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#33/ 01-Mar-2001

          P O S I T I V E     W O R D S
               Editor: Peter Wade

       ----- http://www.peterwade.com/ -----
        ... in Christ and Christ in you!

IN THIS ISSUE...
	1. Positive Words for today
	2. Searchlights from the Word
	3. Bible Study Outlines
	4. New at our site

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1.   p o s i t i v e   w o r d s   f o r   t o d a y
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                  MIRACLES AND THE NEW CREATION

"Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the
common good... to another miraculous powers" (I Corinthians
12:7,10).

Miracles are just part of the normal pattern of life for New
Creation people. We discover from the Bible that miracles are a
manifestation of God's spirit within us. This should not be a
surprise to us because God has proven Himself to be a miracle-
working God and we have His nature within us.
   Some people sing a song with the words "Expect a miracle every
day" and "God will perform a miracle for you each day." Looking
beyond ourselves and looking for miracles to be granted from "way
out there somewhere" has led to error in the Church. Instead of
believing that miracles are spectacular events and circumstances
that supersede known principles, I must look within myself, for
Christ, the miracle-worker, is resident within. 
   Part of the problem the Church has with miracles stems from
misinterpretation of how the apostles performed miracles in the
Book of Acts. The passage quoted above from I Corinthians speaks
of miracles as being an out-working of God's gift of spirit
within. The apostles evidently believed this because it is
recorded that "Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and
miraculous signs were done BY the apostles" (Acts 2:43). It is
clear that the apostles performed the miracles. Miracles are not
a divine "zap" from the skies to passive people. I need to
understand that believers performed the miracles as a
manifestation of God's spirit within them. (From "You Are A New
Creation", Chapter 5, by Peter Wade, adapted by Hildy Matthews.)

AFFIRMATION: I grasp the truth that the power of God is resident
within me and I can consciously operate that power in my life.

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2.   s e a r c h l i g h t s   f r o m   t h e   W o r d
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G. Campbell Morgan was a well-known preacher and writer of over
60 books from the first half of the 20th century. In this spot
each issue we reproduce a comment from one verse in every chapter
of the Bible. We continue with Paul's first letter to Timothy.

"According to the Gospel of the glory of the blessed God" (I
Timothy 1:11).

This is another instance where the Revision has added greatly to
the understanding and beauty of a phrase. In a previous note we
observed the difference between "the might of His glory" and "His
glorious might" (Colossians 1:11). Here we have the same kind of
change. Instead of reading "the glorious Gospel," we have "the
Gospel of the Glory." That the Gospel is glorious we know, but
the Apostolic phrase draws our attention to the fact that the
good news is that of "the Glory of the blessed God." 
   Knowing that it is the Gospel of His Grace, we are thus
reminded that Grace and Glory in God are one. That which is the
very essence of His splendour and beauty is the infinite love of
His heart. Also we may, with perfect accuracy, render the
description of God as "the happy God." What unfathomable depths
of suggestiveness there are in the words: "The Gospel of the
Glory of the happy God"! 
  But now observe how the words are introduced. Immediately
before them are the words "according to." When we go back to see
what this Gospel is the standard of, we find a remarkable
denunciation of evil things, some of the most fearful being
named, and all others being included in the words, "and if there
be any other thing." All these things are "contrary to the sound
doctrine, according to the Gospel of the glory of the happy God."
Thus again, as so constantly in the New Testament, we are
reminded that the Gospel makes no excuse for sin, makes no terms
with it.

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3.   B i b l e   s t u d y   o u t l i n e s
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These Bible Study outlines come from the excellent book by F.E.
Marsh, "1,000 Bible Study Outlines".

"CHRIST IS ALL" (Col. iii.11)
He is -- 	
1. Life to the body of truth -- Col. iii.16.
2. Light to the realm of thought -- Eph. iv.20, 21.
3. Energy to the machinery of work -- 1 Cor.i. 24.
4. Music to the notes of life -- Heb. ii.12.
5. Soul to the sphere of conduct -- Gal. ii.20.
6. Love to the heart of affection -- 2 Cor. v.14.
7. Grace to the beautifying of character -- Eph. iii.8.
"I never was anything till I knew you," said Tom Hood to his
wife; and we are never anything until we know Christ and the Holy
Spirit.

CHRIST, OUR EXAMPLE IN HUMILITY 
"Let this mind be in you" Phil. ii.5. 
There are many illustrations of Christ's humility.
1. In the manger of His birth -- Luke ii.7.
2. In the bedlessness of His life -- Luke ix.58.
3. In the dependence upon others -- Luke viii.3.
4. In the service to His disciples -- John xiii.14.
5. In the borrowing of an ass -- Matt. xxi.2.
6. In the asking for a drink -- John iv.7.
7. In the burial in another's grave -- Luke xxiii.53.
He who takes the lowest place on earth will find himself exalted
to the highest place in Heaven.

CHRIST, OUR EXAMPLE IN OBEDIENCE 
"Obedient unto death" Phil. ii.8 
His obedience was not to death as a master, but His path of
obedience, in the things He did and suffered, led Him to
obedience unto death as a goal --Heb. v. 8; Psa. xl. 8. Obedience
is the --
1. Proof of Love -- John xiv.15,21.
2. Badge of Loyalty -- Rom. xvi.19.
3. Soul of Liberty -- Rom. vi.16.
4. Securer of Blessing -- Isa. i.19.
5. Spirit of Service -- Joshua xxiv.24.
6. Meaning of Worship -- Heb. xi.8.
7. Livery of Holiness -- 1 Peter i.14.

CHRIST "HIGHER THAN THE HEAVENS"
The Holy Spirit rings the changes on the word "made" in the
Epistle to the Hebrews, in calling attention to what Christ has
"made".
1. As Man, He is "made a little lower than the angels" (Heb.
ii.7).
2. As Kinsman, He is "made like His brethren" (Heb. ii.17).
3. As Sufferer, He is "made perfect" through His sufferings (Heb.
v.9).
4. As High Priest, He is "made an high priest after the order of
Melchisedec" (Heb. vi.20).
5. As Surety, He is "made surety of a better covenant" (Heb.
vii.22).
6. As Inheritor, He is "made so much better than the angels"
(Heb. i.4).
7. As Exalted, He is "made higher than the Heavens" (Heb.
vii.26).
He took the lowest place when He was made "a little lower than
the angels" in His incarnation (Heb. ii.7); but He has obtained
the highest place by His ascension, for He is made higher than
the angels. The expression, "made higher than the Heavens, " at
once puts Christ in contrast to others.

CHRIST, OUR RANSOM
"Who gave Himself a Ransom for all" 1 Tim. ii. 6
THE word "antilutron", in the above passage of Scripture, means a
procuring price paid instead of others. Frequently we are
reminded Christ gave Himself to meet our liabilities. His ransom
was a --
l. Sin-answering Ransom. "Gave Himself for our sins" (Gal. i.4).
2. God-man Ransom. "Who gave Himself a Ransom for all" (1 Tim.
ii.6).
3. Sinner-answering Ransom. "Gave Himself for us, that He might
redeem us from all iniquity" (Titus ii.14).
4. Love-provided Ransom. "He gave His only begotten Son" (John
iii.16).
5. Life-substituted Ransom. "Give His life a ransom for many"
(Matt. xx.28).
6. Grace-given Ransom. "Bread that I will give is My flesh" (John
vi.51).
7. Grateful-remembered Ransom. "This is My Body given for you:
this do in remembrance of Me" (Luke xxii.19).

CHRIST, OUR SUBSTITUTE IN ISAIAH 53
1. He was a Bearing Substitute, for "He hath borne our griefs"
(4).
2. He was a Crushed Substitute, for He was "wounded, "bruised,"
and chastised (5).
3. He was a God-punished Substitute, for Jehovah laid on Him the
iniquity of us all" (6).
4. He was a Silent Substitute, for "He opened not His mouth" (7).
5. He was a Sinner's Substitute, for "He was numbered with
transgressors" (12).
6. He was a Sin-made Substitute, for He was made "an offering for
sin" (10).
7. He will be a Rewarded Substitute, for "He shall see of the
travail of His soul and be satisfied" (11).

"CHRIST'S"
1. Christ's Possession. "Ye are Christ's" (1 Cor. iii.23).
2. Christ's Gospel. "Preach Christ's Gospel" (2 Cor. ii.12).
3. Christ's Property. "If any man trust to himself that he is
Christ's... as he is Christ's, even so we are Christ's" (2 Cor.
x.7).
4. Christ's Bestowment. "If ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's
seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Gal. iii.29).
5. Christ's Claim. "They that are Christ's have crucified the
flesh with the affections and lusts" (Gal. v.24).
6. Christ's Liberty. "He that is called, being free, is Christ's
servant" (1 Cor. vii.22).
7. Christ's Coming. "They that are Christ's at His Coming" (1
Cor. xv.23).

CHRIST'S ABILITY "He is able" (Eph. iii. 20)
Responsibility is man's response to God's ability.
1. He is able to save to the uttermost, for He lives to do it,
therefore rest in Him and be glad -- Heb. vii.25.
2. He is able to make all grace to abound towards us, therefore
be satisfied with Him, and be thankful -- 2 Cor. ix. 8-11.
3. He is able to give us the victory when tempted, therefore take
Him as Victor, and be an overcomer -- 1 Cor. x.13.
4. He is able to keep us from falling, therefore lean upon Him
and be upheld -- Jude 24.
5. He is able to shield us from harm, therefore abide in Him, and
be at rest -- Psa. cxxi.3-8.
6. He is able to make us active, therefore let Him work
effectively through us, and be useful -- 2 Tim. i.12, R.V.
margin.
7. He is able to keep us always, therefore let Him tend us, and
be fresh and sweet -- Isa. xxvii.2,3.

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4.   n e w   a t   o u r   s I t e
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THE WITNESS ABEL OBTAINED
(Another chapter from Bullinger's "Great Cloud of Witnesses").

"By means of which [faith] he was borne witness to as being
righteous; God bearing witness to His gifts." 
"We have spoken of the witness which God gave; we have now to
speak of the witness that Abel obtained: viz., that he was
righteous. It is true that Adam had stood in a different
category. He had been created (not begotten) in "the likeness of
Elohim;" and created in Paradise: but Abel and Cain had both
alike been begotten in Adam's own likeness; and were begotten
outside Paradise ...
   "From this point therefore our object-lesson begins. This is
why it is the first great lesson set before us. This is why it
stands on the forefront of God's revelation. It is not a question
here, or indeed elsewhere, about what man has done. It is wholly
and altogether a question only of what man IS."
   Read the whole article online... and the previous 7 chapters
too! < http://www.peterwade.com/articles/bullingr/cloud08.html >.
Or request an email copy of this chapter.

A SPECIAL AUDIO EVENT... "Spiritual Vitamins" by Vivien Wade. She
discusses the effects of vitamins A, B, C and D in our body, and
how similar effects are evident in our spiritual life. This
popular teaching is from the Denver 1999 "In Christ" seminar. 
< http://www.peterwade.com/modules.php?name=zina >

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(c) 2001 Peter Wade
http://www.peterwade.com/