Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. But there are many among
the saints, and whether they be tares or wheat, we cannot
always tell, who seem to be contenders for the faith. They love religion,
desire to manifest an outward conformity to what they often
describe as the moral law, usually placing great emphasis on carnal
Sabbath-keeping, and are intent upon laying the demands of such
upon all that they come in contact with. In many cases they declare
the truth concerning Christ and Him crucified, yet seem to desire
to find a place in which to glory by setting themselves apart as
those who would not stoop to the low levels of others who
they deem to be lawless. They are much like those whom
Paul says preach Christ of contention. Are you so foolish, having begun
in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh? Paul writes
to the saints in Philippi with much affection. Therefore, my
brethren, dearly beloved, in longed-for, my joy and my crown,
so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved, even as it is
meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in
my heart, inasmuch as both in my bonds and in the defense and
confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels
of Jesus Christ. His continual concern was that
the brethren be built up in the most holy faith, love one another
without dissimulation, that is, hypocrisy or two-facedness, and
walk among the men of this world as the sons of God, that ye may
be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke,
in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye
shine as lights in the world. Where such an attitude and characteristics
are seen, brotherly love must of necessity continue, and a
quiet and meek spirit is the rule rather than the exception.
Even as the Lord instructed His disciples, Verily I say unto
you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children,
ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever, therefore,
shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest
in the kingdom of heaven. Neither be ye called masters,
for one is your master, even Christ. But he that is greatest
among you shall be your servant, and whosoever shall exalt himself
shall be abased, and he that shall humble himself shall be
exalted. The Lord prayed for this unity
to be apparent among his children. Holy Father, keep through thine
own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one
as we are. Paul describes this unity when
he writes, let nothing be done through strife or vain glory,
but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than
themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every
man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which
was also in Christ Jesus. Let brotherly love continue.
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love,
in honor, preferring one another. It is this brotherly love that
moves the saints to be their brother's keeper, and is that
which caused Paul to continually warn the saints to beware of
those who came preaching some other message than Jesus Christ
and Him crucified. His concern was the welfare of
his brethren and not simply that he might be regarded as a great
contender or a defender of the faith. There are some who walk
among the saints in sincerity with whom we have disagreements
due to various levels of understanding and revelation. There are others,
however, whose message strays from the declaration of Christ
in Him crucified, who must be considered as enemies of the
cross. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and I'll
tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross
of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and
whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things. No place
of glory in the flesh is to be found among the saints, whether
it be in an adoption of the world's values and ungodly practices,
or in promoting the notion that men can be considered holy by
any means other than the completed work of Christ in their behalf. Wherefore, if ye be dead with
Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living
in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, touch not, taste
not, handle not, which all are to perish with the using, after
the commandments and doctrines of men? Christ is all. So we are not sent to lay burdens
upon those who are convinced of being sinners, but rather
to declare the freedom which Christ has purchased for them
by his fulfillment of the law and the satisfaction of their
sin debt. What could a man possibly add
to that which is finished? For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net