TAKE FIRM HOLD OF CHRIST

“The Father's essential goodness is a powerful persuasion to rely on the promise in Christ for pardon.

Let him take hold of my strength, that he may take peace with me Isaiah 27:5. And where is God's saving strength but in Christ? The Father has laid strength upon His Mighty One who is "able also to save them to the uttermost that come into God by him" Hebrews 7:25. Do not let natural reasoning mislead you-- it is not God's absolute power or mercy that will help you, but His covenant strength and mercy in Christ. Take hold of Christ and you hold God's arm.

Indeed, the Father's essential goodness is a powerful persuasion to rely on the promise in Christ for pardon, when the person considers that God's very nature is forgiving and merciful. But if there were no promise to apply this mercy to sinners through Christ, the fact of God's goodness would be only cold comfort. After all, He could have damned the whole stock of Adam and not impaired His goodness in the least.

It is certainly no blot to the almightiness of God's power that He does not do everything in the spectrum of His divine ability. He could make more worlds if He wanted to; but He is no less powerful because He does not. And He could have saved the fallen angels with the sons of lost man had He thought such a design was fitting. But, having brought forth no promise for such a thing, the essential goodness of God affords the devils little hope that He will do it.

Yet God's goodness continues. Those who, out of simple ignorance of the Gospel or proud reasoning away from it, reject God's way of making peace through Christ's satisfaction and then depend on God's absolute mercy and goodness at the last day will, it seems, find as little benefit from this Christless mercy as the devils themselves have found. And their final destination will only confirm the futility of neglecting such a great salvation through the blood of God's Son. 


Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete Armour Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell. http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_productDetail.aspx?id=41823&pid=53617

Genesis Time Line

Genesis Time Line - Key People and Events

Genesis Time Line helps to put this important book of the Bible into perspective using a time line of events, maps, charts, and genealogies. Colorfully illustrated and easy to use, Genesis Time Line is an essential resource that will help you learn more about the key events and people in the book of Genesis such as Creation, the Fall, the Flood, as well as important people like Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and dozens of others.
12 panels, fits inside most Bible, 8.5 x 5.5 inches, unfolds to 33" long

Most of us think of Genesis and think "In the beginning..." and rightly so. Genesis tells the story of God creating the world and his relationship with mankind — a story that continues today. Genesis Time Line pamphlet covers the breadth of this historic book, including:

• Adam and Eve and their descendents
• Family tree of Noah and his sons
• God's promises to Abraham
• God's two promises to Isaac
• God's three promises to Jacob
• Joseph's betrayal and slavery in Egypt.
• Seven years of famine and seven years of plenty
• A map for each patriarch (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) showing their location and travels

Genesis Time Line is a study-guide that can be read in 30 minutes and brings amazing clarity and perspective to the book of Genesis. The pamphlet consists of:

• Four continuous time-lines with Genesis Scripture references alongside the dates
• From Adam to the Tower of Babel
• The Life of Abraham (early years)
• From Abraham and Isaac (later years) to Jacob (early years)
• From Jacob (later years) to Joseph's death

• Five maps that put the places of Genesis in context
• Genesis 1-11 —Early civilizations of the Middle East
• Genesis 12-25 — Abraham and Isaac
• Genesis 25-30 — Jacob's journeys
• Genesis 31-50 — Route of Joseph
• Table of Nations — The geography of early nations placed on a map also showing where key Middle Eastern nations are today
• A family tree showing the descendants of Noah

Inset diagrams show:

• The days of Creation
• Cain's offspring—the city builders
• The Israelites (Children of Israel/Twelve Tribes)

Genesis Time Line presents places, events and key people in the Bible such as:

• Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel
• Abraham and Sarah
• Isaac and Rebekah
• Ishmael, Jacob, Leah, Rachel, Esau, Joseph
• The tower of Babel

No Sunday school or Bible teacher should be without Genesis Time Line. Anyone who wants to learn more about the book of Genesis and the Creation, the Flood, and the Patriarchs of Israel should add this resource to their Bible study materials.

TO ORDER OR TO SEE MORE CLICK HERE

RECONCILIATION IS ESSENTIAL

“Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord" Isaiah 1:18

It is plain to see today that many who pursue peace expect God to pardon them, although they care nothing for His honor and remain totally ignorant of Him and of His Son Jesus. 

They want God to make peace with them while they make war with Him and His Word. 

Like a thief at the bar, this kind of person implores the judge to spare his life by whatever means, right or wrong, legal or illegal. What difference does it make as long as he is pardoned? Does this man consider the honor of the judge? Well, do not be deceived, because God will not make war among His own attributes to make peace with you.

Reconciliation must seek to have fellowship with God. Suppose God should confide, "I am your friend-- I have commanded that you will never go to hell. And My hand holds your discharge so you can never be arrested for indebtedness to Me. But as for fellowship, do not expect any. I am through with you now and you will never know Me better." If you heard the Father say this, how excited would you be about your peace? Even if the tormenting fires were put out, the anguish of a hell would remain in the dismal darkness without God's presence.

Absalom saw no middle ground between seeing his father's face and being killed. "Let me see the king's face; and if there be any iniquity in me, let him kill me" 2 Samuel 14:2. "If I am not worthy to enjoy my father's love and presence," he pledged, "I do not want to live." On the other hand, an ungodly heart gropes for peace without any longing after fellowship with God. Like the traitor, he is ready to promise the king anything, if only he will save him from execution. 

God will not talk with you as long as your sword is in your hand. "Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord" Isaiah 1:18.


Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete Armour Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell. http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_productDetail.aspx?id=41823&pid=53617

THE COST OF REFUSING

“There is no peace, says my God, to the wicked" Isaiah 57:21.

You might own all the empires of the world, and have nations creeping to your feet, as the animals came to Adam; and your lease on life might be twice as long as Methuselah's span to enjoy all this, without one cloud of trouble. But if you lack peace, I would rather be the worm under your shoe or the toad in the ditch than you in your palace. Just one small thought of approaching death and the torment waiting for you can immediately destroy all your present happiness.

This refusal to accept God's peace on Gospel terms makes the great leaders of the world-- in fact, all unreconciled sinners, high and low-- go to their graves as bears go down a hill-- backwards. One glance forward might cause them to die of fright as they see where they are going. They are headed there without a breastplate, the persuasion of peace with God.

What should you do next then? Shut yourself up as a condemned sinner, apart from flattering friends who would lullaby your soul into senseless security-- the cradle which the devil rocks souls in, to their utter destruction. Instead, send for those who dare to be faithful, like Samuel, to tell you every word God has against you, hiding nothing.

Read your own sentence with your eyes on the Word; take your condemnation from God's mouth, not from man's. "There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked" Isaiah 57:21. Meditate on that Scripture until it cleaves to your soul like a plaster to a sore and draws out the core of pride and carnal confidence which have hardened your heart. By this time the anguish of your own spirit will prompt you to want peace with God more than anything else in the world. This is what God has been waiting to hear from you.” 


Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete Armour Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell. http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_productDetail.aspx?id=41823&pid=53617

THE JOY IN PARDONING SINNERS

“God's strictness emphasizes the seriousness of delivering His message faithfully. Paul trembled at the very thought of laziness: "Woe is me if I preach not." And Christ reached deep into His own heart to persuade Peter: "Do you love me?... Feed my sheep" John 21:16. It is as if He had said, "Peter, you are crying and feeling guilty because cowardice made you deny Me; but there is still a way to demonstrate your love-- feed My sheep. Do this and stop worrying about that traitor of the past." Once again, Christ showed more care for His sheep than for Himself.

God expresses joy when sinners accept His peace. Joy is the highest testimony, which can be given to our peace. Love is to joy as fuel is to fire. If love gathers only a few scraps of kindling-- only small desires in the heart-- then the flame of joy that comes out of it will not be very hot. Now because God takes such great joy in pardoning sinners, His affection is also great in His offer of peace. In fact, the motive, which prevails with God to forgive the ungodly, is that "he delights in mercy." "Who is a God like you, that pardons iniquity, and passes by the transgression of the remnant for his heritage? He retains not his anger forever, because he delights in mercy" Micah 7:18.

If you ask a fisherman why he stands with his hook in the water all night he will tell you it is because he enjoys fishing. Now you know why God waits for sinners-- months, years-- preaching to them; He delights in forgiving them by His grace and mercy. Now and then a government official will pardon an offender more to please others than himself; but God forgives to make His own heart glad. Thus when Christ came to reconcile sinners to God, His ministry was called "the pleasure of the Lord" Isaiah 53:10.

Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete Armour Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell. http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_productDetail.aspx?id=41823&pid=53617

DO NOT REFUSE PEACE WITH GOD

“You cannot be happy with anything less than peace but you do not need anything more than peace to fill you with true joy.

Satan's quarrel with God is too advanced for him to give you a second glance. Besides, can he give you armor to quench the fiery blasts of God's judgment? How could he, when these burning bullets are embedded inside his own heart, causing unspeakable torment? And will he send sympathy when at last you have destroyed yourself by following his advice? Of course not-- no more than the ravenous wolf pities the sheep after he has torn her into pieces and drunk her blood.

So that you can never say you did not understand how to find peace with God through the Gospel, carefully weigh these next four thoughts. This peace is both indispensable and comprehensive. You cannot be happy with anything less than peace but you do not need anything more than peace to fill you with true joy. Of all the varieties on God's spiritual menu, His serving of peace can least be spared. If you take this away the feast is spoiled, even if a brightly garnished outward peace replaces it at the center of the prince's table.

Sinner, listen to me! Is not this controversy between you and God like a swollen toad at the bottom of your cup of honey? Your sins are unpardoned and you are condemned to die for them, no matter how much you may be dancing in the shadows of your prison. What would you think about a man who spent his last hours before being hanged playing at his favorite sport? Truly God is merciful if He stays your execution one more day!

I confess, when I see a man whose life proves him an unforgiven sinner, and whose pleasure comes by dressing in expensive clothing and entertaining with the prideful air of affluence, I am amazed that he cares neither about God nor himself. How much longer do you think the Lord will watch him pile up this trash around himself before He tosses a torch to the bottom of it?” 


Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete Armour Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell. http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_productDetail.aspx?id=41823&pid=53617

THE SAINT'S CELEBRATION

“Certainly the prodigal who is received again into his father's arms has more reason to return that father's love than the brother who never left home.

In order for those on earth not to fear that Christ's reclaimed royalty might crowd them out of His heart, He proves He is the same in the zenith of His honor as He was in the depth of His humiliation. And He demonstrates this unchangeableness by going back to heaven's glory in the same clothes He had borrowed from their nature. Thus God's Son makes those clothes part of His glorified life and gives a pattern of what the saints' own bodies will be like in the kingdom. None of this identification of Christ with man was present in God's dealings with Adam. Adam did not have this lump of sugar in his cup-- he knew about the love of a giving God, but was a stranger to the mercy of a forgiving God. The reconciled sinner experiences both.

A father's love is a great comfort to an obedient child, but this demonstration of tenderness cannot be compared to the compassion of a father toward his rebellious child. Certainly the prodigal who is received again into his father's arms has more reason to return that father's love than the brother who never left home. Without a doubt, then, God's pardoning mercy and the love of Christ, which procured it are the sweetest, most wholesome fruit a saint here on earth can meditate upon.

But who can conceive of the splendid music, which glorified saints will make on this note of God's mercy and love? Surely the song their harps are tuned to is "the song of the Lamb Revelation 15:3.. The saints' fulfilled celebration in heaven's glory is a composite of all the finest ingredients possible-- so arranged by the hand of God that not one of them can be left out; and the taste of one cannot be lost in another. Yet pardoning mercy, and the unsurpassable love of God through Christ, give a sweet topping to the feast and can be tasted above all the rest.” 


Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete Armour Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell. http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_productDetail.aspx?id=41823&pid=53617

OUR DEPENDENCE UPON HIS WORK

“God would never have allowed His first workmanship to be so scarred by sin if He had not planned to build a more magnificent structure out of its ruins.

God chose to give this treasure of reconciliation to humble us, so our haughtiness might bow and God could be exalted in our day of salvation. "The bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and gives life unto the world John 6:33. And notice why God chose that method to feed His children in the wilderness: "Who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers knew not, that he might humble you” Deuteronomy 8:16.

Let us examine this humbling process more carefully. Naturally we assume that the Israelites would have become wise as well as humble when God Himself fed them with "angels food" Psalm 78:25. Yet man is proud and wants to be his own provider; he does not enjoy a meal sent in by charity, at another's expense, nearly so much as he does food which he earned himself. This pride made the children of Israel wish for the onions of their Egyptian gardens-- inferior food but food bought with their own money instead of brought to them by God. God's reconciliation to sinners was aimed at a more perfect union than He had with Adam.

God would never have allowed His first workmanship to be so scarred by sin if He had not planned to build a more magnificent structure out of its ruins. Because He intended to print man's happiness in the second edition with a more perfect type than the first, He used Christ as the only fit instrument to accomplish this design: "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" John 10:10. He did not come to give the dead and damned a bare peace-- naked life-- but a more abundant life than man ever had before sin separated him from God.” 


Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete Armour Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell. http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_productDetail.aspx?id=41823&pid=53617

JESUS PAID THE PRICE

" The whole curse of sin met in Jesus, as all streams run to the ocean-- a collection of all the wages of sin and death merged in Him. "The chastisement of our peace was upon him; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all" Isaiah 53:5-6. But take another step and consider God's unspeakable love for His beloved Son as He watched Him-- alone-- enter the stage of bloody tragedy. Be still here and know the painful price both God and His Son paid for you to be one with Him. I think you are at the highest stair God's Word can lead you to ascend into the meditation of His love.

Picture a father who has only one son-- and can have no more-- sending that child to prison and with his own lips sentencing him to death. And then, to guarantee the execution be completed with the most horrible torment possible, he watches his child's death with eyes brimming not with grief but with anger. If you study this parent's countenance you conclude that surely he hates his son or the sin he committed. This is what you see in the Father towards His Son, for it was God, more than men and devils, who caused Christ's death.

Jesus knew the warrant for His death was signed and sealed by His Father's hand, for He prayed, "O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done Matthew 26:42. Yet the spirit of the Man of Sorrow rejoiced in obeying God and His blood was the only wine which made the Father's heart glad: "It pleased the Lord to bruise him Isaiah 53:10. When Christ suffered death on the cross, God was pleased-- not because He did not love His Son and not because He had disobeyed Him, for Jesus never once disappointed God. But God hated sin, and in His determination to exalt His mercy toward sinners, He satisfied His justice on His only Son.” 


Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete Armour Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell. http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_productDetail.aspx?id=41823&pid=53617

PURCHASING PEACE WITH GOD

”Some say God did not know any other way to do it. But how pitiful is any attempt of created understanding to fathom the unsearchableness of God's omnipotent wisdom-- to say what He can and cannot do! Yet we can say, in full reverence for the Majesty of heaven, that God could not have found a better way exalting His own glorious name and purchasing sinners' peace, than by reconciling them to Himself by Christ the precious Peacemaker.

This mysterious exchange has in itself the ability to solve all the difficulties of the enmity between man and God, and for wonder it exceeds even God's workmanship in creating the world. Now this creation is so perfect and glorious that it tells every creature that its Maker is God, a knowing which puts the atheist to shame in his own conscience because he will not believe. Even so, the plan of reconciliation excels the creation of heaven and earth as greatly as the watch surpasses the crystal, which covers it. Indeed God intended, by this way of drawing sinners to Himself, to cause both angels and saints to admire the mystery of His wisdom, power, and love in it-- from now through eternity.

When at last all angels and Christians meet together in heaven, the whole beautiful counsel of God will be unfolded to them! At that time we shall see how the seas of unbelief were dried up and what rocks of impossibilities were cut through by the omnipotent grace of God, before a sinners' peace could be secured. We shall learn how the Father worked to bring it all to completion. Surely we will be swallowed up in adoring the abyss of His wisdom, who laid the foundation of all this peace according to the eternal counsel of His own will! As the sun exceeds the strength of our natural vision, the glory of God's peace will stretch beyond our capacity to understand it.” 


Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete Armour Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell. http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_productDetail.aspx?id=41823&pid=53617