Jesus came willingly, joyfully
November 22, 2023
“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.” Now that is a rather stilted translation. I think I can put that in some good ole Americana. What he actually is saying here is that when He was there—at the right hand of God the Father, and He was God—He didn’t come down reluctantly. He hadn’t gone to school to become God. He wasn’t advanced from another position. He was God. There is no danger of Him losing that position. When He left heaven’s glory, He did it with delight. There was nothing that caused Him to hold back at all. He came with great joy to this earth.
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Galatians Bible Companion
Get ready to fight the good fight against legalism in Galatians. When this letter was written, it defended the gospel of Christ from people who wanted to reduce it to rules. Not surprising, Galatians has provided the backbone for several great spiritual revivals around the world. Freedom, we learn, is a serious fight. Allow grace to revolutionize your own life through these seven lessons from Dr. J. Vernon McGee.
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One of the things that I think is the answer to envy is for every Christian to recognize that he has a gift. And the problem is that some men who do not have a gift are envious of those that have another gift. And gifts are to be exercised—as Paul told the Corinthians. He says, “It’s to be done in love.” Love never says, “Oh, my, I wish I had your gift. The Lord sure shortchanged me. I wish I could do as you do.” Well, my friend, we don’t all have the same gift. And love—if your gift is exercised in love—well, you will not envy somebody else. Everything you’ve got today, friends, God gave it to you.
November 21, 2023
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Whatever He intends for you, He’s going to see it through. My friend, that’s the most wonderful thing that I know of in the Bible. God has brought you up to the present moment, hasn’t He? Well friends, why do you think He’s going to let you down? You think now He’s going to turn loose of you? Oh, I have held onto this in a dark night when the storm outside was just beating against my little bark, and I thought I was through. But He said, “You’re not, I’ll not let you down.” This is a great verse.
November 20, 2023
We’re trying today to produce joy in the church by external means. You know we have a program that we tell folks, “Come—you’ll enjoy it.” But that actually is not joy. Because joy does not depend on outward circumstances. It depends upon the inward condition of the individual. What’s your attitude toward life? If you are complaining and whining today about your lot in life, why certainly, you’re not going to have joy in your life. When you and I get to the place where we find ourselves in the center of the will of God and, regardless of where it is, we know we’re in God’s will, then there’ll be joy in our lives.
November 17, 2023
Saints are believers in Christ. And they’re not that because of their conduct, but because of their position in Christ, which simply means this: Anything that is “saint” or “holy,” the same word here, means “separated for the use of God; that which belongs to God.” Why, the old pots and pans in the tabernacle were called holy vessels, and they were sure beaten and battered. They didn’t look holy, but they were. Why? They were set aside for the use of God. And that should be the position of every child of God—set aside for the use of God.
November 16, 2023
There’s a great hope the Christian has today. “Beloved, it doeth not yet appear what we shall be, but when He shall appear, we shall be like Him.” And today He’s the One that offers gifts. And today He’s the One that is the God of heaven, and our hope is in Him. And you may look out at the world and, if you do, you’ll be like Simon Peter, you’ll begin to sink. But don’t look to them—look to the Lord Jesus Christ. Look to Him. And, my friend, He can lift you out of this present day. May I say to you: Look to the living Christ. He is the Lord God of heaven.
November 15, 2023
The gospel has power, my beloved, and it still has power. Now, it has power for very definite things. “It is the power of God unto salvation.” That’s the end and the effect of the gospel. Salvation is the all-inclusive term of the gospel, and it simply means deliverance. And it has everything in it, from justification to glorification. It’s both an act and a process. It’s equally true: “I have been saved, I am being saved, I shall be saved.” And it’s to everyone. It embraces the entire human race irrespective of racial or religious barriers. It’s personal, for it is directed to every individual and “whosoever will may come.” It’s for everyone.
November 14, 2023
There are only two classes of people in the world: saints and ain’ts. And you’re a saint if you trusted Christ. It’s not your character that makes you a saint; it’s your faith in Jesus Christ. It means you’re set aside for Him. You’re beloved of God. And you’ve been called saints. That’s the kind of saint you are. You’re like Paul—called an apostle. And as he called himself at the beginning, he’s a bondslave of Jesus Christ. Who do you obey? You’re obeying someone today. A saint is one that has come to Jesus Christ, and he’s that because he’s trusted Him and he has been set aside for Jesus Christ.
November 13, 2023
How wonderful it is to be separated unto Christ, because He brings you to the place where your horizons are enlarged, and you’re given a new life in Christ Jesus. And how wonderful that new life is. It brings you to a new place and appreciation of life. Separation doesn’t mean you’re drawn in and you become little and narrow. Why it means, friends, that your life has broadened out. And today there’s so many wonderful things that you can do as a child of God, and you can have an appreciation of things today. May I say to you that it’s thrilling to live today. What a glorious, wonderful thing it is.
November 10, 2023
I hear people today say, “Should a Christian be separated from something?” I think there’s so many barren lives, they get separated from something and they’re joyless and they become very critical and some even very cynical. My friend, you’re to be separated unto Christ. Now when you’re separated unto Christ, then the separation from takes place. And the very interesting thing is it means that you’ve got a life that appeals; not one that turns people off. A lot of people turn the unsaved off by their lives. You know, Christians are salt. Salt makes you thirsty. Are you and I making anybody thirsty for Christ? He’s the Water of Life. Do we make them thirsty?
November 9, 2023
If there’s anything that’s to me almost unpardonable it is a dull, uninteresting Christian. My friend, things ought to be happening around you, if you’re a child of God. You ought to be in some sort of movement, getting this Word out. Say, we’re going to have a good time following Paul from now on. And this’ll be the cheapest trip you could be able to take in the summertime for your vacation. Why not come go along with us? We’re on a Bible Bus, by the way. We’ll go by bus, but Paul’s going to walk most of the way. But get on the bus, and let’s go through the Bible together.
November 8, 2023
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Galatians Bible Companion
Get ready to fight the good fight against legalism in Galatians. When this letter was written, it defended the gospel of Christ from people who wanted to reduce it to rules. Not surprising, Galatians has provided the backbone for several great spiritual revivals around the world. Freedom, we learn, is a serious fight. Allow grace to revolutionize your own life through these seven lessons from Dr. J. Vernon McGee.