PROMISES FOR WINNING RUNNERS

Part 2

Jack Davis

POWER TO PERSEVERE

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13

We are encouraged by the testimony of an experienced runner, making us aware how we may be energized to constantly, consistently keep on going on. We may realize from the context of our text that the word “do” might also be translated “endure.”

The course that the Lord has set the Christian racer on is an endurance race. We are taught to run with patience, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith,” Heb. 12:1-3. The route that we are placed on will make demands beyond all human resources. It will take far more than all I have to finish (as a winner) with joy - Acts 20:24.

Over the long course, we come to realize that there is much human weakness, yet He has promised that “they that wait upon the Lord shall…run, and not be weary…walk and not faint” – Isa. 40:31.

Those earnestly running must take hold of the promise by faith of being “strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.” Oh, yes, it is “according to the power that worketh in us.” We do well to let Him work - Eph. 3:16. We learn to depend upon Him that “strengthens us with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness”– Col. 1:11.

“Ye did run well; who did hinder you that you should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you” – Gal. 5:7-8. God had used Paul to call saints to this race, and neither the Lord nor Paul had persuaded the saints to use carnal nor legal means. There will be no winners independent of His strength.

CONSIDER THE PERSUASION THAT PAUL USED

“Beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love…in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises…And so, after he (Abraham) had patiently endured, he obtained the promise” – Heb. 6:9-12,15.

“I can do” – We have expressed the confidence of an experienced runner - Phil. 1:6; with 4:10-12. We do well to let our course be chartered with this spiritual example, Verse 9.

“All things” – Paul not only includes the total contents of the race, but, no doubt, the completeness of divine enablement. He could say, whatever the hurdles, however high the obstacles, how hard some things seem to be to get over, or how steep the climb, or long the race, nor strong the winds of adversity, nor swift the winning pace, we are able, for He is able.

“Through Christ” – The total enablement is divine, for Jesus said, “…without me ye can do nothing” John 15:5. Everything we receive from God our Father comes to us through our dear Lord Jesus Christ.

“Which strengtheneth me” – He found me in the ditch, left for death to swallow up. He picked me up bound up my sounds, pouring in oil and wine. He has wonderfully poured out for us the power of swift spiritual progress, so that each step we take, we know that He is leading us to higher ground, for He ever leads us home. Praise God!!

PROVISION TO PREVAIL

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” Phil. 4:19.

Are we able to say with Paul, “His grace is sufficient for me?” Have you noticed that there are five verses between the mention of the incomprehensible peace, energizing power and this exhaustless provision? The Lord would have us finish as winners; therefore He has supplied the total wherewith to get there with.

Unbelief will cause some to draw back, and others to try to hold back a little in reserve, instead of going “all out.” I believe if we will wisely use all that He has given us, we will find that there is always more available. Let us not be afraid of running out of go-power before we get to the end.
“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” - I Peter 5:10-11.

What can we possibly give God that He hasn’t already given us; say maybe over and over and over again. He that spared not His own Son, that He might freely give us all things, is indeed rich toward them that call on Him in truth.

It is clear according to Scripture that the earnest runner could never use up “all grace.” “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound in every good work” - II Cor. 9:8.

In immeasurable wealth of divine enablement, oh, what meager checks we write on the bank of divine sufficiency! Let us appropriate and use wisely for His glory.

Ready for the Lord to come

Anita Clark – Pastor Grace Chapel Carbondale, Kansas

“Therefore be ye also ready, for in the hour that ye think not the Son of Man cometh” Matthew 24:44.

Jesus was speaking to His disciples concerning His return to earth to reign, and establish His kingdom at the end of the seven years of tribulation.  We know that Jesus will come in the clouds before the tribulation, as Apostle Paul tells us in I Thessalonians 4:13-18.  At the coming before the tribulation, He will not touch His feet on the earth, but will call those away who are ready to come up to meet Him in the air.  But, regardless of which coming it is referring to, He asks His people “to be ready.”

What does it mean “to be ready?”  In the Greek, it means to “be prepared.”  But, in the dictionary it gives a more complete meaning.  For instance it means “with preparations complete.” Remember Revelations 19:7, “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb is come and His wife hath made herself ready.”  Right now in this life, some saints of God are making ready.  Preparation is going on and will be completed.  The Lord Jesus Christ will have a bride to rule and reign with Him.  The Lord is working in the lives of those who will give themselves over to His will and let the work be completed.

Another meaning of  this word “ready” is “to be willing or resolved, i.e. “I am ready for anything.”  If we want to please the Lord we must have a resolve to run on patiently, (I Cor. 9:24).  Trials will come and they are hard to bear, but if we resolve to win the race, we draw on the Lord’s strength to go onward until the victory is won.

Apostle Paul said in II Timothy 4:6-8, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge will give at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.”  Meditate on these words.  Can we say this is true of us?

Are we ready today if the Lord should call us away to be with Him?  None of us really know when He will call.  We are looking for Him to come and take His bride, but perhaps He will call us away before that by way of death.  Are we ready, prepared, willing and resolved?  Remember, this preparation is not by our fleshly works, but by letting God work in our lives as He desires.  Apostle Paul says in Phil. 2:13, “For it is God who worketh in you both to do and to will of His good pleasure.”

Hebrews 9:28 says, “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them who look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”  Note: “them who look for Him.”  What does it mean to “look” for Him. This word “look” in the Greek means “to expect fully.”
 
In the natural if we are expecting company, we usually go to great labor preparing to have everything clean and just so, so.  We want our guests to have the best visit we can produce by all our work and care.  Jesus wants nothing else than this.  This cleansing and straightening must go on in our lives today to prepare us for His coming.  We can’t wait until the last minute to get ready, right now use diligence to be prepared for His eminent return.

In I Thessalonians 5:1-6, Apostle Paul writes, “But of the times and seasons brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.  For yourselves know perfectly that the Day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.  For when they shall say Peace and Safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them as travail as a woman with child; and they shall not escape.  But you brethren, are not in the darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.  Ye are all the children of light and the children of the day; we are not of the night, nor of darkness.  Therefore let us not sleep as others; but let us watch and be sober.  For they that sleep, sleep in the night and they that  be drunken are drunken in the night.”  Jesus is coming soon to catch away His watching and waiting ones, His bride.  Many believers are asleep to this very important event.  Let us be different!  Let us be faithfully watching!

Worthy

The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Revelation 4:10-11

The Greek word here for “worthy” refers to weighing in a balance. It brings the sense of knowing what something weighs, and therefore, what it is worth. It is used to in the sense of a person deserving of something. We use the phrase “worth his/her weight in gold.”

Jesus is deserving of all the glory, honor, and power. The implication then is that Jesus is the only one that deserves to be worshiped, and honored and to hold power. This clearly runs counter to what men today think. While man is constantly attempting to gather power and honor to himself, He is usurping what deservedly belongs to Jesus alone.

Even many Christians are caught up in this dangerous pursuit. However, because Jesus is the only one that is worthy of honor and power, let us never be found giving worship to any other, or seeking it for ourselves.

Jesus deserves glory and honor and power for several reasons, first, because He is God. Also, He has earned our worship by overcoming and paying for our redemption. “And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. Revelation 5:8-10.

From what we read in Revelation, we realize that we will spend eternity worshiping and praising our Lord. There is no reason to wait until then. We can and should be worshiping and praising Him now. If we truly believe what is written in God’s Word, then we will want to do no less.

We also realize that, while the unbelieving world does not now worship Him and give Him His due, there is coming a day when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord of lords and King of kings. “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given  him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;” Philippians 2:9-10.

Today is the day to start worshiping Jesus. He is worthy of all our praise and honor and glory and power. Do not hesitate to start giving to Him His due.

Gordon Crook

Prophecy

Earlene Davis

There are Three Mountain Peaks of Prophecy in God’s Word of Messiah Jesus.
1 - The Seed of the woman
2 - The Seed of Abraham
3 - The Seed of David
The Seed, singular (not seeds).

The Seed of the Woman

Although sin had plunged mankind into darkness, without hope, yet God gave to our first parents (Adam and Eve), a word of hope, a deliverer. This prophecy is found in Genesis 3:15, God addressed the serpent, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

This promised Seed of the woman would deliverer them from the realm of darkness into light. How interesting that sin entered the world through the woman and by the grace of God, the promised Deliverer, Jesus, would be born of a woman. Galatians 4:4, “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman...”. Jesus was born of a woman (not the man), that Seed was planted in Mary of the Holy Ghost - Matthew 1:20-21. “the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”

Jesus called Himself “the Son of Man” simply meaning, He identified Himself with man, becoming flesh and bone. Philippians 2:6-8, “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

In Genesis 3:21, God made coats of skins and clothed Adam and Eve. An animal had to be slain. God was showing them, a sacrifice of blood had to be made to cover their sin and give them a right standing before God. As the seed of the woman, Christ came down taking the form of a man representing the human race. He was to bruise the serpent’s head and it (the Serpent) shall bruise His heal. The serpent is representative of all that Lucifer is, of all that’s evil when he yielded to Satan.

Christ became the yielded One to His Father. What is meant by Christ bruising the serpents head? He bruised the headship of Satan. Hebrews 2:14-15, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Jesus defeated Satan with his own weapon, death. Through His death He destroyed the one who controlled death. Romans 6:23, “the wages of sin is death.” By faith in Jesus’ finished work of redemption we need not fear death any more.

This is a provisional fact of what God has done in supplying salvation for fallen, sinful man. It is steadfast and cannot be changed. It becomes practical and real unto us individually when we appropriate the provision of God by believing on Jesus unto salvation. Romans 3:22, “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe…”.

What does the statement mean “it shall bruise His (Christ’s) heal”? Jesus heal was bruised upon the Cross when He died. It would seem that Satan had his way, but he only bruised Christ’s heal. For Satan was really defeated there, his head was wounded. Jesus was made sin and died for our sin. II Corinthians 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

This essential mountain peak of prophecy is the first stepping stone. For only in the seed of the woman is there any help for us at all. Romans 8:3-4, “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Next issue: The Seed of Abraham

JONAH

Debra Isenbletter, pastor

Springfield, Missouri

Jonah 1:4: “But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.”

“But the Lord” shows that Jehovah, the One who reveals Himself, is revealing Himself through the storm. He is reaching out to Jonah to get his attention and He does it in a way that cannot be ignored or avoided. The Lord is actually speaking to Jonah but since he is asleep, it is others who hear Him. In this “But” we see that God will not let Jonah go, He will not let Jonah run, He will not let Jonah hide. 

To get Jonah’s attention God “sent out a great wind.” This is the God of Creation using and controlling what He has created. The phrase “sent out” shows the great force behind what God does. It means “to hurl, to throw,” one rendering is “caused a wind to burst forth.”  This phrase in the Hebrew is repeated four times in the first chapter of Jonah. The Lord “sent out” a great wind (1:4). The sailors “cast forth” the wares into the sea (1:5). Jonah said to the sailors “cast me forth” (1:12). The Lord controls all things and shows us how little control we have. The Lord has amazing control because when He “sent out” the wind it had a target, it had a specific purpose.

The strength of the wind is seen in that it was “a great wind.”  The word “great” emphasizes the importance, the size or the significance of something. It is repeated seven times in Jonah. There is a “great city” (1:2; 3:1,3; 4:11).  There is a “great wind” (1:4).  There is a “great fish” (1:17). There is a “great kindness” (4:1). The greatness of man cannot compare with the greatness of God. The word “wind” comes from “to rush upon;” “breath, blast.” In a way it is the breath of God. It is powerful yet that power is measured and restrained. It is the voice of God speaking. It is translated as “windstorm or whirlwind.” The Lord took Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind. “… and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” (2 Kings 2:11). The Lord spoke to Job in a whirlwind. “…and the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind…” (Job 38:1; 40:6). That same whirlwind can express the fury of the Lord in judgment.  “Behold the whirlwind of the Lord goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind…” (Jer. 30:23).

The control of the wind is seen because it was sent “unto the sea.”  It was not a random wind, it was a wind that had a purpose and a focus. The Lord controlled and directed the wind. Whenever the Lord acts, there is always a purpose behind what He does. The Lord used a “east wind” to bring the locusts to Egypt (Ex. 10:13).  The Lord used a “west wind” to drive the locusts from Egypt (Ex. 10:19). The Lord used “a strong east wind” to part the Red Sea (Ex.14:21).

We find in Jonah that the results of that “great wind” was a “mighty tempest.” The word “mighty” is the same word as “great,” it grew, it became a great storm. The word “tempest” can refer to a hurricane or a cyclone. This describes the type of wind and the strength of the wind, it was a wind the sailors were familiar with and feared and now they had to face.  This is the absolute power of God over all things, power in heaven, in earth, in the seas and in the deep places (Psa. 136:5). It is the type of storm that declares God power to men. “These are the works of the Lord and his wonders in the deep. For he commandeth and raiseth the stormy wind which lifteth up the waves thereof.” (Psa.107:23-26). It is this type of storm that Jesus showed He had power over.  “And behold there arose a great tempest in the sea, inasmuch that the ship was covered with the waves …” (Mat. 8:24-26). It is this type of storm that the ship carrying Paul to Rome faced. “But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind [a violent wind of the character of a typhoon] called Euroclydon [a northeaster] …” (Act. 27:14-15).

The “ship was like to be broken” before the power of this “great wind.” It was about to be shattered, smashed, crushed, broken in pieces. The danger was imminent and it seemed almost certain. It was about to be broken up but it was not. Why? It was because the Lord wanted them to acknowledge Him. This ship was not shattered but their will and their hearts would be. We see both the amazing strength and the amazing restraint of the Lord. We see the grace of God because He waited for a response from the sailors. They needed to see how helpless they were and how hopeless the situation was.  This is the place the Lord brings people to before they finally cry out to Him. The first response is from the sailors not Jonah. The sailors are aware of what God is doing first because they are not asleep. How said that God’s prophet is not aware and the pagan sailors are. Warren Wiersbe writes that “God is no longer speaking to Jonah through His Word, He is speaking through His Works.” This is the patience of God because if Jonah refuses to hear the voice of the Lord through His Word, the Lord will make sure that he hears His voice through His Works. John Phillips writes, “When Jonah ran away from God, he upset the whole balance of nature.” We see that today with Israel, who like Jonah, is out of the will of God, and everything in the earth is affected by their attitude. 
To be continued

Spiritual Arthritis

by

Dr. Victoria Moots

What is arthritis? It is a physical condition that affects the joints causing pain, stiffness or swelling. It is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. because it affects the normal functioning of the body. Arthritis can affect us both physically and spiritually. I am going to discuss the joints in the natural body and how arthritis affects them so we can better understand the spiritual.
How is a joint constructed? It is not just bone against bone. There must be cartilage which acts like a cushion between the bones. Joint fluid, called synovial fluid, lubricates and allows free movement without friction. A joint is held together by ligaments. Muscles and tendons around the joint stabilize it and allow it to move and act like a lever to perform work.
We are joined together in a specific manner (fitly joined together) for a purpose physically and spiritually. Eph. 4:15,16 says, “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying (building up) of itself in love.”
What is that which every joint supplies? It is the synovial fluid and the cartilage, the lubricant and the cushion.  The joint fluid represents the Holy Spirit that flows in the body of Christ. The cartilage is the cushion between the bones in the joint that keeps them from rubbing against each other and causing pain.
Do you sometimes feel like you are that cartilage that is always being squeezed? God may be using you as a “peace maker” to avoid friction between two other members in the body. No wonder the scripture says, “Blessed are the peace makers!”
Joints are wonderful when they work properly. When they don’t, we call that arthritis. I Cor. 1:10 describes a healthy joint: “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions (friction) among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together (no deformity, no ligament tears, not bowlegged, or knock-kneed, no disabling pain) in the same mind (the mind of Christ)…”. The mind of Christ is to do the will of the Father and not insist on our own way, no arguing or complaining.
Verse 11 gives us a picture of an abnormal unhealthy joint. Paul states it had been declared to him that there were contentions among them (inflammation, impaired mobility, creaking, popping, groaning, arguing, friction in the joints). Believe me, an arthritis joint will complain to you when you try to make it move and do something. In fact, it can be quite noisy. This is true in both the natural and spiritual.
We are joined together in the physical and spiritual body by joints to allow the body to move and do work and stand. Without joints the body would be rigid and unmovable. Arthritis affects the function of these joints and therefore the whole body. Satan cannot destroy the body of Christ, so he tries to keep it from being able to function smoothly by causing divisions and contentions among its members.
What are some of the symptoms of arthritis, and how does it hinder us physically and spiritually? Due to painful joints in the hands and shoulders, it may be hard to even perform your basic activities of daily living such as dressing, bathing or even feeding yourself. Knee and hip pain would impair your ability to walk, and especially to run, and would also increase the risk of falling. If you fell it would be difficult to get back up. Even getting up out of a chair may be a challenge. Back pain would affect your ability to carry things or to stand or sit very long.
How about spiritually? Would we be able to don our spiritual armour as described in Eph. 6 or to even be able to stand fast against satan? Or grip our sword which is the word of God? How would we “lay hold” of eternal life if we lost the function of our hands? What about “walking in the light” or “running the race that is set before us?” How could we bear one another’s burdens (or even our own)? Those things would be impossible based on our own abilities; but, praise God, there is help available from the Great Physician!
There are 2 main categories of arthritis:  Degenerative and Inflammatory.
Degenerative arthritis is called osteoarthritis and is the most common type. It occurs with age and overuse of a joint or previous injury. It is sometimes referred to as “wear and tear” arthritis. Due to years of over work the cartilage at the end of the bones wears out, and the ligaments become frayed and tear resulting in an unstable joint and pain from bone rubbing against bone.  It also causes creaking and popping that can be felt and sometimes heard audibly.
Spiritually it is also from over work. Yes, we are created in Christ Jesus unto good works but our works must be according to the Holy Spirit’s leading and not according to our own zeal. We cannot add anything to the work of salvation, because it was finished on the cross by Christ who loudly proclaimed, “It is finished.” The works that we do now will be for the purpose of glorifying Christ and that leaves no room for boasting.
Let us consider the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42. Martha became irritated with her sister Mary, who was sitting at Jesus feet and listening to His word, while she was left to try and prepare a meal for Jesus all by herself. She became so upset she went to Jesus and complained to Him,  wanting  Him  to  tell her to get up  and  help  her. Jesus didn’t want  a  dinner, He  wanted fellowship and still does today. Sometimes churches or individuals become so overzealous in trying to do things for God that they have no time to spend with Him.  There is no time left to listen to that still small voice or to sit at Jesus feet and rest and take in the word of God.
Being overly concerned with good works can cause friction between members of the body of Christ. Martha was suffering from spiritual arthritis. Jesus informed her how to cure her arthritis: She would need to cease from her own works even as God did from His and enter into rest as Mary had already done (Heb. 4:10).
Stephen, in his sermon in Acts 7:51, calls the religious people “stiff necked: “Ye stiff necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost.” He boldly diagnosed them with spiritual arthritis.
Arthritis causes a stiff neck physically and spiritually. It is hard to bow your head with a stiff-neck. It is also hard to look up. We need to bow to the will of God and “look up” for our redemption (deliverance) is drawing nigh. You can also get a stiff neck from looking back too much. We are to forget those things that are behind and not keep looking back.
Inflammatory arthritis occurs when your body’s immune system becomes over active and starts attacking your own tissues in the joints instead of the bacteria, viruses and other foreign bodies that invade the system.  This results in red or painful inflamed swollen joints which can eventually lead to joint destruction if not treated.
It can be triggered by certain medications, viruses, toxic chemical exposure or for unknown reasons. The bacteria that causes strep throat can trigger an auto immune response if the disease is not treated which attacks the joints, heart or kidneys. We call this Rheumatic Fever.  The classic example of inflammatory arthritis is Rheumatoid Arthritis and even occurs in children. Age is not a factor.
Constant exposure to the toxins of the world (one of Satan’s tricks) is one of the important spiritual triggers.  Satan is seeking to devour us. We become so entangled with the affairs of this life and the pleasures of this world that there is no time for church or Bible study. Our love for the Lord and the rest of the body of Christ begins to grow cold. Spiritually it manifests itself when one member of the body becomes inflamed against another for any reason or due to unconfessed sin. 
Gal. 5:14,15 instructs us, “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself; But, if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.” This is joint destruction which impairs the function of the body and causes pain. One member becomes inflamed against another due to lack of love.
Gal. 6:1,2 tells us that if a man be overtaken in a fault, we are to restore him in love and bear one another’s burdens. We are to build up, not tear down or destroy.
Eph. 4:25-32 admonishes us that we are members one of another and that we should not give place to the devil when we are angry. The devil causes bitterness, wrath and uncontrolled anger between members which leads to joint destruction.
David said in Psalm 6:2,3 “….heal me for my bones are vexed; ….my soul is also sore vexed,” (Sore and inflamed). He had unconfessed sin in his life. He was healed when he repented.
What are some situations that can make the pain of arthritis worse? Sitting too long causes stiffness. The Bible never says, “sit still and see the salvation of the Lord.” It says “stand” or “walk,” “walk in the spirit.”  But over work without taking time to rest will cause a flare up of joint pain and swelling. Jesus would often leave the crowds of people and opportunities to minister to them and find a quiet place alone to commune with His Father.  We must remember to do the same.
Cold also causes stiffness. Our hearts become cold if we forsake the assembling of ourselves together.

Continued next issue – Part 2

IN A MOMENT

In a moment! In a moment!
   At the breaking of the day,
Christ shall come with clouds triumphant,
   And shall steal His Bride away,
Evermore to reign in glory,
   Altogether glad and gay.

In a moment! In a moment!
   All our sorrows will by past,
As the Lord shall be descending,
   He shall change these mortals fast;
And we’ll leave our fragile basket
   At the trumpet’s bridal blast.

In a moment! In a moment!
   At the moving of the reel,
We shall don our heavenly clothing,
   And mount up at trumpet peal.
All the wounds and stabs of Satan,
   Jesus then will quickly heal.

In a moment! In a moment!
   In the twinkle of an eye,
We’ll be taken up in chariot
   To our mansion in the sky,
Where we’ll meet and greet our Bridegroom,
   And will never say, “Goodbye.”

Mary M. Bodie