November, 2019 - The StarLight News Daily On Line Edition - Day 14

The True Bible Church 

by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam 

Many people have truly come to know Christ as Savior after having been sincere, religious “church members” for years. Though faithful supporters of some earthly church organization they had never experienced the truth of II Cor. 5:17: “If any man be in Christ he is a new creation.”  It is possible to be a member in good standing of some church organization, yet be outside of the one true Church of which the Bible speaks. 

This is because the true Bible Church is not an organization but a living organism, a spiritual body, with a living Head and living members. Again and again St. Paul, by divine inspiration, calls the Church, the Body of Christ. He says: “We being many, are one Body in Christ…” (Rom. 12:5). “Ye are the Body of Christ, and members in particular” (I Cor. 12:27). “We are members of His Body” (Eph. 5:30). 

How do we become members of this true Bible Church, the Body of Christ? First, we must acknowledge ourselves to be sinners in God’s sight, for Ephesians 2 relates how Christ died for sinful men that He might “reconcile” them to God “in one Body” by the cross (Ver. 16). Thus, when believing sinners are reconciled to God by faith in Christ, they are regenerated, given a new life, by the Spirit, and by the Spirit are baptized into the Church, the Body of Christ. 

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5). 

“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body” (I Cor. 12:13). 

Every one of us should ask himself: “Have I been baptized by the Spirit into the Body of Christ?” If not, trust Christ as your Savior and become a member of the one true Bible Church. Then associate yourself with some local assembly where Christ is honored and the Bible taught, “rightly divided.”

Today's Devotional Sponsor...

DAILY SMILE...

Exercise 

I've started a new exercise program. 

I do twenty sit-ups every morning. 

That may not sound like a lot, but you can only hit that SNOOZE button just so many times... 


- From Bonnie

November, 2019 - The StarLight News Daily On Line Edition - Day 13

There Is No Difference 

by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam 

Twice in the Book of Romans, once in Romans 3:22,23, and once in Romans 10:12,13, God uses the phrase, “There is no difference.” 

First it is used in con-nection with the guilt of man. Religious Jews, as well as godless Gentiles; cultured moralist, as well as degraded savages, are proved guilty before God. 

In the first three chapters, their privileges and responsibilities are fully discussed, and their arguments are carefully considered. Then comes the awful verdict: 

“THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE: FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD.” 

Must we not all bow our heads in shame and admit that the indictment is true? Must we not acknowledge that our condemnation is just? There may, indeed, be differences as to the nature or the degree of our sins, but in this there is no difference: that we all have sinned. And a just and holy God must condemn sin. 

It is refreshing, however, to find the phrase used a second time in connection with salvation. Again religious Jews as well as godless Gentiles are included, but this time, how gracious the declaration! 

“FOR THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE…FOR THE SAME LORD OVER ALL IS RICH UNTO ALL THAT CALL UPON HIM. FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED!” 

In the matter of sin, God cannot be partial. He cannot be lenient with certain classes or groups whose advantages have been greater. All have sinned, and all must stand condemned. 

But neither does He show partiality in the matter of salvation. The rich or cultured or religious are not preferred before others. The illiterate or immoral are not excluded. The Law condemns all, but Christ died to save all, that we might be “justified freely by His grace.” 

Friend, are you saved? Are you right with God? You can never hope to be accepted if you approach Him in your own merits, but if you come in the merits of Him who bore your sins, you cannot be turned away. “FOR THE SAME LORD OVER ALL IS RICH UNTO ALL THAT CALL UPON HIM, FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED.” 

Today's Devotional Sponsor...

DAILY SMILE...

Hospital Fun 

Peter called his doctor’s office for an appointment. 

“I’m sorry,” said the receptionist, “we can’t fit you in for at least two weeks.” 

Peter said, “But I could be dead by then!” 

Receptionist replied, “No problem. If your wife lets us know, we’ll cancel the appointment. 


- From ArcaMax Jokes

November, 2019 - The StarLight News Daily On Line Edition - Day 12

Glorious Prospect 

by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam 

To the true Christian one of the most wonderful passages in the Bible is Eph. 2:7, where we read of God’s purpose, “That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” This passage appears the more wonderful when viewed in the light of its context. 

Verses 2-6 tell how we were all once the “children of disobedience,” and therefore “by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” But then we read those wonderful words of hope, “But God.” “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love wherewith He loved us…” And the next verses tell how He has taken believers in Christ from the lowest position of condemnation and wrath and given them the highest place of favor and blessing in Christ at His own right hand in the heavenlies. 

The simplest, humblest believer in Christ has been given this position in the heavenlies, for God no longer sees him in himself, but in Christ, who died for his sins. This is why St. Paul so often writes about “those who are in Christ Jesus.” 

It is for the believer now to occupy this exalted position, to appropriate by faith the “all spiritual blessings” which are his in Christ (See Eph. 1:3). Like Paul, he may be lifted by grace, through faith, above the troubles and sorrows of “this present evil age” and enjoy his position and blessings in the heavenlies in Christ. And even this is not all, for looking far ahead to the future the Apostle, by divine revelation, goes on to say (in Eph. 2:7) that God has done this all for us, “that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

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Good Grade 

So one semester a young lady was not doing well in class, so when she asked to meet me after class one day I agreed. When she showed up she was in a miniskirt and sheer top which left little to the imagination. She slinked over to my desk, leaned on it seductively and said, “I really need a good grade. I will do anything to get it.” 

I looked up into her eyes and said, “Anything? Even if it is difficult and uncomfortable?” 

She responded with a breathless, “YES!” 

My response was, “Then study!” 


- From Daily Clean Jokes

November, 2019 - The StarLight News Daily On Line Edition - Day 11

I Wasn't Praying Right 

by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam 

We were having supper in a restaurant in Albany, Georgia, and had just given our waitress a gospel tract. This brought about an incident we shall probably never forget. The young lady was married and had one child, though still a teen-ager, but she was a sincere believer and had already learned one lesson which is bound to enrich the life of any Christian. 

About ten months previous her little baby, only two months old, had become seriously ill. The little one was taken to the hospital but his condition worsened daily. “I was on my knees so much those days,” said the young mother, “begging the Lord day after day not to take my little child, and I guess I got a little bitter one night when the doctor warned me in a kind way not to expect too much. 

“I went home again and began claiming promises from the Lord, when it dawned on me that I hadn’t been praying right. All of a sudden it came to me, and I said: ‘Lord, I’m your child and I know perfectly well that you wouldn’t do anything to harm me, so please help me just to trust you and to understand that whatever you do is for my good.’ 

“I felt better then,” she said, “and I guess the Lord just wanted me to learn that lesson, because what do you think! The very next morning when I went to the hospital one of the nurses came to me almost dancing. She said: ‘Honey, your baby’s going to live. The crisis is over. You should see how well he’s doing!’ And he was! You should have seen him! And you should see how fine and healthy he is now! 

“I’m so thankful. And believe me, I’ve learned that lesson, and won’t go demanding things from the Lord again.”

Today's Devotional Sponsor...

DAILY SMILE...

Airfare 

I couldn't decide whether to go to Salt Lake City or Denver for vacation, so I called the airlines to get prices. "Airfare to Denver is $300," the cheery salesperson replied. 

"And what about Salt Lake City?" 

"We have a really great rate to Salt Lake; $99," she said. "But there is a stopover." 

"Where?" 

"In Denver," she said. 


- From Clean Laughs

November, 2019 - The StarLight News Daily On Line Edition - Day 10

The Gambler 

by Pastor Ricky Kurth 

There are so many ways to gamble these days! Casinos that used to be found only in Las Vegas now seem to be everywhere. People gamble on sporting events, at racetracks, and in state lotteries. Others risk their hard-earned money in the stock market, which is always a gamble! But even if you have never placed a bet, if you are not saved, you are gambling with eternity. 

You might be thinking, “I don’t use that word saved,” but I wonder if at some time in your life you’ve sung that most beloved of all Christian hymns, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.” You may have sung the song, but are you saved? We call the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior; well, the purpose of a Savior is to save people! Has He saved you? 

The Bible says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). Now, if you are wondering what it is specifically that you have to believe about Christ to be saved, the Apostle Paul told the Corinthians, 

“I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you…by which also ye are saved…how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day” (I Corinthians 15:1-4). 

Here the Bible clearly says that the way to be saved from your sins is to believe that Christ died to pay for your sins. So the only question now is, do you believe God when He says your sins are paid for? Do you trust Him when He says that? If you do, the Bible says that you are saved! 

If you are not sure what I’m trying to say, suppose for a moment that you have a serious gambling problem, and that you have racked up a million dollars in gambling debts. One day some very bad men threaten to kill you unless you pay your debt. Naturally, you are very afraid, because you don’t have the money. But just then a friend emails you to say, “I heard about your problem, and I paid your debt.” 

Now you have to ask yourself, “Do I really believe my friend when he says he paid my debt? Do I trust him when he says my debt is paid?”  If you don’t believe him, you’ll have to keep trying to pay your debt on your own. But if you do trust your friend when he says he paid your debt, you’ll thank him for it, and simply rest in what he did for you. 

That’s all God asks of you to be saved from your sins. Believe that Christ paid for your sins, and rest in what He did for you. If you’ll do that, the Bible says you are saved. If you won’t, well, you’ll just have to go on trying to pay for your sins in your own way, by being good, by not being bad, or by being religious—something the Bible says you can never do: 

“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Romans 4:5). 

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8,9). 

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us” (Titus 3:5). 

If you are still not sure what I am trying to say, I have a little exercise for you. Later today, or perhaps tomorrow, you are going to do some good thing, or avoid doing some sinful thing. At that moment, you will be tempted to think, “I just helped pay my way to heaven.” When that happens, stop yourself, and say, “No, the Bible says that the only way I can get to heaven is by believing that Christ died for my sins.” Just keep that up, and eventually you’ll learn to trust what Christ did on the cross of Calvary to pay for your sins, and rest completely in what He did for you. 

They say life is a gamble, and I suppose in many ways it is. But don’t gamble with eternal life. The stakes are much too high. 

I promise you this: A thousand years from this moment, you will remember this moment. And whether you remember it with joy or eternal regret depends on the decision you must make right now to trust Christ as your Savior.

Today's Devotional Sponsor...

DAILY SMILE...

Who Am I? 

A big-time celebrity was doing a benefit at a senior citizen home. He went up to one of the elderly ladies, sat down beside her, and said, “Do you know who I am?” 

She said, “No, but go to the front desk. They’ll tell you who you are.” 


- From The Friars Club Encyclopedia of Jokes

November, 2019 - The StarLight News Daily On Line Edition - Day 9

Now Is The Time 

by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam 

Today we think of St. Paul’s words to the Corinthians in II Cor. 6:1,2: 

“We then as workers together with [God], beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain…. Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 

This passage reminds us that it is not enough that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” collectively. We, each one individually, must do something about appropriating this salvation for ourselves. 

After the classic passage in II Cor. 5:14-21 where the Apostle tells how Christ “died for all,” and how God deals with all men in grace since “He hath made Him to be sin for us” so that “we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” — after this great unfolding of what God, through Christ, has done for us, he urges individual acceptance of this great truth. 

As “workers together with God,” the Apostle and his associates begged men not to “receive… the grace of God in vain,” but to trust Christ, each one as His own personal Savior, to apply His redemptive work to themselves. 

And even at that early date in the history of the Church, the Apostle gave men to understand that there was no time to lose; the day of grace was not to last forever, but was to give place to the day of judgment and wrath. 

If this was so then, how much more is it so now! God has been very longsuffering with the world. He has continued to deal with mankind in grace for nearly two thousand years but according to both Old Testament prophecy and Paul’s “mystery” He will judge this world for its rejection of Christ. 

When will this happen? No one knows. It is the very essence of grace that no one knows when the dispensation of grace will end. It is grace, pure grace, on God’s part that causes Him to linger day after day in mercy toward a world that rejects Him. 

Thus God’s messengers cannot offer even one more day of grace. We must say as St. Paul did: “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” “Christ died for our sins” (I Cor. 15:3). “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).

Today's Devotional Sponsor...

DAILY SMILE...

Visions Of The Future 

A man went to the doctor and said: “Doctor, I keep having visions of the future.” 

“When did these start?” 

“Next Thursday.” 


- From Daily Clean Jokes

November, 2019 - The StarLight News Daily On Line Edition - Day 8

Is the God of Islam the God of the Bible?

by Pastor Ricky Kurth

“Is the god of Islam the God of the Bible?”

There are countless ways to show that the god of Islam is not the God of the Bible, but since there are two faiths that have come from the Bible, Judaism and Christianity, let’s just consider two verses that show that the god of Islam differs from the God of both of these Bible faiths.

First, remember that the Lord told the Samaritan woman, “Ye worship ye know not what” (John 4:22). There was no creed on the planet at that time that was more similar to Judaism than the religion practiced by the Samaritans. There were countless similarities between the two faiths, and yet it was the Lord’s assertion that the Samaritans didn’t know what they were worshipping, any more than the pagans who worshipped “THE UNKNOWN GOD” at Athens (Acts 17:23). This indicated that, in His opinion, they did not worship the same God. So in view of the countless differences between Islam and Judaism, it is difficult to see how it can be said that Muslims worship the God of Judaism.

To this must be added the testimony of the Apostle Paul, who declared that “the things that the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice unto devils, and not to God” (I Cor. 10:20). From these words it seems clear that the gods of the different religions of the Gentiles were not the God of the Christian faith that God used him to establish here on earth (I Cor. 3:10). This is especially so when we consider that Paul was quoting Deuteronomy 32:16,17, where Moses called the gods of the heathen nations “strange gods…and devils…new gods that came newly up.”

In light of these two verses that show that the god of Islam is not the God of either of the two faiths of the Bible, it is certain that the god of Islam is not the God of the Bible. It is still true that “he that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father” (John 5:23), and “whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father” (I John 2:23). No faith that denies that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died to pay for the sins of all men can be said to worship the God of the Bible.

Today's Devotional Sponsor...

DAILY SMILE...

Zero in Math
Dad was angry when he saw that his son scored a zero in math. “Son, can you explain this to me?”

“Well dad, the teacher didn't have any stars left to give me, so she gave me a moon!”

- From Daily Clean Jokes

November, 2019 - The StarLight News Daily On Line Edition - Day 7

Rightly Dividing The Word Of Truth

by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam

St. Paul wrote to Timothy, many centuries ago:

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in right- eousness” (II Tim. 3: 16).

The Apostle referred, of course, to the sacred Scriptures, also called The Bible and The Word of God. All of it, he says, is “God-breathed and profitable,” to “teach,” to “reprove,” to “correct” and to “instruct.”

But why, then, have so many heresies and false teachings sprung up through the years – all based upon the Bible? And why have so many thousands of sincere people been led astray by these false teachings?

The reason is that teachers and followers alike have failed to heed another important statement which Paul made in this same letter prior to his declaration that all Scripture is inspired of God and profitable. This statement is found in Chapter 2, Verse 15:

“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.”

The Bible can prove “profitable” to us only as we “rightly divide” it. We must rightly divide the Word of truth for the simple reason that if we do not do this we can pervert the truth and change it into error. Through the centuries God has periodically altered His dealings with mankind. Many religious rites which were commanded in Old Testament times are positively forbidden in this present dispensation of grace.

In Old Testament times, for example, animal sacrifices were required for acceptance with God, and from John the Baptist through Pentecost water baptism was required (Lev. 17:11; Mk. 1:4; Acts 2:38), but some years after the death of Christ Paul was sent forth with “the preaching of the cross,” and he declared that: “We have redemption through [Christ’s] blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace” (Eph. 1:7) “Being justified freely by [God’s] grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:24).

Today's Devotional Sponsor...

DAILY SMILE...

Piano Tuning

It seems that every time John, our piano tuner, comes to our house, he scolds me for waiting too long between tunings. I agree with him that it should be done every six months, but I don't really think about it until the piano sounds off-key. Last time he came over, I was on the defensive.

"If you would send out a postcard reminder like the dentist," I declared, "I would make sure to call you for an appointment in a timely fashion."

Without hesitating, he replied, "From now on, when the dentist sends you a postcard, call me."

- From Mikey’s Funnies

November, 2019 - The StarLight News Daily On Line Edition - Day 6

In What Sense Did Christ Atone? 

by Pastor Paul M. Sadler 

“Paul states in Romans 5:11: ‘And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.’ In what sense did Christ atone for our sins?” 

This passage is one of many in our English translation of the Scriptures where it is necessary to consult the original language to ensure we have the proper sense of what the apostle was seeking to convey. When we do so, we find that the Greek word katallage or “reconciliation” is used. It is understandable that the KJV translators used the term atonement because in their day the term meant “agreement, concord, or reconciliation after enmity or controversy.” 

For the sake of clarification, in contemporary language the word atonement obscures the meaning of the passage. The emphasis of Paul’s special revelation here is on reconciliation, not atonement, as confirmed by the Greek text. The Hebrew word kaphar, translated “atonement” in the Old Testament meant “to cover.” Hence, the blood of bulls and goats merely covered the sins of those in Old Testament times; it didn’t have the efficacy to remove them. 

“And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins” (Heb. 10:11). 

Through the forbearance of God those sins that were atoned for in time past are now removed on the basis of the shed blood of Christ (Rom. 3:25). Today, Paul teaches us that we are freely justified and forgiven by the blood of Christ: “Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him” (Rom. 5:9). In other words, the blood of Christ doesn’t atone for our sins, it actually cleanses them forevermore. 

In the context of the above passage, the apostle was instructing the Romans that it is a source of joy to know that we are at peace with God (Rom. 5:1), seeing that we have accepted His gracious offer of reconciliation (II Cor. 5:18). The subject of Romans 5:11 is reconciliation, not atonement.

Today's Devotional Sponsor...

DAILY SMILE...

Frog 

A lonely frog telephoned the Psychic Hotline and asked what his future holds. 

His Personal Psychic Advisor tells him, "You are going to meet a beautiful young girl who will want to know everything about you." 

The frog is thrilled, "This is great! Will I meet her at a party?" he croaks. 

"No," says the psychic, "in biology class." 


- From Mikey’s Funnies

November, 2019 - The StarLight News Daily On Line Edition - Day 5

A Child's Thanksgiving

by Katherine Britton

"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." - John 10:10

Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name." - 1 Chronicles 29:13

Sometimes it takes a children's sermon to remind me what's important. Thanksgiving should be a simple affair, but my adult brain had overcomplicated this heart attitude without much effort. The past few months had been filled with many moments where I had said, "So far, so good" but doubted the future. The provision at hand was enough, to be sure. Yet I wondered if what looked like adequate provision today would diminish over time. I doubted God's intention to replenish what I used up.

On Sunday, I listened to the children's sermon with special attention when the kids talked about the Mayflower and the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving. Each child quickly displayed their knowledge of Pilgrims and Indians - including Squanto - and incredible dynamic that played out that harvest season. Their teacher slowly enlarged their descriptions to include the previous winter's deaths, the desperately short food supply, the hope of a new planting season, and the summer's withering drought. By the time harvest rolled around, crops had been gathered in - not in abundance, but certainly sufficient compared to the previous year. The Pilgrims knew it, and reveled in the adequacy of their harvest. Edward Wislow, one of the only primary sources on the day, wrote this about it:

"Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together, after we had gathered the fruits of our labors; they four in one day killed as much fowl, as with a little help beside, served the Company almost a week, at which time amongst other Recreations, we exercised our Arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and amongst the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five Deer, which they brought to the Plantation and bestowed on our Governor, and upon the Captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plenty."

Almost four hundred years later, I stand convicted by Winslow's words. The man had stared death in the face, and had little idea what future lay in store for the Plymouth colonists. In spite of that, he had literally tasted God's provision and found himself satisfied. The meal was so filling, he wished that even if "it be not always so plentiful… we often wish you partakers in our plenty."

I wish I had Winslow's faith, to happily look at today's provision and consider each simple wonder. We are "so far from want" in those moments. We serve a faithful God who is more than enough for all of our needs. It's like the praise song says:

All of You
is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You
Is more than enough

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today's Devotional Sponsor...

DAILY SMILE...

Finish What You Start
 
My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start.
 
So far today, I have finished two bags of chips and a chocolate cake.
 
I feel better already.
 
- From Daily Clean Jokes  

November, 2019 - The StarLight News Daily On Line Edition - Day 4

What About 'Heaven Is For Real'? 

by Pastor Ricky Kurth 

Back in 2014, a popular film called Heaven Is For Real told the story of a 3-year-old boy who had a near-death experience.  Afterwards he told his parents stories about his trip to Heaven.  This story is often touted as “proof” that Heaven is real. 

But as the Lord said, “no man hath ascended up to heaven” (John 3:13). We know that later, when Paul was stoned to death (Acts 14:19), he was “caught up to the third heaven” (II Cor. 12:2), but this was so he could continue to “come to visions and revelations of the Lord” (v. 1). Now that the Bible is complete, there is no need of any further revelations from God, and so there is no need for anyone to be caught up to heaven and return. 

The only reliable information about heaven is found in God’s Word. After describing the vision of the kingdom of heaven that the Lord gave him, Peter added that the Word of God was “more sure” than what he had seen with his own eyes (II Pet. 1:16-19). 

It’s tempting to think that this boy’s experience will persuade people to believe, but Abraham was right: “if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead” (Luke 16:31).

Today's Devotional Sponsor...

DAILY SMILE...

Style? 

A co-worker came to work one day wearing shoes that were identical in style, only one was black and the other brown. I quietly pointed this out to him. 

He smiled and said, "Unusual, aren't they? Believe it or not, I've got another pair just like this at home." 


- From Clean Laffs

November, 2019 - The StarLight News Daily On Line Edition - Day 3

The Holy Spirit At Pentecost 

by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam 

The one hundred twenty disciples in the Upper Room had, of course, been much like any other group of believers in history. They had not all been equally spiritual or devoted, or faithful. Some had been more so than others, and where some had excelled in one virtue, others had excelled in another. Yet now they were all FILLED with the Spirit, from the least to the greatest of them. 

The thoughtful student of Scripture will, of course, ask why all these believers were now filled with the Holy Spirit. Was it, perhaps, because they, as a group, had been more godly than those before them? The gospel records prove that this is not so. Peter boasted, Thomas doubted, James and John sought personal gain, and when our Lord was taken prisoner, “they all forsook Him and fled.” 

Was it then because they had prayed long enough or earnestly enough for the Spirit to come upon them and take control? No; they had been instructed to go to Jerusalem, not to pray for the Holy Spirit to come, as some suppose, but to “wait for the [fulfillment of the] promise” regarding the Spirit (Acts 1: 4,5) — and right here is the answer to our question. 

The believers at Pentecost were filled with the Holy Spirit, not because they had prayed long or earnestly enough for the Spirit to come, but because the time had arrived for the fulfillment of the divine promise. The Old Testament prophets and the Lord Jesus had promised that the Holy Spirit should some day come to take control of God’s people (Ezek. 36:26,27), and that day had come. They were filled with the Spirit because God, according to His promise, had baptized them with the Spirit (Acts 1:5).

Today's Devotional Sponsor...

DAILY SMILE...

Referrals 

When our local doctor began attending church services, the minister was delighted, and it wasn't long before they were helping each other in their work, the minister referring people to the doctor, and vice versa. 

One referral from the doctor called at the church office with a note prescribing the minister's last four sermons. 

The minister was most pleased until he discovered that the patient's problem was insomnia. 


- From GCFL

November, 2019 - The StarLight News Daily On Line Edition - Day 2

FORGIVENESS OF SIN BRINGS HEALING 

from  BibleUniverse.com

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Psalms 103:2-3 


The Saviour ministered to both the soul and the body. The gospel which He taught was a message of spiritual life and of physical restoration. Deliverance from sin and healing of disease were linked together. The same ministry is committed to the Christian physician. He is to unite with Christ in relieving both the physical and spiritual needs of his fellow men. He is to be to the sick a messenger of mercy, bringing to them a remedy for the diseased body and for the sin-sick soul. 

When the poor paralytic was brought to the house where Jesus was teaching, a dense crowd surrounded the door, barring every way of access to the Saviour. But faith and hope had been kindled in the heart of the poor sufferer, and he proposed that his friends take him to the rear of the house, break up the roof, and let him down into the presence of Christ. The suggestion was acted upon; as the afflicted one lay at the feet of the mighty Healer, all that man could do for his restoration had been done. Jesus knew that the sufferer had been tortured with a sense of his sins, and that he must first find relief from this burden. With a look of tenderest compassion, the Saviour addressed him, not as a stranger, or even a friend, but as one who had even then been received into the family of God: "Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee." 

Many are suffering from maladies of the soul far more than from diseases of the body, and they will find no relief until they shall come to Christ, the wellspring of life. Complaints of weariness, loneliness, and dissatisfaction will then cease. Satisfying joys will give vigor to the mind and health and vital energy to the body. 

Today Christ is feeling the woes of every sufferer. . . . He knows how to speak the word, "Be whole," and bid the sufferer, "Go, and sin no more."

Today's Devotional Sponsor...

DAILY SMILE...

Title 

Eager to make good, a young office employee was thrilled to be given a new title: Executive Director of Personal Energy Management. 

His excitement diminished when he found out that it meant he was in charge of stocking the break room with doughnuts and coffee. 


- From Da Mouse Tracks

November, 2019 - The StarLight News Daily On Line Edition - Day 1

The Holy Spirit Today 

by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam 

The believers at Pentecost “were all filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:4), but the Apostle Paul never anywhere says that all the members of the Body of Christ are filled with the Holy Spirit. It is surely clear from the record that the Corinthians and the Galatians, for example, were not filled with the Spirit, for Paul’s letters to these churches contain much of rebuke and correction. And it is also evident that believers today are not — even the best of them — wholly filled with the Spirit. The filling with the Spirit is now a goal, an attainment, which the Apostle, by inspiration, sets before us. We are not all filled with the Spirit as a matter of fact, as were the Pentecostal believers. While the Spirit does indeed dwell within us by God’s grace, we must daily appropriate His help by faith. 

Hence the Apostle now exhorts believers: “Be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18) just as he exhorts them and prays for them, that they may be “filled with the fruits of righteousness” (Phil. 1:11); “filled with the knowledge of His will” (Col. 1:9); “filled with all the fulness of God” (Eph. 3:19), yet none of us have been filled with any of these. 

The reason why we are not automatically filled with the Spirit is another matter, but let the reader not fail to first recognize the fact that while the believers gathered in the upper room at Pentecost were all filled with the Spirit, the believers under Paul, and since that time, have not all been filled with the Spirit. Moreover, while it is distinctly stated, again and again, that the Pentecostal believers were, or were to be, baptized with the Spirit, not once does Paul in his epistles teach that members of the Body of Christ are baptized with or in the Spirit. Instead he exhorts them to appropriate God’s grace by faith so that they may be filled with the Spirit.

Today's Devotional Sponsor...

DAILY SMILE...

Bringing Cola to China 

In 1927, John Hartman decided to bring X-Cola to China, seeing a potentially large market of soft drink lovers. Since he did not speak the local language, he decided to advertise his product through pictures. On every corner in Peking [that was it was called at the time] he put up three pictures. The first showed a man dying of thirst alone in a desert place. The next one to the right showed the same man drinking X-Cola. Third one on the right- most showed the man rejuvenated, full of energy and crossing the desert. 

He waited a couple of weeks, but his cola did not sell. He decided to seek the help of a Chinese advertising consultant. The man said, "In this country, people read from right to left". 


- From Toti Gaa (via GCFL)