The midland journal., 1945-04-06

pok-tne BLDG. lney reau anu uSo
yther books, but the book Is Gods
Word, and everything else must be
IN accord with its teaching.
In this blessed Book they find the
mly revelation Of Gods saving
3race. Other attributes Of God may
5e found In the book Of nature.
There we find that God Is powerful,
3rderly, wise, etc., but nowhere in
nature is 1t written that God can
ave a man from his sin. We find
hat only in the Bible, Gods written
Word as 1t reveals Jesus Christ the
Saviour who Is the Living Word.
I. The Eternal Glory Of Gods
Kingdom (vv. 1919.
The kingdom of God refers to His
:eign over all things and beings, but
with special reference to those who
ire willingly subject to Him and
Eager to live for His glory.
Everything in Gods creation is to
be lifted up in praise Of that king
dom. All His works shall praise
Him. They reveal Him In part, but
EVEN that limited revelation Is glori-
BUS. The man who cannot see God
In nature Is indeed dull clod. The
heavens declare His glory and the
earth shows forth His handiwork
FPS. 19:D.
Greater and more precious in
Gods sight Is the praise Of His
saints. Dumb alteration Is accept
able only from dumb creation. We,
His saints, are to speak His praise,
to 'bless" Him ". 10). We are to
spread abroad among all men ".
12) the news Of Gods greatness and
goodness.
Ellis kingdom Is an everlasting
kingdom" and thus 1t at once takes
its place as so superior to what men
call kingdoms as hardly to be men
toned in the same breath. There Is
no limit to Gods kingdom either in
its extent or its duration.
How stupid then that some, yes
many, foolish men and women set
themselves up in rebellion against
God. That Is the height Of all folly
and leads only to disaster. How wise
are those who yield their lives to
His control that their little span of
life may find rich meaning In the
One who endures forever.
II. The Abundant Provision Of
Gods Mercy (vv. 14-16).
We are all completely dependent
on the mercies of God for everything
that we need for Metaphysical, men,
tai, and spiritual.
Consider the food for the body.
God opens His bountiful hand and
every living creature Is provided
with the food necessary for its sus-
tenapce. How this is accomplished
is a mystery and a marvel to us,
but God Is able to do it.
Centuries ago men were fearful
that the earth could not produce
enough food to keep the increasing
population Of mankind alive, but God
sees to that even when He has to do
1t in spite Of mans waste and de-
struction.
However, life is not just material.
There must be satisfying Of mans
spiritual nature. He needs someone
to save him from his own sinful
weakness, to deliver him from his
sorrow and aff1iction. Who can do
this but God? And He does 1t (see
v. 14).
How does He do it3 Through the
ministry Of His Holy Word. There
In man finds salvation and satisfac.
tion. The Bible In the light that
shines upon his way. Il is his com.
fort in sorrow and his strength In
temptation. It exhorts and encour-
ages, convicts and cures.
How endless and how overfiowing
Is the mercy Of our God. Let us
'wait upon" Him, knowing that He
Is not only mindful of our need, but
eager to do for us more than we
can ask or think.
III. The Saving Power Of Gods
Grace (vv. 1910.
The Lord, who sis nigh unto all
them that call upon him" ". l8),
is able to save because He Is 'right-
eous In all his ways and holy In
all his works" ". 17). Only just
and holy God can deal with sin, and
yet only a merciful God would pro-
vide redemption; but in our God
mercy and truth meet Cps. IFS: 1:
Ps. 103). He is both "just and the
justifier Of him that believeth In
Jesus" (Rom. 3:26).
He 1t is who is near to all that
''can upon him In truth" ". 18),
and surely it is such calling on the
Lord which is in mind IN Romans
1918, where we read that ''whoso-
ever shall call upon the name Of the
Lord shall be saved"
Notice that Gods nearness, His
salvation, and His fulhllment of the
desires Of man are for those who
call ON Him and who ''fear Him"
". 19). This is not a matter of
magical use Of name, or an out
ward profession Of faith. 1t must
come from the heart, and when II
does, God responds.
So we find Gods word to be the
source Of our instruction concerning