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#21/ 19-Mar-2000
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          P O S I T I V E     W O R D S
               Editor: Peter Wade

       ----- http://www.peterwade.com/ -----
   ... helping you discover who you really are!

IN THIS ISSUE...
1. New at our site this month!
2. Songs I Remember
3. Positive Words for Today
4. Searchlights from the Word
5. Bible Study Outlines

________________________________________________________
1. NEW AT OUR SITE THIS MONTH

FOR YOU TO READ...
   "Claiming Our Rights" by E.W. Kenyon is yet another
outstanding article by this great inspirational teacher. 
Paul taught that Redemption was a legal fact, and as a
result we have legal rights to many powerful things. Spend
some time digesting the truth of these inspiring words.
< http://www.peterwade.com/articles/kenyon/claim.shtml >
   "Christ In The Separate Books Of The Word" by E.W.
Bullinger, continues our presentation of this author's
classic work on "How To Enjoy the Bible". You should read
this article in conjunction with his previous article on
"The One Great Subject in the Word".

   "Quiet Talks On Prayer" by S.D. Gordon -- we have
placed another six chapters from this author's largest
selling book. You won't always agree with him but that's
not the purpose of our sharing these truths. You WILL be
challenged to think, and pray!
< http://www.peterwade.com/articles/gordsd/prayer00.shtml >

PETER & VIVIEN'S SCHEDULE FOR 2000 / 2001

AUGUST 2000:
In Christ Seminars: 
   Cleveland, OH (Aug.11-13). *** Location changed!
   Seattle/Tacoma, WA (Aug.19-20). 
Family Camp: Mendocino, CA (Aug.28-Sep.3).

JANUARY 5-11, 2001 (Fri-Thur):
*** Australian Bible Conference: Halls Gap, Victoria, 
with group tour from USA. Speakers: Dr. Norman Campbell,
Dr. Peter Wade. Motel-style accommodation.

LET US KNOW your interest in attending these events, and
we'll see that you get the snail mail about them when
they become available. Changes in dates DO occur...
please check before making travel plans.

________________________________________________________
2. SONGS I REMEMBER

In a previous issue (No. 6), I wrote about the dangers
of singing songs based on the experiences of others 
rather than on the Word of God. Our song this month is
one I sang in my teenage years, and while it is about
someone's experience it still has a ring of truth about it
today. F.A. Blackmer is the author, and it comes from the
1930 edition of "The Salvation Army Song Book", No. 545.

Chorus: Oh, the peace my Saviour gives,
        Peace I never knew before;
        And my way has brighter grown
        Since I learned to trust Him more.

   Once I thought I walked with Jesus,
   Yet such changeful feelings had;
   Sometimes trusting, sometimes doubting,
   Sometimes joyful, sometimes sad.

   But He called me closer to Him,
   Bade my doubts and fears all cease;
   And, when I had fully yielded
   Filled my soul with perfect peace.

   Now I'm trusting every moment,
   Nothing less can be enough;
   And my Saviour bears me gently
   O'er the places once so rough.

   Blessed Saviour, Thou dost keep me
   By Thy power from day to day;
   And my heart is full of gladness
   For Thou'lt keep me all the way.

________________________________________________________
3. A POSITIVE WORD FOR TODAY (Peter Wade)

           CAN WE CHANGE THE MIND OF GOD?

"Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? Or,
What shall we drink? Or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek) for your
heavenly Father knoweth that he have need of all these
things" (Matthew 6:31-32).

Some Christians display signs in their homes: "Prayer
Changes Things."  Consider this. Does prayer change
things? Or does prayer change me?  Some people pray that
prayer will change the mind of God regarding a specific
matter. This popular concept is particularly damaging.
Prayer does not alter the mind of God; it will alter my
mind towards God. Prayer does not condition the mind of
God about my needs; it conditions my mind to receive the
supply of all my needs.
   God already knows what I need. I cannot change things
by prayer. I cannot change the mind of God by prayer. What
I need is a fresh approach toward prayer. God has already
made it plain that He has provided the best for me--why
would I want to alter God's mind about that?
   In 1942 Private John Bartek had been floating on a life
raft for six days in the Pacific Ocean with his seven
crewmates from the ditched B-17C bomber. Caught between
life and death, Bartek opened his water soaked Bible and
read "Therefore, take no thought, saying what shall we
eat? Or, what shall we drink? for your heavenly Father
knoweth that ye have need of all these things."
Immediately after whispering those words, their first meal
in six days, a seagull, landed on the head of World War I
hero, Eddie Rickenbacker. Their subsequent miraculous
rescue made front page news all over the world. I'm sure
Private John Bartek would not want to alter God's mind
about providing the best for him. (From "You Are A New
Creation", Chapter 2, adapted by Hildy Matthews.)

AFFIRMATION: 
Prayer does not condition the mind of God about my needs;
it conditions my mind to receive the supply of all my
needs.

________________________________________________________
4. SEARCHLIGHTS FROM THE WORD

G. Campbell Morgan was a well-known preacher and writer
of over 60 books from the first half of the 20th century. 
In this spot each issue we reproduce a comment from one 
verse in every chapter of the Bible. We continue with 
Paul's letter to the Philippians.

"To you it hath been granted to suffer" (Philippians
1:29).

This is Paul's great singing letter. It was at Philippi
that he had sung in prison at midnight, in the company of
Silas. Now he was again in prison, this time in Rome, and
writing to "the saints in Christ Jesus that are at
Philippi." This letter thrills to the tireless music of a
psalm. It is a glorious revelation of how life in
fellowship with Christ triumphs over all adverse
circumstances. The triumph, moreover, is not that of
stoical indifference. It is rather that of a recognition
of the fact that all apparently adverse conditions are
made allies of the soul and ministers of victory, under
the dominion of the Lord. 
   "The things which happened unto me have fallen out
rather unto the progress of the Gospel" exclaimed the
Apostle. His very bonds opened the door of opportunity
throughout the Praetorian guard. It was this sense of the
power of life in Christ which inspired the particular
words which arrest us. In them, suffering in the behalf of
Christ is referred to as an honour conferred, rather than
a burden to be endured. It is something granted to the
saint, as a privilege, the very granting of which is a
favour, a gift of grace. To this conception all will agree
who have ever really known what it is actually to suffer
on behalf of Christ. They are not callous; the suffering
is very real, very acute; but it brings a sense of joy and
gladness which find no equal in human experience.
  
________________________________________________________
5. BIBLE STUDY OUTLINES

These Bible Study outlines come from the excellent book
by F.E. Marsh, "1,000 Bible Study Outlines".

BANDS OF LOVE -- Hosea xi. 4
1. Christ's Life Illustrates His Love. See how often He is
said to be "moved with compassion" (Matt. ix. 36; xiv. 14;
xv. 32; xx. 34; Mark i. 41; v. 19; Luke vii. 13). His
life, like the sun in its shining, was beneficent in its
ministry.
2. Christ's Cross Displays His Love. "He gave Himself up"
(Gal. ii. 20, R.V.; Eph. v. 2, 25, R.V.). Think of what He
gave up, to what and for whom He gave Himself, and the
outcome of His giving.
3. Christ's Grace Confirms His Love. Believers are loved,
loosed, and lifted -- Rev. i. 5, R.V., and nothing can
separate from His love. See the seven things that
ordinarily can separate in Romans viii. 35; and the ten
things that would divide in Romans viii. 38, 39.
4. Christ's Truth Affirms His Love. The words of truth
assure us of the continuity of His love -- John xiii. 1,
as well as the measure and manner of it -- John xv. 9, 12.
5. Christ's Friends Testify to His Love. His love is
particular in its affection -- John xi. 5, sympathetic in
its service -- John xi. 35, and confiding in its
fellowship -- John xiii. 23.
6. Christ's Spirit Imparts His Love -- Rom. v. 5; 1 John
iv. 16. He leads to the love that saves, imparts the love
that sanctifies, and is the secret of the sacrificing love
that serves.
7. Christ's Operation through us Demonstrates His Love --
2 Cor. v. 14. The constraining power of His love is the
moving force to impel in holy service and lowly sacrifice.

"BE"
The commands of the Lord are always imperative. They leave
no choice with us, but to choose His choice.
1. "Be Holy." "Be ye holy in all manner of conversation"
(1 Pet. i. 15, 16), and the reasons are, "Because" God is
"Holy," and because He calls us to this devoted life in
separation to Him.
2. "Be Perfect." (2 Cor. xiii. 11). "Perfect" means to be
in joint, to be adjusted, and is used of nets being mended
-- Matt. iv. 21, of being "joined together" (1 Cor. i.
10), and of one being restored to what he was before --
Gal. vi. 1.
3. "Be Still" (Psa. xlvi. 10). The secret of knowing God
is to be still in humbleness before Him, and let every
voice but His be hushed.
4. "Be Sober." "Be sober," that is, hold oneself in hand,
so that others shall not take us unawares -- I Pet. v. 8.
5. "Be Faithful" (Rev. ii. 10). When faith and love burn
within the temple of our being, faithfulness will
characterise the life.
6. "Be Clean." "Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the
Lord" (Isa. lii. 11). If the heart of the inner life is
clean the hand of outward service will correspond.
7. "Be Filled" in the Spirit -- Eph. v. 18. This is the
most essential, for when the Spirit pervades the being,
the atmosphere of His presence will be known.

BAGS
1. Weights in a bag -- Deut. xxv. 13.
2. Stones in a bag -- I Sam. xvii. 40, 49.
3. Transgressions in a bag -- Job xiv. 17.
4. Holes in a bag -- Haggai i. 6.
5. Gold in a bag -- Isa. xlvi. 6.
6. Covetousness in a bag -- John xii. 6; xiii. 29.
7. A Hand in a bag -- I Sam. xvii. 49.

BARNABAS, FULL OF THE SPIRIT -- Acts xi. 22-24
EVIDENCES of being full of the Spirit.
1. A Seeing Eye. "Had seen the grace of God."
2. A Glad Heart. "Was glad."
3. A Ready Foot. "He came."
4. A Helpful Tongue. "Exhorted them all."
5. A True Character. "He was a good man."
6. A Consecrated Man. "Full of Holy Spirit" (see iv. 36,
37).
7. A Believing Soul. "Full of faith."

"BEAR"
CHRIST bore our sins on the Cross, and bears the iniquity
of our holy things.
1. Personally, when anyone sinned he was liable to bear
the consequence of his act, whether he knew his sin or
not. "If a soul sin... though he wist it not, yet is he
guilty, and shall bear his iniquity" (Lev. v. 17).
2. Substitutionary. Atonement for sin was only made by the
shedding of blood. The blood of the bullock and the goat
on the great day of atonement was specifically to "make an
atonement." No less than sixteen times does the verb occur
in Leviticus xvi. After the blood of the goat had been
shed, by a priestly act of transference, he is said to
place the sins of the children of Israel "upon the head of
the live goat," and he shall "bear upon him all their
iniquities" (Lev. xvi. 21, 22).
3. Representatively, Aaron being the representative of
Israel, he appeared before the Lord to act for them, and
wore the priestly garments that he might "bear the
iniquity" of their holy things (Exod. xxviii. 12, 29, 30,
38).
4. Typically, the sin-offering was essentially "to bear
the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for
them before the Lord" (Lev. x. 17). This was its
counterpart in John' s message about the Lamb of God, who
"taketh" (beareth) away the sin of the world.
5. Prophetically, in the unfolding of the Spirit's
utterance, Christ is said to have "borne our grief," and
to "bear the sin of many" (Isa. liii. 4, 12).
6. Dogmatically, the Holy Spirit declares that Christ was
"manifested to take away our sins" (1 John iii. 5). The
meaning of "take away" is to bear by taking up the load
upon one's self, and thus to take away the load of guilt
resting upon others.
7. Practically, the sins and their consequence are removed
for the believer, for it was for "our sins" He was
manifested; and now we are dead to the sins that put out
Lord to death -- 1 Peter ii. 24.

BECAUSE
1. The Exciter of Wrath. Sin. "Because of these things
(sins) cometh the wrath of God" (Eph. v. 6).
2. The Reason of Love. God's love. "We love Him because He
first loved us" (1 John iv. 19).
3. The Cause of Failure. Want of faith. "Because of
unbelief" (Heb. iii. 19).
4. The Evidence of Life. Love to others. "Because we love
the brethren" (1 John iii. 14).
5. The Secret of Preservation. Christ's livingness.
"Because I live, ye shall live also" (John xiv. 19).
6. The Power of Quickening. The Holy Spirit. "The Spirit
is life because of righteousness" (Rom. viii. 10).
7. The Prompter of Kindness. Christ's ownership. "Because
ye belong to Christ" (Mark ix. 41).

BECOMINGNESS
The word in [brackets] in the texts is one and the same in
the Greek.
1. A Subjective Saviour. "Thus it [becometh] us to fulfil
all righteousness" (Matt. iii. 15).
2. A Suffering Kinsman. "It [became] Him," etc. (Heb. ii.
10).
3. A Holy Priest. "Such an high priest [became] us" (Heb.
vii. 26).
4. A Woman's Attitude. "Is it [comely] (becoming) that a
woman...?" (1 Cor. xi. 13).
5. A Saintly Walk. "As [becometh] saints" (Eph. v. 3).
6. A Corresponding Act. "Which [become] sound doctrine"
(Titus ii. 1).
7. An Answering Life. "Which [becometh] women professing
godliness" (1 Tim. ii. 10). 

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(c) 2000 Peter Wade
http://www.peterwade.com/