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Thankfully, misunderstanding being reborn cannot detract anything salvific from the believer in Christ, but it will most definitely delay spiritual growth in learning to “walk in the Spirit” and in being “conformed to the image of Christ.” I say “delay” and not hinder because everyone reborn is...

Though there are many difficulties within believer’s trials and infirmities, the hardness contained therein is the instrument of their growth in faith and in their “being conformed to the image of Christ.” The more patiently one endures, the more successfully it is seen to have learned of...

It has been accurately stated that the child of God who is disappointed has somewhere trusted in the arm of flesh (2 Chr 32:8), for God never disappoints! Surely there can be no greater gain in this life than that of being made godly (which is how God is glorified God – John 15:8); and no...

Faith only strengthens when tested, for it never detracts. Its sole function moves ever forward, never deviating in any other direction. When it is at rest it is only waiting on God, which further strengthens its substance (Luke 17:5). Thus, faith is ever seen to be the sole manifestation of God...

I believe those reborn learn the holiness of God and the sinfulness of our nature at the same time and at the same level so as not to be overwhelmed as He gradually gives us their comprehension. Therefore I do not think understanding more of His holiness will increase beyond the understanding of...

In John XVII we find the Son in vocal communion with the Father. Turning from earth He looks up, and we hear Him giving out the thoughts common to Him and the Father, speaking of the origin, security and the destiny of those who are sharers of the Father’s love. He takes them up as a people who...

Sufficient understanding of the blessedness concerning the eternal “purchased possession” (Eph 1:14 – saints of God) will avail, in those reborn, the work of God manifesting an unmoved confidence in His complete “care for you” (1 Pet 5:7). Often God’s blessings are not received and appropriated...

The position of the saint is what he is progressively manifesting within his walk, which position is Christ’s place before the Father—unalterable son-ship; and our remaining earthly time is used by God conforming us into the image His image—“from glory to glory” (2 Cor 3:18). Saints have forever...

There is much believers can unknowingly treasure that pertain only to this life. Such is liken unto a king visiting a foreign land who admires much of what he encounters, and in so doing is often unaware of being obstructed from remembering his own land, to where he startlingly recalls that he...

The greatest thing we will ever have in God is our eternal love for one another—His for me and mine for Him! Of course the former will always be superior, being in its maximum degree; but the learning of the latter will, I think, always be learned in varying progressions. Though union with God...

Our will and desire, and even God’s will and desire do not always coincide. For example, it’s His desire that “all men be saved,” for He desires not “that any should perish” (1Ti 2:4: 2Pe 3:9). Yet, His will is that “he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16). Though the believer’s...

In this “valley” (Psa 23:4), are we looking at “death’s shadow” more than at God’s provision of “comfort”? Regardless of which, all who are reborn have been delivered from “death” (John 8:51), even though while in its shadowed-valley (John 5:24; 1 John 3:14)! It has been encouragingly said that...

As we already know, the primary goal of every believer is to put others before self (Phl 2:3). This is the priority for those who desire to put God first because it is how we “keep” His “commands” (John 14:15), which are summed up into one—namely “love one another” (John 15:12, 17). Therefore to...

For those in Christ, there hasn’t been and will never be a general tribulation such as will involve the world (majority of society). This sense is in reference to the eschatological tribulation which contains “things which must shortly come to pass” (Rev 1:1). These “things” are not difficulties...

When it is again time for a difficulty, our present modus operandi (mode of operation) is irrelevant as related to the outcome of it! The outcome is the same whether we “endure its hardness” (2 Tim 2:3) or have yet to learn to endure, because it has already been purposed for “good” (Rom 8:28)...

Peace with God on our side can be unnecessarily interrupted when we think there could be times He may not be at peace with us on His side, which could never be. In Christ, He punishes not out of anger but rather disciplines out of love. Thus, everything a believer encounters and does is merely...

The Lord Jesus’ peace in this scene was a wonderful thing. I note there are two truths which, as they are known, impart to us this peace. The first is seeing Him by faith in the place where he is, where He has prepared a place for us. In a place of evil and sorrow like this, it is an immense...

Only the Spirit God can inwardly “bear witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Rom 8:16), thus He continually confirms and assures in our understanding we are His, which none other can do. Then there is the outward indication (which is not necessarily affirmed conformation) of...

When we fully understand that God uses everything in our lives (all thoughts, feelings, words and actions) to “work together for our good,” we can then realize that the sum of all we encounter is but to teach us to know that we need not to wonder if our daily lives are counting for Him in the...

Believers are to be aware of their sin nature (old man) and its sins but not consciously stayed on them, for He knows this would hinder spiritual growth in our faith in the Lord Jesus and thus become less useful in His purposes. A fixation on our sins indicates a less-than-full understanding of...