“Miracles, Nothing Is Impossible With Him”
Dec 28, 2013 17:30:48 GMT -5
Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 28, 2013 17:30:48 GMT -5
“Miracles, Nothing Is Impossible With Him,” Is My New Year’s Special
The Word of God is emphatic. God our Father delights to multiply His believing and obedient children and to increase their life to supernatural proportion.
He wants to bless our children, our children’s children, and all of us. The Abrahamic blessing has never ceased to constitute the ultimate result of truly believing the gospel. How can anyone believe that “Miracles” are no longer real in our lives?
The Abrahamic Blessing Of Multiplication
The Apostle Paul said it in these words, “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 3:14) “For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.” (Galatians 3:18) “Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.” (Hebrews 6:14)
These Scriptures make it clear that the gospel of faith was first given to Abraham as a basis of God’s blessings and promises. This has never been changed. We have the right to claim what the Bible calls the Abrahamic blessing and to claim it by faith.
This blessing is not a quick fix. We are not talking about an ecstatic moment or an occasional shower of blessings. It certainly does not suggest selfish pursuits into lavish living. We must separate this beautiful promise from a carnal, flesh-centered lifestyle. It is, rather, a life lived in the full tide flow of biblical blessings. The things of God are far superior to worldly wealth. Only a carnal mind would elevate things to the same level as God’s righteous blessings. Solomon, speaking with inspiration, made the following statement, “Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.” (Proverbs 8:18, 19)
We are talking about blessings and multiplication that is worlds above what we are prone to equate with success. The Abrahamic blessing deals with successful family life, beautiful marriages, children who know themselves, and children’s children who become the crown of old age. We are talking about influence that pervades entire communities – towering saints who are like an army of strength against the tides of evil. This lifestyle will lead to many enjoyable experiences that involve things, places, positions, and even honor from men; but these are never the real goals or delights. The blood-washed children of Abraham are looking for a city, which has foundation, whose builder, and maker is God. (Hebrews 11:10) Anything we experience on the freeway to that city deserves our gratitude, but it must never cloud our ultimate vision of spiritual success.
The Foundational Principles of Multiplication
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.” (Psalm 1:1-6)
It’s fitting that the Book of Psalms begins with the word, “Blessed.” The idea undergirding this chapter is conveyed by the word, blessed. It means “fortunate, happy, complete in one’s person, someone to be envied and respected.” Hidden in this meaning are several powerful things: self-love without haughtiness, clear directions for life, and a wholesome set of priorities. It is a picture of an individual in absolute harmony with the God of this universe and sensitive to walking harmoniously to His will. What a towering picture of successful living! Blessed!
There are three negative principles which are easily translated to positive ones and two positives in this first chapter of Psalms. These five principles provide the basis for a life that refuses to be diminished. A wayfaring man, though a fool, can walk this highway of holiness (Isaiah 35:8) and reach the ultimate, personal presence of Jesus Christ. He can also be happy and fulfilled along the way. Let’s look at the principles one by one.
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly”
Worldly wisdom has never been so available as it is today. Bookshelves are lined and magazines are available covering every subject. Counselors, workshops, and seminars provide advice and instruction. Sometimes it takes more wisdom to choose a good source of counsel than it would take to solve the problem itself. There is a family crisis today because we have established our marriages and family techniques on questionable instruction. Liberal sex therapists have led us to believe that anything goes in the marriage relationship. Balanced discipline has been replaced with “new ideas,” and we wonder why they do not work.
Every area of life must come under the scrutiny of divine wisdom. Our counsel must not come from questionable sources. It doesn’t matter how philosophical it sounds, how acceptable to our modern thought – if it cannot stand the test of the Book, it is powerless and will breed death, not life. Human wisdom can sound highly intellectual and right to the fleshly mind, and yet be void of life-giving substance.
“Nor standeth in the way of sinners”
Our generation of believers has come to view any lifestyle of caring, biblical living as suspect. Words like “straight-laced,” “puritanical,” “pharisaical,” “suppressed,” “legalistic,” and others are used to describe any group or individual who stands apart from the loose and free crowd. There is certainly a danger in either direction and the consequence deserves carefulness. Yet, we need a return to the clear standards of the Word of God. The commandments of God are no less right than when first inscribed by His finger. The books of Psalms and Proverbs are filled with wisdom, but would be rendered void if the Ten Commandments given in Exodus were discredited. This is also true of the remaining 64. Over and over, the Commandments are declared as the foundation of greatness, beauty, prosperity, and success.
We must remove our foot from evil and refuse the path of sinners. To walk in disobedience and neglect is sin. No man can ignore one of God’s precepts without rendering himself a sinner. We cannot mistake the word “sinner” for some derelict or prostitute. We must refuse the way of sinners – we cannot follow their example.
[Raising-The-Dead]
“Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful”
The basic idea of this great statement is to refuse the position of judgment and criticism of others. It also covers the thought of a negative attitude toward life and its experiences in general. Translated into a positive, it parallels Paul’s thought in Philippians, “Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)
Such a mind has risen above the carnal habit of gossip and faultfinding in others, not to hide them, but to help eliminate them. Love is a cleansing power when occupying the throne of our heart – vacated by the deceit of scorn. We have often thought of hate as the opposite of love. Instead, it is fear, not hate, that stands as the antonym of this powerful characteristic; and scorn is the result of our fears. Fear of failure, duties, relationships, responsibilities, and even other people’s success has created a generation of scornful individuals. We make ourselves feel better by bringing others down to our own size – or less. Receiving gossip from someone else’s scorn is first cousin to being scorned yourself. The infallible Word teaches in the writings of David, “He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.” (Psalm 15:3)
To take or receive a reproach against another is sin. There are many persons who absolutely live to hear negative talk. They are obsessed with delving into other people’s affairs. My friends, flee the negative forces of scorn, criticism, and doubtful disputation. Receive your brethren, even the weak ones, as Paul told the believers. “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.” (Romans 14:1)
“But his delight is in the law of the Lord”
Absolutely powerful is the only way to describe this great principle. When God’s laws and commandments are no longer viewed as bondage or narrowness, but freedom and expanse, life begins to blossom. Lucifer’s chief tactic has been to question God’s motives in placing restrictions on man. He has caused the unsuspecting to view all limits as inhibitions. The truth is we can enjoy an uninhibited oneness with our Creator, or we can succumb to a false freedom of lawlessness. There are many miserable Christians laboring under an erroneous understanding of this truth.
When we discover God’s laws as His protection and security, we discover the source of greatness. While our life expands, it is also protected. We find, in this kind of restriction, clear boundaries that give peace of mind and assurance. God’s laws and commandments are to the believer exactly what discipline and guidelines are in a Christian home. The only alternative is confusion.
One’s soul can find joy in reading and keeping His laws. Delight in them, rejoice in them, exalt them in your heart and they will exalt you to blessings and beauty. No longer will they be restrictions, but liberation. Isaiah summed it up with the following great expression, “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:29-31) The whole idea of waiting upon the Lord is not some rocking chair mentality; rather, it is the casting off of human understanding and man-made answers, and the grasping of Him in faith.
Radio program at link.
The Word of God is emphatic. God our Father delights to multiply His believing and obedient children and to increase their life to supernatural proportion.
He wants to bless our children, our children’s children, and all of us. The Abrahamic blessing has never ceased to constitute the ultimate result of truly believing the gospel. How can anyone believe that “Miracles” are no longer real in our lives?
The Abrahamic Blessing Of Multiplication
The Apostle Paul said it in these words, “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 3:14) “For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.” (Galatians 3:18) “Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.” (Hebrews 6:14)
These Scriptures make it clear that the gospel of faith was first given to Abraham as a basis of God’s blessings and promises. This has never been changed. We have the right to claim what the Bible calls the Abrahamic blessing and to claim it by faith.
This blessing is not a quick fix. We are not talking about an ecstatic moment or an occasional shower of blessings. It certainly does not suggest selfish pursuits into lavish living. We must separate this beautiful promise from a carnal, flesh-centered lifestyle. It is, rather, a life lived in the full tide flow of biblical blessings. The things of God are far superior to worldly wealth. Only a carnal mind would elevate things to the same level as God’s righteous blessings. Solomon, speaking with inspiration, made the following statement, “Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.” (Proverbs 8:18, 19)
We are talking about blessings and multiplication that is worlds above what we are prone to equate with success. The Abrahamic blessing deals with successful family life, beautiful marriages, children who know themselves, and children’s children who become the crown of old age. We are talking about influence that pervades entire communities – towering saints who are like an army of strength against the tides of evil. This lifestyle will lead to many enjoyable experiences that involve things, places, positions, and even honor from men; but these are never the real goals or delights. The blood-washed children of Abraham are looking for a city, which has foundation, whose builder, and maker is God. (Hebrews 11:10) Anything we experience on the freeway to that city deserves our gratitude, but it must never cloud our ultimate vision of spiritual success.
The Foundational Principles of Multiplication
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.” (Psalm 1:1-6)
It’s fitting that the Book of Psalms begins with the word, “Blessed.” The idea undergirding this chapter is conveyed by the word, blessed. It means “fortunate, happy, complete in one’s person, someone to be envied and respected.” Hidden in this meaning are several powerful things: self-love without haughtiness, clear directions for life, and a wholesome set of priorities. It is a picture of an individual in absolute harmony with the God of this universe and sensitive to walking harmoniously to His will. What a towering picture of successful living! Blessed!
There are three negative principles which are easily translated to positive ones and two positives in this first chapter of Psalms. These five principles provide the basis for a life that refuses to be diminished. A wayfaring man, though a fool, can walk this highway of holiness (Isaiah 35:8) and reach the ultimate, personal presence of Jesus Christ. He can also be happy and fulfilled along the way. Let’s look at the principles one by one.
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly”
Worldly wisdom has never been so available as it is today. Bookshelves are lined and magazines are available covering every subject. Counselors, workshops, and seminars provide advice and instruction. Sometimes it takes more wisdom to choose a good source of counsel than it would take to solve the problem itself. There is a family crisis today because we have established our marriages and family techniques on questionable instruction. Liberal sex therapists have led us to believe that anything goes in the marriage relationship. Balanced discipline has been replaced with “new ideas,” and we wonder why they do not work.
Every area of life must come under the scrutiny of divine wisdom. Our counsel must not come from questionable sources. It doesn’t matter how philosophical it sounds, how acceptable to our modern thought – if it cannot stand the test of the Book, it is powerless and will breed death, not life. Human wisdom can sound highly intellectual and right to the fleshly mind, and yet be void of life-giving substance.
“Nor standeth in the way of sinners”
Our generation of believers has come to view any lifestyle of caring, biblical living as suspect. Words like “straight-laced,” “puritanical,” “pharisaical,” “suppressed,” “legalistic,” and others are used to describe any group or individual who stands apart from the loose and free crowd. There is certainly a danger in either direction and the consequence deserves carefulness. Yet, we need a return to the clear standards of the Word of God. The commandments of God are no less right than when first inscribed by His finger. The books of Psalms and Proverbs are filled with wisdom, but would be rendered void if the Ten Commandments given in Exodus were discredited. This is also true of the remaining 64. Over and over, the Commandments are declared as the foundation of greatness, beauty, prosperity, and success.
We must remove our foot from evil and refuse the path of sinners. To walk in disobedience and neglect is sin. No man can ignore one of God’s precepts without rendering himself a sinner. We cannot mistake the word “sinner” for some derelict or prostitute. We must refuse the way of sinners – we cannot follow their example.
[Raising-The-Dead]
“Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful”
The basic idea of this great statement is to refuse the position of judgment and criticism of others. It also covers the thought of a negative attitude toward life and its experiences in general. Translated into a positive, it parallels Paul’s thought in Philippians, “Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)
Such a mind has risen above the carnal habit of gossip and faultfinding in others, not to hide them, but to help eliminate them. Love is a cleansing power when occupying the throne of our heart – vacated by the deceit of scorn. We have often thought of hate as the opposite of love. Instead, it is fear, not hate, that stands as the antonym of this powerful characteristic; and scorn is the result of our fears. Fear of failure, duties, relationships, responsibilities, and even other people’s success has created a generation of scornful individuals. We make ourselves feel better by bringing others down to our own size – or less. Receiving gossip from someone else’s scorn is first cousin to being scorned yourself. The infallible Word teaches in the writings of David, “He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.” (Psalm 15:3)
To take or receive a reproach against another is sin. There are many persons who absolutely live to hear negative talk. They are obsessed with delving into other people’s affairs. My friends, flee the negative forces of scorn, criticism, and doubtful disputation. Receive your brethren, even the weak ones, as Paul told the believers. “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.” (Romans 14:1)
“But his delight is in the law of the Lord”
Absolutely powerful is the only way to describe this great principle. When God’s laws and commandments are no longer viewed as bondage or narrowness, but freedom and expanse, life begins to blossom. Lucifer’s chief tactic has been to question God’s motives in placing restrictions on man. He has caused the unsuspecting to view all limits as inhibitions. The truth is we can enjoy an uninhibited oneness with our Creator, or we can succumb to a false freedom of lawlessness. There are many miserable Christians laboring under an erroneous understanding of this truth.
When we discover God’s laws as His protection and security, we discover the source of greatness. While our life expands, it is also protected. We find, in this kind of restriction, clear boundaries that give peace of mind and assurance. God’s laws and commandments are to the believer exactly what discipline and guidelines are in a Christian home. The only alternative is confusion.
One’s soul can find joy in reading and keeping His laws. Delight in them, rejoice in them, exalt them in your heart and they will exalt you to blessings and beauty. No longer will they be restrictions, but liberation. Isaiah summed it up with the following great expression, “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:29-31) The whole idea of waiting upon the Lord is not some rocking chair mentality; rather, it is the casting off of human understanding and man-made answers, and the grasping of Him in faith.
Radio program at link.
