JULY 6

OUR PERSONAL PROMISES

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Hebrews 12:2

“looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

1 Corinthians 13:8

“Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.”

Romans 5:5

“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

Galatians 5:22-23

“ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

1 Corinthians 13:13

“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

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We are reading a book by Corrie ten Boom, with daily recordings she made to broadcast over Trans World Radio.  Her Dutch family  sheltered Jews during the Nazi invasion of Holland.  As a result, she, her sister Betsy and their father were taken to concentration camps in Germany. The Lord did many miracles to allow both Corrie and Betsy to bring the Gospel to the other women in their camp.   Their father was murdered in an extermination camp and Betsy was sick, dying just two weeks before Corrie and the rest were freed.  After her freedom, Corrie traveled the world, telling everyone even in remote areas, about salvation through Christ, besides radio and writing many books.  This one is entitled, “Not I, but Christ.”

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MARCHING ORDERS FOR THE CHURCH

“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”  (2 Timothy 2:3).

A soldier must know the instructions.  Commandments are the rules of the game.  King Jesus said:  “As my Father has sent Me, even so I send you.”  (John 20:21).  We can know the rules of the game when we read Jesus’ actions in the Bible.

A soldier must obey.  Much in our lives gets broken because it is not according to God’s plan,  God’s purpose.  To sin means to miss the mark.

In the Old Testament we read that God came to live in the tabernacle because this was built according to His will.  What is the goal of our battles?  The goal is a future where this earth will be covered with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the bottom of the sea.   Here on this earth a change of throne will take place, from the prince of darkness to the King of Light.  The prince of this world, the prince of darkness, will be dethroned and Jesus, the King, the Prince of Light, the Messiah, will reign.

In order to be allowed to serve in the army of the King of Kings, we must come just as we are, with all our sinfulness, our lack of freedom, our ignorance.  But we do not remain as we are.  The King Himself sees to it that we shall be trained and receive an armor in our battles against sin, which will bring us to victory ground.  We do not need to make it, we only must put it on.  It is God’s armor.  Read about it in Ephesians 6:10-20.

Your ties to the past, to people, to habits, all will the Lord break in order that you may be really free.  Jesus says in John 8:36:  “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”

Your inability He will change into ability, so that you will cry out:  “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  (Philippians 4:13).

How is that possible?  By opening all the doors and windows and drawers and purses to the Lord Jesus.  When you opened the curtains this morning, your room suddenly was filled with light.  Just like that, the Holy Spirit is ready to come in wherever the doors are opened.  That commandment, the wonderful, most joyful commandment of the Bible to be filled with the Spirit, will become a reality all of a sudden.  Jesus wants to live in us through His Spirit.

Then the fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit will appear and be at your disposal.  Read it in Galatians 5:22-23 and 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14.  Chapter 13 speaks of God’s love that has been “shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given to us.” (Romans 5:5).  This love is different from human love.  Human love will fail in the long run, but God’s love will never fail.

What armor do we possess when we enter the army of King Jesus? Do you realize that you cannot do it, that I cannot do it, that it is Jesus alone who, in spite of everything, has power already and who makes us more than conquerors, because He comes to live in us by His Spirit?

But why then do you often feel alone?  You feel as if you were far away, as if you stood alone in the battle – just like a soldier who has to go reconnoitering and feels in danger;  he trembles because he lost the liaison with the rest of the army and the staff.  Such a soldier needs a way to keep in touch with his superiors so that he can consult them all the time.

Our King never sends us to the front line without communication.  We have a wonderful, continual contact with Him in prayer.

  “Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says. 

That doesn’t mean that we have to be on our knees all the time, but it means the unceasing connection with the Master, especially in the battle of daily life.  Sometimes it’s just a sigh, sometimes an exclamation:  “Lord, I thank You that You are with me.”  (not to be confused with unsaved people exclaiming God’s name when they are surprised or frightened, or most anytime — –that is blasphemy, the opposite of prayer.)

Maybe you’ll say, “Lord, please help me, things are so hard.”   Or “I acted wrongly, Lord, will You forgive and help me that I won’t do it again?”   or “Lord, I thank You and praise You. You are taking care of me in such a wonderful way.”   In this way the Master will make you more than a conqueror.

Master, will You repair our communication of prayer, wherever it is needed?  You are the Author and Finisher of our faith.  Will You make it a real conversation, when I am alone with You, but also amidst all the things of everyday life?  Listen, Lord, to those who say:  “I put my hand in Yours, Lord.  Together with You, I am more than a conqueror.”  Amen

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