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#10/ 29-May-1999

          P O S I T I V E     W O R D S
               Editor: Peter Wade

     ----- http://www.peterwade.com/ -----

IN THIS ISSUE...
1. At the Positive Words site
2. Songs I Remember
3. Positive Words for Today
4. Searchlights from the Word
5. Humor?

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1. NEW AT THE POSITIVE WORDS SITE
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The blessing continues: "A couple of weeks ago, our family
took a ride through the Amish Country with spring in full
bloom and beautiful farms on all sides, while hearing how
God cares for us from your CD. See, Rev. Wade, your heart
stretches over hundreds of miles to God's people and we
sure do love you" (Ohio, USA). "Peter, I was so blessed to
hear your voice on our answering machine last week... We
took your advice... We read and study how that God is
always with us but to see Him work so mightily in this
situation was such a quick answer to prayer. We thank God
for you both and for your prayers for us" (Mississippi,
USA). "What a blessing to hear Peter teach again. I'll
order the CD soon" (Ohio, USA). 

DIVINE HEALING AND HEALTH
There has been evidences of the truth of divine healing in
every century. While many feel it is a modern emphasis of
Christianity, this truth was actually taught by leading,
well-respected evangelical leaders of the late 19th century.
  In our survey of this truth, we start with Dr. A.J.
Gordon, respected Baptist pastor, and an article he
published in 1872. Then we feature A.B. Simpson, founder of
Alliance churches, and an article on the scriptural
foundation of healing he first published in 1885. 
  S.D. Gordon, head of the YMCA, returns to our pages with
two chapters from his book "Quiet Talks about the Healing
Christ", published in 1924. We have included an article by
E.W. Kenyon from his book, "Jesus the Healer", published in
1940, and finally a 40-minute audio teaching by Peter Wade,
never before released, as given at the Victory Church,
Hampstead, London, England, in 1993.
  We trust these articles and audio will give you a well-
rounded view of the truth of divine healing and health.
< http://www.peterwade.com/ >

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2. SONGS I REMEMBER
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"How tasteless and tedious the hours..." I woke up one
morning a couple of weeks ago with these words on my mind.
"How tasteless and tedious the hours..." Why they were on
my mind I have no idea. Perhaps I had been dreaming of
having dinner at McDonalds, or maybe I was frustrated at my
computer being in the repair shop! So I asked my wife
Vivien, "Do you know a song starting 'How tasteless and
tedious the hours'?" She did not, and so the search was on.
  I found the song, and was surprised to see that it was
written by John Newton (1725-1807), an Anglican minister in England. He wrote
many hymns, the most famous being "Amazing Grace", and both
of these hymns were first published in 1779 in "The Olney
Hymns". "How tasteless and tedious the hours" was
originally titled "Fellowship with Christ" and is said to be
based on Psalm 73:25.
  Shortly before his death at the age of 82, John Newton
boldly proclaimed in a message, "My memory is nearly gone,
but I remember two things: That I am a great sinner and
that Christ is a great Savior!" That is what's so amazing
about grace!

How tasteless and tedious the hours
When Jesus no longer I see.
Sweet prospects, sweet birds, and sweet flowers
Have lost all their sweetness to me.
The midsummer sun shines but dim
The fields strive in vain to look gay,
But when I am happy in Him
December's as pleasant as May.

His name yields the richest perfume
And sweeter than music His voice.
His presence disperses my gloom
And makes all within me rejoice.
I should, were He always thus nigh
Have nothing to wish or to fear
No mortal so happy as I,
My summer would last all the year.

Content with beholding His face
My all to His pleasure resigned.
No changes in season or place
Could make any change in my mind.
While blessed with a sense of His love,
A palace a toy would appear,
And prisons would palaces prove
If Jesus but dwelt with me there.

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3. A POSITIVE WORD FOR TODAY
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          FOUNDATION OF THE NEW CREATION

"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that we
might become the righteousness of God" (II Corinthians
5:21).

The truth of the New Creation in Christ has as its
foundation a passage in II Corinthians chapter 5 that is
quoted often in the church world, yet believed less often,
and acted upon quite rarely.  The passage starts in verse
17 with these power-packed words. "Therefore, if anyone is
in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new
has come!" (II Corinthians 5:17). And the passage concludes
with verse 21, where the extent and greatness of the New
Creation is made clear. "God made him who had no sin to be
sin for us,. So that in him we might become the righteous-
ness of God" (II Corinthians 5:21).
  The impact of the truth of the New Creation message can
be examined in three parts. It is a message of complete-
ness; it is a message of contentment; it is a message of 
confidence. 
  God does not take the old things of my life and give
them a "spit and polish job" and make them new in
appearance. God places within me something entirely new.
II Corinthians 5:17 says, "the old has gone, the new 
has come."  
  "His old life has disappeared..."(Knox); "the past is
finished and gone" (Phillips); "a new life has begun" (LB);
"a new order has already begun" (NEB). How much has become
new? Everything. "Everything has become fresh and new" 
(Phillips). (From "You Are A New Creation", Chapter 1, 
adapted by Hildy Matthews.)

AFFIRMATION: Since God is the Creator of the New Creation,
then it must be perfect, for God is perfect.            

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4. SEARCHLIGHTS FROM THE WORD
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G. Campbell Morgan was a well-known preacher and writer
from the turn of the century. In this spot each issue we
reproduce a comment from one verse in every chapter of the
Bible. We continue with the so-called "Prison Epistles" of
Paul: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon.

  "Covetousness, which is idolatry" (Colossians 3:5).
  
  In the paragraph from which these words are taken, we
have a dark list of evil things against which Paul warned
the saints. Perhaps the one which would by the ordinary
standards of life be considered least harmful, or at least,
less repugnant than the rest, is covetousness. Admittedly
it is not a pleasant word, and describes something which we
all dislike in other people; but the ordinary man would
hardly bracket it for instance, with fornication as equally
reprehensible. 
  And yet it is the one evil thing which Paul stops to
characterize, and he does so by declaring it to be
idolatry, the most heinous of spiritual sins. It is evident
that the Apostle looked upon it as a most deadly form of
sin. In his Roman letter he declared that it was the
commandment, "Thou shalt not covet," which awoke in him the
consciousness of sin. What is there in this sin which is so
deadly? 
  First, it is idolatry, in that it only obtains when man
thinks of life as consisting in things possessed, rather
than in righteous relationship to God. No man covets until
he has lost the true outlook on life, and imagines that it
can be conditioned by the things around. Therefore, it is a
sin also against others, for to satisfy the desire, others
are wronged. Thus, finally, it is self-destructive, for
these wrong conceptions and activities always react upon
the soul to its own undoing. And yet what ecclesiastical
court ever yet arraigned a church-member for covetousness?
Perhaps, the principle that qualification for throwing
stones is freedom from the sin we would punish, is the
reason of the reticence. At any rate, it may be well for us
to allow our Lord to deal with us on the matter.

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5. HUMOR?
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Each issue includes some of the best pieces we have seen
since our last issue. Good humor was short on the ground
this past month, so here is some inspiration instead...

BILLBOARDS IN TEXAS

Let's meet at my house Sunday before the game. -- God 
C'mon over and bring the kids. -- God
What part of "Thou Shalt Not..." didn't you understand? --
God 
We need to talk. -- God
Keep using my name in vain, I'll make rush hour longer. --
God 
That "Love Thy Neighbor" thing... I meant it. -- God 
You think it's hot here? -- God
Have you read my #1 best seller? There will be a test. --
God 
Do you have any idea where you're going? -- God 
Don't make me come down there. -- God

WHEN LIFE DOESN'T MAKE SENSE - TRUST GOD

The only survivor of a shipwreck, washed up on a small
uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue
him, and everyday he scanned the horizon for help, but none
seemed forthcoming.
  Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out
of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store
his possessions.
  But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived
home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up
the sky. The worst had happened -- everything was lost. He
was stung with grief and anger. "God, how could you do this
to me!", he cried.
  Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound
of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to
rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary
man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they
replied.

THE PEBBLES OF LIFE
A small trouble is like a pebble. 
Hold it too close to your eye, 
and it puts everything out of focus. 
Hold it at proper viewing distance, 
and it can be examined and classified. 
Throw it at your feet, and it can be 
seen in its true setting -- just one more 
tiny bump on the pathway to eternity. 
-Celia Luce

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THANKS for reading Positive Words. Please share it
with a friend!
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(c) 1999 Peter Wade
http://www.peterwade.com/