Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. The only Christian nation
is described by Peter, but ye are a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people that ye should show forth
the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his
marvelous light. The citizens of this nation did
not become so by natural birth nor human choice, as John said,
which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh,
nor of the will of man, but of God. The inhabitants of this
kingdom are not mere natural men at all. They have been born
again by the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven. Verily, verily,
I say unto thee, except man be born of water and of the Spirit,
he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of
the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is
spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth,
and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it
cometh and whither it goeth. So is every one that is born
of the Spirit. A radical transformation must
take place in order for a man who is born of a woman to become
a subject of the kingdom of God. This is not a function of religion,
nor is it brought about by sincere devotion to so-called Christian
principles. Men may adopt the outward forms
of Christianity just like they can choose any other religion
on the face of the earth, but such is as ultimately worthless
as counterfeit money. Those who are by grace made the
possessors of this spiritual birth have not added one iota
to their standing by their own power. All that they have and
are is a result of the outpouring of His mercy and the gift of
His grace. For what man knoweth the things
of a man save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so, the
things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God. Now we
have received not the Spirit of the world, but the Spirit
which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely
given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not
in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy
Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. Those
who are born of this Spirit and taught and indwelt by the same
will possess different desires and longings than those who have
not been so taught and led. But we have the mind of Christ.
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above,
where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection
on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead,
and your life is hid with Christ in God. Some have taught that
the sons of God can attain perfection in this life. Those who maintain
such an idea are ignorant of the fact that we are yet left
here in this earth in the same corruptible body of flesh and
blood, which has always been with us, and shall remain so
until the day of the resurrection, when this mortal shall put on
immortality, and death is swallowed up in victory. However, we are
not left without hope, and it is in this hope that we press
toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in
Christ Jesus. It is in the midst of this very
conflict which we find ourselves in, as the flesh lusteth against
the spirit and the spirit against the flesh, that we are made to
long for those refreshing times sent from the presence of the
Lord. And it is only by His Spirit that we are enabled to desire
His fellowship and long for His appearing. It is in such a state
that we see the Church, that is, the Bride of Christ, longing
for the kisses of her husband. It is obvious that she has tasted
of those kisses, or else how could she know what she desires?
The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have
loved thee with an everlasting love. Therefore, with loving
kindness I have drawn thee. It is apparent that he has gone
away for a season, though she is not without hope that he shall
return. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment,
but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith
the Lord thy Redeemer. She desires his presence more
than any other, for a day in thy courts is better than a thousand.
I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than to
dwell in the tents of wickedness. As a chaste bride, she longs
for his kiss alone. If you were of the world, the
world would love his own. But because you are not of the
world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the
world hateth you. Love not the world, neither the
things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the
love of the Father is not in him. She loves her husband because
he first loved her, and has clearly demonstrated that love by giving
himself for her. In this was manifested the love
of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son
into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love,
not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son
to be the propitiation for our sins. Do you love the kisses
of Christ? For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.