The Simplicity that is in Christ
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| In loving memory of my father Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023 |
These are days of great uncertainty in the world. We are surrounded by economic crises, business failures, corruption in high places, natural disasters, Covid and monkeypox pandemics, international terrorism, societal upheaval in ethics and morality, and random shootings. Multitudes are suing others because they got their egos bruised. Some might find little, if any, solace in this life. But God has provided something better for us.
The chief Musician is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Director of the orchestra that should be in total harmony, but some instruments are off key and off pitch. David waited patiently for the LORD. Should we do the same? The LORD always hears a cry from the heart.
Back in the 1970's our church fellowship sometimes sang the following song:
He lifted me up from the miry clay
Many shall see a new song in our mouth. How can anyone see a new song? because that new song is a new way of life. Words mean very little to the unsaved. They want to see a changed life.
Pride may well be the Lord's worst enemy and of course, He hates liars. This verse say that if we identify with the Lord in all things, then we are blessed.
In November, 1968, I heard a man, who was the head of a Bible translation organization, read the following article. He said that he did not know who the original author was. The title is called "The Man in the Pit."
A man fell into a pit.
A subjective person came by and said, I feel for you down in that pit.
An objective person came by and said, It's logical that someone would fall into that pit.
A Christian scientist came by and said, You only think you are in a pit.
A Pharisee came by and said, Only bad people fall into that pit.
A news reporter came by and said, I want an exclusive story on that pit.
The fundamentalist came by and said, You deserved to fall into that pit.
The Calvinist came by and said, If you were saved you would not have fallen into that pit.
An Armenian came by and he said, You were saved and you still fell into that pit.
A Charismatic came by and said, Just confess that you are not in that pit.
A realist came by and said, Now that really is a pit!
The IRS man came by and said, Are you going to pay taxes on that pit?
The county inspector came by and said, Did you have a permit to dig that pit?
An evasive person came by and said, Avoid the subject of pits altogether.
A self-pitying person came by and said, You haven't seen anything until you see my pit.
An optimist came by and said, Things could be worse.
A pessimist came by and said, Things will get worse.
And Jesus came by and lifted the man out of the pit!
Although that article is rather humorous, it contains much truth. Only Jesus can lift us up out of the pit. At times the Lord may use His servants to lift others out of the pit. But it is still by the sovereignty of God. Jeremiah was a good example of this. None of the ruling class liked the truth that Jeremiah spoke, so they threw him into a miry pit, where he was likely to die. But the Lord moved on Ebed-Melech, an Ethiopian eunuch, who initiated the events that led to Jeremiah's rescue. Ebed-Melech means "servant of the king." Every Christian is designed to be a servant of the King of kings. A servant does the bidding of his Lord and Master.
Many talk today of needing the Spirit and the Word. This is certainly true, but unless the Word is conveyed by the Holy Spirit it is just a dead letter. And yet here in this opening portion of Paul's letter to the Thessalonians, God shows us that He is the One Who is more than enough, the God of Plenty, the All Sufficient One. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. All of the silver and gold is His. We are recipients of overflowing abundance in that, added to this, power and much assurance also come with the Gospel.
Isn't it interesting that the Apostle Paul here so identifies with the Gospel that he attaches the personal pronoun "our"? God's message is to become personal. And it is for each and all of us who have been born from above. "Our Gospel" is the gospel preached by Paul, Silas, and Timothy and that they themselves had received by faith. However, it is first of all the Gospel of God the Father because He originated it.
The gospel secondly belonged to Jesus Christ because it springs from His atoning death.
If I counted correctly, the phrase, "the Gospel of the Kingdom" occurs three times in scripture; The "Gospel of God" occurs 10 times; the Gospel of Christ occurs 12 times; the gospel of grace, once; the gospel of peace, once; and simply "the Gospel" occurs 58 times. It is interesting that apparently all of the early Christians understood what "the Gospel" meant. Sadly, that is not true today. Far too many ministers today understand and speak of "the Gospel" to mean only that "Jesus saves." Some interesting verses are in Galatians 3:6-8, which says,
The Gospel (which means "good news") is that God loves us and gave Himself for us. We have a real and effective hope; a hope that is not just wishful thinking or even calculated risk. This hope is a confident expectation and an eager anticipation. This hope is in Christ.
The wonderfully unique aspect of this Gospel is that it comes in a four-fold manifestation. The number four in the Bible suggests universality or a double witness. The Gospel comes in Word, in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with much assurance. While some might consider the Word sufficient in itself, God wants us to be fully persuaded and convinced that this is the only and absolute Truth. But the Word, rightly preached, is not sufficient.
In order to become His witness, we must receive of His power.
God is faithful! My wife's favorite hymn is "Great is Thy Faithfulness." Whatever God has promised, He will do. A few years ago, I went to a nearby church for the first time. After the service was over, I started talking with a few of the men. For some reason, which I do not now recall, I mentioned several things that God cannot do. For example, God cannot lie (Titus 1:2); He cannot deny Himself (2 Timothy 2:13); and He certainly cannot sin because there is no unrighteousness in Him. In contrast, we, the natural man, can do nothing. Two of the most descriptive words of man, even "Christian" man, are "cannot" and "nothing." The two words are related.
A true revelation of the worthlessness of the natural man (or even Christian man's fleshly efforts to please God) in His sight has always been a necessary prelude to anointing for true service. The "I cannot" of Moses; the "Woe is me" of Isaiah; the "I am but a child" of Jeremiah; the "I am a sinful man" of Peter; the "In me dwelleth no good thing" of Paul, are typical confessions of all who have been called of God and anointed for ministry (or servanthood). Then we have Amos, who said,
We cannot engage in any work for Christ ... plan, prepare, organize, or enter into any type of Christian enterprise ... and thereby obtain the Divine seal of approval and blessing. Neither do men know how to worship God. We cannot pray as we desire or incline, even if our prayer is accompanied by passion and tears, and thereby obtain our desired Divine response.
Abiding in Him speaks of much more than being born from above or being baptized in the Holy Spirit. Without the Lord and the grace of God we can do nothing! We cannot even take our next breath except for Him.
No man can be born from above unless the Father draws him by His Spirit. No man can be baptized with the Holy Spirit unless it is a gift from above. All ministries and gifts are given to men as the Lord sees fit.
If Jesus said He could have His own self do nothing (and He said that), where does that leave us? The same is true of every believer. Paul said, in
A little child is totally dependent upon his or her parents. Likewise, all Christians must come to the place where we recognize that we are totally dependent upon the Lord, through the power of the Holy Spirit, for all things.
In Genesis, Chapter 11, all men tried to build a tower that would reach unto heaven. That was man's attempt to reach God by their own efforts. Of course, that attempt failed even though the natural, carnal motivation behind that endeavor seemed good and right. The Lord will never allow man's efforts to bring about the will and purpose of God. I suppose we could say it is God's way or the highway? Man, on his own efforts, can never reach God or know Him. Then we read of Ishmael and Isaac ... the former was the result of a Godly man's efforts to bring forth God's will. We all know the result of that.
Now, what is the simplicity that is in Christ? A few months ago we hosted a 60th birthday party for our oldest daughter. About 15 or 16 members of our immediate family were present, several from three hours away. After one meal, a son-in-law asked me the "secret" to my longevity on earth. Without thinking, I responded, "Trust and obey, for there's no other way."
Life can be a restless, disrupted existence until we give ourselves wholeheartedly to the Lord. Such implicit trust in God's great love and wisdom with a sincere desire to follow His leading should be every Christian's goal. Our willingness to trust and obey is always the first step toward God's blessing in our lives. Salvation is God's responsibility. Our responsibility is to trust in that salvation and then to obey the Truth. "Trust and obey" speaks of the resulting desire to obey Him and do His will in our daily lives. Then, and only then, do we experience real peace and joy. A man named John Sammis wrote that great hymn titled "Trust and Obey." Some of the words are:
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His word
More than 100 years ago, Fanny Crosby, who was blind from the age of six weeks, wrote a great hymn titled "Blessed Assurance." Some of the words to that hymn are;
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine. O what a foretaste of glory divine.
Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.
If we have accepted Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, we can live with absolute conviction and triumphant faith that the apostle Paul had when he proclaimed, in
Whereas man's ways are not sufficient to deliver ourselves from the darkness, misery, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness, death and the curse that overshadows humanity, God is able. Yet man continues the helpless pursuit of trying to deliver himself. Continuing in their own reason and strength, humanity is hopelessly lost. Thanks be to God that He has intervened in man's program through the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE which is Christ Jesus our Lord! He has been and is revealing Himself to a people who in turn are both witnesses unto Him and instruments of His great salvation. Since the fall of man in the Garden, the Bible repeatedly expresses the vast distinction which exists between God and mankind.
Man is limited by the impossible but God is able.
Man deserves death and is dead but God is Life and Love.
Man passes away but God is eternal.
Man is in darkness but God is Light.
Man fails and cannot sustain himself but God is unfailing.
Man justifies himself but God is just.
Man is weak but God is Almighty.
Man is an earth dweller but God is heavenly.
Praise God who through His Son has bridged this separation between God and man. He has been and is delivering a people from their way and nature and transforming (changing) us into His own likeness and image.
Having the LORD working in and through us, the limitations of finite man are brought into and unto the power and authority of the Eternal, the I AM. Then we have revelation by His Spirit, growth by His grace, a sure Word through Him, deliverance through His mercy, and provision by His riches.
The saints of the Most High need no longer to rely upon or be concerned about the power of natural men or the devil, because GOD is with us, blessing us, giving us peace, giving us victory, causing us to persevere, causing our enemies to fall, and making us His people.
With David these can say and sing that the greatness is His. The power is His. The glory is His. The victory is His. The majesty is His! There is a simple yet profound trust by this people in the KING of kings and the LORD of lords. Therefore, we should fear Him, acknowledge Him, and worship Him.
As we, who profess to be His disciples, recognize and continue to flow in the reality of His sovereignty, we will experience joy unspeakable and full of glory. Only God can and does accomplish this. Many falter before a perceived lack of tangible evidence. Like the Pharisees, some demand to be shown when the Kingdom will come. But, praise His holy Name, there are those who heeding our Lord are being joined to Him, praying for His Kingdom and experiencing and knowing the KING in their midst.
Amen and Amen.
2 Corinthians 11:3, "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."
The only real answer to every question or problem is the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ and whether or not we will accept who He is and what He tells us to do. Paul said, in
1 Corinthians 3:6, "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase."
Just as natural plants require the light of the s-u-n to grow, unless God gives the increase through His S-o-n, whatever any minister teaches or preaches will remain dormant within our mind. That is called the sovereignty of God.
Psalm 40.1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
The chief Musician is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Director of the orchestra that should be in total harmony, but some instruments are off key and off pitch. David waited patiently for the LORD. Should we do the same? The LORD always hears a cry from the heart.
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
Back in the 1970's our church fellowship sometimes sang the following song:
He lifted me up from the miry clay
and He sat my feet on the King's highway;
And that is the reason why I sing and I shout
for Jesus came down, down, down and lifted me up, up up.
3 And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
Many shall see a new song in our mouth. How can anyone see a new song? because that new song is a new way of life. Words mean very little to the unsaved. They want to see a changed life.
4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
Pride may well be the Lord's worst enemy and of course, He hates liars. This verse say that if we identify with the Lord in all things, then we are blessed.
5 Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.
In November, 1968, I heard a man, who was the head of a Bible translation organization, read the following article. He said that he did not know who the original author was. The title is called "The Man in the Pit."
A man fell into a pit.
A subjective person came by and said, I feel for you down in that pit.
An objective person came by and said, It's logical that someone would fall into that pit.
A Christian scientist came by and said, You only think you are in a pit.
A Pharisee came by and said, Only bad people fall into that pit.
A news reporter came by and said, I want an exclusive story on that pit.
The fundamentalist came by and said, You deserved to fall into that pit.
The Calvinist came by and said, If you were saved you would not have fallen into that pit.
An Armenian came by and he said, You were saved and you still fell into that pit.
A Charismatic came by and said, Just confess that you are not in that pit.
A realist came by and said, Now that really is a pit!
The IRS man came by and said, Are you going to pay taxes on that pit?
The county inspector came by and said, Did you have a permit to dig that pit?
An evasive person came by and said, Avoid the subject of pits altogether.
A self-pitying person came by and said, You haven't seen anything until you see my pit.
An optimist came by and said, Things could be worse.
A pessimist came by and said, Things will get worse.
And Jesus came by and lifted the man out of the pit!
Although that article is rather humorous, it contains much truth. Only Jesus can lift us up out of the pit. At times the Lord may use His servants to lift others out of the pit. But it is still by the sovereignty of God. Jeremiah was a good example of this. None of the ruling class liked the truth that Jeremiah spoke, so they threw him into a miry pit, where he was likely to die. But the Lord moved on Ebed-Melech, an Ethiopian eunuch, who initiated the events that led to Jeremiah's rescue. Ebed-Melech means "servant of the king." Every Christian is designed to be a servant of the King of kings. A servant does the bidding of his Lord and Master.
1 Thessalonians 1:5, "For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake."
Many talk today of needing the Spirit and the Word. This is certainly true, but unless the Word is conveyed by the Holy Spirit it is just a dead letter. And yet here in this opening portion of Paul's letter to the Thessalonians, God shows us that He is the One Who is more than enough, the God of Plenty, the All Sufficient One. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. All of the silver and gold is His. We are recipients of overflowing abundance in that, added to this, power and much assurance also come with the Gospel.
Isn't it interesting that the Apostle Paul here so identifies with the Gospel that he attaches the personal pronoun "our"? God's message is to become personal. And it is for each and all of us who have been born from above. "Our Gospel" is the gospel preached by Paul, Silas, and Timothy and that they themselves had received by faith. However, it is first of all the Gospel of God the Father because He originated it.
1 Thessalonians 2:8, "So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us."Paul said the same thing in Romans 9:1-3, "I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:"
The gospel secondly belonged to Jesus Christ because it springs from His atoning death.
1 Thessalonians 3:2, "And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:"
If I counted correctly, the phrase, "the Gospel of the Kingdom" occurs three times in scripture; The "Gospel of God" occurs 10 times; the Gospel of Christ occurs 12 times; the gospel of grace, once; the gospel of peace, once; and simply "the Gospel" occurs 58 times. It is interesting that apparently all of the early Christians understood what "the Gospel" meant. Sadly, that is not true today. Far too many ministers today understand and speak of "the Gospel" to mean only that "Jesus saves." Some interesting verses are in Galatians 3:6-8, which says,
"Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed."Jesus said, in Luke 13:28, "There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out."
The Gospel (which means "good news") is that God loves us and gave Himself for us. We have a real and effective hope; a hope that is not just wishful thinking or even calculated risk. This hope is a confident expectation and an eager anticipation. This hope is in Christ.
The wonderfully unique aspect of this Gospel is that it comes in a four-fold manifestation. The number four in the Bible suggests universality or a double witness. The Gospel comes in Word, in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with much assurance. While some might consider the Word sufficient in itself, God wants us to be fully persuaded and convinced that this is the only and absolute Truth. But the Word, rightly preached, is not sufficient.
In order to become His witness, we must receive of His power.
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13).
Indeed, the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16).
And, no less important, the Gospel comes with much assurance. Paul finally adds that this Gospel, his Gospel, our Gospel, comes with great, abundant, complete and full assurance. We have confidence and boldness in the Truth and certainty of God's eternal work in our lives. This is the full Gospel.
And, no less important, the Gospel comes with much assurance. Paul finally adds that this Gospel, his Gospel, our Gospel, comes with great, abundant, complete and full assurance. We have confidence and boldness in the Truth and certainty of God's eternal work in our lives. This is the full Gospel.
Romans 15:13, "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost."Acts 17:30-31, "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead."
God is faithful! My wife's favorite hymn is "Great is Thy Faithfulness." Whatever God has promised, He will do. A few years ago, I went to a nearby church for the first time. After the service was over, I started talking with a few of the men. For some reason, which I do not now recall, I mentioned several things that God cannot do. For example, God cannot lie (Titus 1:2); He cannot deny Himself (2 Timothy 2:13); and He certainly cannot sin because there is no unrighteousness in Him. In contrast, we, the natural man, can do nothing. Two of the most descriptive words of man, even "Christian" man, are "cannot" and "nothing." The two words are related.
A true revelation of the worthlessness of the natural man (or even Christian man's fleshly efforts to please God) in His sight has always been a necessary prelude to anointing for true service. The "I cannot" of Moses; the "Woe is me" of Isaiah; the "I am but a child" of Jeremiah; the "I am a sinful man" of Peter; the "In me dwelleth no good thing" of Paul, are typical confessions of all who have been called of God and anointed for ministry (or servanthood). Then we have Amos, who said,
"Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit: And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto My people Israel" (Amos 7:14-15).
We cannot engage in any work for Christ ... plan, prepare, organize, or enter into any type of Christian enterprise ... and thereby obtain the Divine seal of approval and blessing. Neither do men know how to worship God. We cannot pray as we desire or incline, even if our prayer is accompanied by passion and tears, and thereby obtain our desired Divine response.
"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself [Himself] maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" (Romans 8:26).So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:8Jesus said, in John 15:4-5, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing."
Abiding in Him speaks of much more than being born from above or being baptized in the Holy Spirit. Without the Lord and the grace of God we can do nothing! We cannot even take our next breath except for Him.
John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. John 3:27
No man can be born from above unless the Father draws him by His Spirit. No man can be baptized with the Holy Spirit unless it is a gift from above. All ministries and gifts are given to men as the Lord sees fit.
Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. John 5:19I can of Mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. John 5:30Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as my Father hath taught Me, I speak these things. John 8:28
If Jesus said He could have His own self do nothing (and He said that), where does that leave us? The same is true of every believer. Paul said, in
1 Corinthians 4:4, "For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but He that judgeth me is the Lord."
When Paul said he can know nothing by myself, he means nothing of any spiritual value and useful for the purpose of the Lord. We can have a B.A., a M.S., a Ph.D., a M.D., a J.D.; a doctor of divinity, or any other kind of degree from any university but still know nothing of value to the Lord.
What is the conclusion of the matter? All believers are totally dependent upon the Lord for everything. Sometimes we believers have to learn that the hard way. That is why Jesus said,
What is the conclusion of the matter? All believers are totally dependent upon the Lord for everything. Sometimes we believers have to learn that the hard way. That is why Jesus said,
In Matthew 18:1-4, "At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
A little child is totally dependent upon his or her parents. Likewise, all Christians must come to the place where we recognize that we are totally dependent upon the Lord, through the power of the Holy Spirit, for all things.
In Genesis, Chapter 11, all men tried to build a tower that would reach unto heaven. That was man's attempt to reach God by their own efforts. Of course, that attempt failed even though the natural, carnal motivation behind that endeavor seemed good and right. The Lord will never allow man's efforts to bring about the will and purpose of God. I suppose we could say it is God's way or the highway? Man, on his own efforts, can never reach God or know Him. Then we read of Ishmael and Isaac ... the former was the result of a Godly man's efforts to bring forth God's will. We all know the result of that.
Now, what is the simplicity that is in Christ? A few months ago we hosted a 60th birthday party for our oldest daughter. About 15 or 16 members of our immediate family were present, several from three hours away. After one meal, a son-in-law asked me the "secret" to my longevity on earth. Without thinking, I responded, "Trust and obey, for there's no other way."
1 Samuel 15:22 says, "And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams."
Life can be a restless, disrupted existence until we give ourselves wholeheartedly to the Lord. Such implicit trust in God's great love and wisdom with a sincere desire to follow His leading should be every Christian's goal. Our willingness to trust and obey is always the first step toward God's blessing in our lives. Salvation is God's responsibility. Our responsibility is to trust in that salvation and then to obey the Truth. "Trust and obey" speaks of the resulting desire to obey Him and do His will in our daily lives. Then, and only then, do we experience real peace and joy. A man named John Sammis wrote that great hymn titled "Trust and Obey." Some of the words are:
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His word
what a glory He sheds on our way.
While we do His good will He abides with us still
While we do His good will He abides with us still
and with all who will trust and obey.
Then in fellowship sweet We will sit at His feet
Then in fellowship sweet We will sit at His feet
or we'll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go
Never fear, only trust and obey.
Chorus: Trust and obey - for there's no other way
Chorus: Trust and obey - for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus - but to trust and obey.
Some people claim to have accepted Jesus as their Savior, but they live in the tragic uncertainty of doubting their personal relationship with the Lord. The Scriptures teach, however, that we can know with absolute confidence and assurance that we have the life of God within us.
Some people claim to have accepted Jesus as their Savior, but they live in the tragic uncertainty of doubting their personal relationship with the Lord. The Scriptures teach, however, that we can know with absolute confidence and assurance that we have the life of God within us.
1 John 5:10-13, "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."
This confidence is not based on inner feelings or outer signs. Rather, this assurance is founded upon the promises of a faithful God and His inspired Word. It depends not on the degree of our faith but on the object of our faith - Christ Himself!
Hebrews 10:19-23, "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;)"
More than 100 years ago, Fanny Crosby, who was blind from the age of six weeks, wrote a great hymn titled "Blessed Assurance." Some of the words to that hymn are;
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine. O what a foretaste of glory divine.
Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.
If we have accepted Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, we can live with absolute conviction and triumphant faith that the apostle Paul had when he proclaimed, in
2 Timothy 1:12, "For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom [not merely what] I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day."
Whereas man's ways are not sufficient to deliver ourselves from the darkness, misery, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness, death and the curse that overshadows humanity, God is able. Yet man continues the helpless pursuit of trying to deliver himself. Continuing in their own reason and strength, humanity is hopelessly lost. Thanks be to God that He has intervened in man's program through the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE which is Christ Jesus our Lord! He has been and is revealing Himself to a people who in turn are both witnesses unto Him and instruments of His great salvation. Since the fall of man in the Garden, the Bible repeatedly expresses the vast distinction which exists between God and mankind.
Man is limited by the impossible but God is able.
Man deserves death and is dead but God is Life and Love.
Man passes away but God is eternal.
Man is in darkness but God is Light.
Man fails and cannot sustain himself but God is unfailing.
Man justifies himself but God is just.
Man is weak but God is Almighty.
Man is an earth dweller but God is heavenly.
Praise God who through His Son has bridged this separation between God and man. He has been and is delivering a people from their way and nature and transforming (changing) us into His own likeness and image.
Having the LORD working in and through us, the limitations of finite man are brought into and unto the power and authority of the Eternal, the I AM. Then we have revelation by His Spirit, growth by His grace, a sure Word through Him, deliverance through His mercy, and provision by His riches.
The saints of the Most High need no longer to rely upon or be concerned about the power of natural men or the devil, because GOD is with us, blessing us, giving us peace, giving us victory, causing us to persevere, causing our enemies to fall, and making us His people.
With David these can say and sing that the greatness is His. The power is His. The glory is His. The victory is His. The majesty is His! There is a simple yet profound trust by this people in the KING of kings and the LORD of lords. Therefore, we should fear Him, acknowledge Him, and worship Him.
As we, who profess to be His disciples, recognize and continue to flow in the reality of His sovereignty, we will experience joy unspeakable and full of glory. Only God can and does accomplish this. Many falter before a perceived lack of tangible evidence. Like the Pharisees, some demand to be shown when the Kingdom will come. But, praise His holy Name, there are those who heeding our Lord are being joined to Him, praying for His Kingdom and experiencing and knowing the KING in their midst.
1 Peter 5:10, "But the GOD of all grace, Who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you."
Amen and Amen.
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