Norah's Ark Update

Okay I finished the cross stitch. It didn't turn out as originally planned but I came with a bit of a different twist since the elephants, the sheep and Noah were much too hard for this beginner to tackle. That's true even if the package said it was for beginners. Just was Noah was safely carried in the Nile River in an Ark built for him to live, so is Christ the Ark for everyone who comes to faith.  II Corinthians 1: 20: "For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us."  Because we are in Christ the promises of God are all yes to believers. 

John Gill says of this passage:

These promises are all "in" Christ; with and in whom could they be but in him, since he only existed when they were made, which was from everlasting? with and in whom should they be of right, but in him with whom the covenant, which contains these promises, were made, and who undertook the accomplishment of them? where could they be safe and secure but in him, in whose hands are the persons, grace, and glory of his people? not in Adam, nor in angels, nor in themselves, only in him. Moreover, these promises are "in him yea",

God Keeps His Promises

I'm learning to cross stitch and one of the pieces has the phrase "God keeps His promises" stitched into it.  I've pondered that as I've worked. God who cannot lie must keep His promises. If He fails to do so, He is no longer God.  This can be both a comfort and a terror depending upon what God has vowed to accomplish.  The stitch work is of Noah and His ark.  I think that even though it is meant for the beginner, I may have to pass it by.  I intended to give it to a friend whose daughter is named Norah. I wanted to tell her it is Norah's Ark.  In fact I may just complete the ark part of the piece and name it just that. 

Back to the promises of God.  He is faithful. He cannot lie. He remains true to all that He promises. His Word is sure.  What He purposes He will do.  Such assurance should bring us a settled peace and a deep joy. If not, we need to trust Him more.  I ask that you pray I do just that.  Now back to Norah's Ark.

Trust and Obey

No, the title of the post isn't original.  It's a hymn by D.B. Towner and J. H Sammis. This hymn has become particularly precious to me in these past months.  These have been the most difficult months I've faced as a believer. I am learning the importance of trust and obedience to God and His Word.  It sounds trite but "trust" me it's not.  I pray that parents teach their children the necessity of taking their very active idol seeking heart captive to the Word of God early in life.  It's a whole lot harder to learn at 58 years of age than 58 months. While I'm at it, let me mention the vital importance of true biblical accountability in the life of every believer.  If you don't have it, find it immediately. Gather some mature believers who know your life and have the freedom to dramatically invade it if necessary. If you already have it, fall on your knees and thank God for His grace.


Here are the words to the hymn which are in the public domain.

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

Refrain

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

Refrain

But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

Refrain

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Refrain





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Power and Privilege of Prayer

In the past months I've realized the power of intercessory prayer.  As one who is extremely grateful for the prayers of the saints on my behalf I encourage us to be mindful of praying for others. The Lord commands us to pray for one another. James 5:16: "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." 1 Thess. 5:17 : "Pray without ceasing"  1Tim 2:1: "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;"  Prayer for other saints and nonbelievers is indeed h a privilege. Prevailing prayer is hard work. Vance Havner stated that prayer is the hardest work of all. I appreciate all those who have toiled on my behalf.  

Fullness of God's Forgiveness

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. " I John 1: 8-9

 ^"And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, ¹⁴ having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross." Colossians 2: 13-14

The Bible is replete with God's promises to forgive those who confess their sin and repent.  The verses above are two of hundreds but they reveal the scope of God's forgiveness.  Note however, that true biblical forgiveness comes only through God's Son Jesus Christ.  God's is not a cheap grace. It may be free but it is not cheap.  When we confess known sin, He cleanses us from all unrighteousness. The Believer's Bible Commentary say of verse 9 in I John:

In order for us to walk day by day in fellowship with God and with our fellow believers, we must confess our sins: sins of commission, sins of omission, sins of throught, sins of act, secret sins, and public sins.  We must drag them out into the open before God, call them by their names, take sides with God against them, and forsake them.  Yes, true confession involves forsaking of sins. Proverbs 28:13: "He who covers His sins will not prosper; but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy."

Daniel 4: 35 The Supremacy of God

"All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, but He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth; and no one can ward off His hand or say to Him, "What have You done?" 

Note here the supremacy of God.  He does all things according to His will and no one can question.  God is in control of all things not passively but actively.  His will shall come to pass. He will do it.  As Dr. Sproul says so often there are no random molecules in the universe.  Hopefully that brings us much comfort.  His supremacy and sovereignty is always joined with His goodness, grace and glory.

Born of God

Pastor Dan, The Pastor / Teacher at Calvary Bible Church where I am a member is teaching through the Gospel of John.  If he holds true to form it'll take him about 5 years to finish.  Not raggin' on my Pastor at all. I'm just sayin'.  If past experience is a good indicator of future behavior five years sounds about right.  He recently preached through I Corinthians and it was life changing for so many of us.  I'll never forget his teaching through I Corinthians and what biblical love really looks like.  It was quite convicting.  I'd tell you more but I have to look at my notes.  By the time we finished Chapter 15 it was a couple of months after the passage on biblical love!  Anyway, back to the Gospel of John. (You got to love expository teaching).

Pastor Dan said there are three ways not to become a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ based on John 1: 12-13.  The first is that salvation is not by blood birth.  The second is that salvation is not by the will of the flesh.  The third way we don't become a believer is by the will of man.  People can't "white knuckle" belief in the Savior.  Rather John the Apostle's favorite term is "born of God." It's found in I John 3: 9; 4:7; 5:1; 5:4 and 5:18.  The sinner is saved only by God's sovereign grace.  He alone can change the heart of stone into a heart of flesh.  We can't do anything to make God elect us.  However, as Pastor explained, we can place ourselves under the means of grace.  We can pray, read His Word, be discipled, and ask the Lord to save us.  If we ask, seek and knock God will hear you and open up to you.  He is not one to hide. He longs to save people from their sin. He delights to give new hearts for old.