The title above is to a song that was written by Ron Hamilton in 1978. He wrote the song as a result of losing an eye to cancer.

As I remember it, when he went into surgery he didn’t know what the outcome would be. He would either wake up from surgery with both eyes or with just one. Ron lost an eye that day and wrote “Rejoice in the Lord” shortly thereafter.

Ron was and is a very talented musician. When a youngster at church tagged him with being a pirate after seeing him wearing the patch, a music ministry to children was born and Ron became known as “Patch the Pirate”.

Our kids grew up listening to Patch the Pirate songs and stories. God turned Ron’s misfortune of losing an eye into a blessing for hundreds of Christian families through Ron’s ministry of music to children.

Ron’s song “Rejoice in the Lord” was an encouragement and blessing to me soon after he wrote it, as I faced trials and testing of my own during that time.

I have been thinking of the words to that song lately and today (thirty seven years later) it played on the radio as I pulled into our driveway after work. Here are the words he wrote:

God never moves without purpose or plan when trying His servant and molding a man. Give thanks to the Lord though your testing seems long; In darkness He giveth a song.

I could not see through the shadows ahead; So I looked at the cross of my Saviour instead. I bowed to the will of the Master that day; Then peace came and tears fled away.

Now I can see testing comes from above; God strengthens His children and purges in love. My Father knows best, and I trust in His care; Through purging more fruit I will bear.

Chorus:  O rejoice in the Lord. He makes no mistake. He knoweth the end of each path that I take. For when I am tried and purified, I shall come forth as gold.
                                                                                                        By Ron Hamilton

Rejoice in the Lord – Copyright 1978 by Majesty Music, Inc.  

The lyrics are used by permission. 

When our children were little we had a song that we liked to sing with them.  It taught them a Bible truth.  The name of the song is God Made All Things and it went like this: God made all things, God made all things, God made all people too;  I’m so glad He made them all; yes, God made me and you.  Author Unknown.

Here are some verses from scripture on what the  Bible has to say about God making all things and all people too:

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.  Genesis 1:27

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?  

For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.  

Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:  Psalms 8:3-6

I was cast on thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother’s belly.  Psalm 22:10

For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.  

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.  

Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.  Psalm 139:13-16

Did not he that made me in the womb make him?  and did not one fashion us in the womb?  Job 31:15

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth,…Ecclesiastes 12:1.

Hast thou not known?  Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary?  There is no searching of his understanding,………Isaiah 40:28.

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.  Jeremiah 1:5

For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.  Mark 13:19

Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God?  Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?  Romans 9:20

Neither was the man created for the the woman; but the woman for the man.  I Corinthians 11:9

And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:  Ephesians 3:9.

For by him (Jesus Christ) were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:  Colossians 1:16.  

Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.  I Timothy 4:3  

Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.  I Peter 4:19

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.  Revelation 4:11

And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven.  And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things that therein are, that there should be time no longer.  Revelation 10:5&6

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Because that when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,  

And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like unto corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.  

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleaness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever.  Amen.  Romans 1:20-25

As you can see from a couple of the references above, Jesus Christ is the Creator. He proved this during His earthly ministry by walking on the water, calming the storm, healing congenital birth defects, feeding the five thousand, and raising the dead, thus demonstrating His power, His authority, and His ownership of nature and nature’s laws.

Can a Christian believe in evolution and not be guilty of denying the doctrine of Christ?

 

 

For creationists and non-creationists the facts are the same. The differences between the two lie in the interpretation of the facts. Christians must be discerning when it comes to scientific facts versus someone’s scientific interpretation.

The discovery of an expanding universe points to a beginning or point of origin for the universe which favors the idea  of a creator. Instead interpreters of science peddle the “Big Bang” idea.

The “Big Bang” idea leaves open the question of where the materials, gases, etc. came from that were necessary for the “Big Bang”.  Because there is no satisfactory observable answer to this question, it becomes a matter of faith to hold this position.

The laws of physics confirm that particles released from an explosion all rotate in the same direction.  We would expect therefore that all heavenly bodies in our solar system rotate in the same direction.

Recent discoveries indicate that there are a couple of heavenly bodies in our solar system that are exceptions to this rule.  At least one of these exceptions rotates in the opposite direction of all the other heavenly bodies in our solar system.  

How should we interpret this finding?  Are the laws of physics incorrect?  Not likely, since repeatable observable phenomenon concerning explosions confirm these laws.  Perhaps we should just consider that our solar system and the universe did not start by the way of an explosion?

Those who would exclude God from the interpretation, look at the precise arrangement of Stonehenge and conclude that an amazing intelligent civilization built it.

The same people then look at our solar system with its precise timing, rotation and delicate balance to sustain life ( a finely crafted timepiece) and conclude that it is not the product of intelligent design?

Which is it?  You decide, but please do not condemn faith’s role in the equation.  An honest assessment should conclude that faith is a factor on both sides of this argument.  It is just that someone’s faith is misplaced.

It is hypocritical of those who believe science has all the answers, to belittle Creationists for “faith” when non-Creationists resort to faith in future discoveries of science when science cannot provide all the facts presently.

Christian faith is not a blind leap in the dark.  Christian faith is built upon the integrity of Scripture and the integrity of scripture is well established.

The Bible is unmatched in the fulfillment of prophecy and it’s accuracy on timing and predicting future events.   Biblical names and places have been affirmed over and over again by archaeology when the interpreters of science said they didn’t exist.

The Bible is not a product of human thought in that it does not cover up the failings and short comings of its main characters and people as a human author would.  This book tells all without bias and without cover up.  It is a divine book and it fully exposes the guilt of mankind in general and God’s people alike for rebellion and self will.  Those that are changed by it’s truth are never the same.  

The fact that the Bible is the most published and printed book in the history of mankind, should prompt even the most devout doubter to examine the Bible’s pages and consider it’s claims.

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.  Hebrews 11:3 KJV

• For more information on similar topics go to: www.creationastronomy.com or www.answersingenesis.org
• Of particular interest at The Answers in Genesis website is the article entitled; The Ten Best Evidences from Science that Confirm a Young Earth.
• The Creation Astronomy website is written and produced by Spike Psarris, previously an engineer with the United States military space program.

Are we free from the power of sin or are we just free from righteousness?  

Salvation comes in a package.  The package consists of three saving elements.  At salvation we are saved from the penalty of sin.  In the present we are being saved from the power of sin.  In the future, we will be saved from the very presence of sin.

Most believers are very aware of having been saved from the penalty of sin,  and most Christians are aware of a heavenly destination, but in between many fail to overcome sin’s power in the daily spiritual battle.  Every genuine believer has the power to overcome sin.  Making it a reality is an act of faith based on what Christ has already done.

In the Disney movie “Down Under” the poacher captured a small multitude of rare and unusual creatures to sell illegally.  He kept the menagerie locked in individual cages until he could realize their sale.  

The creatures, in their desperate situation, worked the cages feverishly when the poacher left in an attempt to free themselves. Among the small creatures was an unusual lizard named Frank. Frank would try to pick the lock to his cage with his tail over and over, all the while mindlessly mumbling to himself in a worrisome way.  

During one of these escape attempts, one of the captured menagerie looked over at Frank and was startled to see that Frank’s cage door was open and Frank was standing outside the cage (free), but still mindlessly working the lock with his tail.  Frank was as startled as the rest of them when he realized that he was free indeed.  

Is being free from the power of sin a reality in our lives as believers?  Do we live it?  The just shall live by faith.  Faith is a firm persuasion or conviction based on hearing the Word of God.  Do we reckon it to be so, that we are being saved from the power of sin?   Do we consider it to be so and live accordingly?  Is power over sin a reality from day to day?

When we hear that believers are being saved from the power of sin, does that startle us?  When we hear of spiritual victory, are we skeptical?  Do we tolerate known sin in our life because its just normal?  Is acceptance by the world more important to us than overcoming sin?  Are we just mindlessly going through the motions without any realization of spiritual power? 

The opening question above should be answered honestly.  Are we free from the power of sin, or are we just free from righteousness?

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine (the gospel) where unto ye were delivered.

Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

                                                                                           Romans 6:16-20

Ephesians 1:13b  ….in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.

The Greek word for seal is sphragis which means signet (W.E. Vine). A signet was used to imprint softened wax on a letter or document. The impression made by such a seal identifies the owner of the signet.

Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions.  Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.  And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.  Daniel 6:16&17

MacArthur’s study notes on Ephesians 1:13&14 say that a seal represents authenticity, authority, ownership and security. Other study helps usually mention at least two of these four representations.

If something is authentic, it is true and genuine.  Not just anyone can issue a law, declaration or edict.  In ancient times a document or letter that carried the imprint of the king or governor’s signet was understood to be true, genuine, and binding.  

II Timothy 2:19 states; the firm foundation of God standeth, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. The Lord Jesus Himself says; My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me.  Followers of Christ, as evidenced by their love and obedience to His written word, are authentic (true and genuine) Christians.

The king or governor’s edicts were backed by the authority given him by either a greater sovereign or by the power of military force. When the slaughter of the Innocents was ordered by the paranoid King Herod, there was not much that could be done about it.  King Herod’s authority was backed by the power of Rome.  Had an uprising occurred, King Herod most likely would have ordered the slaughter of all who opposed him.

Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts (II Corinthians 1:22&23).  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power (authority) is given unto me in heaven and in earth (Matthew 28:18).  

Believers are sealed in Christ.  C.I. Scofield mentions in his notes that the Holy Spirit Himself is the believer’s seal.  The sealing of believers is accomplished in, through and by the highest authority, that of God Himself.

Concerning ownership; What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (I Corinthians 6:19)

The verb form to seal also carries the ideas of preservation, safe keeping and safe delivery (W.E. Vine).  When something is secure, it is surrounded by strength.  

Now the next day, that followed the day of preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said , while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.  Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.  So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch (Matthew 27:62-66).  

In this passage the word translated as sure in the KJV is translated as secure in the NKJV.  The securing of Messiah’s tomb was accomplished by sealing the stone and setting a guard.

In this case the security was only temporary, in the case of the believer the security is eternal.  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30).  

To be secure is to be surrounded by strength.  To be surrounded by strength is to be without a care.  Are you sealed and secure in Christ?  

Note: If the Holy Spirit (who is God) is God’s signet then He is the believer’s seal.  The impression made by such a seal identifies the owner of the signet.  Whose image is it that we bear?

 

In I John 2:1 the apostle John is writing to Christians in the world and he addresses them with tenderness as he calls them my little children or born ones.  John continues; These things write I unto you, that ye sin not.  And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:  

Believer’s are commanded not to sin because sin breaks the fellowship we have with God.  If we do sin, we have an advocate with God the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

An advocate is he who is called to one’s side or to one’s aid.  In a court of justice, an advocate is the counsel for one’s defense.  He pleads another’s cause or acts as an intercessor before the judge. When a Christian sins, (and all sins are against God Psalm 51:4), Jesus Christ, God’s Son pleads the believer’s case and intercedes with God the Father on our behalf.

When believers access the throne of grace by faith in prayer, Christ intercedes for us.    Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus Christ the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy (only given to the guilty) and find grace (divine favor) to help in time of need.  Hebrews 4:14-16

Jesus Christ, the believer’s substitute, died in our place.  He died for all our sins….past, present and future.  As our defense counsel (advocate), having paid our sin penalty Himself, He intercedes for us as we confess our sins, declaring that the believer’s sins are paid for in full by his own sacrifice.  By the which will we are sanctified (set apart) through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.  And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:  But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified (set apart). Hebrews 10:10-14  

When God the Father looks at believers, He does not see our sin. He sees only the righteousness of His Son.  God’s justice is satisfied, on the behalf of believers, in the substitutionary death of Jesus  Christ.

The Apostle John gives specific instructions on what to do when a believer does sin.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness I John 1:9.  To confess is to speak the same thing or to agree with.  It is to admit one’s guilt as a result of inward conviction.  

When we confess our sins to God, we are saying the same thing about them that He says.  Confession which results in cleansing occurs when believers agree with God against ourselves.

The Scriptures describe the life that a believer receives from God as eternal.  Eternal life begins when one accepts God’s provision for his sin.  Eternal life is life that never ends.   To commit an act of sin does not change the type of life received from God when trusting Christ as one’s only hope of salvation.

What is affected by a believer’s sin is his fellowship with the Father and his inward peace and joy.  We must keep short accounts with God.  The believer’s goal should be to have no unconfessed sin.

When we recognize sin in our life or in our heart, we must deal with it immediately by confessing it to God.  By faith we consider it to be cleansed and forgiven according to I John 1:9.  

To strengthen oneself against the power of sin, believers should obey Psalm 119:11.  Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee (God).

Weep not, weep not,

She is not dead;

She’s resting in the bosom of Jesus.

Heart-broken husband–weep no more;

Grief-stricken son–weep no more;

She only just gone home.

---

Day before yesterday morning.

God was looking down from his great, high heaven,

Looking down on all his children,

And his eye fell on Sister Caroline,

Tossing on her bed of pain.

And God’s big heart was touched with pity,

With the everlasting pity.

---

And God sat back on his throne,

And he commanded that tall bright angel standing at his right hand:

Call me Death!

And that tall bright angel cried in a voice

That broke like a clap of thunder:

Call Death!–Call Death!

And the echo sounded down the streets of heaven

Till it reached away back to that shadowy place,

Where Death waits with his pale, white horses.

---

And Death heard the summons,

And he leaped on his fastest horse,

Pale as a sheet in the moonlight.

Up the golden street Death galloped,

And the hooves of his horse struck fire from the gold,

But they didn’t make no sound.

Up Death rode to the Great White Throne,

And waited for God’s command.

---

And God said: Go down, Death, go down,

Go down to Savannah, Georgia,

Down in Yamacraw,

And find sister Caroline.

She’s born the burden and heat of the day,

She’s labored long in my vineyard,

And she’s tired–

She’s weary–

Go down, Death, and bring her to me.

---

And Death didn’t say a word,

But he loosed the reins on his pale, white horse,

And he clamped the spurs to his bloodless sides,

And out and down he rode,

Through heaven’s pearly gates,

Past suns and moons and stars;

On Death rode,

Leaving the lightning’s flash behind;

Straight down he came.

---

While we were watching round her bed,

She turned her eyes and looked away,

She saw what we couldn’t see;

She saw Old Death.  She saw Old Death

Coming like a falling star.

But Death didn’t frighten Sister Caroline;

He looked to her like a welcome friend.

And she whispered to us: I’m going home,

And she smiled and closed her eyes.

---

And Death took her up like a baby,

And she lay in his icy arms,

But she didn’t feel no chill.

And Death began to ride again–

Up beyond the evening star,

Into the glittering light of glory,

On to the Great White Throne.

And there he laid Sister Caroline

On the loving breast of Jesus.

---

And Jesus took his own hand and wiped away her tears,

And he smoothed the furrows from her face,

And the angels sang a little song,

And Jesus rocked her in his arms,

And he kept a-saying: Take your rest,

Take your rest.

---

Weep not–weep not,

She is not dead;

She’s resting in the bosom of Jesus.

                                                               James Weldon Johnson  1871 – 1938

Ask ye what great thing I know

That delights and stirs me so?

What the high reward I win?

Whose the name I glory in?

Jesus Christ, the Crucified.

---

Who defeats my fiercest foes?  

Who consoles my saddest woes?

Who revives my fainting heart,

Healing all its hidden smart?

Jesus Christ, the Crucified.

---

Who is life in life to me?

Who the death of death will be?

Who will place me on His right

With the countless host of light?

Jesus Christ, the Crucified.

---

This is that great thing I know;

This delights and stirs me so:

Faith in Him Who died to save,

Him Who triumphed o’er the grave,

Jesus Christ, the Crucified.

                                                                         Johann C. Schwedler, 1672-1730

I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.  I Corinthians 2:2 

---

For the wages of sin is death…..

Physical death is the separation of you and I from our physical body.  We are spirit beings confined to a physical body until the body dies.  When physical death comes, we are released into eternity to live somewhere forever.

Spiritual death is the separation of unbelievers from God.  The second death is the separation of unbelievers from God forever.

Because of sin, we are born into this world spiritually dead or separated from God.  That is why Christ told Nicodemus that he must be born again in order to see the kingdom of God.  

The second birth is a spiritual birth that unites us with God as one of His children.  All those who have been born of the Spirit have been born again.

He that is born once, dies twice. He that is born twice, dies once.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Romans 6:23

But as many as received Him (Jesus Christ), to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even  to them who believe on his name.  John 1:12

Parts 1A & B of this series are an introduction to the Work of the Holy Spirit Today, from the book of Ephesians.  If you have not read Part 1A & B recently, it would be helpful to scroll back to those blog articles and re-read them before beginning Part II A.

The first reference to the Holy Spirit in the book of Ephesians indicates that one aspect of His ministry is the sealing of believers. “In whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.” Ephesians 1:13 NKJV

“In whom also” is a continuation of the theme “In Him” or “in Christ” that begins in verse three of chapter one and continues through verse thirteen.  Paul writes that we are chosen in Christ.  In Him we have redemption and forgiveness of sins through His blood.  We are purposed in Him.  In Him we have obtained an inheritance and in Him we are sealed with the Holy Spirit.

Believers are sealed “in Christ”.  For in Him (God) we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28).   Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians also says; “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us, and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” II Corinthians 1:21&22 NKJV

Believers are sealed by the Holy Spirit when we believe on Christ. Our believing and His sealing are simultaneous.  One cannot be a Christian today and not have the Holy Spirit.  Romans 8:9b says; “Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.”  One becomes a Christian by believing in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as one’s only hope of salvation.  

The action of “having believed, you were sealed” or “upon believing, you were sealed” is a one time action in the past.  This construction is also passive which means that the subjects “you” or “you believers” were acted upon in the sealing by God Himself.

Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His.  II Timothy 2:19