J.A. Matteson
Woe or weal, how you respond to divine truth is determinative of either spiritual progress or squandered opportunity. "Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you" (Mk. 4:24). The depth and richness of the soul of your heart is evidenced by its harvest of fruitfulness. Beware of the three impediments to your progress and contend mightily against them so that your fruitfulness may be overflowing to the praise of God. The devil seeks to deceive to you, "Did God really say....?" (Gen. 3:1), implanting doubt into your heart by blaspheming the faithfulness of God. The world system, under satan's control, will lie to you, "Do not listen to Hezekiah, for he is misleading you when he says, 'The LORD will deliver us'" (2 Kgs. 18:32). Your own sin nature will seduce you to conclude God is not reasonable as you contemplate his directives; this is not sin leading to damnation, but sin retarding spiritual growth, "let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" (Heb. 12:1). Greeting each day with our spiritual eyes wide open, expecting the continual onslaught from these thee foes will go a long way in preventing us from being caught unawares. We must not leave our bedroom without first putting on the full armour of God. Should we venture out into the day without it we will most certainly fail to stand by applying the spiritual truth the Lord has graciously revealed to us. On the other hand, when we first clothe ourselves with God's armour, with an alert mind of anticipating battle beyond the door, God is able to make us stand, and in our standing He will disclose deeper things into the nature of His person and His kingdom.
Copyright (c) 2015 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever.") Isa. 40:8
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Friday, February 20, 2015
The Soul in Desperation
J.A. Matteson
The inward condition of our heart is manifest by the outward display of our deeds. "And when Jesus saw their faith...." (Mk. 2:5). As the writer to the Hebrews noted, "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1). Saving faith compels the soul in desperation to pursue its object, namely, Jesus Christ. Saving faith disregards social norms and is happy to undergo scorn and humiliation before men if it means being in the presence of the Savior. Blessed is the soul that hungers to be in the presence of Jesus, for he will be satisfied. Blessed is the soul that is convinced Jesus will cleanse his sinful heart, forgiving his sin, for he will find rest. Blessed is the person who is a fool for Jesus, living for the approval of God and not man, for he will walk with God. Beloved, the ache within your heart to pursue Jesus in desperation is by grace and is the gift of salvation. Your desperate acts to come to Jesus may not be understood by the world, they may even be ridiculed, but they are precious to the Savior of your soul. Cast off, therefore, the restraints that hinder you, allow your desperation to be seen by men, and thereby glorify your Father in heaven.
Copyright (c) 2015 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever."). Isa. 40:8
The inward condition of our heart is manifest by the outward display of our deeds. "And when Jesus saw their faith...." (Mk. 2:5). As the writer to the Hebrews noted, "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1). Saving faith compels the soul in desperation to pursue its object, namely, Jesus Christ. Saving faith disregards social norms and is happy to undergo scorn and humiliation before men if it means being in the presence of the Savior. Blessed is the soul that hungers to be in the presence of Jesus, for he will be satisfied. Blessed is the soul that is convinced Jesus will cleanse his sinful heart, forgiving his sin, for he will find rest. Blessed is the person who is a fool for Jesus, living for the approval of God and not man, for he will walk with God. Beloved, the ache within your heart to pursue Jesus in desperation is by grace and is the gift of salvation. Your desperate acts to come to Jesus may not be understood by the world, they may even be ridiculed, but they are precious to the Savior of your soul. Cast off, therefore, the restraints that hinder you, allow your desperation to be seen by men, and thereby glorify your Father in heaven.
Copyright (c) 2015 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever."). Isa. 40:8
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Remembering His Words
J.A. Matteson
When we are with Jesus he shares divine insights into our weaknesses. "And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus...." (Matt. 26:75). Our heart is deceitfully wicked and cannot be trusted to direct us correctly (Jer. 17:9). To believers, conviction of sin happens as a result of spending time with the Lord, when the beauty of his person is revealed through the holy scriptures to our minds, when he later brings to our remembrance that which he shared with us. Be careful never to allow idols of the heart to supplant your daily time with the Lord Jesus, for if we do not spend time with him we cannot hear from him, and if we are not hearing from him we may find ourselves is a foreign land with hardened hearts wallowing in the mire (Heb. 3:13). Peter was with Jesus and heard intimate insights into the weakness of his sinful nature. The night of his betrayal Peter was self-deceived, being ignorant and proud, completely unaware of the power of his sinful nature to derail his best intentions to obey unto death his Lord. But in his moment of weakness and betrayal Peter remembered the saying of Jesus. Beloved, maintain a tender heart toward the Lord through daily communion with him, reading and meditating upon his word and remaining in a perpetual state of prayerfulness all day (Ps. 119:11; 1 Thess. 5:17). By doing so the Lord will bring to your remembrance his sayings, keeping you from sin or leading you to repentance if you do sin (Jude 24; 1 Jn. 1:9-10). Come to the fount of blessings, taste of the sweetness of his companionship, for none can compare to his everlasting kindness, mercy, love and grace (Ps. 34:8). By knowing him and being known by him, how could we ever give our hearts to another?
Copyright (c) 2015 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever."). Isa. 4:8
When we are with Jesus he shares divine insights into our weaknesses. "And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus...." (Matt. 26:75). Our heart is deceitfully wicked and cannot be trusted to direct us correctly (Jer. 17:9). To believers, conviction of sin happens as a result of spending time with the Lord, when the beauty of his person is revealed through the holy scriptures to our minds, when he later brings to our remembrance that which he shared with us. Be careful never to allow idols of the heart to supplant your daily time with the Lord Jesus, for if we do not spend time with him we cannot hear from him, and if we are not hearing from him we may find ourselves is a foreign land with hardened hearts wallowing in the mire (Heb. 3:13). Peter was with Jesus and heard intimate insights into the weakness of his sinful nature. The night of his betrayal Peter was self-deceived, being ignorant and proud, completely unaware of the power of his sinful nature to derail his best intentions to obey unto death his Lord. But in his moment of weakness and betrayal Peter remembered the saying of Jesus. Beloved, maintain a tender heart toward the Lord through daily communion with him, reading and meditating upon his word and remaining in a perpetual state of prayerfulness all day (Ps. 119:11; 1 Thess. 5:17). By doing so the Lord will bring to your remembrance his sayings, keeping you from sin or leading you to repentance if you do sin (Jude 24; 1 Jn. 1:9-10). Come to the fount of blessings, taste of the sweetness of his companionship, for none can compare to his everlasting kindness, mercy, love and grace (Ps. 34:8). By knowing him and being known by him, how could we ever give our hearts to another?
Copyright (c) 2015 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever."). Isa. 4:8
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
The Call
J.A. Matteson
If you are in Jesus Christ it is the result of His calling you by name; to be a child of God is to be known by God, called unto holiness and His purpose. "See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel...." (Ex. 35:30-34). If you are called of God it is for the purpose of glorifying Him by serving others. Never has a saint been called into perpetual isolation, a city on a hill cannot be hid nor a light hidden in a closet. Observe the call of God: first, Bezlel knew he had been called, "...he was filled with the Spirit of God." We cannot serve Him unless we are encountered by Him and gifted with endowments suitable for His purposes. Second, Bezalel was burdened to replicate himself through others called of God in order that the work of God might be accomplished, "And he was inspired to teach...." The apostle Paul highlights this pattern in discipleship, "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2 Tim. 2:2). When God saves a person it is for the purpose that he might Be and Do. The doing is a function of being. Consider your calling, your passions, skills, abilities, and spiritual endowments. In what way are these being employed to Gods glory and the benefit of others called? The church of God cannot reach the world for God unless workers are brought into His harvest and equipped for service. That is the calling and responsibility of every follower of Jesus Christ.
Copyright (c) 2015 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever."). Isa. 40:8
If you are in Jesus Christ it is the result of His calling you by name; to be a child of God is to be known by God, called unto holiness and His purpose. "See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel...." (Ex. 35:30-34). If you are called of God it is for the purpose of glorifying Him by serving others. Never has a saint been called into perpetual isolation, a city on a hill cannot be hid nor a light hidden in a closet. Observe the call of God: first, Bezlel knew he had been called, "...he was filled with the Spirit of God." We cannot serve Him unless we are encountered by Him and gifted with endowments suitable for His purposes. Second, Bezalel was burdened to replicate himself through others called of God in order that the work of God might be accomplished, "And he was inspired to teach...." The apostle Paul highlights this pattern in discipleship, "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2 Tim. 2:2). When God saves a person it is for the purpose that he might Be and Do. The doing is a function of being. Consider your calling, your passions, skills, abilities, and spiritual endowments. In what way are these being employed to Gods glory and the benefit of others called? The church of God cannot reach the world for God unless workers are brought into His harvest and equipped for service. That is the calling and responsibility of every follower of Jesus Christ.
Copyright (c) 2015 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever."). Isa. 40:8
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