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January 2025 is now posted.

We will be posting the Glorious Gospel articles individually below. A PDF file (large print) can be downloaded under the Archives tab and printed if desired, as well as past editions.

 CROWNS OF CHRIST

Jack Davis

“I (John) saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war, His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns…” Rev. 19:11-16.

“MANY CROWNS:” Our dear Lord has gained many crowns and has many yet to gain. He also has many crowns to give. he is the captain of our salvation, Chief Judge, commander in Chief, triumphant General, and preeminent King - I Tim. 1:17. 6:15-16. Although not acknowledged and recognized by all now, He will be soon. He must reign! I Cor. 15:24-28. Crowns tell us of authority, the right to reign with heavenly and earthly dominion – Phil. 2:9-11. Crowns speak of being victorious with victory upon victory. Oh, what battles He has won. In Old Testament times, when one king defeated another, they would take the crown from the head of the defeated king and place it upon the head of the triumphant king – II Sam. 12:29-30. He is to be King over all those being kings and Lord above all those being lords. Our High Priest ever liveth, and makes intercession for even those that he is now developing as kings and priests unto God. His wife, His queen (the rib company of His body) will be His crowning glory – Prov. 12:4. She will have found favor  in His sight, for He has long since been King on the throne of her heart. Do you fit? Will you fill a place in such a company? He, in all things will be preeminent.

THE KING’S CONVEYANCE: “I saw in the night vision, and behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages should serve him: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away…that shall not be destroyed” – Dan. 7:13-14. Daniel sees Jesus (the Ancient of days), with the clouds of heaven, and they bring Him. Then we view His coronation. It seems that the saints of God, especially full overcomers will have a special place in crowning Him. Those most aware of His right to reign, for they have been honoring Him during their earthly sojourn. I believe those most submissive to Him today, will be most vocal at his coronation tomorrow.

THE WISE MEN: “When Jesus was born…there came wise man from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews?…and are come to worship him” – Mt. 2:1,2. It seems they offered him a Jewish crown. Wise men today seek Him, and gratefully shower Him with gifts of love, in whole hearted worship. Any and every king in his won right would be wise to abdicate any throne in honor and worship of the ultimate King of glory – Psa. 24:1-10. How marvelously those wise men of that time sensed the Christ child’s destiny to reign. So where is he today for us? Thank God, he is found in more than history. He is not still in the cradle, He is not yet on the cross, or in the tomb. Glory to God, He overcame and has sit down with His Father in His throne – Rev. 3:21. We wisely acknowledge Him as Lord and King in our homes, and in our hearts. In Isaiah 9:6-7 we read of the wonderful child that was born, of whom the angels said “glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” We will praise God forever for the precious Son that was given, even the Father’s unspeakable gift. Then we are moved with the greatest awe when we realize that the government will be on His shoulders. The one who humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the cross.

OFFERED A JADED CROWN: Mt. 4:8-9, “Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.” Here was a usurper offering Jesus the crown without the cross. Satan suggested an easier route to the throne, but He didn’t disclose what a miserable kingdom he would take over, had it not been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Jesus is destined to lead in spiritual worship a kingdom of kings and priest unto God our Father. Thank God, Jesus put Satan to flight with the Spirit’s sword, “It is written.” But very soon it will become evident that there is a man who will have accepted the offer of the god of this world – Rev. 13:2-4, but his reign will be short lived. Jesus will remove all false claimant to the throne – II Thess. 2:4-9.

HIS FRIENDS & CLOSE ASSOCIATES: Jn. 6:14-15, “Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. When Jesus perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, departed again into a mountain himself alone.” Although they came with good intentions and shortsighted focus, or possibly ulterior motives, Jesus’ being crowned had to be done God’s way and in His time. They didn’t fully know Him or all that He was about, or destined for.

THE CROWN WE GAVE HIM: Jn. 19:5, “Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!” The whole fallen sinful human race, gave him this crown of suffering, sorrow, and disgrace. In every test, trial, temptation, contest, or conflict; He was always the king in every sense of the world. Hallelujah, He has come forth wearing the crown. At Galilee He walked its shores, rebuked the winds, calmed the waves, made the lame to walk, the dumb to talk and caused the blind to see. At Gethsemane, He asked the Father: “Let this cup pass from me,” but won the victory, saying “Not my will but thine be done.” Oh, what a triumphant Son. There at Gabbatha, “the pavement,” even the judgment  seat of man, He was proven to be God’s spotless lamb. Pilate was made to say repeatedly “I find no fault in Him.” On, to Galgotha we hear Him say, triumphantly, “It is finished,” after all He had suffered there. He is soon to be acknowledged as the King of Glory!

CROWNS HE WILL GIVE: He has invited us to go after and claim the crowns He has paid for and fully provided that we win. His precious Word teaches us just what it takes to make up winners. He makes us know that He offers those which are incorruptible – I  Cor. 9:24-27. He also gives us the rules involved, if ignored or broken will cause disqualification – II Tim. 2:5. There are offered crowns of righteousness which the Lord the righteous judge will give, unto those that fall deeply in love with Him enough to be loving His appearing. This love has His people living in the light, running by His might – II Tim. 4:8. He has promised crowns of life to those that love Him enough to endure temptation and to be faithful unto death – James 1:12, Rev. 2:10. He has crowns of glory for His faithful under shepherds – I Pet. 5. As we develop in the Lord, He gives each some measure of undershepherd responsibility wherein we are enabled to nourish another. Our dear Lord crowns His own with loving kindness and tender mercies, so that He can make to reign, in life, those fully trusting in Him. Shall we not be soberly impressed with what the crown winners are seen doing with their crowns in that eternal state? They are seen worshiping Him with theirs at His feet. He is seen wearing His many crowns, and the full overcomers are in absolute agreement. Their joyous song, “Thou art worthy!”

 New Years

Gordon Crook, Pastor

Grace Assembly, Wichita, Kansas

Again, we come to the end of one year, and the beginning of another. This is the time people make resolutions for the new year. I do not want to make resolutions that I may not be able to keep. I do not know what will be of tomorrow, so I’ll simply trust the Lord each day, and take one day at a time. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” Matthew 6:33-34.

I do like to look back at the past year, not to dwell on the past, but to see and be reminded what the Lord has done for me, and what He has taught me. “O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvelous things: . . .” Psalms 98:1. “Remember his marvelous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;” Psalms 105:5.

This past year has been a good year, as have been all the years that I have walked with the Lord. Not that there have not been trials, but even in the trials, the Lord has shown Himself faithful, and good. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” 1 Peter 4:12-13. We have learned many things about trusting the Lord for every need. We have seen the Lord’s hand in everything in our lives. Even as we made some plans and tried to do things our way, we found that the Lord went ahead of us and brought things about much better than we could have planned.

Every year seems to go by faster and faster, as we eagerly await the return of our Lord. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:11-13. It is important to be reminded often that our purpose is to live as though the Lord is going to return today, while we continue our work every day pointing people to Jesus. Every situation that comes our way, is part of our preparation to meet the Lord in the air. More and more each year it seems the world has more to distract us from our Lord. 

Jesus reminded Peter that the relationship between them was personal. In John 21:22, Peter is looking at another disciple and wondering about him and Jesus tells him “. . . what is that to you? You follow me!” We each have a personal relationship with our Lord, and He has called each of us to a particular ministry. We should not get distracted by what others are doing, and look only to Jesus and follow Him.

I look back and realize that on many occasions we were distracted, even if for a short time. As we go forward into 2025, we need to keep our focus on Jesus. Not on Christian ‘things.’ Not on man made religiousness. Not on politics. Not on earthly citizenship. “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,” Philippians 3:20 ESV. Not on acquiring things. Simply keep our focus on Jesus. Our faith, trust, and confidence completely in Him.

There will be much turmoil this year, even as there was last year. It will not get better, but worse. There will be uncertainty, there will be fear. Men who seek power love to use fear to move people in their direction. However, we must remember that our Lord is in ultimate control. “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me” Hebrews 13:5-6 (ESV).

If the Lord has not been given complete control of your life, this is the time to let Him. “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:11-13.

If you look back over the last year, and do not see the Lord’s hand in your life, then perhaps today is the time to yield to Him. Why go another moment without Jesus in control of your life. You will find the trials useful instead of dreary and overwhelming. You will find peace in the turmoil of this world. Jesus did not promise us an easy life, but He certainly promised us that He would be with us, and that in the end, it would be worth it all.

I cannot emphasize enough how close we are getting to the coming of our Lord. I do not know the day nor hour, but it cannot be long now. Why go another year, or even another day just going through life without giving thought to the coming of the Lord. What real value is there in the things that the world offers? Life is just too short to waste on temporal things, when God offers eternal things.

So, if you reflect on the past year, consider what the Lord has done, and give Him thanks. Consider what you have learned of the Lord, and give Him thanks. I know Thanksgiving is already past, but not for the child of God. Give thanks this new year. “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:” Psalms 92:1.

 Jesus Christ

Anita Clark – Pastor, Carbondale, KS

“And the angel said unto her, Fear not Mary, for thou hast found favour with God.  And behold, thou shalt conceive in the womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call His name JESUS.”  Luke 1:30-31.  God spoke to Mary to name the child “Jehoshua” which is the same name Joshua, Moses’ helper and deliverer of Israel into Canaan in the Old Testament.

In our English text, His name is Jesus, which is actually the Greek term of His name. The Name “Jesus” is the name used, translated from Greek Texts to Latin,  which stayed in the Bible in that Latin form for centuries.  They finally began to use the name “Jesu” and then finally “Jesus.” There are many different names in their language for “Jesus.” The name Joshua in the old Testament means “Jehovah saved.”

1. His birth proved He was God. The scripture details where He would be born. 

2. Micah 5:2, tells us, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; (to reign, dominion and power) whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”  In vs.4, it says of Jesus Christ, “for now shall He be great unto the ends of the earth.”

3. The Lord gave a Sign In Isaiah 7:14 the prophecy says, “Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel (which means God with us.)” At the same time that Micah the Prophet foretold the exact city where Messiah would be born, Isaiah foretold the exact condition.  The “sign” given by God would be “a signal, beacon and evidence.”

4. Jesus Miraculous Birth Was fulfilled -Isaiah 9:6-7 The prophecy given again to Isaiah. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.” His miraculous birth was fulfilled in Luke 2:1-7 approximately 750 years after the Scripture foretold Messiah would be born to a virgin.

5. Jesus Behavior Proved He was God - His love for all, whether poor, rich or friendly or whether they rejected Him. His love was unlimited.

6. His conduct Proved He was God.  He was absolutely sinless.  He always depended on God the Father.  His miracles proved He was God, healing diseases, raising the dead, feeding the thousands with bread and fish. Touching and healing even lepers. He calmed the storm and walked on water.

7. He could have defended Himself and called angels to deliver Him from the cross, but He healed his enemy’s ear and forgave the thief on the cross, and gave up His own life when He bore the sacrifice for our sins and all the world’s - IT WAS FINISHED.

8. His claims Proved He was God- the High Priest condemned Him for answering, when the High Priest asked Him if he claimed to be God.  Jesus answered “I am.”

9. He showed Himself to be God - He dismissed His own spirit, rising from the dead, ascending to heaven.  WHO DO YOU SAY HE IS?

There are so many Scriptures in the Word of God which emphasize who Christ Jesus would be and who He is.  Some of the Scriptures are:

Genesis 22:18, “And in thy seed, shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.”  

Numbers 24:17 -”I see him but not now; I behold him, but not near, a Star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.”

Isaiah 11:1, “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from His roots a branch will bear fruit.  The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him.”

Jer. 23:5-6 - The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a king, who will reign widely and do what is just and right in the land.  This is the name by which He will be called; The Lord Our Righteous Savior.”

Psalms 72:9,10 - “May the desert tribes bow before Him and His enemies lick the dust...May all kings bow down to Him and all nations serve Him.”

Isaiah 40:3-5 - “The voice of Him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.  Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain. And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.”

 Mystery of the Bride

Part 6

Vicky Moots

We are not told in Genesis which rib was removed from Adam to prepare a bride for him, but it wouldn’t surprise me if God, the Great Physician, who performed that first surgery had chosen the fifth rib on the left.  That particular rib lies immediately under the breast and directly over the mid-portion of the heart.

That location is certainly an appropriate position in the body of Christ for the bride: close to His heart, which speaks of love, and next to His breast, which speaks of nourishment.  The bride of Christ loves Him supremely and hungers and thirsts for Him.  She is completely satisfied with His love.  The number five in Scripture is considered to be the number of grace.  The bride understands that she was chosen, not because of her beauty or accomplishments, but because of His grace.

In the natural, when surgery is required on the lungs, a special procedure, called a thoracotomy, is performed.  During this procedure, an incision is usually made over the fifth rib since it is in the middle of the chest.  If a lobe of a lung must be resected because of cancer, or other disease, then a portion of the fifth rib may need to be removed in order to provide more room to work inside the chest cavity.  Surgeons choose that rib because it has been discovered through years of experience that removal of the fifth rib does not interfere with the mechanics of breathing.

When Adam’s surgery was complete, he had a bride, but he also had a scar, for surgery always leaves a scar.  I believe that both the first Adam and the last Adam, Christ, have a scar on the left side of their chest, under the fifth rib, at the location of the heart: Why do I think this to be so?

When Christ died on the cross, the soldier wanted to be sure that He was actually dead, so he took his spear and pierced Him in the side.  The spear had to enter into the left chest cavity, into the heart, and not into the abdominal cavity, or the contents would not have been blood and water.  Soldiers knew their anatomy well.  Their target was the heart.  They knew that the heart was located under the fifth rib.  We read in II Sam. 3:27 that when Joab killed Abner, that he “smote him under the fifth rib, that he died…”  Smiting someone under the fifth rib to kill them was common practice in Old Testament warfare (read II Sam. 2:23, 4:6 and 20:10).  How did soldiers know where to find the fifth rib if they couldn’t see the ribs to count them? Very simple: the fifth rib is the one that is right under the breast, just below the nipple.

The last part of Gen. 2:21 tells us that after God removed the rib from Adam, He “closed up the flesh instead thereof.”  He is a very thorough Surgeon.  The Bible provided us this very important medical detail.  The final part of any surgery is to close up the wound.  God is always faithful to finish a work that He has started.

If your desire is to be a part of the bride of Christ, then you can be sure that God will continue working in you to make you ready, as long as you are willing to let Him.  He will not close up the flesh until He is through with the cutting.  The work will not be complete until your life is ended or until Christ returns, as Paul tells us in Phil. 1:6: “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Little by little, whittle by whittle, with each skillful cut of the unerring scalpel of the Word of God, in the hands of the Master Surgeon, we are being changed into the image of His dear Son, as He prepares us to become a spotless bride, like unto the spotless Lamb, so that we may be ready to reign with Him.

 Leaving and Cleaving

By Phil Wainright

By leaving we are able to cleave! If we are not willing to leave, it is impossible for us to cleave. To often, people tend to cleave to things they should leave, and leave the things to which they should cleave. God teaches us about leaving and Cleaving through the example of the Husband and Wife. Gen. 2:24, “a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” The word “leave” means, to loose, to depart from, to leave behind (Strong). The word “cleave” means, to cling, to stick to, to join (Thayer).

Jesus quoted Gen. 2:24 and added, “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” “Put asunder” means to place room between, to part, to separate. In Eph. 5:31-32 Paul also quotes Gen. 2:24 and says, “This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” God is looking for a people that will cleave wholly to Him, just as a husband and wife cleave to one another.

Instructions on “cleaving unto the Lord,” beginning with the Old Testament. Deut. 11:22, “For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you to do, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, and to cleave unto Him.” Notice keeping His Word, love the LORD and walk in all His ways, is cleaving to Him. God has spoken to mankind about things that please Him and things that displease Him. If we please Him there is blessing. He calls for a people simply to love Him. This is the glue that enables us to cleave to Him, no matter whatever trials and troubles may come. Deut. 13:4, “Ye shall walk after the LORD your God. And fear him and obey His voice, you shall serve and cleave unto him.” Fear Him means to revere or reverence (strong). Recognizing He is the God of the universe, obey His voice. If we are not careful, we tend to obey God only when it is something we want to do and disobey when we would rather not, like a child would. Serve Him, and coming to a place of perfection in our spiritual lives, we will develop as God intends.

What does it means to cleave unto the Lord? Acts 11:23, “Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.” We must purpose in our hearts to cleave unto the Lord. Eph. 6:6, “…doing the will of God from the heart.” In our relationship with the Lord, difficult things need to be decided. Mt. 10:35-37, “For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, the daughter against her mother…A man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.” “Variance” means “to make apart, to sunder, alienate. There may be relationships that we simply must leave behind if we are to cleave wholly unto the Lord.

Rom. 12:9, “Let love be without dissimulation (hypocrisy), unfeigned. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.” Our society seems to abhor that which is evil less and less. II Thess. 2:12, Paul states, “That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” We must not conform to society, there are choices to be made. 

Col. 3:14, “And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Love is what causes us to leave certain things, like old pleasures and to cleave to the Lord. Love binds us together. Col. 2:2, “That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ.” Spiritual maturity leads to a love for one another and love for the Lord Jesus Christ. “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in  our  hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” – Rom. 5:5. 

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” – Rom. 8:35. The word separate here means to “put asunder.” There is no power that can separate us from the love of God. A song that I have grown to love is entitled. “I am His, and He is Mine.” Some of my favorite phrases are, “In a love which cannot cease;” “His forever, only His;” “Who the Lord and me shall part?” May we learn to respond to that same love!

 Feast of Dedication

(Hanukkah)

Earlene Davis

“And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch.”  John 10:22-23

I believe this is the only time we find this feast mentioned in the Bible. It is Hanukkah, which many Jews celebrate in this year, beginning on the evening of Dec. 25 to the evening of Jan. 2. Hanukkah means “dedication.” This feast commemorates an event that occurred during the period between the Old Testament and the New Testament (about 165 BC). 

A Syrian King named Antiochus invaded Israel and demanded the Jews to abandon the worship of their God. He forced “Hellenization,” of Greek customs and religion on the Jews. To make sure that the Jews could not worship their God, he defiled the Temple in Jerusalem. He placed Greek idols in the Temple and sacrificed a sow on the altar. Antiochus took the title “Epiphanes” which means, “god manifested” and demanded to be worshiped. 

God had promised Abraham many, many years before that He would preserve and sustain his descendants forever (Gen. 13:15; 17:7,8,13,19). God said to Abraham, “In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Gen. 12:3), Christ would be born of his descendants. 

God raised up a family of heroes, the Maccabees (their name means “hammer”). They led a small band in revolt against Antiochus and his mighty army and drove the Syrians out of Israel. The high point of that victory was rededicating the Temple in Jerusalem. This is why the holiday is called Hanukkah (dedication). 

There is a legend, that they needed consecrated oil to rekindle the sacred candelabra. They only found enough oil for one day and it would take eight full days to make enough oil for Temple use. Tradition says that a great miracle happened, called the “miracle of the oil.” The oil for one day continued to burn for eight whole days, enough time to make and sanctity new oil. That is why Hanukkah is celebrated for eight nights and why the Hanukkah menorah is lit for eight nights.

In any case Israel’s victory over Antiochus and his mighty army showed forth a great miracle of God’s preserving power. God would not allow Satan to use Antiochus to destroy Israel because of His promise to Abraham. If Satan could have destroyed the Jews, he would make God a liar and the promise to Abraham (Christ) could not be born of Abraham’s seed. 

The Jews were well aware of the event that occasioned the Feast of Dedication when they approached Jesus on Solomon’s porch. They reasoned that if He was the Messiah, He had power to preserve them from the tyranny of the Romans, as God had preserved them from Antiochus (V. 24). Jesus answered them with a rebuke – “I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me” (V. 25). Jesus boldly asserted His Messiahship. The works that I do in My Father’s name bear witness of Me. They were His credentials from the Father. He had divine power to preserve and sustain His people, but not in the way they hoped or expected. “But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you” (V. 26). They had the witness of His words and His works and they believed not. By refusing to acknowledge His words or works, they were rejecting Him and His Father.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall may man pluck them out of my hand” (Vs. 27-28). Those who believe on Him  have a new nature and are called SHEEP. He plainly declares that His sheep SHALL NEVER PERISH. His power to preserve was eternal and spiritual. It was based on faith in Him as the Anointed One of God. The salvation He offered was not from Roman oppression, but from the oppression of Satan, sin and death. The dedication of the Temple was a reminder of God’s power to keep His promises and preserve His people. But One greater than the Temple stood on Solomon’s porch that day.  

“My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one” (Vs. 29-30). Jesus strongly affirms the absolute security of His people Oh, what words of assurance and comfort these are. THEY ARE MINE, He declares, “My sheep.” The Father gave them to Me. He is greater than all, no one is able to pluck them out of the Father’s hand. Then he declares His oneness with the Father, “I and the Father are One.”

It was fresh in their minds because of Hanukkah, how they had rightly reject the false claims of Antiochus. They asked Jesus for a plain statement of His identity and when He told them He was the true One, what is their reaction? Unbelief. They could not deny His power nor His goodness, but the fact that an apparent ordinary Man should claim to be the Son of God, was too much for them to believe. They “took up stones again to stone him” ( V. 31). But they could not carry out their evil purpose, for it was not yet His time. 

They rejected their Messiah and missed an even greater miracle than Israel’s against-all-odds victory over the overwhelming Syrian army. What they missed was greater than if Jesus had saved them from the Roman government. They missed the miracle of Emmanuel, God with us. Jesus has the power to preserve those who come to Him, Heb. 7:25.

God keeps His promises – Isa. 7:14; 9:6. Jesus fulfilled these promises. In Him God has proven His faithfulness to Israel and to all the world. He will save and keep all those who call upon His name through faith in Jesus. He has made each believer to be His own Temple, where Emmanuel, God with us has taken up residence. May we dedicate ourselves anew to live for Him by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 GOD OF A SMALL NATION

Suresh Manoharan – Hyderabad, India

For a good 2000 years of its scriptural history tracing back to the call of that Father of Faith Abraham…the Almighty Creator has indeed been God of this small Nation in West Asia, Israel. Its land area is only 0.85% of our great country of India? Israel celebrated its 66th year of “rebirth” on May 14th. Now what is it about Israel that interests all keen Bible students? The reason is simple and profound. The world’s future events are inter-twined with Israel’s second birth, as it were. Yours Truly has attempted to bring to the fore the significance of Israel to all follower’s of the Lord God.

Israel’s selection in God’s grand scheme of things to bring the Savior and Salvation to this world can be put down to His grace alone. Firstly calling Abraham out from his idol-worshiping relatives and entering into a covenant with him (Gen. 12:1-4, & Ch. 15, & Joshua 24:2-3). “The Lord did not set his love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the Lord loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the Lord brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt” – Deut. 7:7-8.

Israeli liberation from the Egyptian captivity foreshadowed the Redemption plan which Christ by His atoning death on the cross completed. Anyone who puts his trust on Christ to take away his sins, immediately experiences liberation from a slavery far more dangerous than the Egyptian bondage – SIN. God did not liberate the Jews from their slavery because they were good and holy but rather to make them good and holy. The Law was given to them after their liberation and not prior to it. Similarly Jesus liberates a Christian from sin to make for Himself a “Holy Bride.” He uses His Word and the Spirit to mold a saved Christian into a spotless, beautiful bride ready for the ethereal marriage (Rev. 19:7-9).

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 The Encouraging Word

“Arise, O God, judge the earth! For to you belong all the nations.” Psalm 82:8

“The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness of it! The world and they who dwell in it.” Psalm 24:1

“The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob – our high tower and strong hold.” Psalm 46:11

“Trust, lean on, rely on and have confidence in Him at all times you people; pour out your heart before Him. God is a refuge for us – a fortress and a high tower.” Selah!

Psalm 62:8

“Be content with such things as you have: for He has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you. So that we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” Hebrews 13:5-6

“In the multitude of my (anxious) thoughts within me, Your comforts cheer and delight my soul!” Psalm 94:19

“Pray at all times – on every occasion, in every season – in the Spirit, with all (manner of) prayer and entreaty…” Ephesians 6:18

“The Lord takes pleasure in those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, in whose hope is His mercy and loving kindness.” Psalm 147:11

Martha Wainright