Good Morning! - 2010.05.15 - 1Corinthians 10:11 - Examples

Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 1Corinthians 10:11

Comment: The Old Testament is relevant to New Testament doctrines and to New Testament Christians.

Howdy-Gram, Dan & Barbara Carr - 2010.05.13

H o w d y – G r a m

Dan & Barbara Carr

May 13, 2010 –

We’ve had computer problems and are going to delay our Good Morning! and Encourager mailings until we can get a solution. The OUTLOOK program laid down. Perhaps the first piece of the puzzle has been identified. We’ve begun construction of a new web-site that is more Dan-friendly so I can keep that up-to-date. The blog posting we are now doing at www.biblewalking.blogspot.com and www.bibleliving.blogspot.com will be placed inside the new website. Emailings will continue when the computer is cooperative.

Thanks for allowing us to come into your home or wherever and share our stuff with you. And thanks for the comments we receive from you. Some are forwarding things to your mailing list and we hope it will be a blessing and enjoyment to everyone.

Today I met with my prostate surgeon who did the collagen injections a few days ago. When the swelling and soreness began to recede the space was too large to make a seal and the leaking began again. So, we are set to meet with him again on August 24 to make arrangements for another collagen treatment as soon as possible.

This is in the Lord’s hands whether He heals instantly by His own hand as I have seen him do in the past many times or by the hands of a physician or as in the case of the Apostle Paul: never. When Jacob wrestled with the angel, God touched his hip so that he limped the rest of his life. After Paul had raised the dead, he was destined to carry his handicap for the rest of his days. So, we pray for healing in God’s own way and time or His decision not to heal. It’s up to Him.

We plan to return to Flat Rock Monday, May 17 and have breakfast with our granddaughter: Ashley Cofield at Asheville on Tuesday morning. She spends several days at a time in the mountains with wilderness young people who have severe behavior problems. The workers have to come out of the woods for a week or so to rest.

Another granddaughter, Jennifer Carr, of Winston-Salem, NC is getting married August 21 to Jason Clarke. This has been brewing for some time.

Our nephew, Matthew Hampton, has just been diagnosed with a hyperthyroid condition. He is 35 and pastor of the McFarland Methodist Church in Rossville, Georgia. He lost 14 pounds in just a few days. We appreciate your prayers for him.

It’s a little late for much gardening this year except to take care of our blackberries and maybe set out a few tomatoes and onions. This fall will be good for several kinds of greens. I plan to grow some greens and wheat grass inside during the winter on trays. When you are born with a gardening gene it just hangs on. We quit gardening every fall. This is enough for one Howdy Gram. May the Lord bless you and your family and help you to walk with Him.

Good Morning! - 2010.05.12 - Romans 8:16-17 - Spirit Beareth Witness

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:16-17)

The thing to which the Spirit of God witnesses is that we are the sons of God. It is not the witness of people around us or the witness of gospel singing, though we may enjoy these things. How do we know it is the Spirit of God? The same way we know the sun is there or that it's raining on us, or that there is honeysuckle in the breeze. He is self-evident. You will not be able to tell others so that they will understand. Can you describe a beautiful sunset to a man blind from birth?

How do you know down deep in your heart that you are a child of God? You may know many things in your head that relate to this question but your greatest need is the witness of God's Spirit to your spirit as it bypasses language and all your senses.

Neither will you be convinced in your spirit of the certainty of your salvation by reading the Scriptures if the Spirit of God does not move upon the Scriptures to bear witness with them. The Scriptures are certainly your concrete foundation upon which you build your conviction, but the words on the page do not by themselves convince you that you are a child of God. Long ago I gave up trying convince people they were saved. I have read Bible verses to new Christians, trying to show them of the certainty of their salvation. But they didn't get it until that certain moment when their understanding turned on like a light bulb.

A woman called me almost every day, greatly troubled about her soul. After months of this one day she came to rest upon what the Word of God says. I must have told her to do that fifty times but could not tell her just how to do it. If you can do that, then I would appreciate knowing your secret.

Sometimes people believe in their own intelligence and their own ability to figure things out but they will not humble their hearts and that is the very backward way to become convinced you are a child of God. You will have to turn loose of your proud intellect and humbly rest on what God is telling you in His word. At some point, the Spirit of God will bear witness with your spirit that you are a child of God.

If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. (1John 5:9-10)

Notice that He does not say "believeth IN God." He says: "believeth not God." God has said something and men do not believe what He said. That is calling God a liar. But understanding all of that will not convince you in your spirit where you need to be convinced. That work is done by none other than the Holy Spirit Himself.

The most important thing for you to be convinced of is that you are a child of God. Nothing else is important until you know that. How do I know that? Because that is the one thing that the Spirit bears witness with your spirit about. If you don't have that, you are in no condition to understand anything else.

If you know you are a child of God, be willing to suffer for Him. Be willing to be mocked or laughed at. Be willing to let people know that Christ is your Savior and your Lord. Urge people to give their hearts to the Lord and to accept His Son who died on the cross for them. Ω

The Constitution of the United States

Article I

Section 2. Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within the Union, according to their respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, includng those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. The actual enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct.

●To read the history and full text of the U.S. Constitution go here:→ http://www.senate.gov/civics/constitution_item/constitution.htm

Good Morning! 2010.5.11 - Romans 8:14 - Led by the Spirit

Good Morning!

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (Romans 8:14)

 

This little short verse is a very big subject. In summary, this verse is saying that the real, true sons of God are generally willing to be led by the Spirit of God and are expected to follow the Spirit's leading. This is in contrast to the merely religious people who dabble in religion but have never submitted themselves to God. It is especially true of those rebels against God who are determined not to have God rule over them. God leads His people to the degree that they are willing to be led and that is the default condition and practice of God's people.

 

However, God's people are not robots and can yank themselves away from His leading as a sheep wanders away at times or as a child may be drawn away from a parent in a department store and become lost from the parent until there arises a piercing wail above the crowd by a little child who suddenly realizes he is separated from his mother or father. It is true that all believers without exception are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. But all believers are not submissive to Him at all times and are not empowered by Him to live the Christian life or to be a witness for Him.

 

Matthew Henry observes: "They are led by the Spirit of God, as a scholar in his learning is led by his tutor, as a traveller in his journey is led by his guide, as a soldier in his engagements is led by his captain; not driven as beasts, but led as rational creatures, drawn with the cords of a man and the bands of love. It is the undoubted character of all true believers that they are led by the Spirit of God."

 

Gill comments: "Not by the spirit of the world, or of the devil, or by their own spirits: the act of leading ascribed to the Spirit is either in allusion to the leading of blind persons, or such who are in the dark; or rather to the leading of children and teaching them to go;"

 

Part of the mission of the Holy Spirit is to lead God's people to be and do the things God wants them to be and do. The Spirit always leads God's people in accordance with the Word of God and will never lead them contrary to the Word.

 

From our text for today we are reminded that the true people of God have a relationship to the Holy Spirit and are led by Him from day to day. Though it is not covered here, we must at once point out that God's people still have the old, self-centered, sinful nature and for a season may resist (Acts 7:51) the Holy Spirit as their leader and may grieve (Ephesians 4:30) Him who has been appointed to lead them.

 

However, the prevailing influence and power dominating the life of the believer is going to be the persistent efforts of the Spirit of God who lives in the body of the believer. The Holy Spirit will take away His peace from the heart of a disobedient believer (Col.3:15). He may bring about chastisement upon a backsliding believer (Hebrews 12:5-13). He may even take the earthly life from a stubborn believer 1John 5:16 ).

 

 King David didn't look much like God's servant when he was having an affair with Bathsheba and had her husband killed. But he belonged to God.

 

Peter didn't look much like God's servant when he denied Jesus at Jesus' trial. But he belonged to God just the same.

 

Lot didn't look much like God's child as he hob-nobbed with the big-shot politicians at the gate of Sodom that God was about to burn to the ground. But Lot belonged to God. And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly;  (7)  And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:  (8)  (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds); (2Peter 2:6-8)

 

Here is an outstanding verse that has to be included in this discussion: Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: (Hebrews 12:14).  The "following after" is a built-in reality in the life of every believer and the Holy Spirit leads and empowers the believer to do that very thing.

 

Christians can sin a sin unto sickness and can sin a sin unto death and yet they belong to God (1Corinthians 11:23-34).

 

McGee has this to say: "God does not drive His sheep; He leads them. When our Lord told of the safety and security of the sheep, He made it clear that they were not forced into the will of His hand and that of the Father. He said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me" (john 10:27). They are the ones who are safe and secure; they follow Him. They are led by the Spirit of God. They hear His voice because they have a new nature, and they follow Him.Ω

The Constitution of the United States

Article I

Section 2. No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen. (He must be an inhabitant of that State.)

●To read the history and full text of the U.S. Constitution go here:→ http://www.senate.gov/civics/constitution_item/constitution.htm

 

This article can also be viewed at www.bibleliving.blogspot.com.

 

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