The age-long conflict between God and Satan, truth and error good and evil, has been a battle for the hearts and minds of men. In the midst of Eden's innocence, God spoke to the creature made in His image and said, "Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die", (Gen. 2:16-17).
    Since God has not spoken precisely on the matter, it would be foolish to speculate as to how long man enjoyed the unbroken fellowship of His Maker. Neverthe1ess, there appeared unto the woman a serpent which could speak her language. Immediately this deceptive, hell-bent creature appealed to her MIND. Having heard from her lips the pronouncement of God, relative to this "forbidden fruit", he immediately began to rationalize thusly, "Ye SHALL NOT surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall BE AS GODS, knowing good and evil", (Gen. 3:4-5).     Thus, the "father of lies" was

able to deceive the woman -- as he appealed to the desires of her eye and flesh, and communicated from himself to her a desire to rise above the position that she was destined to fill IN GOD'S ORDER. He was able to do this -- not as an atheist, denying the existence of God, but as a RATIONALIST -- questioning the truthfulness, love and faithfulness of her Maker. From this successful course the master deceiver has never strayed.
    Murder had its origin in the heart of a man who dared not deny the existence of God, but who questioned His wisdom and feigned to supplant the sacrifice which he had appointed by an offering denoting the skill and fruitfulness of his own hands. Refusing to admit himself a sinner, and needing a sin offering, he was wroth because God refused to approve of him, and the thank offering which sprang from his rebellious heart. In a spirit of revenge Cain arose and slew his brother.
    The downfall of Israel, as a nation, came NOT BECAUSE SHE DENIED THE EXISTENCE OF JEHOVAH, but because she, in her heart, rebelled against, and turned away from, Him Whom she confessed with her lips.

    There is an over-present tendency for sincere Christians to undertake something "outstanding, significant or noteworthy FOR GOD". Few realize that this is usually a very "carnal" desire -- rooted in the flesh, which ever seeks glory for itself.
    Zeal, initiative, courage and a persistent witness are of inestimable value IN GOD'S ORDER, but only when they are joyfully yielded up to divine direction and discipline. God is not near1y so concerned that we be DOING something FOR HIM as that our hearts and lives be yielded up TO HIS DIRECTION --- simply made AVAILABLE to Him as instruments of blessing and channels of Divine Communication. God desires to work IN and THROUGH us; this is His order, and apart from it nothing that is really worthwhile, significant or noteworthy will ever be accomplished.

    Many are the Biblical passages which set forth God's intention to use Human instruments as channels whereby He may COMMUNICATE HIMSELF to others. Jesus Himself made this quite clear in giving instruction to His disciples relative to the coming persecution: "But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye sha11 speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost ... For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you", (Mk. 13:11; Matt. 10:20). And again, relative to the blessings that are to flow from those abandoned to His absolute control: "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, from within him shall flow rivers of living water1', (Jn. 7:38, (R.V).
    Both Paul and Peter recognized this principle as applicable to the lives of God's people in every age. Concerning his own ministry, Paul wrote: "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual", (I Cor. 2:13). And Peter wrote: If any man speak, let him speak as the oracle of God . . . . for the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost", (I Pet. 4:11; 2 Pet. 1:21).
    God still communicates Himself through human "vessels of honor" -- cleansed and fitted for His use by Divine Grace. Will YOU be one?

    Pervading the entire Sermon on the Mount is the strange voice of authority with which Jesus spoke. He declared that He had no intention of destroying the law; He had come to FULFIL IT, (Matt. 5:17). Far from abolishing its demands for right living, He placed an absolute construction on those commands. Righteousness, according to Jesus; is NOT a matter of rule-keeping, but of TOTAL DEDICATION to the will of God. And the positive will of God is summed up in the word "love", (Mk. l2:28-31; cf. Rom. 13:8-10; Gal. 5:14; Jas. 2:8). Righteousness involves more than mere outward conformity; it is an inwardly motivated obedience which "Fulfills the law".
    In contrast to the prophets whose "Thus saith the Lord" was only too familiar to Israel, Jesus spoke with a freshness, and a note of authority, which completely astounded the Jews of His day. "You have heard it said by them of old time......BUT I SAY" -- this is the constantly-recurring strain of the Sermon on the Mount. He clearly put His own words on an equality with the recognized WORDS OF THE SCRIPTURES. He claimed the right to legislate for the kingdom of God. It is not that He lacked reverence for the law. On the contrary, He often appealed to it as final; there is nowhere the slightest indication that He wanted men to sit lose on AUTHORITY.
    The words and actions of Jesus do not give to others the authority to handle the Scriptures as He did;

    He alone had the authority to do so. His action, with regard to the Scriptures, is an intimation of the way He thought about Himse1f; His words were as authoritative as those of the Father. Unless we reject His sayings out of hand we must conclude that He claims a position of pre-eminent authority that properly resides in DEITY, and in deity alone. E.G.

Does the LOVE OF CHRIST constrain YOU to be a faithful witness? Do you REALLY LOVE HIM? Evidence??

    A chosen race, favored above all people; a special instrument in the hands of Jehovah, to point others to the "true and living God"; Israel rejected His counsel, despised His reproof and so corrupted her testimony that He wisely cast her aside in order that He might raise up unto Himself another witness.
    Jesus Christ became incarnate that He might reveal the Father unto men and that He might reconcile men, in Himself, to the Father. The atheist cannot touch Him. His 1ife, His mighty works and deeds of love, yes, even His dying, are spoken of in words of highest praise and admiration. The REAL betrayal comes from those who CLAIM to be His

"friends", but who refuse to recognize His rightful "lordship" over their lives -- setting out to make of Him a Christ of their own prejudices and desires.
    Upon His little flock, composed of fishermen and tax collector, physician and peasant, learned and unlearned, rich and poor, He placed the responsibility of bearing witness to His life, His death, His resurrection, and the gospel of His coming kingdom -- to the ends of the earth. He had broken the seal of Rome and triumphed over death; thus, proved Himself to be the "Son of God with power". In His power, this little flock, under severe opposition and persecution, was scattered abroad and went everywhere declaring the "Good News". By their love for one another men recognized them as His disciples.
    This same Jesus warned that before He should return "the love of many shall wax cold". So great is to be the deliberate "standing off" from known truth that He inquires: "When the Son of man cometh, will he find the faith on the earth"?
    The greatest hindrance on earth to Christian progress is NOT atheism; few men will listen to one who speaks contrary to the testimony of their own hearts. But PROFESSORS WITHOUT POSSESSION, cheap imitations of the True One are so disgusting as to detract from His real beauty. PRACTICAL INFIDELS, who claim to believe, but refuse to obey the voice of the Lord, need to ponder well His inquiry, "Why call ye me LORD, and do not the things that I say"?
    TO WHICH CROWD DO YOU BELONG?