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#68
/ 03 November 2003
Positive
Words Newsletter
Editor: Peter
Wade
----- http://www.peterwade.com
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... the realities of Christ in you and you in
Christ!
----- http://www.inChristRadio.net
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Weekly broadcast of positive biblical teaching, listen anytime on the Internet
This month's additions to help you...
* "I Am Not A Victim" a new series commences on our weekly broadcast. There are six teachings on being a victor in Christ.
1. I Am Not A Victim.
2. I Am Responsible.
3. I Use My Abilities.
4. I Am INdependent.
5. I Use My Freedom of Choice.
6. Using My Power of the Present
The first five teachings were the basis for the book "I Am Not A Victim", and you can have a copy of the book for a gift of any amount to Positive Words.
Previous teachings from the broadcast can be heard from our Audio Teachings section from the Main Menu. Go to http://inChristRadio.net/, and also available on our Home Page.
* Request your free CD! "In Christ" -- the power of position. This 72-minute CD is a great introduction to the power of knowing who you are in Christ. Request your copy in the Comments field when you order any book or CD from now until 31st December.
* New article...
The Wealth of the Christian - 1 by Ruth Paxson. A beautiful, devotional view of the book of Ephesians, chapter 1, verses 1-3, from one of the treasured books in my library. Read about the Wealth glimpsed, bequeathed, designated, measured, located and deposited. Great food for the soul!
So ENJOY! And tell us how you like
our site in the Survey on the right or click on Feedback
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Insights From My Writing...
Be Enthusiastic! ... It’s a Great Day
"Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy" (I Timothy 6:17)
"Enthusiasm" is derived from the Greek. The word "en" is the Greek word for "in" and "thuse" comes from the Greek word "theos," meaning "God." How exciting to learn that enthusiasm can be translated as "God-in-me-ism." I have the ability to receive God’s Word directly into my heart and then transmit this red-hot-connection to others. When I hold my head high, smile and speak boldly with "God-in-me," others will notice me as someone walking with love.
How do I maintain this attitude of enthusiasm? Jesus explained to the Pharisees that the words we speak come out of our heart, the seat of our personal life. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things (Matthew 12:35).
I maintain an attitude of enthusiasm by filling my mind and my heart with God’s Word and His wisdom. My Sunday School teachers had the right idea when I had to memorize a Bible verse each week.
The prescription for a life of enthusiasm is a daily dose of God’s Word and putting on the mind of Christ. Reading God’s Word every day is the beginning. Putting on the mind of Christ means that as I read God’s Word, my mind begins to think as Christ did. As I look for ways to increase my enthusiasm, I will be renewing my mind to God’s Word. (From "Renewing Your Mind", Chapter 6, by Peter Wade, adapted by Hildy Matthews.)
Affirmation:
Today is a great day. I fill my heart with God’s love and that love springs from my heart with enthusiasm.
Insights
from Every Chapter in the Bible
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 letter to the Romans.
"The law is spiritual; but I am carnal" (Romans 7:14).
That word of the Apostle reveals at once the supremacy and inadequacy of the law, and helps us to understand the difference between it and grace. The law is spiritual. That means, first, that it is not the result of human contrivance; it has the authority of revelation; it is not something thought out by man. It is the authentic revelation of the will of God. It also means that the law appeals first to the essential in man, which is spiritual; it can only be obeyed in material activities, as it is accepted and yielded to in spirit. But that is its limit.
It is a revelation, not an enablement. It tells man what to do, but it does not help him to do it. And that would be sufficient for man, were he living under the power of his spiritual nature. But he is not. As Paul bluntly states it, every [unsaved] man has to say, " I am carnal." He is living under the power of his flesh, and so, while consenting to the truth and beauty of the ideal revealed in the law, is unable to realize it. Thus the law has no final function other than that of revealing this very incompetence. It is a great function, for to understand my failure and incompetence is at least to leave me without excuse if I refuse the gift of grace. Grace does not lower the standard of law, but it does exactly what the law cannot do, it enables man to live according to that standard.
Hymns we once sung...
This issue features a song we had the children sing at a Sunday School anniversary in the early 1960s. It is a humorous song, featuring various Bible stories, commencing with a story from the book of Joshua. Smile and enjoy the song, but be sure to get the point!
The Hornet Song
1. When the Canaanites hardened their heart against God
And grieved Him because of their sin,
God sent along hornets to bring them to time
And to help His own people to win.
The hornets persuaded them that it was best
To go quickly and not to go slow;
God did not compel them to go 'gainst their will,
But He just made them willing to go.
Chorus:
He does not compel us to go (no, no),
He does not compel us to go;
He does not compel us to go 'gainst our will,
But He just makes us willing to go.
2. If a nest of live hornets were brought to this room
And the creatures allowed to go free,
You would not need urging to make yourself scarce;
You'd want to get out, don't you see?
They would not lay hold and by force of their strength
Throw you out of the window, Oh, no!
They would not compel you to go 'gainst your will,
But just make you so willing to go.
3. When Jonah was sent to the work of the Lord,
The outlook was not very bright;
He never had done such a hard thing before,
So he backed and ran off from the fight.
But God sent a big fish to swallow him up,
The story I'm sure you all know.
He did not compel him to go 'gainst his will,
But He just made him willing to go.
4. When Balaam was sent to the Moabite king
And wanted things run his own way,
His mule, ever faithful, spoke at the right time,
Made him willing God's voice to obey.
God can use any man, since He used Balaam's mule,
For He is Almighty, you know;
He does not compel us to go 'gainst our will,
But He just makes us willing to go.
5. There's so much in man that resembles a mule,
He is contrary, you know.
When you say, "Come here," he is sure to go there,
And say, "Whoa," he will then start to go.
My song may seem funny, but I know it's true,
And I don't want a sting from a hornet, do you?
You'd better not fight, for you might not be right,
But just be made willing to go.
(Thora Harris)
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2003 Peter Wade
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