for president may not in fact be a “christian” and that it’s possible that he won’t use the Bible to be sworn in if he is elected. I suppose we may find out the answers to those “mysteries” soon enough, but the truth is that all religion which is chosen and ordered by men is all of equal value and bears the same marks regardless of what it is called.

While nations may be composed of a populace which is in its convictions disposed to the tenets of the christian faith, there is no such thing as a “christian” nation except that one which is described by Peter, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1Pet 2:9) The citizens of this nation did not become so by natural birth nor human choice as John says; “Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:13)

The inhabitants of this kingdom are not mere natural men at all, but they have been born again from above by the HOLY GHOST sent down from heaven. “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:5-8)

This is the solution to the problem set forth by the apostle Paul, “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.” (1Cor 15:50) A radical transformation must take place in order for a man who is born of a woman to become a subject of the kingdom of GOD. This is not a function of religion nor is it brought about by sincere devotion to so called “christian” principles. Men may adopt the outward forms of “christianity” just like they can choose any other religion on the face of the earth, but such is as ultimately worthless as counterfeit money when it is examined in the proper light.

Those who are by grace made the possessors of this spiritual birth have not added one iota to their standing by their own power. All that they have and are is the result of the outpouring of HIS mercy and the gift of HIS grace. “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” (1Cor 2:11-13)

It most certainly follows then that those who are born of this SPIRIT and taught and indwelt by the same should possess different desires and longings than those who have not been so taught and led. “But we have the mind of Christ.” (1Cor 2:16) “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Col 3:1-3) Some have taught that because of this then the sons of GOD can and should attain perfection in this life.

Those who maintain such an idea are ignorant of the fact that we are yet left here in this earth in the same corruptible body of flesh and blood which has always been with us and shall remain so until the day of the resurrection when this mortal shall put on immortality and death is swallowed up in victory. However we are not left without hope and it is in this hope that we “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phi 3:14) It is in the midst of this very conflict which we find ourselves in as the “flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh” (Gal 5:17) that we are made to long for those refreshing times sent from the presence of the LORD. (see Acts 3:19) And it is only by HIS SPIRIT that we are enabled to desire HIS fellowship and long for HIS appearing.

It is in such a state that we see the “church” (the bride) longing for the kisses of her HUSBAND.

It is obvious that she has tasted of those kisses or else how could she know that which she desires. “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” (Jer 31:3)

It is apparent that HE has gone away for a season though she is not without hope that HE shall return. “In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.” (Isa 54:8)

She desires HIS presence more than any other. “For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.” (Psa 84:10)

As a chaste bride, she longs for HIS kiss alone. “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” (John 15:19) “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1Jo 2:15)

She loves her HUSBAND because HE first loved her and has clearly demonstrated that love by giving HIMSELF for her. “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1John 4:9-10)

www.gracechapelobrien.net http://wayfarerblog.blogspot.com/ mam

Blinded

"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

I was blind but now I see, it is truly, amazing grace!

Do you see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ? May God remove Satan's blindness from your eyes.