Living Word September 2013 by Sharon Full Gospel Church

Be sober and watch unto prayer.

Psalm 4:7

Bible Studies Online International

www.biblestudiesonline.org.uk (COL 4:2) CONTINUE IN PRAYER, AND WATCH IN THE SAME WITH THANKSGIVING ©Photos above Marafilm CoverDanilo Ascione photo Back cover Peter Saharov

In this month’s issue: 3.

Invisible by Divine Investiture

What If God Calls Me…

Daniel Kolenda (CfaN)

Prophet of the Broken Heart (9)

Mathew Bartlett (UK)

Edwin & Lillian Harvey (USA)

Morning by Morning

14 Page pull-out of daily devotional messages for September Various 24.

In Depth Study – 1 Corinthians 7

30.

Our Lord Jesus Christ

Mathew Bartlett (UK) William F. P. Burton (Congo)

©Photos above © Photoquest. Cover: © Jason Stitt Left © from top: Robert Orth, Lichtmiester, Godfer, Sebastian Grecu, and Littlemacproductions. Back Cover: Rorem

Living Word Magazine is published in the United Kingdom by Sharon Full Gospel Church, 7 Park View, Freeholdland Road, Pontnewynydd, Pontypool, NP4 8LP Editor: Mathew Bartlett 1

IN THIS ISSUE

The Message of Mark

The Blessings of God’s Grace – Ephesians

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Les Benedictions de la Grace de Dieu

The Revelation of Jesus Christ

French Paperback

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Paperback

French Kindle

The Pentecostal Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians

The Message of Amos – A Warning for Today

Paperback

Kindle

www.biblestudiesonline.org.uk 2

Invisible by Divine Investiture An extract from “Royal Insignia” by Edwin & Lillian Harvey Image (c) Olga Naidenova

OUT NOW ON KINDLE! Price $4.22 (FREE to Amazon Prime Members!) Reproduced by kind permission of Harvey Publishers. www.harveycp.com

And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the Lord alone shall be exalted . . . (Isa. 2:17). A NOVICE is a person who is inclined to take credit to himself for what the Lord did through him.” It is for this reason that God is hindered in His trusting us with large results. The instant we are favoured with His blessing, we are like the little girl who was given a new watering can. Delighted, she ran out to the garden and began to water the flower bed. Then it began to rain. Large drops fell, but the little girl was not pleased at all and her face fell. Looking up at the raindrops for a few minutes, she exclaimed, “Mummy, doesn’t God know I’ve got a watering can now?” This reminds us of an evangelist who boasted that he was intending to hold services in Europe, and that he expected to beat St. Peter’s record of three thousand converts. Man struts about, proud of his few drops of blessing, striving in vain to compete with God’s copious showers. How much like the little girl and her watering can, when we compare man’s puny efforts with a God-sent cloudburst of revival blessing!

Torrey said: “Oh, how many a man has been full of promise and God has used him, and then that man thought that he was the whole thing and God was compelled to set him aside! I believe more promising workers have gone on the rocks through self-sufficiency and self-esteem than through any other cause. “I can look back for forty years, or more, and think of many men who are now wrecks or derelicts who at one time the world thought were going to be something great. But they have disappeared entirely from the public view. Why? Because of over-estimation of self.” I knew a youth of large and lofty soul, a soul aflame with heavenly purpose high. Like a young eagle’s, his clear, earnest eye, fixed on the sun, could choose no lesser goal. For truth he lived; and love, a burning coal from God’s high altar, did the fire supply that flushed his cheeks as morning tints the sky, and kept him pure by its Divine control. Lately I saw him, smooth and prosperous, of portly presence and distinguished air. The cynic’s smile of self-content was there, the very air about him breathed success. 3

Yet by the eyes of love, too plainly seen, appeared the wreck of what he might have been. — Unknown. Alexander Maclaren has said that the reason why so few people are anointed with the Holy Ghost for service is that “so few are willing to be made invisible by the Divine investiture.” It is only when we take the low place before God and are able to count ourselves as nothing, that the Holy Spirit is able to use us. Humility is a kind of largemindedness. The humble man grows in knowledge and power and usefulness. He takes a large and free and happy view of life. He refuses to become the victim of slights and annoyances and hostilities. He will not confine his soul to beat its wings against the cage of his self-esteem. But the proud man is thwarted at every turn. He will not go forward that way because he has been slighted. He will not go forward another way because he must change his mind. So he stands still, and from being a man becomes a mouse. Thus it comes to pass that “whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” —Treasure Chest.

What If God Calls Me to Do Something I Don’t Want to Do? A Bible Study by Daniel Kolenda (CfaN) Photo: © Sebastian Grecu As a little boy raised in the church, I was often confused by the words of certain songs. For instance, whenever the song “Bringing in the Sheaves” was sung, I thought we were singing about bringing in the “sheeps.” I remember another song we used to sing, usually after a missionary had told depressing stories about the hardships and toils of the mission field: Jesus, use me. Oh Lord, don’t refuse me; surely there’s a work that I must do. And even though it’s humble, help my will to crumble, though the cost be great, I’ll work for you. As wonderful as those words are in and of themselves, there was something about the combination of the lyrics, the music, and the context that made me afraid of God’s will for my life. I thought He must have something simply dreadful for me to do. I just knew He was going to send me deep into the jungle where I would live in a mud hut, survive on a diet of grubs, and wind up being eaten by cannibals. Looking back, my naïveté is quite amusing now, but the reality is that many people really are afraid to discover God’s will for their lives, even if subconsciously. They think, “What if God wants me to do something I don’t want to do?” “What if God wants me to do something I’m not good at?” “What if doing God’s will means I have to give up my hopes and dreams?” I think sometimes people haven’t discovered God’s will simply because they are afraid to. After I preached at a certain Bible college,

one of the students approached me. He was nearing graduation and had been seeking God’s will for many years but still had no direction. He said to me, “How can I figure out what God wants me to do with my life?” We were standing next to a lamp, and I noticed that it had been unplugged. I pointed to the plug lying on the ground and said to him, “How do you know what that threepronged contraption is for? Should I stick it in my ear or use it to comb my hair?” He replied, “Of course not. It goes into the electric socket.” How did he know that? Because of its shape. That plug fits so perfectly into that electric socket that there is no question that it was made for it. Even a child who had never seen a plug or socket before could figure out that they were made for each other. This is one way you can know what God wants from you. Where do you fit? What do you enjoy? What brings you delight and satisfaction? I have heard people teach that God’s will is always difficult and requires great sacrifice. But I have seen that the most effective people in any ministry, occupation, or just life in general are not the ones forcing themselves to do some dreadful task because they feel it is God’s will. Rather it is the ones who are doing something they enjoy so much, they feel guilty taking a salary for it. When you find something that makes you want to jump out of bed 4

in the morning, when you find something that challenges and thrills you, when you find something that you sense you were made to do, chances are you are getting close to discovering God’s will for your life. This does not mean that obedience, death to self, and sacrifice are never required or necessary. But when a person is doing what he was created to do, there is a taste of sweetness in the sacrifice, a sense of fulfilment in the obedience, and an enduring hope in the suffering. If anyone ever knew what it was to suffer it was Paul the Apostle (see 2 Corinthians 11:23-28). Yet it was Paul who said, “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Rom. 8:18, NAS). And James even goes so far as to say, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds” (James 1:2, NKJV). How is it possible to have joy in the face of difficulties, trials, and suffering? It is possible because when we are in God’s will, there is an unexplainable grace that accompanies us.

Reproduced with kind permission Christ for all Nations.

An extract from Daniel’s new book- Live before you die. £9.99 BUY NOW.

Prophet of the Broken Heart: The Cry of Hosea

her increase. Instead, she honoured the idols of Baalim and indulged in the pagan rites of that religion. 9:2 Threshing floors and wine vats will not feed the people, and new wine only deceives them. So, God would cause their harvests to fail, both of grain and vine, so that they might know that it is only God who provides us with all things richly to enjoy (1 Tim. 6:17).

Extract from our new book: not yet released! Chapter 9 Suffering Loss The Loss of Material Blessings 9:1 O Israel, do not rejoice jubilantly like the nations, for you are unfaithful to your God. You love to receive a prostitute's wages on all the floors where you thresh your grain. Just like so many people today, Israel rejoiced in the good things of life, material prosperity, good friends, good company, and good food and so on. But they did not rejoice in God. The Lord will brook no rivals for his peoples’ affections, and so he tells Israel that since she is not delighting herself in the Lord, her material joys will also be taken away from her. Although she knew the Lord, she had deserted him and all over the country the children of Israel were offering sacrifices to false Gods. When the harvest was gathered in, Israel should have celebrated with a feast to the Lord - Succoth. She should have given thanks to him and brought him the first fruits of

9:3 They will not remain in the LORD's land. Ephraim will return to Egypt; they will eat ritually unclean food in Assyria. God had promised the land to Israel as part of his covenant with them, but since Israel had broken that covenant and no longer wished to walk with God, he would remove her from the land (Deut. 28:58-64). The return to Egypt probably symbolised a return to slavery and wanton poverty in the land of Assyria, although it is certainly possible that the Assyrians would have sold some Israelites as slaves to Egypt itself.

The Loss of Spiritual Blessings 9:4 They will not pour out drink offerings of wine to the LORD; they will not please him with their sacrifices. Their sacrifices will be like bread eaten while in mourning; all those who eat them will make themselves ritually unclean. For their bread will be only to satisfy their appetite; it will not come into the temple of the LORD. Not only would Israel’s material blessings be denied, but since she had rejected the spiritual blessings of worshipping the one true God, He would now deprive her of these too. Israel took great pride in the fact that they were God’s chosen 5

people, and this relationship was symbolised in the way that they did not eat common or unclean food. Yet this distinction would be removed, as they would be forced to eat unclean food for survival. The exiles would either be unable, or would not be allowed by their captors, to offer drink offerings to the Lord. Nor would they be able to offer animal sacrifices to him. All the means which Israel had of approaching God and of worshipping Him would be taken away, since they had despised them when they had them. This may be a word of warning to Christians today - those who do not attend church may find one day that when they desperately wish they could attend church there will be no church for them to attend. Those who think little of reading the Bible may find themselves without opportunity to do so in time to come. Let us never take the things and blessings of God for granted. For years, they had not brought their tithes and offerings to the house of God, and now in their desperate state, they wished to bring them, they could not, for the house of God was many miles away and burned with fire. From a very practical point of view, those Christians who neglect fellowship and neglect tithing are putting extreme pressure on both their church and their ministers. The day will come when something will give way - either the minister will be forced out to find work so that he and his family can afford to eat, thus neglecting the more important matter of the word of God. Or the church itself will close and then there will be no place set apart locally for divine worship.

Then they will say when the church was there the people didn’t care but when it was taken away it was too late. Incidentally, it is far harder to start a church than to keep one going. 9:5 So what will you do on the festival day, on the festival days of the LORD? The nation’s joy was once symbolised by the national observance of the feasts of the Lord. But now in a foreign land, with no temple or priesthood, what were they to do? The law appointed Jerusalem as the place where they were to worship, but God had taken away their opportunity to worship him there. The end of these festivals symbolised the end of the nation’s joy and the beginning of its mourning. 9:6 Look! Even if they flee from the destruction, Egypt will take hold of them, and Memphis will bury them. The weeds will inherit the silver they treasure — thorn bushes will occupy their homes. The remains of the nation’s former wealth would be carried off by the Egyptians and the dead buried by them - Memphis was the great burial place of the Egyptians almost a huge cemetery. In the place where Israel once lived, in the land flowing with milk and honey, thorns and thistles would grow, revealing the lack of human inhabitants. 9:7 The time of judgment is about to arrive! The time of retribution is imminent! Let Israel know! The prophet is considered a fool — the inspired man is viewed as a madman — because of the

multitude of your sins and your intense animosity. It was time, says Hosea, for the nation to be punished for its wickedness. The Assyrian invasion threatened by God was not a predication of the far distant future, but of the day near at hand. Yet the people had ridiculed and mocked the prophets who brought his message for they loved sin and darkness and so hated to be told the truth. 9:8 The prophet is a watchman over Ephraim on behalf of God, yet traps are laid for him along all of his paths; animosity rages against him in the land of his God. The prophets were appointed by God to safeguard his people, and the word of God delivered to Israel by them was another example of the spiritual blessings they had spurned. They had paid no attention to the word of God. They openly hated and despised the prophets and tried to stop them preaching even in the Temple of God. 9:9 They have sunk deep into corruption as in the days of Gibeah. He will remember their wrongdoing. He will repay them for their sins. The Lord compares the people of Hosea’s day to those of Gibeah in the days of the judges. You may read of this terrible incident in Judges 19 & 20. Basically the men of Gibeah were homosexuals and every bit as bad as the men of Sodom. The people of Israel knew the story well, for the tribe of Benjamin had almost entirely been wiped out. Just as God did not overlook the sin of Gibeah, so he will not now overlook the sin of Israel but will punish it fully. It is 6

likely that the practices of the men of Gibeah were wide spread in Israel and that a punishment similar to that given to Benjamin would be the result. 9:10 When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the wilderness. I viewed your ancestors like an early fig on a fig tree in its first season. Then they came to Baal-Peor and they dedicated themselves to shame — they became as detestable as what they loved. Why had this decline come about? God reminds Israel of the time when he had first brought her out of Egypt and into a relationship with himself. As a man would be delighted, surprised and refreshed to find early grapes in the desert, so God delighted in Israel and in her love which was only for him. Indeed, some regard the first or white figs to be the best and sweetest fruit known to man. This is how the relationship should have remained, with Israel separated to the Lord. Unfortunately, Balaam, although he failed to curse Israel, succeeded in bringing about her downfall by instructing the Moabite king Balak to send his women folk to seduce the Israelites to commit sexual immorality and to sacrifice to idols. It was these Moabite women who had taught the Israeli men the way to worship Baal at the place Peor which is why it was referred to as Baal Peor. The root of the matter was that they had deserted God in favour of Baal and so became as foul as the idols/ demons they loved & worshipped. Sadly, this practice was continued even in the New Testament church (Rev. 2:14). Backsliding begins in the heart that turns away from God, and finds expression in the life lived far away from God.

The Loss of Children 9:11-12 Ephraim will be like a bird; what they value will fly away. They will not bear children — they will not enjoy pregnancy — they will not even conceive! Even if they raise their children, I will take away every last one of them. Woe to them! For I will turn away from them. The children of Israel were meant spiritually to be the children of God. They were to love and serve him only. But as they were now brought up to love and serve Baal they had become, spiritually, the children of Baal. This practise had continued for generations and would continue to do so - so long as it remained unchecked. So, God would kill the children born figuratively to Baal. Either they would die at birth or in the womb or they would never be conceived at all. The glory of Israel referred to in the AV means her sons, a particular reference to the number of her children, which God had promised would be as the sand by the seashore innumerable. If the babies did survive into early childhood, it would only be to die, for it would be a bitter thing indeed for the nation, when God turned his back on her. 9:13 Just as lion cubs are born predators, so Ephraim will bear his sons for slaughter. In his vision, Hosea saw that the sons of Israel were doomed, and that as a result the fathers would be forced (by an enemy occupying the country) to bring their own sons forward for execution. 9:14 Give them, O LORD — what will you give them? Give them wombs that miscarry, and breasts that cannot nurse!

So terrible was this prospect that Hosea, realising that God’s purposes were firmly fixed, prayed that the women of Israel might be barren rather than bear children who would live only to face the unthinkable horrors that were to come. Jesus said something strikingly similar to the women of his day; for as he was being led out to execution he predicted what would happen to his people at the very end of the age, when women would say ‘Blessed are the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed’ (Luke 23:27-31).

9:15 Because of all their evil in Gilgal, I hate them there. On account of their evil deeds, I will drive them out of my land. I will no longer love them; all their rulers are rebels Gilgal was one of the principle centres for Baal worship and it was here that Israel, like an adulterous wife, had proved unfaithful to Jehovah. It was because of this that God would no longer show them special favour. This is what is meant 7

by “I began to hate them”. The adulterous wife would no longer be loved as when she was faithful. Israel would be rejected as God’s own people and driven from his house, which F. Tatford says refers to the land of Israel, from which God expelled them. He would remove his blessings and protection for even the nation’s rulers were rebels against him. 9:16 Ephraim will be struck down — their root will be dried up; they will not yield any fruit. Even if they do bear children, I will kill their precious offspring. Ephraim (Israel) had failed to bring forth fruit for God (meaning the spiritual fruit of righteousness and obedience to God’s law). In fact they were so far past being able to do so that God describes them as being dead from the roots up. As a consequence God would destroy the fruit which she did produce – that is to say, the fruit of the womb. At the time Hosea gave this message there was no hope for the restoration of the nation. Indeed the drastic action of the Assyrian invasion was the only thing which successfully stopped the rot of idolatry in Israel. 9:17 My God will reject them, for they have not obeyed him; so they will be fugitives among the nations. Hence God would hurl them out of the Promised Land; they would be deported and scattered by the Assyrians; for they no longer deserved to live there, having refused to listen to God’s voice. They would suffer God’s punishment as they became fugitives in a foreign land. As we have seen in previous studies, this prophecy was literally fulfilled in 721 BC.

Morning by Morning A Daily Devotional for September

Sunday

1st

September:

“Shine, Shine, Shine” by Karen White

You may contact any of these authors by clicking on their names at the top of each article or via the Living Word office.

Image © Hladkymartin

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven”. Matthew 5:16 Ever walked into a room, switched on a lamp and nothing? The lamp is unplugged. That is how it was before we became a Christian. Before we were born God provided everything we need in order to shine for Him. He loved us enough to give His son to die so that we may be made sinless. But because He desires for us to love Him, He left it up to us whether to “plug” into Him or to live in the darkness. Just like the lamp, we too need a source of power in order to shine. God is our power source. He is to us what the electrical outlet is to a lamp. Have you ever been lit up by God?

You have? Great! But not only does God desire for us to “plug” into Him but Matthew 5:16 instructs us to let our light shine before others so that He is glorified. As Christians sometimes our plug gets loose. Maybe we aren’t spending enough time with Him through prayer, worship, or Bible study or maybe we are living in the darkness (sin). When that happens our light dims. But the good news is that we are still plugged in to God’s power and through repentance we can once again shine brightly. So Shine, shine, shine!

30 daily readings by some of today’s best freelance Christian writers! 8

Abide can have different senses in the New Testament. It can

means every facet of our life is controlled by God’s word. The places we go, the decisions we make, the way we think and act are all governed by God’s word (the Bible). Jesus made a similar point in Jn. 15: John 15:4: Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; so neither can ye, except ye abide in me. John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing. John 15:6: If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

“Abiding in Christ” By Lewis A. Armstrong Image © Lichtmeister

Monday 2nd September An important New Testament word is “abide.” Jesus said we must “abide in His word” if we are to be one of His disciples (Jn. 8:31). It is possible to “believe in Jesus” (Jn. 8:31a), but not “abide in His word (Jn. 8:13b).

refer to abiding in a certain place (Acts 27:31) or to wait whilst patiently enduring something (Acts 20:23). The usage in Acts 27:31 is especially important for those who profess to be Christians. Unless we “abide in God’s word,” we will not be saved. Abiding in the scriptures 9

John 15:7: If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you. John 15:9: Even as the Father hath loved me, I also have loved you: abide ye in my love. John 15:10: If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

God’s word gives us all we need (2 Tim. 3:1617). Are you abiding in God’s word and thus abiding in Christ?

Tuesday 3 September: “Feed His Sheep” By Karen Pourbabaee

Wednesday 4 September: “An Anchor in the Storm” by Antje Hill

“Jesus said to him, feed my sheep.” John 21:17 When Jesus questioned Peter about his love not once, but three times, Peter repeatedly answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you” (John 21:15-17). Peter’s threefold confession was meant to counteract his earlier threefold denial of Christ. But Jesus was not satisfied with Peter’s heartfelt confession. He wanted much more from Simon Peter, son of John! Jesus then gave three commands: Feed My lambs. Shepherd my sheep. Feed my sheep.

Likewise, Jesus expects more from each of us than our undying love and devotion to Him. He desires for us to be His eyes, His ears, His hands, and His feet on the earth. When we enlist in His kingdom, we are sent on a mission as His ambassadors. It’s meant to be a mission of love. St. Augustine extrapolates on this mission: “What does love look like? It has hands to help others. It has feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.” It is not enough to love Him, for we are called to walk the way of love in the world as His mystical body. If we indeed love Him, like Peter, we too are called to feed His sheep.

Thursday 5 September: “Man of the Year” by Judy BelsheToernblom "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32

“Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27 I found my seat quickly and settled in. Flying has never been my favourite mode of transportation, but with family 2,000 miles away, it’s easier. The clouds were unrelenting. Forecasts warned of impending storms. I wished the trip was over, and clutched the seat as we lifted off. I felt the aircraft climb until we levelled out, but the turbulence continued. The pilot’s voice came over the speaker. "Ladies and gentlemen, we are going to be climbing higher, to 32,000 feet, for a smoother ride. Not expecting any delays.” As we climbed, suddenly the sun’s rays burst through my window. I reached for the shade to shield my eyes. Blue skies, nothing but blue skies! The climb had made the difference. My heart was touched. God was speaking to me about my walk with Him. Before long, the sun was setting on my flight. I had been in good hands with the pilot. Going higher had made all the difference. Interesting thought about my flight: The sun was there all the time. The clouds just obliterated it for a while. Interesting fact about life: The "Son" is there all the time, even when we focus on our problems. He beckons us to climb higher. He tells us He will never leave us. I believe Him. 10

In Man of the Year, Tom Dobbs (Robin Williams), a comedian, runs for President and is elected by computer error. Eleanor Green (Laura Linney) finds the computer glitch but is ordered to keep quiet. She suffers for her honesty. Called out by her superiors, ordered to say nothing, drugged, lied about, fired and smeared in the public eye, she goes into hiding, and is nearly killed. Yet on the ambulance journey she is still trying to tell the message. Are you that committed to honesty?

We may sometimes find ourselves facing a moral dilemma. Should we bury the truth deep inside ourselves or speak out? Will speaking the truth affect our friendships, job or relationships? We want people to continue to like us, love us and not leave us. Maybe we are not sure we will be believed or maybe telling the truth will have critical consequences on our finances and personal life. Is it really better to take that chance and bury it inside and have it eat away at us? Is a lie or unsaid truth really better than the truth? Think about it and then ask for Gods guidance knowing, the truth WILL set you free.

Friday 6th September: Spiritual Gym by Sheldon K. Bass

habitual or I will lose spiritual ground. The revenues of remaining close to God are wonderfully vast. The list goes on and on. By practicing godliness, we receive; purpose, spiritual strength, peace, provision, joy, friendship, love, direction, and much more. Thank you Lord, for leading us in your ways of truth and love; give us a clear view of our own heart so that we may conform to the perfect pattern of your Son Jesus and truly appear as your children. Amen.

Saturday 7th September: “The Christ within Others” by Lynn Gipson (c) Corenzio

“For bodily exercise profits little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” (1 Timothy 4:8) A close friend and student in my Bible class runs five miles nearly every morning. I like lifting weights. We enjoy discussing the benefits of our chosen method of keeping in good physical condition. Both have profitable advantages, such as increased focus, more strength, greater energy, and better health. Today's verse proclaims the benefits of practicing godly habits to be of far greater significance than that of physical training. The more we neglect exercising our faith; doing good deeds, praying, studying the bible, or a number of other relationship enhancing disciplines, the less profitable we become. The profitability of my workouts doesn't last long. I must make it a habit or I lose what I've gained. The same is true of my spiritual disciplines. They must become

“I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.” John 17:26 Lately I have learned about loving others as they are. There is good in most people. Even the most difficult people sometimes have amazing hearts. Jesus has spoken a lot about this to me in the past few months. Instead of looking at another person flaws, He told me to look and respond the goodness in them. Now I try very hard see this goodness as “the Christ within” them. Looking for the Christ in others doesn't mean I don't see the meanness, or lies they might tell, or other character defects as being okay. It just means I look at their kindness, generosity, and other redeeming qualities they might possess. As a caretaker of a very difficult elderly aunt, I have spent a lot of time looking at the qualities that don't become her. I have, at times, 11

resented her caustic remarks about myself and others. On the other hand, she has a generous heart and can be delightful to be around at times. God must have made her such an integral part of my life for some reason. He gave her to me. So now every day I look for “the Christ within” her, and I am astounded to see how often she responds in kind. God is so good!

Sunday 8th September: What Is Hidden Will Be Revealed by Stephanie M. White “For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. “ Mark 4:22 NIV In the fourth chapter of Mark, Jesus is describing the Word of God and He calls it Seed. Seed is hidden in the ground but it’s eventually transformed into a plant that everyone can see. The same is true with the Word of God. We hide the Word in our hearts and it produces Spiritual fruit that’ll be visible in our lives after time – Seed, time, and harvest. When this process seems to be taking forever you must remember that God has a plan for you. You may not see any signs of the promise but realize that something is transpiring that you cannot see. That Seed that is hidden in your heart will one day take root and produce fruit that can be seen – just like the seed the farmer plants will one day become a visible crop. We must hold on to the Word instead of letting it go. We must keep our focus on the Word even when it feels like we’ve been abiding forever and nothing is

happening. There will be plenty of times that you do not feel like focusing on the Word. There will be times that you feel like giving up because you cannot see any progress. During these times remind yourself that what is hidden will be revealed – God’s Word will be displayed in your life in God’s perfect timing!

Lord thank you for all the times that you have rolled me over and lifted me up. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Monday 9th September: It's Okay to Tell for the Right Reasons by Vicki L. Julian © Designpicssub And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24 (NIV) Jesus taught with parables, so likewise, perhaps the best way to fulfil this directive might be by example and sharing our good acts. But how do we do that? Isn’t it boastful to tell others of our good deeds? Actually, there is a big difference between sharing ideas for doing good deeds to inspire others versus bragging about what we have done in order to receive praise or recognition. It's a fact that we feel better about mankind when we hear stories about others who do something wonderful to help their fellowman. It makes us see that we can do those things, too. Intent is the discerning factor. If we tell of our good deeds for personal glory, that is clearly contrary to what the Bible says we should do. But if we tell to provide an example, that is different. It lets our light shine so that our good works glorify God and will give others ideas to follow. Now that is how to spur one another!

Tuesday 10th September: Roll Me Over Jesus! by Karen White I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. John 10:11 I love to see sheep grazing in a lush green pasture. It is a calming sight to behold. But did you know that if a sheep falls over on its back it can’t get back up? Someone, usually the shepherd has to assist the sheep or it will eventually die. Have you ever felt like a sheep: down and unable to get back up? Maybe you were physical ill, had been beaten down by the world, hurt by a loved one; perhaps you were burdened by the loss of someone close to you. In today’s world there are many situations that can leave us feeling as helpless as a sheep laying on its back and unable to get up. But thanks to a loving God, we have a Shepherd who reaches down and gently turns us over in order for us to stand. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who gave His life for us, His sheep. Next time you feel you are on your back, just look up to heaven and say with confidence, roll me over Jesus!

Wednesday 11th September: CONVERSATIONS: PRAYER TALKS By Karen Pourbabaee “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:1) “Persevere in prayer” (Colossians 4:2) Jesus taught us the model prayer, or “The Lord’s Prayer” in Mathew 6:913. As children of God, we are called to have regular talks with our Father. Prayer talks. Prayer is a creative act bringing forth communication, communion and conversion. Prayer begins with communication, which we must initiate. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8)It involves both talking and listening. It is a dialogue; a sharing. To communicate is to be connected; and this connection creates intimacy. As the first words of prayer are spoken, we step into the presence of God. It’s His gift of communion. A place to be loved, accepted, and secure. A place to learn something of God’s thoughts. It’s where we can perceive His heart, receive His direction, and bask in His mercy and

forgiveness. Indeed, it is a place of grace!

Those promises are found in Psalm 119:

Finally, the outcome of this creative act of prayer is the grace of conversion; a converting, a turning, a transforming. We may turn from sinful ways after receiving God’s forgiveness. Perhaps our mood is transformed for that day. Our viewpoint changed by coming to know God’s thoughts. Our own heart can be changed toward someone by perceiving God’s heart toward them. By prayer we are progressively transformed toward Christlikeness. Prayer should change us through the grace of conversion. Get creative! Pray! Revel in God’s gifts of communication, communion, and conversion.

V49:”Remember Your Word to Your servant, by which you give me hope.” V54: “When I recite your edicts of old, I am comforted, Lord.” V165: “Lovers of Your teaching have much peace…” Counsel is a second valuable gift of conversation with the Father. His Word gives us insight, understanding, and direction. God will show us the path to take in this uncertain world. Again, Psalm 119 confirms that promise: V24: “Your decrees are my delight, they are my counsellors.” V104: “Through Your precepts I gain insight.” V105: Your Word is a lamp for my feet, a light for my path.”

My husband and I love the beautiful barns scattered in the landscape across the country. These structures will someday be a lost part of our American scene. Metal buildings, with far less architectural beauty, are replacing them. The barns remind me of an elderly man who prayed, “Lord, prop me up on my leaning side.” He explained that years before he owned a beautiful barn; but time weathered the structure till its age became apparent. Emotion tugged at his heart when he noticed it was leaning. He bought poles and painstakingly propped up the old barn on its leaning side. It was then he thought of the times when God had to prop him up when he leaned toward worry, bitterness or anger as the storms of life beat him up.

Thursday 12 September: CONVERSATIONS: LISTENING TO GOD’S WORDS by Karen Pourbabaee My dad and I shared thousands of conversations through the years. I gained his advice, insight, wisdom, and comfort. Journeying through Alzheimer’s his last thirteen years, treasured talks became impossible. But his words are tucked away in my heart, and when least expected, some of those words enliven my day and enlighten my way!

Listen closely and hide His Word in Your heart. You will find His promise of comfort and counsel to enliven your day and enlighten your way!

Friday 13th September: God Is Love by Antje Hill “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32

When I see a picturesque barn, I’m reminded that God watches over us, as the farmer watched over his barn. When an old barn comes into site and it needs propping, it reminds me God loves taking care of me. It reminds me too, that I can be used of God to prop others up when life hurts. Someone once said, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle.” We are most like God when we are helping others.

Our Father also wants to hide His Word in our hearts. But first we must have a conversation. Sit still in His presence and listen. His words are the most important conversation we need to hear. And in listening we come to know Him and receive His gifts. One gift given by His Word is comfort. With comfort, hope is birthed and peace is possible again.

Saturday 14th September: Walk in the Light by Mathew Bartlett

His mercy still has regard to the fact that Jesus Christ has died for ALL our sin. How it should grieve us when we fail, to realise that he has already paid such a terrible price for our unfaithfulness. But how it should also make us love Him since, knowing every sin we would ever commit, He took them all willingly to His cross. My Lord and I can never be parted, so long as I am always willing to accept what he has done for me.

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There was an occasion when Christ began to wash his disciplesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; feet, and Peter tried to refuse him. "You shall not wash my feet" he said, thinking that he was being very pious and humble. But Jesus rebuked him. "If I do not wash you, then you have no part with me."

At first glance this verse appears to be very simple. Yet too many Christians have still got it the wrong way round. Many suppose that they must strive to walk in the light for the blood of Jesus to keep them clean. In fact, the verse teaches us that it is by the blood of Christ that we are able to stay clean and walk in the light.

God's method of cleansing the sinner is God's method of cleansing the saint. The blood of Christ was shed to cleanse us from all sin, including that into which we fall after our conversion. The Christian need never be ensnared by sin, for it has no power to hold him. Even those who have (sadly) fallen may rise again, because God in 14

Only when we realise that we have no righteousness in ourselves and flee to Jesus for cleansing can we be in the right place with God. When we have been cleansed, we must not to think that our own righteousness will then keep us clean. We must always keep close to the fountain of cleansing, the Lord Jesus Christ. As we do so, since we are all sinners saved by grace, acknowledging that we have nothing to offer God but the gratitude we show by our totally yielded lives, so we shall have real spiritual fellowship with one another.

Sunday 15th September: Stones of Remembrance by Maria Egilsson Psalm 105:5 (NIV) Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles… It is so easy to forget what God has done; even those pivotal moments that change us forever. They begin to fade as other things crowd out their importance. This is why God instructed the children of Israel to build a memorial of remembrance after the crossing of Jordan in Joshua 3 & 4. Twelve stones were laid, one by each tribe, as a permanent legacy to what God had done for them. I too have stones of remembrance. Yes, I write on stones. These stones are my visual reminder of God’s promises to me. They represent ages, stages and life events where the word of God has been an anchor holding me fast during storms. On these stones are scriptures that represent a fresh work in my life; a new turning point. They are tangible reminders that I can touch and hold. Their words bring comfort, strength and hope. I read these stones and I remember all what God has done. They remind me of all that He will do and all that He has promised.

The leper's separation from everyone, including his family, offers nothing but pain and rejection. He is considered unclean, and no one dares to come near his disease. However, through the eyes of an outcast, Jesus seems different. Grasping at his last thread of hope, the leper humbly kneels before the healer and prays.

only does God have a plan for each of our lives, He has the antidote for healing the hurts that create bitterness, regret and anger. The source of that hurt must be addressed. Jesus is our great physician, who teaches us how to forgive and release the destructive emotional chains, which serve as barriers to our future.

We learn several lessons from his prayer. First, the leper knows Jesus is Lord. Second, he makes no demands. On the contrary, his humble prayer placed priority on the will of God. Scripture echoes this thought… “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us-whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him” (1 John 5:14-15).

If a woman has a boil on her arm, she must have the doctor cut it open and drain the infectious fluid from it. A healing balm is then used and a bandage applied. Pain is involved as the offensive place is opened up. Yet afterwards healing can take place, leaving a scar— evidence of healed hurt. Jesus still has His scars too.

A heart yielded to God’s will always produces prayer that moves God’s heart. This type of surrender is precious to the Lord. It usually occurs when we realize He is our only hope. The leper trusted Jesus to heal his disease, and God honored his faith. Separation from his family ended with the cleansing of his body, but, better yet, separation from God ended with the cleansing of his sins.

Monday 16th September: Conversations with Jesus - The Leper by Cheryl Harrison

Tuesday 17th September: “Emotional Healing” by Sheldon Bass

A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. Matthew 8:2-3

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (1 Peter 5:7 NLT) Past painful memories serve as anchors dragging us down, holding us back from what could be. Not 15

As we bring these issues before our Great Physician, we must painfully open our hearts and release the infectious emotions to Christ, our healer. Include a close mentor. By His stripes we are healed from all of sin's effects on our souls. We are then free to ascend the mountain of victory and soar with the eagles. Jesus is the only one qualified to perform this liberating procedure.

Wednesday 18th September: A Lonely World by Bob Valleau “A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24) A man told his friend: "I'm on Tumblr, Facebook and Flickr. I blog, I text and I Twitter, and I'm still lonely." How ironic. In this age of everything digital that you can imagine to connect to another human being, we can still end up being lonely.

We humans are a peculiar lot. There are times we want to be left alone, but, in reality, we can never abandon our God-given desire to connect with another person on some level. It’s called the "connect and communicate" function that is part of our need to survive. This isn't a bad thing. From the cradle to the grave, we long to connect with another in some form or fashion. Today's technology can aid us in our quest to connect and communicate. But that is all it can do. It can never replace hearing someone speak, feeling their warm touch or seeing how much they care. Our desire to connect with another goes deeper than mere friendships and casual acquaintances. Adam's sin left a hole in our soul. Without our connection to something greater, we can wander around in life aimlessly for years and not have the satisfying relationships we desire. The only remedy for this is to reconnect to the Great Connector and keep our connection to Him current. And nothing digital we have will ever do that for us.

was a flapping bird, actually a very young turkey. When he dropped the bird at my feet, he was surprised when I shooed him away. While still alive, it was clear that he would die, so I just cuddled him in his death throes. Across the fence I spied the hen which, realizing her chick was dead, returned to the care for the living. And when my loyal barn cat returned later, I gently held him, letting him know that he was still appreciated. This little event, common on any farm, exemplifies the fragility of life as well as the wonders that God has provided. It also shows simply the importance of living each day like it’s our last. Only God knows when we will be called and being prepared for Him is imperative. Just think of the benefits. By living as He wants and believing in Him we can look forward to Eternal Life. And it’s all because Jesus gave His very life for us. Oh, what a gift.

Friday 20th September: Breaking Points by Sheldon Bass th

Thursday 19 September: From Fragile Earthly Life to Life Eternal by James Dick "For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16 (NKJV) Greeting the dawn in my barn, one of my trusted outside cats approached with a “prize”. This hard working fellow does a great job of keeping rodents out of the barn, and always shows me his catch to receive praise. As he got closer I could tell that the object

"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." (1 Cor. 10:13 NIV) Harvey was accustomed to fishing in freshwater lakes. But now, we were taking him shark fishing in Florida. He tells the story of shopping for the right fishing rod and reel, which could stand up to the strain of a 200 pound saltwater shark. 16

Harvey did a lot of research beforehand. He wanted to know the exact breaking point: how many pounds of pressure the rods and reels could withstand before they'd snap. The stores didn't have that information, but the manufacturers did. It's a good thing he called them; Harvey ended up catching the biggest shark. Our creator knows more about every aspect of our being than we do. He's intimately familiar with each of his creations of love. And He is fully aware of our breaking point: how much we can endure, which is usually much more than we think. It takes intense heat and tons of pressure to form a quality diamond. He's shaping us into strong, beautiful Christ-like people that He will treasure for eternity. God will never give us more than we can handle along with His help.

Saturday 21st September: Eternal Makeover by Karen White Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 In need of a makeover? I would like to invite you to a unique SPA (SALVATION PLAN for All). This SPA was designed with you in mind. The membership grows by the minute but the management encourages a family atmosphere. The SPA has been in existence since the beginning of time and its methods have remained consistent. The CEO is very knowledgeable about the human body and its needs. His goals are to increase membership and equip each member with the power

to become Christ-like. Here are a few benefits: 1. Membership is FREE; the management has covered all fees 2. Lifetime membership is guaranteed 3. Accessibility to management is 24/7, world-wide 4. Eternal rewards system is heavenly 5. Makeovers are custom designed for individuals 6. Members are provided with an internal support system Testimonials: My skin was covered in sores but the management at SPA cleared my skin in mere seconds-Leper; I have seen the management perform miraclesJohn; everyone who seeks membership is accepted regardless of gender, age, race, physical, mental, or behaviour attributes. For more information regarding our unique SPA contact BIBLE, a local pastor, or a Christian website.

Sunday 22nd September: Trust in the Lord – Let Go and Let God! by Lori Dixon “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV) I watched as my little black terrier pulled harder and harder on her leash. With each tug, the collar choked her causing her to gasp for breath. I was desperately trying to untangle the long cord from around the patio chair so that she could get out of the rain but in her haste and

stubbornness she would not allow any slack; pulling, she kept the line taut, without any give. Finally lifting her up, I took a few steps towards the culprit chair, freeing her. The damage was done, however and she continued to hack and clear her throat for a few minutes as she settled herself in front of the fireplace, content and at rest. It occurred to me that I can be just as stubborn and stupid. So often I get myself tied up in knots and rather than relaxing, I run. I keep struggling to get or keep control over my situation instead of stopping, dropping to my knees and allowing the Lord to lift me up. He knows the way out of my predicaments; I just need to let go and let God. He can and will straighten things out.

Monday 23rd September: God’s Right to Forgive by Sheldon Bass "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9 KJV) "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound!" Grace: Undeserved, Unmerited Favour It saddens me, when I hear someone talking about how they don't think God could ever forgive them for the things they've done. "But you don't understand—I've done terrible things." "God is angry with me!" or "I've strayed too far."

My heart aches for those who do not know what God has said. Even more heart wrenching are those who know what God say's, but don't believe it. "For God loved the world so much, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)- (slight paraphrase for clarity) "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved!" (Acts 16:31 NIV) (Exclamation added) Satan would have us believe God to be an angry tyrant demanding perfect conformity to His holiness, but that is false. We don't even have the capability for perfection while we live in these fleshly bodies that are predisposed to sin. That is why His grace is so amazing. If we are in Christ, and our hearts are turned toward Him, and we desire righteousness with all our hearts; no matter how far short we come, God will forgive our: mistakes, sins, imperfections. John writes "God is love." (1 John 4:16) God has the right to forgive your sins should he choose to do so – are you accepting his forgiveness? God hates sin because He is holy, and He is angry against sin. But He will never turn away from anyone who seeks His forgiveness. That's what He wants to do; forgive. He is merciful and compassionate. God knows we are still housed in a body of flesh that wars against the Spirit. (Romans 7) He knows we are going to sin at times. Yesterday’s reading shows that he has made provision for that (1 John 1:9). Taking this verse in stages

helps us to gain clarity of its meaning. "If we confess our sins..." If we come to God, seeking His forgiveness, confessing our need for His grace, acknowledging, that we are yet imperfect, and we rely upon His grace to be acceptable in His presence... (He will forgive us) We come before Him and itemize our sins as the Spirit reveals them to us. "..He is faithful..." Even though we try our hardest, sometimes we are not faithful to God. We hunger and thirst to be righteous, yet fall short of perfect righteousness. Christians are not always faithful to God. But God IS faithful all the time. He said He will forgive us. He will be faithful to what He says—always, regardless of our unfaithfulness! "...And just..." There is a reason it also states here that He is just. This indicates that God has the right to forgive us. He is just in doing so, because He paid our sin debt for us. His righteous requirement states that sin must be punished. If He did not punish sin, He would no longer be just, but unjust. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, God counts our sins as having already been punished. He is just in forgiving our sins, because he is the one who paid for them in our behalf, by giving His own Son to be our perfect sacrifice—our substitute on the cross. "Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." (Heb. 9:22 NIV) Jesus gave His life blood for us; to satisfy God's holy justice. God's anger against sin was poured out on His own Son on the cross. Jesus became our sin: past sins, and future sins, that we haven't even

done yet. He died and took them to the grave, then rose to life victorious. He gives us His righteousness, so that we are fit to be in God's presence. Have you ever been to a high class restaurant where a coat and tie are required, but you weren't wearing them? Then the Maître D went to the back and brought out a coat and tie so you could come in and dine in style? That's what Jesus gives us: holy clothes: His righteousness, so we can come in and live in God's presence, enjoying all His glorious benefits—in style and splendour. "(God) will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." However, I always try to keep in mind, that growth is expected of me; becoming more like Jesus every day. (Romans 8:29) Praise God for His amazing Grace!

Tuesday 24th September: Repentance by Ken Legg Contrary to popular belief the word ‘repent’ doesn’t mean to stop sinning. It is a translation of the Greek word metanoeo, meaning to perceive afterwards or change one’s mind. It is made up of two words: meta = to change; nous = the mind. The idea behind this word is to reconsider, or think differently. Sin is going our own way instead of God’s way, and thinking that it is the correct way. The Bible says that “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one, to his own way” (Isa.53:6). So the gospel causes us to see that our way is wrong and to renounce it. It calls us 18

to turn and choose God’s way instead. For some, the ‘way’ they need to repent of might be a life of selfcentred indulgence, for others it may be atheism or some other false belief system; whilst for others it is self-righteousness, i.e. the belief that we can save ourselves by trying to reform our behaviour. But what is God’s way? It is to believe on His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth and the life. There is no salvation outside of him. The gospel is not a call to us to try to clean up our act so that God will accept us. In fact, it is not about anything we do but is an announcement of what God has already done for us through His Son Jesus Christ. There are approximately 150 verses in the New Testament which tell us that if we believe (verb) or have faith (noun) in Christ alone we will be saved, justified, have eternal life, etc. No other condition is attached. We cannot contribute to this work by our attempts at behaviour modification. It is by Christ’s obedience that we made righteous, not ours (see Rom.5:19). Salvation is not a joint venture. Jesus alone has fulfilled God’s righteousness. God has supplied for us what He demanded from us. There will be no high-fives in heaven! Rather, throughout eternity we will be magnifying His amazing grace, (Eph.1:6, 12). “But if you don’t preach repentance you will encourage Christians to sin?” This sounds correct, but is it? First, let’s remember that to repent

means to change our mind. Those who insist that Christians need to keep on repenting are really saying we need to keep changing our mind. Well, I say, “Make your mind up!” Is your way the right way or is Jesus the right way? Believe God’s record and stick with it! Don’t keep repenting, i.e. changing your mind.

The Above article is an extract from Grace Roots by Ken Legg Order your copy online

Is repentance God’s answer to sin?

1 John 4:10, NIV “This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

Of course, I understand the concern of those who believe that if we drop ‘repentance’ from our vocabulary, Christians will think that it’s OK to live in sin. First, let me be very clear that any teaching that says sin is OK is false teaching. Sin is what Jesus died to save us from – not only its penalty but also its power. Grace is not a license to sin; it is the only thing that can empower us against sin, (Rom.5:20; 6:14; Titus 2:11-14). You will never beat sin by resolving to stop doing it (which is what a misinterpretation of the word ‘repent’ implies). Victory over sin is a divine work. It is Christ who began this good work in us who will also complete it. God’s answer to sinful flesh is not self-righteous flesh. His answer to the flesh is the Spirit. The Holy Spirit reveals to us our new creation identity as the righteousness of God in Christ. He says, “This is who you are; so now be who you are! Walk worthy of your calling.” Then He empowers us to put off the deeds which correspond with the old man we were in Adam and to put on the deeds which correspond with the new man we now are in Christ. That’s why the gospel involves a response to each member of the Trinity: repent towards God, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and receive the Holy Spirit.

Wednesday 25th September: Now that’s Love by Antje Hill

winter beds and trees open new buds, I am reminded of God’s love for us. He took the time to make blue birds, red birds, tulips, daffodils and lush green grass. These smaller things give way to mountains, oceans, the Grand Canyon, sunsets, sunrises. And then there’s His son, Jesus, who walked among us! God wants us to focus on how much He loves us, not on our love for Him. We just can’t do it like He does. I’m so glad He knows me best, understands my humanness and loves me anyway.

Thursday 26th September: Easter Equals Rescue by Antje Hill This Easter morning started like our Easters for the past several years. We drove down our little lane to a beautiful ranch less than ten miles from our home.

Last year Richard put a birdhouse on our oak tree and within an hour, a pretty blue bird was sizing it up for a safe place to raise her family. Soon baby birds chirped on Baker’s Hill. We laughed at how fast our birdhouse was occupied. We’re hoping this spring brings new mothers-to-be to our backyard. Springs awakens not only nature, but our very souls. Children start dreaming of summer days. Vacation plans start coming together. Jogging, biking and other outdoor sports leave us with fading memories of snow and cold temperatures. As flowers push their way up from 19

Unlike Easters from my childhood, this was scheduled at a more reasonable hour, making it not really a Sunrise Service. But that didn't detract from the gathering of people of different faiths to celebrate the reason for the season. Many years ago the services were outdoors. But cool weather and wet grass, along with occasional rain had driven the services inside to the Auction Building, with bleachers to accommodate the 100 plus people that gathered. There was electricity for musical instruments and places for coffee, juice and breakfast foods. This setting had become a very special part of early morning Easter in the hearts of the people in our little town. This Easter morning brought comforting thoughts as our pastor presented his message for the day.

“Easter equals rescue”, his words rang out in the quiet of the morning. Pastor Anthony reminded us of the end-of-life provision made many years ago for every single person ever born. But he made it clear that this provision did more than promise us Heaven. It makes us His child and seals our relationship with Jesus Christ. Life is described in the Bible as a vapor. That description is used to convey to us just how short life is. We get so caught up in the here and now that we sometimes forget there's more, much more. In fact, someone has said this life is for deciding where we really want to live. That puts a whole new perspective on our earthly existence. Have you looked up the definition for 'rescue' lately? Webster says it means, "To free or save from danger". So Easter truly was a rescue mission and rescues are never free. This one was no exception. It cost God His Son. Marvin Rosenthal, executive director of the magazine, Zion's Hope wrote of the magnitude of God recently as he said, “The more scientists measure the universe, the more they realize it is immeasurable. The more they seek to describe it within boundaries, the more they realize it is boundless. The more they try to comprehend it, the more they realize it is incomprehensible." That's just like our Universe Maker! He does things big, like sending His son to rescue us. What a plan!

Thank God for our rescue!

had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. The only animal with us was the one I was riding”. Nehemiah 2:12 (Message) Nehemiah kept his mouth closed concerning the things God had placed in his heart to do. It’s a good thing he did because Nehemiah quickly found out that not all was excited about what excited him.

Friday 27th September: Don’t Let Anyone Kill Your Dream by Sonja Burketh Ever been over the top excited about pursuing your God-given dreams and couldn’t wait to tell everyone who would listen? However, after receiving less than enthusiastic responses you started to second-guess yourself to the point of not pursuing the very things you were excited about in the first place. Making the decision to go after our dreams automatically triggers some level of excitement. I believe this is one of God’s ways of helping us counteract any fear we also may be feeling. Without excitement we most likely won’t get out of the starting gate. This is why we must not only learn to protect our God-given dreams but also protect our God-given enthusiasm for them. To do this we can learn quite a bit from Nehemiah: “I got up in the middle of the night, I and a few men who were with me. I hadn't told anyone what my God 20

The fasted way to kill a dream is to kill the enthusiasm for it. Unfortunately this happens when we allow others to dampen our own excitement toward our dreams simply because they are not excited about what we are attempting to accomplish. Until you have built up enough faith and confidence in what you are pursuing it may be wise to not widely share the details. Although, know every excited part within you is going to want to do just that. Only sharing limited information with a select few may be a better idea. Those select few who are if for no other reason are excited because you are excited. As much as we desire to tell the entire world about our dreams we must desire to protect them even more. Everyone will know about them soon enough when they see our dreams become realities.

Saturday 28th September: The Self-Revealing God by Mathew Bartlett The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him... to show His servants (Rev. 1:1) Every person needs to receive a revelation of God. This is the

purpose of the last book in the Bible. It is a revelation of Himself which Jesus Christ offers to men; and this is all that man could ever desire or need. If we pray, "Lord, I want you to reveal yourself to me more and more" then He will do so; for He is always pleased to do this. The revelation we have received from Christ is a revelation of who God is, for the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily in Christ, who is the image of God, the Word made flesh. Jesus is the complete revelation of God. God has given all things to the beloved Son, so that to have the Son is to have all things. Receiving a revelation of the Son of God enables us to enjoy now what will be ours forever in heaven. Jesus reveals His grace, mercy, and love to all His servants; he shows us His wonderful person and nature. The Christ who dwells within believers reveals Himself by that inward shining of His person in our hearts; a glory which transforms us into His likeness. At present, our knowledge of Him is incomplete. But God's purpose is that one day, when He is at last fully revealed, we shall be perfectly like Him. O Lord, reveal yourself to me today and imprint your own image on my soul. I will not be satisfied until I awake with your likeness (1 John 3:2).

Sunday 29th September: The Message of God by Mathew Bartlett And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John. (Rev. 1:1).

Though the Lord sometimes speaks directly to His Church, He may often choose to do so via another servant, and we are no less blessed when we receive such a revelation "second hand". The seven Asian churches received this revelation through John, who Himself received it at the hand of an angel; but in fact it was a message which came from God and the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord has many ways of speaking to us. Whether it is through listening to a sermon from the pulpit or the use of spiritual gifts, or directly to our hearts as we study His word, God is the selfcommunicating God. He wants us to know His will, and He will not leave us without a message from Him. Yet in this we should be cautious. Many false teachers today are saying "thus says the Lord" when the Lord has not spoken. Isaiah warns us: To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. (Isaiah 8:20 NKJV) And Jeremiah says: "The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; And he who has my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat?" says the LORD. (Jeremiah 23:28 NKJV) God's people will have all the guidance they seek when they seek it from His Word. The revelation of God's will may come via an angel, or a John, or a complete unknown, but when it comes it will always reveal HIS WORD to them - so much so that its truth may readily be verified by comparing it with the teaching of Scripture.

If anyone brings a teaching, prophecy, or revelation that does not agree with the clear teaching of the Word of God, that teaching is to be rejected. The people guilty of doing this should be treated gently, but corrected And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, patient, correcting opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth. (2 Timothy 2:24-25 NRSV) If they continue in such behaviour, they must be severely warned that such teachings will not to be allowed in the Church of Jesus Christ. I urge you, as I did when I was on my way to Macedonia, to remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach any different doctrine. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have turned over to Satan, so that they may learn not to blaspheme. (1 Timothy 1:3 & 20 NRSV) Dear Lord, help us to be ready to hear your voice through your Word, whoever you send with a message to us. But help us also to keep what is good in our hearts but reject all that is evil and false. In Jesus name. Amen.

Monday 30th September: The Testimony of Jesus Christ by Mathew Bartlett Who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. Rev 1:2 NKJV

John's task was to make known all that he had seen and heard, which is what we have recorded for us in the book of Revelation. Notice that the message is brought by a lowly servant, yet it is still the Word of God and not the idea or opinion of a man. What a wonderful privilege belongs to us who we serve Jesus Christ! Let the politicians debate, and the scientists invent theories, but let the servant of God proclaim what he has heard from the mouth of God. Whenever we read the Bible, we are hearing God speak to us today. John's message is further defined. For the whole of God's Word from Genesis to Revelation is a testimony of Jesus Christ. It is mainly about Him, His person and work, His glory and attributes. We can be sure that the testimony of Jesus Christ is a sure and accurate record, for God is the God of Truth. As believers our greatest delight is to talk about Jesus, and that is what God has called us to do. We are simply to tell others what we have seen and heard, our own personal testimony of how He has saved our souls. What a blessed service! It is no difficult thing that God asks of us, to tell others what Jesus Christ has done for our souls. Let us go about it at once! Dear God, give us today courage and opportunity to speak to someone of your goodness and greatness. Let us never be ashamed to bear witness to our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

FEATURED ARTICLE: Predestined to Adoption by Mathew Bartlett

ÂŠ Jenny King

Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will (Eph. 1:5). children! Unfortunately many preachers today who mistake the meaning of the word "predestined" as used by Paul here and elsewhere. Some have made up an entire doctrine on order to suggest that God has chosen a certain group of "elect" people to be saved before the world was formed, and that God only loves these and that Christ only died for these so called "elect". Dear friends, please do not accept this awful lie. The Word of God makes clear that God loves the world (John 3:16), that he is not willing that any should perish (2 Pet. 3:9), that His offer of mercy is for everyone without exception (whosoever John3:16) and that Jesus died for all the human race (John 1:29).

How wonderful that God has predestined us for adoption as his 22

The true "elect of God" are those who have put their trust in the Lord Jesus. Because God is eternal, we who have trusted Christ were known to Him as His children before the foundation of the world. Yet the word "predestined" used by Paul in the original text refers to the future which God has planned for us. Jesus said "I go to prepare a place for you, and I will come again to receive you to myself" (John 14:3). This is predestination Paul is speaking of. It is the glorious destiny that awaits us who through Jesus Christ have become children of God. One day we will take up our place, given to us as a right (adoption), at His side in glory as His forever children.

Please pull out and keep this supplement for inspirational daily Bible readings during September.

Many thanks to our contributors: Karen White, Karen Pourbabee, Antje Hill, Judy Belshe-Toernblom, Lewis Armstrong, Ken Legg, Sheldon K. Bass, Lynn Gipson, Stephanie M. White, Vicki L. Julian, Maria Egilsson, Bob Valleau, Cheryl Harrison, James Dick, Lori Dixon, Sonja Burketh and Mathew Bartlett. 23

Chapter 7 Marriage Matters To comprehend the message of this chapter entirely, we must first understand that Paul is dealing with a series of specific subjects which the Corinthian believers had raised in their letter to him, one of which was the matter of sexual immorality. All kinds of sexual vice were endemic in first century Corinth and this caused considerable difficulties for the fledgling church. They had enquired if it might be best for them to practice celibacy, as Paul did. Was a celibate person to be considered more spiritual because of the fact that he or she abstained from sexual intercourse? The Marriage Option 7:1 Now with regard to the issues you wrote about: "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman." Paul begins his answer by maintaining that whilst celibacy is a good thing, it is not the only good thing. God has given men and women a proper way of expressing natural sexual desires through marriage and this is a good thing in the sight of God (Prov. 18:22 and Heb. 13:4). Paul does not teach that celibacy is better than marriage, or that celibate people are more spiritual than the married. A man or woman should make their own decision about whether or not to marry, as the ability to remain celibate is a gift of God given only to selected persons (Matt. 19:11-12). Whether

or not a person has this gift should (at least in part) guide their decision about marriage. Paul knew the pressures of living in Corinth, and although he personally favoured the life of celibacy, he did not compel others to do the same. He does not demand a celibate life for all who can maintain it. Marriage is seen by Paul to be the normal state for some, but he acknowledges that there are others, like himself, to whom God has given the gift of celibacy, that they might remain unmarried and be unrestricted by the additional responsibilities which marriage brings. Yet this does not mean that marriage is not also good. When God created humankind He made them male and female, blessed them, and told them to be fruitful (Gen. 1:27-28). All that God has made, He has declared to be very good (Gen. 1:31). In the Garden of Eden, God gave Adam more than a friend; He gave him a wife, instituting marriage (Gen. 2:21-25). 7:2 But because of immoralities, each man should have relations with his own wife and each woman with her own husband. As a general rule, Paul believes that men ought to be married. Celibacy is good if a person genuinely has the gift of celibacy; otherwise their natural desire for sex may overpower their resolve and lead them into temptation and possibly into sin. It is clearly better for a Christian man or woman to be married than for them to capitulate to temptation and participate in sexual immorality. 24

This, of course, is not the only reason why men should marry – but we must recall that Paul is answering a specific question rather than issuing general advice about marriage. As Calvin says, ‘the question [which Paul is considering] is not… the reasons for which marriage has been instituted, but… the persons for whom it is necessary’. 7:3-4 A husband should give to his wife her sexual rights, and likewise a wife to her husband. It is not the wife who has the rights to her own body, but the husband. In the same way, it is not the husband who has the rights to his own body, but the wife. Husbands and wives have certain responsibilities to each other. The words due benevolence or due affection used in some translations are too weak, and the above version is preferred. The Living Bible renders the verse: The man should [habitually] give his wife all that is her right as a married woman, and the wife should do the same for her husband (1 Cor. 7:3) While there are various rights within marriage, Paul explicitly means the right to sexual intercourse. Neither partner has exclusive rights to their own body. Each has an obligation to fulfil the other's sexual needs. Paul understood the sexual act to be an essential part of marriage and so declares that neither partner has the right to withhold this from the other.

Although Paul does not refer to it here, there may of course be times when for medical reasons it is not be possible for a partner to fulfil this particular marriage duty. Christian men and women should never be afraid to seek the advice of their doctor concerning sexual health. Couples in this situation may find it beneficial to pay extra attention to other ways of showing their love and enjoying each other’s company, perhaps by planning special outings, listening to music, or watching a movie together. 7:5 Do not deprive each other, except by mutual agreement for a specified time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then resume your relationship, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. There may also be occasions when in order to seek God, a Christian couple may agree to abstain for a short time from sexual intercourse. This is an exceptional situation, and because of the rights already outlined by Paul, it must only be done with the consent of both partners (for neither has sole power over their own bodies). Paul describes the situation where a married man or woman is wilfully withholding sexual intercourse from their spouse as an act of robbery. Abstinence must only last for the agreed time, after which normal sexual relations must start again, for if they do not, the couple place themselves at risk of sexual temptation. If their natural passions are not fulfilled properly, Satan will find them abundant opportunities to fulfil them illicitly. Satan has always tried to destroy the church of God by causing it to sin. To put it candidly, if you are not willing to have sexual intercourse with your partner, Satan will find someone else who is. 7:6 I say this as a concession, not as a command. Paul is not commanding everyone to get married; but he is explaining

that Christian men and women are free to marry if they wish. Marriage is not a duty God requires of everyone. As Morris notes, ‘Paul has laid down the duties of all who are married, but he does not lay it down as a duty that all should be married’. 7:7 I wish that everyone was as I am. But each has his own gift from God, one this way, another that. Paul himself preferred the unmarried state, and would have liked everyone to choose the same, but he knew that this could not be. It is the divine order that some should be married and some not. The important thing is for a man or woman to find and follow God's will for his or her life. The same verse in the Living Bible reads, God gives some the gift of a husband or wife, and others He gives the gift of being able to stay happily unmarried (1 Cor. 7:7). Advice for Singles and Widows 7:8 To the unmarried and widows I say that it is best for them to remain as I am. Having laid down this broad principle, Paul next applies it to different groups of people. He begins with considering the single and widows, saying that it is good for them to remain unmarried if they so choose. There is no shame attached to being single or to being a widow. 7:9 But if they do not have selfcontrol, let them get married. For it is better to marry than to burn with sexual desire. However, as they decide whether or not they should remain unmarried, they ought to give thought to whether or not they have the gift of celibacy. If they have strong sexual desires, Paul's advice is that they should marry. There is no benefit for the unmarried person in being single if it only leads them to burn 25

continually with unfulfilled sexual desire. It may well be so that it is good for a man not to touch a woman (1 Cor. 7:1 Authorised Version), but the man or woman who cannot control their passions should find legitimate expression for their sexual desires in marriage, rather than in an immoral relationship. ‘Sexual desire is not a sinful condition if it finds its relief not in fornication but in marriage’. Advice for the Married 7:10-11 To the married I give this command -- not I, but the Lord -- a wife should not divorce a husband (but if she does, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband), and a husband should not divorce his wife. Paul reminds the believers of the command of the Lord Jesus Christ that Christian husbands and wives are not to separate or divorce (Matt. 19:4-6). This command of Christ applies equally to husbands and wives, although here Paul for some reason specifically applies it first to the case of the wife. If a wife does leave her husband, she must not divorce him or take another husband. She is not free to remarry and she must remain alone or else be reconciled to her husband. In the remainder of the verse, Paul equally applies his teaching to men. The Christian husband is commanded by the Lord not to divorce his wife. Paul does not mention Christ's exception of allowing a man to divorce his wife if she were having a sexual relationship with another man. However, Christ clearly taught that even under such circumstances, the divorced husband was not to remarry whilst his wife still lived (Mark 10:11; Luke 16:18). So we see that although Paul has directed this command to men and women separately, the command for each is exactly the same.

The Christian Unbeliever

Married

7:12-13 To the rest I say -- I, not the Lord -- if a brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is happy to live with him, he should not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is happy to live with her, she should not divorce him. It is strange that Paul begins these instructions with the words, I am speaking, not the Lord, yet since there was no record of Christ having discussed this issue, Paul could not directly quote Him. This does not mean, however, that Paul was denying the divine inspiration of his teaching, for in verse 39 he claims that all his teaching on the subject of marriage has been inspired by the Holy Spirit of God. In these verses Paul is referring to those who were married before they became Christians. Paul does not entertain the thought of someone who is already a Christian marrying a non-Christian; for this is forbidden by the word of God (2 Cor. 6:14). Christians are only to marry in the Lord (1 Cor. 7:39). The situation being considered is when a married person becomes a Christian but their husband or wife does not. If an unbelieving spouse is willing to remain with the believer, then the believer should not leave or divorce them. 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified because of the wife, and the unbelieving wife because of her husband. Otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy. All believers have been set apart to God through their relationship to Christ, and their standing is not reduced by a marriage they had entered into before they were saved. In this instance, God regards the whole marriage as being sacred because one marriage partner is saved and is therefore holy. In this sense, and in this sense only, is the unbelieving partner sanctified by

the believer - for the purposes of making the entire marriage holy in the sight of God. Paul certainly does not imply that the unbeliever is saved by the marriage union, as the verses following make clear. However since the marriage is holy the children born to the couple are not regarded as the children of pagans but of Christians (just as if both partners were believers). They are holy in God's sight since they are the result of a holy union. Once again, Paul does not mean to suggest that the children will be saved by their parentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s faith, since each child will become individually responsible before God to receive Jesus Christ as Saviour when they reach an age of understanding. However, the children of Christian parents find admittance into the many privileges of belonging to the wider church community until such time as they can decide for themselves to receive Christ as Saviour and Lord. It cannot be too strongly emphasized, however, that it is as important to evangelize the children of Christians as it is to evangelize those of non-Christian parents. All children must be encouraged to choose Christ for themselves. 7:15 But if the unbeliever wants a divorce, let it take place. In these circumstances the brother or sister is not bound. God has called you in peace. Paul has been urging the Christian husband or wife to remain with their non-Christian spouse, but he realises that there are some situations where this may become impossible. If the unbeliever is no longer willing to live with their spouse because of Christ and leaves the home, then the believing husband or wife is free of all responsibility towards that spouse; they have left of their own choice. 26

Paul realised that there may well be nothing further the believer can do to rescue a marriage in these circumstances, short of denying Christ. So he counsels the believer in this instance to learn to accept the situation with the peace that comes from God, and to accept their heathen partner's decision that the marriage is over. It must be stressed that in these verses Paul is not giving permission for Christians abandoned in this way to remarry. Indeed, he has already insisted that such must remain unmarried or else be reconciled. There is a grave danger that the modern church is substituting the standards of the age for the standards of the word of God (which Paul has condemned in previous chapters). Blomberg is more cautious, and although he tends to equate permission to divorce with permission to remarry, he admits that the text of Corinthians provides no unequivocal answers on the subject. When Christ Himself made a statement giving permission for a husband and wife to divorce because of adultery (Matt. 5:32), He made no mention of remarriage. Our Lord knows every possible situation that His children will face, and with every one of these circumstances in mind, as He turned His omniscient thoughts to this particular subject He declared anyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and whoever marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery (Luke 16:18). For the honest person, humbly seeking to do the Masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s will, these words will suffice. 7:16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will bring your husband to salvation? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will bring your wife to salvation? A believer may of course try to save their marriage in the hope of seeing their spouse's conversion. But there comes a point where such an

attempt is no longer sensible. If the unbeliever has already made the decision to leave, it is best to let them go. After all, none of us know whether our loved ones will be saved, for that is a matter between them and God. Paul is realistic enough to see that clinging to a broken marriage will result in unbearable frustration and tension. His advice is that if the unbeliever leaves, the Christian should accept that by their parting, God has brought peace to an otherwise hostile situation. In his letter to Philemon, Paul writes to the owner of a runaway slave who was converted by his ministry. Perhaps, he says, this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back forever (Philemon 1:15). May this thought uphold those of our Christian brothers and sisters who face at this moment the very difficult situation which Paul has here described, and may we often think of them and uphold them in our prayers. Living for Circumstances

Christ

All

7:17 Nevertheless, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each person, so must he live. I give this sort of direction in all the churches. The overriding theme of the Christian life is seeking to do the will of God. That is why each one of us must remain in the situation where God has placed us, seeking to follow God's will and guidance. If a door opens to bring us a change of circumstances, this ought to be God’s opening of a door in answer to prayer, not our pushing at a door in disobedience to God. Whether we decide to marry or remain single, are divorced or widowed, God has a plan and purpose for every life. He has called us all to live the life He sets out for us. When we are saved, we must not assume that our position in life

will change. For example, a person who is saved whilst a bank clerk must not at once forsake that job, but should remain there until God directs otherwise. Applying this teaching to Paul's earlier point, we see that just because a man or woman becomes a Christian does not mean they should try to escape from their marriage to an unsaved partner. 7:18-19 Was anyone called after he had been circumcised? He should not try to undo his circumcision. Was anyone called who is uncircumcised? He should not get circumcised. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Instead, keeping God's commandments is what counts. If a man was circumcised before his conversion to Christ, he does not need to become uncircumcised following his conversion. God accepted him in the state of circumcision. Similarly, when a Gentile becomes a Christian he need not be circumcised for God has called him in uncircumcision. Circumcision is merely an outward ritual, and whether we have undergone this rite or not has no bearing whatever on our relationship to God, which is a matter of the spirit (John 4:24). In the same way, none of our outward circumstances have any bearing on the way we live our Christian lives. What counts is putting Jesus first and obeying his commands. 7:20-22 Let each one remain in that situation in life in which he was called. Were you called as a slave? Do not worry about it. But if indeed you are able to be free, make the most of the opportunity. For the one who was called in the Lord as a slave is the Lord's freedman. In the same way, the one who was called as a free person is Christ's slave. Christians should not make hasty decisions about altering their life circumstances once they are saved. There will no doubt be a very significant change in their lives, but 27

that change will be worked out within their existing sphere of influence, until such time as the Lord chooses to lead them out into new pastures. The radical change described by the words if any man is in Christ he is a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17) will lead to a tremendous transformation in a person’s life, but Paul is careful to instruct his young converts how to let God lead their lives, and not act independently of Him. It is not that it is God’s purpose to keep us bound to any one set of circumstances; his intention is rather for us to be free in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. To slaves he says if you have the opportunity of being made free, then so much the better! However, a slave who is called by Christ should not be anxious about his slavery. Being a slave does not affect one’s relationship with God. The slave who has received Christ as His Saviour has been set free from the slavery of sin and is truly free, unlike his heathen master, who is enslaved by sin and the devil! 7:23 You were bought with a price. Do not become slaves of men. Since Christians have been bought by Christ with His own blood, we belong to Him and are no longer our own. Free Christians should never sell themselves into slavery, for they are Christ's servants. By the same principle, the slave who is a Christian, although he obeys an earthly master, should not consider himself the slave of men but a servant of Jesus Christ. His earthly service is no less faithful – it is his motivation which has been transformed, stemming now from a grateful desire to serve Christ rather than from a fear of people. 7:24 In whatever situation someone was called, brothers and sisters, let him remain in it with God. The call of God is a call to walk in obedience and faith. Christians

should aspire to do God's will and seek His leading, rather than strive to advance themselves. As Morris says, Conversion is not the signal for a man to leave his occupation (unless it is one plainly incompatible with Christianity) and seek some other. We should serve God where we are until he calls us elsewhere.

Some commentators have supposed that the believers were passing through a time of severe persecution and that their lives were in danger, and that it would have been quite inappropriate for a man to marry if he knew that very shortly after he might die and leave his wife a widow. But if that were the case, then it is strange indeed that no other references to persecution occur in this epistle.

Unmarried Daughters 7:25 With regard to the question about people who have never married, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my opinion as one shown mercy by the Lord to be trustworthy. Here is another question which the Corinthians had raised with Paul in their letter. In those days it was usual for a girl's parent or guardian to decide when and who she was going to marry. The girl herself still had to be willing, for whilst these marriages were arranged, they were not forced. The Corinthians wanted to know if it was better for such a young woman to marry or remain single. Paul admitted that he had no words of Jesus to quote which would directly fit this situation, but he considered his own advice to be guided by his Godgiven wisdom and to be thoroughly reliable. 7:26 Because of the impending crisis I think it best for you to remain as you are. The words impending crisis or TM present distress (NKJV ) are very strong, and it is unclear what crisis Paul is referring to. It may well have been that the Christians at Corinth faced some particularly difficult circumstances at that time. However, it is not likely to be a reference to the atmosphere of sexual temptation in Corinth, for it is unlikely that Paul would contradict himself (see verse 2) by saying that a single person, although tempted, should remain unmarried.

It is most likely, judging by the context of the verses which follow, that Paul is referring to the short time remaining until the end of the age. We know that Paul preferred the single state so that he might be free to serve the Lord without the distractions of this life. Since our time on earth is so fleeting, he advises us all in a similar way, whether married or unmarried, to live for the values of eternity. 7:27-28 The one bound to a wife should not seek divorce. The one released from a wife should not seek marriage. But if you marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face difficult circumstances, and I am trying to spare you such problems. Whether we are married or single, the most important duty of our lives is our waiting on our service for the Lord. Human relationships are not the major focus of our attention, for even the blessings we find in them flow from the relationship we have with God, our divine Father. The married ought never to think that their marriage will hinder their walk with God, and the single should not become preoccupied with finding a wife or husband. We must all put these temporal matters in their proper place, and that is not the first place; the chief place in our lives belongs to Christ alone. Even at a time when Paul considered it inadvisable to contemplate marriage, those who did marry were not sinning. Paul's reason for advising them not to 28

marry at was to spare them the many hardships which married life would bring. If present persecution was on Paul's mind, then it is easy to imagine the pain of a father imprisoned, knowing how his wife and children were dependent upon him. Under such circumstances, the benefits of being unattached are clear. When their property was confiscated and they were excluded from the trade guilds, it was much easier for a Christian man to provide for himself alone than for several hungry mouths. However it is always true, throughout all time, that the greater responsibility which a married man carries brings him more anxiety, and this added care is what Paul wanted his converts to be free from. Nonetheless, many married men would claim that the blessings of a God-given marriage far outweigh its disadvantages. Paul points out merely that the unmarried are free from those cares which are peculiar to married people, especially since these troubles are exaggerated greatly in times of persecution or poverty. 7:29-30 And I say this, brothers and sisters: The time is short. So then those who have wives should be as those who have none, those with tears like those not weeping, those who rejoice like those not rejoicing, those who buy like those without possessions. There is not a great deal of time left for any of us in this world, since Jesus is coming soon. Rather than be engrossed with the interests of this life, we should be setting our hearts on the affairs of eternity. Eternal values should regulate all our actions. The short time which we have is our only opportunity to serve the Lord Jesus Christ before He comes again. Whether single or married, we should remain as unfettered as possible in order to do the Lord's work - living in anticipation of His coming. Grief, joy or prosperity should never distract us from serving Him.

7:31-32 Those who use the world as though they were not using it to the full. For the present shape of this world is passing away. And I want you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. Although it is a fact that we must use the things of this world (we must eat, work and so on), we should not become obsessed with them, for they will soon pass away, as will our need for them. Instead, we should primarily seek the kingdom of God (Matt. 6:31-33). Jesus warned that the danger with becoming preoccupied with the affairs of a life is that we shall not be sufficiently prepared for its sudden end: Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly (Luke 21:34 TM NKJV ). The unmarried man is exposed to less of these cares than the married man and so is able to devote his whole time and energy to serving the Lord. This is the whole point of Paul's favouring celibacy, there is no other reason. 7:33 But a married man is concerned about the things of the world, how to please his wife. A married man is inevitably concerned about caring and providing for his family. In this sense he has the care of this world upon him. It is not that he is worldly or less spiritual, but that his time is divided between caring for his family and serving Christ. He must please both the Lord and his wife and so his interests are divided. It is not wrong to provide for one’s family, indeed the Word of God insists that if any man does not provide for his own he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever (1 Tim. 5:8). Paul wants

the unmarried to see that married life brings added responsibilities and how that, to some extent, these may conflict with their desires to serve Christ with their full attention. 7:34 There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world--how she may please her TM husband. (NKJV ) Similarly, the unmarried woman or widow has no ties and is able to wait on the Lord without distraction, serving Him fully and being wholly devoted to Him in body and spirit. It is not that a married woman is less devoted to the Lord, but simply that she has other things on her mind - her duty to her husband. 7:35 I am saying this for your benefit, not to place a limitation on you, but so that without distraction you may give notable and constant service to the Lord. Paul is not trying to place an obligation on his readers not to marry. Those who wish to marry may freely do so. He simply offers the advice that those who choose to remain celibate will have less to distract them from the Lord and so will be able to give their full attention to His service. 7:36 If anyone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his virgin, if she is past the bloom of youth and it seems necessary, he should do what he wishes; he does not sin. Let them marry. Paul returns to the question of the parents who have girls approaching the age of marriage. ‘If she is past the bloom of her youth’ means she has past the stage of being fully developed as a woman, in other words an age suitable for her to become someone’s marriage partner. It seems necessary means that the gift of celibacy was 29

evidently not present. The girl’s governors should first of all consider whether she is showing strong desires towards the opposite sex, and if so they ought to consider finding her a husband. As Morris says ‘to withhold marriage from a girl of marriageable age, and anxious to marry, would have been to court disaster, especially in first century Corinth.’ Obviously, if the girl was a Christian then her husband would need to be a Christian man. If in our modern day, when we are considering a young couple in love rather than those being brought together by an arranged marriage, the same principles apply. If they wish to marry, and need to marry, God bless them and let them marry! 7:37-38 But the man who is firm in his commitment, and is under no necessity but has control over his will, and has decided in his own mind to keep his own virgin, does well. So then, the one who marries his own virgin does well, but the one who does not, does better. If the guardian is under no moral obligation (as he would be, for instance, if the girl were already engaged), and if he has the legal authority to do so, then assuming that he is assured that the girl in question has the gift of celibacy, then he might quite happily refrain from giving her in marriage and keep her as an unmarried daughter in his own home. In these circumstances she would be able to devote herself fully to the Lord. This should only be so, of course, if this was her wish. The guardian who allows his daughter, who wishes to remain single in his home, to do so, has done well. On the other hand, if it is more fitting for his daughter that she be given in marriage, and he gives her permission to marry, then he has also done well. So if he gives the girl in marriage he has done well and if he keeps an eligible girl as a virgin then he does even better.

Widows Again 7:39-40 A wife is bound as long as her husband is living. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes (only someone in the Lord). But in my opinion, she will be happier if she remains as she is -and I think that I too have the Spirit of God! Widows and widowers were never far from Paul’s thoughts, as they are always close to God's heart (Ps. 68:5); and on the subject of marriage Paul saves his last word for them. Marriage is ‘till death do us part.’ The physical union does not extend beyond death, although the bereaved may take comfort from the fact that there will be a glorious day of reunion with our loved ones (1 Thess. 4:13-18). According to the word of God, a Christian widow or widower is free to marry whomever they may choose, as long as he or she is a Christian. In another place, dealing specifically with the case of younger widows, Paul advises them to remarry, settle down and bring up children (1 Tim. 5:14). This was in partly due to the fact that they could not bridle their sexual desires. But here, Paul is considering the older widow. Even though she is at liberty to remarry (so long as her new husband is a Christian), she may find that she is happier coming to terms with her grief, keeping her happy memories and henceforth devoting her time and service entirely to the Lord. This is Paul's opinion and indeed since he gives this advice under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God, it is Christ’s perfect will.

Our Lord Jesus Christ He is God. John 1:1; 1:18; 5:18; 20:28; Rom. 9:5. He has existed from eternity. Col. 1:17; Micah 5:2; John 17:5, 24; 1:1; Heb. 7:3. He has always been one with God the Father. Phil. 2:6; John 1:1; 17:5. Jesus created all things. Heb. 1:2; John 1:3. He sustains all things. Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3. He was in the beginning with God, His Father. John 1:2; 17:5. He does not change. Heb. 1:12; 13:8. Complete Godhead is in Him. Col. 1:16-17; 2:9. One may only worship God. Rev. 22:9; Acts 10:25-26; 14:12-17. But Jesus is worshipped. Matt. 14:33; Heb. 1:6; Phil. 2:10 He gives life to whom He will. John 5:21, 26. He is Judge of all. John 5:22; 2 Tim. 4:1; Acts 17:31. He is invested with all authority. Matt. 28:18; Heb. 2:8. He pardons guilt. Mark 2:5; Luke 7:48. He is omniscient. John 16:30; Col. 2:3. Excepting that He refuses to know the time of His return. Mark 13:32. He is omnipresent. Matt. 18:20; Eph. 1:23. He is Lord of life. John 5:21, 26; John 1:4; 14:6.

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