Simply Said: September 11th, 2018

Each morning I awaken and am reminded: “According to his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 2nd Peter 1:3-4 So many seek to live godly in their own strength, and yet we are instructed in God’s word by the Holy Spirit. “Let this mind that be in you, that was in Christ Jesus: who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made of himself no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:5-8 We are not God in the flesh, but we have the Spirit of Christ abiding in us, and the Word of God becomes our provision to walk in the Spirit, and not fulfill the desires of the flesh. Think with me this morning. We do not clean up our life, but actually God transforms our mind as we intake these great and exceedingly precious promises. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, (why), and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2nd Timothy 3:16-17 I know from experience in Bible School, that everyone hears that verse a multitude of times, but really, how man abide by that reality. No wonder Paul when writing to Timothy in Chapter 4:1 Paul, gives Timothy a charge: and it is before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom. “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; (that means even in times when it is not convenient) reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering, and doctrine.” (Why?) : For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears: and they shall turn away from the truth, and shall be turned to fables.”

These are very valuable doctrinal truths, and yet it is God who abides faithful to us who believe, as we continue in the Word of God as a disciple. If God saves us and keeps us, which He does, why in this world of sin and death, would we depart from the truth, and even give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. Some of you may not like this, but I will speak it anyway, for it is the wisdom that comes from God. “Depart not from faith, which comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. “Continue in the things that thou hast learned and been assured of: knowing of whom thou has learned them.” 2nd Timothy 3:14 In the Greek it means to remain in the Word of God, with that becoming a habit of life, because of conviction established, ye are convinced of it. Is it possible this morning, that man go to church, hear the Word of God, then leave the church and become a forgetful hearer of the Word. Oh my! How do we live this life? “But thanks be to God, who give us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore my beloved brethren,, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” 1st Cor. 15:57-58 Are you hearing me this morning. John 15 says it well for us this morning. In find in this life, that Christ finished the work of redemption, and it is He that works in us to will and do of His pleasure. Listen to these words and give heed to them. “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” There is a process going on in our life that is the work of God, and we are purged by the Holy Ghost, and actually in verse 3 says, “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. ( Cleansing comes by the Word of God!} Abide, (Continue by abiding) in me, and I in you, As the branch cannot (notice that) bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” Are you at home in Christ? Do you sit at His feet and hear the Word that He speaks unto you?

I am rejoicing this morning, because if and we will, if we are a hearer of the Word of God, “Abide in me, and I in you. As a branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me” We cannot separate Christ, the living Word, from the written Word. It is Christ speaking here to disciples. Not the lost, but the disciple. There is a discipline that comes by hearing, which actually comes by the Word of God. It is not just hearing when you go to church, but it is the continuous abiding in the Word as a disciple that transforms our life. “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye may have eternal life.” Abiding in the Word is discovering the provision and the work of the Spirit operating within you to conform you and me to the likeness of Christ, where he is revealed in us by His work and grace. We are transformed by the work of God, as we continue in the Word of God as a disciple. We do not waiver, but abide, staying under the Word of God as a disciple. Will we be perfect? Even if not, God does not stop working in us and through us, and the process is called transformation. He seals us, quickens us to life, and transforms us day by day. The Word of God is the revelation of Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. Have you taken up your cross yet?


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