Romans 8:18

THESE ARE THE TIMES that try men's souls. The Spirit has spoken expressly that in the latter times some should depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron. Those days are upon us and we cannot escape them; we must triumph in the midst of them, for such is the will of God concerning us.

Strange as it may seem, the danger today is greater for the fervent Christian than...

Those spiritual blessings in heavenly places which are ours in Christ may be divided into three classes: The first is those which come to us immediately upon our believing unto salvation, such as forgiveness, justification, regeneration, sonship to God and baptism into the Body of Christ. In Christ we possess these even before we know that they are ours, such knowledge coming to us later through the study of the Holy Scriptures. The second class is those riches which are ours by inheritance...

For Reading and Meditation:     Jeremiah 31:1-12

"How little real love there is for God," says theologian Arthur W. Pink. He suggests that this and the resulting low level of spirituality in today's Church are caused by our hearts being so little occupied with thoughts of the divine love. "The better we are acquainted with His love," he says, "- its character, its...

Taken by themselves, the sufferings of this present time can be appalling. I think of the gruesome sufferings of the Christian martyrs. I think of what some of God's people have had to endure in the concentration camps. What shall we say concerning the horrible sufferings associated with war? The cruel dismemberment and paralysis connected with accidents? The unspeakable pain of human bodies racked by cancer or other diseases?

And yet physical suffering isn't the whole story. It seems...

Seven times in His letters to the churches of Asia, the Lord Jesus says "I know" and usually those words are used in a favorable sense. "I know thy works…thy labour…thy patience…thy tribulation…thy poverty…and charity…and faith." In those words "I know" there is tremendous comfort and sympathy and encouragement for God's people.

Lehman Strauss points out that when Jesus said "I know," "He did not use the word ginoske, which frequently means to know in the...

In us; in me, in you. Sin, not satisfied with the manifestation given of itself in the angels that left their first estate, not satisfied with the degradation into which it has caused the devils to sink, came to you and me, that it might obtain a fuller exhibition. You and I dwelt in a world the soil of which had been moistened with Christ's sweat of agony, with the drops of Calvary, in a world where the Gospel of God's amazing grace is preached to every creature. Sin said, " It is one thing...

Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. § We suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside.You shall remember that the Lord your God led you...

Here we have no continuing city. § You have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.Now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials. § There the wicked cease from troubling, and there the weary are at rest.We who are in this tent groan, being burdened. § God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death,...

You will have treasure in heaven … come, follow Me. § I am … your exceedingly great reward. Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord. They shall reign forever and ever.You will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. § The crown of life. § The crown of righteousness. § An imperishable crown.Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where...

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Rom. 8:18).

The Word of life, the Lord of life, and the exigencies of life all must combine to give us a ministry of life.