THOUGHTS TO GROW IN GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE
"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever." 2 Peter 3:18 (KJV)
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IF we are positive in our rejection of
temptation it increases our strength of character, not only for that time, but also for subsequent temptations; and it disconcerts
to some extent our adversary, who, noting our positiveness, knows well that it is useless to discuss the matter with persons of strong
convictions and positive characters; whereas if the question were parleyed over, the result would surely be an advancing of further
reasons and arguments on the adversary's part, and a danger on our part that we would be overmatched in argument, for, as the apostle
declares, the Devil is a wily adversary, and "we are not ignorant of his devices." Prompt and positive obedience to the Word and Spirit
of the Lord is the only safe course for any of the "brethren".
“Because thou has kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from
the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them
that dwell upon the earth.” Revelation 3:10
“I keep my body under, and bring it into subjection: lest ...
I myself should be a castaway.” 1
Corinthians 9:27
THERE is a tendency for the body, the flesh, to arise from its condition of reckoned deadness, hence the new nature
needs to be continually on the alert to maintain its ascendancy, to fight the good fight of faith and to gain the prize as an overcomer.
These battlings of the new mind against the flesh are a good fight in the sense that they are fightings against sins and weaknesses
that belong to the fallen nature. They are a fight of faith in the sense that the entire course of the New Creature is a course of
faith, as the apostle says, "We walk by faith and not by sight." ... It is a fight of faith in the sense that no one could keep up
this battle against his own flesh and its propensities and desires, except as he can exercise faith in the promises and in the Lord
as his helper.
“Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
For unto every one that hath shall be given and he shall have abundance; but from
him that hath not, shall be taken away even that which he hath.” Matthew 25:28,29
WHY is the one-talented man chosen as an illustration of these talent-burials? It is to show the responsibility of those who have least-that the Lord expects even the least of His consecrated people to know of and to use the talents he has in his possession, and that He will not hold guiltless even those who have the smallest ability to serve Him and His brethren and His truth, and who neglect to use it.
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From his high standpoint of appreciation of the divine law, the advanced Christian sees that in the Lord's sight hatred is murder, slander is assassination, and the destruction of a neighbor's good name is robbery and rapine. And any of these things done in the church, among the professed people of God, is doubly evil - the assassination and robbery of a brother. The only exception to this rule, "Speak evil of no man", would come in where the relating of the evil would be contrary to our heart's wishes, and only mentioned because of necessity - because of love for others who, if not informed, might be injured.
“Love....rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the Truth.”--1 Corinthians 13:6
with the right and so opposed to the wrong that I would not encourage the wrong, but must
condemn it, even if it brought advantage to me? Am I so in accord with right, with truth, that
I could not avoid rejoicing in the Truth and in its prosperity, even to the upsetting of some of my preconceived opinions, or to the disadvantage of some of my earthly interests? The love of God,
which the apostle is here describing as the spirit of the Lord's people, is a love which is far above selfishness, and is based upon fixed principles which should, day by day, be more and more
distinctly discerned, and always firmly adhered to at any cost.
“Be not deceived,... he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption;
but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Galatians 6:7, 8
We sow to the flesh every time we allow the fleshly, selfish, unjust, unrighteous desires of the flesh to have sway in our hearts and lives, and each sowing makes easier the additional sowing and makes more sure the end of that way which is death–Second Death. On the contrary, each sowing to the Spirit, each resistance to the desires of the flesh toward selfishness, etc., and each exercise of the new mind, of the new will, in spiritual directions toward the things that are pure, the things that are noble, the things that are good, the things that are true, is a sowing to the Spirit, which will bring forth additional fruits of the Spirit, graces of the Spirit, and which, if persevered in, will ultimately bring us in accord with the Lord's gracious promises and arrangements–everlasting life and the Kingdom.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. ”--Matthew 4:25-5:12
“Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over.”--Psalm 23
“Speaking the truth in love, ... grow up into Him in all things,
which is the head, even Christ. ”-- Ephesians 4:15