11/12/14

11/12/14

Heb 12:1  Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside

every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

In our pursuit of maturity, lay aside the weight of this life, the things that take up on daily living  that keep us from the fellowship with our Lord and Saviour. I don't mean that you have to quite doing the things that need to be done, just do all that you do in an attitude of worship. For the glory of God.  Know that sin clings to you and, cast it off. Then run! Run with endurance!

11/11/14

11/11/14

        

                   All the planing for the battle is done, then Joab says to his brother, Abishai;

2Sa 10:12  “Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the LORD do what seems good to him."

May we do all that we can; May we plan diligently. May we fight with all of our might. But the LORD will give the victory, or not.  Rest there today. “may the LORD do what seems good to him."   It is the sweetest, and safest resting place in the universe!

11/10/14

11/10/14

Heb 6:12  so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.  4:14.... let us hold fast our confession.

3:12Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.   12:14Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

The pleas come in an effort to help these people (and us) persevere in faith6:12,   and to hold on4:14,   and fight an evil unbelieving heart3:12,   and pursue holiness12:14    Yes he commends us to do all of this but he rest in the sovereignty of God and we should do the same ( rest in the sovereignty of God) This writer is calling us to vigilant action, but in the end he looks up and says, “Thy will be done.” He rests in God's sovereignty: “This we will do, if God permits.”

11/9/14

11/9/14

Php 2:12  Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

Php 2:13  for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

It is always our duty and, should be, our delight to press on to maturity. God's sovereignty in our sanctification does not take away any of our responsibility, it gives the tools to work out our salvation with fear and trembling! His sovereignty is our only hope that we will press on. Because if we were left on our own, selfish, sinful, rebellious self we would surely fail!

11/8/14

11/8/14

Heb 6:3  And this we will do if God permits.

We are guilty and rebellious, God does not owe anyone grace, He is righteous and just to leave us in our rebellion. But if we are saved it is all by His grace. “This we will do, if God permits.” And we should tremble with thankfulness!

11/7/14

11/7/14

Heb 13:20-21 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Either God works in us what is pleasing in His sight, or He doesn't. He governs the progress of our sanctification. Like Esau trying to repent with tears; Heb 12:17 “For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.”   Esau was rejected.  God is not obliged to grant repentance to anyone! That's why we have GRACE!