Trust His heart--even when you can't trace His hand!

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(John MacDuff, "The Promised Land!" 1859)

"And He led them forth by the right way--that they might go to a city of habitation." Psalm 107:5

God's thoughts are not as our thoughts--neither are His ways as our ways! This truth is strikingly exemplified in the manner in which He led the Israelites from Egypt to the promised land. We would have chosen the way that was nearest and most direct--but God decided otherwise. He led them round about through the wilderness, and that for the space of forty years! And not merely was it the most distant way--but it was the most dangerous way as well. It was a land of deserts and of pits--a land of drought and death--a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt.

But, as strange as it appeared, we are fully justified in saying that it was wisely arranged.
Their long detainments;
their tiresome and circuitous wanderings;
their fierce conflicts with the Moabites and the Amalekites;
the bitter waters which they had to drink; and
the fiery serpents with which they were stung--
all fulfilled the high purposes of Him who is excellent in counsel, as well as wonderful in working. However contrary His way might have been to theirs--yet "He led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation."

And His dealings with His people now, are still as unusual, and as much opposed to all their preconceived plans--as were His dealings with the Israelites! He has crossed their own schemes, and thwarted their most fondly-cherished purposes! He always effects His own ends--in His own way!

Christian, what is your duty?

It is to cherish high thoughts of God in all His inscrutable dealings towards you.

It is to trust His heart--even when you can't trace His hand; believing that "all the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies."

It is to follow His guidance continually; for as He led His people of old with "the cloud by day, the pillared fire by night"--so He has promised to direct all your steps, and preserve all your goings.

It is to wait His time; for although the way may appear long and tedious--yet remember, "all is well, that ends well." And what will the end be? "And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs, and everlasting joy upon their heads! They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away!"

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Daily Promises

Blue Letter Bible
August 31, 2011

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)

Here lies the unfathomable hope that all Christians share alike: By the blood of Jesus Christ, we pass out of death and despair and into eternal life full of joy.

Morning and Evening

Charles H. Spurgeon
August 31, 2011

Morning Reading

On mine arm shall they trust.

—Isaiah 51:5

In seasons of severe trial, the Christian has nothing on earth that he can trust to, and is therefore compelled to cast himself on his God alone. When his vessel is on its beam‐ends, and no human deliverance can avail, he must simply and entirely trust himself to the providence and care of God. Happy storm that wrecks a man on such a rock as this! O blessed hurricane that drives the soul to God and God alone! There is no getting at our God sometimes because of the multitude of our friends; but when a man is so poor, so friendless, so helpless that he has nowhere else to turn, he flies into his Father’s arms, and is blessedly clasped therein! When he is burdened with troubles so pressing and so peculiar, that he cannot tell them to any but his God, he may be thankful for them; for he will learn more of his Lord then than at any other time. Oh, tempest‐tossed believer, it is a happy trouble that drives thee to thy Father! Now that thou hast only thy God to trust to, see that thou puttest thy full confidence in Him. Dishonour not thy Lord and Master by unworthy doubts and fears; but be strong in faith, giving glory to God. Show the world that thy God is worth ten thousand worlds to thee. Show rich men how rich thou art in thy poverty when the Lord God is thy helper. Show the strong man how strong thou art in thy weakness when underneath thee are the everlasting arms. Now is the time for feats of faith and valiant exploits. Be strong and very courageous, and the Lord thy God shall certainly, as surely as He built the heavens and the earth, glorify Himself in thy weakness, and magnify His might in the midst of thy distress. The grandeur of the arch of heaven would be spoiled if the sky were supported by a single visible column, and your faith would lose its glory if it rested on anything discernible by the carnal eye. May the Holy Spirit give you to rest in Jesus this closing day of the month.

Evening Reading

If we walk in the light, as he is in the light.

—1 John 1:7

As He is in the light! Can we ever attain to this? Shall we ever be able to walk as clearly in the light as He is whom we call “Our Father,” of whom it is written, “God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all”? Certainly, this is the model which it set before us, for the Saviour Himself said, “Be ye perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect”; and although we may feel that we can never rival the perfection of God, yet we are to seek after it, and never to be satisfied until we attain to it. The youthful artist, as he grasps his early pencil, can hardly hope to equal Raphael or Michelangelo, but still, if he did not have a noble beau ideal before his mind, he would only attain to something very mean and ordinary. But what is meant by the expression that the Christian is to walk in light as God is in the light? We conceive it to import likeness, but not degree. We are as truly in the light, we are as heartily in the light, we are as sincerely in the light, as honestly in the light, though we cannot be there in the same measure. I cannot dwell in the sun, it is too bright a place for my residence, but I can walk in the light of the sun; and so, though I cannot attain to that perfection of purity and truth which belongs to the Lord of hosts by nature as the infinitely good, yet I can set the Lord always before me, and strive, by the help of the indwelling Spirit, after conformity to His image. That famous old commentator, John Trapp, says, “We may be in the light as God is in the light for quality, but not for equality.” We are to have the same light, and are as truly to have it and walk in it as God does, though, as for equality with God in His holiness and purity, that must be left until we cross the Jordan and enter into the perfection of the Most High. Mark that the blessings of sacred fellowship and perfect cleansing are bound up with walking in the light.

Romans 16:16-20

A Study of The Book of Romans

Lesson 116 Chapter 16:16 – 20

1. Verse 16 “Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.”
1. It was their custom to kiss one another with a Christian kiss; Christian because Paul called it a “Holy Kiss”. Today it is our custom to shake hands which serves the same purpose.
2. The Lord Jesus was betrayed with a kiss. Luke 22:47 - 48 "And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. (48.) But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?"
3. This was very common with Paul, he also mentioned this in 1Cor. 16:20; 2Cor. 13:12; 1Thess. 5:26; and Peter in 1Pet. 5:14 where he called is a “kiss of charity” or a kiss of love.
4. “…The churches of Christ salute you.” – all churches of Christ today do also, we all praise the Lord for all of His church and Christians, I have never met one that I did not love, even those that differ with me scripturally. Disappointment is one thing hatred is another, Christians cannot hate one another.
2. Verse 17 “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.”

1. The words “mark them” actually means - take heed of them or to look at them – the idea here is to watch them closely. This is compared to another Greek word which means - to gaze upon them that is, with your eyes wide open. – and this is because they are dangerous. Trouble makers in the church can be very harmful and damaging to the Lords church.

a. People who cause issues in the Lords church are violating the scriptures of being in unity; what the church believes is what the church believes and those who do not like it need to leave or worship in peace.

b. We saw this in this very book where the Christian Jews wanted to abstain from meat and the Gentile membership did not, remember Paul said basically to deal with it in love and do not hurt the church or one another with it. Romans 14:15 - 20 "But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. (16.) Let not then your good be evil spoken of: (17.) For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. (18.) For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. (19.) Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. (20.) For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence."

2. The words “avoid them” means - go out of the way of them. – This comes from another Greek word which means – come out from among them – the thought here is separate from them doctrinally because they differ from the rest of the church; don’t allow them to poison your mind against the majority of the church or the scriptures with their doctrine. – if they become a problem then expulsion may be necessary. 2 Thessalonians 3:4 - 7 "And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you. (5.) And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. (6.) Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. (7.) For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;"
3. It is not healthy to conflict with the Lord church or scriptures. Matthew 18:7 “Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!”
2. Verse 18 “For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”

1. These people; no matter how well intentioned they may be; do not serve the Lord or the church. Members or Christians that cause hate and division among the churches or Christians are NOT serving the Lord, the churches, or the scriptures.
2. “…but their own belly…” this is who they serve; themselves and beloved that is not worth a penny.
3. “…and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” The weak are venerable; kind wonderful words and speeches deceive the weak. Remember Eve and Satan in the garden. Genesis 3:1 - 6 "Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? (2.) And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: (3.) But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. (4.) And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: (5.) For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. (6.) And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat." – Satan was very subtle and a liar.
4. Paul concluded in verse 19 “…I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.” That is strong to the truth and harmless or paying no attention to the evil. To avoid them or to shun them means to stay away from them; but keep a sharp eye on them for signs of trouble and deal with it is must be. James 3:13 - 18 "Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. (14.) But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. (15.) This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. (16.) For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. (17.) But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. (18.) And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace."
5. Paul’s conclusion; Verse 20 “…And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.” God will soon deal with Satan (the cause of this trouble) and those who cause this trouble. 2 Corinthians 11:14 “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. (15.) Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” - 1 John 3:8 "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."

Romans 16:1-6

Study of The Book of Romans

Lesson 115 Chapter 16:1 – 6

By Pastor Randy Johnson

1. Verse 1 “I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:”
1. First things first; we are going to hear a lot of woman’s mentioned in this chapter, it is evident that God has used a few woman very wonderfully in the past and I believe He still does today.

a. However God elected to use these women non of them were ever called to the ministry, none were ever called to pastor churches, non were ever called to the mission field.

b. And we need also to clear this myth up also there is nothing in the scriptures ever mentioned about a “deaconess”. That would be a woman Deacon.

c. God would never use a woman for any of these positions. 1 Timothy 2:11 - 12 “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. (12.) But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.”

2. Who is “Phebe”?

a. This we do know She was a woman, a sister in the Lords church in Cenchrea; Cenchrea is a small coastal city about 8 – 10 miles from Corinth.

b. Secondly; she carried this letter from Paul to the church at Rome. Verse 27 “To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. Written to the Romans from Corinthus, and sent by Phebe servant of the church at Cenchrea.”

c. She must have had been a very trusted servant to Paul.

3. “I commend unto you Phebe our sister…” the word commend simply means introduce or that she is a trusted sister.
1. Verse 2 “That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.”
1. Paul is boldly asking this church at Rome to accept Phebe, and if she needs anything to please help her.
2. “…for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.” The word “succourer” means assistant – we do know who and how many of Gods men she had helped but it was apparently a few.
3. Women can be such a help and blessing to this church and Pastor, God never forbid women from working just not in the churches itself as leaders.
2. Verse 3 “Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:”
1. Aquila was a Jew from Rome who was in Corinth after Emperor Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome around 49A.D. Acts 18:2 “And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.” It is here at Corinth that Paul first met them.
2. Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila were all Jews and not only that they were all Tentmakers so they had a lot outside of their Christianity in common. They became wonderful workers for the Lord. Acts 18:3 “And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.”
3. We know also that these two have a church in their house, Verse 5 “Likewise greet the church that is in their house.” We also see this in 1 Corinthians 16:19 “The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.”
4. We also know that they laid their necks for Paul. Verse 4 “Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.”
5. Verse 6 “Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.” We really do not know who this Mary is; Mary was a common name back then. But it appears the church at Rome knew her and she was a hard labor for the Lord and the Lords churches.
6. Again let us notice how many women worked with Paul and what they did. Praise God for them all.