I will try to finish up our look at affliction with the fact that all true believers do not faint under what ever condition or state of affliction that they find themselves in. And again I draw on the teaching on prayer without ceasing done by Pastor Hoekstra that is in my e-sword program as my aid. And your help in faith building that comes through our LORD and His being restored within our awaken spirit. Still making use of the ESV translation.
"An Invitation to Pray at the Throne of Grace"
"Let us therefore come boldly to the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy and find Grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)
"Seated upon the throne which rules this universe is the sovereign, Holy, Judge of all humanity. Yet, He is also the "GOD of all Grace" (1Peter 5:10). All who relate rightly to Him (through humble faith in Christ Who is Jesus) can come boldly to that throne, praying with assurance that mercy and Grace will be His response.
Truly, the LORD Christ Jesus is the reason that we can answer the invitation to "come boldly to the Throne of Grace." His death on the cross opened the Way for us to come into GOD's presence, allowing us to talk to Him directly in prayer through Christ, as we were actually Him praying. It is as though the Holy of Holies is now our family den, our home. GOD is again our Father, Who delights to commune with His children as we pray to Him through Christ as we carry the name and title of Christian: "Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by (though or in) the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us" (Hebrews 10:19-20). This "new and living way" is the New Covenant of Grace. It is by the LORD's grace alone that we can come to His Throne of Grace, that we might live daily and moment by moment by His Grace.
At this inviting Throne of GOD, we "obtain mercy." Mercy is heaven's wondrous companion to Grace. Mercy is GOD's provision for holding back from us the awful things that we actually deserve, due to our sin and rebellious nature that remains in our flesh. "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our GOD, for He will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55:7). Now, each day, His children can benefit from the faithful mercies of GOD. "Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassion's fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your Faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23).
Also, at this inviting Throne of GOD, we "find Grace to help in time of need." Our initial need was for the Lord's saving Grace, which brought forgiveness for our ungodliness and made heaven our eternal home "For by Grace you have been saved through faith" (Ephesians 2:8). Our ongoing need would be for transforming Grace for the developing of a godly life here on earth. "For the Grace of GOD that brings Salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age" (Titus 2:11-12). In prayer at the Throne of Grace, we find GOD's continuing supply of Grace. That Grace is irreplaceable and sufficient to sustain us through, and use us in, the needy situations we encounter daily at home, work, school, church, — wherever."
A True Believer does not Faint Under adversity or Afflictions:
2Corinthians 4:1-6, 7-12, 13-15, 16-18 "Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of GOD, we do not lose heart. For we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with GOD's word, but by the open statement of the Truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of GOD. And even if our Gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of GOD. For what we proclaim is not of ourselves, but Jesus Christ as LORD, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For it was GOD, Who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the Knowledge of the glory of GOD in the face of Jesus Christ.
We have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to GOD and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Christ Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the Life of Christ also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but His Life in you.
Since we have the same Spirit of faith according to what has been written, "I believed, and so I spoke," we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that HE Who raised the LORD Jesus will raise us also with Christ Jesus and bring us with you into HIS Presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as Grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of GOD.
And so we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
Galatians 6:5, 6-10 "For each will have to bear his own load.
Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap Eternal Life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the Household of Faith."
Ephesians 3:1-13 "For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of GOD's Grace that was given to me for you, how the Mystery (the secret things of GOD spoken of in Deuteronomy 29:29) was made known to me by Revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations (the old Testament) as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles (evangelists) and prophets (pastors and teachers) by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same Body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel. Of this Gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of GOD's Grace, which was given me by the working of His power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this Grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to Light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery (secret) hidden for ages in GOD Who created all things, so that through the Church the manifold wisdom of GOD might now be made Known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that HE has realized in Christ Jesus our LORD, in (through) Whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in Him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory."
I will pick up the flow of our next witness from the end of chapter 11 of Hebrews as it bears witness to those of the old Testament erea that did not receive the benefit of Grace. But only saw it as a shadow as being in the future, that is ours in the New Covenant of GODS Grace. Then I will trun our attention on Hebrews 12.
Heb 11:32-38, 39-12:2, 3-11 "What more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection.(Matthew 27:52-53, Ephesians 4:8, Psalm 68:18, Colossians 1:19-20, 2:15) Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
All these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since GOD had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the Throne of GOD.
Consider Him Who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the LORD, nor be weary when reproved by Him. For the LORD disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives." It is for discipline that you have to endure. GOD is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but HE disciplines us for our good, that we may share His Holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."
Revelation 2:1, 2-7 "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: 'The words of Him Who holds the seven stars in His right hand, Who walks among the seven golden lampstands.'
'I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for My name's sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; REPENT, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you REPENT. Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of GOD.'"
No comments:
Post a Comment