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Mixed Subject of Spiritual Pursuance

ABOUNDING.

Ⅰ. Abound in Hope. “ That ye may abound in hope” ( Romans 15:13).

Ⅱ. Abound in Love. “ That your love may abound” (Phil.1:9).

Ⅲ. Abound in Faith. “As ye abound in everything in faith” ( 2 Cor.8:7).

Ⅳ. Abound in our Walk. “ Ye ought to walk…so ye would abound” ( 1.Thess 4:1).

Ⅴ. Abound in Grace. “ If these things be in you and abound” (2 Peter 1:8).

Ⅵ. Abound in every Good Work. “ In all things may abound to every good work ” ( 2 Cor.9:8).

Ⅶ. Abound in Suffering. “The sufferings of Christ abound in us ” ( 2 Cor.1:5).

── F.E. Marsh《Five Hundred Bible Readings》

ABUNDANCE.

Ⅰ. Saved in abundant grace. “ Where sin abounded” (Rom.5:20).

Ⅱ. Blessed according to abundant mercy. “ Which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again” (1.Peter 1:3).

Ⅲ. Energised with abundant life. “ That they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly” ( John 10:10).

Ⅳ. Calmed in abundant peace. “Abundance of peace as long as the moon endured” (Phil.1:26).

Ⅴ. Rejoiced with abundant joy. “ Your joy may be more abundant in Christ Jesus” (Phil.1:26).

Ⅵ. Satisfied with abundant goodness. “ They shall be abundantly satisfied with the goodness of Thy house” ( Ps.36:8).

Ⅶ. Prayer answered in abundant manner. “ Able to do exceeding abundantly” ( Eph.3:20).

── F.E. Marsh《Five Hundred Bible Readings》

AMEN: ITS DIFFERENT MEANINGS.

Ⅰ. Affirmation. So it is. “Verily Verily” (John 6:47).

Ⅱ. Supplication. So let it be. “ Truth Lord” (Matt 15:27).

Ⅲ. Expectation. Let it be. “ Surely I come “ (Rev.22:20).

Ⅳ. Confidence. It shall be. “ Verily Verily” (John 5:24).

Ⅴ. Necessity. It must be. “ Verily I say” (John 3:3).

Ⅵ. Certainty. It is. “ Promises in Him Amen” (2 Cor.1:20).

Ⅶ. Acquiescence. Let it be. “ Even so Father” (Matt.11:26).

── F.E. Marsh《Five Hundred Bible Readings》

BEWARE.

“Beware lest thou forget the Lord” (Deut.6:12).

We often see such notices as these:--“ Beware of the Dog ” or “Beware of Pickpockets;” but there is one we never see and that is “Beware of Self.” “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” We read recently of the author of a book on the “ Dangers of Alpine Climbing with Practical Advice to Tourists ” having himself lost his life while ascending a mountain. Beware worker lest you should fall into the things that you warn others against.

Ⅰ. Beware of the word of the Lord to do it (Deut.6:12; 8:11).

Ⅱ. Beware of wine—the symbol of earthly pleasure (Jud.13:4-13).

Ⅲ. Beware of the wiles of self-righteousness (Matt.16:6).

Ⅳ. Beware of the word of covetousness (Luke 12:15).

Ⅴ. Beware of the wickedness of wicked men (Phil.3:2).

Ⅵ. Beware of the wisdom of man (Col.2:8; Matt 7:15; 10:17).

Ⅶ. Beware of wresting the Scriptures (2 Peter 3:16 17).

── F.E. Marsh《Five Hundred Bible Readings》

BOASTING.

Ⅰ. Boasting in God. “ We also joy (boast) in God” (Rom.5:11).

Ⅱ. Boasting is Christ Jesus. “ Rejoice in Christ Jesus” (Phil.3:3).

Ⅲ. Boasting in the Cross. “ God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Gal.6:14).

Ⅳ. Boasting in the glory of God. “ Rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Rom.5:2).

Ⅴ. Boasting in the grace that is seen in others. “ Great is our glorying in you” (2 Cor.7:4; 2 Cor.9:2; 2 Thess.1:4).

Ⅵ. Boasting in infirmities. “ Glory in mine infirmities” (2 Cor.12:9).

Ⅶ. Boasting in apostleship. “ I have therefore whereof I may glory” (Rom.15:17).

The words of the above Scriptures which are in italics are one and the same in the original and is rendered “ boast” in 2 Cor.9:4; 10:8 13 15 16.

── F.E. Marsh《Five Hundred Bible Readings》

CHAIN OF GOOD THINGS.

The believer in Christ ever says with the Psalmist “ I have no good beyond Thee” ( Psalm 16:2 R.V.).

Ⅰ. In ourselves there is no good thing (Rom.7:18).

Ⅱ. But the good that has been planted within us (2 Tim.1:14).

Ⅲ. Which is the outcome of the good work of the Lord (Phil.1:6).

Ⅳ. Is productive of good works (Eph.2:10).

Ⅴ. So that by His grace we have a good conscience (1. Tim.1:19).

Ⅵ. And fight a good warfare (1. Tim.6:12).

Ⅶ. Thus are we good soldiers of Jesus Christ (2 Tim.2:3).

── F.E. Marsh《Five Hundred Bible Readings》

DOORS.

An old writer has said “ The Holy Spirit rides in the chariot of His Word.” If therefore we would have the Spirit of the Word we must ponder the Word of the Spirit. The following references to some of the doors of Scripture present a complete ring of truth in which are found seven precious gems.

Ⅰ. Sin. Sin at the door --“ Sin lieth at the door” (Gen.4:7). To have sin call at the door like a beggar is bad enough but to have it lying there like a wild beast is worse.

Ⅱ. Substitution. Blood on the door.—“ Take of the blood and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses” (Exodus 12:7). “ Christ our Passover sacrificed for us ” proclaims Him who has suffered in our stead and who shelters us in consequence.

Ⅲ. Salvation. Passing over the door.—“ The Lord will pass over the door” (Exodus 12:23). Lowth’s translation is very suggestive “ The Lord will spring forward before the door.” Since He stands between us and danger we are safe indeed.

Ⅳ. Security. Preserved behind the door.—“ The door of the ark……the Lord shut him in” (Gen.6:16; 7:16). When the Lord shuts the door none can open it. It is significant that the first time the Hebrew word for atonement is translated it is rendered “ pitch” in connection with the ark (Gen.6:14). Christ is our Atonement to secure.

Ⅴ. Sanctification. Nailed to the door.—“ Bring him to the door” (Exodus 21:6). The freed salve out of love to his master has his ear bored with an awl to the door (see margin of Ps.40:6 and Isaiah 50:5).

Ⅵ. Sentry. Sentinel before the door.—“ Keep the door of my lips” (Psalm 141:3). If the Lord preserves the lips no enemy shall open them to His dishonour nor our shame.

Ⅶ. Station. “Waiting at the posts of My doors” (Prov.8:34). The believer’s attitude is that of prayerful expectancy and faithful watching.

── F.E. Marsh《Five Hundred Bible Readings》

FAINT NOT.

Ⅰ. Prayer. Faint not in prayer. “Pray and not faint” (Luke 18:1).

Ⅱ. Perseverance. Faint not in confidence. “ We faint not” (11. Cor.4:1).

Ⅲ. Preservation. Faint not in hope. “ For which cause we faint not” (11.Cor.4:16).

Ⅳ. Preparation. Faint not in work “ Reap if we faint not” (Gal.6:9).

Ⅴ. Power. Faint not in trusting. “ I desire that ye faint not” (Eph.3:13).

Ⅵ. Practice. Faint not in well doing. “ Faint not in well doing” (11.Thess.3:13 margin).

Ⅶ. Patience. Faint not under chastening. “ Nor faint when thou art rebuked” (Heb.12:5).

── F.E. Marsh《Five Hundred Bible Readings》

FORGET NOT.

Ⅰ. Person. “ Forget not the Lord” (Deut.8:11).

Ⅱ. Provocation. Forger not past failure. “ Forget not how thou provokedst the Lord thy God” (Deut.9:7).

Ⅲ. Prayer. Forget not the poor. “ Forget not the congregation of Thy poorf for ever (Psalm 79:19)

Ⅳ. Punishment. Forget not thine enemies. “Forget not the voice of Thine enemies” (Psalm 79:23).

Ⅴ. Praise. Forget not benefits. “ Forget not all His benefits” (Psalm 103:2).

Ⅵ. Practice. Forget not commandments. “ Forget not My law but let thine heart keep My commandments” (Prov.3:1).

Ⅶ. Pleasing God. Forget not to do good. “ But to do good and to communicate forget not” (Heb.13:16).

── F.E. Marsh《Five Hundred Bible Readings》

FOUR “ IF SO BE’S.”

Ⅰ. Indwelling. “ If so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you” (Rom.8:9). “ If so be.” Ah！here we have the secret the test of the whole matter. “ If a man lives after the flesh whatever colour it may assume it is because he is self-centred self-controlled and self-aiming; but if a man lives after the spirit in all the instincts of that holy nature it is because the Spirit of God in His consecrating love controlling grace and conforming power lives in him.

Ⅱ. Resurrection. The apostle by the Holy Spirit in speaking of the result if Christ is not raised from the dead says “ We are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ whom He raised not up if so be that the dead rise not” (1. Cor.15:15). It is a proof that Christ is not raised from the dead if the dead rise not.

Ⅲ. Love for the Word. Again we find the words “ if so be” in relation to the Christian life. One result of Christ in the life is a love for the Word of God and this love for the Word is an evidence that we know the Lord of the Word. As Peter says “ As new-born babes desire the sincere milk of the Word……if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious” (1. Peter 2:2 3).

Ⅳ. Suffering. We read in Romans 8:17: “ And if children then heirs heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him that we also may be glorified together.” The goal of glory is by the path of suffering and there is no glory but by this path. From the use of the words it will be gathered that the secret of the believer being able to ruse above the flesh is found in the indwelling presence of the Spirit of God; and if a professed believer does not walk according to the Spirit it is because he has not the Holy Spirit; hence he does not belong to the Lord Jesus however loud his profession may be.

── F.E. Marsh《Five Hundred Bible Readings》

GROANS.

Ⅰ. Groan of the captive. “ And God heard their groaning” (Ex.2:24; 6:5; Acts 7:34).

Ⅱ. Groan of Christ on the Cross. “ My groaning is not did from Thee” (Ps.38:9).

Ⅲ. Groan of the sympathizing Saviour. “ He groaned in the spirit” (John 11:33).

Ⅳ. Groan of the believer. “ We do groan being burdened” (11. Cor.5:2 4; Rom.8:23).

Ⅴ. Groan of the Spirit. “ Maketh intercession for us with groanings ” ＆c.(Rom.8:26).

Ⅵ. Groan of the afflicted soul. “ I am weary with my groaning” (Psalms 6:6).

Ⅶ. Groan of creation. “ The whole creation groaneth” (Romans 8:22).

── F.E. Marsh《Five Hundred Bible Readings》

IGNORANCE.

The natural man is ignorant of the—

Ⅰ. Word of Christ. “ But they understood not that saying” (Mark 9:32).

Ⅱ. Person of Christ. “ They knew Him not” (Acts 13:27; 17:23).

Ⅲ. Righteousness of God. “ Have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God” (Rom.10:3)

Ⅳ. Goodness of God. “ Despisest thou the riches of His goodness” (Rom.2:4).

Ⅴ. Of the believer. “ As unknown” (11. Cor.6:9).

Things God would not have the believer ignorant of—

Ⅰ. Our standing. “ Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death” (Rom.6:3).

Ⅱ. His purpose towards Israel. “ Not……ignorant of this mystery” (Rom.11:25).

Ⅲ. The Old Testament. “Not……ignorant how that all our fathers” (1. Cor.10:1).

Ⅳ. Gifts. “ Spiritual gifts……I would not have you ignorant” (1. Cor.12:1).

Ⅴ. The Lord’s coming. “ Ignorant……concerning them which are asleep” (1. Thess.4:13).

Christ has compassion on the ignorant. “ Who can have compassion on the ignorant” (Heb.5:2).

Believer not ignorant of Satan’s devices. “ Not ignorant of his devices” (11. Cor.2:11).

── F.E. Marsh《Five Hundred Bible Readings》

“ IN NO WISE.”

Ⅰ. The “ in no wise” of fulfillment. “ In no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled” (Matt.5:8).

Ⅱ. The “ in no wise” of sinnership. “ No in no wise……all under sin” (Rom.3:9).

Ⅲ. The “ in no wise” of helpessness. “ Could in no wise lift up herself” (Luke 13:11).

Ⅳ. The “ in no wise” of the Work of Christ. “ A work which ye shall in no wise believe” (Acts 13:41).

Ⅴ. The “ in no wise” of assurance. “ I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37).

Ⅵ. The “ in no wise” of reward. “ He shall in no wise cast out” (John 10:42).

Ⅶ. The “ in no wise” of judgment. “ Shall in no wise enter therein” (Luke 18:17; Rev.21:27).

── F.E. Marsh《Five Hundred Bible Readings》

INQUIRING—DIRECTED.

To inquire of the Lord is to be directed by Him (11. Sam.2:1). The following seven links in the golden chain of the spiritual life are always connected namely:--

Ⅰ. Faith in the Lord (John 3:16).

Ⅱ. Dependence on the Lord (Psalm 37:7).

Ⅲ. Walking with the Lord (Mal.2:6).

Ⅳ. Inquiry of the Lord (Mal.2:6).

Ⅴ. Direction by the Lord (Acts 13:2).

Ⅵ. Blessing from the Lord (Deut.33:20).

Ⅶ. Glory to the Lord (1. Cor.10:31).

The blessing of the Lord’s guidance always comes along the lines of prayer and obedience Self acts upon its own authority and is discomfited as Balaam (Numbers 22:22-35) but faith goes at God’s bidding and is delivered (Exodus 14:15).

── F.E. Marsh《Five Hundred Bible Readings》

IN THE LIGHT.

Ⅰ. Walking in the light ( 1.John 1:7).

Ⅱ. Worshipping in the light (1.Peter 2:9).

Ⅲ. Warring in the light (Rom.13:12).

Ⅳ. Working in the light ( John 3:21)..

Ⅴ. Watching in the light (John 11:9).

Ⅵ. Witnessing in the light (Phil.2:15).

Ⅶ. Waiting for Christ in the light (Luke 12:35-40).

── F.E. Marsh《Five Hundred Bible Readings》

KEEP.

Ⅰ.Keep the sayings of Christ. “If a man keep My sayings he shall never see death” (John 8:51 52).

Ⅱ.Keep the commandments of Christ. “If ye love Me keep My commandments “(John 14:15).

Ⅲ. Keep the unity of the Spirit. “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit” (Eph.4:3).

Ⅳ. Keep unspotted from the world. “And to keep himself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27).

Ⅴ. Keep in the love of God. “keep yourselves in the love of God” (Jude 21).

Ⅵ. Keep the Faith. “I have kept the faith ” (2.Tim.4:7).

Ⅶ. Keep pure . “keep thyself pure” (1.Tim.5:22).

── F.E. Marsh《Five Hundred Bible Readings》

KEEP.

Ⅰ. Keep yourselves in the love of God. “ Keep yourselves in the love of God” ( Jude 21).

Ⅱ. Keep yourselves from Idols. “ Little children keep yourselves from idols” (1. John 5:21).

Ⅲ. Keep unspotted from the world. “ Pure religion……is this……to keep himself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27).

Ⅳ. Keep the body under. “ But I keep under my body and bring it into subjection” (1.Cor.9:27).

Ⅴ. Keep the heart diligently. “ Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Prov.4:23).

Ⅵ. Keep the Lord’s commandments. “ If ye love Me ye will keep My commandments” (John 14:15 R.V.).

Ⅶ. Keep from the paths of the destroyer. “I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer” (Psalm 17:4).

── F.E. Marsh《Five Hundred Bible Readings》