The Effects of Light
“…Light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than Light, because their deeds were evil.” Jn. 3:19. The irreligious hate the Light because it exposes their lawless living as sin. The religious hate the Light because it exposes their law keeping as sin. The sinner loves the Light because He is the only hope they have for their sin. ~GE
“Too Many Hypocrites”
Some will use this excuse to justify themselves for not coming to church. Those who make such a statement only reveal their self-righteousness and pride.
- You will never hear a sinner make such a statement, because they believe themselves to be the greatest hypocrite of all.
- What does the presence of hypocrites have to do with my need to hear the gospel and to worship God?
- The presence of hypocrites don’t keep us from going to the grocery store or the hospital.
- If there is a hypocrite standing between me and God, they are closer to God than I am.
The real reason men don’t come to public worship is because they have no need. The Master eats with publicans and sinners. Hungry dogs will be found eating the crumbs that fall from His table.
Have you ever been at church and felt like you were the only one in the room; that the message was just for you? That is when true worship is happening… and that is when it matters not the status of everybody else there. ~GE
The Friendship of Money
“Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness.” Lk 16:9a
In this parable (Lk. 16:1-15) the Lord is telling us how to be faithful stewards of earthly riches (mammon), that we might be trusted with the true riches of His grace. He tells us to make friends with money. He concludes that money will either be your friend, or it will be your master. You may ask, how can money be my friend? Well, what is the difference between a Friend and a Master? Friends are generous; Masters are greedy. Friends are considerate; Masters are controlling. Friends are humble; Masters are boastful. Friends are encouraging; Masters are intimidating. Friends have freedom; Masters are enslaving. Friends are happy with whatever they have together; Masters are discontent and miserable. Friends are fearless; Master are fearful. Friends are at ease with one another; Masters cause distress. Is your relationship with money friendly, or is it your master? No man can serve two masters. Our Lord called worldly riches “deceitful”. Mk 7:19. The whole world has been deceived by its promise to make them happy. In truth, the love of it enslaves men to an oppressive master. Let us make it our friend, while bowing only to the Lord Jesus Christ as our Master, and our friend. ~GE
The Lust of the Flesh Fulfilled
“Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit…” Gal. 5:16-17a.
When God the Holy Spirit regenerates one of His elect, Christ Jesus Himself by the Spirit comes to live in that believer. This new man, created in Christ Jesus, is holy, unblameable, and unreproveable in the sight of God. Col. 1:22. He is without sin, and in fact cannot sin. I Jn. 3:9. As He is, so are we in this world. This is our boldness in the day of judgment. I Jn. 4:17. This miracle of life does nothing to improve the old, carnal man of flesh. The flesh will always lust against the Spirit. It will always desire fleshly means for its comfort, pleasure and hope. For this reason, we will always be (apart from Christ) nothing but sin.
However, this does not make us indifferent to sin. To the contrary, the believer sees and hates his sin like they never could before. By God’s grace they put off the old man with his DEEDS and put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him. Col. 3:9-10. By God’s grace, they put on the Lord Jesus Christ and seek to make no provision for the flesh to FULFILL its lust. Rom. 11:14. By God’s grace they mortify the DEEDS of the body. Rom. 8:13. They labor against the flesh to enter into His rest. Heb. 4:11. Yes, the flesh will never be anything but flesh. The more we see of Christ, the more we cry; Oh, wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Thanks be to God that the new man, created in Christ Jesus, and walking after the Spirit, works to keep the old man from FULFILLING the lust of the flesh. The flesh cannot be improved, but by God’s grace, it can and will be restrained. ~GE
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” Phil. 2:3.
Wherever there is strife among men, you will find at its cause, vainglory. Someone is offended because they did not get the attention or respect they think they deserve. Conversely, the grace of humility, seen in those who esteem others more highly than themselves, results in peace. “Lowliness of mind” is the mind of Christ. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. Neither strife nor vainglory can exist where Christ is. ~GE
How foolish would it be to say to a man on his deathbed; “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey”? Yet, those who mind the things of the flesh deny that they are dying men with such a shortsighted and foolish philosophy of life. To be carnally minded is death. In contrast, they that are after the Spirit, mind the things of the Spirit. Their affections are set on things above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Like their father Abraham, they are looking in faith for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. For them, it is not the journey, it is the destination. ~GE
Why have a Bible Conference?
Our annual Bible conference in many ways is the highlight of our year for at least three reasons.
- We are able to have a time of concentrated worship and gospel preaching over a three-day period that glorifies our God by exalting the Lord Jesus Christ to the saving of our souls.
- It provides us the edifying experience of fellowship with each other and many of our brethren from sister churches.
- It gives us an opportunity to extend a “special invitation” to lost friends and family in hopes that the Lord will do for them what he did for the Samaritans. “Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ the Savior of the world.” Jn 4:40 ~GE
“Gird Thy Sword upon Thy Thigh”
Ps. 45:3
May the Lord be merciful to answer this prayer. The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. Eph. 6:17. When John saw the vision of Christ in Revelation 1, he said, “out of His mouth went a two-edged sword”. Then in Hebrews 4, the Lord tells us that His Word is “quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged Sword”.
The thigh is a picture of strength. The Lord touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh and made him to ‘halt on his thigh’ the rest of his life. Jacob, like all of us, had to learn that his strength came from his weakness. 2 Cor. 12:10. Then when the Lord Jesus Christ is seen in Revelation 19, His name, “King of Kings and Lord of Lords”, is written on His thigh.
So, when the bride of Christ prays, “Gird thy sword upon thy thigh”, she is praying for the Lord to speak to her heart with the irresistible power and truth of His Word. If He is pleased to bless His written and spoken word, our hearts will be made to believe on the Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. ~GE
Daily Bread
Which of us has not over-indulged at a good meal and thought we would never have to eat again? Of course, we know that our bodies will quickly absorb and deplete the energy of that food so that in a little while we will be hungry again. So it is with the gospel. When the Lord is pleased to feed our souls on Christ, we may be tempted to think that will carry us all the way to glory. But, as in physical food, our flesh will soon deplete that grace and leave us in want of more of Christ. Manna, however sweet and filling, spoils the next day. How blessed it is that our Lord causes His people to continually hunger and thirst after Righteousness, that they may be filled. Lord, give us this day our daily bread. ~GE
Superstitious Religion
“…I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.” Acts 17:22b
The word “superstitious” is a conjunction of the words fear and devil. Man’s fear of death and hell is the driving force behind all superstitious religions. As useless as the gargoyles on a medieval cathedral, these false gods are all designed to ward off evil spirits. Satan is happy to use religion to speak peace to fearful men when there is no peace. Superstitious religion is the gift of a Trojan Horse from Satan himself. The very foul spirits men hoped to be delivered from, will emerge to capture their souls in a devil’s hell.
Oh what liberty, what joy, what freedom the Lord Jesus Christ gives to His people. He has destroyed the works of the devil. I Jn. 3:8. He has cast out the prince of this world. Jn 12:31. He has judged him at Calvary’s Cross. Jn. 16:11. As our Lord leads captivity captive, the gates of hell will not prevail against Him. “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Cor. 15:55-57.
It is not the fear of the devil that moves the hearts of God’s elect, for perfect love casteth out fear. I Jn.4:18. It is the goodness of God that leadeth to repentance. Rom. 2:4. It is the love of Christ that constraineth us. 2 Cor. 5:14. ~GE
Ask for The Holy Spirit
Men do not need the conviction of the Holy Spirit to feel guilty over doing bad things. A guilty conscience is evidence that the moral law of God is written on every man’s heart. Rom. 2:5. The sin that conscience cannot detect is unbelief. Only The Comforter can reveal that sin. Jn. 16:7-9. It is THE SIN that doth so easily beset us. Heb. 12:1. It is the cause of all other sin. When we take our eyes off of Christ, the turbulent waves and black sea of doubt threaten to drown us. Thanks be to God He puts the cry of faith in our hearts and in our mouth. “Lord, save me”. Immediately He stretches forth his hand of grace and brings us into the safety of the boat where Christ is. Matt. 14:31. The promise of God is that our Heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him. Lk. 11:13. You have not because you ask not. Jam. 4:2. Ask and it shall be given unto you. Matt. 7:7. ~GE
Six Things God Cannot Do
1.Deny Himself, II Tim. 2:13. 2. Change, Mal. 3:6. 3. Lie, Heb. 6:18. 4. Sin, Heb. 4:15, 7:26-27. 5. Allow sin to go unpunished, Josh. 24:19; Ex. 34:7. 6. Punish the same sin twice, Heb. 9:25-28. Our Sovereign, Omnipotent, Holy, Immutable God must always act according to His nature. Sinners, whose nature is just the opposite, find great hope for their soul in such a glorious God. ~GE
Zeros and Ones
I don’t know how it works, but I understand that every image on our computer screens is made up of a binary code of zeros and ones. In the same way, every person in this world is either a zero or a one. In the sight of God Almighty, all the zeros become Ones, and all the ones become zeros. God hath chosen the things which are not, to bring to nought the things that are: that no flesh should glory in His presence. I Cor. 1:28-29. ~GE
Why Do I Come to Church?
The Lord promised to attend the place where His people are gathered and His gospel is preached with His grace and with His glory. Matt 18:20. As a sinner, I need His grace. As a believer, I long for His glory. As long as Christ is being preached, I will be there joyfully. Anyone who has any other reason for coming, will find some reason why their needs are not being met. Most will eventually quit.
Peace and War?
“I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war.” Psalm 120:7
The Lord Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace. Not only is He FOR peace, He also MADE peace through the blood of His cross, that those who were alienated and enemies in their mind through wicked works would be reconciled to God. Col. 1:20-21. Yet, when he speaks, men are for war. They draw the sword of their tongue and blaspheme their only hope for peace with God. Oh, what grace the Lord gives us to hear His voice and lay down our swords. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. Jn.10:27-28. Let us follow our Lord in being FOR peace with all men whenever possible. But, let us not be surprised when we speak the truth, even in love, our closest acquaintances will be for war. Matt. 10:16-28. ~GE
To Be Saved
The Philippian jailer asked the apostles; “Sirs, what must I do to Be saved?” Acts 16:30. We hear men speak of “getting” saved or having “got” saved. What is the difference? When you “get” something, it is nothing more than a thing to be held as a possession. You can admire it, or you can put it in your pocket until you need it. To BE something is a completely different thing. The very essence of your being is changed. Nothing remains the same. You find yourself in Christ and He in you. You are a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Cor. 5:17. You are not your own. You’ve been bought with a price. I Cor. 6:19-20. You are able to say with Solomon; “my Beloved is mine, and I am His.” Song 2:16. Is this not the reason why men are willing to “get” saved, but will not “Be” saved? We will not have this man to reign over us. Lk 19:14. ~GE
Reason for Everything
Men of the world take comfort in explaining this world with theories. They have the theory of evolution to explain their existence. They have the theory of relativity to explain their environment. They have quantum theory to explain the structure of matter. Now the smartest people in the world are looking for what they call, “the theory of everything”. Something that will tie it all together and make sense of everything. Child of God, you need not hang the hope of your understanding on theories, speculations, propositions, and predictions. God tells us with absolute clarity, not the theory of everything but the REASON FOR EVERYTHING. It is the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Everything from; “In the beginning God…” to; “surely I come quickly”, all points to what the Lord Jesus did at Mount Calvary. Let us go even further, outside of time into eternity. The Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ has always been and will always be the reason for everything. Truly, it is the crux of the matter. Why is this so? Because nowhere is God more glorified than in the sovereign, substitutionary, successful salvation of His people. Yes, it is all to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved. Eph. 1:6. ~GE
Satisfied, Yet Not
The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. Pr. 1:8b.
This is certainly true with the natural eye and ear. Even when impressed with what it sees and hears, it soon looks for something more. How far we will travel just to see and hear something new. Truly the flesh cannot be satisfied. But this is also true of the spiritual eye and ear. Oh, we are satisfied to have Christ Jesus as all our righteousness and justification before God. We dare not look anywhere else, and we dare not listen to anyone else. However, we are always looking and listening for more of Christ. We have not yet apprehended that which has apprehended us. We are always pressing toward the mark for the Prize. Phil. 3:13-14. We are always peering to see through that dark glass more clearly. I Cor. 13:12. We can never be satisfied with yesterdays Manna. We long for that day when we shall behold His face, and like David, shall only be fully satisfied when we awake with His likeness. Ps.17:5 The Lord keeps the hearts of His people full and hungry at the same time. ~GE
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Free Will
If by “free will” men mean they are free to do whatever they will, I would go a step further. Everything, everybody does is because they willed to do it. You cannot act contrary to your will. But if by “free will” men believe they are free to will that which is contrary to their nature… Impossible. God does not save us contrary to our will. He changes our nature and makes us willing in the day of His power. All God has to do for us to go to hell is nothing. If He leaves us to ourselves; if He does not give us a new heart; we WILL NOT come to Him that we may have life. ~GE
…IF a serpent had bitten any man, WHEN he beheld the serpent of brass he lived. Num. 29:9b.
What a glorious, gracious, and mysterious picture of the gospel is the serpent on the pole. The Lord Jesus Christ, who knew no sin, being made sin, and suffering the full wrath of His Father for His people. Notice that not everyone (IF) had been bitten by these deadly snakes. So it is with sin, “the sting of death.” Yes, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. And the wages of sin is death. But only those convicted by the Holy Spirit as sinners will see their need for Christ. Also, notice that everyone that was bitten… looked. God did not say; when you are bitten, if you look. That is the message of free will, works religion. Rather He said, if you are bitten, when you look. Everyone convicted of their sin will look in faith to Christ Jesus being lifted up on Calvary’s Cross as their Sin Bearer, Substitute, and Atoning Sacrifice before God. Have you been bitten? Look and Live. ~GE
God’s Holy Law
You will hear men say; “no one can keep the law of God perfectly.” This statement implies that we can keep part of God’s law, just not all of it. Let us state it more clearly. “No man can keep any of God’s law, period.” The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law and make it honorable. Is 42:21. Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. Rom 10:4. We are not looking to Christ to reward our efforts by, “pushing us over the top.” The Lord did not come to perfect our righteousness. He came to be ALL our righteousness. ~GE
Safe
It is a very good thing to feel safe. However, it is much better to be safe. April 15, 1912, everyone on the “unsinkable” Titanic felt safe, and were living life as if there was no tomorrow. Tragically, for over 1500 poor souls, there would be no tomorrow. In contrast, the disciples were on a rickety wooden boat crossing the sea of Galilee when suddenly there were in a “great tempest”. Fearing they were about to die, they cried out to the Lord who was asleep in the boat. “Lord, save us: we perish”. After rebuking them for their fear and lack of faith, He immediately calmed the seas and straightforward they were safe on the other side. On one boat people felt safe but were not. On the other boat men did not feel safe but were. What made the difference? Who made the difference? If the Lord Jesus Christ is in our boat we are safe, even when the seas are turbulent. Whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe. Pr. 29:25b. The oceans of this world are full of stately vessels filled with careless souls oblivious to the destruction that is just below the surface of their shallow religion. Their porters assure the passengers that once you pay your fare, you are guaranteed safe passage to the other side. The truly safe boats are usually small unimpressive vessels of just a few “fellows on the ship”. On these little boats the Lord is resting because He has finished His work to pay in full the fare for all on board. ~GE
No Mercy Without Justice
A criminal while on the loose, does everything they can to run and hide from the law. Once apprehended by the law, that same criminal will beg for mercy. This is also true in spiritual matters. When the Lord apprehends a sinner, they become mercy beggars.
The difference is that with God’s law, justice cannot be sacrificed for mercy. The Judge of all the earth can only show mercy towards sinners on the merit and accomplishments of the Lord Jesus Christ. Apprehended sinners are always seeking to apprehend the One that apprehended them. They know that apart from Christ, ‘the end of the law for righteousness’, they have no hope for mercy. It is the Lord Jesus Christ that said, He did not come to destroy the law but to fulfill it. Matt. 5:17. “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other,” Ps. 85:10 only at the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. A sinner’s hope for mercy is that God saw the travail of His soul and was satisfied. Is. 53:11. Oh what a Sure Hope we have. ~GE
“Thou shalt call His name Jesus for He shall save His people from their sins.” Matt. 1:21.
His name is Jesus (Jehovah IS Salvation) because He was successful and particular in His redemptive work. Oh, what hope, what rest, what joy there is for sinners to have a successful sovereign Savior seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high. One who ever lives to make intercession for them. Heb. 7:25. One in whom all He lived and died for, are blessed with all spiritual blessings. Eph 1:3. One who is highly exalted and has been given a name that is above every name: that at the name of JESUS every knee should bow Phil 2:9:10. Truly, there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12. Let us always speak His name with the upmost reverence. Let us always speak of Him as Lord, and as the Christ. His enemies will take His name in vain. Ps. 139:20. Either they will blaspheme His name by using it as a byword in their profane speech. Or worse yet, they will empty it of its power to save by telling you of a jesus that died for those who will be eternally separated from him in hell. This is “another jesus” 2 Cor.11:4. One who was not successful to accomplish the full salvation of all His elect people. Our heart shall rejoice in Him because we have trusted in His Holy Name
Ps. 33:2. ~GE
Jesus Christ is God
If anyone truly believes that Jesus Christ is God, that person is a believer. The problem men have with the gospel is not with its doctrine, it is with its God. Whenever any person does not believe in divine election, it is because they do not believe that Jesus Christ is God. When anyone does not believe in successful, particular redemption, it is because they do not believe that Jesus Christ is God. When someone does not believe in absolute irresistible grace, it is because they do not believe that Jesus Christ is God. The very essence of Deity is omnipotence, sovereignty, holiness, justice and immutability. These divine natures have to be denied in order to reject electing, effectual, redeeming grace. Any jesus that needs anything from anybody in order to accomplish his purpose is not God. They will confess to believe in the “Diety of Christ”, and then by definition strip God of His very nature. The real problem is that they, ‘will not have this man to reign over us’ Lk. 19:14 What mercy and grace our Lord has when He causes rebels in the day of His power to bow and confess from the heart; ‘my Lord and my God’. ~GE
Circumcision of the Heart
Physical circumcision is the cutting away of flesh. Religious circumcision is when men either cut out of their lives fleshly pleasures, or look to fleshly things in hopes of earning favor with God. It is man’s desire to make a fair show in the flesh to avoid suffering persecution for the cross of Christ. Gal. 6:12. Both of these circumcisions are done by the hands of men. Neither of these circumcisions will be of any benefit in saving a sinner’s soul.
Then there is the spiritual circumcision. A hidden work in the heart performed by the Spirit of God. It is when God the Holy Spirit brings a poor lost sinner to see that their only hope of acceptance before a Holy God is the circumcision of Christ (Col. 2:11). When the Son of Man was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of His people (Is. 53:8), God saw the travail of his soul and was satisfied. (Is. 53:11).
We are the true circumcision, which worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Phil. 3:3. We know that we have received spiritual circumcision when we have had cut from our hearts all confidence in all things done in or by the flesh. Truly, “it is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing…” Jn. 6:63. ~GE
Are there feelings involved in salvation? Most surely. Are faith and repentance, confession, sorrow, commitment, peace, and love, real heartfelt experiences for the child of God? Sometimes. Oh, how sweet they are when the Lord is pleased to allow us to taste these things. However, it is sort of like “liberty” when it comes to preaching. Liberty certainly adds to the enjoyment of preaching. Preaching can be a painful process without it. But, liberty adds nothing to the power or effects of preaching. Often times the Lord will use a message struggled to be delivered for more eternal benefits, than one brought with great freedom of speech. So it is with feelings. Enjoy the sweet cordials of grace when they come. But, often times the Lord is strengthening the roots of the tree in the winter when the weather is cold and the branches are bare. ~GE
The Work of God
When was the last time you looked at a beautiful painting and thought anything about the brush the artist used? Or, when was the last time you read some inspiring words and had any thought of the pen the author used? That’s absurd. Never. No, all the glory from the enjoyment of these works goes to the Artist and the Author. The instruments they use are insignificant. One brush or pen would be pretty much as good as the next. When Paul and Barnabas came back to Antioch after their first missionary journey; “they rehearsed all that GOD HAD DONE with them and how that HE had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.” Acts 14:27. Yes, God uses His church to plant and water the seeds of the gospel. Might we be found faithful in so doing. But, let us never forget, except The Lord give the increase there will be no fruit. We are but, “unprofitable servants” Lk 17:10. Indistinguishable brushes and pens in the hand of the Master who Himself gets all the glory. ~GE
Relevance
It is foolish and futile to try to make the gospel relevant to culture. The gospel by itself is the only thing relevant in this world. Everything else by comparison is irrelevant and must be judged in light of Christ and Him crucified.
Culture is temporal and forever changing. “We look not on the things which are seen, but on the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Cor. 4:18. I fear that those who are always trying to make the gospel “relevant” to the temporal, do not have eyes to see the eternal. A religious radio station airs the following programs: Focus on the Family; Truth for Life; Insight for Living; Pathway to Victory. Where is Christ and Him Crucified? It is all nothing more than an appeal to the flesh. Things the Gentiles seek after. Those that are of the flesh do mind the things of the flesh. They are more concerned with how their sins affects their life in this world, than Life in the next. May the Lord give us the grace to seek First the kingdom of God and His righteousness, then these other things shall be added unto us. ~GE
Faith and Repentance
Faith and repentance are the evidence of regeneration not the cause of it. Faith and repentance never exist separately. They are like the physical act of breathing. Faith enables us to inhale life-giving oxygen, while repentance causes us to exhale poisonous carbon dioxide. Just like breathing, faith and repentance are the constant necessity of life. ~GE
Lord Save Me
When the Lord gives His children a need to be saved, it is not just to be saved from the eternal consequences of their sin. Oh, what hope we have in being delivered from the wrath that is to come. There is no greater blessing than to have the Lord Jesus Christ as our sin bearer satisfying the justice of God by the sacrifice of Himself on Calvary’s cross. Surely all is lost lest the Lord Jesus Christ stand in our stead as our Surety before God.
The Lord also gives his children a need to be saved from the temporal consequences of their sin. The daily struggle with sin brings to the believer’s life fears, doubts, divisions, divers lust, and despair. It is sin that causes us to lose sight of our Savior. The believer’s constant need is for the Lord Jesus Christ to save them from themselves and all the temporal consequences of their unbelief. We never lose our need to pray; “Lord, save me”. ~GE
Love
Love is the “strong meat” of the gospel. Everything else compared to it is “milk”. Heb. 5. Love is the first and greatest of all graces. Rev. 2:4, 1 Cor.13:3. Without it we have become as “sounding brass and tingling symbol”. The Lord commended the church at Ephesus for their faithful, uncompromising stand on the gospel. Then He warned them of having their candlestick removed for leaving their “first love”. It is the love of Christ that constraineth (holds together) us. 2 Cor. 5:14. We Love Him because he first loved us. 1Jn.4:19. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends… Jn. 15:13. This kind of heart love can only be toward a Person. The Lord asked Peter; “Lovest thou ME?” Our hope is that what our Lord requires (to love Him), He also provides. Keep yourselves in the love of God… now unto Him who is able to keep you… Jude 1:21, 24. ~GE
Glad Worshippers
Some will read this and think that it is an attempt to shame or rebuke those who have fallen away. It is not. Not much chance they’ll read it anyway. If these words cause us to feel anything other than humility and fear for our own souls, they have been misunderstood. Why do some who have professed faith in Christ and are able to attend public worship, end up forsaking the assembling of themselves with the church? If you ask them, it is always someone else’s fault. Truth is, if one can leave, they eventually will leave. Something will happen. Someone will offend them. One reason will be as good as another when men seek to justify themselves before men. But God knoweth the heart.( Lk. 16:15). Hungry men must have the bread of life. Thirsty men must come to the fountain for the water of life. Those in love with the Lord Jesus Christ also love His people. (I Jn. 4:21). Those who have seen the beauty of Christ want to be where He has promised to show forth more of His glory. (Matt. 18:20). They have tasted of the heavenly gift and it is impossible for them to fall away. (Heb. 6:4-5). What about those of us who remain? We are kept BY the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (I Pet. 1:5). He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. (I Cor. 1:31).” I was glad when they said unto me let us go into the house of the Lord.” Ps. 123:1. ~GE
Discontent
There are two different types of Discontentment. One type is sinful and reveals our lack of faith. The other kind is the only way true faith can exist. To be content with our portion in this world is a great blessing. Shamefully, we are often like the Israelites who murmured because we are discontent with the Lord’s providence and provisions. Oh, for the faith to say, “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content”. For truly, “godliness with contentment is great gain.” Lord, for Christ sake, forgive us for our sinful discontentment.
Second, there is a discontentment that is of the Lord. Saving faith cannot exist without this holy discontentment. “Everyone that was discontented gathered themselves unto him, and he became a captain over them.” I Sam. 22:2. David (Christ) was in the cave Adullam (Justice) and everyone that was discontented came DOWN to him. Those who come to Christ cannot find contentment for satisfying the justice of God anywhere outside the death, burial, and resurrection of their commander, the Son of David, The Lord Jesus Christ. Like the woman with the issue of blood, they have tried everything to relieve their sin and are left still burdened and discontent. Only in trusting their soul to the glorious person and finished work of Christ can they rest… content. ~GE
The Offense of the Cross
Why do even the irreligious and brazenly profane wear images of the cross? Are they mocking what they perceive as a symbol of Christianity? Perhaps some are. Most, however, wear them for the same reason religious people wear them. There is no offense to them in the cross. To them the cross is nothing more than a symbol of love and sacrifice. Virtues that are highly esteemed among men. Sin, holiness, justice, substitution, and satisfaction has been stripped from the cross of Christ. Where did men get these ideas? From the teaching and preaching of false prophets. Those who have been brought to believe on the Christ of the cross, will not fashion an idol out of His crowning glory to appeal to the sentiments of men. ~GE
Peace is Better
“The peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:7
Usually, this verse is thought to mean that the peace of God is too great to be understood. Surely there is some truth to that, for the peace of God is a miracle of grace in the heart ministered by the Holy Spirit. Like everything else our God does, it is unsearchable and passed finding out. Rom 11:33. However, there is something more glorious and liberating to be seen in this passage of scripture. The word “passeth” means to be higher than, better, or more excellent. The Lord is telling us that in Christ Jesus there is something better than understanding. How often we sacrifice the peace of God for understanding. We become disquieted and fearful in our attempt to understand and control our circumstances. Oh to be careful for nothing, to make our request known onto God through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. Then the peace of God which far exceeds any understanding will keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. ~GE
He Knows
Suppose there was a person who knew EVERYTHING about you. Everything you’ve ever done. Everything you’ve ever said. Everything you’ve ever thought. When they looked at you, they saw right through you. Would you not do everything in your power to avoid such a person for shame? If God’s knowledge of us was only because of His omniscience, we would have reason to hide like Adam. But His knowledge of us is more than just the essence of Deity. His knowledge of us is experiential. He was made in the likeness of sinful flesh. He is touched with the feelings of our infirmities. He bore our sins in His body on Calvary’s tree. He was made sin and suffered all its shame. He was forsaken of God in full humiliation. He satisfied Divine justice. Now, He says to His children, I know everything. “Come boldly unto the throne of grace that ye may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Heb 4:16. No need to hide. Fig leaves won’t work. “A MAN shall be as an hiding place.” Is 32:2. “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”. Matt. 11:28. ~GE
The Message
It seems like the entire focus of the “christian” message today only concerns temporal matters. Men turn to the Bible to find principles and precepts that will improve their life in this world. They say, You must first be “saved”, but the emphasis of the message is that salvation is but a means to a greater end. The real draw of the message is completely carnal. How can I experience a happier, fuller, more prosperous and peaceful life NOW? The Bible is being used by men to fulfill the American dream, “life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. May God deliver us from such fleshly pursuits. May the Lord set our affections on things above, not on things of the earth. Let us say with the apostle Paul, I have not yet apprehended, but this one thing I do, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Phil. 3:-12-14. Christ Jesus the Lord Himself is the prize. Gen. 15;1. Let those who walk after the flesh mind the things of the flesh. Rom. 8:5. By God’s grace we will mind the things of the Spirit and be determined to know nothing save Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I Cor. 2:2. When Christ, WHO IS OUR LIFE, shall appear, then shall we also appear with Him in glory. Col. 3:4. ~GE
The name Babylon means “confusion by mixing”. How confusing it is when men mix works with grace. Every man-made religion in the world is of Babylon. They are all in one form or another confusion by mixing what God does with what man does. The gospel of God’s free and sovereign grace accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ in the sacrifice of Himself on Calvary’s Cross is the ONLY message of salvation that is all of grace. It is the only message that denies man any glory. More importantly, it is the only message that ascribes to Christ all the glory. How simple. How glorious. There is nothing confusing or mixed in “It is finished”. Oh what hope the sinner has when all their salvation is of the Lord. ~GE
Nothing Doubting
When the Lord sent Peter to Cornelius with the Gospel, the Holy Spirit told him, “Nothing Doubting”. Acts 11:12. Oh that we could always live with nothing doubting. By God’s grace we do believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, the successful Savior of sinners. Yet the sin that doth so easily beset us is unbelief. Unbelief is the fountain that feeds all the polluted streams of sin. Lord, increase our faith. Help thou our unbelief. Our warrant for faith is the Word of God. Oh, that the Lord would speak to our hearts those precious words, “Nothing Doubting”. ~GE
Respecter of Persons
All the attributes of God are most clearly seen at the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ. Nowhere, in all God’s doings, are His Divine glories illuminated with the spotlight of truth more brightly. His love, righteousness, mercy, justice, immutability, and holiness, to name a few, are most glorified at Calvary’s Cross. So it is with our God being, not a “respecter of persons”. Acts 10:34, Eph. 6:9, Rom 2:11. God’s justice is equal to all. It is without prejudice toward any, and always in strict compliance with His Holy law. If God spared not His own Son when He found sin on Him; if it pleased the Lord to bruise Him, how could He overlook one sin in you or me? He will by no means clear the guilty. Does the cross not prove that? He (the Father) shall see the travail of His (Son) soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall my righteous Servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities. Is. 53:11. ~GE
Complicated or Contrary
The gospel is not COMPLICATED. It is a simple message declaring that, “Salvation is of the Lord” Jonah 2:9. It declares all the sons of Adam as sinful, unable and unwilling to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. It declares Jesus Christ as the Sovereign, successful Savior of His elect people. The gospel is wholly of God’s free and sovereign grace. It does not require a superior intellect, or even a good knowledge of the Bible to understand.
So, why is it so hard for men to hear? The Lord said, “Light has come into the world and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil” John 3:19. The gospel is CONTRARY to everything men by nature believe to be true. Rather than forsaking all his ways, he is desperately trying to reconcile what he is hearing to what he has already decided is true.
One cannot have faith (believe) without repentance (changed mind). Both are a work of grace without which the natural man will continue to complicate the simplicity of the gospel. ~GE
A New Year
As we begin a new calendar year, we are in fact no surer of the events of 2021 than we were at this time last year as to the events of 2020. There is no shortage of pundits, prognosticators, and prophets giving us their opinions. But at the end of the day that is all they have, opinions. We walk by faith not by sight. Our confidence and our comfort are knowing that our God is absolutely sovereign and will accomplish His purpose, all for His glory and for the good of His people. Of course, we pray for some things to be easier, while at the same time knowing that our God will do what is best. He makes everything beautiful in His time. My hope for 2021 is that the Lord will increase our faith, grow us in His grace, and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.” Phil. 1:9-11. ~GE
Accept or Except
The message of the free-will gospel is that you have to “accept” (to receive something offered) jesus in order for God to save you. The message of the true gospel of God’s free grace in Christ is; EXCEPT (with the exclusion of) The Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. Ps. 127:1. EXCEPT A man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God Jn. 3:3. A man can receive nothing EXCEPT it be given him from heaven. Jn. 3:27. No man can come to me EXCEPT The Father which hath sent me draw him. Jn. 6:45. What sayeth the scriptures? There are many other EXCEPTS in the Bible. You will not find any ACCEPTS that determine one’s salvation. These words may sound similar to the natural ear, but to the ear of faith they stand in contrast to one another. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Rev. 2:28. ~GE
The Cure for Sin
Looking to one’s obedience to the law as a cure for sin, is like a cancer patient asking for more CAT scans and biopsies to cure their cancer. More of these tests will only aggravate the disease. So it is with the law. It is diagnostic not curative. Therefore, by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Rom. 3:20. For we had not known sin but by the law. The only cure for sin is the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that by the free grace of God. Moreover, the law entered that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: Rom. 5:20 We love Gods law, for it is holy, just, and good. However, the commandment cannot make one holy, justified, or good in the sight of God. That, Only the law of grace can accomplish. ~GE
Water to Wine
The first miracle our Lord performed in his earthly ministry was at a wedding feast when he turned water into wine. Clearly the water represents everything God has revealed in His Word. “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.” Eph. 5:26. The wine pictures the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Without the shedding of which there is no remission of sins.
This same miracle is performed over and over again every time the Bridegroom gets together with His bride. He sends His Spirit in power, and in opening the eyes of our understanding He takes the water of His Word and turns it into blood. To see Christ and Him crucified in the scriptures is the first miracle of grace in the salvation of a sinner. “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.” John 3:5. ~GE
Friends
“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Pr. 18:24
To be friendly does not require a charismatic outgoing personality. To be friendly simply means you are sincerely interested in, and concerned with the needs of others. The fault for not having friends his selfishness. People who do not have friends often accuse others of being unfriendly, when the truth is just the opposite. The reverse of selfishness is sacrifice. The perfection of selfless sacrifice is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is that friend that sticketh closer than a brother. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Jn. 15:13. After washing the disciples’ feet the Lord said; “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” Jn 13:15 ~GE
Omniscience
When David spoke of God’s omniscience in Psalm 139, he concluded with; “such a knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.”
Compare that to the explanation men give for Divine omniscience. They say he looks down through the portal of time and sees who will choose him. That is not our God. That is nothing more than a Seer looking into a crystal ball. No, our God created time. He exists completely within Himself, outside of time. He has ordained everything in time to accomplish his sovereign purpose. “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.”
Eccl. 3:14-15. ~GE
Satisfied Justice
All the toxic vials of Divine judgment poured out in God's fury against this condemned world; combined with all the eternal flames of torment in a devil’s hell; combined with all the pangs of conscience suffered in shame and fear by guilty sinners; cannot compare to the sufferings the Lord Jesus Christ experienced for His people on Calvary’s cross. God saw the travail of HIS soul and was satisfied. “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
1 Jn. 4:10. ~GE
Where Does Grace Lead?
Some people would have us believe that if we preach pure grace it will lead people to licentious living. They say if we remove the law as a guide or motivation for Christian living, people will have nothing to keep them faithful. They say to tell a person to just follow Christ doesn’t provide enough structure and will lead people to careless living. Is that where the gospel of God’s free grace in Christ Jesus leads? Grace preachers have always been, and always will be, falsely accused of this devilish lie. The apostle Paul spent much of his time defending the gospel of grace against this lawmongers view of self- righteousness. “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.” Rom 6:15. Grace does not lead to sin. Grace leads to Christ. “For the love of Christ constaineth us…” 2 Cor.5:4 Truth is “The strength of sin is the law.” 1 Cor.15:56. Show me a man preaching the law, and I’ll show you a people with no hope for their sin; its penalty, power, and ultimately its presence. ~GE
Wait Upon the Lord
“ they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength...”
Is. 40:31a
Someone said to wait on the Lord is hard. It is not hard. It is impossible. Thank the Lord that what is impossible with man, is possible with God. The word “renew” in this verse means; “to change” or exchange. It is a supernatural work of grace in the heart that causes us to confess our weakness and trust Christ for His strength; to change our way for His way. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Cor. 12:9-10. ~GE
Waiting on the Lord
If our God be Sovereign, then anytime we find ourselves waiting on anything, we are in truth, waiting on the Lord. Let us always remember that whoever or whatever seems to be holding things up, is a secondary cause. Our God is the first cause of all things and will move those secondary causes in His perfect time. The king’s heart (and everyone else’s) is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of waters, He turneth it whithersoever He will. Pr. 21:1. “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.” Psalm 37:7a. While we wait on the coming of the Lord, let us remember that He hath made everything beautiful in His time. It will all “come to pass” exactly when the Lord purposes it to “come to pass”. ~GE
Am I a Sinner?
“I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” Lk. 5:32. How does one know if they are a sinner? Is it, as some suggest, because they bear the burden of sorrow and shame for their sin? To be honest, our sin really does not bother us that much. The Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary’s Cross is the only one that felt the full weight of sin. So, how do we know if we meet the qualification of those Christ came to save? We can only imagine that the Syrophenician woman in Mark 7 had all her life been offended by the racial slur, “gentile dog” cast at her by the Jews. But when the Lord called her a dog she immediately concurred with; “truth Lord’. Believing that you are a sinner is like everything else we believe. We believe it because God said so. We no more understand or experience the depth of our sin than anything else we believe about our salvation. Abraham BELIEVED GOD and it was counted to him for righteousness. We believe that we are sinners because God said so. “There is NONE that doeth good, no not one” Ps 14:3. “ALL we like sheep have gone astray” Is. 53:6. “ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God” Rom. 3:23. “From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds and bruises, and putrefying sores…” Is.1:6. “For by grace are you saved through faith…” Eph. 2:8. Whatever God says, saving faith says;
“TRUTH LORD”. ~GE
Public Worship
There is no substitute for the gathering of the saints in public worship. It is the place our Lord has promised to show forth His grace and glory like no other place. May the Lord grant us the faith to anticipate hearing from and seeing the Lord Jesus every time we come together. Child of God imagine that you had nothing or very little of the written Word of God to read. Imagine there was no radio, TV, Internet, or recording devices to broadcast messages. How precious would public worship be to you? This is precisely where the vast majority of God’s people lived for most of time. I fear these “conveniences” of our modern era may diminish our need, anticipation, and consequently our profit of public worship. It need not be. These things can enhance our anticipation of, and blessings in public worship if we see them for what they are, a supplement not a substitute. ~GE
True Unity
Child of God, endeavor to keep the unit of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Eph. 4:3. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. Ps. 133:1. Whatever differences we may have in the flesh, (Race, Culture, Language, Politics, Personalities) they are not only insignificant but irrelevant to our unity in Christ Jesus. Our Lord prayed, “that they all may be one; as thou Father are in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” Jn. 17:21. What a powerful testimony it is to the unbeliever to see that we all believe the same thing concerning the Lord Jesus and His successful work of redeeming His people, and that our conviction concerning the gospel causes us to overlook all other differences. ~GE
Though we fervently pray and sincerely hope the Lord will have mercy on others, the majority of our witnessing opportunities are for our benefit not theirs.
Effectual Prayer
Surely, we are all guilty of having asked God for things, “amiss that we may consume it upon our lust”. James 4:3. Thankfully, our Heavenly Father in His infinite wisdom and love says; no, my child, that is not what you need. Is there anything we can ask of God to which He will never say no? Yes, there is. Ask for forgiveness, mercy, grace, faith, wisdom, love, righteousness, peace, hope, light, knowledge. In short, ask for Christ and with Him will come exceeding, abundantly above all that we ask or think…” Eph. 3:20. One of the reasons the Lord lets us labor in prayer is to bring us to see and to seek the weightier matters, the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. ~GE
Nothing Doubting
When the Lord sent Peter to Cornelius with the Gospel, the Holy Spirit told him, “Nothing Doubting”. Acts 11:12. Oh that we could always live with nothing doubting. By God’s grace we do believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, the successful Savior of sinners. Yet the sin that doth so easily beset us is unbelief. Unbelief is the fountain that feeds all the polluted streams of sin. Lord, increase our faith. Help thou our unbelief. Our warrant for faith is the Word of God. Oh, that the Lord would speak to our hearts those precious words, “Nothing Doubting”. ~GE
Respecter of Persons
All the attributes of God are most clearly seen at the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ. Nowhere, in all God’s doings, are His Divine glories illuminated with the spotlight of truth more brightly. His love, righteousness, mercy, justice, immutability, and holiness, to name a few, are most glorified at Calvary’s Cross. So it is with our God being, not a “respecter of persons”. Acts 10:34, Eph. 6:9, Rom 2:11. God’s justice is equal to all. It is without prejudice toward any, and always in strict compliance with His Holy law. If God spared not His own Son when He found sin on Him; if it pleased the Lord to bruise Him, how could He overlook one sin in you or me? He will by no means clear the guilty. Does the cross not prove that? He (the Father) shall see the travail of His (Son) soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall my righteous Servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities. Is. 53:11. ~GE
Complicated or Contrary
The gospel is not COMPLICATED. It is a simple message declaring that, “Salvation is of the Lord” Jonah 2:9. It declares all the sons of Adam as sinful, unable and unwilling to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. It declares Jesus Christ as the Sovereign, successful Savior of His elect people. The gospel is wholly of God’s free and sovereign grace. It does not require a superior intellect, or even a good knowledge of the Bible to understand.
So, why is it so hard for men to hear? The Lord said, “Light has come into the world and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil” John 3:19. The gospel is CONTRARY to everything men by nature believe to be true. Rather than forsaking all his ways, he is desperately trying to reconcile what he is hearing to what he has already decided is true.
One cannot have faith (believe) without repentance (changed mind). Both are a work of grace without which the natural man will continue to complicate the simplicity of the gospel. ~GE
A New Year
As we begin a new calendar year, we are in fact no surer of the events of 2021 than we were at this time last year as to the events of 2020. There is no shortage of pundits, prognosticators, and prophets giving us their opinions. But at the end of the day that is all they have, opinions. We walk by faith not by sight. Our confidence and our comfort are knowing that our God is absolutely sovereign and will accomplish His purpose, all for His glory and for the good of His people. Of course, we pray for some things to be easier, while at the same time knowing that our God will do what is best. He makes everything beautiful in His time. My hope for 2021 is that the Lord will increase our faith, grow us in His grace, and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.” Phil. 1:9-11. ~GE
Accept or Except
The message of the free-will gospel is that you have to “accept” (to receive something offered) jesus in order for God to save you. The message of the true gospel of God’s free grace in Christ is; EXCEPT (with the exclusion of) The Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. Ps. 127:1. EXCEPT A man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God Jn. 3:3. A man can receive nothing EXCEPT it be given him from heaven. Jn. 3:27. No man can come to me EXCEPT The Father which hath sent me draw him. Jn. 6:45. What sayeth the scriptures? There are many other EXCEPTS in the Bible. You will not find any ACCEPTS that determine one’s salvation. These words may sound similar to the natural ear, but to the ear of faith they stand in contrast to one another. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Rev. 2:28. ~GE
The Cure for Sin
Looking to one’s obedience to the law as a cure for sin, is like a cancer patient asking for more CAT scans and biopsies to cure their cancer. More of these tests will only aggravate the disease. So it is with the law. It is diagnostic not curative. Therefore, by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Rom. 3:20. For we had not known sin but by the law. The only cure for sin is the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that by the free grace of God. Moreover, the law entered that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: Rom. 5:20 We love Gods law, for it is holy, just, and good. However, the commandment cannot make one holy, justified, or good in the sight of God. That, Only the law of grace can accomplish. ~GE
Water to Wine
The first miracle our Lord performed in his earthly ministry was at a wedding feast when he turned water into wine. Clearly the water represents everything God has revealed in His Word. “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.” Eph. 5:26. The wine pictures the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Without the shedding of which there is no remission of sins.
This same miracle is performed over and over again every time the Bridegroom gets together with His bride. He sends His Spirit in power, and in opening the eyes of our understanding He takes the water of His Word and turns it into blood. To see Christ and Him crucified in the scriptures is the first miracle of grace in the salvation of a sinner. “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.” John 3:5. ~GE
Friends
“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Pr. 18:24
To be friendly does not require a charismatic outgoing personality. To be friendly simply means you are sincerely interested in, and concerned with the needs of others. The fault for not having friends his selfishness. People who do not have friends often accuse others of being unfriendly, when the truth is just the opposite. The reverse of selfishness is sacrifice. The perfection of selfless sacrifice is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is that friend that sticketh closer than a brother. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Jn. 15:13. After washing the disciples’ feet the Lord said; “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” Jn 13:15 ~GE
Omniscience
When David spoke of God’s omniscience in Psalm 139, he concluded with; “such a knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.”
Compare that to the explanation men give for Divine omniscience. They say he looks down through the portal of time and sees who will choose him. That is not our God. That is nothing more than a Seer looking into a crystal ball. No, our God created time. He exists completely within Himself, outside of time. He has ordained everything in time to accomplish his sovereign purpose. “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.”
Eccl. 3:14-15. ~GE
Satisfied Justice
All the toxic vials of Divine judgment poured out in God's fury against this condemned world; combined with all the eternal flames of torment in a devil’s hell; combined with all the pangs of conscience suffered in shame and fear by guilty sinners; cannot compare to the sufferings the Lord Jesus Christ experienced for His people on Calvary’s cross. God saw the travail of HIS soul and was satisfied. “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
1 Jn. 4:10. ~GE
Where Does Grace Lead?
Some people would have us believe that if we preach pure grace it will lead people to licentious living. They say if we remove the law as a guide or motivation for Christian living, people will have nothing to keep them faithful. They say to tell a person to just follow Christ doesn’t provide enough structure and will lead people to careless living. Is that where the gospel of God’s free grace in Christ Jesus leads? Grace preachers have always been, and always will be, falsely accused of this devilish lie. The apostle Paul spent much of his time defending the gospel of grace against this lawmongers view of self- righteousness. “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.” Rom 6:15. Grace does not lead to sin. Grace leads to Christ. “For the love of Christ constaineth us…” 2 Cor.5:4 Truth is “The strength of sin is the law.” 1 Cor.15:56. Show me a man preaching the law, and I’ll show you a people with no hope for their sin; its penalty, power, and ultimately its presence. ~GE
Wait Upon the Lord
“ they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength...”
Is. 40:31a
Someone said to wait on the Lord is hard. It is not hard. It is impossible. Thank the Lord that what is impossible with man, is possible with God. The word “renew” in this verse means; “to change” or exchange. It is a supernatural work of grace in the heart that causes us to confess our weakness and trust Christ for His strength; to change our way for His way. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Cor. 12:9-10. ~GE
Waiting on the Lord
If our God be Sovereign, then anytime we find ourselves waiting on anything, we are in truth, waiting on the Lord. Let us always remember that whoever or whatever seems to be holding things up, is a secondary cause. Our God is the first cause of all things and will move those secondary causes in His perfect time. The king’s heart (and everyone else’s) is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of waters, He turneth it whithersoever He will. Pr. 21:1. “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.” Psalm 37:7a. While we wait on the coming of the Lord, let us remember that He hath made everything beautiful in His time. It will all “come to pass” exactly when the Lord purposes it to “come to pass”. ~GE
Am I a Sinner?
“I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” Lk. 5:32. How does one know if they are a sinner? Is it, as some suggest, because they bear the burden of sorrow and shame for their sin? To be honest, our sin really does not bother us that much. The Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary’s Cross is the only one that felt the full weight of sin. So, how do we know if we meet the qualification of those Christ came to save? We can only imagine that the Syrophenician woman in Mark 7 had all her life been offended by the racial slur, “gentile dog” cast at her by the Jews. But when the Lord called her a dog she immediately concurred with; “truth Lord’. Believing that you are a sinner is like everything else we believe. We believe it because God said so. We no more understand or experience the depth of our sin than anything else we believe about our salvation. Abraham BELIEVED GOD and it was counted to him for righteousness. We believe that we are sinners because God said so. “There is NONE that doeth good, no not one” Ps 14:3. “ALL we like sheep have gone astray” Is. 53:6. “ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God” Rom. 3:23. “From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds and bruises, and putrefying sores…” Is.1:6. “For by grace are you saved through faith…” Eph. 2:8. Whatever God says, saving faith says;
“TRUTH LORD”. ~GE
Public Worship
There is no substitute for the gathering of the saints in public worship. It is the place our Lord has promised to show forth His grace and glory like no other place. May the Lord grant us the faith to anticipate hearing from and seeing the Lord Jesus every time we come together. Child of God imagine that you had nothing or very little of the written Word of God to read. Imagine there was no radio, TV, Internet, or recording devices to broadcast messages. How precious would public worship be to you? This is precisely where the vast majority of God’s people lived for most of time. I fear these “conveniences” of our modern era may diminish our need, anticipation, and consequently our profit of public worship. It need not be. These things can enhance our anticipation of, and blessings in public worship if we see them for what they are, a supplement not a substitute. ~GE
True Unity
Child of God, endeavor to keep the unit of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Eph. 4:3. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. Ps. 133:1. Whatever differences we may have in the flesh, (Race, Culture, Language, Politics, Personalities) they are not only insignificant but irrelevant to our unity in Christ Jesus. Our Lord prayed, “that they all may be one; as thou Father are in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” Jn. 17:21. What a powerful testimony it is to the unbeliever to see that we all believe the same thing concerning the Lord Jesus and His successful work of redeeming His people, and that our conviction concerning the gospel causes us to overlook all other differences. ~GE
Though we fervently pray and sincerely hope the Lord will have mercy on others, the majority of our witnessing opportunities are for our benefit not theirs.
Effectual Prayer
Surely, we are all guilty of having asked God for things, “amiss that we may consume it upon our lust”. James 4:3. Thankfully, our Heavenly Father in His infinite wisdom and love says; no, my child, that is not what you need. Is there anything we can ask of God to which He will never say no? Yes, there is. Ask for forgiveness, mercy, grace, faith, wisdom, love, righteousness, peace, hope, light, knowledge. In short, ask for Christ and with Him will come exceeding, abundantly above all that we ask or think…” Eph. 3:20. One of the reasons the Lord lets us labor in prayer is to bring us to see and to seek the weightier matters, the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. ~GE
A New Year
As we begin a new calendar year, we are in fact no surer of the events of 2021 than we were at this time last year as to the events of 2020. There is no shortage of pundits, prognosticators, and prophets giving us their opinions. But at the end of the day that is all they have, opinions. We walk by faith not by sight. Our confidence and our comfort are knowing that our God is absolutely sovereign and will accomplish His purpose, all for His glory and for the good of His people. Of course, we pray for some things to be easier, while at the same time knowing that our God will do what is best. He makes everything beautiful in His time. My hope for 2021 is that the Lord will increase our faith, grow us in His grace, and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.” Phil. 1:9-11. ~GE
Accept or Except
The message of the free-will gospel is that you have to “accept” (to receive something offered) jesus in order for God to save you. The message of the true gospel of God’s free grace in Christ is; EXCEPT (with the exclusion of) The Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. Ps. 127:1. EXCEPT A man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God Jn. 3:3. A man can receive nothing EXCEPT it be given him from heaven. Jn. 3:27. No man can come to me EXCEPT The Father which hath sent me draw him. Jn. 6:45. What sayeth the scriptures? There are many other EXCEPTS in the Bible. You will not find any ACCEPTS that determine one’s salvation. These words may sound similar to the natural ear, but to the ear of faith they stand in contrast to one another. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Rev. 2:28. ~GE
The Cure for Sin
Looking to one’s obedience to the law as a cure for sin, is like a cancer patient asking for more CAT scans and biopsies to cure their cancer. More of these tests will only aggravate the disease. So it is with the law. It is diagnostic not curative. Therefore, by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Rom. 3:20. For we had not known sin but by the law. The only cure for sin is the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that by the free grace of God. Moreover, the law entered that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: Rom. 5:20 We love Gods law, for it is holy, just, and good. However, the commandment cannot make one holy, justified, or good in the sight of God. That, Only the law of grace can accomplish. ~GE
Water to Wine
The first miracle our Lord performed in his earthly ministry was at a wedding feast when he turned water into wine. Clearly the water represents everything God has revealed in His Word. “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.” Eph. 5:26. The wine pictures the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Without the shedding of which there is no remission of sins.
This same miracle is performed over and over again every time the Bridegroom gets together with His bride. He sends His Spirit in power, and in opening the eyes of our understanding He takes the water of His Word and turns it into blood. To see Christ and Him crucified in the scriptures is the first miracle of grace in the salvation of a sinner. “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.” John 3:5. ~GE
Friends
“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Pr. 18:24
To be friendly does not require a charismatic outgoing personality. To be friendly simply means you are sincerely interested in, and concerned with the needs of others. The fault for not having friends his selfishness. People who do not have friends often accuse others of being unfriendly, when the truth is just the opposite. The reverse of selfishness is sacrifice. The perfection of selfless sacrifice is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is that friend that sticketh closer than a brother. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Jn. 15:13. After washing the disciples’ feet the Lord said; “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” Jn 13:15 ~GE
Omniscience
When David spoke of God’s omniscience in Psalm 139, he concluded with; “such a knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.”
Compare that to the explanation men give for Divine omniscience. They say he looks down through the portal of time and sees who will choose him. That is not our God. That is nothing more than a Seer looking into a crystal ball. No, our God created time. He exists completely within Himself, outside of time. He has ordained everything in time to accomplish his sovereign purpose. “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.”
Eccl. 3:14-15. ~GE
Satisfied Justice
All the toxic vials of Divine judgment poured out in God's fury against this condemned world; combined with all the eternal flames of torment in a devil’s hell; combined with all the pangs of conscience suffered in shame and fear by guilty sinners; cannot compare to the sufferings the Lord Jesus Christ experienced for His people on Calvary’s cross. God saw the travail of HIS soul and was satisfied. “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
1 Jn. 4:10. ~GE
Where Does Grace Lead?
Some people would have us believe that if we preach pure grace it will lead people to licentious living. They say if we remove the law as a guide or motivation for Christian living, people will have nothing to keep them faithful. They say to tell a person to just follow Christ doesn’t provide enough structure and will lead people to careless living. Is that where the gospel of God’s free grace in Christ Jesus leads? Grace preachers have always been, and always will be, falsely accused of this devilish lie. The apostle Paul spent much of his time defending the gospel of grace against this lawmongers view of self- righteousness. “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.” Rom 6:15. Grace does not lead to sin. Grace leads to Christ. “For the love of Christ constaineth us…” 2 Cor.5:4 Truth is “The strength of sin is the law.” 1 Cor.15:56. Show me a man preaching the law, and I’ll show you a people with no hope for their sin; its penalty, power, and ultimately its presence. ~GE
Wait Upon the Lord
“ they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength...”
Is. 40:31a
Someone said to wait on the Lord is hard. It is not hard. It is impossible. Thank the Lord that what is impossible with man, is possible with God. The word “renew” in this verse means; “to change” or exchange. It is a supernatural work of grace in the heart that causes us to confess our weakness and trust Christ for His strength; to change our way for His way. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Cor. 12:9-10. ~GE
Waiting on the Lord
If our God be Sovereign, then anytime we find ourselves waiting on anything, we are in truth, waiting on the Lord. Let us always remember that whoever or whatever seems to be holding things up, is a secondary cause. Our God is the first cause of all things and will move those secondary causes in His perfect time. The king’s heart (and everyone else’s) is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of waters, He turneth it whithersoever He will. Pr. 21:1. “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.” Psalm 37:7a. While we wait on the coming of the Lord, let us remember that He hath made everything beautiful in His time. It will all “come to pass” exactly when the Lord purposes it to “come to pass”. ~GE
Am I a Sinner?
“I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” Lk. 5:32. How does one know if they are a sinner? Is it, as some suggest, because they bear the burden of sorrow and shame for their sin? To be honest, our sin really does not bother us that much. The Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary’s Cross is the only one that felt the full weight of sin. So, how do we know if we meet the qualification of those Christ came to save? We can only imagine that the Syrophenician woman in Mark 7 had all her life been offended by the racial slur, “gentile dog” cast at her by the Jews. But when the Lord called her a dog she immediately concurred with; “truth Lord’. Believing that you are a sinner is like everything else we believe. We believe it because God said so. We no more understand or experience the depth of our sin than anything else we believe about our salvation. Abraham BELIEVED GOD and it was counted to him for righteousness. We believe that we are sinners because God said so. “There is NONE that doeth good, no not one” Ps 14:3. “ALL we like sheep have gone astray” Is. 53:6. “ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God” Rom. 3:23. “From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds and bruises, and putrefying sores…” Is.1:6. “For by grace are you saved through faith…” Eph. 2:8. Whatever God says, saving faith says;
“TRUTH LORD”. ~GE
Public Worship
There is no substitute for the gathering of the saints in public worship. It is the place our Lord has promised to show forth His grace and glory like no other place. May the Lord grant us the faith to anticipate hearing from and seeing the Lord Jesus every time we come together. Child of God imagine that you had nothing or very little of the written Word of God to read. Imagine there was no radio, TV, Internet, or recording devices to broadcast messages. How precious would public worship be to you? This is precisely where the vast majority of God’s people lived for most of time. I fear these “conveniences” of our modern era may diminish our need, anticipation, and consequently our profit of public worship. It need not be. These things can enhance our anticipation of, and blessings in public worship if we see them for what they are, a supplement not a substitute. ~GE
True Unity
Child of God, endeavor to keep the unit of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Eph. 4:3. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. Ps. 133:1. Whatever differences we may have in the flesh, (Race, Culture, Language, Politics, Personalities) they are not only insignificant but irrelevant to our unity in Christ Jesus. Our Lord prayed, “that they all may be one; as thou Father are in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” Jn. 17:21. What a powerful testimony it is to the unbeliever to see that we all believe the same thing concerning the Lord Jesus and His successful work of redeeming His people, and that our conviction concerning the gospel causes us to overlook all other differences. ~GE
Though we fervently pray and sincerely hope the Lord will have mercy on others, the majority of our witnessing opportunities are for our benefit not theirs.
Effectual Prayer
Surely, we are all guilty of having asked God for things, “amiss that we may consume it upon our lust”. James 4:3. Thankfully, our Heavenly Father in His infinite wisdom and love says; no, my child, that is not what you need. Is there anything we can ask of God to which He will never say no? Yes, there is. Ask for forgiveness, mercy, grace, faith, wisdom, love, righteousness, peace, hope, light, knowledge. In short, ask for Christ and with Him will come exceeding, abundantly above all that we ask or think…” Eph. 3:20. One of the reasons the Lord lets us labor in prayer is to bring us to see and to seek the weightier matters, the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. ~GE
Omniscience
When David spoke of God’s omniscience in Psalm 139, he concluded with; “such a knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.”
Compare that to the explanation men give for Divine omniscience. They say he looks down through the portal of time and sees who will choose him. That is not our God. That is nothing more than a Seer looking into a crystal ball. No, our God created time. He exists completely within Himself, outside of time. He has ordained everything in time to accomplish his sovereign purpose. “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.”
Eccl. 3:14-15. ~GE
Satisfied Justice
All the toxic vials of Divine judgment poured out in God's fury against this condemned world; combined with all the eternal flames of torment in a devil’s hell; combined with all the pangs of conscience suffered in shame and fear by guilty sinners; cannot compare to the sufferings the Lord Jesus Christ experienced for His people on Calvary’s cross. God saw the travail of HIS soul and was satisfied. “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
1 Jn. 4:10. ~GE
Where Does Grace Lead?
Some people would have us believe that if we preach pure grace it will lead people to licentious living. They say if we remove the law as a guide or motivation for Christian living, people will have nothing to keep them faithful. They say to tell a person to just follow Christ doesn’t provide enough structure and will lead people to careless living. Is that where the gospel of God’s free grace in Christ Jesus leads? Grace preachers have always been, and always will be, falsely accused of this devilish lie. The apostle Paul spent much of his time defending the gospel of grace against this lawmongers view of self- righteousness. “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.” Rom 6:15. Grace does not lead to sin. Grace leads to Christ. “For the love of Christ constaineth us…” 2 Cor.5:4 Truth is “The strength of sin is the law.” 1 Cor.15:56. Show me a man preaching the law, and I’ll show you a people with no hope for their sin; its penalty, power, and ultimately its presence. ~GE
Wait Upon the Lord
“ they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength...”
Is. 40:31a
Someone said to wait on the Lord is hard. It is not hard. It is impossible. Thank the Lord that what is impossible with man, is possible with God. The word “renew” in this verse means; “to change” or exchange. It is a supernatural work of grace in the heart that causes us to confess our weakness and trust Christ for His strength; to change our way for His way. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Cor. 12:9-10. ~GE
Waiting on the Lord
If our God be Sovereign, then anytime we find ourselves waiting on anything, we are in truth, waiting on the Lord. Let us always remember that whoever or whatever seems to be holding things up, is a secondary cause. Our God is the first cause of all things and will move those secondary causes in His perfect time. The king’s heart (and everyone else’s) is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of waters, He turneth it whithersoever He will. Pr. 21:1. “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.” Psalm 37:7a. While we wait on the coming of the Lord, let us remember that He hath made everything beautiful in His time. It will all “come to pass” exactly when the Lord purposes it to “come to pass”. ~GE
Am I a Sinner?
“I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” Lk. 5:32. How does one know if they are a sinner? Is it, as some suggest, because they bear the burden of sorrow and shame for their sin? To be honest, our sin really does not bother us that much. The Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary’s Cross is the only one that felt the full weight of sin. So, how do we know if we meet the qualification of those Christ came to save? We can only imagine that the Syrophenician woman in Mark 7 had all her life been offended by the racial slur, “gentile dog” cast at her by the Jews. But when the Lord called her a dog she immediately concurred with; “truth Lord’. Believing that you are a sinner is like everything else we believe. We believe it because God said so. We no more understand or experience the depth of our sin than anything else we believe about our salvation. Abraham BELIEVED GOD and it was counted to him for righteousness. We believe that we are sinners because God said so. “There is NONE that doeth good, no not one” Ps 14:3. “ALL we like sheep have gone astray” Is. 53:6. “ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God” Rom. 3:23. “From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds and bruises, and putrefying sores…” Is.1:6. “For by grace are you saved through faith…” Eph. 2:8. Whatever God says, saving faith says;
“TRUTH LORD”. ~GE
Public Worship
There is no substitute for the gathering of the saints in public worship. It is the place our Lord has promised to show forth His grace and glory like no other place. May the Lord grant us the faith to anticipate hearing from and seeing the Lord Jesus every time we come together. Child of God imagine that you had nothing or very little of the written Word of God to read. Imagine there was no radio, TV, Internet, or recording devices to broadcast messages. How precious would public worship be to you? This is precisely where the vast majority of God’s people lived for most of time. I fear these “conveniences” of our modern era may diminish our need, anticipation, and consequently our profit of public worship. It need not be. These things can enhance our anticipation of, and blessings in public worship if we see them for what they are, a supplement not a substitute. ~GE
True Unity
Child of God, endeavor to keep the unit of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Eph. 4:3. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. Ps. 133:1. Whatever differences we may have in the flesh, (Race, Culture, Language, Politics, Personalities) they are not only insignificant but irrelevant to our unity in Christ Jesus. Our Lord prayed, “that they all may be one; as thou Father are in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” Jn. 17:21. What a powerful testimony it is to the unbeliever to see that we all believe the same thing concerning the Lord Jesus and His successful work of redeeming His people, and that our conviction concerning the gospel causes us to overlook all other differences. ~GE
Though we fervently pray and sincerely hope the Lord will have mercy on others, the majority of our witnessing opportunities are for our benefit not theirs.
Effectual Prayer
Surely, we are all guilty of having asked God for things, “amiss that we may consume it upon our lust”. James 4:3. Thankfully, our Heavenly Father in His infinite wisdom and love says; no, my child, that is not what you need. Is there anything we can ask of God to which He will never say no? Yes, there is. Ask for forgiveness, mercy, grace, faith, wisdom, love, righteousness, peace, hope, light, knowledge. In short, ask for Christ and with Him will come exceeding, abundantly above all that we ask or think…” Eph. 3:20. One of the reasons the Lord lets us labor in prayer is to bring us to see and to seek the weightier matters, the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. ~GE