November (part 1 of 2)
NOVEMBER 1
"Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin" (Romans 6:6).
Whatever our Lord has done is of eternal value. His death has everlasting effect. So you also can say, "I claim into me the power of the death of the Lord Jesus". This is the way of victory. But if you try to conquer sin by yourself you will not be able to do so. The apostle Paul says in 2 Cor. 4:10, "Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body." This must become your experience also. Perhaps for sometime past you have been trying to conquer sin by your own will-power; but you will soon learn that this does not succeed. Then you can pray sincerely, "Now, Lord Jesus, will You kindly use Your method? Pour into me Your power of death and help me to die to all my desires and weaknesses which are so hateful to You and to me also". That is the only remedy.
Do not think you will become perfect in one day. In fact, no one is perfect. As long as we are in this body we are bound to have some weakness or infirmity. But when you are troubled by the old nature, go straightway and tell the Lord Jesus, "Lord, I am troubled by this old nature; will you not please come into me and pour into me the power of Your death, burial and resurrection?" This is our only weapon.
The Lord Jesus died to forgive us our sins and also to bury our sins, out of sight, for ever. We find this spiritual truth in Col. 2:12 and Rom. 6:4. The devil digs up our past sins to discourage us, specially when our faith is wavering, or when we are in trouble. He will tell you, "Yes, the Lord Jesus Christ died to forgive you. But are you sure He has forgiven ALL your sins? What about THAT sin? Don't you think you are being punished for it now?" At such times, pay no heed to the Evil One; but believe from your heart that ALL your sins are forgiven, and that every one of them is buried for ever. So we can rest assured that God will never again look at our sins. You rebuke the enemy saying "Get thee behind me, Satan, It is written, "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins"
(Isaiah 43:25). Yes, when God forgives He forgives us for ever. The burial of the Lord Jesus Christ gives us this assurance.
When the Lord Jesus Christ comes into us He becomes our life, and so imparts to us His divine nature; His love, righteousness, peace, joy, strength, wisdom and holiness. Thank Him daily for forgiving your sins, and burying them, and also for making you a partaker of His divine nature.
NOVEMBER 2
"Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name: he shall throughly plead their cause" (Jeremiah 50:34).
In Numbers 16 we read that 250 princes rebelled against God's chosen vessels. They began to say that Moses and Aaron were not the only people who had been given power or authority by God. Just as Moses and Aaron claimed to be servants of God, so these princes also claimed to be God's servants. They were leading men and princes among tribes, and surely what Moses and Aaron could do, they also could do. They had no understanding whatever of the authority God had given to Moses and Aaron. These two men were not trained by men, nor did any man appoint them, but they were chosen and trained by God. They were servants of God, specially anointed and prepared for His service. That is why God was able to work through them so mightily. But those princes were utterly blind to the meaning of the anointing and power of God. They were going only by human qualifications and it is in the same way that many Christians have only a human conception of the power of God. The real test of the power of God is evidence of God actually working in us and through us.
Moses and Aaron were on the one side and the 250 princes were on the other, representing all the tribes of Israel. Two hundred and fifty fighting against two people. "Who is Moses and who is Aaron"? they asked. They are making false claims. "We are also men of God and servants of God". Moses and Aaron were both men who were humble and meek before God, and rather than take revenge on any man, they fell upon their faces before God. That is the right way to fight with people who are jealous. We should never try to fight against such people by worldly weapons. If you are one whom God had chosen, then through jealousy your enemies are going to say many things against you. They will find fault with you, and it does not matter how careful you are about your life, they will do their utmost to provoke and annoy you. But you must follow Moses' example, and not argue or fight with them, not be afraid or worry. Like Moses you must pray and call upon God, for God knows how to defend you and vindicate you (Num 16:17, 20, 22, 30, 31). The Lord will surely judge all those men and their households who try to bring false witness against God's servants. Let them say what they like against you. They may spread many stories, but God had His own time and way to defend His own people. But you must not yield to the temptation to speak ill against those who try to harm you nor must you be troubled or worried when they spread stories against you, because they are saying all these things only through jealousy. There is a difference between yourself and them. They can see the light of God shinning upon your face. They know that some change has taken place in your life and they also know that the power of God working in and through you, but because of jealousy they are saying all these things. Their words cannot do any harm. In due time our Lord will judge them, so there is absolutely no reason to the afraid of them. Even though for the time being you many lose your job, or suffer loss, do not be disturbed. God Himself will surely defend His people.
NOVEMBER 3
"...they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily" (Acts 17:11).
We have to lay a good foundation in the lives of the believers. We cannot do this unless we ourselves have a deep, abiding and living experience of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Chief Corner Stone. When we receive Him into our hearts we are born again. After that we need to be built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. What they have taught us, as we see in the Word of God, we have to practise ourselves and then declare to others that which we have fully obeyed. We cannot be governed by our own ideas and traditions, however good they may appear. Our safety lies in obeying God's Word. In the Bible God has given us a complete plan for all our needs. Just as God raised up and sent forth apostles and prophets in the Bible days, even so now also God will raise up anointed vessels if only we seek the Lord in prayer.
Believers should be taught to read the Bible with reverence and expect God to speak to them; to get their questions answered and their problems solved through the Word of God. They must take God's Word along with them wherever they go and ask God to help them to answer from the Bible every question that is put to them. Some people are very lazy and irreverent. They sit comfortably in a chair with a cup of coffee in one hand and a Bible in the other. That is the way they read the Bible. We teach people that they should go down on their knees and read the Word of God with reverence and prayer. God's servants should faithfully, lovingly and perseveringly teach these things to believers. Then they can enjoy this wonderful book, the Bible.
God's people have to be shepherded, controlled and governed by the elders and God's servants. We read in Acts 14:22, 23, that Paul and his co-workers went from place to place, "Confirming the souls of the disciples". These disciples were taught by faithful servants of God. They were well shepherded by the apostle Paul himself, or by men like Titus or Timothy who were left behind for this purpose. When the people had been fully taught, according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit received through prayer and fasting, elders were chosen from among them and ordained for their ministry. This plan received from God was followed by the apostles and their co-workers. In this way the believers and elders of the early Church were properly instructed in the Word of God. Therefore they were able to withstand the terrible persecution which arose later, and they still remained strong.
NOVEMBER 4
"And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy" (Leviticus 20:26).
We are so weak that we need God's grace every moment and in every situation. We fail Him and grieve Him many times a day but God is very gracious. In His grace He forgives us and lifts us up every time. If we are not given a cup of tea in time we lose our temper and get angry. We easily take pride in what we are, what we give, and what we can do. We can be delivered from all these weaknesses, and transformed fully and finally into God's image and into His glory and beauty by the grace of God alone. Whatever blessing we receive is entirely by His grace. So on no account should we take pride in ourselves. We are only worms before God; yet He has lifted us up from our low estate and given us a place of honour. As we realise this, we cannot help thanking God constantly for the abundant grace He is showering on us day by day. That was the message conveyed by the mitre worn by the high priest.
Over the mitre was placed a golden plate (Exo. 28:36) on which were written these words, "HOLINESS TO THE LORD." This should be our daily motto, to keep us holy to the Lord. Our God is a holy God: He is a consuming fire (Heb. 12:29). How can weak creatures like us stand before Him? (Mal. 3:2,3). He wants us to be partakers of His holiness and to become like pure shinning gold. For this purpose, He has to chastise us constantly (Heb. 12:10, 11). These chastisements are to us like many refining fires. When the work of refining has been completed. We shall show forth His holiness, not only upon this earth, but in heaven also, and that for ever and ever. Thus finally we shall be made partakers of God's glory and God's beauty and be filled with God's fulness.
NOVEMBER 5
"...pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you" (Matt 5:44).
Every believer purchased by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ will have to face battles. According to Eph. 6:12 our Christian life is a great warfare. Those who overcome will inherit all things. That is why God permits many trials in our lives. As believers, we have to face some conflict or the other throughout our lives. Sometimes, we will have trouble because of our own failures. But many times, God allows some difficult situations because He has some purpose in our lives. As God's people, we have to face many troubles and trials.
In these last days, many believers have to go through some battle. A godly man like Job went through much suffering. He used to give sacrifices to God even for a sinful thought of his children. Yet, God allowed him to go through many sorrowful experiences. Within a few hours he lost everything through various calamities. Some building fell and all his children died. All his sheep and cattle were destroyed. Scripture tells us that everything happened with the knowledge of God. He was a very great and a rich man. He lacked nothing. He had everything in abundance. He never did any harm to any one through his thoughts or deeds. Yet God permitted so much sorrow in his life. God knows the end from the beginning. He also knows our needs and how these needs can be met. God taught him to pray according to His will. Job's body was full of sores; he had to go through all sorts of painful experiences. Every member of his body went through severe suffering, right from the crown of his head to the sole of his feet. His own wife abused him. Even his relatives and intimate friends accused him that he might have committed some sin and that was why he was suffering. No one showed him sympathy. Job was relieved from all his suffering when he prayed for his friends.
"And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as had before... So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than the beginning..." (Job 42:10,12). God gave him twice as much as he had before.
Very often we pray only for ourselves. How much time do we spend in praying for our enemies? God wants us to pray for everyone. We are not judges but God's co-workers. Think of your enemies and pray for them. When we pray for others, we are much quickened and blessed.
NOVEMBER 6
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves" (Matthew 7:15).
In Deuteronomy 13:1-5 also, we have a solemn warning from God to His people, to protect them from false prophets. In these end days we come across many such people. Whenever God speaks to anyone He speaks in accordance with His Word. We are given the Bible for the same purpose, that is, to understand all the mind of God (2 Tim. 3:14-17). In verse 16 we read, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness". The whole Bible is inspired by the Spirit of God. When the Lord rose again from the dead, He referred to the Scripture to show to the disciples travelling towards Emmaus, the purpose for which He came into the world. "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself,... which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me" (Luke 24:27,44). The Lord Jesus Christ used the whole scripture. Those who are false teachers and false prophets take a few verses and apply them to suit their teaching.
I thank God He saved me in the beginning of my Christian life from false teachers who were going about to deceive new believers. I never knew who they were but they were so kind to me. They invited me to their homes for tea and food. Later on I discovered that they used those means to deceive me and misguide me. When I found that they repeated the same verses from the Bible I knew something was wrong. I was not carried away by their dreams or visions about which they spoke to me. I wanted to meet those people who used passages from the whole Bible in their testimony, ministry and service. There was another thing that protected me from their deception. I found that the whole life of the Lord Jesus Christ was lived in doing God's will. By doing God's will in every matter we can please Him and serve Him. I began to put the same question to those people. "How do you find and know God's will?" They had no answer. They could only tell about signs and miracles. When they said, "God spoke to me" it was only a lie, because they could not prove it. Just saying "God spoke to me" is not sufficient. Scripture says in Rom. 12:2, we have to prove how and when and where God spoke to us and what the evidences are of His showing His will to us. It is by these tests that we can make sure it is God's voice and not man's voice.
All revelation must be in accordance with God's Word. We have to compare Scripture with Scripture to any subject. We know in the end days there will be many false prophets trying to deceive people by dreams, miracles and visions. But we should not be carried away by them. We have to make sure that they know God's mind, will and Word. Our safety is in loving the Word of God, trying to find out the proof of everything, finding God's will and making sure of it by every possible evidence. Take warning from Matt. 7:22, 23; 24:11.
NOVEMBER 7
"Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh" (Matthew 24:44).
It is necessary for all those who believe in the Lord's second coming to have a torch in their hands as the ten virgins had. The "torch" is a symbol of the Church. A torch is often made of filthy rags and mud, and appropriately represents us, because, as sinners all our righteousness is as a filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). As members of His Church we are His shining torches, and if our lights are burning we will be qualified to go with Him into His inner chamber. We must be willing to be governed and controlled by the Holy Spirit (John 3:34). God is willing to give us a full measure of His Spirit. We should not be afraid to go and ask Him (2 Tim. 1:7). However small and insignificant you may be to men, you have the right to go to the Lord day or night.
I believe that the ten virgins, both the wise and the foolish, represent born again people. The word virgin cannot be used for unbelievers; secondly unbelievers have no light; thirdly, unbelievers cannot have the Holy Spirit; and fourthly, unbelievers will neither long for nor desire to see the Lord Jesus Christ when He comes. It is only those who born again that will long to see Him and go forward to welcome Him. But there are many believers who are like the foolish virgins. They do not make the necessary preparations to receive Him. So the Lord warns us that He may come at any time. Nobody has the right to question Him. On the other hand we should be always ready for Him with plenty of oil in our lamps and vessels. Oil is the symbol of the Holy Spirit. Having enough oil means having a life governed and controlled by the Holy Spirit, Who alone can keep you ready all the time.
There are some wrong conceptions regarding being filled with the Holy Spirit. Some think that to be filled with Holy Spirit one must shout in a special way and talk in tongues. If we are believers, we already have the Holy Spirit, and we should keep on praising Him, even in the smallest matter, always asking Him, "Lord, what is Thy wish?" Some people seek to be governed by the Lord only in big matters, and not in small matters. These people are like the foolish virgins. They will not be ready to welcome the Lord at His second coming, neither will they receive the warm welcome that will be given to overcomers.
One day I lost a small stopper in my bath room. It was a small thing, but it was needed to keep the oil from spilling. So I prayed, "Lord, I do not know how to find this stopper. I have looked everywhere. It is not of much values, but it is useful to me. Please let me find it". After three days I found it! This experience became very precious to me. Again I learn how the Lord is interested even in small things which we need. So we must learn to go to Him often, and walk very close to Him; and then, our very lives will prove that we are really carrying oil with us. That is the only way we can be ready for His coming. Let us ask God to forgive us for our negligences and failures and make us ready for His coming.
NOVEMBER 8
"...shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32).
Chapters 14-16 of John's Gospel, contain the last messages of our Lord Jesus Christ to His disciples, before He was crucified. These three chapters can be summed up in three short fragments. In Chapter 14, the Lord speaks of My Peace. In chapter 15, My Joy. In chapter 16, My Victory. By these three short fragments He answered all their questions. They were wondering in their hearts, why their Lord, though having much power and authority, should suffer like this, and His answer was that He wanted them to have peace. It is a very common longing in the heart of every human being to find true peace. Some struggle for many years, but cannot find peace. Our Lord is saying, "My peace I give unto you." Another longing in the hearts of men is to find true joy, but they cannot get it. Our Lord is saying in John 15:11, "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." No earthly means can give this joy. Whatever you may acquire, or possess, or do, you will not find that joy. Yet here our Lord is saying, "I am going to die and suffer, that My joy may come into you and that your joy may be full."
Again men want power in their lives, but they are defeated. Yet our Lord is saying in John 16:33, "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." That victory is for you and for me to make our lives fully victorious, fruitful, triumphant and full of power. Our Lord had to die and rise again to give us His peace, joy and victory. So real Christian life can be summed up in these three simple words. Peace, Joy and Victory.
NOVEMBER 9
"When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost" (John 6:12).
Though the Lord Jesus Christ blessed the five loaves and two fishes, the disciples had the honour to go and distribute them. He did not ask strong sturdy men to serve. Only the disciples are mentioned. Others could not be co-workers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Only those who are truly born again and follow the Lord, can be His co-workers.
The disciples were carrying the bread blessed by the Lord Jesus Christ, and only the Word which is blessed will satisfy. Many have much knowledge and can argue very effectively and yet when they speak they do not do good, but harm. Other people say only a few words but you get strength and inspiration from their broken words, because every word which is being spoken is being blessed by the Lord Jesus Christ. You must pray every morning. "Lord, anoint my lips, tongue, and throat today. I acknowledge my foolishness. Lord, I would like to help So and So, so help me to give the right word for the people." Then you will find throughout that day somebody is given the bread of life through you. Even a few words are sufficient to answer the questions of a seeker provided the Lord Jesus speaks it. Whenever a hungry soul comes to you, try to satisfy their hunger with the Bread of life. There are some who come with a small problem and some with large and many problems, but we must be prepared to answer every questions, and to satisfy everybody. Have patience to hear their story; it does not matter how long it may be, because, though to you the trouble may not be serious, it is very important to them, and we have sufficient food to give for all their problems.
"...and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full" (Matt.14:20). From this we learn from them that our Lord does not like wastage. If we as disciples of the Lord Jesus have to satisfy the hungry, and especially the hunger of the multitude, then we must learn that lesson. There should not be any wastage in our life. Yet we waste many things. We waste our time, our energy, our food, and many other things, and that is why our lives are not satisfying the hungry people. God does not like wastage.
Can we say sincerely that our time is being profitably spent, or do we waste the time in ordinary conversation or in things of little value? Supposing you have one or two hours to wait for a train, or a bus. Do you spend it by reading magazines or books, or looking at the walls or seeing people going by? Can you say you make the best use of your time? Whether in the bus station or railway platform, time should spent profitably either in reading the Bible or in giving testimony or in some other useful way. You must make the best use of every second because there are hungry and needy people who need to be satisfied spiritually.
NOVEMBER 10
"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints" (Ephesians 6:18).
Naphtali means "wrestling" (Gen. 30:8). Jacob wrestled with God and said, "I will not let thee go, except thou bless me" (Gen. 32:26). Abraham interceded with God for Sodom and Gomorrah with much reverence. We also have the privilege of going to God to travail and intercede for God's people and God's servants scattered in different parts of the world. We cannot go personally to every place, but we can pray (Eph. 6:18). Such intercession is wrestling with God. When we come to know the needs of different people, their sufferings and their problems, we should begin to wrestle with God for them. As our prayer circle goes on widening we will find that we are drawn closer to the heart of God.
I have found travelling by train very helpful for prayer. I have spent whole nights in praying for people all over the world; for their salvation, safety and anointing. While travelling in crowded trains, without any reservation even, we can spend time profitably in prayer. Thus we shall forget our discomfort, and shall rejoice in praying for others. That is how we are drawn near to the heart of God.
Many years ago I was in Victoria, Canada. I received a message from an old lady who fractured her spinal cord and was encased in plaster of Paris. She was in much pain for most of the time. When I went to see her in the small room where she lived, she told me, "I am thankful to the Lord for keeping me in bed like this. This gives me plenty of time to pray for many of the Lord's servants. " Several years before, she wanted to become a foreign missionary but for some reason had been unable to do so. "But now", she continued, "when I am in pain and unable to sleep, the Lord reminds me to pray for one servant of God and another in different parts of the world." This was the ministry given to her by God. Victoria is a sea port and ships from many parts of the world halt there. Thus missionaries from many countries pass through this town. This sister had a list of all servants of God who also passing through and she would invite them to come and see her. Someone informed her about me and so she gave an invitation to me also. When I went to see her, her face was shining with happiness. She told me how she had been praying for me for many years. Only in eternity shall we know the great things which God has done in answer to her prayers and in and through the lives of all the saints, and servants of God for whom she had been interceding. We all can have this privilege of wrestling in prayer.
NOVEMBER 11
"For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified" (1 Cor. 2:2).
The apostle Paul describes two kinds of believers in 1 Cor. 3:1; spiritual believers and carnal believers. Believers who remain babes in the things of God are called carnal believers. Those who grow in the things of God are called spiritual believers. To many believers, God's Word comes in power and in authority; still they remain very weak spiritually. The apostle Paul calls them carnal believers or spiritual babes. Among such people, there will be strife, divisions and party feelings. Such believers have no appetite for deep and true things of God, and no capacity to receive strong meat. i.e. deep truths of God's Word. But God wants all believers to come to spiritual maturity.
In order to be spiritual believers, we need to understand the meaning of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 2:2). Paul was interested in knowing exactly the personal experience of the cross among the Corinthian believers. Without the knowledge of the cross they were quarrelling among themselves like children. They were full of jealousy, strife, party feelings and quarrels. That is why, Paul said he wanted to know about their experience of the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. Mere words and phrases are not sufficient for spiritual growth. We have to receive into us, the power of the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Lord Jesus Christ performed many miracles for three years. But even those who were healed by Him were in the end shouting, "crucify Him, crucify Him". It is possible for anyone to see many miracles and yet remain in darkness. The power manifested in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus changed many lives. He died according to the Scriptures, and was buried according to the Scriptures and rose again according to the Scriptures. Thereafter He sent His disciples to go into the world and preach the Gospel. Then many were transformed through their teaching and preaching because the power of the cross had come into them. Paul knew the importance of that power. We have to appropriate into us the power of the Lord Jesus Christ, which He manifested on the cross. When He died we died with Him, when He was buried we were buried with Him, and when He rose again we rose with Him. According to God's Word the Lord Jesus Christ is our Creator (John 1:3). He is not only our Creator, but He gave His very life for us. By faith we can see ourselves in Him on the cross.
Only when we realise our oneness with the Lord Jesus Christ in His death on the cross, will we have the power of His resurrection. Just by shedding tears for His sufferings we will not get that power, because He did not die to win our sympathy. He did not even die as a martyr. He gave Himself willingly. He wants you and me to believe that He died in our stead, and was buried for our sake and rose again to live in us. It is only such an experience that gives us victory, as the real power from the cross comes into us (1 Cor. 1:18). The power to transform us and to lead us to victory can come to us through the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ and that will make us spiritual believers. Then the Holy Spirit also will work freely in us. In 1 Cor. 3:16 Paul says, "...the Spirit of God dwelleth in you". When the Holy Spirit comes into us and occupies us wholly and solely, we become spiritual.
NOVEMBER 12
"... keep thyself pure" (1 Timothy 5:22).
The Holy Spirit creates a hunger in the heart of a believer for the things of eternity. The spiritual man responds to it. His longing increases for the Word of God and the House of God. He desires to understand more and more, the ways of God and to extend His kingdom. The apostle Paul's exhortation, "set your affection on things above" is a reality in his life. But a carnal believer is much more interested in the perishing things of this world such as land, buildings, fashions, silver and gold than in the things of God. The attraction for the things of eternity is the proof of your spiritual growth.
Also a spiritual man has a longing for holiness (1 Peter 1:13-15). This longing increases day by day and the least defilement in the spirit, either by word, deed or thought will trouble him and rob him of his inward peace. He is like the people who must take at least one bath a day, and will be uncomfortable and ill at ease if for some reason they are unable to take it. Whether they are suffering from cold, or whether the water is cold makes no difference to them. They want clean bodies, clean clothes, and everything clean in the house as well. But there are some people who are quite at ease and absolutely unconscious that their bodies are dirty all the time. In some house the drawing room will be clean and attractively furnished, but the kitchen and the bathroom will be untidy or even dirty. Even so, outwardly we may appear spiritual, but there may not be inward purity and holiness in us because of some defilement. The Holy Spirit helps us to become holy by convicting us of our sins, and bringing us under the cleansing of His blood. Therefore, if you are defiled by thought, word or deed, straightway claim His precious blood to cleanse you. This is the only way, there is no other way of being holy. A deep longing for holiness is another proof of spiritual growth.
NOVEMBER 13
"...the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us" (Romans 5:5).
When the Lord Jesus Christ told His disciples that He would be leaving them shortly to lay down His life they were sad. They might have said to Him, "Lord, for Your sake we left our homes and business. Now if You leave us we will be forsaken, like orphans". But the Lord answered them, "I will not leave you comfortless", or "orphans" as in the margin of the Authorised Version (John 14:18). The Holy Spirit, as Comforter, pours God's love into us. When we are lonely and unloved we can taste this love and protective care, and the feeling of being orphans is gone. So there is no need for us to say, "I have no father or mother, or brother or sister to look after me. I have no home to go to". Those who have a home may say, "I can go home to my parents when I am ill or in need and they will look after me". But God has promised not to leave us but has sent us the Comforter Who will bring His love into us in fulness (Rom. 5:5).
The Holy Spirit brings divine love into us to comfort us, and the same love gives us a burden for perishing souls and a loving concern for the backslidden, and the sick and suffering. On hearing of someone's troubles or sickness our hearts reach out to them in love and sympathy, and we desire to comfort them by writing to them, visiting them and by praying for them. We do these things not as a matter of formality but because the love of God constraints us (Rom. 12:15). The privilege of being comforted and of comforting others by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God is proof of a spiritual believer. Also the Holy Spirit helps us to understand the truth and opens our eyes to see great and hidden mysteries of God's Word. There are many believers who know little or nothing of Science., History, Geography, Philosophy or Botany, but they do understand and enjoy God's Word, because the Holy Spirit of Truth reveals things to them which are hidden from the wise and the prudent (Matt. 11:25, Luke 10:21). Carnal Christians enjoy singing hymns and lyrics and prefer to hear moral sermons, but when the deeper things are shown from God's Word they fall asleep. It is not because they are tired but just because they can neither understand them nor are they interested in such spiritual things. But a spiritual believer is eager to learn everything the Holy Spirit will teach him, and is hungry for more and more God's Word, and can understand and enjoy the hidden mysteries of God. This hunger for, and the ability to understand the truth of God's Word, is also a proof that a believer is becoming spiritually mature.
NOVEMBER 14
"...ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father" (Romans 8:15)
The spirit of sonship gives us boldness to enter into the holy presence of God. A servant will not enter his master's room without permission, and even when he does so, it is with a certain amount of fear, but a son comes boldly to his father, and if he is a small boy, he might even put his hand into his father's pocket. That is his privilege as a son. In the same way we can say that God is our Father, and so we can go to Him boldly, at any time, for any need. We can go to Him for any trial, for strength when we are weak, for love and sympathy when we are depressed, and for the right answer to all our problems. The carnal believers, on the contrary, look to man for help. They will say, "I need money. Let me go to my uncle and ask him for Rs. 100". Then they will approach their uncle with tear or flattery and ask for what they want. But a spiritual man knows from his heart that his heavenly Father can and will help him when no one else is able to do so. He trusts implicitly in God's promises and knows that He will not turn him away, nor refuse to help him. This knowledge gives him boldness in prayer under all circumstances. As sons of God we are coworkers and co-partners with Him. Only as we grow spiritually do we enjoy this boldness in a great measure.
The spirit of power (2 Tim 1:7) enables us to bear our burdens with joy and patience. We all, without any exception, have some burden or the other. It may be in connection with the family or business or the church. Only His grace can enable us to bear our burdens and come out victorious. We know from personal experience how God give us, again and again, extra grace for every stress and strain. This Spirit-filled man also come forward voluntarily to share the burdens of others whereas a carnal believer will grumble at his difficulties and blame others for them. When a believer has no strength or faith to bear his own burdens how can he help his neighbours and friends to bear theirs? The spiritual man depends upon God and His precious promises and says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Phil. 4:13). The ability to bear burdens lovingly is a characteristic of a spiritual believer.
In the early Church false teachers were going about deceiving and misleading Christians with wrong doctrines. Their motive was only to make money (Rom. 16:17,18). Carnal Christians will be easily deceived, but a Spirit-filled man can discern the truth because of the anointing of the Holy Spirit (John 16:13). Therefore he is careful and watchful against the subtle devices of the enemy to mislead him and thus he is protected from false prophets. The ability to discern between Spirit-anointed teaching and false teaching is also a proof that a man is spiritual.
NOVEMBER 15
"...planted together in the likeness of his death" (Romans 6:5).
We find these days many people saying that they are born again, but when we see their lives, we doubt what they say. They have no peace and no joy in their hearts, and no power in their lives. They live defeated lives. If they fail sometime there is some excuse because no one is perfect. But if they live defeated lives continually there must be something wrong. The only reason is they are not saved and do not have the power of the Holy Spirit. They are dry rods which never bud, blossom and bear fruit. The power of God has not entered into them.
In Romans 6:5 we are told how we are planted together in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. "For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection". The Lord Jesus died to take away the condemnation of our sins. Also He died to bring into us a new power which will help us to die to our old nature. This latter part many people fail to understand. No doubt they believe the first part. They believe that Christ died to take away the punishment of their sins. But they do not believe the second part that He died to take away their sinful nature. So they depend upon their will power and their own wisdom to get victory over their temptations; the result is, they go on falling into sin. You can never conquer sin that way. The only way is this; by faith you must take into you the power of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul says in Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me". If we want to have the experience of the second part we must have the experience of the first part. Many like to say, "Christ liveth in me", but they are not able to say, "I am crucified with Christ". That is the reason why they are still living in darkness. Let us examine ourselves truthfully whether we are dead to our old sinful nature or not. When Christ was on the cross many said to Him, "If you are the Christ, then come down from the cross and we shall believe you". If the Lord had so desired, He could have come down, but He did not. Mohammedans say in their books that the Lord Jesus Christ was never buried in fact He never died, but He came down from the cross and in supernatural way He went up to heaven. This is the devil's teaching. "...Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (1 Cor. 15:3,4). He died to take away our punishment; He died that we may die to our sinful nature. This power of His death will go on working in us every moment to deliver us completely from the old nature. That is why Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:31, "I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily". So it is a daily process by which the death of the Lord Jesus Christ works in us.
NOVEMBER 16
"...I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward" (Genesis 15:1)
On the second stone on the breast-plate worn by Aaron, the high priest was found the name "Issachar" which means "God is my reward", or hire or wages (Gen. 30:18). This name teaches us not to seek any earthly reward or look for any man's favour. Whether you do an act of kindness to anybody, or whether you do a job in the House of God, do it without expecting a reward from any man because our Lord Himself is our reward. Do all things as unto the Lord (Col. 3:23).
There are some school teachers who work very, very hard one week before inspection. The rooms are kept very tidy and clean. The students are taught nicely and when they are questioned by the Inspector, the children answer correctly. The Inspector will be impressed greatly and pay compliments to the teachers and to the school administration. But after the inspection, things are left to themselves, the school becomes untidy and the children are not taught well. They do all things for the school Inspector.
There are some people who pray for a long time in meetings and hardly three minutes at home. Some do things to please men and there is no reward for them. Do every job lovingly, faithfully and sincerely either in the office or in God's House. Learn to be faithful even in small things (Luke 16:10). Whatever we do or say let it be only unto Him and for His Name's sake. Have a longing to do all things faithfully. This will draw us nearer to God.
NOVEMBER 17
"...for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye" (Zechariah 2:8).
If we humble ourselves, confess all our sins and obey His words, trusting in His mercy and compassion, He will forgive us and restore us. Just as new joy came into the hearts of God's people on their way to Jerusalem and increased more and more as they went up higher and higher, even so, our joy will increase more and more as we go on overcoming every temptation and trial.