Ability of the Dead to Communicate

Ability of the Dead to Communicate

Steven Dubee

Most people have a family member or close friend who has passed away. We loved these people and we will remember them forever. A problem develops when the longing does not subside for some people or when they feel guilty about something that happened between them and the deceased. This is when people call upon mediums to help them making contact with the deceased. I had a short discussion on this in the previous post (http://salty-earth.blogspot.co.za/2015/10/may-we-make-contact-with-dead.html?m=1), but is it possible? What does The
Bible say about the ability of the dead to communicate?

Rev 1:17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying to me, Do not fear, I am the First and the Last,
Rev 1:18 and the Living One, and I became dead, and behold, I am alive for ever and ever, Amen. And I have the keys of hell and of death.
Jesus appeared to John and gave him the vision which is now called The Revelations of Jesus Christ. He declared that He has power over hell and death.
Now that we know this, let us start from the beginning.

Gen 2:7 And Jehovah God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Man did not become a living soul after Jehovah God formed his body of the dust of the ground. It only happened when God breathed the breath of life into his nostrils. A living soul cannot exist without a body or breath.

Ecc 12:6 or ever the silver cord is not loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern;
Ecc 12:7 then the dust shall return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return to God who gave it.
This "spirit" that is referred to is the breath of life that God breathed into man's nostrils. What happens when somebody dies and the breath leaves the body? Remember, a living soul cannot exists without a body or breath.

Joh 5:28 Do not marvel at this, for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves shall hear His voice,
Joh 5:29 and shall come forth, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have practiced evil to the resurrection of condemnation.
These two verses refers to the second coming of Jesus. There is resurrection for us, but the kind of life we live now will be a factor as to which resurrection we will experience.

We have now determined, according to The Bible, that a living soul cannot exist without a body or breath and that everybody will be resurrected. What happens in between? Back to the Word of God.

Psa 146:3 Do not put your trust in princes, nor in the son of man in whom there is no salvation.
Psa 146:4 His breath goes forth; he returns to the earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.
It does not matter; king or president, their thoughts perish when they die.

Psa 115:17 The dead do not praise Jehovah, nor do any who go down into silence.
The dead cannot praise God, saved or unsaved.

Ecc 9:5 For the living know that they shall die; but the dead do not know anything, nor do they have any more a reward; for their memory is forgotten.
Ecc 9:6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; nor do they any longer have a part forever in all that is done under the sun.
According to The Bible, the dead knows nothing, there is no reward for them and they have no memory. There are no feelings of love, hate, envy etc. They have no part to whatever is happening on earth.

Ecc 9:10  Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no work, nor plan, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave where you go.
Do want you have to do now because you cannot do anything after death.

Job 14:10 But man dies and is cut off; and man expires, and where is he?
Job 14:11 As the waters fail from the sea, and a river falls away and dries up,
Job 14:12 so man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more, they shall not awake, nor be awakened out of their sleep.
The dead does not have any power. He will stay in his grave until Jesus' second coming.

1Co 15:51 Behold, I speak a mystery to you; we shall not all fall asleep, but we shall all be changed;
1Co 15:52 in a moment, in a glance of an eye, at the last trumpet. For a trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall all be changed.
1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1Co 15:54 But when this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and when this mortal shall put on immortality, then will take place the word that is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory.
1Co 15:55 O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?"
There will be living people when Jesus comes. At that moment the saved and the dead who served the Lord will be clothed with immortality. This is how and when we will receive eternal life and overcome death.

1Th 4:13 But I would not have you ignorant, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, that you be not grieved, even as others who have no hope.
1Th 4:14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will also bring with Him all those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.
1Th 4:15 For we say this to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall not go before those who are asleep.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first.
1Th 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
There is hope. Our loved ones who served the Lord before they died will rise up at the sound of God's trumpet. Together we will meet Christ on the clouds in the air. We will see them again if we keep on serving God.

What about Luke 16:19-31. This is the story about the rich man and Lazarus. It is a parable. We cannot use parables in teachings. Jesus used parables to convey "the moral of the story".

Summary:
1. Jesus has overcome death and has power over it.
2. A living soul cannot exist without a body and breath.
3. The dead cannot think.
4. They cannot praise God.
5. They know nothing and have no feelings.
6. The dead are powerless and cannot do anything.
7. They will stay in their graves till the second coming of Jesus.
8. The living saved and the dead who served God will receive the gift of eternal life when Jesus comes.
9. Take comfort, we will see them again.

The Bible tells us that the dead knows nothing, cannot do anything, and is powerless, cannot think and have no feelings. There is no mention of restless spirits or ghosts. Who do the mediums speak to when they call up spirits? Remember, Satan also knew your loved ones, so it would be easy to call up their memories.

GOD'S CHARACTER vs THE CHARACTER OF GOD'S LAW

GOD'S CHARACTER vs THE CHARACTER OF GOD'S LAW
Steven Dubee

GOD vs THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

1. God is spiritual (Joh 4:24) His Law is spiritual (Rom 7:14)
2. God is love (1 Joh 4:8) His Law is love (Mat 22:37-40)
3. God is truth (Joh 14:6) His Law is truth (Ps 119:142)
4. God is righteous (1 Cor 1:30) His Law is righteous (Ps 119:142)
5. God is holy (Isa 6:3) His Law is holy (Rom 7:12)
6. God is perfect (Mat 5:48) His Law is perfect (Ps 19:7)
7. God is good (Luk 18:19) His Law is good (Rom 7:12)
8. God is just (Deu 32:4) His Law is just (Rom 7:12)
9. God is pure (1 Joh 3:3) His Law is pure (Ps 19:8)
10. God is unchangeable (Jam 1:17) His Law is unchangeable (Mat 5:18)

Ps 111:7-8 declares that God's Law stands forever. It cannot be done away with even if we try. If we want to do away with His law; we can just aswell do away with Him. How do you seperate the One from the other?

There are these four verses that people generally use against the Law:
Col 2:14 KJV  Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Eph 2:15 KJV  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

Rom 6:14 KJV  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Gal 3:10 KJV  For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
Gal 3:13 KJV  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Gal 3:23 KJV  But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Before we tackle this topic headon can we just clarify what sin is according to the Bible.
1Jn 3:4 KJV  Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

It is as clear as daylight that the Word of God declares the transgression of the law as sin. Note, this is a new testament verse, written long after Jesus assended to heaven.
When we think about the law, Moses comes to mind. He was very involved in writting down laws. This issue is the reason some of us forget that God's Law and Moses' law are different.
2Ki 21:8 KJV  Neither will I make the feet of Israel move any more out of the land which I gave their fathers; only if they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them.

Let us have a look at God's Law.
Exo 31:18 KJV  And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.
Deu 10:1 KJV  At that time the LORD said unto me, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and come up unto me into the mount, and make thee an ark of wood.
Deu 10:2 KJV  And I will write on the tables the words that were in the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark.
Deu 10:3 KJV  And I made an ark of shittim wood, and hewed two tables of stone like unto the first, and went up into the mount, having the two tables in mine hand.
Deu 10:4 KJV  And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the LORD spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the LORD gave them unto me.
Deu 10:5 KJV  And I turned myself and came down from the mount, and put the tables in the ark which I had made; and there they be, as the LORD commanded me.

There are a few things we will find in these verses:
1. Written by God
2. Written with God's finger
3. Written on stone tablets
4. Placed in the Ark
5. Named the Ten Commandments
This law was actually written twice by God, on stone tablets with His finger. The first time Moses broke the tablets.

Now Moses' law
Deu 31:9 KJV  And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel.

Deu 31:24 KJV  And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished,
Deu 31:25 KJV  That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying,
Deu 31:26 KJV  Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.

Lev 23:10 KJV  Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:
Lev 23:13 KJV  And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto the LORD for a sweet savour: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin.
Lev 23:24 KJV  Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.
Lev 23:25 KJV  Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
Lev 23:26 KJV  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Lev 23:27 KJV  Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

1. Written by Moses
2. Own handwritting
3. In a book
4. Put in the side of the ark
5. Named- The Book of the Law
6. Against the people
7. Wave sheaf offerings
8. Meat snd drink offerings
9. Ceremonial sabbath days

If we go back to the verses used against the law we will notice that these verses are truly against the law; Moses' law written in a book, that is against the people and deals with offerings and ceremonial sabbaths. None of them touches God's Law.

Eph 2:8 KJV  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 KJV  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

The Balance
Rev 22:14 KJV  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Yes, we are under grace through faith, but why? Because we have sinned.
How do we identify sin according to the Bible? The transgression of God's Law.
Do we need to obey God's Law? Yes!

Jas 2:17 KJV  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jas 2:20 KJV  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Jas 2:10 KJV  For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
Jas 2:11 KJV  For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

1Jn 5:1 KJV  Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
1Jn 5:2 KJV  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
1Jn 5:3 KJV  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

Heb 10:15 KJV  Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
Heb 10:16 KJV  This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
Heb 10:17 KJV  And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.


Without the LAW there is no SIN.
Without SIN we do not need GRACE.
Without GRACE there is no need for CHRIST.
Without CHRIST no GOSPEL is needed.
Without the GOSPEL who needs a PREACHER.
Without a PREACHER there will be no CHURCH.

May we make contact with the dead?

May we make contact with the dead?

Steven Dubee 

This is not a formal teaching, just a short piece to get us thinking.
Many people try to make contact with dead family members through mediums. TV programs around this subject have millions of viewers around the world. In South Africa we also have forefather worshipping on a huge scale. Can these mediums really make contact with the dead? Where are the dead and can they influence us in any way? We will have a look at it in a later lecture.
Our immediate problem is the thousands of Christians trying to make contact with spirits of their dead family members or who partake in forefather worshipping. What is God's response to this and what does The Bible say about it?
I am going to quote just two verses from The Bible.
Lev 20:6  And the soul that turns to mediums, and to spirit-knowers, to go lusting after them, I will even set My face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.
God does not want us to try and contact the dead. It does not matter whether your loved one was saved or not, He will turn away from you.
Isa 8:19  And when they shall say to you, Seek to the mediums and to wizards who peep and mutter; should not a people seek to their God, than for the living to the dead?
If somebody refers you to these mediums, God asks you to turn towards Him. He is alive.

The Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

The Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

Steven Dubee

With this teaching we try to "explain" the coming of Jesus Christ. False christs will parade as the real Christ and many Christians will be misled. It is therefore important that we know the how and what about the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am using the Modern King James Version because of its accuracy.
God is going to restore everything with the coming of Jesus Christ, as it was before sin came into the world. One out of every twenty five verses in The Bible refers to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I am going to start with a very well known passage.

Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in Me.
Joh 14:2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, so that where I am, you may be also.

The disciples were troubled because they just heard (chapter 13) that Simon Peter would deny that he ever knew Jesus when Jesus is taken into custody to be crucified. They were also troubled because they thought that they would loose Jesus forever. Jesus comforted them with the above words. He had to die and leave but He will return to fetch them and us to be with Him one day.

2Ti 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.
2Ti 4:8  Now there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that Day; and not to me only, but also to all those who love His appearing.

Paul wrote that he served the Lord and that he is awaiting the coming of Jesus Christ. On that day he will receive his reward. Jesus will come back to fetch us. Both Jesus and Paul told us about that day in these passages of scripture.

Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said to them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Mat 24:5 For many will come in My name, saying, I am Christ, and will deceive many.
Mat 24:11 And many false prophets will rise and deceive many.
Mat 24:24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders; so much so that, if it were possible, they would deceive even the elect.

2Co 11:13 For such ones are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
2Co 11:14 Did not even Satan marvelously transform himself into an angel of light?
2Co 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works.

Christ warned us that a lot of false christs and prophets will arise in the last days. They will be able to use signs and wonders to mislead even the children of God.
History tells us that there were already a few false christs and in the future there will be even more. How will we be able to identify them, because they will do wonders like Jesus. The only way we can do that is to study from the Word of God exactly how Jesus' return will occur.

Act 1:9  And saying these things, as they watched, He was taken up. And a cloud received Him out of their sight.
Act 1:10  And while they were looking intently into the heaven, He having gone, even behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them,
Act 1:11  who also said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into the heaven? This same Jesus who is taken up from you into Heaven, will come in the way you have seen Him going into Heaven.

This is a description of Jesus' ascension to heaven. The angels that appeared to the men of Galilee promised that He will return in the same manner; on a cloud.

Luk 21:27  And then they shall see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Rev 1:7  Behold, He comes with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, and those who pierced Him will see Him, and all the kindreds of the earth will wail because of Him. Even so, Amen.

Jesus Christ will come on a cloud with power and great glory. Everybody on this earth will be able to see Him coming. That means that it will not be on TV because some people will miss it. Even the blind will be able to see Him; every eye.

Mat 25:31  But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He shall sit on the throne of His glory.
Rev 8:1  And when He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in Heaven for about half an hour.

All the angels will accompany Jesus when He comes, hence the silence in heaven for half an hour.

1Th 4:16  For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first.

Jesus will call loudly and clearly. The trumpet of God will be sounded. The dead in Christ will rise first.

Mat 13:30  Let both grow together until the harvest. And in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, First gather together the darnel and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my granary.

The "harvest" in this verse refers to the day of the Lord. There will be no secret rapture before the day of the Lord. The "darnel" refers to the unsaved and the "wheat" to the children of God. Only on that day will we be separated. (see lecture on the rapture)

Mat 24:37  But as the days of Noah were, so shall be the coming of the Son of Man.
Mat 24:38  For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered into the ark.
Mat 24:39  And they did not know until the flood came and took them all away. So also will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Mat 24:40  Then two shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:41  Two shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Read Luke 17:27-37 also.

As in the days of Noah, people will not stop doing what they do. Each day will be just another day. They will not listen to the warnings that the day of the Lord is near. They never listened to Noah.

Luk 17:34  I tell you, in that night there shall be two in one bed, the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
 Luk 17:35  Two shall be grinding together, one will be taken, and the other left.
Luk 17:36  Two shall be in the field, one will be taken, and the other left.

People will continue with their daily lives; sleeping, working and enjoying themselves; when the ungodly will be "taken". How do we know that the "taken" is the ungodly?

1Th 4:17  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall ever be with the Lord.

Previously we have seen that the dead in Christ will rise first when Jesus calls and the trumpet is sounded. The "we who are alive" refers to the children of God that will be caught up in the clouds to meet Jesus in the air. Jesus will not sit foot on the earth on His arrival.

Luk 17:37  And they answered and said to Him, Where, Lord? And He said to them, Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.

This verse refers to the "taken". They will be killed and the eagles will feast on their bodies.

Mat 24:30  And then the sign of the Son of Man shall appear in the heavens. And then all the tribes of the earth shall mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of the heaven with power and great glory.

Rev 6:14  And the heaven departed like a scroll when it is rolled together. And every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
Rev 6:15  And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every freeman, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains.
Rev 6:16  And they said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him sitting on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb;
Rev 6:17  for the great day of His wrath has come, and who will be able to stand?

Rev 19:11  And I saw Heaven opened. And behold, a white horse! And He sitting on him was called Faithful and True. And in righteousness He judges and makes war.
Rev 19:17  And I saw one angel standing in the sun. And he cried with a great voice, saying to all the birds that fly in mid-heaven, Come and gather together to the supper of the great God,
Rev 19:18  so that you may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of commanders, and the flesh of strong ones, and the flesh of horses, and those sitting on them, and the flesh of all, both free and slave, both small and great.

On the day of the Lord even the unsaved will see Him coming and know what is happening.
A massive earthquake will hit the earth. People will try to hide from the Lord and even call on mountains to cover them.
King or beggar, rich or poor, important or unimportant; those who did not serve the Lord will be killed on the day of the Lord. Bodies will cover the earth and the birds of heaven will have the biggest feast ever.
There will be no living people left on earth.

1Co 15:53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1Co 15:54  But when this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and when this mortal shall put on immortality, then will take place the word that is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory.
1Co 15:55  O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?"

Php 3:20  For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which also we are looking for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Php 3:21  who shall change our body of humiliation so that it may be fashioned like His glorious body, according to the working of His power, even to subdue all things to Himself.

On the day of the Lord the children of God will become incorruptible and immortal. Yes, we will live forever and ever after. We will inherit the gift of everlasting life and overcome death forever.

Luk 21:36  Watch therefore, praying in every season that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things which shall occur, and to stand before the Son of Man.

On that day we will not have time to correct the wrongs. Nobody knows the time and date of the Lord's coming. Today, now is the best time to invite Him into your life.

Isa 25:9  And one shall say in that day, Lo, this is our God. We have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is Jehovah; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.

The righteous will be glad to see Jesus and rejoice.

Mat 25:34  Then the King shall say to those on His right hand, Come, blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

They will receive their inheritance from God. Will you be part of them?

Summary:
1. Jesus went to prepare a place for us.
2. He will return to fetch the faithful.
3. False christs will pretend to be the true Christ.
4. They will be able to do signs and wonders to mislead even the children of God.
5. Jesus will return on the clouds.
6. Every eye will see Him.
7. He will be accompanied by all the angels in heaven.
8. He will call with the voice of an arch angel; people will hear Him.
9. God's trumpet will be sounded.
10. The dead in Christ shall rise first.
11. Together with the living Christians, they will meet Christ on the clouds.
12. Jesus will not set foot on earth.
13. There will be a huge earthquake.
14. The unlawful will try to run and hide from Christ.
15. They will all be killed.
16. Die faithful will receive the gift of eternal life.
17. They will also receive their inheritance.

If any of these facts are not present, you are witnessing a false christ trying to imitate the coming of the one true Christ.

5 Jesus Christ, Our Great High Priest

Jesus Christ, Our Great High Priest

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.  (Heb_4:14-16)
Jesus as our High Priest is one of the magnificent truths that matures us in the faith and draws us more intimately to Him. When we see the greatness of Jesus in this office, our steadfastness is strengthened. "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession." Jesus was completely successful in His mission of redemption. He came and died as the sacrifice for our sins. He rose victorious over sin and death. He ascended to the heaven of heavens, seated in authority at the right hand of the Father. Knowing this, we have great cause to remain steadfast in our confession of hope in Him.
Furthermore, our great High Priest is not aloof from our needs or impervious to our frailties. "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses." The enemy of our souls threw all of His tempting devices at Jesus. He faced what we face, so He understands our battles in a very personal manner. Another matter of even greater significance is that He never yielded to the tempters attacks: "yet without sin." Thus, He not only understands our plight, but He can also provide victory.
We are hereby given reason to approach God, through our great High Priest, without hesitation or apprehension to find the help we need. "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Our God rules this universe from a throne characterized by grace. This grace can only be properly known by those who live under His new covenant of grace.  This grace is sufficient to justify and to sanctify all who humbly trust in the Lord. The grace offered here is not for initial salvation. Rather, it is for rescuing the redeemed when they are aware of their inadequacy. We are invited to draw near, approach our God in an intimate fashion, and partake of His fullness in light of our emptiness.

Dear Jesus, my great High Priest, I extol You for Your greatness. You are great in understanding, compassion, victory, and grace. Lord, I have so many great needs in my life. So I draw near to You, anticipating that Your grace is fully sufficient to meet my lack, Amen.

4 Proclaiming Christ for Maturity in Christ

Proclaiming Christ for Maturity in Christ

Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.  (Col_1:28)
Spiritual maturity is one of the heavenly blessings that is ours "in Christ Jesus." Our heavenly Father desires that all of His children develop in this blessing of maturity: "that we may present every man perfect [mature]  in Christ Jesus." As God's people are being built up, the goal is that "we all come... to a perfect [mature] man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children... but... may grow up in all things into Him who is the head — Christ" (Eph_4:13-15). Jesus is our standard of spiritual maturity. The Lord wants us to be maturing into the likeness of the character of Christ.
For the saints to mature in Christ requires the proclamation of Christ. "Him we preach... that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus." Truth about the Lord Jesus Christ is the message that matures the people of God: "Him we preach." We need to know who the Lord is, what He has done, and what He wants to do in our lives, that we might trust in Him as our source: "from whom the whole body" (Eph_4:16).
The scriptures abound with many beautiful revelations of such truths about Jesus. He is the Son of God, divine. "And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God" (Joh_1:34). He is the Son of Man, Immanuel, God coming as man. "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head... Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel... God with us" (Mat_8:20; Mat_1:23). He is the lamb of God. "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! " (Joh_1:29).
This Jesus is our Mediator, bringing us the new covenant of grace. "And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant" (Heb_9:15). He is our Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, supplying all we need from start to finish. "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End" (Rev_22:13). He is our "all in all." "Christ is all and in all" (Col_3:11).
Such truths about Jesus are the ultimate message to mature the saints.

Dear Lord Jesus, I long to mature in Your likeness. There is so much about my life that is immature and carnal. I hunger to see who You are and all that You want to do in and through me. Please reveal Yourself to me through Your word, that I might know You better and be conformed to Your image. This I pray in Your holy name, Amen.

3 God Enlightening Us about Our Spiritual Resources

God Enlightening Us about Our Spiritual Resources

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ... the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling.  (Eph_1:3, Eph_1:18)
We have seen that all the grace resources God has for us to live by here on earth are already ours "in Christ." Now, our need is to have these comprehensive spiritual treasures revealed to us by the Lord Himself: "the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling." In order to draw upon these heavenly provisions, we need the Lord to enlighten our understanding concerning what is ours in Christ Jesus. "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit" (1Co_2:9-10). As the Holy Spirit uses the word of God to reveal these matters to us, our faith develops so we might access them by faith. "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom_10:17).
The scriptures teach us to pray for such spiritual enlightenment. "Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law" (Psa_119:18). In the word of God, we are told of the wonderful things that God has for His people. If we prayerfully seek the Lord concerning His insight into these blessings, the Lord will enlighten us. His willingness to respond is evident in His word. "Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know" (Jer_33:3).
The Lord delights to give heavenly spiritual insight to the humble of heart, not to those who trust in their own wisdom and prudence. "In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, 'I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes'" (Luke 10:21). This picture of a little one humbly trusting in the Heavenly Father to reveal His ways fits perfectly God's pattern for living by grace: humility and faith. What God has given us in Christ are His grace resources. It takes grace at work for us to even see what is ours in Him. God gives grace to the humble (Jam_4:6), and faith accesses grace (Rom_5:2).

Dear Lord, fountain of every heavenly blessing, I humble myself before You. On my own, I could never discover the richness You have given me in Christ. Please enlighten me by Your Spirit, as I search Your scriptures. Build my faith to draw upon Your grace resources day by day, through Christ I pray, Amen.

2 Every Spiritual Blessing Ours in Christ

Every Spiritual Blessing Ours in Christ

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.  (Eph_1:3)
Living day by day by grace is essentially about developing an intimate relationship with the Lord. "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." We have considered some of the radical extent of that intimacy through the intriguing phrase "in Christ." "You also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another, even to Him who was raised from the dead" (Rom_7:4). Through this profound uniting with Christ, astounding spiritual riches are now ours.
This is why Paul offered grateful praise to the Lord: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." Paul's thanksgiving was for what the Father has given to us: "who has blessed us." Notice, the verb is in the past tense — this has already happened. What is it that has already been given to us? It is "every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places." Think of it. This truth is staggering in its implications. Every grace resource that heaven has to offer is already ours here on earth. This does not mean that we are fully aware of all that has been given to us. Certainly, it does not mean that we are experiencing all of these blessings. Yet, it does mean that they are all ours to draw upon for fullness of life here on earth!
The reason these rich blessings are ours is that they all reside in Christ. In Christ is forgiveness, righteousness, and wisdom. Also, love, joy, and peace are found in Him. In Christ dwell victory, discernment, and courage. Moreover, compassion, strength, and perseverance are part of who He is. All this and far more is found in Christ. "For it pleased the Father that in Him [in Christ] all the fullness should dwell" (Col_1:19). Now, we dwell in the place ("in Christ") where all of this richness resides: "who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ." All these spiritual resources of the kingdom of heaven are now ours "in Christ." "And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for [upon] grace" (Joh_1:16).

Dear Father, I too want to bless You for bestowing all of this richness upon me. Lord, forgive me for the spiritual poverty that I too often experience. Teach me to draw upon these limitless treasures of Your grace. I want to honor You with an abundant walk in Christ's fullness, Amen.

Reigning in Life through Christ

Reigning in Life through Christ

For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. (Rom_5:17) The Lord wants us to grow in the magnificent blessing of living victoriously through Him. Having a triumphant Christian walk can only be realized from a developing acquaintanceship with the Lord, because we are only able to "reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. Significant spiritual issues are set against a victorious life: "By the one man's offense death reigned through the one." Because of Adam's sin, spiritual deadness ruled over the family of man. The enemy of men's souls uses this deadness to dominate and destroy lives. Elsewhere, Jesus likened him to a thief. "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy" (Joh_10:10). This is why lives, households, and nations experience such deadly defeats and crushing failure. A tyrant dictator, "death," dominates all lives that are only born once in Adam. They can only draw upon Adam's fallen, sinful, inadequate life source. A new and greater resource is needed and is found in Christ. "Much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ." These heavenly provisions are "much more" than is needed to replace the defeats of Adam with the victories of Christ. The resources are two-fold: "abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness." One of these two is possessed by every believer in Christ: "the gift of righteousness." This is the righteousness of the Lord Jesus, given to us by faith. That allows us to stand accepted before a holy God: "found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith" (Phi_3:9). Every believer has this gift, but not every believer is victorious. Thus, the key variable is to be receiving "abundance of grace." Every Christian has been the recipient of grace. Yet, many of God's people do not live day by day by grace. They walk according to the flesh, thereby drawing upon Adam's natural bankrupt resources. Remember, living by grace involves humility and faith. God "gives grace to the humble" (Jam_4:6). Likewise, through Jesus," we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand" (Rom_5:2).

Lord God of grace, the reign of death has certainly assailed my life, bringing defeat and failure. Teach me to draw upon the abundant measures of Your grace, that I might reign in life, living victoriously, through Your Son, Christ Jesus, Amen.

Death In Adam or Life In Christ

Death In Adam or Life In Christ

For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. (1Co_15:21-22) The new covenant of grace is a covenant of relationship. Spiritual death through Adam made this covenant of grace necessary. Spiritual life through Christ makes intimacy with God possible. Every human who has ever existed inherited a sinful, fallen, earthly life from Adam: "by man came death." Every person who has ever put their faith in Christ has received from Him a righteous, risen, heavenly life: "by Man [i.e., Jesus] also came the resurrection of the dead." Adam began with a measure of intimacy with His Creator. "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being . . . Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it" (Gen_2:7, Gen_2:15). In the garden, Adam served the Lord and had fellowship with Him, when He would walk "in the garden in the cool of the day" (Gen_3:8). Adam could partake freely of all that was in the garden, except for one tree. "Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die" (Gen_2:17). For Adam, as for all of his race, "the wages of sin is death" (Rom_6:23). The day that Adam and Eve disobeyed and ate of the forbidden fruit, they died spiritually. "And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden" (Gen_3:8). Whereas they had enjoyed a degree intimacy with Lord, they now fled from His presence. Ever after, the natural children of Adam would begin there existence "dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph_2:1). The only remedy for the spiritually dead human family would be through a relationship to a new "family head." "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned . . . if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many" (Rom_5:12, Rom_5:15). There are only two families to which humanity can belong: Adam's or Christ's. There are only two family head's to which anyone can be related: Adam or Christ. Adam passed along spiritual death to his offspring. Christ gives to his own life eternal, life abundant — all by His glorious grace.

Creator God, my Father, I confess that I was born in Adam's sinful line. I have demonstrated my sinfulness on a multitude of occasions. I praise You for sending Your Son to rescue me from Adam's race and to place me in Christ, my new Head, Amen.

Why Some Christian Movements Avoid the Law of God

Why Some Christian Movements Avoid the Law of God

1 New Creatures in Christ

New Creatures in Christ

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  (2Co_5:17)
Everyone who is "in Christ," through faith in His name, is a "new creation." We are new people. We are no longer who we were before we put our trust in the Lord Jesus. We are not the old person reformed or improved; we are a "new creation." Yes, we have the same body, but that is a mere tent in which we dwell. "For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens" (2Co_5:1). Some day in glory, we will trade this temporal, earthly tent for an eternal heavenly one. Meanwhile, though we live in the same old tent we had in Adam, we are new tenants, a "new creation." We may have the same old physical brain, but we are learning to think an entirely new way. "We have the mind of Christ... be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Rom_12:2 and 1Co_2:16). Christ lives in us, and His Spirit also dwells in us. His Spirit takes the word of God and unfolds the thinking of our Lord for us. As we embrace God's way of thinking more and more, we are transformed to walk in the newness that is ours in "in Christ."
In all the ways that matter before God, "old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." The old guilt is replaced by new forgiveness. "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus... in whom we have... the forgiveness of sins" (Rom_8:1 and Col_1:14).
The old foolishness is replaced by new wisdom. "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God... But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God" (1Co_3:19 and 1Co_1:30). The old unrighteousness is replaced with new righteousness. "All our righteousnesses are like filthy rags... For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (Isa_64:6 and 2Co_5:21). The old hope of changing (self-help) is replaced by new hope of changing (sanctification, God changing us). "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength... You are in Christ Jesus, who became for us... sanctification" (Jer_17:5 and 1Co_1:30). This is grace upon grace.

O Lord, my hope, I thank You for making me a new person in Christ. Please strengthen my heart to spend time in Your word that I might hear more of these grand truths. Lord, I yearn to walk in more of this rich newness of life, in Jesus name, Amen.

Intimacy of Relationship in Christ

Intimacy of Relationship in Christ

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Eph_2:13) We have begun to see that the new covenant of grace is a covenant of relationship. The simple phrase "in Christ" indicates the extent of the intimacy that is available by grace. "In Christ" is where we live spiritually. It is also how we live. As sure as a fish is in the ocean and lives on the resources of the ocean, we are "in Christ" and live on the resources of Christ. As sure as a unborn child is in the mother and lives on the life of the mother, we are "in Christ" and live on the life of Christ. We who believe in Jesus are not only "brought near by the blood of Christ. (Eph_2:13), we are joined to Him in a "united closeness," like a body is to its head. "He is the head of the body, the church" (Col_1:18). We can relate to the Lord Jesus more closely than the members of our physical body relate to our physical head. We can look to Jesus for direction and coordination. We can depend upon Him for planning, guiding, and timing in our entire lives. We can anticipate that He will monitor, maintain, and adjust our situations. This union of intimacy is also like a vine and its branches. "I am the vine, you are the branches" (Joh_15:5). We can look to Christ for our very life source. We don't have to produce a life on our own. We can concentrate on abiding (depending) on Him. He makes our lives fruitful and effective. The intimate relationship the Lord wants to develop with us is also likened to the joining of a husband and a wife. "You also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another, even to Him who was raised from the dead" (Rom_7:4). We can count upon Jesus to love us faithfully and sacrificially. We can rest in His constant companionship, never leaving us for any reason throughout our pilgrimage here on earth. What blessings are ours for time and eternity "in Christ." Joined intimately to Christ, nothing can separate us from the love and kindness that He has for us: "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. . . that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus" (Rom_8:38-39 and Eph_2:7).

Lord Jesus, I am overwhelmed by the intimacy that is available to me, now that I am united to You. Lord, I want to depend upon You as my Vine, follow You as my head, and love You as my bridegroom. Lord, please continue to reveal to me the implications of being joined to You for all time and eternity, in Your holy name I pray, Amen.

Grace Empowered Proclamation of the Risen Christ

Grace Empowered Proclamation of the Risen Christ

This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses . . . the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses . . . Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead . . .

And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. (Act_2:32; Act_3:15; Act_4:10, Act_4:33) At the Lord's Supper, the resurrection was implied. "I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes" (Luk_22:18).

At the tomb, the resurrection was documented. "He is not here, but is risen!" (Luk_24:6). With the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost, the resurrection was proclaimed. "Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, and put to death; whom God raised up" (Act_2:23-24).

The risen Christ was the constant message of the early church. In Peter's Spirit empowered message at Pentecost, he repeatedly proclaimed the resurrected Lord Jesus. "Him . . . you have crucified , and put to death; whom God raised up . . .You will not leave my soul in Hades, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption . . . he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ . . . this Jesus God raised up, of which we are all witnesses" (Act_2:23-24, Act_2:27, Act_2:31-32).

Not long after this glorious beginning, another proclamation of the risen Christ occurred as the lame man was healed at the Beautiful Gate. When the crowds gathered to see what had happened, Peter's message was again centered around the resurrection of Jesus Christ. "You denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses" (Act_3:14-15).

Soon after this, the religious leaders arrested the apostles, "being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead" (Act_4:2). Here, Peter again proclaimed the resurrection. "By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole" (Act_4:10).

It was the grace of God that empowered the church to witness boldly about the risen Christ. "And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all" (Act_4:33).

Dear Lord Jesus, I worship You as the risen One. I desire to proclaim Your resurrection to all who need to trust in You. Lord, in a world of doubt and skepticism, strengthen my faith in Your mighty resurrection. Empower me, I pray, by pouring out upon my life great measures of Your grace, in Your name, Amen.

Three Wrong Responses to the Holy Spirit

Three Wrong Responses to the Holy Spirit

You always resist the Holy Spirit . . . Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God . . . Do not quench the Spirit. (Act_7:51; Eph_4:30; and 1Th_5:19)
It is the will of God that we walk in daily independence upon the Holy Spirit. It is God's desire that we seek Him for the fullness of the Spirit's work in and through our lives. Three wrong responses that undermine the will of God are resisting, grieving, and quenching the Spirit of the Lord.
When Stephen was on trial before the religious leaders of Israel, he preached a powerful sermon declaring the faithfulness of God toward His consistently unfaithful nation. He concluded his message with a pointed, radical, accurate evaluation. "You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you" (Act_7:51). Here we are given the kind of attitudes that oppose the work of the Spirit. These people were "stiffnecked." They were stubborn and self-willed. They wanted their will, not the will of God.
They also were "uncircumcised in heart and ears." They did not allow God to cut away the carnality of their inner being. They would not allow God to speak to them through His messengers. They were self-righteous and self-sufficient. When we conduct ourselves in this same manner, we also are "resisting the Holy Spirit."

When Paul was writing to the church at Ephesus, he commanded them: "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit" In the next verse he indicated the dispositions that bring grief to the Spirit of God. "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice" (Eph_4:31).

Yes, the Holy Spirit is a person, not a mere power or influence. He can be saddened by our behavior. When we, God's people, harbor bitterness in our hearts and malicious words in our mouths, then we are "grieving the Holy Spirit of God."

When Paul wrote to the saints at Thessalonica, he instructed them: "Do not quench the Spirit." Just as a fire can be quenched, the promptings of the Holy Spirit can be stifled.

As we read the word of God, the Spirit can be stirring a spiritual fire of conviction within us. Will we respond to that heavenly influence, or will we suppress it? When the Lord is igniting a vision of service unto Him, will we yield or will we extinguish it? When the Lord is calling us to intercessory prayer, will we cry out to Him or will we suppress that desire He is kindling? Will we allow the Spirit to blaze within our hearts; or will we "quench the Spirit"?

O Father, I am convicted by Your Spirit of times that I have behaved in these same ways. I have resisted and grieved and quenched the work of the Holy Spirit in my life. Lord, I repent, and I ask You to show me any area of my life that is not yielded to the full work of Your Spirit. This I pray through Christ, my Lord, Amen.

Reflecting on the Holy Spirit and Grace

Reflecting on the Holy Spirit and Grace

And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they have pierced; they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. (Zec_12:10) Let's take a reflective look at our meditations on the Holy Spirit as a reminder that we are still studying about the grace of God. In considering how to live by the fullness of the Spirit, we have examined how to live more fully by the grace of God. In Zec_4:6, we observed the connection between living by the Spirit and living by the grace of God. "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit." Serving the Lord is accomplished by the work of the Spirit in and through our lives, not by natural capabilities. The next verse restates this truth in terms of God's grace. "And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of "Grace, grace to it!'" Every completed task in the service of God is accomplished by His grace (God's undeserved resources), not by our ingenuity or merit. We also saw how the early church experienced this relationship between the Spirit and grace. "They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness . . . And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all" (Act_4:31, Act_4:33). The boldness they experienced through the Holy Spirit is described as a result of great grace at work upon them. Jesus came to establish a new covenant. "This cup is the new covenant in My blood" (Luk_22:20). This covenant was characterized by grace, in contrast to the old covenant that Moses set in place. "For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ" (Joh_1:17). This new covenant of grace is also a covenant of the Spirit. "Our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life" (2Co_3:5-6) When the Lord Jesus returns and Israel humbly bows to Him as their Messiah, this wondrous response will be the result of "the Spirit of grace" (Zec_12:10) being poured out upon them. This glorious title, identifying grace with the Holy Spirit, beautifully sums up the grand truth that living by grace and walking in the Spirit are two perspectives on the same precious reality.

O God of all Grace, I long to live by Your grace day by day. Lord, I thank You that grace is not merely some principle that I must apply, but rather a resource You must impart.Would You therefore pour out upon me in fullness the Spirit of grace? Amen.