CROSS

The saving power of the cross does not depend on faith being added to it; its saving power is such that faith flows from it. -- J. I. Packer.

For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (I Corinthians 1:17-18).

A hymn to read, sing, hum or whistle to the glory of God: Hark! the Voice of Love and Mercy,(Jonathan Evans, 1784).

SUPERNATURAL

Supernatural living through supernatural empowering is at the very heart of New Testament Christianity.  -- J. I. Packer

 

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light (Colossians 1:9-12).

Truth Revealed

It is not for us to imagine that we can prove the truth of Christianity by our own arguments; nobody can prove the truth of Christianity save the Holy Spirit. ---- J. I. Packer

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God (I Corinthians 1:21-24). 

And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom, but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (I Corinthians 2:13,14)

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle to the glory of God: Break Thou the Bread of Life. 

 "Break Thou the bread of life, dear Lord, to me , as Thou didst break the loaves beside the sea; throughout the sacred page I seek Thee, Lord, my spirit pants for Thee, O living Word."

The Sovereignty of God

The Christ who rules us rules all things for us.  J. I. Packer

For those God foreknew [read: "fore-loved"], He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many others. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say in response to this? If God if for us, who can be against us?  (Romans 8:29-30). 

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle to the glory of God: BEFORE JEHOVAH'S AWESOME THRONE.

Knowledge of God

Good morning!

Knowledge of God. Once you become aware that the main business that you are here for is to know God, most of life's problems fall into place of their own accord ---- J. I. Packer.

I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart  Jeremiah 24:8 (see also 9:23,24).

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowlege of God (Colossians 1:9-10).

A hymn to read or sing aloud to the glory of God: I Know Whom I Have Believed.