WE now return to our study in The Complete Green Letters, coming to the fourth section of book titled, The Realization of Spiritual Growth.  In the preface to this section Miles Stanford comments that there are three steps in reckoning – to know and reckon, to abide and rest, and

I’M going to limit my opening to today’s reading so that we may focus upon the text below without commentary and little more at length.  There are things that need to be said, but I’m going to reserve that for next time. SO, taking up where we left off last

AT this junction, I hope you are still with me.  After reading the previous posting, a lengthy section from Chapter 40—Principles of Reckoning, I fear I may have lost you. It all may have sounded somewhat strange.  But I would submit, that what was expressed there has been expounded in

Hence, the Holy Spirit allows us to fail after our eager beginning. He applies the principle of need in every phase of our advance. The calculated failure is used to cause us to move beyond the early infant-enthusiasm to the place where we have to dig in and settle down

WE have just completed Chapter 40—”Principles of Reckoning,” the first chapter in Part 4 of The Complete Green Letters – The Realization of Spiritual Growth. We now come to Chapter 41 – “Three Steps in Reckoning.”      OUR author outlines the three steps thus: 1) Know and Reckon 2) Abide

ONE of the rich blessings of the church is the diversity of different teachers and perspectives.  Paul wrote: For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have

WE are concluding our look at Chapter 41 – “Three Steps in Reckoning,” in this section of The Realization of Spiritual Growth. To review:The first step is to Know and Reckon – We are not to rely upon experiences for growth and maturity no matter how wonderful and stimulating they

I’m going to keep my opening comments short as we commence the next chapter’s instruction. The opening words of Chapter 42—Knowledge of Reckoning, are quite to the point in both reminding us and instructing us of the importance of growth truth.  However, I am reminded of the importance of understanding

WE are looking at The Realization of Spiritual Growth, Part 5 in The Complete Green Letters, specifically Chapter 42—Knowledge of Reckoning.  We’ve already viewed Chapter 40 – Principles of Reckoning; Chapter 41 – The Three Steps in Reckoning; and now our author goes forward to expand on this theme in

AGAIN, I’ll ask the question does all this seem tedious?  … One of my M&M verses (“must memorize’) is Isa 28: 13: “But the word of the LORD was to them, ‘Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little… .’” 

“Happy were it, if puzzled and perplexed Christians would turn their eyes from the defects that are in their obedience, to the fullness and completeness of Christ’s obedience; and see themselves complete in Him, when most lame and defective in themselves.”  John Flavel, (1627–1691- English Presbyterian clergyman, puritan, and author). 

OUR author opened this chapter saying: “The Comforter, even the Holy Spirit … he shall teach you all things … He shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare it unto you” (John 14:26; 16:14, ASV). “The Comforter, even the Holy Spirit.” The Lord Jesus chose

I’M so tempted to just have us go back and reread the previous posting without comment before proceeding to the close of this chapter.  A few comments back I said rather tersely that this “all may seem so tedious,” as we seem to plow the same ground over and over,

WE have been going through The Realization of Spiritual Growth, Part 4 inThe Complete Green Letters. We just completed Chapter 43 – Spirit-applied Reckoning. Previously we reviewed Chapter 42 – Knowledge of Reckoning; Chapter 41 – The Three Steps in Reckoning – 1) Know and Reckon, 2) Abide and Rest,

I MADE a brief opening comment last time leading into this chapter, Service and Reckoning. I’m inclined to do so again, even though I feel a strong affinity for what our author is saying here, wanting to reinforce his observations with some of my own. ONE thing however, I did

Ok, we’re about to complete this chapter, and the remaining text is rather short.  So, I’m going to go long in my introduction remarks. Our author (Miles Stanford) has been using the example of “soul-winning” – evangelism – to make his point regarding the failure of getting things out of

CHAPTER 45 – Romans Six Reckoning.  This is the next chapter of study in our look at The Realization of Spiritual Growth – Part 4 of The Complete Green Letters. To recap, we have previously reviewed Chapter 40 – Principles of Reckoning; Chapter 41 – the Three Steps in Reckoning:

IN my career with Southern California Edison, I learn so many things.  Not just the amazing industry of power production and distribution, but in the area of management – working with individuals, systems, problems, and going through an education process that was priceless.  One of the invaluable lessons learned was

WE come to our third reading in Chapter 45 – Romans Six Reckoning and an important point to ponder. Our author will reference baptism as it relates to our Union with Christ, and here I should comment that – in my opinion- it matters little on our view as to

THERE is a line at the end of Ecclesiastes: Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.  Eccl. 12:13 PRECEDING it reads: The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright—words of truth. The

THERE is a book on the shelf to my left titled How People Change by Timothy Lane & Paul Tripp (CCEF) that parallels what we have been studying in The Complete Green Letters.  It repeats many of the themes we have been looking at from a different perspective and wording

OKAY, I hope you read Romans 7 in its entirety, better yet in the context of both Romans 6 and 8 as well.  We will now venture a little further into Chapter 46 – “Romans 7 Reckoning.” The last posting introduction went rather long.  This one will be shorter. I

I’M going to keep my opening comment short with just one brief observation, so as to get right to our study.  Have you ever noticed incongruities, or maybe more accurately, oxymorons of the Christian life? Here’s one for example: Laboring to enter into Rest. There remains therefore a rest for

“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). THIS is how our author ended the previous section.  This is a familiar verse pointing to our first coming to Christ. We came to Christ heavy laden with sin and guilt. 

WE come now to the 47th Chapter in Part 4 of The Complete Green Letters, – the study of “Romans Eight Reckoning.”  I really like what our author says here, especially his opening first paragraph review and accurate analysis of Romans 8:1. I need to admit however, I still quibble