Deuteronomy Study Five: God's Providential Care

 Today's lesson comes from Deuteronomy 8: 1-10. The verses continue with Moses' admonition to the Israelites to obey God's commands. The eighth chapter opens with a recounting of God's dealing with them during their wilderness wandering. God's objective was to get the people to stop complaining and to start trusting. 

The first section is "Past Instruction." vv. 1-4 God's laws are not optional, nor are people allowed to be selective in their obedience. It was not enough to hear the commands, they were to be doers of the Word. God's Providence could be seen in the lives of the Israelites. He led them, provided for them, and protected them. He wanted the people to learn to confidently rely upon Him. Can you see the Providence of God in your life? A key to a victorious life is to take God at His word, to believe Him. Remember, man "lives" by every word from the mouth of the Lord. 

Verse 1 explained that the Israelites were to obey the commandments that they might live, flourish, and possess the land God was giving them. Verse 2 reminded them of God's faithfulness and that His actions had been to humble them and break their pride and self-reliance. In verse 3, He caused them to realize their utter dependence on Him. Sometimes God has to bring you low so that you will look up and depend on Him to see you through. While it may seem painful for a while, it is in the believers best interest in the long run. In verse 4, we learn that God's provision for food, clothing and drink was more than sufficient to get the Israelites into the Promised Land. God's past instruction was for the Israelites' well being and welfare. 

The second section is "Present Admonition." vv. 5, 6 The children of God do experience chastening. We need to understand that chastisement is not an indication of God's wrath, but rather it comes because of His love. He is helping us to become more like Himself, and to stay away from that which would only mar our happiness. What should our response be too chastisement?

Verse 5 tells us that God chastens us as children which means He does so as a loving Father to His children. We are to "consider in thine heart," which means to give careful, deliberate consideration to God's correction. Verse 6 explains how we should receive correction: with obedience, to be like Him in daily conduct, and to have a holy reverence for the Almighty.

The third section is "Future Benefits." vv. 7- 10 In the last portion of the lesson, Moses paints a graphic picture of the blessings the Israelites would enjoy once inside of Canaan. There is a parallel between the blessings in Canaan and the blessings of a sanctified heart. We should recognize that all of the blessings we enjoy come from the gracious hand of God. We should never take them for granted, but we should always be grateful and "bless the LORD thy God." 

Verse 7 confirms that God was bringing the Israelites into a "good land" that contained rivers, brooks, fountains and springs. The land abounded with good things to eat and enjoy. Verse 8 describes some of the harvest including wheat, barley, vines, fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey. These would be used to meet the needs of the people and used in international trade. Verse 9 promises that there would be an abundance of bread and useful metals. The needs of the people would be met in excellence and in abundance. Verse 10 reminds the people how they were respond to God's provision. They were to "bless the LORD thy God for the good lane which He hath given  thee." 

There are many parallels between the Israelites entering the Promised Land and the experience of entire sanctification for the believer. In both, there is a rest in God. The Israelites entered the new land, still had some battles, but they were victorious. In the sanctified life, there is a complete rest in God because you have surrendered your all to Him. Yes, there will still be battles, but those battles are from without, not within. Your heart has been cleansed by faith. (Acts 15: 8- 9) The enemy of your soul has a far greater difficulty in attacking the sanctified Christian. Search this blog for "how to be sanctified" for more information on this subject.

The Golden Text is: "Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed." (Psalms 37: 3) When we trust in the LORD, He will guide us into the sanctified life. Once a person becomes a Christian and they know their sins (acts of sin) are forgiven, they are aware that their remains some carnal stirrings in their heart, e.g., anger, lust, envy, jealousy, greed, hatred, etc. These stirrings are evidence of a carnal heart. God has a deliverance for all our needs. Our sins are forgiven and then our hearts are cleansed. Praise God, that is living in the Promised Land.

My summary points:

1. We are to remember God's past instruction to us and never walk against light (what God has previously shown you is wrong, is still wrong);

2. When God chastens us, He does so for our own good.

3. God has a way of life for us that exceeds our greatest expectations and it is called the sanctified life.

Next week: "Call to Commitment." (Deuteronomy 10: 12-22; 11: 1)

Don't forget to read the Sunday School Beacon for inspiration and encouragement. 

Can the Carnal Mind Be Destroyed?

Can the Carnal Mind Be Destroyed?

This is a very profound and all-important question. The picture thus far considered, while a real one, is a very dark one. The image in which God created man has been marred. God has been grieved times without number; and man, while created for glory and honor, has been a blight and a curse on the earth. Hopelessness and despair are depicted everywhere. The world is strewn with awful human wrecks; and, though many human remedies have been devised to deliver him from the awful disease of sin and to alleviate the dread consequences of it, all the schemes and plans of man have been fruitless and of no avail.

Many have been led to believe that the carnal mind can never be destroyed, and that as long as we live in this dark vale of tears we must battle with this awful monster, and, although sometimes we are victors, we must take many defeats and setbacks. To think of life and the Christian warfare thus is certainly discouraging, and that kind of preaching has led many to despair.

To say that the carnal mind cannot be destroyed casts a tremendous reflection upon the ability and willingness of God. If it cannot be destroyed, then either God is not able or He is not willing to destroy it. If God is not able to destroy it, then sin is greater than grace, the devil mightier than God. To say that God is not willing to destroy it is forever to impeach His goodness. But, thank God, there is balm in Gilead, and there is a Physician there. This awful, deadly disease of the soul can be cured, and the soul can be made whole and sound through and through. Hallelujah!

Rev. John Paul says on this point: "No one would deny God's ability to make a holy man; no one would dispute that He is willing for all people to be holy. With these two promises, who have good ground to hope that, upon investigation, we may discover that provisions are made for the sanctification of our souls.

"It is true that, according to the economy under which we live, man's optional powers interfere with the plan of God; but nothing else may interfere. The captive soul may be very helpless, but God can help. The dye of sin may be very deep, but Omnipotence can remove it; the tendencies of earth's atmosphere may be sinward, and hellward, but God can break the power of canceled sin, and change the issues of the heart; the moral miasma may rise in such density that a foghorn will be necessary to keep us off the breakers, but the Lord wills to preserve us from all evil; He wills to preserve our souls; He wills to 'preserve thy going out and they coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.'"

Not only can the carnal mind be destroyed, but it must be destroyed before man can serve God with the highest efficiency of which he is capable.

History gives us the record of how Rome labored for seven hundred years to conquer the nations of earth. Carthage was its most formidable foe. She stood out against all of Rome's plans and schemes for more than a hundred years. Hannibal seemed to make the Roman cause forever defeated, and many said that Carthage could not be destroyed. They had resigned themselves to the fate of allowing their rival and foe to live on. Their own fate thus became to do the best they could under the circumstances. They fought on against their enemy, Carthage, sometimes victors, and sometimes defeated, and always in dread lest their enemy would approach from a new and unannounced approach, only to add to their misery and reproach. But there arose in Rome a senator, Cato, who believed that Carthage could be destroyed, and must be. It is said that he never closed a speech in the Roman senate without declaring that "Carthage must be destroyed." This finally caused the Romans to take courage. They armed themselves, went to the siege, and soon declared themselves victors. This victory was not only temporary, but a victory that has never ceased to be a victory.

When we see Christian professors, carnal Christians, and see in them the symptoms of this awful disease manifesting themselves, and sometimes even see the surface eruption on some that profess to be sanctified, we are almost brought to say that "Carthage" cannot be destroyed. But, thank God, there is absolute deliverance from this inner foe. Soon after Satan had diseased the human race, God promised, "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." Here God promised One who would be able to cope with this disease. In I John 3:8 we read, "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."

In Romans 6:6 Paul declares, "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him." To be sure, crucifixion always causes death. No man has ever been crucified but that he also died, unless he was removed from the cross too soon. We doubt not but that many have started in to have the "old man" crucified; but when the nails began to prick, they quickly changed their minds and stayed the execution. After that they would naturally have to put up some kind of an alibi for him. This, no doubt, is a reason for so much in defense of the "old man."

In Ephesians 4:22-24 Paul exhorts the Ephesian church to "put off ... the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts ... and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." We cannot think that Paul was merely mocking these Ephesians, or giving them exhortations that could not be carried out. In Colossians 3:9, 10 Paul tells us that the Colossians had done what he exhorted the Ephesians to do. "Seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." Here we have undeniable evidence that the "old man" can be destroyed, and that the divine image, which was lost in the fall, can be restored. "Renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." W. B. Godbey says, in commenting on the above verses, "These verses speak of the old man eliminated suddenly and completely, and the new man instantaneously put on, involving the reception of the divine image lost in the fall. In this paragraph we have a beautiful variety of expression, all fulminating instantaneous death to the old man of sin, surviving in the heart of the regenerate. While we have this variety of expression, in two instances ordering us to kill and utterly remove the members of old Adam -- i.e., our evil temper -- in two other instances the man himself is specified. Of course these statements are substantially synonymous. When you kill all the members, you kill the man, et vice versa." When old Adam dies, all is over.

In the exhortations to the Ephesians we have a clear exegesis of our creation in the image and likeness of God, and Paul tells us what that image is. It is righteousness in harmony with God's revealed truth.

"It is not human righteousness arising from our good works, as a corrupt clergy would vainly tell us, but the righteousness of God in Christ imputed unto the truly penitent sinner, who, in utter desperation and profound realization of his utter meetness for hell-fire, casts himself on the mercy of God in Christ. Then God freely forgives him for Christ's sake alone, imputing to him His own righteousness, procured by the perfect obedience of Christ, both active and passive. This is the image of God; i.e., harmonization with the divine character" (W. B. Godbey).

We need not spend any more time in endeavoring to show that the carnal mind can be destroyed. God has said, "Be ye holy"; and if God requires that we be holy, it seems almost foolish to argue whether or not it is possible to attain that state. St. John declares that "if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

When God declares, "Be ye holy," every God-fearing man will certainly be driven to his knees, and seeking some promise on which to hang his hope. He will plead for help to get into the fountain that was opened for sin and uncleanness. Nothing but man's optional powers can interfere with the plan of God.

Who Has the Carnal Mind? Part 2

Not only the unregenerate but every converted person has the carnal mind. This is fully attested by the testimony of thousands of converted people. After the new birth, and the forgiveness of their sins, they have felt the stirrings of the carnal mind. When a person comes with a penitent heart, confesses his sins, and puts his trust in Jesus, he will find himself suddenly freed from his sins. The sense of guilt and condemnation will vanish, and the burden will roll away. Now he is born of God. But as he walks in the light and reads the Bible, he soon finds that sin's disease is far more deadly than he had thought, and that back of and beneath his own sins are the works of the devil. He will find a stirring of something that does not want to be patient; something that wants to become angry; a something that is touchy and sensitive, and at times wants to find fault and grumble. He finds in his heart something that is proud and wants to shun the shame of the Cross, a something that wants its own way, a something that wants to get even with that person who has mistreated him. This something is the carnal mind. The apostle Paul also calls it "the old man."

There are those who say the carnal mind is gotten rid of in conversion, but we never saw any people who really found it so.

The disciples of Jesus manifested that they possessed the carnal mind before the Day of Pentecost, yet none can question their conversion or regeneration. Jesus had told them that their names were written in the book of life. In His prayer He told the Father that they were not of the world; that if they were of the world, the world would love its own. But we find that they were self-seeking, had also the spirit of retaliation, and disputings were found among them.

In writing to the Corinthian church the apostle Paul tells them that they are babes in Christ, but in the same breath tells them that they are yet carnal. This affirms that they are carnal and never had been otherwise. They had been carnal from the beginning and were carnal at that time. Nevertheless, Paul recognizes them as brethren in the Lord.

Wesley says: "Here the apostle speaks unto those who were unquestionably believers, whom in the same breath he styles brethren in Christ, as being still in a measure carnal. He affirms that there was envying, an evil temper, occasioning strife among them, and yet does not give the least intimation that they had lost their faith. Nay, he manifestly declares they had not; for then they would have ceased to be babes in Christ. And what is most remarkable of all, he speaks of being carnal, and babes in Christ, as one and the same thing, plainly showing that every believer is in a degree carnal, while he is only a babe in Christ" (Sermons, Vol. I, p. 109).

"By being in a degree carnal, are but babes. Were they wholly carnal, they would not even be babes, but unregenerate ... And throughout this epistle the class so severely reprehended and even menaced by St. Paul are held by him as Christians, but faulty Christians, who needed to ascend to a higher level of holiness. From this it follows that there may be sin in believers" (Whedon).

In writing to the Ephesians the apostle Paul affirms, in unquestionable terms, that they were in Christ, and in the same epistle exhorts them to "put off the old man, which is corrupt." We find here that these people, although they were converted, possessed the "old man," which is the carnal mind.

In writing to the Thessalonian church, St. Paul tells them that they are in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ, that they have turned from idols to serve the true and living God; and to make clear that he is not trying to get them reclaimed from a backslidden state, he tells them in the third chapter of his first letter to them that they are not backslidden. Then he tells them that it is God's will that they should be sanctified, and closes this letter with a prayer for God to sanctify them. They evidently were not sanctified, for Paul would not pray for something they already possessed. These Thessalonians needed the sanctifying power of God to deliver them from the carnal mind.

Sin's disease is deep-seated, and its blighting and destructive effects have permeated the whole race, leaving sorrow, misery, woe, heartache, gloom, and shadows in its wake.

"If one speak and teach rightly of sin, it is necessary to consider sin more deeply, and to discover out of what root it, and every ungodly thing, proceeds, and not simply to stand at sins already committed" (Luther).

"That the corruption of nature does still remain even in those who are the children of God by faith; that they still have in them the seeds of pride and vanity, of anger, lust, and evil desires; yea, sin of every kind; is too plain to be denied, being a matter of daily experience" (Wesley).

"We have a corrupt inner system, a depraved hidden man within the outer man, and all its members, eye, hand and foot, in which resides our appetency for sin. And yet it is ourself, and cannot be cast into perdition without taking the whole being. Now if this corrupt eye seduce us to adultery, if the itching palm contract theft, if the foot tend to blood, let spiritual amputation be performed" (Whedon).

"How false and how deceptive it would be to deny that the true convert ever has such a conflict! It may become the most tragic conflict in the annals of eternity. For unless the Christian crucify, and crucify to the death, these inward foes; they, pirates against his immortal soul, will at last cast him soul and body into an everlasting hell" (Campbell, in A Cloud of Witnesses).

"Only let it be remembered, that the heart of the believer is not wholly purified when it is justified; sin is then overcome, but it is not rooted out; experience shows him first that the root of sin, self-will, pride, and idolatry remain in his heart. But as long as he watch and pray, none of them can prevail against him" (Wesley).

"In order to be successful in the Christian race course. the Christian is exhorted to lay aside, or put off, as a cast-off garment, the inner sin which doth so easily beset him" (L. M. Campbell).

"Conversion has cut down the tree of sin; but that is not enough: we are now to follow, or seek, the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord, and which uproots the hidden root, or inward inclination to sin, from the ground of the heart" (L. M. Campbell).

Who Has the Carnal Mind? Part 1

Who Has the Carnal Mind?

The carnal mind or "original sin is the corruption of the nature of every man that naturally is engendered of the offspring of Adam, whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness, and of his own nature inclined to evil, and that continually." This is the teaching of Methodism.

The carnal mind is an awful disease, loathsome in its nature, fatal in its effect, certain to end in death sooner or later. The entirety of Adam's race has been exposed to it and is affected with it. "The orthodox view is that this native corruption is derived from a sinful ancestry, in whose loss of purity their whole posterity is involved. This view represents the depravity of human nature as coming from the laws of natural descent, the child inheriting from the parent a corrupt nature, prone to evil, in consequence of which he runs easily into open sin" (The Methodist Armor).

God created man holy, and the Psalmist tells us that man was made a little lower than the angels, and that he was crowned with glory and honor. Surely we do not find man today as he is pictured as having been on the beginning.

Oh, the depths to which the race has fallen! As we judge the greatness of ancient cities by their ruins, we look upon man today and wonder what a heaven this world would be if man had not fallen.

After that awful and fateful day on which man fell, we read, "Adam begat a son in his own likeness." Adam had now lost the divine likeness. The apostle Paul tells us, "By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin." And again he tells us, "By one man's disobedience many were made sinners." In Genesis 6:5 we read, "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." All this dates back to the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve listened to Satan, disobeyed God, they plunged the whole race into wreck and ruin. It was the fail that depraved man and brought him into possession of the carnal mind. The Psalmist says, "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity: and in sin did my mother conceive me." Some have explained this to mean that David's mother was not a virtuous woman. They have endeavored to explain that David did not here mean that he was born with a depraved nature. But if one will read from the first verse of this fifty-first psalm, it is very evident that he is not slandering his mother, but that he is deploring his own state and condition. He is not trying to cover up any of the facts. "A genuine penitent will hide nothing of his state; he sees and bewails, not only the acts of sin which he has committed, but the disposition that led to those acts. He deplores, not only the transgression, but the carnal mind, which is enmity against God. The light that shines into his soul shows him the very source whence transgression proceeds; he sees his fallen nature, as well as his sinful life; he asks pardon for his transgression, and he asks washing and cleansing for his inward defilement." So says Adam Clarke.

Jesus said, "From within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness." Evidently Jesus believed that man's heart was wrong. The very seat of life and affection is warped and diseased. The apostle Paul based his entire Epistle on the Romans upon the fall of man, and evidently he did not think that man fell upward, as our evolutionist friends would have us think. It was in the fall that man became depraved, and soon after "God saw that the wickedness of man was great." Some time ago a daily newspaper carried the report of two married couples, the four individuals composing same having mutually agreed that if they could secure divorces each would marry the other's companion. Evidently their hearts were corrupt. Evidence is on every hand that man is corrupt and his heart is defiled. Jeremiah says, "The heart is deceitful above all things." "Above all things"! That leaves us to infer that even the devil himself is not so deceitful as the heart of man while in its uncleansed condition. The apostle Paul says, "By nature the children of wrath," and Isaiah mourns over the fact that the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment."

Thus we have an awful picture of man. Certainly sin is in his heart defiling the whole nature, and causing him to be turned decidedly toward sin and evil. This is not the picture of a few, but of all in all ages and all countries.

Evidences of the Carnal Mind Part 3

15) Another very ugly thing that springs forth from the carnal mind is a love of supremacy, wanting to rule, be the boss. You must do as I dictate. If you want to do something, you must not fail to secure my permission. If you do not get my permission, I will cause your undoing if I can. Jesus condemns such a spirit in the most condemnatory terms. In the twenty-third chapter of Matthew He speaks of those who love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogue, and tells His disciples not to do after their work. Mark tells us in the twelfth chapter of his Gospel that Jesus told His disciples to beware of those who love the chief seats in the synagogue. Luke records in the eleventh chapter of his Gospel that Jesus pronounced a woe upon those who love the uppermost seats in the synagogue, and greetings in the markets. If it were not for the deadly disease within, these external eruptions would not appear.

16) Along with love for supremacy, and akin to it, is that desire to draw attention to yourself. I have arrived. Now everybody notice ME. This is a very nauseating eruption of the carnal mind. It is repulsive. It makes the spectator sick.

17) Man-fear is another. Afraid of what someone might say or do if you are true to your convictions, and true to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Afraid to preach "straight." We were once conversing with another preacher who lamented the fact that he no longer had the results from his ministry that he once had. He said he was getting the crowd to preach to, but was not having so many professions of salvation as he formerly had. He also admitted that he did not now preach the rugged gospel as he did formerly. Upon asking him why he did not go back to the old way of preaching, knowing that when he did he had more converts, the only reply he submitted was, "I have a wife and four children to support." Thus he admitted that he was afraid to preach the truth as he saw it, afraid that his salary would not be paid.

There are those who preach an easy religion in order that they may have many followers, that they might be able to send a glowing report to the church paper. They desire to "count noses," and do not want only a few noses. In order to swell the number they lower the standard of salvation.

Not only preachers are affected with the man-fearing spirit, but sometimes laymen as well-afraid to stand for the right, and in defense of God's kingdom, in opposition to the encroachments of compromise and sin.

18) Self-will and stubbornness are akin, and both are manifestations of an evil principle within. Peter tells us in his epistle that the "selfwilled ... shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings."

19) Jealousy. Jealous of another's success, or of another's achievement. Jealousy has often been referred to as being "green-eyed." If such be the case, it must most assuredly be due to the gangrenous poison that it generates.

"Jealousy may be compared to Indian arrows, so envenomed that if they prick the skin it is very dangerous; but if they draw blood, it is irrevocably deadly. The first motions that arise from this root of bitterness have their evil effects; but where the disease progresses, it poisons all our comforts, and throws us headlong into the most tragical resolutions" (Wanley).

"Let there be no room in all your house for jealousy -- either to sit or stand. It is a leprous abomination" (Talmage).

20) Close kin to jealousy is envy, which is "an evil affection of the heart, which makes men grieve and fret at the good and prosperity of others." Rachel envied Leah because of her fruitfulness. Joseph was envied by his brothers because he was loved by his father. Envy leads to malice, causing one to wish another evil, and this is certainly a very deep pollution of the spirit. The converted man who allows such a disposition to harbor in his life will soon find that it has alienated himself from God. "Envy is not only contrary to supernatural grace, but to natural conscience, and turns a man into a devil." Envy not only leads to eternal loss, but torments one in this life. Job says that "envy slayeth the silly one," and Solomon declares that "envy [is] the rottenness of the bones." One may have been born again and have felt the refreshings of divine grace, "but when envy stirs itself it stops the descent of all divine blessings, and turns the petitions of the envious into imprecations against themselves."

21) Another manifestation of the carnal mind is deceitfulness, pretending to be something other than what you are. Any kind of lie, whether spoken or acted. is deceit. When a person testifies to an experience of grace that he does not possess, he is a deceiver. The carnal mind is ever prone to want to appear to be better than it really is, or to appear wiser than the facts in the case admit.

They who would mingle the Word of God with their own philosophical inventions are deceitful. Such are the doings of the carnal minds. The apostle Paul places deceit in the same catalogue with murder. He also tells us that deceitful workers are false. And again he tells us that the "old man" is corrupt according to deceitful lusts. Peter asked Ananias, "Why hath Satan filled thine heart to deceive?" Deceiving and being deceived is given as one of the abominations of the last days when sin shall wax worse. Peter speaks of those who sport themselves with their own deceivings.

There is not only danger of being a deceiver, but there is the greatest danger of being deceived, or else there would not be found so many warnings against it throughout the Bible. This warning stands from Genesis to Revelation like a red light on a rock-bound coast. "Be not deceived" flashes out constantly from the mighty towers of inspiration like the glaring flash of a lighthouse across a storm-tossed sea. Deceit is lurking on every hand, and the carnal mind has deceived its hundreds of thousands. As evidence of this we need look no farther than the realm of the church. The devoted Catholic claims to belong to the only true church, claims to worship the only true God in the only true way; yet he can go out, still wet with holy water, and commit any sin in hell's catalogue. Why? He is deceived. His carnal nature has so befogged him that there is great probability of his never finding his way back to God.

The Christian Scientist can fly in the face of all Christian consciousness, reject every cardinal doctrine of the Bible, and boldly declare that things which are, are not. Why? He is deceived. The carnal mind has led him so far from truth that, if he were to drop dead, an angel in a billion years of constant flight with the swiftness of lightning could not find the wreck of his thought chariots.

The modern church is loaded down with card-playing, dancing, giggling, show-trotting, half-dressed, hand-painted, unholy people who have lost all regard for church vows. Why? They are deceived.

Even among us, a holiness people, there are those who can shout loudly, preach eloquently, prove our doctrine, and at the same time stoop to the meanest trickery and intrigue that man ever stooped to. Why? They are deceived. Light has become darkness, and how awful is the gloom that has fallen upon them! We read, "Speak evil of no man." Yet with what complacency do some go about from person to person, from town to town, from city to city, bearing all sorts of scandal, like a vulture with its claws full of putrid flesh! If it cannot be done by word of mouth, the government mail service is resorted to. The deceiver and deceived are both in a bad way, and will come to a sorrowful end.

22) Unbelief. Here we do not mean that unbelief that is bold in declaring its arrogance against God, but that secret unbelief. Secretly do not believe all of the Bible. Of course we will say that we believe it in order to maintain our standing in the church; but down underneath there is a reserve, and a failure to accept all that the Sacred Book declares. Only the carnal mind can be so tricky and deceitful as to do such a thing.

And now what shall we say more? There are many other symptoms, such as unteachableness, unconcern for the souls of others, malice, striving, the "get-even" spirit, etc. But these are more or less akin to one or another of the above-named; and, lest we dwell too long here, we shall mention no more.

When hunting squirrels in the Southland, as a boy, we learned that when we saw a squirrel's tail sticking out of a hole in a tree there was sure to be a squirrel in the hole. So, when you find the manifestations of the carnal mind, do not try to deceive yourself into thinking that there is no danger. Be alarmed. Flee to the fountain that was "opened for sin and for uncleanness."

Do not forget that anything that is in any way adverse to, or out of harmony with, the Spirit of Christ is an unquestionable evidence of the carnal mind within.

Evidences of the Carnal Mind Part 2

8) If there is any kind of disposition whatever of avoiding the cross, run to be delivered from that deadly thing, for "whosoever will save his life shall lose it." The apostle Paul was eager that he might find his glory and boast only in the Cross. Do you avoid the cross? Or, if not, is there a desire to avoid it? Is there a disposition of wanting to shun reproach? A lady said she liked the holiness folks when they acted nice; but when they got on a rampage, oh, my! Do you seek for someone else to do the disagreeable task? Do you go the way of least resistance? That will certainly prove your undoing sooner or later if you allow it to remain; for what gangrene is to the physical man. the carnal mind is to the soul or spiritual man.

9) Another outcropping of the carnal mind is a something within that wants to become angry. It may not always show itself on the surface, but there is a stirring within when things do not go just as we think they ought to go. Or it may be a feeling of resentment when we are prevented from having our own way about things. Many lives that would have been useful have been spoiled by that something in their hearts. Perhaps every pastor of a few years' experience knows what it is to have someone on the official board who wants to dictate the policy of the church and, if he is not allowed to have his way, will try to "upset the wagon" and ruin the whole plan. He wants to be the whistle. If he can't be that, he will become an obstruction in the way. A Sunday-school teacher was trying to teach her class the meaning of unity, that each is different from the rest, yet all have a place to fill. Said she, "Now, children, we will imagine that this class is a locomotive pulling a long train. One is a wheel, one the throttle, another the piston, etc. Now what part of the locomotive would each of you like to be?" All were silent in thought for a few seconds. Then one little fellow held up his hand. "Very well," said the teacher, "what part of the locomotive would you like to be?" "The whistle," responded the lad. There are those in the church who always want to be the whistle. But it is a fact that the locomotive can pull just as heavy a load, and climb the grade just as easily, without a whistle as it can with one. In fact, if the whistle is used the grade will be climbed with greater difficulty, for it wastes steam and dissipates power.

When you are out about your own labors and something "goes wrong," is there a feeling of anger on the inside? If so, deadly carnality is lurking there and endeavoring to do its work. When the wrench slipped while you were trying to tighten that nut, did you feel like saying something ugly? When the clothesline broke, did you feel like singing the doxology, or did you "fly off the handle"? We once saw a man up on a roof shingling. While driving away at his work, for some cause or other he drove a shingle nail through his thumb. The first words he uttered were, "Glory be to God!" There was glory in his soul, and a circumstance a little different from the usual brought some of that glory to the surface. When ugly words are spoken, it is because there is something ugly in the heart. Jesus said, "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." The German translation reads thus: "What the heart is full of runs over at the mouth."

Anger is an awful, deadly thing. It deadens body and spirit. It is spiritual poison within that causes anger, and then anger causes physical poison that is deadly to the body. We can all remember that time, before we were sanctified, when we were really angry. It caused a feeling of weakness to come over us. Our appetite disappeared. Some of us can remember that we were sick for some time after the "spell." That was due to a poisonous secretion within the body because of the spell of anger. We all know that tears contain common salt, but tears that are shed when one is angry contain many times the amount of salt that tears do that are shed when. one is in a good mood. Rev. A. G. Jeffries once told the writer of a woman in California who, in a spell of anger, nursed her infant child. Soon the child became ill. A doctor was sent for, but the child died in a few hours. The doctor declared that the woman had poisoned her own child by nursing it while in a fit of anger. But this thing is many times more deadly to the soul than it is to the body. You say, "Can I be delivered from that thing?" There is balm in Gilead, and there is a Physician there. Thank God!

10) Another trait of the carnal mind is that disposition that does not want to be patient. The apostle Paul says, "Be patient toward all men." It is sometimes quite a proposition to be patient "toward all men." It is not so difficult to be patient toward some people, but there are others who are a real trial. Perhaps none are more aware of this than the minister of the gospel, especially the pastor. The schoolteacher also soon learns that there are those who seem to have no other ambition in life than to try the patience of their instructor. However, that spirit of impatience will do much harm if allowed to remain. Patience enables us to bear affliction and calamities with constancy and calmness of mind, and with a ready submission to the will of God. It will enable us to bear long with such as have greatly transgressed, and continue to expect their reformation. But lack of patience destroys these beautiful graces of the Christian's life.

We have no doubt but that the good Lord allows some disagreeable people to come into our lives in order that the sweet spirit of patience may be better cultivated in us. We would urge everyone to make the very best use of such golden opportunities.

11) Then, too, we find that something that is touchy and sensitive, that something that wants to be petted; and, if someone fails to give us the recognition that we think ought to be given, we are offended. Someone with whom we are acquainted met us on the street and did not bow and scrape his feet to us. It may be he was in deep study on some momentous problem of life that was his to solve; but we do not think of that, but only of the fact that we have been slighted. We know there are some people who are very important and should never be slighted, no matter what the occasion; but it is a dangerous thing for even the important ones to "have their feelings sticking out."

12) There is also that disposition to find fault and grumble. This or that is not right and does not please us. Whatever someone else does, he did not do it in the right way, or should not have done it at all. We ourselves could have done it so much better! That disposition not only greatly decreases our usefulness, but surely must displease the Father in heaven, who looks on and sees the disease in the heart that causes the attitude, as well as the act itself. Here let us also mention fretfulness and peevishness. Though people try to help us and do their best to please us, we are of such a disposition that they cannot please us. O brother! run to the Cross. Do not allow that thing to make your life, as well as the lives of those about you, miserable any longer, and bar you from heaven at last

13) Do you have a love for human praise? Do you desire that people brag on you a little more than they do on others? Do you desire that they should say more good things about your singing, or your preaching, or your rendition of some kind, than they do of what someone else did? Is there an inner impulse to go about seeking compliments? Or are you willing that others should be praised, perhaps even for some noble deed that you did? Because no public mention was made of the fact that you contributed a few dollars to the church and its program, did you withhold your means? When your efforts or your money or your utterances were the cause back of some accomplishment, did you demand that people, or the church, should give you due and full credit? In the second chapter of I Peter we have these words, "This is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God." This tells us that there is such a thing as suffering for having done well, suffering because we did the thing that we should have done, being persecuted because we obeyed the Spirit of God. It also implies that it is possible to take such suffering or persecution patiently. It also tells us that only when we take it patiently do we receive any credit from God.

14) Along with love for human praise, yet somewhat different, is the spirit of secret pride -- a feeling that my talents and gifts are a little superior to those of someone else. By this we do not mean that sense of satisfaction that one has because of having accomplished a difficult task, but that feeling that I am naturally superior to you. We may never express it in words, or let anyone else know that we harbor such feelings; yet the presence of such feelings indicates that the carnal mind is still alive and active. In Proverbs 8:13 we read, "Pride do I hate." And in Proverbs 29:23, "A man's pride shall bring him low." Proverbs 16:18: "Pride goeth before destruction." In I Timothy 3:6 Paul warns, "Lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil." John tells us that the pride of life is not of the Father, but it is of the world. It will blight and wreck and curse what might have been a useful life, for pride is a plant that does not take its origin in divine love, but springs forth from the carnal mind. Here let us also include family pride, that feeling that my family has somewhat redder blood than yours, that my children are naturally better than your children; in fact, if it were not that my children are forced to associate with your children, my children would be very nearly perfect -- that feeling that I am somewhat of a privileged person because my father or grandfather was a doctor, or a lawyer, or perhaps served a term as justice of the peace. Do you find in your heart such feelings as these? They are symptoms of a deadly disease now lurking in your members, and sure to result in death sooner or later.

We have listened to people who use the "perpendicular pronoun" a great deal, and who like to tell about the noble members of their family, how great and brilliant their uncle, or their father, or their cousin was. This is distasteful to the listener, to say the least. Especially is this distasteful when it comes from the pulpit.

It would not be amiss, at times, to forget about the noble ones in our family ancestry and think of the "black sheep" that have marred the fair pages of the history of our forebears. Perhaps some of them will be traced back to the rogues' gallery. That would have a tendency to humiliate us a little, and then we would feel more like praising the good Lord for noticing us at all.

Evidences of Carnal Mind Part 1

Evidences of the Carnal Mind

In dealing with this phase of our subject we can mention only some of the outstanding evidences and some of the most deadly and deceptive. As we proceed with this, let everyone breathe an earnest prayer that the Spirit may give light and understanding so that if any of the symptoms are present the devil may not get us to cover up the fact, but with honest hearts confess it to Him who alone can deal with it. There are many things we could well afford to be mistaken in, and there are those questions that we might brush aside without very serious consequences; but the question of heart purity is one in which none of us can afford to be mistaken.

We take the position that anything in the human heart that is an any way adverse to, or out of harmony with, the Spirit of Christ is evidence that the carnal mind is dwelling within. Now let us consider some such symptoms; and if you find that any of them are in your heart, be alarmed, for it is evidence of a diseased condition.

All of the conditions are not necessarily true of one individual life, for the carnal mind does not manifest itself alike in all. it works in various ways, and manifests itself in different ways in different people. In one it may show itself as pride, while another may find that in his case it is a spirit of retaliation; and another may not find either of these present in any marked degree, but find within him something that wants to become angry when things do not go to suit him. Some may find that several symptoms are present, while others may find a smaller number that actually exhibit themselves.

1) In Luke 9:54 we read: "And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them?" All Bible students will recall that this was uttered because the Samaritans would not receive Jesus. They acted unfriendly. Here is manifested the spirit of retaliation. Jesus immediately turned to them and rebuked them, and not only them but also the spirit in them that caused them to take such an attitude. How often do we see this spirit manifested, even in people who profess to be disciples of Jesus! It is an earmark of the carnal mind. We never find the disciples of Jesus acting in this way after Pentecost. When the fiery baptism with the Holy Ghost came upon them in the Upper Room, all this was burned out of them, and they went forth in love, blessing rather than cursing people.

When someone treats you with indifference, or does not give you the consideration you think you ought to have, or treats one of your friends in that way, do you want to avenge the deed? Do you feel that you would be glad for an opportunity to avenge it, even though you know that it would not be proper for you actually to carry it into effect? When someone criticizes an act on your part, do you become "wrought up" over it, and do you take a "fling" at him when the opportunity presents itself? Read slowly now. Do not get in too great a hurry to read the advance pages of this treatise. If you are a pastor and one of your members should venture to say something about a word or deed on your part, do you want to get rid of that person? Do you want to dismiss him from the church? do you meet the criticism by finding fault with your critic? If you are a Sunday-school superintendent and one of your teachers fails to fall in line with all your plans immediately, do you look about for some excuse to dismiss said teacher? We hear a layman say that if you do you are carnal. And we are very much inclined to believe that he is correct. Such is surely the doings of the carnal mind. But the same principle in a layman would also be carnal. We would not defend the official who displays such a spirit, but neither can the layman be defended. Of all misfits. we can think of none so pronounced as the official in a church being provoked to retaliation. To want, or actually, to crush one who offers a bit of criticism to some word or deed on his dart is certainly the work of the carnal mind; but in the end it is no more fatal to the official than it is to the layman or common citizen of the realm. If the disciples needed the sanctifying fire to burn out of them unholy tempers, we certainly all need it.

In Romans 12:17-19 we read, "Recompense to no man evil for evil ... If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men ... Avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath." We have heard people say, "I don't care what folks think of me or how they feel about it," and then proceed to act as though they were sincere in their statement. Every child of God should care a great deal what people think, and how they feel; for only as long as they have confidence in you is it possible for you to help them. Confidence can be easily broken down, but once lost it is extremely difficult to regain.

2) Mark 9:33, 34: "And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest." Many have gone to the rocks because they had this same spirit of office-seeking. There are those who are always seeking the place of prominence in the church or community. If they are not elected, the people do not know how to appreciate talent, that is, to hear these office-seekers relate about it. If you are not elected to a position on the official board of the church, do you want to kick out of the traces and leave all the load for those who are elected to pull? Do you absent yourself from Sunday school when you are no longer elected superintendent, or appointed as one of the teachers? Is your place in the choir vacant after someone else has been elected leader of song? Or if you are not guilty of any of the above-mentioned deeds, do you "pull wires" that you may be elected to a high office or as a delegate to the annual meeting? Those who do the above-mentioned deeds, or use any other method of electing themselves, need to unload some pride or selfishness. Get rid of the carnal mind.

In Matthew 20:24 we read, "And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren." Is that the way you acted? We once had a member where we served as a pastor, who was very indignant about something one Sunday. After the service we ascertained that the cause for the indignation was that we had called on another brother in the church to lead in public prayer more often than we had called on him. This is an unmistakable mark of the carnal mind.

3) Mark 9:38: "And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbade him, because he followeth not us." Here we see displayed the disposition to think that we are IT, that no one else has a right to a place for divine service. It is a feeling that we have a monopoly on the supply of grace. But just as surely as Jesus rebuked John on that day would He rebuke all of like disposition or spirit in this or any other day.

4) Matthew 25:25: "And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth." Here is a failure to perform a known duty, a failure due to indifference, or perhaps due to the fact that he did not want to shoulder responsibility. There are many who will not leave their comfort to help someone in need, or to help push the battle against unrighteousness. They think more of their easy chair than they do of the souls of men; more of physical rest for themselves than they do of soul rest of others. Now, we would not have anyone think that the failure to perform known duty is carnality. That is sin in action. But that which causes the neglect of known duty is the carnal mind. The failure itself is merely a skin eruption of the disease. While the teeming millions are without God and without hope in the world, how can anyone withdraw to the pleasant confines of home and ease and personal interests instead of being about his Master's business-that of rescuing souls at all hazards? We all need to get rid of the carnal mind and be possessed with an all-consuming passion for the souls of men.

5) Matthew 23:14: "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye ... for a pretence make long prayer." We must not understand here that long prayers are condemned. Jesus Himself sometimes prayed all night. That person who does not spend much time in prayer cannot hope to keep a lively and rich experience of salvation. Prayer is the Christian's breath. Those who have accomplished the most for God were individuals who waited much in the presence of God. The condemnation here is on the hypocrisy, because through pretense they prayed long prayers, by this pretending that they were very pious. It is not always necessary to use long prayers as a hypocritical cloak. Short prayers would invoke the same condemnation when uttered in pretense. We would not discourage long prayers. But when it comes to public prayer, we might take a thought here and throw away all routines and forms, introductories and conclusions, and by the help of the Spirit focalize and concentrate our prayers -- not pray "at folks," but direct the prayer to the throne of eternal grace. David said, "In the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up." Here seems to be a metaphor taken from an archer. He sees his mark, takes aim, lets fly. Prayers that have a right aim will have an answer. "He who sends up his petition to God through Christ, from a warm, affectionate heart, may confidently look up for an answer, for it will come." We have known people who always commenced their prayers something like this: "It is through the unending chain of Thy divine providence," etc., or some other such phraseology;' and then, after having prayed a while, or having said some sentences of a prayer nature, they again have a set form with which to close their prayer. If a person who is acquainted with them should come into the assembly while they are praying, he could almost guess just where they are in their prayer, and about how long it will take for them to arrive at the other end of their prayer. Surely a heart that is filled with the Holy Ghost ought not to have a stereotyped form of prayer.

6) The disposition to push blame off on someone else is a very prevalent mark of the carnal mind. This is one of the very first evidences that Adam displayed in manifesting that the deadly work had been accomplished, and that Satan had planted the seeds of sin in his heart. But, oh, how miserably he failed in his effort! The God of all wisdom could not be deceived. We may blame others for this or that, but when the records are opened they will surely reveal who is to blame and where the responsibility lies.

7) Then there is that disposition of wanting to shift responsibility, as we see in the case of Peter as recorded in John 21:19-21. If there is a tendency to want to get out of responsibility because you see someone else who does not seem to "shoulder" responsibility, be alarmed, find a place of prayer, and ask God to take that deadly opiate out of your soul. It will bring death and decay to spiritual life If there is not an eagerness to please God and to grant His every wish regardless of what someone else may do, or may not do, then certainly there is a diseased condition and it needs immediate attention.

All the divinely bestowed endowments and opportunities will one day have to be accounted for. In that day faithfulness will be rewarded while retribution will be meted out to the unfaithful. The talents that we possess are not our own. They are merely loaned to be used, and we each have a responsibility in the great work of rescuing souls from the curse of sin. In all that we do, God's glory and not personal gain or advancement must be the objective. "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."

Deuteronomy Study Four: A Holy People

 Today's lesson comes from Deuteronomy 7: 6-17. This lesson focuses on the kind of relationship which God desires to have with His people. In chapter 7, the first 5 verses deal with the utter destruction of  idolatry in Canaan, and the separation of God's people from heathen influence. God's people are to live a separated lifestyle, devoted wholly to Him. As the Israelites conquered the heathen nations in the land of Canaan, they were to destroy everything associated with idolatry, e.g., altars, images and graven images. God wanted His people to be pure and separated from all idolatry.

The first section is "A God of Grace." vv. 6-8  God had extended His love and mercy to the children of Israel. They had no merit of their own, but God loved them and delivered them from their bondage. Deliverance came because of God's love and the promises He had made. This is the same for a lost sinner. Sinners are in bondage and cannot free themselves. But God loves each individual, and He has given us His promises. When people trust God and respond in obedience to His redeeming love, they can be set free.

Verse 6 explains why they were to destroy the heathen. God's people were to be a holy people separated from the idolatrous practices of those inhabiting the land. Verse 7 explains some reasons why God did not choose Israel. Verse 8 explains why God did choose Israel. They were chosen because of God's love, but also because of the promises which He made to their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It was God's love that delivered the Israelites out of Egypt. The Israelites were chosen by God to be holy (v. 6a), His (v. 6b), humble (v. 7), and heirs (v. 8).

The second section is "A God of Justice." vv. 9-11 God's love is wonderful, but He is more than a "doting grandpa." God is also a God of justice. Men should not presume upon His mercy. Moses stressed the importance of obedience, and warned of God's ultimate wrath upon those who refuse to serve Him. We need to have a healthy filial (of or due from a son or daughter) fear of the Almighty God. 

Verse 9 reminds us that God is faithful, keeps His covenants and promises, and does so forever ("a thousand generations"). Verse 10 states that God will repay those that hate Him. "Those that hate God cannot hurt Him, but certainly ruin themselves." (Matthew Henry) Verse 11 is a command to keep God's laws and commandments. Since God is the God of justice and does not overlook sin, keeping His commandments will enable you to enjoy His love and mercy. 

The third section is "A God of Blessing." vv.12-15 Obedience does bring blessing. In this last section of the lesson, Moses describes the blessing the children of Israel would enjoy if they kept God's laws. Christians today do enjoy material blessings for following God. However, the greatest blessings are of a spiritual nature. It is certainly worthwhile to give our lives to God.

Verse 12 reminds us that God's covenant and mercy promised to the Israelites fathers was conditional upon their obedience to His judgments (means a verdict, formal decree, or rightful claim). Verses 13-15 contain a list of the blessings if God's commands were obeyed: God would love them and bless the fruit of their wombs, the produce of their fields, and the increase of their flocks and herds. Even without all the material blessings, it would still be wonderful to serve God. However, when the blessings are included, the incentive to love Him is overwhelming. The choice to love and serve God is the best choice for any person to make. Let us be faithful to walk worthy to our calling.

The Golden Text is: "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2: 14) God wants to save His people from their sins. This is accomplished through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ. Also, He wants to cleanse our hearts from the sin nature. This is accomplished through a complete consecration of our lives and faith in Him to accomplish the work.  As we walk in obedience to God's Word, His blessings will flow to us, always spiritual and sometimes material.

My summary points:

1. God has chosen us to be a holy people.

2. He is a God of justice, not just mercy.

3. God will bless us as we walk in obedience to His Word.

Next week: "God's Providential Care." (Deuteronomy 8: 1-10.

Read the Sunday School Beacon for inspiration and encouragement.

Listen to our weekly Podcast, "The Pathway to Purity and Power."

Grieving the Holy Ghost

 THE HOLY GHOST WAS GRIEVED

By Edward Davies

Ephesians 4:30, "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."

August 12. Just returned from Yarmouth camp-meeting. It was a precious season. I preached yesterday at the camp-meeting from 'Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?' God gave me great liberty, and at the close nearly every professor and minister present arose, expressing a desire to receive the Holy Ghost; and we bowed at once in silent prayer, and still some could not be silent, and one cried out, 'O Lord, give me this baptism that I may be useful.'

Somebody told him rather abruptly to 'hold his peace.' I could not feel that this was right; the poor man could not help crying out. In a few moments the bell rang for dinner, and at once 'the powers that be' began to sing the doxology, and dismissed the meeting; and so the blessed Holy Spirit was invited to come to the hearts of hundreds, and yet we did not wait a moment (after the bell rang) to welcome this Heavenly Guest.

Reluctantly many rose from their knees and slowly went away. I was hurt. A dear sister from Grace Church, Boston, was so overpowered with the Holy Ghost that she sat and leaned upon a sister, and her face shone as it had been the face of an angel. The tears streamed down her cheeks. She had enjoyed the blessing of entire sanctification for years, but said she never had anything like that.

It seemed as if the very Spirit that waited to fill the hearts of the multitude fell on her, while others went away to feast the body. There she sat with glory beaming from her countenance, unable to move, as though the Holy Ghost would have some human form in which to enshrine himself at that sacred altar. And there we sat around this sister till after the bell rang one o'clock, and it was a feast indeed to see her face and hear her tell the wondrous dealings of God to her soul.

Many precious revivals are stopped by just such disrespect to the operations of the Holy Ghost. The Spirit is grieved and the work of God ceases. Lord, help us ever to be led by the Spirit!

Don't Take Grace for Granted

The Best of the Wheat; Pastor Andrew Buege
Sermon Title: Don’t take Grace for Granted.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8

                   Ephesians is a book that begins and ends with Grace (1:2; 6:24). Through this epistle, St Paul helps us to understand that grace is not a fruit of the Spirit. Rather, it is a pure outgrowth of love which is a fruit of the Spirit.
Paul describes Grace with lofty language speaking of:
·         “the glory of His grace” (1:6);
·         “the Riches of His Grace” (1:7; 2:7) and,
·         grace given so he could “preach the unsearchable riches of Christ” (3:8)
Ephesians also teaches us some other facts about God’s grace.
·         This Grace is such a high and holy wonder that it can never be earned or bartered.  It is and can only be received as a gift. (2:8; 3:2, 7, 8);
·         Not only is it received in the proportion to the working of His mighty power 1:19)
·         But it is compared and understood in the same capacity as we understand the merit of the “gift of Christ.” (4:7).
·         This grace in operation is never without effect: a grace filled heart always “ministers grace to the hearers” (4:29).
How are we to understand the riches of His grace?

Don’t take Grace for Granted because Grace Saved my House!
          Wesley tells of a man he met, who for lack of twenty shillings rent was thrown out of his house.  He was in deep distress when Wesley gave him a Guinea. (A Guinea was a British coin that was worth twenty-one shillings.) After falling on his knees to pray for his benefactor, He rose up saying, “Oh, I shall have a house! I shall have a house over my head!” Life of John Wesley; Telford pg 331.

         Wesley’s life and message of heart-holiness was all at once elevated in this relieved man’s estimation. When grace saved his house, really grace showed him the best way to live.

According to the Daily Study Bible, "the word grace stood for:
·         All that is most winning in personal loveliness.
·         The natural appeal of physical beauty (whether in a person or home) which is not cold and remote, but irresistibly attractive and charming.
·         It was also used for that warm, free-handed, and spontaneous generosity which is kind where there is no claim or merit, and kind without hope of return,
·         A temperament or character lovely in itself, and winning the admiration and affection of all who witness it.”

1 John 4:10. “Not that we loved God, but that He loved us.”

This is the best interpreter of the grace of redemption. It is the “gracious” love of God which provided so much more that a month’s rent, but eternal redemption itself.

Theologians calls this grace a moral attribute of God, meaning it pertains to God’s actions and attitude.  (Wm. Burt Pope)
Grace is an outflow of God’s love in the same manner as righteousness (right actions) is an outflow of God’s Holiness.  In many ways we can observe God’s great compassion toward fallen humanity!
“Grace transcends love.” This is how R.W. Dale describes it.  That is to say, there may be an obligation to love. It is like someone facetiously says, “Yeah, I love them, but I sure don’t like them.”  Someone else quips, “I love you, but only enough to get to heaven.”  It is apparent that human “love” certainly needs a lot of grace in it.
Further, Grace transcends Mercy!” Mercy forgives the penitent, but Grace embraces the sinner with affection who has deserved anger and resentment.

Don’t take Grace for Granted because Grace Saved my Life!  I can personally testify that Grace operated before I knew it!
As a young men, I was full of sin and evil thoughts.  I am ashamed of it but I never took God’s name on my lips, unless it was to curse and swear.  On my 18th birthday, my friends and I went to the Racetrack for a big weekend.  Some of my friends went to the lake and invited me to swim out to the island with them.  I had been drinking and smoking dope and soon wearied and would have drowned.  I certainly deserved for God to say “OK if you want to live like the devil then I will let you die and go to hell.”  But God’s grace didn’t let me drown.  A man in a canoe reached me, just in time and took me to the shore.  But for almost 2 more years, I went back to my drugs, my drinking, my anger and self-will.  Then, a snowstorm in the mountains, again brought me to the point of death.  This time I didn’t cry for a canoer, but for the living God to come and save me.  He came with His love, His mercy and most certainly His Grace!  He heard my prayer and in a moment He saved me from my sins and spared my life!
While the actual demonstration of prevenient and saving grace will draw individuals differently, yet it is His will to bring us out of our sinful choices to love and serve Him.  I still testify that Grace Saved M y Life!

Don’t take Grace for Granted because Grace Saved my Soul!  Grace operates in spite of all our actions.
If we were to speak of the other qualities of grace with which God in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself we should sing:
"Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe. . .
Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that is greater than all my sin,"
There are many horrible pains of sin, but there are just as many qualities of Grace.
Theologian William Burt Pope describes it in this way.
·         “Divine Kindness which is that grace that seeks the well-being of the whole race. Titus 3:4. But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared,
·         “Divine Compassion and Pity is that which looks upon man in his sin and misery and waits to show grace. Mat. 9:36.But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
·         “Divine Forbearance, or Long-suffering is the grace that waits for the sinner's return and submission, restraining the deserved judgment upon evil. That which forgives him when he comes is mercy. Eph 2:4-7. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
·         “Rejoicing Grace: Luke 15:6-7. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
·         “Sanctifying Grace: Eph 3:19-20. And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.”

In conclusion, St Paul tells us that God’s grace operates in spite of everything.

      Richard Wurmbrand tells a griping story. “I am God to you!” thundered Captain Reck, the tormenter!  “If I say that you will live; you live. If I say that you die you will die! I am God to you.”  The Christian prisoner had suffered so many beatings he could hardly stand up.  The doctor gave him an injection of adrenaline to revive him.  His loving response to the officer, “Why, Captain, you have spoken a very profound truth.  In fact, you were made in God’s very image! In the likeness of God.  And God created you for high and holy purposes.  God didn’t make you to beat other men and to inflict horrible pain on His creatures, but he created you for something of great honor.”  The Captain lay down his truncheon and drew closer to the bleeding Christian.  “You can kill me, but my blood will cry out that I love you. This is what Christ did for me.” Tortured for Christ.

     Cliff Jeral had lived overseas as a missionary for years.  He was visiting the Capital city on business when he was jumped by a thief. The thief ran up from behind and grabbed his briefcase which had passports and official papers in it. As the thief ran up the street ahead, Cliff started yelling, “Stop Thief! Stop Thief!” The crowd in the street finally apprehended the man and was ready to kill him when Cliff came up to them. Someone had brought an old tire, another brought gasoline and the vigilantes  were ready to burn the thief to death.  When Cliff saw that, he began interceding for the man’s life.  The criminal’s life was spared.

                   This was grace acting toward the thief, as it was operating in the life of the missionary.  But this is what Christ did for me as I had wronged him with my sin! I had stolen his mercies; I had squandered His chances. It was as if, I was running down the road of life thinking I had some great treasure or some great pleasure! He was running after me shouting, Stop! Stop! Thank God that his law brought me to the conviction that I was a criminal who deserved to die.  But it was His grace that interceded for me and forgave all my sins.

I certainly will never again take Grace for granted.

Why Do the Righteous Suffer? Part 5

5—WHAT ATTITUDE WILL YOU TAKE?

In this passage in Hebrews 12:5-14, we find that there are three different attitudes a person can take toward his trials and afflictions.

In the first place you can despise it. V.5—"My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him." Many people take this attitude toward their troubles. They despise them and rebel against them. This is a dangerous thing to do. It will make you sour, cynical and hard. You will find that your life and faith will be wrecked by such an attitude as this.

In the second place, we can just endure it. V. 7—"If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons." A great many people take this attitude toward their sorrows. They just grit their teeth and make up their minds that they will bear it the best they can. Many times they

take the position that we all have our troubles. "Other people bear theirs, and I will take mine like a man." This is better than the other way, but it is not the best way. There is a better attitude than this to take.

The best attitude to take is to be exercised by them. V. 11—"Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." If you will be exercised by your trials and afflictions, you will find them bearing the fruits of righteousness in your life. You will find that they have brought a real blessing into your heart and life, and that your life has really been enriched. There are thousands of saints scattered up and down this land who can bear such a testimony as that, and they show by their lives that it is true.

Some of the greatest saints that the world has ever known have been those who suffered most. They were entrusted with the ministry of suffering, and in bearing it as true Christians they have found that their lives have been enriched by their trials. They have proved to be a blessing to the world because they knew how to sympathize with those that needed it and give comfort to those that were in distress.

Just remember that even though you cannot understand why your troubles have come, there is One who does understand, and that He is your Father. He knows how frail you are, and He has promised that you shall not be tempted beyond that which you are able to bear; and with each test He has promised to provide the grace to bear it. He has also promised that all things shall work together for your good, if you love Him. He has predestinated that you shall be conformed to the image of His Son.

One of these days all of the tests and trials will be over and God Himself shall wipe away our tears and take us to that place where there is no more sorrow, suffering or death; but all things shall be made new and we shall walk with Him in white.

"We are often tossed and driv'n

On the restless sea of time,

Somber skies and howling tempests

Oft succeed a bright sunshine;

In that land of perfect day,

When the mists have rolled away,

We will understand it better by and by.

"By and by, when the morning comes,

When the saints of God are gathered home,

We'll tell the story how we've overcome,

We will understand it better by and by."