THE ENEMY'S CAMP

When the 'church' becomes a fortress to keep out the world, it turns into a camp of the enemy.

Like the Dead Sea, the fish inside die.

SIGNIFICANCE

There is nothing more important for man than to know that he matters and that he has a role to play in life.

God meets those needs head on. Being made in His image, He regards fallen man as infinitely precious. He redeems us out of our brokenness and rebellion to be remade in this image and reflect His beauty and being on earth.

What higher calling and destiny can man have?

God revealed to Jeremiah that He knew him even before he was born. Then He revealed His plan and calling for his life. More even than that. God would ensure that all He had spoken to Jeremiah  would  come to pass and he need have no fear.

There is no higher calling than to walk in intimate union with the fullness of the God-head, living out daily the salvation He bestows on us for His pleasure and glory.

Ephesians 1

THE KING OF LOVE

As our Redeemer King, Jesus never judges us on our performance but by the measure to which we want to please Him. While we need to live disciplined lives as His children, it is the joy we have in walking with Him that should motivate us and not the fear of His stick if we do not measure up.

As His child I lived in a ditch of doubt and fear for many, many years and yet never lost the knowledge that He was the God who did all things well, even if I was cast aside. Little did I know that He was preparing a new place of abode for me, a room, even in the presence of my enemies, with new vistas of His loving faithfulness and beauty which will accompany me throughout eternity.

It is this that keeps me at His side, fearing to loose one drop of the cordial of the life He has graciously extended to me.

He is indeed my Shepherd King who bids me rise up and come away with Him. He tells me my face is lovely and my voice is sweet and He desires my place at His side. Who could spurn such a Lover?

THE ORACLES OF GOD

True understanding of the Scriptures must be founded on the faith once delivered to our Hebrew forefathers.

Romans 2 vs 2.
Deuteronomy 4 vv 4 to 10

LIFE OR DEATH ACCORDING TO JOHN.

We have all been bitten by the Serpent of sin and it will kill us but Jesus became sin for us and was lifted up on a pole to die so that we can look on Him and live.

'For God so loved the world that He sent His only conceived Son so that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life'. 

This is eternal life so that we might know You, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

Salvation is living a life of becoming more intimately acquainted with God.