Sunday 29 December 2013
The Way to Pentecost, Samuel Chadwick, Ch 6
The
Way to Pentecost
Samuel
Chadwick
Chapter
6: The Pentecostal Life
The
Inheritance of the Spirit-Filled
Romans
8 is the fullest exposition of the life which comes through "the Spirit of
Life in Christ Jesus." It is the charter of the believer's inheritance in
the Spirit.
1)
Pentecost Brings Deliverance
The
law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus makes men free. Where the Spirit of
the Lord is, there is liberty. He is the Spirit of Power, and the first
demonstration of power is emancipation. He breaks the power of canceled sin.
There is no bondage from which He cannot deliver. He breaks the fetters of the
soul, and opens the prison doors of the redeemed. Salvation comes with the
suddenness of a mighty rushing wind and as with the flash of fire; or it may
come as the breath of the morning and the light of the dawn. However it comes,
it comes to set men free from all that brings into bondage and condemnation. It
is the Gospel of Liberty to all imprisoned life. There is no slave the Gospel
cannot save. The greatest deliverance of all is from the moral impotence of the
dual personality of chapter 7. The measure of completeness is in the word:
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ
Jesus." They are delivered from all and everything that brings
condemnation.
2)
Pentecost Brings Abounding Vitality
Our
Lord came that we might have abundant and abounding life, and it is found in
the Gift of the Spirit of Life. The Gift of God is Living Water, springing up
into everlasting life. Living water is the water of vitality from the Eternal
Source of Life. The law i. good, but weak through the flesh, ineffective
through human infirmity. The Holy Spirit strengthens the inward man. The Spirit
of Life dwells in men, permeates their being, sanctifies their nature, quickens
their powers, vitalizes their mortal bodies, and radiates their life. They live
-- really live! They live the life that is life indeed. Pentecost turned anemic
believers into exuberant saints. People said they were drunk, and so they were,
but not with wine. They were vivacious with abounding vitality. Pentecost
wakens people up. It vitalizes latent powers, and makes the utmost of every
faculty and gift. Those who would have Life abounding Life, victorious Life,
satisfying Life, glorious Life must get to Pentecost. Life is the best medicine
for every kind of sickness. It cures all ills, ends all weariness, and conquers
death all the time.
3)
Pentecost Brings Understanding
Where
did Peter get the sermon he preached on the Day of Pentecost? He did not read
it from a carefully prepared manuscript. This fisherman Apostle is always
surprising us with the things he knows. Who taught him? How did he know the
hidden meanings of Prophecy? How did he come to understand the philosophy of
history so that he could say with certainty, "This is that"? How came
he to understand the meaning of the Cross and to discover the explanation of
the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead? Who instructed him in these things?
The Master tells how he had come to know that He was the Christ the Son of God;
and that one explanation explains the rest. He knew by the Spirit of Wisdom and
Revelation. The Spirit of Truth guides into all Truth. "In that day ye shall
know." We know by the Spirit that we are sons of God and joint-heirs with
Christ. The Spirit Himself is our Witness. We know that the world is redeemed,
and therefore travails in Hope, waiting for its redemption through "the
revealing of the Sons of God"; a new Creation by Regeneration. We know,
and do not despair. "We know that to them that love God all things work
together for good, even to them that are called according to His purpose."
We know, and are not as others in the day of adversity. We know God. We know,
and we know that we know. We know that at the last we shall be saved, and shall
stand approved in Christ at the Throne of God. None shall lay anything to the
charge of God's elect. Nothing shall separate us from the love of God which is
in Christ Jesus. "In that Day ye shall know." The Spirit is familiar
with the deep things of God, and He takes of the things of Christ and reveals
them unto those who receive Him. He is the Spirit of Wisdom as well as of
Revelation. He leads in practical wisdom, as well as guides into all Truth. He
makes men wise with the wisdom that is from above.
4)
Pentecost Brings a New Fellowship in Prayer
"And
in like manner the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity: for we know not how to
pray as we ought; but the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with
groanings that cannot be uttered; and He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what
is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints
according to the will of God" That is the secret of prevailing prayer.
5)
Pentecost Brings Power
That
was the specific promise of Christ. "Ye shall receive Power after that the
Holy Ghost is come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses unto Me."
Witnessing prevails over the enemy. "We are more than conquerors,"
says St. Paul, and St. John ascribes the victory to testimony. "And they
overcame him [Satan] because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word
of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto death" (Rev.
12:2). The Spirit of Power is given for witnessing. The testimony of Pentecost
was mighty. It is always mighty in the demonstration of the Spirit.
6)
Pentecost Brings the Fire of God
Fire
is the chosen symbol of Heaven for moral passion. It is emotion aflame. God is
love; God is fire. The two are one. The Holy Spirit baptizes in fire.
Spirit-filled souls are ablaze for God. They love with a love that glows. They
believe with a faith that kindles. They serve with a devotion that consumes.
They hate sin with a fierceness that burns. They rejoice with a joy that
radiates. Love is perfected in the Fire of God. Nothing can separate us from
the love of God.
7)
Pentecost Brings Passion for the Souls of Men
The
eighth chapter overflows into the ninth. The experience consummates in anguish
and tears for the lost. There is no sterner test of Grace than the attitude to
the lost. Pentecost leads back to Gethsemane, for it baptizes into Christ's
Baptism of Redeeming Passion. Spirit-filled hearts are always tender, and they
see men through the tears of a holy compassion.
Read
More: http://www.raptureready.com/resource/chadwick/chadwick35.html
Saturday 28 December 2013
Different Kingdom: New Creation Revisited
Different Kingdom: New Creation Revisited: I actually wrote this last week but forgot to post it as Christmas took over! Belated Happy Christmas to all my readers. I said in my las...
Grayling fury at EU bid to bring in even more 'human rights': Justice Secretary says plan is 'absurd' power grab, Daily Mail
- If introduced, it is feared they could lead to a deluge of claims against businesses and the Government
- Contained in the EU's controversial Charter of Fundamental Rights
- Mr Grayling said the suggestion showed Eurocrats were aiming to create a European justice system that overrides domestic courts
|
Chris Grayling today condemns Brussels over an 'absurd' proposal to bring dozens of new European human rights into British law
Justice Secretary Chris Grayling today condemns Brussels over an ‘absurd’ proposal to bring dozens of new European human rights into British law.
If introduced, it is feared they could lead to a deluge of claims against businesses and the Government.
The rights are contained in the European Union’s controversial Charter of Fundamental Rights. The UK opted out of the charter in 1998, but now the European Comission has suggested it could be imposed on all member states.
Mr Grayling said the suggestion showed Eurocrats were aiming to create a European justice system that overrides domestic courts.
‘This country never wanted a charter of fundamental rights and the idea we would sign up to changes that meant it took over our domestic laws is absurd,’ the Justice Secretary said.
‘The European Commission should stop trying to create a European justice system, and should let member states get on with solving the real challenges we all face.’ His intervention marks a significant stepping up in Tory efforts to demonstrate how they want a looser, more trade-based relationship with the EU ahead of the European elections in May.
Mr Grayling’s anger has been prompted by a document produced by the European Commission suggesting that the charter should apply in all member states.
The blueprint, which contains 54 provisions – including the right to strike and the right to collective bargaining – was attached to the EU’s controversial Lisbon Treaty.
The then PM Tony Blair told MPs it was ‘absolutely clear that we have an opt-out’ from the charter. But a new consultation document calls for it to be implemented throughout the EU.
It says people’s ‘interests in and expectations about the enforcement of fundamental rights by the EU are high’. It goes on to suggest that ‘one option would be to make all fundamental rights guaranteed in the charter directly applicable in member states.’
Mr Grayling's anger has been prompted by a document produced by the European Commission suggesting that the charter should apply in all member states
The Human Rights Act 1998 incorporated into our domestic law large parts, but not all, of the European Convention on Human Rights. Some parts were deliberately omitted by Parliament. The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union contains all of the missing parts and many further provisions.
The new discussion document also suggests a stronger role for the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights, though it concedes the steps proposed would require the agreement of member states. Mr Grayling said a Tory-led government would never agree to the proposal to adopt the charter.
However, many of the rights in the charter would be greeted with delight by trade unions who are likely to pressure Labour to accept them.
In the field of employment law, the charter guarantees rights in areas such as collective bargaining, unjustified dismissal, ‘fair and just’ working conditions and maternity and parental leave.
Mr Grayling will play a key part in Tory efforts to rein in the influence of European human rights law, which has stalled under the Coalition because of the fierce resistance of the Liberal Democrats.
Earlier this year, Mr Justice Mostyn also expressed concern about the potential influence of the charter
The Justice Secretary is understood to be considering draft legislation setting out how a Conservative-only government would replace Labour’s Human Rights Act with a British Bill of Rights and reassert the authority of the Supreme Court over the European courts.
He argues that the creeping influence of European courts in British law is unacceptable and underlines the case for renegotiating Britain’s membership of the EU.
Earlier this year, a senior judge also expressed concern about the potential influence of the charter.
Mr Justice Mostyn’s comments came in a judgment on the case of an asylum seeker whose barrister cited the document in a failed bid to win his case.
The judge said he was ‘surprised, to say the least,’ by the claim, adding: ‘I was sure the British government had secured an opt-out at the negotiations of the Lisbon Treaty’. Yet the European Court had suggested that the opt-out ‘does not intend to exempt the UK from the obligations to comply with the provisions of the charter’.
The Conservative pledge is likely to be revived in the next Tory manifesto after being underlined by a draft Bill.
Some Tories – including several Cabinet ministers – want to go further and withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights.
Last night a spokesman for the European Commission said: ‘This paper was published several months ago to stimulate debate at a conference in November.
‘It had a disclaimer saying it did not represent the position of the European Commission. Changes to the Charter – which covers only EU law – could indeed only be made if the UK signed up to them.’
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2530182/Grayling-fury-EU-bid-bring-human-rights-Justice-Secretary-says-plan-absurd-power-grab.html#ixzz2omZ6OfSY
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This worryingly crowded isle: England is officially Europe's most densely packed country, Daily Mail Story
This worryingly crowded isle: England is officially Europe's most densely packed country
- England has overtaken the Netherlands and is second only to tiny Malta
- Over the next 30 years the gap is expected to widen even more
- Figures show the huge impact of Labour’s open-door immigration policy
By JAMES SLACK
|
England has become the most overcrowded major country in Europe.
Population growth is so rapid that four times as many people will soon be crammed in as France and twice as many as Germany.
England has overtaken the Netherlands to become second only to tiny Malta as the most densely populated nation in the EU.
Squeeze: England has overtaken the Netherlands to become the most densely populated major nation in the EU
Over the next 30 years the gap will widen because Germany, France and Holland will either decline or grow only slowly.
The House of Commons figures – based on data from the UK and EU statistical agencies – show the huge impact of Labour’s open-door immigration policy.
By 2046, an estimated 494 people will be squeezed into every square kilometre of England compared with 411 now and only 374 when Tony Blair took power in 1997.
Lax controls: The figures - based on data from the UK and EU statistical agencies - show the huge impact of Labour's open-door immigration policy
The revelations will fuel the debate over immigration, especially with the UK opening its borders to Romanian and Bulgarian workers on New Year’s Day.
James Clappison, the Tory MP who obtained the figures, said: ‘Under the last Labour government, England’s green and pleasant land became England’s green and crowded land.
ENGLAND FEELS THE SQUEEZE
Number of people expected to be living per square kilometre in 2015 - by country
- England - 419
- Holland - 408
- Wales - 258
- Germany - 226
- Italy - 205
- N. Ireland - 130
- Poland - 123
- Portugal - 116
- France - 105
- Romania - 89
- Bulgaria - 66
- Scotland - 40
‘For reasons which have never been properly explained, Labour instigated a policy of massive expansion of immigration.
The fear must be a future Labour government would do the same’. Sir Andrew Green, chairman of the Migrationwatch think-tank, said 90 per cent of immigrants to the UK headed to England.
‘The rapidly growing population density is an inevitable consequence of Labour’s mass immigration of nearly four million in 13 years,’ he added.
‘We already see the pressure on maternity units and primary schools. Less visible is the pressure on housing, which is already in crisis.
‘We will need to build 200 houses a day for the next 20 years or so simply for new immigrants and their families.’
The House of Commons report says the number of people living in every square kilometre in England will rise from 411 now to 419 in 2015, to 433 in 2020 and to 460 in 2030.
By 2046, an astonishing 494 people will be living in each square kilometre.
The equivalent figure for France will be just 115, for Germany 204 and the Netherlands 421.
By 2015, England will also be more than three times more packed than Poland – where an estimated one million of the arrivals under Labour originated from.
The research raises concerns about how the UK’s infrastructure can cope with the increased pressure on schools, hospitals and roads.
Clash: Liberal Democrat Business Secretary Vince Cable, left, likened David Cameron's policies to Enoch Powell’s notorious 1960s ‘rivers of blood’ speech
The large numbers packed into the country will also affect water and power supplies, and will increase pressure to build over green spaces.
David Cameron, under pressure to confront the electoral threat posed by UKIP, has changed the law to prevent EU migrants claiming any benefits in the first three months following arrival.
DAILY MAIL COMMENT
In the wake of the open door immigration policies deliberately pursued by New Labour, England is now the most crowded country in Europe.
By 2015, there will be twice as many people crammed into every square kilometre as in Germany, and four times more than in France.
Only three decades from now, unless there is a significant tightening in border controls, there will be almost 495 people living in each square kilometre – compared to only 374 when Labour came to power in 1997.
Vince Cable and his colleagues on the Left disgracefully suggest that it is somehow racist to worry about immigration.
As our revelations show, it has nothing to do with race – and everything to do with how schools, social services, the NHS and housing can possibly be expected to cope with such unprecedented pressure.
Officials say they want to reduce the ‘pull factor’ to the UK.
Last weekend, tensions between the two Coalition government parties boiled over when Liberal Democrat Business Secretary Vince Cable likened Tory policies to Enoch Powell’s notorious 1960s ‘rivers of blood’ speech.
The Office for National Statistics has already warned that Britain must make room for almost 10million more people over the next 25 years – the equivalent of building a city even larger than London.
The increase, mainly a result of immigration and high migrant birthrates, will push numbers to 73.3million by 2037.
A Home Office spokesman said: ‘Immigration has brought benefits to the UK and we welcome people who want to come here to contribute to our economy and society.
‘However, it is important to control immigration because of its effect on social cohesion, our public services, and on jobs and wages.’
The figures for the rest of the UK in 2015 are predicted to be: Scotland 40 per square kilometre, Wales 258 and Northern Ireland 131. Malta’s figure is expected to be 1,308.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2530125/This-worryingly-crowded-isle-England-officially-Europes-densely-packed-country.html#ixzz2okvhb5FZ
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Friday 27 December 2013
Thursday 26 December 2013
Wednesday 25 December 2013
10 Secrets You Should Know About Marriage Written by Debra Fileta
There are few people that really know what they’re getting into when it comes to getting married. I was one of those people. I mean, we all have an idea of what marriage is all about. We have hopes, dreams, and expectations of what it will look like. We watch movies, idolize TV shows, and even observe marriages in the world around us to try and get a glimpse of this thing we call holy matrimony. But we don’t really know until we’re there, do we?
There are some things about marriage that I understood going into it, but there are so many things that I could have never imagined. And to this day, there is still so much that I’m learning. I write about this concept in my new book, True Love Dates- specifically regarding the things marriage can’t do. But marriage can also do a lot. Here are some of the things I’m learning about it.
1. Marriage is more intimate than sex. I think one of the first things singles think about when it comes to marriage is sex. In our society, sex is portrayed as the mark of intimacy within a relationship. While there is so much value and closeness within the sexual relationship, a good marriage is what makes for good sex, not the other way around. Before marriage, I don’t think I grasped the real intimacy that comes with committing to this one person for the rest of my life. Within marriage, is the amazing opportunity to allow another person a look inside your life, your mind, your heart, and your very soul. Now that, is true intimacy.
2. Marriage reveals selfishness, but can cultivate selflessness. I knew I had the ability to be selfish, but I didn’t know I actually was selfish, until I got oh…about 6 months into my marriage (probably more like 6 hours, but I’m being generous). From the silly moments of choosing where to eat and who gets the remote, to the more significant things like apologizing and putting his needs before mine – you learn that true selflessness is something that has to be lived out. It’s a hard lesson that has stretched my spiritual life more than anything else ever could – and through that, a beautiful reminder of a God who selflessly gave His all for me. I’m learning to be more like Him through this part of my marriage.
3. Oneness literally means…one. We all think of the deep spiritual and physical benefits of oneness, but do we ever consider these things: One house. One bed. One bathroom. One mirror above the bathroom sink. One bank account. One budget. In marriage, you relearn the preschool lesson of “sharing”, but you learn it in a very non-preschool kind of way. You learn to let go of the mine and yours mentality, because in marriage – everything is truly ours. There’s something really hard, but something really beautiful about that. It’s a reminder that at the end of the day what’s mine is yours…but everything we have, is actually His.
4. At some point, you will be disappointed. I know, this one was a hard reality. I’m not sure why I didn’t really believe it would happen. I am fully aware of my and my husband’s humanity. But for some reason this truth doesn’t really hit home – until it actually hits home. My husband and I have loved each other deeply, but we’ve also hurt each other deeply. When you allow someone to bury their heart in yours, there’s no doubt that one day, you will feel an ache. Whether in the form of an unkind word, a thoughtless action, or a selfish moment – marriage will hurt. But by God’s grace, each wound paves the way for grace, forgiveness, and restoration. Each wound is a reminder of our need to love better and to love deeper.
5. Like it or not, you will learn the meaning of forgiveness. With the certainty of being wounded, comes the reality that you will need to learn forgiveness. But the biggest lesson to learn, is that true forgiveness comes not because the person standing before you is deserving, rather, it comes out of a heart that understands how much we’ve been forgiven though we, too, were undeserving.
6. Marriage will cost you. I’m not even talking about the cost of the wedding. That’s nothing in comparison to the emotional costs that come with becoming one. The truth is, you lose a part of yourself within the glory of marriage. You exchange a little bit of who you are, for a little bit of who they are. You learn to give and take, and then you learn to let go of the things that don’t really matter. And in the end, you realize that what you’ve given – is far, far less than what you’ve ultimately received. Love is good like that.
7. Love isn’t a feeling, it’s a series of decisions. Talk about a reality check. Before marriage you can never comprehend the strong feelings going anywhere but higher. Then one day you realize that feelings can’t really be trusted, because some days you feel you may not even like each other. Feelings come, but feelings also go. They are a compass, and sometimes a guide, but they are never to be followed. Loving is easy when you feel like it, but when you don’t, that’s the test of real love. It’s choosing to love, to give, and to serve because of the commitment you have made. It’s choosing the other instead of choosing yourself. That’s the very definition of love in its truest form.
8. Marriage will require you to learn how to communicate. Like to talk? Don’t like to talk? Well, it doesn’t really matter. No matter what your communication bent, marriage will force you to bring your insides out. It will require you to take a good hard look at your opinions, beliefs, ideas, and feelings – and share them with another. It will cause you to answer the hard questions, and speak the difficult truths – because communication is the lifeline between two people. There’s no way around it. It will cause you to take responsibility for not just what you say, but how you say it – tone, body language, sarcasm and all.
9. Marriage is not the end of your destination. Before you’re married it’s easy to see marriage as the grande finale. It’s the thing we dream of and live for. It’s the force propelling us forward into this destination we call life. And then it finally comes! Now what? There’s this strange moment when you realize that this relationship that God has blessed you with is a fraction of the grand scheme He has for your life. Your purpose and passions will extend far beyond the reach of your relationship with your spouse. Even more exciting is seeing God at work because of this relationship that He’s given you, as the love between you and your spouse is reflected to the world around. Marriage is not the end, it’s only the beginning. God’s got so much more up His sleeve.
10. Marriage gives you a glimpse of so much more. On that same note, man do you learn a lot about God when you are rubbing up against someone day in and day out. There’s a reason that God uses the analogy of marriage to describe His love for His church – because no relationship will ever compare to the intimacy that is exchanged within this earthly connection. Not only is God’s love for us magnified through the lens of a healthy marriage, but He uses this marriage to shape us, refine us, and put us through the fire – making us more and more like Him along the way. Reflecting Jesus is the greatest honor that we can partake in when it comes to marriage, but more so, it’s the one and only thing that will keep our marriage alive.
There are many routes to holiness, and marriage is definitely one of those routes. I am a different person because of this sacred relationship, and I know that God’s not finished with me yet. I’m so thankful for the blessing of marriage, and look forward to what lies ahead.
Tuesday 24 December 2013
Views, Visions and Values.: The Christmas Truce: The Story of Karl and Arthur...
Views, Visions and Values.: The Christmas Truce: The Story of Karl and Arthur...: It’s Christmas Eve 1915 and in small village in Alsace, Germany, Karl looks at the photo’s placed above the open hearth, and sees a...
Monday 23 December 2013
Sunday 22 December 2013
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Jesus Christ, The Same Yesterday, Today and Forever
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