Contending for the Faith
Man: The Dwelling Place Of God by A.W. Tozer.
DEEP INSIDE EVERY MAN there is a private sanctum where dwells the mysterious essence of his being. This far-in reality is that in the man which is what it is of itself without reference to any other part of the man's complex nature. It is the man's "I Am," a gift from the I AM who created him. The I AM which is God is underived and self existent; the "I Am" which is man is derived from God and dependent every moment upon His creative fiat for its continued existence. One is the Creator, high over all, ancient of days, dwelling in light unapproachable. The other is a creature and, though privileged beyond all others, is still but a creature, a pensioner on God's bounty and a suppliant before His throne. The deep-in human entity of which we speak is called in the Scriptures the spirit of man. "For what man knoweth the things of man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God" (I Cor. 2:11) . As God's self-knowledge lies in the eternal Spirit, so man's self knowledge is by his own spirit, and his knowledge of God is by the direct impression of the Spirit of God upon the spirit of man. The importance of all this cannot be overestimated as we think and study and pray. It reveals the essential spirituality of mankind. It denies that man is a creature having a spirit and declares that he is a spirit having a body. That which makes him a human being is not his body but his spirit, in which the image of God originally lay. One of the most liberating declarations in the New Testament is this: "The true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23, 24). Here the nature of worship is shown to be wholly spiritual. True religion is removed from diet and days, from garments and ceremonies, and placed where it belongs-in the union of the spirit of man with the Spirit of God. From man's standpoint the most tragic loss suffered in the Fall was the vacating of this inner sanctum by the Spirit of God. At the far-in hidden centre of man's being is a bush fitted to be the dwelling place of the Triune God. There God planned to rest and glow with moral and spiritual fire. Man by his sin forfeited this indescribably wonderful privilege and must now dwell there alone. For so intimately private is the place that no creature can intrude; no one can enter but Christ; and He will enter only by the invitation of faith. "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Rev. 3:20). By the mysterious operation of the Spirit in the new birth, that which is called by Peter "the divine nature" enters the deep-in core of the believer's heart and establishes residence there. "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his," for "the Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God" (Rom. 8:9, 16). Such a one is a true Christian, and only such. Baptism, confirmation, the receiving of the sacraments, church membership-these mean nothing unless the supreme act of God in regeneration also takes place. Religious externals may have a meaning for the God-inhabited soul; for any others they are not only useless but may actually become snares, deceiving them into a false and perilous sense of security.” Keep thy heart with all diligence" is more than a wise saying; it is a solemn charge laid upon us by the One who cares most about us. To it we should give the most careful heed lest at any time we should let it slip.
(Titus 1:8-10 New King James Version)
“ ..but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,..”
Special Notices
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PowerPoint Clip :: It Seems Impossible
Download and view the It Seems Impossible (1MB) file and see how the lessons of the past aren't just being forgotton, but intentionally denied.
Indeed, it seems, we are doomed to repeat the lessons of the past, we have failed to remember.
Download It Seems Impossible PPS (PowerPoint) file (1 MB).
The bona fides of this story (PowerPoint Clip) has been questioned so CWM carried out further inquiries.
Ed Barclay one of CWM's Researchers wrote:
"I have the actual video documentary where IKE makes those statements concerning the Holocaust."
B. Michael Bigg assistant editor CETF and another CWM Researcher comments:
"It seems that a blanket ban (by the government) of teaching about the holocaust in the UK is false, however, a study has found that schools are dropping the subject for fear of offending Muslims. Please see the following UK news articles from April 2008.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/education/article1600686.ece
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1547369/No-lessons-on-the-Holocaust.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/6517359.stm
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-445979/Teachers-drop-Holocaust-avoid-offending-Muslims.html
And yet, ironically, please read:
http://www.het.org.uk/content.php?page_id=216
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Read our Alerts page for special interest items...
Alerts, Notices and 'In the Media'...
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The Judgment was Set, and the Books were Opened
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The UK Assemblies of God: A Different Movement with the Same Name
- Brian Houston associating with Robert Schuller
- Purpose Driven Issues
- Islam
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The Judgment was Set, and the Books were Opened
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Contending Earnestly for The Faith :: CETF 50 – December 2009 – Out Now
See the Mail List page for more information.
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Contending Earnestly for The Faith magazine - Voluntary Invoice
The links to the voluntary invoices, below, were included with CETF 49 (September 2009) as a reminder that it does cost to print and post the magazine. Payment is not compulsory. We recognise that some may be unable to pay due to the financial burden of everyday living. You will still receive the magazine if you’re unable to contribute. If, however, you are able to put the invoice with this month’s “bills to pay”, then we would be most grateful for your payment, which will be treated as a donation and a receipt issued where requested.
CETF Voluntary Invoice - Australia :: Download Here.
CETF Voluntary Invoice - New Zealand :: Download Here.
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by Philip Powell :: Cessationism v Biblicism - Part9 PDF
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| Fellowship lunch will be held on February 28 - tea and coffee will be provided - a savoury and sweet plate per family will ensure a good food balance – come and enjoy this time of fellowship commencing after the morning service. | |
| CWMF AGM after the service on February 28 – members, adherents and visitors are welcome to attend. | |
| Evangelistic Services – 6: 00 to 7: 30 p.m. listed above. These are opportunities to invite unsaved friends to hear a presentation of the Gospel. |
Did You Know
- Ladies’ Bible Study – on Tuesday evenings at the home of Brian and Debbie Dinsdale.
- Home Group – on Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm at CWMF complex, at the home of Alan and Clarice Barker at Capalaba, at the home of Gill and Luz Fernandez at Collingwood Park and every second Wednesday evening at the home of Chris and Maria Maggacis at Sunnybank Hills.
- Sunday School – (ages 4 – 10 years old).
- Management Meeting – Tuesday 9 February 2010, 7.30pm at Pastor Philip's house.
- Prayer Group – on Wednesday mornings at 7.00am.
- Prayer Meeting – on alternate Friday evenings at the home of Jeff and Mandy Pitman.
- CWMF-Bible School – in recess - date to be advised.
- Youth program – (ages 16 years old and older) in recess – date to be advised.
- CWMF Annual General Meeting – on Sunday morning will be held at 11.00 am after the morning service on 28 February 2010. Prospective members see Frank Turvey for membership application forms at least 2 weeks prior to the AGM.
- Interesting Points -
- The most-read Bible verses at BibleGateway.com – results in a top 100 list from a (relatively) small sample of 25 million Bible passage searches from March and April consists almost entirely of John 3:16 and verses from 1 Corinthians 13, Genesis 1, Romans 8, and Psalm 23. If you’re curious to know what the least popular Bible passage is, it’s 1 Chronicles 23-27, which details the organization of the priests and officials under King David.