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<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">“<b>TWO
ARE BETTER THAN ONE” MINISTRIES</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Jim
& Marie Watt</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Tel:
<a href="tel:253-517-9195" target="_blank">253-517-9195</a> - Email:
<a href="mailto:jmbetter@gmail.com" target="_blank">jmbetter@gmail.com</a></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Web:
<a href="http://www.2rbetter.org/" target="_blank">www.2rbetter.org</a></b></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">December 13, 2012</p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">
<br></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">
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</p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>JUL
23 - ISAIAH 58-66 - THE CHALLENGE OF JEHOVAH</b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>1.
59:1-2 (58:1-59:15, ESV) ISRAEL: APOSTASY. <font size="3">“Behold,
the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear
dull, that it cannot hear;</font> <font style="font-size:8pt" size="1">2
</font><font size="3">but your iniquities have made a separation
between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you
so that he does not hear.” </font></b><span style="font-weight:normal">Would
we know the principles of Your Kingdom, Father? Then must we
acknowledge the righteousness of Your ways and pronouncements? You
are </span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">not</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
a God who answers the prayers of the unrighteous. </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Hallowed
be your :name.</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">2.
59:16 (59:16-60:22) ISRAEL: RESTORATION BY MESSIAH. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“He
saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was not one to
intercede; then his own arm brought him salvation, and his
righteousness upheld him.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Even
when we fail You Father, You still plan our welfare! You send send
one like us, </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">Jesus</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">,
to help us. Through identification of God with man, You </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">lift</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
us! </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Your
:kingdom come!</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">3.
61:1-2 (61-62) MESSIAH’S FIRST AND SECOND ADVENT. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“The
Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the
broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening
of the prison to those who are bound; </span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">2
</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">to
proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of
our God;” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Father,
You are the God of provision; You are </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">Jehovah-jireh</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">.
You met our need in Jesus - when there was no other help. </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Your
:will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">4.
63:5 (63:1-6) MESSIAH’S SECOND ADVENT. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">I
looked, but there was no one to help; I was appalled, but there was
no one to uphold; so my own arm brought me salvation, and my wrath
upheld me.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Twice
You come Father, in Your Son: once in </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">reconciliation</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">,
and then in </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">judgment</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">.
Now is the accepted time of salvation. To fail to receive could leave
us having sinned away our day of grace. </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">
Our :daily :bread Give us this day.</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">5.
63:9 (63:7-14) PRAISE FOR PAST BLESSINGS. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“In
all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence
saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted
them up and carried them all the days of old.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Your
Covenant love Father, has saved us, preserved us, and now sustains
us. In Christ You identified Yourself with us. Now we put You on as
our armor. </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">And
forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">6.
64:1 (63:15-64:12) ISRAEL’S PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“Oh
that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains
might quake at your presence -” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Father,
We acknowledge You as the </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">only</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
One Who can bring full deliverance. Our eyes are </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">only</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
upon You for the hope of salvation! </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">You</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
form us into the image of Your Son! </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">And
bring us not into temptation.</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">7.
66:2 (65-66) GOD’S PROPHETIC ANSWER. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“All
these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be,
declares the LORD. But </span></font><font size="3"><u>this</u></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">
is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in
spirit and trembles at my word.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Yes
Father, You will answer, but in accordance with </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">Your</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
conditions. Contrition, Humility, Tremblers at Your Word: </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">these</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
are the conditions You desire in lives that You meet for good. </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">But
deliver us from the evil </span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">one!</span></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><u><b>NOTE</b></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>:
59:19b, 21 (59:16-60:22) </b></span><b><span style="text-decoration:none">JEHOVAH’S
OUTSTANDING PROMISE! </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“For
he will come like a rushing stream, which the wind of the LORD
drives. </span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">21
</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">And as
for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD: “My Spirit
that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall
not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring,
or out of the mouth of your children’s offspring,” says the LORD,
“from this time forth and forevermore.”</span></font></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">Our
Psalm for the day: 23:6 (23) THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“Surely
goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I
shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” </span></font></b><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Yes
Father, </span></span></font><font style="font-size:11pt"><u><span style="font-weight:normal">faithfulness</span></u></font><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
is Your Name; </span></span></font><font style="font-size:11pt"><u><span style="font-weight:normal">goodness</span></u></font><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
and </span></span></font><font style="font-size:11pt"><u><span style="font-weight:normal">loving
kindness</span></u></font><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
Your high attributes. Therefore will we praise You! </span></span></font><b><font style="font-size:11pt"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Hallowed
be your :name!</span></i></font></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none">C.H.
Spurgeon Quotes, December 13, 2012 - Whether You Are A Child of God.
“Now, mark this: by this shall you know whether you are a child of
God, or not; by the respect that you have to Your Father’s Word. If
you have small respect for that Word, the evidences of a bastard are
upon you.”</span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none">There
is no inspired title to this Psalm, and none is needed, for it
records no special event and needs no other key than that which every
Christian m</span><span style="text-decoration:none">a</span><span style="text-decoration:none">y
find in his own bosom. It is David’s “Heavenly Pastoral”; a
surpassing ode, which none of the daughters of music can excel. The
clarion of war here gives place to the pipe of peace, and he who so
lately bewailed the woes of the Shepherd tunefully rehearses the joys
of the flock. </span><u>This</u><span style="text-decoration:none">
is the pearl of Psalms, whose soft and pure radiance delights every
eye; a pearl of which Helicon need not be ashamed, though Jordan
claims it. Of this delightful song, it may be affirmed that its piety
and poetry are equal, its sweetness and its spirituality are
unsurpassed. The position of this Psalm is worthy of notice. It
follows the Twenty-Second, which is peculiarly the “Psalm of the
Cross.” There are no green pastures, no still waters on the other
side of the Twenty-Second Psalm. It is only after we have read, “My
God, my God, why have You forsake</span><span style="text-decoration:none">n</span><span style="text-decoration:none">
Me?” that we come to “The Lord is my Shepherd.” We must by
experience know the value of the Blood-shedding and see the sword
awakened against the Shepherd before we shall be able truly to know
the sweetness of the good Shepherd’s care. It has been
said that what the nightingale is among birds, that is this Divine
ode among the Psalms, for it has sung sweetly in the ear of many a
mourner in his night of weeping and has bidden him hope for a morning
of joy. I will venture to compare it also to the lark, which sings as
it mounts, and mounts as it sings, until it is out of sight, and even
then is not out of hearing.</span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none">23:1.
</span><i><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>The Lord is my
shepherd. </b></span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">It is
well to know, as certainly as David did, that we belong to the Lord.
There is a noble note of confidence about this sentence. There is not
“if” nor “but,” nor even “I hope so”; but he says, “The
Lord is my shepherd.” We must cultivate the spirit of assured
dependence upon our heavenly Father. The sweetest word of the
whole is that monosyllable, </span><i><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>My</b></span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">.
He does not say, “The Lord is the shepherd of the world at large,
and leads forth the multitude as His flock,” but “The Lord is </span><u>my</u><span style="text-decoration:none">
shepherd”; if He be a shepherd to no one else, He is a shepherd to
me. He cares for me, watches over me, and preserves me. The words are
in the present tense. Whatever be the believer’s position, he is
even now under the pastoral care of Jehovah.</span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none">23:2.
</span><i><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>He makes me to lie
down in green pastures: He leads me beside the still waters. </b></span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">
The Christian life has two elements in it, the contemplative and the
active, and both of these are richly provided for. First, the
contemplative, </span><i><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>He
makes me to lie down in green pastures.</b></span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">
What are</span><i><span style="text-decoration:none"><b> green
pastures</b></span></i><span style="text-decoration:none"> but the
</span><u>Scriptures of truth</u><span style="text-decoration:none">
- always fresh, always rich, and never exhausted? There is no fear of
biting the bare ground where the grass is long enough for the flock
to lie down in it. Sweet and full are the doctrines of the Gospel;
fit food for souls, as tender grass as nature nutriment for sheep.
The second part of a vigorous Christians’ life consists in
gracious activity. We not only think, but we act. We are not always
lying down to feed but are journeying onward toward perfection; hence
we read, </span><i><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>He leads me
beside the still waters.</b></span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">
What are these </span><i><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>still
waters </b></span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">but the
influences and graces of His blessed Spirit? His Spirit attends us in
various operations, like waters - in the plural - to cleanse, to
refresh, to fertilize, to cherish.</span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none">23:3.
</span><i><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>He restores my
soul</b></span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">. When the
soul grows sorrowful, He revives it; when it is sinful, He sanctifies
it. </span><u>He</u><span style="text-decoration:none"> does it. His
ministers could not do it if He did not. His Word would not avail by
itself. “He restores my sou</span><span style="text-decoration:none">l</span><span style="text-decoration:none">.”
Are any of us low in grace? Do we feel that our spirituality is at
its lowest ebb? He who turns the ebb into the flood can soon restore
our soul. Pr</span><span style="text-decoration:none">a</span><span style="text-decoration:none">y
to Him, then, for the blessing - “</span><u>You</u><span style="text-decoration:none">
restore me, You Shepherd of my soul!” </span></font></font>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none">23:5.
</span><i><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>You prepare a table
before me in the presence of my enemies. </b></span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">The
good man has his enemies. He would not be like his Lord if he had
not. If we were without enemies we might fear that we were not the
friends of God, for the friendship of the world is enmity to God. Yet
see the quietude of the godly man in spite of, and in the sight of,
his enemies. How refreshing is his calm bravery! “You prepare a
table before me.” When a soldier is in the presence of his enemies,
if he eats at all he snatches a hasty meal and away he hastens to the
fight. But observe, “You </span><i><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>prepare</b></span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">
a ta</span><span style="text-decoration:none">b</span><span style="text-decoration:none">le,”
just as a servant does when she unfolds the damask cloth and displays
the ornaments of the feast on an ordinary peaceful occasion. Nothing
is hurried, there is no confusion, no disturbance, the enemy is at
the door, and yet God prepares a table, and the Christian sits down
and eats as if everything were in perfect peace. Oh! the peace which
Jehovah gives to His people, even in the midst of the most trying
circumstances. </span><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>(From
“The Treasury of David” by C.H. Spurgeon, abridged by D.O.
Fuller.)</b></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
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