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Noah Webster's 1828 dictionary has a definition of perfect; "Finished; complete; consummate; not defective; having all that is requisite to its nature and kind." That sentence would make an excellent summary of the Priesthood of Jesus Christ!
Precept Austin
The power of his all-sufficient atoning work is available without diminishment to us today as it was to the believers of the first century, and it is so because he who died for us is alive from the dead and enthroned on high.
Precept Austin
Jesus could mix with sinful people and yet their defilement did not affect Him. He could touch lepers (Mk. 1:41), the ritually unclean, and even the dead (Luke 8:40-56) without contracting their defilement. Instead, His purity and life-giving power were imparted to them!
Precept Austin
Jesus’ priesthood does not just happen to be permanent. It cannot possibly be anything but permanent. It is not capable of anything but permanence. By its very divine nature it can never conclude or weaken or become ineffective. Jesus Christ has a priesthood that is absolutely incapable of ever being altered in any way! He is the last High Priest. No other will ever be needed.
Precept Austin
THE NAME!
Note the definite article (to onoma) in Greek (which is like "the" in English, so we say give me "the cup" [my favorite] not "a cup" [any cup in the cupboard), which defines this as the specific Name. It is not just any name the sinner is to call upon, but the Name above all names (Php 2:9, 10, 11) and the only Name by which men are saved (Acts 4:12). It is no wonder that the cults always seek somehow to distort the meaning of this most glorious, all sufficient Name, perpetrating as it were "another Jesus" a deadly, deceptive ruse of which Paul warned (2Co 11:4). There is only One Jesus (Jn 14:6) and calling upon Him, calls upon all of His character, all of His attributes, etc, for these are all encompassed in His great Name.
Precept Austin
Every ministry suffers times when they need the Lord's encouragements...
Every ministry suffers times when they need the Lord's encouragements, even great preachers like Charles Haddon Spurgeon. Here are some quotes from Spurgeon taken for Zack Eswine's book "Spurgeon’s Sorrows: Realistic Hope for those who Suffer from Depression"...
“I am the subject of depressions of spirit so fearful that I hope none of you ever get to such extremes of wretchedness as I go to.” (p 15)
“I wonder every day that there are not more suicides, considering the troubles in this life.” (p 119)
“The Road to sorrow has been well trodden, it is the regular sheep track to heaven, and all the flock of God have had to pass along it.” (p 17)
Tony Merida gives some of "Spurgeon’s counsel to look to God’s promises, providence, and strength:
An ointment for every wound, a cordial for every faintness, a remedy for every disease. Blessed is he who is skilled in heavenly pharmacy and knows how to lay hold on the healing virtues of the promises of God! (“Obtaining Promises”)
To be cast down is often the best thing that could happen to us. (“Sweet Stimulants for the Fainting Soul”)
It is an unspeakable consolation that our Lord Jesus knows this experience. (“The Roots of Depression”)
Precept Austin
I am with you...
I am with you (cf Ps 23:4, 121:4, 118:6, 56:11, Isa 41:10, 41:13, Neh 4:14, 1 Sa 12:20, 21, 22,)
It is worth noting that statements like this remind us that Paul was not "Superman," but a man just like all of us. Yes he was an apostle and supremely gifted, but he was still a human being and had feelings including fears like we all have, especially when we begin to take a stand for Jesus.
Beloved, while Jesus spoke audibly and personally to Paul, He speaks no less audibly and personally to us in His living and active Word. Do not forget that when the Bible speaks, God speaks. That is truth you can stake your life on. Indeed, He Himself promised "lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age." (Mt 28:20). He is in us (Col 1:27) and His Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus [Acts 16:7], the Spirit of Christ [Ro 8:9], is in us to enable us and empower us to take a stand for Jesus and not remain silent but speak out (cf the source of boldness in the early church in Acts 4:31).
Remember the words of John that "You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He Who is in you than he who is in the world." (1 Jn 4:4) And in Hebrews the Lord promised “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,” so that we confidently say, “THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?” (Heb 13:5-6) Do you believe Him? Then "go on speaking" and "do not be silent" about Jesus. The world is dying and going to an eternal hell and we have the only message that can rescue them into an eternal heaven!
Precept Austin
"Immanuel is Jesus' great Name described by the angel in Matthew 1:23, "THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL” which translated means, “GOD WITH US.” Could there be any more encouraging words spoken to us than these of Jesus' presence? Wherever we are, whatever we are doing, He is with us."
Precept Austin
