Glad Tidings To The World
The message of the Gospel, from Heaven's standpoint, is a very good thing, so much so that it is called "glad tidings," or wonderful, joyful news. It is a subject for joy, for by it a lost sinner can be saved from sin and death by believing it, and trusting the Lord Jesus to be one's unique Savior. The result of the Gospel having its desired effect is that God is glorified, and the believer is blessed with eternal Life in Christ, and this, for eternity.
Drawn To Christ
How does an individual come to God, to Christ, in order to receive from Him forgiveness of sins, and a new life by the Spirit? It begins by God drawing him, making him aware of the reality of God, but then, by Christ revealing the truth of God. The revelation of God in Christ, in truth, is the means by which God draws men to Himself, convicting them of sins, and providing them with not only the knowledge of how to know God, but with the power to repent and believe. Who will answer His call?
The Hallowing Of God's Name
It is a very serious thing to use the name of God in a superficial, and mocking manner. His name is that which represents who and what He is. Throughout Scripture He is presented to mankind as HOLY, separate from all sin, evil, and wickedness. He is sovereignly alone, supreme in His beauty and holiness, perfect in every aspect of His eternal goodness. To mock Him is to be very foolish indeed.
The Constant Vision Of God
Why does God continually speak to mankind through nature, and specifically, through His written word? It is because mankind needs first of all to have a vision of Him, or a clear perception of who He is in order to believe, and trust in Him. The knowledge of God is a very precious thing, for by it one can come to faith in Jesus Christ and know His saving strength, grace and mercy.
The Burden Of Preaching The Gospel
When Christ comes to dwell in the heart by His Spirit, He brings with him the knowledge of a message from God. That message is the Gospel, so that by it, men and women can be saved from sin to know life eternal in Christ. There is a burden that comes with the gospel, and it is communicated to us by the Spirit. It is a burden to preach, proclaim, or share the gospel so that many can be saved.
God's Order In A Disorderly World
God is a God of order. He creates order in chaos because He is greater than the chaos. It is for this reason that when a person comes to Christ, and Christ comes to dwell in the heart by His Spirit, He brings order to the life. The more one walks with Christ, communes with Him, the more Christ's order in thought and deed is revealed. The greater is the experience of His peace.
Encouraging Oneself In The Lord
There are times when circumstances are overwhelmingly against one's life, living it, and overcoming the obstacles in it. It is then that the believer can look unto Jesus, his Maker and Redeemer, and encourage himself in the Lord. It is in the appeal to the mercy and grace of God that the answer comes, and this in God's way, time, and wisdom. He always hears the cry of His child and will never fail him.
Christ Our Portion And Our Life
It is one thing to know the objective truth of who Jesus Christ was and is. It is quite another to go a step further, and to take Him by faith as one's life and portion. And yet, from the Old Testament to the New Testament, we find men and women of faith who learned the necessity of doing this, for they came to understand that this was not only the will and purpose of God, but true life, eternal Life...to know Christ.
The Gospel Of Joy
The message of the Gospel is not only the "power of God unto salvation, " but the very expression of God's joy revealed in the salvation of men. When there even one sinner who repents on this earth, there is joy in heaven. It was for the joy that was set before Him, that Christ endured the cross. Christ's joy was his strength.
The Power Of The Ascension
The significance of the ascension of Christ must never be minimized, for by that act of God, when Christ went to heaven as the disciples looked on, there was accomplished the word of Christ, which would provide for the outpouring of the Spirit of God upon all flesh. The ascension was in one respect the confirmation of the coming of the Spirit of Pentecost, the fulfilment of Christ's promise.