Leadership: Moral Excellence

CURRENT RADIO SERIES Promises of God   CURRENT TV SERIES At the Cross

“I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” —Revelation 1:9 John is the human author of the Revelation. It has been sixty years since John the disciple had seen Jesus after the resurrection and ascension. He’s now 90 plus years of age. You would think it was time to check into the retirement home and have a nice rocking chair into heaven. But not true for John. John was exiled and banished and persecuted for his faith, for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus. His exile on this isle of Patmos was one of extreme depravation and desperation, of pain and alienation and separation from friends. Maybe you’ve discovered that you’re on a personal Patmos journey, that you are lonely and limited and isolated and cut-off, suffering in some way. You may be living on an island of an unhappy marriage or the island of an unhealthy body, and shut out or shut off from family and friends. Some are persecuted for the sake of the Gospel. Millions have died in martyrdom for the faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible says all who live in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. There should be at least opposition if we’re standing firm in our faith for the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, there is tribulation but we are not alone on our personal island of Patmos! You may be in a hospital room or a nursing home. You may be in prison. You may be old and tired and feeling like the whole world has forgotten you. But you are not alone if you are in Jesus. IN OUR GREATEST TRIALS WE KNOW THAT GOD COMES VERY NEAR, AND WE CAN EXPERIENCE HIS PRESENCE LIKE NEVER BEFORE!

Leadership: Moral Excellence

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYjxAaQ3tFU&t=114s

Faultless

Monday, March 11, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”

Jude 1:22–25

Edward Mote was largely ignored as a child. His parents were busy running a pub in London and left him to play unsupervised in the street. After his conversion, Mote became a pastor. In addition to his preaching, Mote was a prolific hymn writer. In 1834, he wrote the most famous of his hymns, and one we still sing today, which he originally called “The Immutable Basis for a Sinner’s Hope.”

            When He shall come with trumpet sound,
            Oh may I then in Him be found;
            Dressed in His righteousness alone,
            Faultless to stand before His throne.
            On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
            All other ground is sinking sand.

The God of Heaven who sees everything and even knows the thoughts and desires that are hidden from everyone else has a perfect knowledge of us. Yet though all men are born as sinners, when God looks at those who have placed their faith in His Son for salvation, He sees them as perfectly righteous. That is because the perfection of Jesus has been placed on our account, and our sins are covered under His precious blood.

The devil accuses us both to God and to our own consciences. And while he is a liar, there are plenty of true accusations he can make. But we do not face them alone. “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1).

Today's Growth Principle: 

When we appreciate the way God already sees us, it frees us from false guilt and shame.