New Resources

This morning I'm pondering the great value of the Gospel message. Many don't know they have a Savior and many don't care because they haven't felt the need of one. People resign themselves to their little personal programs and 'do what they can' saying it must be enough.

That is what we have all had to do if there was no one there to help us, isn't it? We did our best and either won or lost based on that might or weakness.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed." - John 3:16-20 ESV

The Gospel changes the stakes. It changes everything. We can't say 'I am alone' anymore.

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, 'For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:31-39 ESV

The Gospel says, 'Because of Jesus you will never be alone. Ony believe in Him and you will never be forsaken by Heaven or condemned by the God of Heaven. Heavenly resources become your resources.'

Believers are not immune to trouble. They might experience even more potent trouble but they are not alone in trouble. They are never alone ever again. They have a Saviour. They have resources.

"But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie -- just as it has taught you, abide in him." - 1 John 2:27 ESV

If we have owned this truth an anointing of liberty and security rests on us and the Holy Spirit will teach us what to do in our liberty. God will give us people and use them but it is the anointing oil that turned a man into a king and it is what takes a slave and makes him or her into a free purposeful person.

We all have circumstances that seem to hinder us and obstacles in our path. Perhaps we are confident we can deal with them and overcome. Perhaps we think, 'If I win I will be a winner.'

God claims we can be winners right now if we embrace the fact that we have a Saviour. Then we can face whatever is next in life as winners before the battle even happens and that makes all the difference.

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Time In A Promise Book

Up at 3am. Got out of bed at 3:30am. Prayer and promises... a good way to start the day...

I like how David Wilkerson organized 'The Jesus Person Pocket Promise Book'. He breaks the book into three sections.
- God's Promises for your Spiritual Needs
- God's Promises for your Personal Needs
- God's Promises for your Future Needs

Then he has Key verses with supporting passages for a list of topics in each section. It is very well done.

I think I am going to incorporate a study of God's names in the Hebrew and Greek into my promise book study. God's character is intertwined with his commitment. One hinges on the other. His commitments show something about His character and His attributes (names) prove that He is capable of keeping His commitments.

"Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God." - Psalm 20:7 KJV

"Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth." - Psalm 124:8 KJV

I also like the idea of knowing the context of the promise. Who is speaking? Who is the speaker addressing? I don't what to quote Job's friends and say that God is speaking when God says Job's friends have wrong ideas. (see Job 42:7)

On the other hand, we can quote passages that are in the scriptures and say, 'God dealt with this person in a certain way...' and then make the claim that God may very well deal with us in the same way as long as it is in the context of grace.

God clearly deals with corporate entities (Isreal, the Church, foreign nations, etc..) differently than He does with a person. I think it is a mistake sometimes to quote a passage directed at Israel or the Church and claim that it is a personal promise or provision. The Church is not Israel and we are not structures with a mission statement. We are sons and daughters and God has mercy for us that He does not have for groups per se. A King deals differently with His child than He does with a foreign nation and with good reason.

Grace isn't for good people or nations. It is for God's people. It is for heirs. The Gospel is a grace initiation to an individual. Salvation then puts people in a place to receive grace. God's holiness and justice are going to be seen clearly by all. If salvation hasn't placed us as individuals into God's kingdom then mercy is going to be far removed from a person's experience. God has promises about that also.

"He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail." - 1 Samuel 2:9 ESV

'Ouch.' But also 'Praise God'. He is just. He is gracious. He is precise. He communicates is a way we can understand if we incline our ear to hear.

Thank You God for Your wonderful book. Thank You for your lasting commitments. You are the Alpha and Omega. You will be around to see every promise fulfilled. You have the power. You are The faithful and True One. We worship You for who You are and Thank You for all that You have done and will do.

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Dusting Off Old Projects

Yesterday was a great day to pull out old projects and work on them. I reviewed a 'promise book' project that I put a great deal of work into years ago.

It is a colossal subject... huge... and very edifying.

I understand why people look for 'Bible codes' or other hidden messages in the scripture. People crave mystical theatrics that will solve problems all at once. I have to say after looking over my references just briefly again that there is no need to look for what is hidden. What has been revealed is just plain amazing.

"The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law." - Deuteronomy 29:29 ESV

That last word translated 'law' is torah (Strong's H8451) and it isn't talking about rules and regulations. It is referring to inspired scripture as a whole. God's mind given to us. Living eternal ideas. We 'do all the words of Torah' when we have God's mind... when we 'think with God'.

This morning I have been looking through a small book...

'New Covenant Prophecy Edition' by International Bible Society

A man with a heart for Israel gave it to me years ago.

Wow. It is dynamite. I wish a had 1,000 of them and I could just mail you all a copy. Simple. All scripture linked to scripture with a full New Testament and references to prophetic fulfillments.

It has no price on it and no ISBN number. It was made to give away.

Sure. God has His secrets but what He has given us is amazing. I don't ever want to let what He has given sit unused and unappreciated on a shelf somewhere.

Let our minds be a little like this small book... scripture linked to scripture in a stream of understanding... of past, present and future. Oh God! Please illuminate our minds with truth that causes us to connect with You and other people... not antisocial scholars and also not extroverted idiots. Give us a balance of wisdom and love... truth and social connectedness... knowledge and sensitivity. What you have given belongs to us. We want to possess our possessions. Help us Lord. Thank You God.

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