38 lines
4.6 KiB
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38 lines
4.6 KiB
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
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Day By Day By Grace
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Bob Hoekstra
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November 10
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<h1>More Consequences of Accessing Grace through Faith</h1>
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<div class="block"><i>Time would fail me to tell of <b>Gideon</b> and <b>Barak</b> and <b>Samson</b> and <b>Jephthah</b>, also of <b>David</b> and <b>Samuel</b> and the <b>prophets</b>: who <b>through faith</b> subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Hbr', 11, '32-33');">Hebrews 11:32-33a</a>)</div>
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<p>With time and pages running out in his epistle, our divinely inspired writer summarizes the testimonies of specific servants of the Lord (Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, and Samuel), as well as one general category (the prophets). His summary presents <b>more consequences of accessing grace through faith</b>.</p>
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<p>The first consequence of their faith is that they <i>"<b>subdued kingdoms</b>."</i> As with Joshua, <b>David</b> was exceptionally effective in defeating enemy nations. <i>"David attacked the <b>Philistines</b>, <b>subdued</b> them… Then he <b>defeated Moab</b>…And David <b>defeated Hadadezer</b> king of Zobah as far as Hamath, as he went to establish his power by the River Euphrates…Then David put <b>garrisons</b> in <b>Syria</b> of Damascus…He also put <b>garrisons</b> in <b>Edom</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('1Ch', 18, '1-3');">1 Chronicles 18:1-3</a>, <a onClick="return mV('1Ch', 18, '6-6');">6</a>, <a onClick="return mV('1Ch', 18, '13-13');">13</a>).</p>
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<p>The next consequence of their faith is that they <i>"<b>worked righteousness</b>."</i> These terms speak of <b>walking</b> in righteousness before the Lord and <b>calling</b> others to the righteous ways of the Lord. <b>Samuel</b> had a reputation of walking in righteousness before his God. <i>"'There is in this city a <b>man of God</b>, and he is an <b>honorable man</b>'…Then Saul drew near to <b>Samuel</b> in the gate"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('1Sa', 9, '6-6');">1 Samuel 9:6</a>, <a onClick="return mV('1Sa', 9, '18-18');">18</a>). The <b>prophets</b> persistently called the people to forsake their ungodly ways and to turn to the Lord's righteous ways. <b>Isaiah</b> preached powerful warnings concerning unrighteousness. <i>"Alas, <b>sinful</b> nation, a people laden with <b>iniquity</b>, a brood of <b>evildoers</b>, children who are <b>corrupters</b>! They have <b>forsaken</b> the LORD, they have <b>provoked</b> to <b>anger</b> the Holy One of Israel, they have <b>turned</b> away <b>backward</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Isa', 1, '4-4');">Isaiah 1:4</a>). He also held forth the Lord as man's only hope of righteousness. <i>"<b>Seek</b> the <b>LORD</b> while He may be found, <b>call</b> upon <b>Him</b> while He is near. Let the wicked <b>forsake</b> his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him <b>return</b> to the <b>LORD</b>, and <b>He</b> will have <b>mercy</b> on him; and to our <b>God</b>, for <b>He</b> will <b>abundantly pardon</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Isa', 55, '6-7');">Isaiah 55:6-7</a>).</p>
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<p>The kingdoms <b>we</b> are to subdue <b>today</b> are the kingdoms of <b>self</b> and <b>flesh</b>, as well as the <b>kingdom</b> of this <b>world</b> (with its millions of bound and lost, who are perishing in darkness). The <b>righteousness</b> we need and that we proclaim is the righteousness of <b>Christ</b>, who lives in us! The means is ever the same—<b>by faith</b>.</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Lord God of power and righteousness, teach me to rely upon Your power, that the kingdoms of self and flesh might be subdued in my life day by day. Lord, I want to abide in You, so Your righteousness might shine through me daily. Enable me to cry out against ungodliness, while at the same time, pointing people to You for the forgiveness and righteousness they need, Amen.</div>
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