May Love Expand

Love One Another.

It is written that love is the greatest of all gifts, and truly it is. Love is powerful, and there is power in love. Love brings joy to the soul, encouragement to the brokenhearted, and hope to the hopeless. Love conquers all things, overcomes all things, and endures all things. For love, this love that I speak of. It comes from God, poured forth like a mighty river flowing from the very heart of God himself.

Blessings, in the love of Christ.
In His Glorious Name Ministries Online

Praise the Lord

















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Grow In The Grace And Knowledge Of Our Lord And Saviour Jesus Christ."

Proverbs 3:5-18
‘Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ’(2 Peter 3:18). If we are to know the Lord, we must come to an end of ourselves: ‘Be not wise in your own eyes’(7), ‘do not rely on your own insight’(5). True knowledge of God comes through faith: ‘Trust in the Lord...’(5). True knowledge of God is heart-knowledge: ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart’(5). Knowing Christ involves growing in grace. We cannot get to know God apart from the grace of God working within us. Growth in grace is not always a smooth pathway (11-12; Hebrews 12:5-11). Never forget: ‘the Lord’s discipline’ is an expression of the Lord’s love. ‘Lord, You are more precious than silver, Lord, You are more costly than gold, Lord, You are more beautiful than diamonds, And nothing I desire compares with You' (13-15; Mission Praise,447).

Proverbs 3:19-35
'‘You will walk on your way securely... for the Lord will be your confidence’ (23,26). Trusting in the Lord, we are to say, ‘He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold’(Job 23:10). Our faith is under threat. There is the danger of ‘sudden panic’(25). We are faced with the ‘man of violence... the perverse man... the wicked... the scorners... fools’(31-35). What are we to do? Even in the most testing and trying times, we must hold on to this: God is at work for our holiness - ‘Refiner’s fire, my heart’s one desire is to be holy. Set apart for You, Lord, I choose to be holy, set apart for You, my Master, ready to do Your will’(Songs of Fellowship, 475). Submitted to God’s holy purpose, we rejoice in this: Nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:39).

The Gospel Promise And The Gospel Warning

Proverbs 2:1-15
There is a real call for spiritual growth here. We are to accept God's words, storing up His commands, turning our ears to wisdom and our hearts to understanding (1-2). If we are to grow in the fear and knowledge of God, we must pray for insight and understanding. These blessings are greater than silver and hidden treasure (3-5). In the Christian life, there is both promise and warning. There is God’s promise - you will be led in a way that ‘will be pleasant to your soul’(10). There is His warning - make sure that you do not ‘leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways’(13). It is very important that we take time to read God’s Word, since it is ‘the Lord’ who ‘gives wisdom’. We must listen for God’s Voice, speaking to us through Scripture (6). As we listen to Him, we will be led in ‘every good path’- protected and victorious (7-9).

Proverbs 2:16-3:4
We read the warning about ‘the adulteress’: ‘her house leads down to death’(16-18). We also hear the warning of the Gospel: ‘the wages of sin is death’(Romans 6:23). We are told that ‘none who go to her return or attain the paths of life’(19). Left to ourselves, none of us would return to God, none of us would find the way to life (Romans 3:10-12). Some seek ‘prosperity’(1). They seek ‘a good name in the sight of... men’(4). We must not, however, make these things the be-all and end-all. There is more to life than material possessions, more than high ratings in the popularity stakes. There is eternal life - ‘the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord’(Romans 6:23) - and the forgiveness of sins - ‘justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ’(Romans 5:1).

Christ Is Our Wisdom. We Will Never Be Wise Unless We Build Our Lives On Him.

Proverbs 1:1-7
Scripture speaks of different kinds of ‘wisdom’. In Proverbs, wisdom is closely associated with godliness. In Ecclesiastes, wisdom - viewed as mere human intelligence - is described as ‘meaningless, a chasing after the wind’(1:12-18). This contrast is continued in the New Testament, where Paul describes Christ as our ‘Wisdom’, contrasting this Wisdom with ‘the wisdom of the world’(1 Corinthians 1:18-25,30). The purpose of Proverbs is set out in its opening verses. Notice the vital connection between ‘understanding’ and ‘doing’(2-3). We are to be ‘doers’ as well as ‘hearers’ of God’s Word (James 1:22). We are to ‘keep what is written’ in God’s Word (Revelation 1:3). The great theme of Proverbs is stated in verse 7: ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge’. Christ is our Wisdom. We will never be wise unless we build our lives on Him (Matthew 7: 24-27).

Proverbs 1:8-19
If we are to be saved, we must follow the Wisdom of the Proverbs: ‘Listen, my son, to your father's instruction’(8). We must follow the ‘Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing’, the living Word, our Lord Jesus Christ (Church Hymnary, 191). Satan is seeking to destroy us - ‘let’s swallow them alive, like the grave’(12). To ‘go along with’ those who do not honour the Lord Jesus Christ is to ‘rush into sin’(15-16). To live by faith in Christ is to be ‘kept by the power of God’ for full salvation (1 Peter 1:5). There are choices to be made. You remain a fool if you choose not to ask God for wisdom (James 1:5-8). The fool is ‘a double-minded man’, trying to live for the Lord and for the world at the same time. Will you be wise or foolish? - The choice is yours. Remember this has more to do with the moral choices you make than with how ‘well educated’ you may be.

Proverbs 1:20-33
This section begins with the words, ‘Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares’(20) and ends with the words, ‘whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm’(33). The Gospel is not to be kept to ourselves. Christ is to be proclaimed. Why is it so important that we tell others about our Saviour, Jesus Christ? - It is because He offers salvation to all who come to Him: ‘Everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved’(Romans 10:13). Later on, in Proverbs, we read. ‘he who wins souls is wise’(11:30). Those who are wise will pray for a greater fulfilment of the Lord’s promise: ‘you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be My witnesses ...’(Acts 1:8). Filled with the Holy Spirit, we will speak the Word of God boldly (Acts 4:31).

Our Problem May Be Great. God's Power is Greater.

Romans 15:1-33
With Christ’s example, ‘the encouragement of the Scriptures’ and the enabling power of God, let us love one another,‘with one heart and one voice’(1-6). This is the way of glorifying God. Trusting in Christ, ‘the root of Jesse’, we are blessed by ‘the God of hope’, filled with ‘the power of the Holy Spirit’- so that we may ‘abound in hope’. This hope comes to us through ‘the Scriptures’(12-13,4). God’s saving purpose was not only for the ‘dyed in the wool’ Jew. He saved both Jews and Gentiles (9-12). Thank God that Paul was not as narrow-minded as many people are today! God’s blessing is not only for our type of people! Let us learn from Paul. ‘A minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles’, he was always reaching out to more and more people ‘in the fulness of the blessing of Christ’(16,29).

Romans 16:1-27
Paul was writing to a Church with big problems(17-18). Deeply influenced by the wrong kind of people, the Church gets bogged down in ‘dissensions and difficulties’. Critical, fault-finding people exert an extremely divisive influence. They look after their own interests. They only think about themselves. Nothing else matters to them. They manipulate other people - to get their own way. They go out of their way to get their own way! The problem may be great - but the power of God is greater(19-20)! Strengthened by ‘the God of peace’ and ‘the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ’, let us press on in ‘obedience’ to God, claiming His victory over ‘Satan’. Let ‘the preaching of Jesus Christ’ make you strong for God (25-27).
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

Worship The Lord - And Be Changed by His Love.

Romans 12:1-13:10
Here, we have practical Christian living, living the life of love. What can our ‘sacrifice’ be in the light of Christ’s greater Sacrifice of Himself for us? It can only be ‘our reasonable service’, our ‘spiritual worship’. His love calls for our response, the response of love: ‘Love so amazing, so divine, demands (and shall have) my soul, my life, my all’(12:1; Church Hymnary, 254). Our love for Him can never begin to compare with His love for us. ‘Love is a many splendoured thing’(12:9-21). Let love direct our thinking, speaking and living - His love, love for God, love for people (13:8-10). Let your prayer be, ‘More love, more power, more of You in my life. And I will worship You with all my heart,... mind,... strength’(Songs of Fellowship, 392). Worship the Lord - and be changed by His love!

Romans 13:11-14:23
‘Walk in love’- We must not fall out over matters in which difference of opinion is allowed (14:5,15). There can be a lot of bitterness over ‘the Sabbath’. There can be so much pride. For some, this is the ‘be-all and end-all’ of Christian faith. They say, ‘We are the Sabbath keepers. They are not!’. Others react, ‘We rejoice in our Christian liberty. They are legalists’. ‘Pharisees’ are preoccupied with ‘the Sabbath’. We must remember that Jesus is ‘the Lord of the Sabbath’. We must let His love flow (Matthew 12:2,10,8,11-12). Let faith be real- not just keeping on the right side of narrow-minded people (23; Colossians 2:16; 1 Corinthians 2:15). Let there be ‘peace and joy in the Holy Spirit’. Don’t think too highly of yourself. ‘Count others better than yourself’(17; 12:3; Philippians 2:3).
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

Trust In Christ And Give Him All The Glory.

Romans 9:1-33 
We read about ‘Jews’ and ‘Gentiles’. We learn about salvation. The Jews are not saved because of their nationality. It is ‘not because of works’. The Gentiles are not excluded because of their nationality. It is ‘because of His call’. Salvation comes from God’s grace, not from our good works. It is received ‘by faith’, not ‘by works’(24,11,30-32). There is for us here a word of warning and a word of promise. Here’s the warning - You can be religious without being saved: ‘not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel... it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God’(6-8). Here’s the promise - You can be saved through faith in Jesus Christ: Through faith in Him, those who were ‘not God’s people’ became ‘sons of the living God’(26). Trust in Christ, not in yourself! 

Romans 10:1-21 
To ‘Jew and Gentile’, God says, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’(12-13). The Jews had praised the Lord Jesus: ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’. Before long, they were shouting, ‘Crucify Him, crucify Him!’(John 12:12-13; 19:6). We rejoice that the Gospel has now come to the Gentiles. We remember also that God still ‘holds out His hands to Israel’(19-21). Still, Christ says, ‘O Jerusalem, Jerusalem... How often would I have gathered your children together...’(Luke 13:34). ‘Pray for the peace of Jerusalem’, for the advance of the Gospel among the Jews (Psalm 122:6). Pray also for the ‘voice’ of the Gospel, ‘going out into all the earth’(18). Pray that ‘faith will come as the Word of Christ is heard’(17). 

Romans 11:1-36 
‘You stand fast only through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe’(20). In 9:32, Paul contrasted ‘faith’ and ‘works’. Here, he contrasts ‘grace’ and ‘works’(6). Grace and faith belong together. ‘Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to Thy Cross I cling’(Church Hymnary, 83) - This is faith, looking away from itself to divine grace. We do not come to God with our religion in one hand and our morality in the other. We hear the Gospel invitation - ‘O come to the Father through Jesus the Son’. Trusting in Christ, we say, ‘To God be the glory! Great things He has done’(Church Hymnary, 374). It is only when we bow at the foot of the Cross that we are able to say, with Paul, ‘To Him be the glory for ever!’(36; Galatians 6:14; 1 Corinthians 1:30-31).
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Blessings in Christ 
Christ in all the Scriptures 
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

Led By The Spirit, Strong In The Spirit, We Press On To Glory.

Romans 7:1-25
God’s purpose is not easily fulfilled in us. Our battle with sin is extremely intense. There is a great conflict going on within us. ‘The Spirit’ and ‘the flesh’ are at war with each other (Galatians 5:17). God has given us His Spirit - ‘we serve... in the new life of the Spirit’(6). We are still sinners - ‘I am carnal, a slave to sin’(14). These are two sides of the one coin. The Spirit is within us yet we remain sinners. Honestly confessing our sin, we say, ‘Wretched man that I am!’. Gladly rejoicing in our Saviour, we say, ‘Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!’(24-25). Despite our many defeats, we say, ‘Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord’(8:39). Wait for ‘the final result’: ‘God gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ’(1 Corinthians 15:57).

Romans 8:1-39
Each of us must choose. We can ‘live according to the flesh’ or we can ‘live according to the Spirit’. We can ‘set the mind on the flesh’ or we can ‘set the mind on the Spirit’(5-6). The new life in the Spirit is just the beginning. God is preparing us for the greater ‘glory that will be revealed in us’(18). We have ‘the first fruits of the Spirit’. The Holy Spirit is ‘the guarantee of our inheritance’. He is the starter which whets our appetite for the main course! With Him in our hearts, we long for more - ‘an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you’, ‘the redemption of our bodies’, ‘the glorious liberty of the children of God’(21-23; Ephesians 1:13-14; 1 Peter 1:3-5). Led by the Spirit, strong in the Spirit, we press on to glory (14,26,17).
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

Christ Is In Us. Let's Wak In Newness Of Life.

Romans 5:1-21
God has great things in store for His people! (a) ‘Much more’(9-10): ‘Justified by Christ’s blood’, ‘reconciled to God’, ‘We shall be saved by Christ from the wrath of God’, ‘saved by His life’. (b) ‘Much more’(15,17): ‘The grace of God’ has ‘abounded for many’. In Christ, we have ‘received the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness’. Through Him, we shall‘reign in life’. (c) ‘More than that’(3): Our pathway to eternal glory will not be easy. There will be ‘suffering’. God has given us a glimpse of our eternal destiny: ‘grace reigning through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord’(21). ‘We rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God’(2). Having caught sight of the heavenly and eternal glory, we see our ‘suffering’ in a new light, the light of ‘God’s love’(3-5).

Romans 6:1-23
(a) ‘We know that our old self was crucified’(6) - What a great thing God has done! He has made you ‘a new creation in Christ’(2 Corinthians 5:17). (b) ‘Consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus’(11) - Believe it. This is what the Lord has done: ‘you are not in the flesh, you are in the Spirit... the Spirit of God dwells in you... Christ is in you... the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you... His Spirit dwells in you’(8:9-11). (c) ‘Yield yourselves to God as men who have been brought from death to life’(13) - Act upon it’. ‘Walk in newness of life’(4). Live as those whom God has made new. We are ‘not under law but under grace’(14). Keep your eyes fixed on the Saviour and your obedience will be Gospel obedience and not merely legal obedience.
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

Join The Team

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The Good News Of Salvation

Romans 4:1-25
Salvation is not a ‘reward’ to be ‘earned’. It is God’s ‘gift’(4-5). Salvation comes from the Lord. ‘God so loved the world that He gave His only Son’(John 3:16): Without the love of God, the gift of God, the Son of God, there can be no salvation. The way of salvation does not begin with the word ‘I’. Jesus Christ is the Way. He is the Saviour. Salvation is in Him (John 14:6; Matthew 1:21; Acts 4:12). Looking to ‘Jesus our Lord’, crucified and raised for our salvation, we are saved and we give ‘glory to God’(20-25). We rejoice in ‘God our Saviour’- ‘He saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of His own mercy...’(Titus 3:4-7). Looking away from ourselves to Christ, we learn the truth of God’s Word: ‘it is on the basis of faith that it may rest on grace’(16). This is Good News!
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

Rejoice In Your Saviour!

Romans 3:1-31
We are sinners - every single one of us. There are no exceptions - ‘all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’. When we see ourselves as we really are - sinners - , we come to see that there is no way for us to earn God’s love. We will never deserve to be loved by God. His love is always ‘a gift’- ‘the redemption which is in Christ Jesus’(23-24). Through ‘faith’ we look away from ourselves to Christ. We rejoice that ‘His blood’ was shed for us. We receive from Him the forgiveness of our sins. This is the love of God. This is His gift. He gave His Son to be our Saviour. He gives salvation to all who trust the Saviour. ‘By grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God’(Ephesians 2:8). No ‘boasting’(27) - Rejoice in your Saviour!
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

Christ Jesus Came Into The World To Save Sinners.

Romans 2:1-29
None of us can ‘escape the judgment of God’. None of us can ‘presume upon the riches of His kindness’(3-4). We dare not come to God like the Pharisee, ‘God, I thank Thee that I am not like other men...’. We can only come to Him with the prayer of the tax collector, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’(Luke 18:11-13). We must not pretend that we are ‘righteous’. We must confess that we are ‘sinners’(Luke 5:32). Sinners, lost, dead - We must hear this ‘bad news if we are to come to a true appreciation of the Good News: ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15), ‘The Son of man came to seek and save the lost’(Luke 19:10), ‘God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved’(Ephesians 2:4-5).

Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

Don't Be Ashamed Of The Gospel.

Romans 1:1-32
'‘I am not ashamed of the Gospel: it is the power of God for salvation to every one who has faith’(16). Do you think it was easy for Paul to maintain such commitment to Christ, such confidence in Christ? What kind of world did he live in? - A world of ‘ungodliness and wickedness’(18-31). Many times, Paul could have given up in despair - ‘There is too much ungodliness and wickedness all around me. How can I go on?’. When you feel like giving up, when everything seems to be so difficult, remember Paul. Remember his longing to ‘impart some spiritual gift’, his desire to ‘reap some harvest’ his eagerness to ‘preach the gospel’(12-15). Let us say, with Paul, ‘God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ’(Galatians 6:14). Let us be ‘set apart for the gospel of God’(1).
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

"Always Give Yourselves Fully To The Work Of The Lord."

Haggai 2:1-23
'“Be strong , all you people of the land”, declares the Lord, “and work. For I am with you”, declares the Lord Almighty’(4). We are to work for God. When we commit ourselves to serving Him, the Lord promises His blessing: ‘From this day on I will bless you’(19). To His faithful servants, God promises great blessing: ‘I will fill this House with glory’(7). ‘Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that, in the Lord, your labour is not in vain’(1 Corinthians 15:58). ‘Who is on the Lord’s side? Who will serve the King?... We are on the Lord’s side, Saviour, we are Thine... Always on the Lord’s side, Saviour, always Thine’(Church Hymnary, 479).
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

Hearing The Word of God And Doing The Work Of God

Haggai 1:1-15
‘“Why is everyone saying it is not the right time for rebuilding My Temple?”asks the Lord’. His reply to them is this: ‘Is it then the right time for you to live in luxurious homes, when the Temple lies in ruins?’(2-4). God’s people had forgotten about God. They were pleasing themselves - but they were not pleasing God! God is challenging us to think about our way of living - ‘Consider your way of life’(5,7). We are to ‘obey the voice of the Lord our God’. We are to change our way of thinking - ‘the people feared the Lord’- and living - ‘They came and began work on the House of the Lord Almighty, their God’. Let us obey God’s voice. Let us trust in His promise - ‘I am with you’(12-14).

Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

We Receive Strength When We Receive The Love Of The Lord.

In Psalm 17, we have the prayer of a man whose earnest desire is to walk with God, to have a close walk with God in the centre of His will (Psalm 17:5). His prayer is sincere. It ‘does not rise from deceitful lips’ (Psalm 17:1). He is painfully aware of ‘the onslaughts of the wicked’. His ‘enemies cluster round him, breathing hostility’ (Psalm 17:9).

Whatever troubles we may encounter, we must learn to pray with the Psalmist: ‘Hear, O Lord, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer’ (Psalm 17:1). As we call upon the Lord, He gives the assurance of His protection. Through His Word and Spirit, He assures us that He will ‘keep us as the apple of His eye’ (Psalm 17:8).

We are precious in His sight. He looks upon us in love. He does not see our sin. He sees us ‘in Christ’- ‘accepted in the Beloved’, ‘no condemnation’ (Psalm 32:1; Ephesians 1:6; Romans 8:1).

Thought For The Day - "In The Valley ... "

In the valley, the mountaintop seems far away. Look to Jesus and your valley will be the valley of vision.

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This thought is taken from

Isaiah 22:1-25

Here, we read about 'the Valley of Vision' (1,5). The Lord Himself is to be our Vision: 'Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art, Thou my best thought, by day or by night, waking or sleeping Thy presence my light' (Church Hymnary, 87). Down in the valley, the mountain-top experience seems a long way off. What are we to do when everything seems to be hard-going? When there seems to be no way out of the valley, no way back to the mountain-top, we must keep on 'looking to Jesus' (Hebrews 12:1-2). In the 'valley', we must learn to say, 'My goal is God Himself, not joy nor peace, nor even blessing, but Himself, my God'. Let your 'valley' become your 'valley of vision', the place where you are learning to 'turn your eyes upon Jesus' (Mission Praise, 470,712).

Thought For The Day - "Christ Is Our Wisdom ... "

Christ is our Wisdom: the Way to wisdom, the Truth on which wisdom builds and the Life built on wisdom.

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Isaiah 28:23-29:16

'The wisdom of the wise will perish' (29:14). There is another 'wisdom', a 'wisdom' which shall not perish, a 'wisdom' which is 'wiser than man's wisdom'. Christ is 'the Wisdom of God' (1 Corinthians 1:24-25). With Christ as our Saviour, we 'shall not perish'. Through faith in Him, we receive the 'wisdom' which brings 'salvation' (John 3:16; 2 Timothy 3:15). Jesus Christ is 'the Way, the Truth and the Life' (John14:6). He is the Way to true wisdom. He is the Truth upon which true wisdom is based. He is the Life which is based on true wisdom. He is true Wisdom. We must not seek wisdom apart from faith in Jesus Christ - 'the world did not know God through wisdom'. There is one true wisdom which does 'not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God' - faith in 'Christ crucified' (1 Corinthians 1:21-23; 2:1-5).

Thought For The Day - "There Is Only One Foundation ... "

There is only one Foundation for our faith - Jesus Christ. Build your life on Christ, the solid Rock.

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This thought is taken from

Isaiah 28:1-22

Jesus Christ is 'the precious Cornerstone'. He is 'the sure Foundation' (16). Jesus is the Name of our salvation - 'Salvation is found in no-one else...there is no other name...by which we must be saved' (Acts 4:10-12). There is only one 'Foundation' for our faith - 'Jesus Christ' (1 Corinthians 3:11). He is the 'chosen and precious Cornerstone' - 'to you who believe, this Stone is precious' (1 Peter 2:6-7). Build your life on Christ, 'the solid Rock' - 'My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness; no merit of my own I claim, but wholly trust in Jesus' Name. When weary in this earthly race, I rest on His unchanging grace...When earthly hopes are swept away, He will uphold me on that Day. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand. All other ground is sinking sand' (Matthew 7:24-27; Mission Praise, 473).

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Is Your Kingdom Expanding

Do you see your life, your home, your profession, even your finances from a Kingdom perspective. The Kingdom of God is always expanding, moving forward, pressing forward, overcoming, and being victorious. It is like a river flowing.

Just some thoughts to ponder..

The Goodness Of God

I believe that there is favor over the bride and flock of God. Yes, the world is encountering problems. There are wars and rumors of wars. There are earthquakes, and pestilence. Love has waxed cold among certain nations, and many other things are fast coming forth. However over the bride and flock of God, His called, His chosen, His sons and daughters. I believe that there is favor, and blessings to behold.

Loving God – Our Great Responsibility. Being Loved By God – Our Great Privilege.


We are called to love the Lord our God. this is an awesome responsibility. It fills uw with fear. Jesus says, "Do not be afraid (Luke 12:4). We are not left to go it alone. The Lord is with us. However difficult our journey through life may be, we can be sure of this: God loves us. We can say, with Paul, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). Throughout life, we are faced with a choice. We can acknowledge Christ or we can deny Him (Luke 12:8-9). Let your choice be clear - ‘Christ means everything to me’ (Philippians 1:21).

Do you want to confess Christ? It will not be easy. We live in a time when many people are preoccupied with ‘having a lot of material possessions’ (Luke 12:15). There’s a ‘gold rush’. Those who stand up for Christ will come under fire - ‘He’s too heavenly-minded to be any earthly good’! What does God say about this ‘gold rush’? A single word says it all – “Fool!” (Luke 12:20). He turns worldly wisdom on its head – ‘You can be too earthly-minded to be any heavenly good’! It is better to live God’s way than the world’s way (Romans 8:6).

When standing up for Christ seems so difficult, remember this: “the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say” (Luke 12:12). When the world keeps dragging you down, let Jesus lift you up: “Seek His Kingdom… it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom” (Luke 12:31-32). God loves us. He calls us to love Him. When your love for God is weak, remember this: His love for you is strong. Let His strong love reach you. Let His strong love change you. God’s love is unchanged, unchanging and unchangeable. Inspired by such love, let us love Him more truly and more fully.

God Loves Us. Let's Love Him!

We thank God for His love for us and we think about our love for Him.

In our love for God, we are to be what he, in His love for us, has made us to be. In Colossians 3:1-11, we read of our privilege and our responsibility. In Christ, God has made us new people. We are God’s people. This is our great privilege.

In Christ, God calls us to live as new people. He calls us to live as His people. This is our great responsibility. Be what you already are. Be what God has made you in Christ. This is what God is saying to us here. ‘You have been raised with Christ… You died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God’ (Colossians 3:1, 3).

Paul is describing the new birth. Christ has made His home in us. New life has begun. Now that Christ lives in us - what are we to do about it? How are we to live? - ‘Set your hearts and minds on things above’ (Colossians 3:1-2). This is how we are to live. We are to live out the life which God has put into our hearts.

The new life begins when Christ comes to live in us. It does not end there. That is only the beginning. We are to go on, ‘being renewed in knowledge after the image of our Creator’ (Colossians 3:10). Christ wants to reign in us. He wants to enrich our lives (Colossians 3:15-16). In Him, there is so much blessing. Let’s enjoy it!

Let's Thank God For His Love.

Before we even begin to think of our love for God, we must thank Him for His love for us.

There are some things that are worth repeating!

The story of God’s amazing grace is worth repeating over and over again - ‘Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress’(Psalm 107:6, 13, 19, 28).

The call to praise the Lord is also something we need to hear again and again - ‘Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men and women’ (Psalm 107:8, 15, 21, 31).

Let us ‘consider the great love of the Lord’. Let us ‘give thanks to the Lord’ (Psalm 107: 43, 1).

‘The great love of God is revealed in the Son, who came to this earth to redeem every one. That love, like a stream flowing clear to the sea, makes clean every heart that from sin would be free… It’s yours, it is ours, O how lavishly given! The pearl of great price, and the treasure of heaven!’

God's Love For Us And Our Love For Him

God’s love for us is much greater than our love for Him. So often, we are like the people of ‘Israel’ in Hosea’s time. They did not have much love for the Lord because they didn’t pay much attention to Him (Hosea 10:3). We look at them, and we see ourselves. God loves us so much. We love Him so little. He speaks to us of his love for us. We hardly take any notice of Him. We take his love for granted. We don’t take time to say, “Thank you”. Our love for Him remains weak.
* We must thank God for his love for us. We must think about our love for Him.
When, in Hosea 11:1-11, we read of ‘God’s love for Israel’, we thank Him for his love for us and we think about our love for Him. What are we to do when our love for God grows weak? We must remember His love for us. Our love for God grows weak. His love for us remains strong. He refuses to give up on us.
We wander away from the Lord. He calls us back to Himself: ‘It is time to seek the Lord’ (Hosea 10:12), ‘You must return to your God’ (Hosea 12:6). When we return to the Lord, He leads us in the way of His ‘love’ (Hosea 11:3-4). He teaches us to ‘walk in the Spirit’. He produces in us ‘the fruit of the Spirit’ (Galatians 5:16-18, 22-25).
God will help us to grow strong in our love for Him: ‘the Spirit helps us in our weakness” (Romans 8:26). We must seek to grow strong in our love for Him. We must ‘not quench the Spirit’. We must ‘not grieve the Holy Spirit of God’ (1 Thessalonians 5:19; Ephesians 4:30).

Through The Bible In Three Years (Or One Year)

If you have been blessed by these notes on Revelation, you may be interested in Through the Bible in Three Years or Through the Bible in One Year.

Come To Christ And Be Saved.

Revelation 21:9-22:21
God has given us a glimpse of a future which is heavenly, eternal and glorious: ‘the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God - It shone with the glory of God.’
Is this ‘eternal life’ for everyone? Will all people ‘dwell in the House of the Lord for ever’? Will everyone be saved. Is this what the Word of God teaches?
‘God wants everyone to be saved’. He wants everyone to ‘come to the knowledge of the truth’, to ‘come to repentance.’
Sadly, there are many who ‘refuse to love the truth and so be saved’ (21:10-11; John 3:16; Psalm 23:6; 1 Timothy 2:3-4; 2 Peter 3:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:10).
Who will be saved? - ‘only those, whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life’.
‘Come’ to Christ - ‘Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they...may go through the gates into the city' (27; 22:17, 14).

Come To Christ And Receive Eternal Life

Jesus is, the way, the truth and the life and in Him is the promise of eternal life.

Come To Christ And Reign With Him.

Revelation 19:11-21:8

Our Saviour is ‘Faithful and True’. He is ‘the Word of God’. He is our ‘Lord’ and ‘King’ (19:11,13,16).

We are invited to ‘come’ to Him. The invitation - ‘Come, gather together for the great supper of God’ - is a call to come to Christ (19:17).

We come to Christ so that we might ‘reign with Him’ (20:6). Coming to Christ is only the beginning. God is preparing us for something even better - reigning with Him. This is a great future - ‘no more death or mourning or crying or pain’ (21:4).

There is, however, a Word of warning for those who refuse to come to Christ for salvation - ‘If anyone’s name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire’; ‘Their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulphur’ (20:15; 21:8).

‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved’ (Acts 16:31).

God Is Calling Us To Be Holy.

Revelation 18:1-19:10

We read of the fall of Babylon (18:2,10,16-17,19,21).

We live in a time of sinful rebellion against God. This will be followed by the time of God’s holy judgment.

What is God saying to His own people at this time? - ‘Come out of her, My people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues’ (18:4).

God is calling us to be ‘holy’, ‘a people belonging to Him’.

Why does He call us to be holy?

Does He want us to go around, feeling ‘superior’ - better than the rest? No! - He wants us to ‘declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvellous light’ (1 Peter 1:15-16; 2:9-10).

We look away from ourselves. We look to the Lord, and we say, ‘Hallelujah!’ (19:1,3,4,6).

‘Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory’ (19:7).

No Condemnation



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Christ Has Given Us The Victory.

Revelation 16:1-17:8

We live in an unbelieving and rebellious world - ‘they refused to repent and glorify Him’. In an increasingly hostile environment, we must seek to maintain our faithful’testimony’. There are many who take delight in sin. They rebel against God. They take pleasure in persecuting the people of God: ‘They will make war against the Lamb’. What are we to do when we face such determined opposition? - We must remind our enemies that they will be defeated by Christ: ‘the Lamb will overcome them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings’. We must remind them that Christ has given us the victory: ‘with Him will be His called, chosen and faithful followers’. ‘We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Nothing will be able to separate us from’ His love (16:9, 11; 17:5-6, 14; Romans 8:37-39).

Through Christ, We Are "More Than Conquerors."

Revelation 14:1-15:8
With ‘patient endurance’, we are to ‘obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus’ (12).
This will not be easy. Satan will do all that he can to defeat us.
How can we be ‘victorious’ over him?
We must rejoice in all that God has done for His people, Israel. He delivered them from their bondage in Egypt. We sing ‘the song of Moses’. Beyond the great event of the Exodus, there is something even more wonderful. We rejoice in what God has done for us - ‘In Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself’. We sing ‘the song of the Lamb’ (15:2-3; Deuteronomy 7:7-8; 2 Corinthians 5:19).
We hear God’s call - ‘Fear God and give Him glory.’ We consider His ‘great and marvellous deeds.’ In our hearts, we say, ‘Who will not fear You, O Lord, and bring glory to Your Name (14:7; 15:3-4).

Christ Has Won The Victory For Us. Let Us Claim His Victory By Faith.

Revelation 12:1-13:18

In Genesis 3:1, we read of ‘the serpent’. Here he is again - ‘that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan’.

*He is a powerful enemy. He ‘leads the whole world astray’. He is a determined enemy. ‘Day and night’, he is busy, accusing God's children.

* He is a defeated enemy. ‘They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb...’. This is not only Christ’s victory over Satan. This is our victory in Christ, the victory Christ has won for us.

Why is Satan so busy? It’s because ‘he knows his time is short’ (12:9-12).

How are we to take our stand against Satan? We must listen to the Word of God: ‘He who has an ear, let him hear’. We must obey the Word of God: ‘This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness...’ (13:9). Christ has won the victory for us. Let us claim His victory by faith.

Everything Good
























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Feeding On All Of God's Word

Revelation10:1-11:19

‘Take the little scroll and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey’ (10:9). We are to feed on God’s Word - the difficult parts as well as those passages which make us feel good.

God’s Word speaks about judgment as well as salvation. Before we can rejoice in ‘the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ’, we must hear about His ‘wrath’: ‘The time has come for judging the dead’ (15,18).

‘Sweet and sour’: For a balanced diet of God’s Word, we need both . We need the ‘sour’ - ‘It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God’ - as well as the ‘sweet’ - ‘God so loved the world...’ (Hebrews 10:31; John 3:16). The ‘sour’ - ‘Flee from the wrath to come’ - creates a hunger for the ‘sweet’ - ‘the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world’ (Matthew 3:7; John 1:29).

What Are Some Expanding

When you stand or sit before men that are preaching the word of God. What and whom are they expanding? Is it the Kingdom of God they seek to expand, or their own ministry? Is it to God they give all the Glory or to themselves.

Be wise, and believe not every spirit that speaketh. Listen to not just the words of men, but the heart of men. For even satan knew the word of God. Yet satan heart was filled with pride.