Newsletter #377 - March 2010 - By Shepherds Chapel - http://www.shepherdschapel.com/

Our Father, through the Holy Spirit, draws His children like a magnet. He tugs and pulls at their hearts. God want you to know His Word is truth. His Word is the way. Let's open our Bible to John 6:39. Jesus had just fed 5,000 with with 5 barley loaves and 2 fishes. Some were hanging around for another free fish sandwich. They were thinking physical, not spiritual.

John 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

This verse speaks of the elect. They will stand against the antichrist. The Lord will raise them up in the 1st resurrection at the beginning of the millennium.

John 6:40 And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise Him up at the last day."

The eternity is going to be wonderful. All of God's family that love Him will be there, and those who are wicked will be destroyed in the lake of fire.

John 6:41 The Jews then murmured at Him, because He said, "I am the bread which came down from heaven." 42 And they said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that He saith, 'I came down from heaven?' "

Jesus was the only begotten Son of God, not the son of Joseph. These people haven't a clue.

John 6:43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, "Murmur not among yourselves. 44 No man can come to Me, except the Father Which hath sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

God draws people to believe on Jesus. He nudges them through the Holy Spirit to partake of the bread of life. He tugs at the heart of those who do right.

John 6:45 It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall be all taught of God.' Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto Me.

This verse is quoting Isaiah 54:13. It is written to those who will remain barren when the false messiah appears on earth. Those that are interested are taught the Word of God. Why would anyone want the word of man over the Word of God? You wouldn't, and you are blessed as a result.

John 6:46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save He which is of God, He hath seen the Father.

If you have seen the Son, you have seen the Father.

John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life. 48 I am that bread of life.

Partake of the bread that lasts a lot longer than any fish sandwich. If you believe, the Lord promised this bread that gives you life everlasting.

John 6:49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

The mana in the wilderness couldn't give eternal life any more than the fish sandwich we are talking about. Jesus Christ is the bread of life. Partake of this bread and you will never die. He sacrificed Himself on the cross for your sins. He did it because He loves you. Let's continue our study in Chapter 21 of this same Book. The bread of life has been crucified. He is about to make His third appearance to the disciples, after He resurrected.

John 21:3 Simon Peter saith unto them, "I go a fishing." They say unto him, "We also go with thee." They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

Christ made the disciples fishers of men. They were suppose to be sharing the gospel so God could draw His children to the Word. The disciples were fishing for fish. They left Jesus out of the equation. He wasn't in the boat.

Think spiritually. Jesus want to know if they had any meat of the Word. Do you want to fish for men? Listen carefully.

John 21:4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus saith unto them, "Children, have ye any meat?" They answered him, "No."

John 21:6 And He said unto them, "Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find." They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

When Christ is in your boat, and you fish for men the way He tells you to fish, you can't imagine who successful you will be. Always fish off the right side of the boat. Whats on the left? Socialism and communism are on the left. They will try to draw you away from God.

John 21:7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, "It is the Lord." Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.

Peter was very excited about seeing the Lord once again. He cast himself into to sea to swim ashore.

John 21:8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. 9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.

Did the Lord need the Disciples meat? No, He did not. He already had meat. In fact, He has enough spiritual meat to feed the entire wold, today.

John 21:10 Jesus saith unto them, "Bring of the fish which ye have now caught." 11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.

There is always room for more Christians. The church will hold as many as are drawn to the Lord. Turn with me to the Book of Acts.

Acts 20:27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood.

Salvation isn't free. Christ paid an awesome price on the cross. If you have been made an overseer, feed the flock. We feed the sheep God's Word.

Acts 20:29 For I know this, that after My departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

Beware of false preachers. They won't be drawing the flock to God. They are drawing the flock away from God.

Acts 20:31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

Paul was concerned for the flock, and we should be concerned for the flock. Watch out for false teachers. Feed the sheep God's truth. Let's turn to Hebrews.

Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Be honest with God. Let Him know you love Him, and He will actually tug at your heart. He will nudge you in the right direction in your daily life.

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;)

God promised that He would forgive our sins upon repentance, and He is faithful to that promise. Once you are forgiven, the sin is blotted out. It never happened.

Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Build your brothers and sisters in Christ up. Edify them. This is especially important as we see the Lord's day approaching. The Lord's day is the millennium.

Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

This refers to God's elect, when they are delivered up. If they refuse the Holy Spirit to speak through them, it is unforgivable. There is no sacrifice to cover that sin.

Hebrews 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

God's adversaries are going to pay. They insult the Holy Spirit by refusing to be drawn to God.

Hebrews 10:30 For we know him that hath said, "Vengeance belongeth unto Me, I will recompense, saith the Lord." And again, "The Lord shall judge His people." 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

You do not want to make God angry with you. Why? He is the only One that can both you flesh body and soul (Matthew 10:28).

Hebrews 10:32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; 33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.

Satan doesn't like God's children to be illuminated. He will make things tough on you, if you don't exercise the power Christ gave you over him (Luke 10:19).

Hebrews 10:34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. 35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

You can't imagine the rewards God has in store for those who serve Him. He knows our needs, and He will add onto what we need abundantly.

Hebrews 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and He That shall come will come, and will not tarry.

The fig tree generation is getting a little time on it. This generation shall not pass (Matthew 24:34).

Hebrews 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

God takes no pleasure in those who draw back from the tug of His Spirit. You aren't the type to draw back, when God nudges you. You are drawn by God.

In His service,
Arnold Murray