Monday, June 30, 2014

Hidden in God - By Charles Wages




   Hidden in God 
  By Charles Wages


God knows everything. This is something we must acknowledge if we believe in the true God. However, it is God's power and privilege to conceal or hide as well as reveal or make known. How true is the Scripture that says,

"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" (Romans 11:33)

It is comforting to note that in Psalms 91:1-9 we are told,

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." (vs. 1)


God's Hiding Place

In modern times we have seen several dramatic instances where people have been hidden from the enemy. Anne Frank was hidden for long, and often peril filled months from the Nazis. Corrie Ten Boom endured a similar time of hiding to preserve her life and others. In very present times, hostages in the middle east are in hiding, hoping to eventually be rescued. In Biblical times God sometimes hid His servants to fulfill His ultimate plans and purposes through chosen persons. For example, Moses was hidden from the enemy in order to protect him for God's plan to preserve Israel. Hebrews 11:23 says,

"By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment."

We are aware of this well known account of Moses and what God accomplished through him in leading His people out of Egypt and then giving the law to Israel. It is heartening to see the dedication of this servant who was hidden of God through his parent's obedience and courage. It is said of Moses in Hebrews 11:23-28 that he:

    Refused association or identification with the world (vs. 24)

    Chose affliction with the people of God (vs. 25)

    Esteemed (compared and contrasted) a godly life to a pleasurable one (vs. 26)

    Forsook the worldly life for a life for Christ (vs. 27)

In the Old Testament we are instructed that God made places of refuge for those who were accused of even murder until they could be judged by the congregation. These were called "cities of refuge."

They are spoken of in Numbers 35 and Joshua 20. These cities were strategically placed so they were readily accessible to anyone, yet the accused had to flee into them for safety and security. What a beautiful picture of the safety the sinner has when he or she flees to the Lord Jesus who is our Refuge. Psalms 46:1 reads,

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

Later the Psalmist wrote,

"There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High." (Psalm 46:4)

We have instances in the book of Acts of the servants of God literally fleeing for refuge to a place. For instance, Paul and Barnabas in turning to the Gentiles, to bring the redeeming message of Christ, were severely persecuted by the Jews. In Acts 13:50 the Jews stirred up the people and an attempt was made on Paul and Barnabas to stone them to death. We are told in Acts chapter 14,

"They were aware of it and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth about... And there they preached the gospel." (Acts 14:6,8)

Sometimes, all of us feel as if we would like to run away and hide some place. It, no doubt, is true that we all need a hiding place, but where is there a city of refuge in this world? We can also ask ourselves, to whom should I flee? The Lord said to the disciples, "Will ye also go away? Peter answered, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life" (John 6:67- 68). A man by the name of Andre, who was a British Adjutant, was convicted of spying, and just before he was hanged in 1789, he wrote,

Hail! Sovereign Love, which first began
That scheme to rescue fallen man;
Hail! Matchless free eternal grace,
Which gave my soul a hiding place.

On Jesus, God's just vengeance fell,
Which would have sunk a world to hell;
And bore it for a sinful race,
And thus became my Hiding Place.

A few more setting suns at most,
Shall land me on fair Canaan's Coast,
Where I shall sing the song of grace,
And see my Glorious Hiding Place.

Yes, we all need a "hiding place." It could be a secret place of prayer, a quiet moment of meditation apart from the world, an early morning reading of God's holy Word. Above all, we must believe and know that our hiding place is not just a place but a person, the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember,

"For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3:3-4)

God's Hidden Purpose

We should acknowledge that all wisdom and knowledge is of God. In fact, all wisdom and knowledge was hidden until He desired to reveal it. Colossians 2:3 speaks of God and Christ and says,

"In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

Not only was God's wisdom and knowledge hidden until He desired to reveal it, but His eternal purpose for the ages was only known to Him until revealed through "holy men of old." Ephesians 3:10-11 speaks of this wisdom in verse 10, and then says,

"According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord."

God purposed before the foundation of the world His great plan of the ages and it was all worked out in the finished work of Christ. The great truth concerning the mystery of this age of grace was hidden in God until revealed to and through the apostle Paul. The Old Testament prophets knew nothing of this wonderful "secret" until God desired or willed it to be known. Ephesians 3:9 is clear when it says,

"And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ."

It is equally important to notice what God reveals of His wisdom and purpose, but also when He lets it be known. The Scripture tells us very plainly that,

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God (God breathed), and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Timothy 3:16)

However, we must note that all Scripture is for us but not all is written to us. God, in His infinite wisdom, contained truth within Himself until He desired to make it known or revealed. For example, He revealed to Old Testament prophets concerning His great plan and purpose for Israel, the chosen nation. This included a kingdom here on earth. The gospels record this message to Israel in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Many of the parables relate to this message. Some understood, some did not. To the believing disciples Jesus said,

"Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables." (Mark 4:11)

Then He tells the reason for parables in regard to the unbelieving (Mark 4:12). The parable hid the truth from them!

The mystery concerning the church, the body of Christ, was hidden in God, not the Scriptures, until God made this truth manifested through the apostle Paul. Colossians 1:24-30 deals with this wonderful truth, once hidden but now revealed.

"Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints."

1 Corinthians 2:6-8 clearly shows that the world knew nothing of God's hidden wisdom concerning the mystery or secret.

"Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect (mature): yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: but we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory."

We must ever keep in mind that the devil uses every means at his disposal to keep all the Word of God from people. Why? So people will not believe the glorious gospel of God's grace. We are told in 2 Corinthians 4:3,

"But if our gospel be hid; it is hid to them that are lost."

How is this "good news" hidden from the lost? The devil blinds their minds and closes their hearts (2 Corinthians 4:4). Remember,

"The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God."

Why? Because things of the Spirit are "spiritually discerned" (1 Corinthians 2:14).
In conclusion, we need to be reminded that:

    Man hid himself from God—Adam
    Man was hid by God for His purpose—Moses
    All believers are hid with Christ
    All believers are hid in God

"For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:3)

And, that we all, as believers have a "hiding place." Our hiding place is Christ, It has aptly been said, "A man never really sees himself until he sees himself in Christ." We see ourselves, as believers, "in Christ." Our hiding place is a person. Our position is in the "heavenlies" where Christ is officiating as the "Head of the church" (Ephesians 1:22-23). This enables us to "set our affections on things above" (Colossians 3:2) and to "keep looking up" although there is only mud under our feet.

What effect does this have on believers? It gives us:

    Peace
    Safety
    Assurance

All because we believe His Word which is now completely revealed and gives us a hiding place in the midst of trouble and turmoil.


What a wonderful salvation,
Where we always see His face,
What a peaceful habitation,
What a quiet resting place.

And remember what the condemned man wrote,

"A few more setting suns at most,
Shall land me on fair Canaan's coast,
Where I shall sing the song of grace,
And see my Glorious Hiding Place."



Mp3 Studies By Pastor Gregg Bing

Ephesians - 06 - The Fullness of the Times


Grace Bible Church  (Click Here)


How God Saves Men
Believing Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
Read Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4


(A 10 Minute Video)


 Posted By Cecil and Connie Spivey
cspivey1953@gmail.com


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Have You Any Room for Jesus? - By Pastor Charles Wages


HAVE YOU ANY ROOM FOR JESUS?
Pastor Charles Wages 

"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn." (Luke 2:7)

The truth found in this scripture is familiar to many and unknown to many more. It's real impact is lost upon an unbelieving world. We all need to be reminded of our Lord's birth and the events surrounding it.

Why was there "no room in the inn?" Let's consider just a few reasons. One reason could be the gross ignorance of God's Word by the people, and therefore a lack of spiritual insight. The innkeeper could have known that the prophets had told of the coming of the promised Messiah and how He would be born. The prophet Micah proclaimed:

"But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel: whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." (Micah 5:2)

Even old wicked Herod was able to find out where Jesus was to be born (Matthew 2:1-6). Also, the faithful Simeon waited patiently for our Lord`s coming into this world and was there when the little baby was brought to the temple. Isaiah, the prince of prophets, wrote some 700 years before the birth of Christ:

"Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14)

Isaiah further prophesied :

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment, even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this." (Isaiah 9:6-7)

It is amazing, yet tragic, that even in our time there seems to be widespread ignorance of the real meaning of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

There is another reason that the innkeeper was not prepared and therefore had "no room." It is that he was too busy. This was the time of registration and taxing of the citizens of that part of the world (Luke 2:1-5). Business at the inn was excellent and therefore pressing. He wasn't too concerned about the condition of those who applied for a room. He wasn't personally concerned about the guests and those who needed a room. This reminds us of the hymn we often sing which says,

Room for pleasure,
Room for business,
But for Christ, the crucified,
Not a place that He can enter,
In the heart for which He died.

The business world capitalizes on the birth of Jesus. It is hard to even have time to think of His wonderful birth, death, and resurrection. Other names, other interests, other people take first place. What is the celebration all about? No time, no thought, no room for the Saviour who loves us so much! Do we recognize His glory among all the glamour and glitter?

Another reason why there was "no room" in the inn is that the world has changed and corrupted His Name. We are not told whether the innkeeper inquired of the names of Joseph and Mary. No doubt, he wasn`t interested enough to say, "What are you going to name your little baby?" The Hebrew people were very particular in giving names to their children that were descriptive and significant. For instance, Benjamin means "son of my right hand." Obadiah means "servant of Jehovah." Immanuel means, "God with us." His earthly name, Jesus, means "Saviour," and is the theme of the Bible. The name "Christ" means "Anointed One," the promised One who would come to His people Israel. His full title or name is now the Lord Jesus Christ. What a wonderful name! It led Peter to say,

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

His name is above every name. The apostle Paul was led to exclaim,

"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:9-11)

Is there room in your heart and home for this gracious, glorious Person? Are you lacking in spiritual understanding? Are you too busy? Are you not aware of the great significance of His name? Let's think soberly, soundly, and scripturally concerning His birth and have room for Him. In fact, He should fill our lives.


Mp3 Studies By Pastor Gregg Bing



Grace Bible Church  (Click Here)


How God Saves Men
Believing Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
ead Acts 16L31 Romans 1:16, and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4


(A 10 Minute Video)


 Posted By Cecil and Connie Spivey
cspivey1953@gmail.com


E-mail this BIBLE STUDY to all your friends 











The Folly Of Worldly Wisdom - by Pastor C. R. Stam



Has not the world made great progress, intellectually, since Paul’s day? Is this not evident on every hand? Of course! For one thing, our physicists have taught us how to kill each other much faster now. Moscow, London or Washington could be wiped out in a few minutes, and this is a considerable saving in time!

And think what has been accomplished in the field of electronics! We can now keep intelligent people glued to their TV sets for hours on end, their eyes riveted to shows which are often unwholesome, but sometimes at least entertaining and occasionally even informative. And think of the many time-saving devices in our homes! We are all saving so much time that we cannot even be hospitable to each other and our mental institutions are over-crowded with patients who have collapsed from enjoying all this leisure time.

Then consider our achievements in transportation! Our thoroughfares are crowded with automobiles whose drivers are getting jangled nerves in traffic jams and choking in the deadly carbon monoxide fumes, or else racing at high speeds, which is great fun until suddenly some object looms up ahead as if from nowhere. And the airplane! This is really something! We can now fly through the air with so much noise and commotion that innocent people for miles around our larger airports are kept awake nights. Of course, the minority should be willing to suffer cheerfully for the majority and it is important that great numbers of people get places fast, fast, fast.

But all this is nothing compared with what is going on in outer space. We now have all sorts of things orbiting around out there — and it’s not all debris. It includes some very sensitive instruments, serving us faithfully from day to day. Indeed, men from our earth have actually landed on the moon and have brought some of its rocks and dust back with them. Soon, maybe, we will have people from beautiful New England, or the breath-taking Rockies, or the lovely shores of Oregon, living on its barren wastes. Wonderful prospect! And we can always get the necessary billions from the taxpayers.

But the best of it is that while we have aspired to reach the moon, and even Mars, we’ve got a Great Society going on earth; a Society whose wild pagan music has all but replaced the beautiful melodies and harmonies of the classics, and whose twisted “art” reflects the bewildered confusion of our times; a Society in which children and young people are corrupted, women are robbed and raped, and men, women and children are murdered in the streets. Oh, it’s wonderful! The young people demonstrating at our universities for the right to use filthy language if they want to, and demanding a greater voice in running our institutions of learning; the minority groups marching to protest their various grievances, the rioting and bloodshed, the burning and looting! And meantime, ever so quietly, our most sophisticated mob syndicates are running fine motels and other business organizations — and pouring an ever-increasing flow of narcotics, pornographic literature, etc., into our enlightened community, judges and juries doing what they can to favor the criminals and, should any of them land behind prison bars, the parole boards are there to help get them released as soon as possible, so that our happy society may benefit from their experience and our mental and penal institutions may be further enlarged. Surely we’ve never had it so good.

Thanks be to God for the truth of Galatians 1:4:

“[Christ] gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world [or, "age"] according to the will of God and our Father.”

 


How God Saves Men
Believing Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.

Read Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4


(A 10 Minute Video)

Posted By Cecil and Connie Spivey
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The Kaiser's Surprise - by Pastor Ricky Kurth



   The Kaiser's Surprise 
  by Pastor Ricky Kurth


In his comments on Isaiah 57, Dr. Harry Ironside shares this story:


Years ago, before the First World War, Professor Stroeter, a well-known prophetic teacher in Germany, used to go through the country giving lectures, and using charts to unfold the dispensations. His lectures attracted the attention of the German Emperor, Kaiser Wilhelm, who in spite of his many idiosyncrasies, was quite a Bible student, and used to preach in the palace chapel on many occasions.

The Kaiser invited Professor Stroeter to his palace to give him an idea of what he was lecturing upon. The professor was taken into the library and spread a roll of his charts out on the table. The Kaiser followed him as he pointed out various thing sin the dispensations until the Second Coming of the Lord. After a lengthy conversation the Kaiser said, "Do I understand you aright"? Do you mean to say that Jesus Christ is coming back literally, and that when He returns all the kingdoms of the world are going to be destroyed and He will set up His kingdom on the ruins of them all?

And Professor Stroeter said, "Exactly, your Majesty...."

"Oh, no," said the Kaiser, "I can?t have that! Why that would interfere with all my plans!"

We don't know if Professor Stroeter understood the dispensations well enough to have expressed to the Kaiser that the coming of our Lord to rapture His church must come before the wrath of the Tribulation and the Second Coming of Christ (I Thesalonian 1:10; 5:9). Regardless, what a frank admission from a man who professed to be a student and teacher of the Word of God!

How about you, dear reader? If you are not saved, you will be left behind when the Body of Christ is "caught up" to meet the Lord in the air? (I Thessalonian 4:17). While we believers will ever be with the Lord in heaven, the seven years of Great Tribulation that will follow on earth will surely interfere with all that you have planned. Why not trust the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior by believing that His death, burial and resurrection paid for all of your sins. Then you too can look forward to being a part of all that the Lord has planned for His saints.

 But we close by asking Christians if the Rapture will interfere with your plans, or be the triumph of His grace in your life? When John Wesley was asked what he would do the following day if he knew the Lord were coming, he replied that he would rise at his usual hour, spend time in his regularly scheduled morning devotions, and arrive promptly at his first speaking engagement of the day. In other words, he would not have to change a thing in his life to prepare for the coming of the Lord. May this be true of us too!



Grace Bible Church  (Click Here)




How God Saves Men
Believing Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
Read Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4


(A 10 Minute Video)


 Posted By Cecil and Connie Spivey
cspivey1953@gmail.com


E-mail this BIBLE STUDY to all your friends 




Sunday, June 29, 2014

Fellowship With Christ - By Charles Wages



 FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST
 by Charles Wages 

It must be understood that there can be no fellFELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST by Charles Wages owship with Christ apart from knowing Him as personal Saviour. Fellowship involves agreement. As long as a person remains "dead in trespasses and sins," he does not have the capabilities of fellowship. A "dead" person cannot believe, share, work, or worship, which are vital parts of fellowship with Christ, our risen Saviour.

Fellowship with Christ — Involves Believing

Over one hundred times in the gospel of John, we are instructed to "believe." We must believe such scriptures as Acts 16:31, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. " Also, we are told in John 1:12, "But as many as received Him, to them gave he the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name."

Believing must continue after we are saved. The child of God must constantly take God at His Word. The great love chapter, I Corinthians 13, tells us that love "beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things." The apostle Paul prayed in Ephesians 1:18-19, "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power."

Fellowship with Christ — Involves Sharing

1 Timothy 1:18 almost becomes a definition of the principal of sharing- "That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate." The word "communicate," as used here, means a liberal sharing of what we have in Christ. It seems such a shame to try and horde up the riches of our Lord. If they make us happy and prosperous, we should share them with others that they can be happy, too! This is one of the great privileges and blessings that come to Christians who love the Lord.

Fellowship with Christ — Involves Worship

Our Lord told the woman at Jacob's well, "the hour cometh, and now is, when the true (real) worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship Him." Communion or fellowship takes more than one person. We shouldn't worship ourselves. There is no "real" worship apart from the Lord Jesus. The Holy Spirit and the Word must be involved with all true worship. Our Lord should be the center of all our worship services, the center of all our work, and in fact the center of our lives.

Fellowship with Christ — Involves Work

Ephesians 2:10 states, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." There are lots of "works" that are not "good works", but any work in conjunction with our Lord is bound to be a "good work." We should speak as the apostle Paul spoke in 2 Corinthians 6:1, "We then as workers together with Him ..."

God will bless work that is done for Him, and with Him. Yes, fellowship with Christ is both sweet and rewarding.

May "the Lord of the morning" bless your lives as you yield to our Lord Jesus Christ.


Mp3 Studies By Pastor Gregg Bing

Ephesians - 06 - The Fullness of the Times




 




How God Saves Men
Believing Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.

Read Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4


(A 10 Minute Video)

Posted By Cecil and Connie Spivey
cspivey193@gmail.com

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No Time For God? - by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam



    No Time For God?  
Pastor Cornelius R. Stam


Those who have no time for God should consider what their circumstances would be if He had no time for them; no time to paint the sunsets, no time to send the warm sun’s rays or the refreshing showers, no time to make the crops and flowers grow. We doubt that any thinking person would actually want nothing to do with God.

Cain despised God’s authority and finally murdered his brother, but when he was driven from the presence of God he said: “My punishment is greater than I can bear” (Genesis 4:13).

One of the saddest sentences in the gospel records is our Lord’s prediction that He would have to say to some: “I never knew you; depart from Me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:23).

Just what it will mean to be “cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15), we pray God none of our readers will ever find out, but the Scriptures do clearly indicate that those involved will be cast forever out of the presence of God.

Thank God, it is not He who desires this. He paid for our sins at Calvary to reconcile us to Himself (Ephesions 2:16). St. Paul declares that God has called believers “unto the fellowship of His Son” (1 Corinthians 1:9) and that at His coming for them they shall “ever be with the Lord,” adding: “wherefore, comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonian 4:17,18).

“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God” (II Corinthians 5:20).

God has demonstrated His love for us in Christ. Why not respond by gratefully trusting Christ as your Savior?


Grace Bible Church  (Click Here)



How God Saves Men
Believing Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
Read Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4


(A 10 Minute Video)


 Posted By Cecil and Connie Spivey
cspivey1953@gmail.com


E-mail this BIBLE STUDY to all your friends