Wednesday, January 14, 2004 (72)
AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM. That statement is all inclusive and involves everyone who would believe on and receive the Lord Jesus as their savior and Lord. What these who receive Him are to become has become controversial because some have taken what the scripture says to an extreme. Nevertheless, that Word is still a truth and a truth unto which the Lord has called His church. He has given, power to become the sons of God. John 1:12 This is a work of the Spirit and a gift of the great love of the Lord toward His people. 1 John 3:1 The evidence of sonship is in the direction given by the Lord to the individual. They are led by the Spirit. It soon becomes very obvious that they are truly sons of the most high. Rom. 8:14 There is another very important evidence of those who are really serving the Lord. That is that they are a separated people. They recognize and opportunity to live in the joy and liberty of the Spirit of the Lord and therefore detach themselves from all impurities, whether of the flesh or the spirit. They are accepted and received of the Lord and are accounted worthy of full sonship. 2 Cor. 6:17-18 They are not servants though they serve the Lord with full and complete enthusiasm and are accounted to be sons. Furthermore they are heirs of God, through Jesus Christ. Gal. 4:7 The inheritance of these sons exceeds all the riches of this world. This inheritance is eternal and everlasting, while all worldly things will pass away. The recipients are counted as being coheirs with the Lord Jesus. Their heritage is the fullness of the wonderful and marvelous glory of the Lord. Rom. 8:16
THE GIFT OF HIS DIVINE POWER. The Lord never sells His people short. In all the gifts, blessings and benefits which He bestows upon them. He is generous and copious in His gifts to His children. The Lord is the perfect giver. He has given, all things that pertain unto life and godliness. Purity, righteousness, holiness are not virtues which we earn or seek out for ourselves. They are the evidences of the moving and working of His Spirit in our lives. 2 Pet. 1:3 He takes advantage of our weakness as opportunities to display that His power is greatly manifest in the overpowering of those same weaknesses. 2 Cor. 12:9 It is time to give good heed to the Word of the Lord and realize that He is searching for a church patterned after His own life. His challenge to us is to put off the life and character of the old man. The man of corruption and lusts and seek that renewal of mind and spirit which is available to the children of the Lord. Put on the new man. That man which is a new creation in Christ. A creation which bears he image and likeness of the Almighty. Created in righteousness and true holiness. Eph. 4:22-24 The Lord has never altered His purpose of a people who love righteousness and hate iniquity. If there is a special call of the Spirit to the church in two thousand four it will be in the form of a call to repentance, spiritual cleansing and a departure from the spirit of lethargy which is gripping the church. It is time to return unto the Lord for He will abundantly pardon.