Open in prayer. HYMNS: (Green Book) HOME FELLOWSHIP - MARCH 2010. 50. Be Still My Soul. 96. I Serve a Risen Saviour. 64. I Cannot Tell. COMMUNION. Luke 24:1-7; Matthew 28:1-8. BIBLE STUDY. Jesus Christ is THE MIRACLE of Grace, right down to His very genealogy. Here is an example I want you to imagine. It has to be fiction, you cannot attempt write it in fact. Suppose I ask you to write out a genealogy of your family tree. Here are the rules you must follow: The number of words you use must be an exact multiple of SEVEN. The number of letters must be divisible by SEVEN. The number of vowels is to be divisible by SEVEN. The number of words that begin with a vowel must be divisible by SEVEN. The number of words that occur more than once must be divisible by SEVEN. The number of words that occur in more than one form must be divisible by SEVEN. The number of nouns must be divisible by SEVEN. The number of names shall be divisible by SEVEN & only SEVEN other kinds of nouns will be permitted. The number of male names shall be divisible by SEVEN. The number of generations shall be divisible by SEVEN. How could it be done!!! But this IS the genealogy of Jesus Christ found in the opening eleven verses of the Gospel of Matthew, in the Greek. This structure was discovered by Dr Ivan Panin, born in Russia, December 12, 1855. He discovered the heptadic structure of Scripture in about 1890 and spent the next fifty years of his life in bringing forth forty-three thousand pages of research on the Bible structures and related subjects. no man cometh unto the father but by me. ` John 14:6 KJV # 1
THIS MIRACLE OF GOD, THE SAVIOUR, LIVES WITHIN US BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. He has designed a Way for us to have peace at ALL times. This peace is NOT outside ourselves, it is INSIDE our souls and spirits, and the door to perfect peace opens by the key FAITH. Philippians 4: 4-8: Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation [epieikes or sweet reasonableness] be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. [He is near us, close to us, about to reveal Himself to the world].be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Epeikes is to be gentle, patient, mild, even-handed and unbiased. 1. Be careful or anxious for nothing. This means stop worrying. Don t be a habitual worrier. STOP WORRYING. 2. In everything give thanks to God, and turn all your affairs over to God. DO IT. The word for prayer is interesting; it is proseuchomai, meaning to approach face-to-face with God. He is able to take care of your needs. We have a new pet; he was a lost cat, a stray. He was in a shocking state when we took him in. Now he has comfort, food, love, a soft bed and safety. He lets us handle everything instead of trying miserably to care for himself. What if he refused to let us take over? He would still be out there in misery and worry. So it is with us. Let God be the One who handles your whole life, all your affairs, body, soul, spirit, family and possessions etc. Not to be mindlessly irresponsible, but casting all your care upon Him to handle and inspire and lead you into the right way in all things. Trust in and have a living hope in the Lord. Our cat has not a care in the world - now. 3. Supplication means to make a petition. We have giants in the Promised Land to make us realize that we cannot do anything on our own. WE NEED GOD! When you are tempted to be worried and anxious simply go face-to-face with God, clearly tell Him of your needs and desires, give thanks and be aware of the solutions He is already providing and wait for more to come. Then you will have peace. This peace is the fruit of the Holy Spirit: no man cometh unto the father but by me. ` John 14:6 KJV # 2
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5: 22-25. Adjust yourself to the Holy Spirit! HOW CAN WE HAVE FAITH-REST IN THESE AWESOME TIMES? 1. REAL rest in the emotional life, the spirit and soul, cannot be worked up by ourselves. It is only found in the Presence of the Living God: And he [God] said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. Exodus 33:14. Psalm 116: 6-7: The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me. Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee. 2. Rest cannot be had by escaping from our problems! If we are not at rest in God anything, any little thing, can upset us. If you have gotten rid of one problem, you will be distressed by the next problem and so on. Peace and rest of soul are only found in God Himself, and He wants you to be always in PEACE-REST by FAITH. Seek to live in the kingdom of God right now. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Romans 14:17. 3. Outside of FAITH IN GOD there is always, always, chaos, distress, fear, and confusion. Spiritual rest cannot be ever found by those who will not believe God and trust Him. Look at Jesus our Saviour, not at the problems. Isaiah 28:12; 30:15; 57:20-21; Matthew 11:28-29. 4. GOD has provided in His Word a solution to every difficulty, every distress, every problem we can ever face. Believe His Word, and rest in it. Hebrews 4:1-3. 5. We all have friends and family who will not seek God and find in Him the rest and safety they so desperately need. They continue to be stray and lost, wandering in misery. It is not God s fault, for Jesus Christ is offering the rest of salvation to the whole world. He invites all to come: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28. How silly of them not to come to Jesus, how proud and unrepentant they are, you might say. `But, God is also offering the Christians the REST of spiritual growth and prosperity FREELY; will YOU take Him up on His offer? no man cometh unto the father but by me. ` John 14:6 KJV # 3
There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Hebrews 4:9. Let God be Lord of your life, trust Him and let Him care for you. Stop worrying and fussing and stressing. 6. The rest God gives will be shown to be eternal as we move into our eternal future. It is eternal rest right now; do not be robbed of this in your earthly existence. Seek Faith-Rest with all your heart. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. Revelation 14:12-13. 7. Those who reject Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord will have eternal unrest. Revelation 4:11. Why? Because they were created for God and they will not receive and worship Him, and the only place to find life, peace and rest is in God - that is in the whole cosmos! The unsaved do not want the very purpose for what they were created. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. 8. Even David would have liked to fly away from his problems, but we must be those who stand up in the midst of our various affairs and lean upon our God alone. My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me. Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah. Psalm 55: 4-7. Then David says later on: Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22. THIS WORLD SYSTEM COULD DRIVE US CRAZY if we let it! It causes frustration, turmoil, fear, and loss of peace - if we let it. Here are some promises we need to rest in right now and for the REST OF OUR LIVES : Promises for NEEDS: Matt 6:33; Philippians 4:6-7; Rom 8:32; 1 Tim 6:6-8. 1 Cor 1:9; 2 Cor 9:8; no man cometh unto the father but by me. ` John 14:6 KJV # 4
Promises when DISCOURAGED: Isaiah 40:31; Philippians 1:6, 3:13-14; 2 Tim 1:7; Heb 4:15-16, 13:5. Promises when in TRIAL: Exodus 14:13-14; Romans 8:28, 31; 1 Sam 17:47; 1 Cor 10:13; Psalm 4:8, 56:3; James 1:2-3, 12; Isaiah 41:10; 1Peter 1:7; 5: 6-7. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8. What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. Psalm 56:3. CLOSE IN PRAYER. Enclosed Sheets: Resume of Jesus Christ Rock of Ages with Scriptures no man cometh unto the father but by me. ` John 14:6 KJV # 5