#49/ 30 June 2002

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


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NEWS OF OUR SITE
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TWO-THIRDS FULL, 2003 International Bible Conference. That's
right -- two-thirds of the currently available places have
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Download NOW the appropriate registration form and mail it to
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Thanks to all for participating in this trial. 

QUOTES... we have added some 100 new short quotations to our
Quotes page. It is well worth a visit. You can also view
longer quotations. 

NEW ARTICLES TO BLESS YOU...
"Figures of Speech--An Introduction" by Peter Wade. Figures of
speech are the Holy Spirit's markings as to what is important
in The Word, so it is an interesting and vital subject for
every believer that is really concerned about what God has
spoken to them. Do we need any other motive for our study?
< http://www.peterwade.com/articles/wade/figures01.shtml >

"Christ in You, the Hope of Glory" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Thrill to the truth from this notable preacher! 
< http://www.peterwade.com/articles/other/ciymorgan.shtml >

"How the Quiet Corner Has Changed Things" by S.D. Gordon.
Jesus has been looking, and is, for the man in whom He may
make any change He chooses. Then He can make any change He
chooses through that man in the whole circle of his life.
Fascinating examples from church history that show how God
works through a life with a Quiet Corner. 
< http://www.peterwade.com/articles/gordsd/corner00.shtml >

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INSIGHTS FROM MY WRITING
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              THE NEGATIVE COMMAND

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by
the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that
good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:2
NKJV).

The key verse for renewing your mind (Romans 12:2) can be
divided into three parts: a negative command, a positive
command, and the purpose of the action. 
   "And do not be conformed to this world..."  Some of the
recent translations throw light on the word "conform,"
although it is an adequate translation of the text. "Don’t
copy...  Do not imitate... Adapt yourselves no longer...
Instead of being molded..."  Perhaps the most expressive of
all is "Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its
own mould..."(Phillips). The world is trying to do just this.
Every day the world attempts to squeeze me into its accepted
lifestyle -- through advertising, through the media, through
the influence of family and friends.
   Any suggestion that is contrary to my completeness in Him,
to my being the righteousness of God in Christ, to my being
blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies, comes
from one source: Satan.
   God wants the best for me, He has provided the best for me
by sending His Son to Calvary’s cross, and anything contrary
to this is to be rejected.
   The Greek word here translated "conformed" is used in only
one other verse in the New Testament. "As obedient children,
not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your
ignorance" (I Peter 1:4). The former desires are stored in my
mind and did not get eradicated when I experienced the new
birth.  They are based upon the backlog of my sense knowledge
collected since birth. (From "Renewing Your Mind", Chapter 2,
by Peter Wade, adapted by Hildy Matthews.)
   AFFIRMATION: Now that I am a child of God, I replace my
former desires with the promises of the Word. The way I do
this is to renew my mind to what the Word says.

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INSIGHTS FROM EVERY BOOK OF THE BIBLE (G. Campbell Morgan)
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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 each
issue he gives a comment from one verse in every chapter of
the Bible. We continue with Paul's second letter to the
Corinthians.

"Our light affliction... worketh for us" (II Cor. 4:17).

The first impression made upon the mind as these words are
read is that almost of amazement that Paul could speak of his
afflictions as light. He had described them very clearly, as
he spoke of himself and of those associated with him in
ministry, as "pressed", "perplexed", "pursued", " smitten
down", "always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus",
"always delivered unto death." And these were no mere figures
of speech. Very literally these things were true. And yet,
summing them all up, he described them as "our light
affliction." 
   Moreover, he thought of them all, not as foes but as allies
of the soul, for he declared that in their totality as
affliction, it "worketh for us." This was the conviction which
made him speak of it as light. That to which it tended was
glory so wonderful that he could only describe it as "an
eternal weight of glory." Still further let it be noted that
this reference to glory was not merely to the glory of the
life beyond. It was a present experience, and a growing one,
for said he, affliction "worketh for us more and more
exceedingly." In the process of affliction glory was present,
and it grew. That is the real burden of all this teaching.
Over against every description of affliction is one of glory,
"not straitened", "not unto despair", "not forsaken", "not
destroyed", "the life of Jesus... manifested in our body",
"the life of Jesus... manifested in our mortal flesh." These
are things of glory, and all the affliction which accompanies
service works these things. Thus it ever is. Fellowship with
the suffering Saviour is fellowship in the glory of His
triumphs.

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INSIGHTS ON PRAYER
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Positive Prayer Works! Prayer has as its foundation two great
realities:
1. The nature of God -- ever-present, unchanging.
2. The New Creation -- permanent, perfect, with potential. 

"Prayer is a conversation between two persons who love each
other" -- Rosalind Rinker. 

Ingredients of a conversation:
   1. We become aware of the other person -- what he or she
says, means and feels.
   2. We pursue the same subject -- by taking turns,
listening, speaking, agreeing, giving thanks.
   3. We try to keep in tune -- maintaining interest and
participation. 

Four steps of positive conversational prayer:
   1. "You are here, Lord" -- worship. See Matthew 18:19-20;
John 14:23; Revelation 3:20; Hebrews 11:27; I Peter 1:8.
   2. "Thank you, Lord" -- thanksgiving. See Philippians 4:4-
7: "earnest and thankful prayer" (Phillips). 
   3. "You're my helper, Lord!" -- affirmation. See Hebrews
13:6; Psalm 46:1; Psalm 54:4. 
   4. "Bless ... Lord!" -- intercession. See Ephesians 1:16;
John 17:9, 20-23). See them blessed with God's love, peace,
health, care. Don't tell God what to do! 

"Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance, it is laying hold
of God's willingness" - Richard Trench.

Read "Prayer As A Conversation" by Peter Wade at
http://www.peterwade.com/articles/wade/prayer.shtml

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(c) 2002 Peter Wade
http://www.peterwade.com/
http://www.inChristRadio.net/