Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. Those who have clearer
understanding of the scriptures cannot boast in it because they
are made to differ from others only by the grace of God. Neither
can those who find certain aspects of Bible truth to be unpalatable
to their own mind and that of all natural men find grounds
upon which to neglect to declare the whole counsel of God. May
the Lord grant that we might rejoice in the unvarnished truth
of God whether we like it or not. This very notion is set
forth in Paul's argument in the ninth chapter of Romans. Therefore
hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will,
he hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto me, why
doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
Nay, but, O man, who art thou that replies against God? Shall
the thing formed say to him that formed it, why hast thou made
me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay of the same
lump to make one vessel unto honour and another unto dishonour?
Such a message is completely unpalatable to the natural thinking
of men. If we believe that God does according
to his will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of
the earth, then we must recognize that he will perform that which
he has set out to do. There is no limitation of that
work which he will bring to pass. Modern evangelicalism describes
salvation as a deliverance from the pit of hell. Yet the scriptures
describe this salvation as from their sins rather than some future
destination or era. Each one of the sons of Adam
were by nature dead in trespasses and sins, and it is from this
state that Christ came to deliver those whom he loves. The scriptures
are abundantly clear that he performs a work in the sons of
God which will be manifested in their salvation. Therefore,
if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are
passed away. Behold, all things are become
new. The Spirit of God works in the sons of God to give them
a love for the Word of God, quite in contrast to those who receive
not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. He causes
them to love the brethren. We know that we have passed from
death unto life because we love the brethren. He that loveth
not his brother abideth in death. This same Spirit wages war against
their sinful flesh within them. For the flesh lusteth against
the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. And these are contrary
the one to the other, so that ye cannot do the things that
ye would. This is a conflict which is unknown to those who
are without spiritual life and is not a simple sorrow over having
done wrong, but is a genuine longing to be made clean in the
inward parts. The Holy Spirit is a producer
of fruit in the children of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
meekness, temperance. Against such there is no law.
And they that are Christ have crucified the flesh with the
affections and lust. Ye have not chosen me, but I
have chosen you, and ordained you that ye should go and bring
forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain. "'I am the vine,
ye are the branches. "'He that abideth in me and I
in him, "'the same bringeth forth much fruit. "'For without me
ye can do nothing.'" Thus Paul describes to Timothy those who
are fitted for destruction and those who are ordained to eternal
life. Open and flagrant sinners prove
that they shall not escape the terror of the Lord. They despise
the way of God, blaspheme the word of God, and can be clearly
recognized. These are those whose sins are
open beforehand. Then there are those who are
somewhat timid in their sin and may even be influenced by a tender
natural conscience. They often gravitate towards
religion and take comfort in their own supposed righteousness
compared to those whose sins are open beforehand. They consider
themselves to be morally upright. They are those who follow after,
ever learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the
truth. Then there are those in whom the Spirit of God works
mightily. They are described as those whose good works are
manifest beforehand. Good works do not influence God
in any way, but they are the evidence of His work in His people.
Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good
works and glorify your Father, which is in heaven. For we are
His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which
God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. In this
the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil.
Whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that
loveth not his brother. Thus the Lord takes away the
hiding place of sinful men, and does demonstrate the hiding place
of those in whom he is pleased to work. Those whom the Lord
saves are those who confess that they have no righteousness at
all, except that which is found in Christ. He alone is their
hope. For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.