The God Who Speaks To The Heart
There is a God who has made us, one so great and mighty that all creation exists because of Him. He it is also who knows how to speak to the heart, clearly convincing us of what His will is, He it is also who comes to dwell in the heart, strengthening us daily to believe Him to lead and guide. This eternal Christ, unveiled to us by the Father, and manifested to us by the Spirit, is our Maker and Redeemer, Life, Light, and Love.
The Faith That Staggers Not
There is a faith that is given by God that is characterized by stedfastness, or immoveability. As the tree is planted by streams of water, a life that is indwelt by the Spirit of Christ, filled with the Spirit, will exert a faith that is stedfast in the face of difficulty and pressure. It is as the Psalmist declares, in speaking of the city of God: "...she shall not be moved," by virtue of the presence of God in the midst.
The Debt We Owe
What is the debt that the sinner owes to God? The first aspect of this debt goes back before the individual was formed in the womb of his mother. David would declare, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Man is indebted to God because he was created. Secondly, man is totally indebted to God because God alone redeems fallen, sinful man, by the very blood of His Son, shed on Calvary. This is the great debt of love that cannot be fully be repaid, only forgiven, so that one will be free to love God with the whole heart.
Stand On Thy Feet
There are times of resting and sitting in the spiritual life, for it is a life of peace. There are other times when the believer is called to stand, first to hear the word of the Lord, in order to respond by faith when He speaks. It is a call to respond to the revealed knowledge of the will of God, whether it be for service, or overcoming the enemy at a certain point.
Love's Prelude, Call, And Commitment
Where does love come from? What is the distinction between the love of God and that of man? Scripture is very clear in declaring that all things good come ultimately from God, and Him alone, for He alone IS good. This love of God is both a calling by God to bring sinful man to a true, and profound knowledge of this love, and at the same time to reveal it in the hearts of men by the Spirit.
Christ's New Man
The "new man" in Christ Jesus is one which can only be understood by beginning to understand the work of the Father in putting the believer in Christ. The whole foundation of the concept has its roots in WHO Christ was and is, and the completion of His work on Calvary. When one is born again of the Spirit, the believer becomes a new man, a new creation in Christ, to live by Another's life and power, for the glory of God.
The Son Of God Goes Forth To War
Christ is a warrior, the perfect Soldier. He knows all things concerning the spiritual conflict that exists, and has all power at every moment to be victorious in it. The Lord Jesus took upon Himself a body prepared, dwelt among us as a man, who lived by the overcoming strength of His Father. The Soldier went to the cross, and by the power of the Eternal Spirit prevailed over every enemy, that we might be saved, and truly know His saving Life.
The Indisputable Power Of The Word Of God
In the book of Isaiah, the Lord says: "...My word shall not return unto Me void." In other words, God will not only fulfill His word, but He will accomplish all that he purposes in the declaring of it. His challenge to all men is who will trust Him fully according to it?
The Fire Is The Key
What does God reveal to us about His fire, the fire that consumes the sacrifice, and which unveils to us an aspect of the character of God? First and foremost, our God is holy. With respect to sin, He is a consuming fire. With respect to the centrality of devotion that he gives to the believer, He is that "fire in one's bones." His fire is both a witness of His holiness, a power of devotion to God, and a confirmation of His blessing.
Strength Out Of Weakness
Why is it that we wait until our strength is almost gone to call upon the Lord? It is basically because of two things, our own self-reliance, and false idea concerning the source of strength. David would write: "The Lord is the strength of my life." Have we learned the lesson?