Springs in the Valley - Devotional January 15

" And he said unto me, It is done"
Revelation 21:6

How many persons are everlastingly doing, but how few ever get through with it! How few settle a thing and know that it is accomplished and can say "it is done"!

The moment we really believe we are conscious that there is power. We can touch God at such times, and the fire in our souls makes us sure that soemthing is settled forever.

Faith must be a clear -cut taking hold of God; a grasping Him with fingers of iron, with an uncompromising commitment of all to God. In learning to float you must utterly abandon yourself to the water; you must believe that the water is able to hold you up: so you must take this steps of commitment, and then look up to God with confidence and say "it is done." Our part is to commit; God's part is to work. The very moment that we commit, that  very moment He undertakes. We must believe that He has undertaken what we have commited. Faith must re-echo God's promise and dare to say "it is done."

The thing is as good as done, since He has taken it in hand. 

Step out upon a bare promise right now, and "count the things that be not as though they were," and God will make your reckoning real. It will be done by actual experience.
-----Days of Heaven upon Earth.

My olf professor, Lord Kelvin, once said in class a very striking thing. He said that there came a point in all his great discoveries when he had to take a leap into the dark.  And nobody who is afraid of such a leap from the solid ground of what is demonstrated, will know the exhilaration of believing!

To commit ourselves unresevedly to Christ is just the biggest venture in the world!  The wonderful thing is that wehn, with a certain dring, we take Lord Kelvin's  "leap into the dark" we discover it is not dark at all, but life abundant, and liberty and peace.    ----George H. Morrison, D. D

Believe that it is settled becasue God says so!

"God said, and it happened." (Genesis 1:2-7, Finnish trans.)

MY TWO CENTS

I was told by an elder in 2006 that the whole gospel and everything all the apostles are teaching us can be summed up in "live by faith and do not go beyond the moment and if I can do that, then my life would be a prayer to God."

All I cared about that day was the depth of what was said to me. I knew such a life could only be pleasing to Him and I could trust Him with the rest. I went home and committed myself to learn to live moment by moment. I gave it to God as the desire of my heart and trusted Him to make it real in my life. I sort of let go when I found out, even a life of practicing His presence does not help me live every moment for Him the way I wanted to. What I mean by that, even when you practice God’s presence daily and all the time, there are moments during the days that are yours and the flesh flairs up easily.

Here we are in 2016, although, the past few weeks, He has been giving me hints here and there about this need to live moment by moment, but, two days ago, I was interrupted by the Spirit of God while reading the Bible and He confirmed to me that this year is the year that we are going to learn to apply this promise. It was a great moment that makes me feel the need to live with anticipation because He showed me how much living moment by moment with God is a life where there is no such thing as trivial matters to God and He showed me the most trivial thing that I can think of or say with my mouth, matters a great deal to Him.  

Right then and there, I experienced another side of the meaning of God’s word when He says "apart from me you can do nothing."  The anticipation in my heart came from the fact that through this tidbit of revelation, He showed me that He is the one who has to live every moment in me in order to make it a reality in me and in my life. I could also see that the past ten years, He has been laying the foundation of my claim. So, when we claim something from God, we must continue the path as guided by the Spirit, and trust that God is never late and what we entrust in His hands is safe. 

My point here is that, real commitment to the indwelling Christ in us is much harder than we think. In fact, true commitment to Him makes you feel like you have worked so hard for your salvation that you are tempted to believe just that.  But, in reality, all we are doing is committing to Him.  How do I know that? He showed me.

There was a time in the wilderness I was so sure I have worked like crazy to reach where I was with Him.  The Holy Spirit was upset at me for the first time. Then, He told me that I was appropriating what belongs to God.  He then showed me all the time that I felt as if I have been working so hard for my salvation, so much so that I felt truly tired, the spirit said to me "all those years, all you have been doing is committing yourself to me, to the work being done in you and agreeing with me."

When He showed it to me, I could see the effort it takes to agree with God, remain down on your knees and under His mighty hands while He is doing His work in you. IT TAKES EVERYTHING WE GET!

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, don't be content with an easy Christianity while you go glibly through life thinking you actually get it. Be careful of those who keep telling you that you are okay when inside of you, you know something is wrong. Misery loves company.  Those who are working hard at telling you to go forward, have nothing to gain, except your contempt for no allowing you to feel comfortable with your choices. 

Isaiah 55:8 "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the LORD. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine."



2 Timothy 1:12  "..... I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return."

LISTEN TO PAUL WASHER'S WIFE TESTIMONY

Search The Scriptures —Study 2 — 2 Timothy 2

Study 2 From The Book of 2 Timothy Is: 2 Timothy 2

1.    What do verse 1-13 teach about the Christian life concerning (a) what it demands from those who embrace it, (b) the source of its strength, and (c) its final end? Seek personally to face the challenge of the illustrations which Paul uses.

2.    Verses 14-26.  What should be the Christian’s dominant aim and purpose? What should be his attitude to (a) evil things, and (b) enemies of the truth? Note (a) by what methods he is to seek to win back to the truth those who are misled.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 1 — 2 Timothy 1

Study 1 From The Book of 2 Timothy Is: 2 Timothy 1

1. Picture Paul’s circumstances. See also 4:9-13.  What positive Christian truths sustained and encouraged Paul as he lay in prison?

2. Note how Paul reminds Timothy of the demands and cost of Christian service. Express in your own words the chief points of Paul’s counsel and exhortation to him.  To which of these do you particularly need to give heed?

3. What do verses 3-7 reveal concerning the value of a God-fearing and Christian home and upbringing? Cf. 3: 14, 15.

Note.  Verse 16-18. ‘Onesiphorus appears here as one separated from his household, either by absence from home, or quite possibly by death (cf. 4:19).  This does not mean, however, that Paul is praying for his present well-being as one dead, a practice completely unsupported elsewhere in Scripture. The prayer concerns not the intermediate state at all, but conduct in this life, and reward on the future day of judgement’?

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Search The Scriptures —Study 0 — Introduction to 2 Timothy

Study 0 From The Book of 2 Timothy Is: The Introduction

This letter is of peculiar interest because it is Paul’s last, written during his final imprisonment in Rome when he was aware that his death could be not for long delayed. It reveals that his last days were spent without material comfort.  There was no immediate earthly reward to crown his long years of labour. For one reason or another his friends had left him (1:15; 4:10, 12, 16).  Amid the dreary limitations of his imprisonment he asks for his old cloak to be brought to keep him warm and his books for him to read (4:13). He urges Timothy to come quickly that he may see him before his death (1:4; 4:9, 21).

In such difficult circumstances he exhorts his son in the faith to be faithful to the truth. He is more concerned for Timothy and for the future of the gospel than for himself. Steadfast and confident to the end, he has still the same message to give to all who are called to the service of Christ. What the Lord requires in His workers is faithfulness, even unto death; to watch, to endure, to work and fully to discharge the obligation of their office; to finish their course; and live in anticipation of the crowning day that is coming.  For all such is laid up in store ‘eternal glory’.

Search The Scriptures —Study 3 — Titus 3

Study 3 From The Book of Titus Is: Titus 3

With chapter 3 we end our study of the Titus book. Next lesson will be on 2 Timothy.

1.    Verses 1-7. How ought we as Christians to behave in relation to (a) civil authorities, and (b) our fellow-men? What double awareness about ourselves should inspire such conduct?

2.    Verses 4:7.  What are we here told about (a) the source and method of salvation, and (b) our present state and future hope? Do you realize as you ought how ‘richly’ (verse 6) you are endowed?

3.    Verse 8:15. By what actions and by what abstinence should genuine faith in God express itself? What is necessary on our part to ensure that this happens?

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Search The Scriptures —Study 2 — Titus 2

Study 2 From The Book of Titus Is: Titus 2

1.    Verses 1-10. How many Christians ‘adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour’? Examine carefully the characteristics demanded from the different classes mentioned; and summarize them briefly in your own words. Which characteristics ought you particularly to covert and cultivate?

2.    Verses 11-14. What reasons are here given why a Christian should live differently?  (a) What should he give up?  (b) How should he now live? How far is this true of you?

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Search The Scriptures —Study 1 — Titus 1

Study 1 From The Book of Titus Is: Titus 1

1.    Verses 1-4.  What does Paul tell us here concerning the origin and the aims of his ministry? What was the basis of his assurance?

2.    Verses 10-14. What was wrong with those whom Paul here criticizes? Make a list of their faults and failings. How, by contrast, are sincerity and genuineness revealed?

3.    Verses 6-9.  Make a list of the qualifications desirable in a Christian minister which are here mentioned. Compare them with those stated in 1 Tim 3: 1-13.  

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Search The Scriptures —Study 0 — Introduction to Titus

Study 0 From The Book of Titus Is: the Introduction

Titus was a Gentile convert (Gal. 2:3), led to faith by the apostle himself (Tit. 1:4). He accompanied Paul on some of his journeys and was sent by him on important missions to churches, as for example, to Corinth (2 Cor. 8:16-18, 23; 12 17, 18) and to Dalmatia (2 Tim. 4:10). This letter reveals that Paul left him in Crete to establish the churches of that Island (1:5).

This letter is very similar to 1 Timothy and was probably written about the same time, in the interval between Paul’s two imprisonments. It is therefore earlier than 2 Timothy.  It emphasizes the importance of order and discipline in the churches. The gospel had evidently made rapid headway in Crete, but, church government was a yet undeveloped (1:5). False teaching also had to be countered, and the apostle has some strong words to say on this subject. But, above all else, the letter stresses the Christian’s calling and obligation to live a holy life. It contains also two great doctrinal passages (2:11-14; 3:4-7), which stand out like mountain ranges in the landscape.

Search The Scriptures —Study 7 —1 Timothy 6:3-21

Study 7 From The Book of Timothy is: 1 Timothy 6:3-21 

With this study we end the book of 1 Timothy and will delve into the very small book of Titus

1.    Verses 3-5, 20, 21. What characteristics of false teachers are here mentioned? What is lacking, and what out of place, in their attitude and practice? From these statements make a list of things to be avoided, if you wish to be an acceptable teacher of the things of God. Set over against them the positive aims desirable in a true man of God (verse 11:14).

2.    Verses 6-10, 17-19.  What are the perils of covetousness and wealth? What is the proper attitude to, and use of, material possessions? On what should our desires and hopes be fixed?                              

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Search The Scriptures —Study 6 —1 Timothy 5:1-6:2

Study 6 From The Book of 1 Timothy Is: 1 Timothy 5:1-6:2

1.    Note Paul’s concerns for others, and his detached interest in the special conditions and needs of particular groups.  What may we here learn concerning the way to treat people?

2.    How ought the elderly, e.g., widows, normally to be cared for? Why does Paul advise against the giving of church support to younger widows?

3.    5:19-22. Of what dangers and responsibilities is Timothy here made aware? What, in principle, can I learn from these instructions for my own guidance?

Notes

1.    5:3, 17. “Honour”: probably implies financial support.

2.    5:22. ‘The laying on of hands’ refers to the setting apart of individuals for specific service, e.g., as elders.

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