Category: Glory of God

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This Man Receives Sinners

“This man receiveth sinners.”—Luke 15:2.

BSERVE the condescension of this fact. This Man, who towers above all other men, holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners—this Man receiveth sinners. This Man, who is no other than the eternal God, before whom angels veil their faces—this Man receiveth sinners. It needs an angel’s tongue to describe such a mighty stoop of love. That any of us should be willing to seek after the lost is nothing wonderful—they are of our own race; but that He, the offended God, against whom the transgression has been committed, should take upon Himself the form of a servant, and bear the sin of many, and should then be willing to receive the vilest of the vile, this is marvelous.
“This Man receiveth sinners”; not, however, that they may remain sinners, but He receives them that He may pardon their sins, justify their persons, cleanse their hearts by His purifying word, preserve their souls by the indwelling of the Holy Ghost, and enable them to serve Him, to show forth His praise, and to have communion with Him. Into His heart’s love He receives sinners, takes them from the dunghill, and wears them as jewels in His crown; plucks them as brands from the burning, and preserves them as costly monuments of His mercy. None are so precious in Jesus’ sight as the sinners for whom He died.

When Jesus receives sinners, He has not some out-of-doors reception place, no casual ward where He charitably entertains them as men do passing beggars, but He opens the golden gates of His royal heart, and receives the sinner right into Himself—yea, He admits the humble penitent into personal union and makes Him a member of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. There was never such a reception as this! This fact is still most sure this evening, He is still receiving sinners: would to God sinners would receive Him.  C. H. Spurgeon

Jesus

What a mighty powerful word.  Our glorious, wonderful Lord.  We receives us.  Praise be to God.

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Our God wants Us to Himself

“God is jealous.”—Nahum 1:2.

OUR Lord is very jealous of your love, O believer. Did He choose you? He cannot bear that you should choose another. Did He buy you with His own blood? He cannot endure that you should think that you are your own, or that you belong to this world. He loved you with such a love that He would not stop in heaven without you; He would sooner die than you should perish, and He cannot endure that anything should stand between your heart’s love and Himself. He is very jealous of your trust. He will not permit you to trust in an arm of flesh. He cannot bear that you should hew out broken cisterns, when the overflowing fountain is always free to you.

When we lean upon Him, He is glad, but when we transfer our dependence to another, when we rely upon our own wisdom, or the wisdom of a friend—worst of all, when we trust in any works of our own, He is displeased, and will chasten us that He may bring us to Himself. He is also very jealous of our company. There should be no one with whom we converse so much as with Jesus.

To abide in Him only, this is true love; but to commune with the world, to find sufficient solace in our carnal comforts, to prefer even the society of our fellow Christians to secret intercourse with Him, this is grievous to our jealous Lord. He would fain have us abide in Him, and enjoy constant fellowship with Himself; and many of the trials which He sends us are for the purpose of weaning our hearts from the creature, and fixing them more closely upon Himself.

Let this jealousy which would keep us near to Christ be also a comfort to us, for if He loves us so much as to care thus about our love we may be sure that He will suffer nothing to harm us, and will protect us from all our enemies. Oh that we may have grace this day to keep our hearts in sacred chastity for our Beloved alone, with sacred jealousy shutting our eyes to all the fascinations of the world!

C. H. Spurgeon

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The Hand of God

Hand of God Nebula 2014

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.” 1 Peter 5:5-7 KJV

The hand of God is mighty and full of mercy and compassion. It is the hand that delivered the children of Israel from 400 years of oppression, and demonstrated patience and mercy despite their disobedience and rebellious nature.  God’s hand offers deliverance (2 King 17:38) and justice.  It set us free from the enemy, and makes a place for his children at the banquet table.

The hand of God is filled with love and healing.  God wrapped Jesus in love and sent him to lost humanity, so life could be restored.   Talk with the Jairus’ parents, the Centurion, the blind man, the leper, the cripple, or demon possessed man about his hand.  Mary Magdalene, Lazarus or the widow whose son was raised from the dead know about his hand.

His hand is amazing grace, favor, and provision. Those hands fed thousands, and sustains the universe with precision, purpose and power.

In his hand is strength, joy and a peace that passes all understanding.  It lifts you up out of the miry clay and sets your feet on solid ground.  Just a simple touch can wipe away tears, and give comfort to the weary soul.  The Hand of God removes the stain of sin, restores the broken-hearted and lights the way to everlasting joy.

The Hand of God fights our battles, and shelters us in the midst of the storm.  His hand destroys enemies and raises the banner of righteousness over us.

The Hand of God is love that never, ever fails.

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Looking For Greater

Looking for Greater in 2014

Dear Church and Body of Christ,
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” (John 14:12 KJV)

The Church has been in a holding pattern since the latter part of the Church Age; not fully understanding the authority and power that Jesus has released in the hands of the Church and the fully ordained authority of the Kingdom of God in the Earth.
The goal is to move the Church into the will of God; to train and notify the Body of Christ of its inherited rights promised by the word of God.

As we go throughout the years, we need to start LOOKING FOR GREATER in every part of our lives, our health, finances, testimony and our tests. Our ministries need to be greater, and even our walk with the Lord. Our faith needs to LOOK FOR GREATER and our giving needs to be GREATER. In worship and praise, it also must be GREATER, understanding that God has given us the Keys to the Kingdom and access to the resources of the Kingdom of God. Listen to God’s Word.
” And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19 KJV)

The Keys to the Kingdom

1. Believe in God; 2. Faith – Work Your Faith Because Faith Works; 3. Radical Obedience – Obey God Radically (change now); 4. Grace (unlimited) – Walk in His Amazing grace (favor); 5. Speak what God says – Speak and only hear what God speaks in your life; 6. Love of God – (all-powerful) – Operate only on the Love of God and let it motivate you to move; there is nothing stronger than the Love of God.

2014 is the year of double portions, blessings, maturity, and growth, and we as members and partners of A More Excellent Way Ministries Worldwide must look, search, hunt, and track down GREATER because Jesus said that it is Ours.

“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. (Jeremiah 33:3 KJV)

Be blessed in 2014.

Chief Apostle Robert L. Haley, III

The following message was posted with permission by the author, Chief Apostle Robert L. Haley, III Pastor of Apostolic Free Church of God, St. Albans, West Virginia and Chief Executive Officer of A More Excellent Way Ministries Worldwide, Inc.

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Count the Cost

Luke 14:28…”But don’t begin until you count the cost…(NLT)

The new year has officially begun and many have made resolutions, or set goals to change some aspect of their lives. For most it is the goal to be better, faster, stronger or just plain fit. Others vow to clean up and clear out their closets and become better organized. Some have plans to return to school, find a new job, write a book or begin a hobby, but whatever the goal there is a cost involved.  It is never easy.  One of the prime reasons so many of us fail to reach our goals is failure to calculate the costs. Jesus in this parable tells his disciples to calculate the cost of being a disciple before proclaiming their allegiance to Him.  Any person starting a building project must know how much it is going to costs.  The builder needs to know there is enough money and resources to complete the job.  Calculation is important with any project, even more so with being a disciple.

Disciples of Christ need calculate the costs involved in the purposes of God.  He tells us if we can’t give up self, family and follow Him, then we can’t be His disciple. The cost is too great. “Love for family and one’s own life must not compete with devotion to Christ.”  The risks are great, but the rewards are far greater. Christ counted the cost of leaving glory and coming to earth for us. The cost of temptation, pain, suffering and injustice to heal, save and deliver us.  And he has more than enough to pay the debt for our sins.

Thank you God for looking at the “love scale” and determining we were worth the costs.

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Staying Close

Just finished reading a sermon by one of my favorite authors, Charles Haddon Spurgeon on the merits of reading the Bible.  He called the words of Bible, “…the great things of my law.”  In his treatise, he summarized it as the truth, and love; as engaging as any book ever written, and to neglect delving into the fountain of living water is tantamount to spiritual and eternal suicide.  God’s word is like vast rolls of white linen woven with truth; as you unwind each roll eternity unfolds before you.  The great things of redemption and regeneration; of sacrifice and of love are revealed. Staying close in the word tells how I can be more than a conqueror during storms of doubt and depression. Staying close in the word tells how hope and love came to be, and that I have a promise, a privilege and provision for each day.  Staying close in the word tells how heaven will receive me when I die and that I shall soar beyond all to the throne of God to be with him forever. 

I am grateful for this precious reminder about the wonderful honor of reading God’s word. 

 

What about you?

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A simple prayer by Stormie Omartian

Lord, I surrender myself and my life to You and invite you to rule in every part of my mind, soul, body and spirit.  I commit to trusting You with my whole being.

 

May this prayer be yours today and every day.

 

Blessings

Romans 14:5 NIV

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Scribe and Student

The parables of Matthew 13 illustrate a single, fundamental truth drawn from daily life.  It says that the Kingdom of God has come among humans in the form of our Lord and Savior.  As I read the chapter this morning, one particular verse struck me.  In the New King James Version, verse 52 reads, ” Then He (Jesus) said to them (disciples), “Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the Kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”

This is the message I received from this passage; that every student well-trained in the kingdom will bring forth exactly what is needed out of God’s storehouse at just the right time; for just the right person and situation; and out of this training the scribe and student will manifest blessings, power, and the light, and love of Christ.  At the moment my spirit accepted this new revelation this blog took on new meaning and purpose as well as my studies.  I am a vessel, as you are dear friends, a householder of truth; of the gospel message and of the power and presence of God.  “Study to show thyself approved, a workmen who needed not to be ashamed:; bringing forth out of God’s household treasures beyond measure.  Hold up the standard of God upon the roof of your house showing all and sharing with all that the Kingdom of God has come.   Christ said, “Behold, I make all things new…”  We are new creations; householders containing the gospel message.

Isaiah 30:21 says, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Walk in the knowledge that as scribes and students there is written upon our hearts keys to the Kingdom in the person of Jesus Christ.   John MacArthur once said, “In many ways, the attitude of obedience is much more vital than the act, because if the attitude is right, the act will naturally follow.”

May your attitude be right and in accordance with the will of God.  May your actions reflect the attitude of obedience with this divine truth.  Write and study as a holy, blessed and beloved scribes, and students who share the keys to the Kingdom with all who need them.   Blessings to you.

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Light Bearers

A Classic Devotion from C.H.Spurgeon

“In the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.” Philippians 2:15

We use lights to make manifest. A Christian man should so shine in his life, that a person could not live with him a week without knowing the gospel. His conversation should be such that all who are about him should clearly perceived whose he is, and whom he serves; and should see the image of Jesus reflected in his daily actions.

Lights are intended for guidance. We are to help those around us who are in the dark. We are to hold forth to them the Word of life.  We are to point sinners to the Savior, and the weary to a divine resting-place.  Men sometimes read their Bibles, and fail to understand them; we should be ready, like Philip, to instruct the inquirer in the meaning of God’s Word, the way of salvation, and the life of godliness. 

Lights are also used for warning. On our rocks and shoals a light-house is sure to be erected. Christian men should know that there are many false lights shown everywhere in the world, and therefore the right light is needed.  The wreckers of Satan are always abroad, tempting the ungodly to sin under the name of pleasure; they hoist the wrong light, be it outs to put up the true light upon every dangerous rock, to point out every sin, and tell what it leads to, that so we may be clear of the blood of all men, shining as lights in the world.

Lights also have a very cheering influence, and so have Christians. A Christian ought to be a comforter, with kind words on his lips, and sympathy in his heart; he should carry sunshine wherever he goes, and diffuse happiness around him.

Gracious Spirit dwell with me; I myself would be gracious be, and with words that help and heal would thy life in mine reveal, and with actions bold and meek would for Christ my Savior speak.

Shine your light brightly for the Savior this week. Be blessed.

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He entered and walked through

Luke 19:1-10 accounts the story of Jesus and the tax collector Zacchaeus. The story begins with these words, “Then Jesus entered and walked through Jericho” (v1).

Struck by those seven words in verse one, it occurred to me this was the same area where in the OT Joshua and his army defeated the inhabitants of Jericho, and the walls came tumbling down.  The same Jericho, now years later that the Master entered and walked through.  The same vicinity where healing of blind eyes would take place.  The same vicinity wherein grace and restoration would be experienced.

Our Lord entered in and offered an invitation to grace to a tax collector.   As with Zacchaeus, there are walls and rubble all around us [ the sins of our past] waiting for the Master to enter in and walk through.  Just by Him entering in and walking through our walls (vicinity) of pain, suffering, agony, guilt and shame, they are transformed by the Holy of Holies.  When Our Lord Jesus walks through, He offers us the invitation to experience His restorative love and grace, just as He did with Zacchaeus.

Let Jesus enter and walk through the Jerichos of your life.