SEPTEMBER 3, 2024

 “They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.” (Isaiah 49:10)

It is most striking how the Apostle John, in the seventh chapter of the Revelation, as he is describing the heavenly scene and the blissful state of the glorified saints, borrows language from Isaiah, who is describing the high and holy privileges enjoyed by the Lord’s sheep here on earth, who come from the North and from the South at the call of the great Shepherd. In fact, John’s words are almost identical to the words of our text.(See Rev. 7:16, 17) The difference is that while Isaiah is speaking to the saints here on earth, John is seeing the saints in glory.

Jordan is a very narrow stream. It made a short boundary for Canaan, but it hardly sufficed to divide it from the rest of the world, since a part of the possessions of Israel was on the eastern side of it. Those who saw the Red Sea divide and all Israel marching through its depths, must have thought the dividing of Jordan (even in flood stage) allowing the people to pass through it into Canaan as a much smaller thing. The greatest barrier between believers and heaven has been safely passed. In the day when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, was passed through our Red Sea, and the Egyptian of our old sins were drowned. Great was the marvel of mercy! To enter fully into our eternal inheritance, we have only to cross the narrow stream of death; and scarcely that, for the Kingdom of Heaven lies on this side of the river as well as on the other.

We need to remind ourselves of this truth, lest we imagine that we are separated by a great gulf, and we must endure a life of separation until we, at last, break loose of this mortal coil and enter heaven. But it should not be so with us. “Our conversation is in heaven” now. (Phil. 3:20) Some versions have it“citizenship,” but the word means much more. We might say that our citizenship and everything we are about is in heaven. We no longer feel at home here. Heaven must be in us before we can be in heaven; and while we are yet in the wilderness, we may spy out the land, and eat of the clusters of Eschol. There would be much less of a distance between earth and heaven if we did not live so far below our privileges. We live on the ground while we might rise as on wings of eagles. We are all too conscious of the body. How wonderful it would be if our experience were such that we could say with Paul, though we are not caught up into Paradise, “Whether in the body or out of the body I cannot tell!”

Let this be the aspiration for every child of God. This is the high privilege of every believer. To unbelievers, none of this can apply. They have no knowledge of such things; neither do they desire them; nor do they believe them. But to you who are “begotten again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” this is for you. Remember what you are by grace and know that what you will be in glory is already outlined and foreshadowed in your life in Christ. Being born from above, we are the same persons that we will be in heaven. We have in us even now the Divine life – the same life that will enjoy eternal immortality. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.” The life which shall last on forever has begun.

At this moment we as believers are already, in many respects, the same as we ever will be. We are already in possession by earnest of the very delights that will make heaven, heaven. The inheritance that will be ours tomorrow is in very truth ours today; for in Christ, we have received the inheritance, and have the earnest of it in the present possession of the Holy Spirit, Who dwells in us. It has been well said that “all of the streets of the New Jerusalem begin here.”

“God grant that we, your children, be brought consciously nearer to the state of glory by more complete enjoyment of the privileges that our state of grace affords us. May we every day enjoy rich foretastes ofheaven on earth.”

AUGUST 29, 2024

 “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” (Galatians 5:16-18)

In the previous passage, Paul spoke truth to the Galatian Christians. That truth applies to all Christians, even today. His plea is for believers not to waste their freedom in Christ on serving their own flesh and selfish desires. Instead, he has told those free in Christ to serve each other in love. He describes a life of self-sacrifice in response to God’s love for us.

Now, Paul begins to describe how to live in this way. After all, this kind of life does not come naturally. Not only do we resist giving up our way, we often do not know how to act. Without the rules of the law to guide our every decision, how will we use our freedom in Christ to love each other?

Paul points to the only source of power and wisdom beyond ourselves: the Holy Spirit of God. Earlier in this letter, he revealed that the Spirit comes to live in the hearts of God’s sons and daughters. Now, Paul tells us to use this freedom in Christ to access the power of God’s Spirit in our hearts and everyday lives. He tells us to walk and keep on walking by the Spirit’s power and guidance.

Again, Paul will paint the picture of setting aside our power and relying on God’s. In the same way, we could not fulfill the law by our efforts, and Paul tells us to quit trying to serve each other in love. The Spirit of God in us is available and willing to help. Yes, this is a mysterious idea, but it’s also how free people in Christ avoid giving in to the desires of our flesh. It’s how we overcome our strong appetites to do what feels good, even if that thing is sinful. In the Spirit’s power, we can say no to ourselves.

Our flesh wants one thing, and God’s Spirit wants something very different, and we are even willing to sin against each other and God to get them. The Spirit, on the other hand, wants to honor God and serve others. When the Spirit comes to live in our hearts, a battle sometimes rages. However, Paul shows that those in Christ can win that battle by allowing the Holy Spirit to lead them; that power will enable us to serve in ways we never would have under the law.

Through the power of the Spirit, we can win the conflict over our selfishness and sinful desires. It is possible to act in the Spirit’s power to love and serve others as Christ does us. When we serve others that way, we do not need the law. None of its rules or regulations matter; our words, actions, and thoughts will be born from our love for God and others. Free people in Christ can – and should – use their freedom this way.

If we care to act under the guidance and power of the blessed Spirit, though we may not be freed from the stirrings and oppositions of the corrupt nature remaining in us, it will not have dominion over us. Believers are engaged in a conflict where they earnestly desire that grace may obtain full and speedy victory. Those who want to give themselves up to be led by the Holy Spirit are not under the law as a covenant of works nor exposed to its awful curse. Their hatred of sin and desires after holiness show that they have a part in the salvation of the gospel. The works of the flesh are many and manifest. And these sins will shut men out of heaven. Yet what numbers, who call themselves Christians, foolishly live in these and say they hope for heaven.

We must do everything in our power to put away the deeds of the body and to walk in the newness of life. Not desiring vain things but seeking to abound in those good fruits which are, through Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory of God.

AUGUST 27, 2024

 “When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him…and said…I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” (Luke 7:9)

It is hard for us to get our minds around a statement such as this with reference to Christ: “He marveled.” In our Lord Jesus “dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” He is “the express image of God’s person,” and John tells us that “He knew what was in man.” So how could anything surprise Him? Yet our text clearly states that when Jesus saw the faith of this Roman Centurion “He marveled.”

Mark tells us that He marveled at the unbelief of his disciples – at their “little faith.” (Mark 6:6) This is perhaps a bit more understandable, considering they had been in close company with Him, and been privileged to sit under His extraordinary teaching.

This man, though a Gentile, and having never before seen the Lord in person, was not ignorant of the Jews’ religion, and was apparently sympathetic with their cause. We are reminded of another Roman Centurion that the Apostle Peter met up with in Acts Chapter 10, who was devout, God-fearing, a giver of alms, and an observer of the appointed times of prayer. Just as Cornelius became a believer, so this man demonstrates character qualities that are consistent with a man of true faith.

How marvelous, a Roman officer (not generally known for tenderness) has sympathy and compassion for a suffering servant! How out of character for one so powerful as he to condescend to help a man of such low degree! These are characteristics that we ordinarily expect to admire in followers of Christ. But can we say that we have discovered the reason why our Lord admired his faith? What sort of faith is it that causes Him to marvel?

As we attempt to answer this question, let us say to begin with, that it would, at the very least, have to measure up to the biblical definition of faith. The eleventh chapter of Hebrews, which is known as the faith chapter, and contains many examples of great faith, begins with these words: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” This man had substantial hope based solely upon what he believed concerning Christ. His confidence was founded on no visible evidence. Multitudes saw Christ’s miracles, and yet did not believe. In fact, many who witnessed the miracle of the loaves and fishes, and were fed that day, did not truly believe. (John 6:26; see also John 2:23, 24)

This man believed because of what he had heard. “And when he heard.” (Luke 7:3a) “…faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom. 10:17) Many are of the opinion that if they could see Christ or perhaps, witness a miracle, they would believe. However, Scripture says otherwise: “If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”

Secondly, the faith that caused Christ to marvel was such as caused pride to be humbled. This was no ordinary man. He was a man of Authority. One reason that “not many mighty, not many noble are called” is that it is hard for men of power and authority to humble themselves. But this man, while others feared him for his office, he was condescending, and even self-abasing. He felt unworthy for the Lord to come under his roof. He acknowledged that his own authority was limited, while the Lord’s authority is sovereign and universal. We can be certain that any faith that does not humble human pride will never meet the approval of Christ.

Thirdly, the faith that caused Christ to marvel believed the impossible, based upon Christ’s Word alone.“…speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.” (Matt. 8:8) “…say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.” (Luke 7:7)

This is the kind of faith that we need. Distance is no barrier. “Speak the word.” Deadly disease is no factor. “…grievously tormented, ready to die.” Is there a lost soul who will believe the impossible? There is no sinful condition so desperate that He cannot cure it by the power of His Word. What is the Gospel, but “the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”(Rom. 10:8, 9)

AUGUST 22, 2024

 “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:5-7)

Nowhere else in all the Old Testament is it so plainly and fully prophesied that Christ ought to suffer and then enter into Glory as in this chapter. But to this day, few discern or will acknowledge that divine power that goes with the word. The authentic and most important report of salvation for sinners through the Son of God is disregarded. The low condition he submitted to and His appearance in the world was not agreeable to the ideas the Jews had formed of the Messiah. He was expected to come in ready for war, and instead, He came humbly, silently, and insensibly. More than 600 years before Christ was born, His death was prophesied by the Prophet Isaiah through divine revelation.

Christ was tormented and afflicted with grief on our behalf. He was slain on account of our sins. It was a common belief that the Messiah would be violently put to death and there was an idea of a painful piercing, referring to some infliction of wounds on the body and not to mere mental sorrows. The obvious idea would be that there would be some penetrating wound that would endanger or take life. Applied to the actual sufferings of the Messiah, it refers undoubtedly to the piercing of His hands, feet, and side. The prophet places himself among the people for whom the Messiah suffered these things and says that He was not suffering for His sins but on account of theirs. Isaiah keeps up the idea that it was not because of any sin He was guilty that He suffered – an idea that is all over the New Testament.

He was to be broken to pieces, bruised, crushed, and under such a weight of sorrows on account of our sins that He was, as it were, crushed to the earth. The chastisement by which our peace is affected or secured was laid upon Him; He took it upon Himself and bore it so that we might have peace. The word ‘chastisement’ properly denotes the correction inflicted by parents on their children, designed to amend their faults. Our Redeemer endured the sorrows needed to secure our peace with God.

It is only through these bruises that we can be healed. The Messiah would be scourged, and health would be imparted to our souls by that scourging. The Redeemer, in place of mankind, is adapted to save the world and will arrest, reclaim, and redeem all who shall ever enter into Heaven.

“All we like sheep have gone astray…” This is the penitent confession of those for whom He suffered. It is an acknowledgment that they were going astray from God, who laid on Christ the iniquity of all. We had all gone on the path that we chose. We were like sheep with no shepherd, wandering where they please, with no one to guide them. As a race, we have become selfish, following our pleasures – each one living to gratify his passions.

But, the Lord placed on His Son the iniquity of us all. We need to understand that this doesn’t mean that He became a sinner or was guilty in the sight of God, for God always regarded Him as an innocent being. It can only mean that He suffered as if He had been a sinner; or that He suffered that which, if He had been a sinner, would have been a proper expression of the evil of sin. He was oppressed and suffered patiently, not even opening His mouth to object. God demands the debt, and the great and righteous One makes payment for it. The fact that He did not open His mouth in complaint was utterly remarkable and made the merit of His sufferings much more significant.

It was for our sins and in our stead that our Lord Jesus suffered. We have all sinned and come short of God’s glory. Sinners have their beloved sin, their evil way, of which they are fond. Our sins deserve all griefs and sorrows, even the most severe. We are saved from the ruin, to which by sin we become liable, by laying our sins on Christ. This atonement was to be made for our sins. And this is the only way of salvation. Our sins were the thorns in Christ’s head, the nails in His hands and feet, the spear in His side. He was delivered to death for our offenses. By His sufferings, He purchased the Spirit and grace of God to mortify our corruptions, which are the distempers of our souls.

The close of verse 12 says, “…and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” As a high priest, Jesus presents the merit of His atoning blood before the throne of mercy and pleads for His people. There will be no more sacrifice for sin, and there will be no other advocate and intercessor.

Come and see how Christ loved us! We could not put Him in our stead; He put Himself in. Thus, He took away the world’s sin by taking it on Himself. He made Himself subject to death, which is the wages of sin. While we survey the sufferings of the Son of God, let us remember our long transgressions and consider Him as suffering under a load of our guilt. Here is a firm foundation for the trembling sinner to rest their soul upon. We are the purchase of Christ’s blood and the monuments of His grace; for this, He continually pleads and prevails, destroying the works of the devil.