DECEMBER 21

OUR PERSONAL PROMISES

***** *****

Psalm 113:7-8

“He raises the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap,

That He may seat him with princes—with the princes of His people.”

Genesis 5:23-24

“So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years.  And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.”

Ephesians 5:30

“For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.”

John 10:28

“And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”

Philippians 1:21

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Ephesians 2:8-9

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

***** *****

This month we will read choices from Charles Spurgeon’s (known affectionately as the “prince of preachers”)  devotional, “Beside Still Waters.”   It’s no secret that this world system is getting more evil by the day.  We have to stand strong in the Lord and look to Him more than ever to get through, and to be guided through, what is in the future……..known and allowed  by Him alone…..as well as whatever personal things we are experiencing in our lives.

*** ***

PASTOR SPURGEON:

The children of God, favored by divine grace, are permitted interviews with Jesus Christ.  Like Enoch, we walk with God.  We walk as children, and we put our hand into our Father’s hand. 

We look up with loving eyes and walk in love, confidence, and familiarity.  We talk to Him.  We tell Him our anguish, and we hear His gracious words of love.

We are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.  We shall never perish, neither shall anyone snatch us from His hand.

Fellowship with Jesus is richer than any gem that ever glittered in an imperial crown.

In addition to receiving complete justification (forgiveness of our sins solely because of Christ’s death on the cross), full assurance of our salvation because of His sacrifice, and fellowship with Christ, God’s elect are favored with the Holy Spirit’s sanctification.  No matter how humble our situation, God the Holy Spirit dwells in us and we in Him.  The Spirit sanctifies (makes holy) the believer’s daily actions, so that everything we do is for God.  If we live it is to Christ, if we die, it is gain.  Beloved, when you feel the sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit, it is to sit with princes.

My God, if I could always feel Your Spirit overcoming my corruption and constraining my soul, I would not even think of being a prince in comparison with my joy!

I am sure you can testify that when you fall into sin it brings you low and that you again smell the vile ash heap and are ready to die in its dust.  But when the Holy Spirit enables you to overcome sin and to live as Christ lived, you feel that you have a royal standing, and you feel more than an imperial privilege of being sanctified in Christ Jesus, and ONLY BECAUSE of Christ Jesus, and that “Not of works, lest any man can boast”. (Ephesians 2:9).

Published by liveinthelightofourlord

View all posts by liveinthelightofourlord