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     <h3 class="panel-title">[[File:Page.png]] '''Aprils''' featured article</h3>
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     <h3 class="panel-title">[[File:Page.png]] '''July's''' featured article</h3>
 
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===='''Becoming a Tree of Life'''====
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====Don't Give Up On God====
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&quot;Now  the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no  pleasure in him&quot;<br>
 +
(Hebrews  10:38).<br>
 +
<br>
 +
by Tom Stewart<br>
 +
<br>
 +
<strong>Preface</strong><br>
 +
<br>
 +
In truth,  only two kinds of people inhabit this planet-- those who are&nbsp;<em>for</em>&nbsp;Christ and  those who are&nbsp;<em>against</em>&nbsp;Christ. Jesus said,&nbsp;&quot;He that is not  against us is on our part&quot;&nbsp;(Mark 9:40). The Apostle Peter wisely  observed,&nbsp;&quot;Of a truth I  perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that  feareth Him, and worketh Righteousness, is accepted with Him&quot;&nbsp;(Acts 10:34, 35). On one hand, Christ's  adversaries are commanded,&nbsp;&quot;Repent ye, and  believe the Gospel&quot;&nbsp;(Mark 1:15); but, on the  other, to the Saints, who may be presently undergoing difficult times and  circumstances, the Apostle Paul  said,&nbsp;&quot;Stand fast in the  faith, quit you like men, be strong&quot;&nbsp;(1Corinthians 16:13). Strength comes in the believing of  those words from God.&nbsp;&quot;In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth  rise up and walk&quot;&nbsp;(Acts 3:6). The Epistle  of James promised,&nbsp;&quot;Draw nigh to God,  and He will draw nigh to you&quot;&nbsp;(James  4:8). And, to that testimony, the Apostle Paul added,&nbsp;&quot;If God be for us, who can be against  us?&quot;&nbsp;(Romans 8:31).&nbsp;<em>If  we are doing right, then we should never quit.</em>&quot;Now the just  shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure  in him&quot;&nbsp;(Hebrews 10:38).<br>
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<br>
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<strong>Right Doing is Righteousness</strong><br>
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<br>
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Right action  flows from right willing or the willingness to do right. That is Righteousness.&nbsp;&quot;Little children, let no man deceive you:  he that doeth Righteousness is righteous, even as He is Righteous&quot;&nbsp;(1John 3:7). When we are actively trusting&nbsp;&quot;Jesus Christ  the Righteous&quot;&nbsp;(2:1), then we are&nbsp;&quot;clothed with Righteousness&quot;&nbsp;(Psalm 132:9), and we may rely that His promised Spirit is  working in us&nbsp;&quot;to will and to do  of His good pleasure&quot;&nbsp;(Philippians 2:13). In  fact, we may fortify ourselves that so long as we still have the slightest  willingness to do right, the Almighty will breathe strength into us by His  Spirit.&nbsp;&quot;And I will put My  Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My Statutes, and ye shall keep My  Judgments, and do them&quot;&nbsp;(Ezekiel 36:27). What an  amazing amalgamation of the Sovereignty of God with the Free Will of man!&nbsp;&quot;My Father worketh hitherto, and I  work&quot;&nbsp;(John  5:17)! When you feel yourself ready to give up, pray for the mercy of God--&nbsp;&quot;uphold me with Thy Free Spirit&quot;&nbsp;(Psalm 51:12). Since God&nbsp;&quot;cannot deny Himself&quot;&nbsp;(2Timothy 2:13), in that He faithfully chooses the right, He  will always choose those who choose the right, as well, i.e.,&nbsp;&quot;Blessed are they that keep judgment, and  he that doeth Righteousness at all times&quot;(Psalm 106:3). Even when He will soon  judge the Earth, He chooses the right in that He seeks His own highest good and  the highest good of His moral creatures.&nbsp;&quot;Thus will I magnify  Myself, and sanctify Myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations,  and they shall know that I am the LORD&quot;&nbsp;(Ezekiel 38:23).&nbsp;&quot;The LORD is known  by the Judgment which He executeth&quot;&nbsp;(Psalm 9:16).&nbsp;&quot;When Thy  Judgments are in the Earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn  Righteousness&quot;&nbsp;(Isaiah 26:9).<br>
  
In the 47th chapter of the Book of Ezekiel we read of four levels of water: to the ankles, to the knees, to the waist, and waters to swim in. The water is the Spirit of God, which is coming from God’s Throne in our day.
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<strong>Giving Up on God is Not Our Right</strong><br>
To the ankles is basic salvation.
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To the knees is learning to follow the Spirit of God.
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To the waist is the surrender of our will to God.
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Waters to swim in is life lived in the Fullness of God.
+
  
Now God is looking for those who will surrender their will to Him so He may have His unhindered way in them.
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When we are  tempted to cease from doing right, we are tempted to give up on God, e.g.,&nbsp;&quot;he that believeth not God hath made Him a  liar&quot;&nbsp;(1John 5:10). We have no more right to give up on  God than an employee has to disobey a lawful order from his employer.&nbsp;&quot;Servants, obey in all things your masters  according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness  of heart, fearing God&quot;&nbsp;(Colossians 3:22).  Neither should we feel that children obeying their parents is anything but what  is expected by God and ourselves.&nbsp;&quot;Children, obey  your parents in the LORD: for this is right&quot;&nbsp;(Ephesians 6:1). In fact, we have no right to feel that we  have done anything but our duty, when we did not give up on God.&nbsp;&quot;So likewise ye, when ye shall have done  all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we  have done that which was our duty to do&quot;&nbsp;(Luke 17:10). That  God is pleased with our faith and right doing is evident by His Word, i.e.,&nbsp;&quot;without faith it is impossible to please  Him&quot;&nbsp;(Hebrews 11:6), and by His rewards, e.g.,&nbsp;&quot;Blessed is the man that endureth  temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the Crown of Life, which the  LORD hath promised to them that love Him&quot;&nbsp;(James 1:12).<strong>But</strong>, His punishment for unbelief,  disobedience, and wickedness demonstrates His displeasure for our not doing or  ceasing to do what we know is right, i.e.,&nbsp;&quot;Therefore to him  that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin&quot;&nbsp;(James 4:17).&nbsp;&quot;8&nbsp;But unto them that are contentious, and do not  obey the Truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,&nbsp;9&nbsp;tribulation and  anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of  the Gentile&quot;&nbsp;(Romans 2:8-9).<br>
  
Waters to swim in has to do with our being filled with all the Fullness of God. It is written of the Lord Jesus that in Him dwells all the fullness of God. Our destiny also is to be filled with all the Fullness of God. But it is a strenuous battle as we seek to move past Pentecost and enter the rest of God, the place where God’s will is performed in every aspect of our life, and at all times, day and night.
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<strong>God's Spirit and Promises Keep Us From Giving Up on Him</strong><br>
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<br>
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Has the dinner bell rung yet? Is it time to quit? Has God officially authorized us to stop doing our duty? Was it not our  understanding to keep our&nbsp;&quot;hand to the plough&quot;&nbsp;(Luke 9:62)&nbsp;until the LORD takes us Home, as He  did Enoch?&nbsp;&quot;And Enoch walked  with God: and he was not; for God took him&quot;&nbsp;(Genesis 5:24). When we are tempted to give up on God, then  we need to immediately avail ourselves of the Exceeding Great and Precious  Promises of God, that have been specifically designed for just such  temptations.&nbsp;&quot;Whereby are given  unto us Exceeding Great and Precious Promises: that by these ye might be  partakers of the Divine Nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust&quot;(2Peter 1:4).&nbsp;, to see how God has  magnificently designed His Promises to fit our every conceivable circumstance  and thereby sanctify and further prepare us for our future Heavenly vocations.]<br>
 +
Spiritual first aid begins by pouring in as many Promises of the Word of God as we can reasonably find.&nbsp;&quot;As thy days, so  shall thy strength be&quot;&nbsp;(Deuteronomy 33:25).&nbsp;&nbsp;of our website would be a good place to start. Couple a good  Promise with a computerized cross reference search, such as the Treasury of  Scripture Knowledge used by the Online Bible &nbsp;and&nbsp;, and you will be able  to find even more Promises.]&nbsp;Especially  find one Promise that the Holy Spirit can recall to your mind. For example, the  need for the&nbsp;&quot;meekness and gentleness  of Christ&quot;&nbsp;(2Corinthians 10:1), especially when you are provoked by  those that despise your testimony, may call forth the Promise that preeminence  with God goes to those who primarily defend Him and not self:&nbsp;&quot;the last shall be first, and the first last&quot;&nbsp;(Matthew 20:16). The&nbsp;&quot;meek and lowly in heart&quot;&nbsp;Christ&nbsp;(Matthew 11:29)&nbsp;is<em>always</em>&nbsp;the Promise, the Pattern. and the  Example that&nbsp;&quot;ye should follow  His steps&quot;&nbsp;(1Peter 2:21).&nbsp;&quot;He was oppressed, and He was afflicted,  yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a  sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth&quot;&nbsp;(Isaiah 53:7).&nbsp;[More  about meekness may be found in the&nbsp;<br>
  
There is vastly more of God to be had if we are willing to minimize our involvement in the security and pleasures of the world system; are willing to confess, denounce, and renounce the evil that dwells in us; and are willing to let go of our own plans and ambitions that God’s will in its entirety might be done in us.
+
Again, you may not think of your bouts with impatience, haughtiness,  fearfulness, etc. as anything more than something that you have under control;  but, why do you keep repeating the same pattern of failure?&nbsp;&quot;Are ye so foolish? having begun in the  Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?&quot;&nbsp;(Galatians 3:3). Isn't that the same as giving up on God by  fits and starts?&nbsp;&quot;He that trusteth  in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered&quot;&nbsp;(Proverbs 28:26). It is  not enough to know that you should not do something&nbsp;<em>or</em>&nbsp;that you should do something,&nbsp;<em>but</em>&nbsp;you need the assistance of the Holy  Spirit to help you do what God says you are able to do but won't succeed in  doing until He intervenes.&nbsp;&quot;And I will put My  Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My Statutes, and ye shall keep My  Judgments, and do them&quot;&nbsp;(Ezekiel 36:27).&nbsp;[See our editorial, &quot;, to see how Divine  Sovereignty providentially needs not overpower our Free Will to insure our  obedience.]<br>
  
In God’s House, which is the Lord Jesus Christ, there are many dwelling places. These dwelling places are not small cubicles. They are great palaces. Each one of us is a great palace in which the Fullness of God and Christ can dwell for eternity.
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<strong>Conclusion</strong><br>
 
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<br>
The Lamb knocks at the door of our personality. We open the door. The Lamb dines on our obedience and worship. We dine on His body and blood. In this manner we are married to the Lamb. The marriage of the Lamb is taking place now, as individual believers are willing to open the door of their heart and permit the King of Glory to enter.
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Though giving up on God is an option, why  entertain it?&nbsp;&quot;He which hath  begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus   Christ&quot;&nbsp;(Philippians 1:6). What  is the value of a Promise for your perseverance, unless you believe it?&nbsp;&quot;6&nbsp;But Christ as a Son  over His Own House; whose House are we,&nbsp;<strong>if</strong>&nbsp;we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end...&nbsp;14&nbsp;For we are made partakers of Christ,&nbsp;<strong>if</strong>&nbsp;we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end&quot;&nbsp;(Hebrews 3:6, 14). May  the God&quot;Who  worketh all things after the Counsel of His Own Will&quot;&nbsp;(Ephesians 1:11)&nbsp;magnify  Himself in keeping us from giving up on Him, in that&nbsp;&quot;He is able even to subdue all things unto  Himself&quot;&nbsp;(Philippians 3:21).<br>
 
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<br>
Today is one of rare opportunity in the Kingdom of God. If we have been forgiven by trusting in the blood atonement made by Christ on the cross, and have yielded to the Holy Spirit, we are qualified now and competent to press forward to the Fullness of God. Paul wrote that we are to become strong in our inner man until we are filled with all the Fullness of God. All the Fullness of God! Think of it! All the Fullness of God!
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Maranatha!<br>
 
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<br>
But to what end are we to be filled with all the Fullness of God? So that we may give eternal life to other people—in particular to every person of the nations of the earth who will receive. This is the spiritual fulfillment of the last great feast of the Lord, the feast of Tabernacles.
+
He.Will.Subdue.Our.Iniquit.html">He Will Subdue Our Iniquities, for encouragement for the fulfillment of this Promise from Micah 7:19.]
 
+
We note in the 47th chapter of the Book of Ezekiel that after we are swimming in the waters of God’s Spirit we return to the bank of the river. Along the bank, on each side, there are trees of life. These trees are growing from the one Tree of Life, the Lord Jesus Christ.
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The Spirit and the Bride invite all who will to come and partake freely of the Spirit of God, the Spirit of eternal Life. God has not called us merely to teach our religious doctrines to mankind. God has called us to show forth in ourselves the light of righteousness and praise. When the people of the world see our light they will come. When they come we will not give them doctrine primarily, we will give them eternal life, flowing out from our personality.
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But we cannot serve mankind as a tree of life until we have passed through the four levels of water.
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We must turn away from finding our pleasure and security in the world system. We have to set ourselves to touch the media and entertainment lightly, and spend more time in prayer with the Lord and with Bible reading. We are to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. This is water to the ankles.
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Then we must press forward until we are conscious that the Holy Spirit is pointing out the various areas of darkness that dwell in us. The lust, jealousy, rage, covetousness, arrogance, and all the rest of the motivations of our sinful nature must be confessed, as they are pointed out to us. We must denounce them as evil, renounce them vigorously, stating we want nothing more to do with them. Then we are to walk carefully before the Lord Jesus every minute of every day and night of the remainder of our life. This is water to the knees.
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Then we must press forward until we overcome every enemy that would cause us to be discontent while we are waiting patiently in God’s will. Satan fell through discontent with his God-given position. We are to abide in Christ, waiting until He gives us the desires of our heart. “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” Your will, not mine, be done. This is waters to the waist.
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We are to persevere with all our strength and determination in each of the three areas, until we are filled with all the Fullness of God, and God brings us back to the bank of the River, so to speak. Now we are ready to bring Divine Life to whoever is willing to receive it from us.
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God was angry with us for a season, and we had to walk through dry places, even while we were struggling through the water. But then God brings us into rest. God wounds us, and then God heals us.
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God is raising up mighty men and women of God today from all parts of His Church. The invitation includes you. Tell God you want His best, and you are willing to give up everything He asks for, so you may receive His best.
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You are not seeking God’s best so you can be some great one in the Kingdom of God. You are seeking God’s best so you humbly can serve mankind with eternal life. The people of the nations are dead and do not know it. But God loves them and wants to save everyone who will receive His salvation.
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Don’t stop for anything. Don’t quit. If you keep doing God’s will faithfully, His mighty warrior-angels will hold Satan at bay. You will overcome and succeed if you do not quit.
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You shall be filled with all the Fullness of God!
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Copyright © 2008 Trumpet Ministries, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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Revision as of 23:26, 2 July 2021

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Page.png July's featured article


Don't Give Up On God

"Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him"
(Hebrews 10:38).

by Tom Stewart

Preface

In truth, only two kinds of people inhabit this planet-- those who are for Christ and those who are against Christ. Jesus said, "He that is not against us is on our part" (Mark 9:40). The Apostle Peter wisely observed, "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh Righteousness, is accepted with Him" (Acts 10:34, 35). On one hand, Christ's adversaries are commanded, "Repent ye, and believe the Gospel" (Mark 1:15); but, on the other, to the Saints, who may be presently undergoing difficult times and circumstances, the Apostle Paul said, "Stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong" (1Corinthians 16:13). Strength comes in the believing of those words from God. "In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk" (Acts 3:6). The Epistle of James promised, "Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you" (James 4:8). And, to that testimony, the Apostle Paul added, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31). If we are doing right, then we should never quit."Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him" (Hebrews 10:38).

Right Doing is Righteousness

Right action flows from right willing or the willingness to do right. That is Righteousness. "Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth Righteousness is righteous, even as He is Righteous" (1John 3:7). When we are actively trusting "Jesus Christ the Righteous" (2:1), then we are "clothed with Righteousness" (Psalm 132:9), and we may rely that His promised Spirit is working in us "to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). In fact, we may fortify ourselves that so long as we still have the slightest willingness to do right, the Almighty will breathe strength into us by His Spirit. "And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My Statutes, and ye shall keep My Judgments, and do them" (Ezekiel 36:27). What an amazing amalgamation of the Sovereignty of God with the Free Will of man! "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work" (John 5:17)! When you feel yourself ready to give up, pray for the mercy of God-- "uphold me with Thy Free Spirit" (Psalm 51:12). Since God "cannot deny Himself" (2Timothy 2:13), in that He faithfully chooses the right, He will always choose those who choose the right, as well, i.e., "Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth Righteousness at all times"(Psalm 106:3). Even when He will soon judge the Earth, He chooses the right in that He seeks His own highest good and the highest good of His moral creatures. "Thus will I magnify Myself, and sanctify Myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD" (Ezekiel 38:23). "The LORD is known by the Judgment which He executeth" (Psalm 9:16). "When Thy Judgments are in the Earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn Righteousness" (Isaiah 26:9).

Giving Up on God is Not Our Right

When we are tempted to cease from doing right, we are tempted to give up on God, e.g., "he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar" (1John 5:10). We have no more right to give up on God than an employee has to disobey a lawful order from his employer. "Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God" (Colossians 3:22). Neither should we feel that children obeying their parents is anything but what is expected by God and ourselves. "Children, obey your parents in the LORD: for this is right" (Ephesians 6:1). In fact, we have no right to feel that we have done anything but our duty, when we did not give up on God. "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do" (Luke 17:10). That God is pleased with our faith and right doing is evident by His Word, i.e., "without faith it is impossible to please Him" (Hebrews 11:6), and by His rewards, e.g., "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the Crown of Life, which the LORD hath promised to them that love Him" (James 1:12).But, His punishment for unbelief, disobedience, and wickedness demonstrates His displeasure for our not doing or ceasing to do what we know is right, i.e., "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" (James 4:17). "8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the Truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile" (Romans 2:8-9).

God's Spirit and Promises Keep Us From Giving Up on Him

Has the dinner bell rung yet? Is it time to quit? Has God officially authorized us to stop doing our duty? Was it not our understanding to keep our "hand to the plough" (Luke 9:62) until the LORD takes us Home, as He did Enoch? "And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him" (Genesis 5:24). When we are tempted to give up on God, then we need to immediately avail ourselves of the Exceeding Great and Precious Promises of God, that have been specifically designed for just such temptations. "Whereby are given unto us Exceeding Great and Precious Promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the Divine Nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust"(2Peter 1:4). , to see how God has magnificently designed His Promises to fit our every conceivable circumstance and thereby sanctify and further prepare us for our future Heavenly vocations.]
Spiritual first aid begins by pouring in as many Promises of the Word of God as we can reasonably find. "As thy days, so shall thy strength be" (Deuteronomy 33:25).  of our website would be a good place to start. Couple a good Promise with a computerized cross reference search, such as the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge used by the Online Bible  and , and you will be able to find even more Promises.] Especially find one Promise that the Holy Spirit can recall to your mind. For example, the need for the "meekness and gentleness of Christ" (2Corinthians 10:1), especially when you are provoked by those that despise your testimony, may call forth the Promise that preeminence with God goes to those who primarily defend Him and not self: "the last shall be first, and the first last" (Matthew 20:16). The "meek and lowly in heart" Christ (Matthew 11:29) isalways the Promise, the Pattern. and the Example that "ye should follow His steps" (1Peter 2:21). "He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth" (Isaiah 53:7). [More about meekness may be found in the 

Again, you may not think of your bouts with impatience, haughtiness, fearfulness, etc. as anything more than something that you have under control; but, why do you keep repeating the same pattern of failure? "Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" (Galatians 3:3). Isn't that the same as giving up on God by fits and starts? "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered" (Proverbs 28:26). It is not enough to know that you should not do something or that you should do something, but you need the assistance of the Holy Spirit to help you do what God says you are able to do but won't succeed in doing until He intervenes. "And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My Statutes, and ye shall keep My Judgments, and do them" (Ezekiel 36:27). [See our editorial, ", to see how Divine Sovereignty providentially needs not overpower our Free Will to insure our obedience.]

Conclusion

Though giving up on God is an option, why entertain it? "He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6). What is the value of a Promise for your perseverance, unless you believe it? "6 But Christ as a Son over His Own House; whose House are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end... 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end" (Hebrews 3:6, 14). May the God"Who worketh all things after the Counsel of His Own Will" (Ephesians 1:11) magnify Himself in keeping us from giving up on Him, in that "He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself" (Philippians 3:21).

Maranatha!

He.Will.Subdue.Our.Iniquit.html">He Will Subdue Our Iniquities, for encouragement for the fulfillment of this Promise from Micah 7:19.]