Text 928, 126 rader
Skriven 2006-02-28 05:13:00 av Bob Hoffman (8:8/2)
Ärende: Real Estate in Heaven
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Faith's Checkbook

February 28

Real Estate in Heaven

"Knowing in yourselves that ye have in Heaven a better and an enduring
substance" (Hebrews 10:34).

This is well. Our substance here is very insubstantial; there is no substance
in it. But God has given us a promise of real estate in the glory land, and
that promise comes to our hearts with such full assurance of its certainty that
we know in ourselves that we have an enduring substance there. Yes, "we have"
it even now. They say, "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush," but we
have our bird in the bush and in the hand, too. Heaven is even now our own. We
have the title deed of it, we have the earnest of it, we have the first fruits
of it. We have heaven in price, in promise, and in principle; this we know not
only by the hearing of the ear but "in ourselves."

Should not the thought of the better substance on the other side of Jordan
reconcile us to present losses? Our spending money we may lose, but our
treasure is safe. We have lost the shadows, but the substance remains, for our
Savior lives, and the place which He has prepared for us abides. There is a
better land, a better substance, a better promise; and all this comes to us by
a better covenant; wherefore, let us be in better spirits, and say unto the
LORD, "Every day will I bless thee; and praise thy name for ever and ever."

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A peculiar, indescribable, invincible power

(Philpot, "The Word of Men and the Word of God")

"Our gospel did not come to you in word only,
 but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and
 with deep conviction." 1 Thes. 1:5

The gospel comes to some in word only. They hear the word of the gospel, the
sound of truth; but it reaches the outward ear only—or if it touches the inward
feelings, it is merely as the word of men.

But where the Holy Spirit begins and carries on His divine and saving work, He
attends the word with a peculiar, an indescribable, and yet an invincible
power.

It falls as from God upon the heart. He is heard to speak in it—and in it His
glorious Majesty appears to open the eyes, unstop the ears, and convey a
message from His own mouth to the soul.

Some hear the gospel as the mere word of men, perhaps for years before God
speaks in it with a divine power to their conscience. They thought they
understood the gospel—they thought they felt it—they thought they loved it. But
all this time they did not see any vital distinction between receiving it as
the mere word of men, and as the word of God.

The levity, the superficiality, the emptiness stamped upon all who merely
receive the gospel as the word of men—is sufficient evidence that it never sank
deep into the heart, and never took any powerful grasp upon their soul.

It therefore never brought with it any real separation from the world—never
gave strength to mortify the least sin—never communicated power to escape the
least snare of Satan—was never attended with a spirit of grace and prayer—never
brought honesty, sincerity, and uprightness into the heart before God—never
bestowed any spirituality of mind, or any loving affection toward the Lord of
life and glory. It was merely the reception of truth in the same way as we
receive scientific principles, or learn a language, a business, or a trade. It
was all . . .
  shallow,
  superficial,
  deceptive,
  hypocritical.

But in some unexpected moment, when little looking for it, the word of God was
brought into their conscience with a power never experienced before. A light
shone in and through it which they never saw before . . .
  a majesty,
  a glory,
  an authority,
  an evidence
accompanied it which they never knew before. And under this light, life, and
power they fell down, with the word of God sent home to their heart.

When then Christ speaks the gospel to the heart— when He reveals Himself to the
soul—when His word, dropping as the rain and distilling as the dew, is received
in faith and love—He is embraced as the chief among ten thousand and the
altogether lovely one—He takes His seat upon the affections and becomes
enthroned in the heart as its Lord and God.

Is there life in your bosom?

Has God's power attended the work?

Is the grace of God really in your heart?

Has God spoken to your soul?

Have you heard His voice, felt its power, and fallen under its influence?

"And we also thank God continually because,
 when you received the word of God, which you
 heard from us, you accepted it not as the word
 of men, but as it actually is, the word of God,
 which is effectually at work in you who believe."
    1 Thes. 2:13

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