<style type="text/css">
<!--
@page { margin: 0.79in }
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in }
A:link { so-language: zxx }
-->
</style>
<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">January 15, 2013</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">
<style type="text/css">
<!--
@page { margin: 0.79in }
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in }
-->
</style>
</p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>AUG
16 - 2 CORINTHIANS 6-7 - PAUL’S EXAMPLE</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.
6:2 (6:1-10, NNT) EXAMPLE: OF GIVING NO OFFENSE. <font size="3">“For
he says, At an acceptable season I listened to you: lo, now is an
acceptable season; lo, now is a day of salvation.” </font></b><span style="font-weight:normal">We
live in Your day of grace, Father. Righteousness, peace and joy in
the Holy Spirit flows forth because of Calvary. Whoever will may call
upon You for this blessing! </span><b><i>Hallowed be your :name!</i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" 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>2.
6:11-12 (6:11-13) EXAMPLE: HIS EMOTIONAL LONGING. <font size="3">“Our
mouth is open unto you, Corinthians, our :heart enlarged. </font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1">12
</font><font size="3">You are not straitened in us, but you are
straitened in your :affections.” </font></b><span style="font-weight:normal">How
difficult and sad to offer help to those unaware of their need!
Father, we begin to experience Your heart sorrow over a lost world.
We would not add to Your sadness. Rather, we joyfully and
triumphantly proclaim </span><span style="font-weight:normal">Your
</span><span style="font-weight:normal">way of Sovereign Grace!
</span><b><i>Your :kingdom come!</i></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" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>3.
6:14 (6:14-18) EXAMPLE: OF SEPARATION. “<font size="3">Be not
unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have
righteousness </font><font size="3">and iniquity? or what communion has
light with darkness? </font></b><font size="3"><span style="font-weight:normal">
</span></font><span style="font-weight:normal">How stubborn and
unwise we so often are, Father! O forgive us our blindness and
rebellion! </span><b><i>Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on
earth.</i></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" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>4.
7:1 EXAMPLE: OF HOLINESS OF FLESH AND SPIRIT. <font size="3">“Having
therefore these :promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all
defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in fear of God.”
</font></b><span style="font-weight:normal">Not just our </span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">flesh</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
Father, but our </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">spirit</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
too! We would present ourselves to You a living sacrifice: body, soul
and spirit, for continual cleansing until either our death or
resurrection! </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-style:normal" 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.
7:4 (7:2-4) EXAMPLE: OF BOLDNESS IN GLORYING. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“Great
my boldness toward you, great my glorying on your behalf. Am filled
with :comfort, overflowed with :joy in all our :tribulation.”
</span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Thank
You Father, for such a people in whom Paul could glory on Your
behalf! Thank You for testing and sorrow and suffering that drives us
closer to You. How wise and compassionate You are! </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;font-style:normal" 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.
7:10 (7:5-13a) EXAMPLE: OF SUFFERING. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">For
the sorrow, according to God, works a regretless repentance unto
salvation: but the sorrow of the world works death.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Blessed
be You, O God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who grants us the
gift of repentance that leads to salvation! We bless You for trials
that lead to this gift. </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;font-style:normal" 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.
7:14 (7:1</span><span style="text-decoration:none">3</span><span style="text-decoration:none">b-16)
EXAMPLE: OF COMMENDING FELLOW-WORKERS. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“For
if in anything I have gloried to him on your behalf, I was not
shamed; but as we spoke all </span></font><font size="3"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">things</span></i></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">
to you in truth, so our glorying also before Titus came to be in
truth.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">How
marvelous that the power of Your Gospel Father, works such
transformation in human lives! Our hearts are full of thanksgiving
and awe! </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" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>Our
Psalm for the day: 46:4-5, 10 (46, ESV) GOD IS OUR FORTRESS.
<font size="3">“There is a river whose streams make glad the city of
God, the holy habitation of the Most High.</font> <font style="font-size:8pt" size="1">5
</font><font size="3">God is in the midst of her; she shall not be
moved; God will help her when morning dawns.” </font></b><span style="font-weight:normal">O
Father, what grace and comfort we find in Your Promises! We cling to
and confess these marvelous words, and though aware of problems, we
do not focus upon them. </span><b><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1">10
</font><font size="3">“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be
exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” </font></b><span style="font-weight:normal">We
would carry Your fear in our hearts, O Father! We would truly know
that Your Name is </span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">Jealous</span></u><span style="font-weight:normal">!
</span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">Burn</span></u><span style="font-weight:normal">
this truth upon our hearts! You are such a </span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">Great</span></u><span style="font-weight:normal">
God! </span><b><i>Hallowed be your :name!</i></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;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>Title:
</b><span style="font-weight:normal">“To the Chief Musician.”
He who could sing other Psalms so well was fitly entrusted with this
noble ode. Trifles may be left to commoner songsters, but the most
skillful musicians in Israel must be charged with the due performance
of this song, with the most harmonious voices and choicest music.</span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-weight:normal">
</span><b>Subject: </b><span style="font-weight:normal"> “Happen
what may, the Lord’s people are happy and secure; this is the
doctrine of the Psalm, and it might, to help our memories, be called
“The Son of Holy Confidence,” were it not that from the great
Reformer’s love this soul-stirring hymn it will probably be best
remembered as Luther’s Psalm. “We sing this Psalm to the praise
of God because God is with us and powerfully and miraculously
preserves and defends His church and His Word against all fanatical
spirits, against the gates of hell, against the implacable hatred of
the devil, and against all the assaults of the world, the flesh, and
sin.” Martin Luther.</span></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;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-weight:normal">46:1.
</span><b><i>God is our refuge and strength. </i></b><span style="font-weight:normal">Not
our armies or our fortresses. Israel’s boast is in Jehovah, the
only living and true God. Others vaunt their impregnable castles
placed on inaccessible rocks and secured gates of iron, but God is a
far better refuge from distress than all these: and when the time
comes to carry the war into the enemy’s territories, the Lord
stands His people in better stead than all the valor of legions or
the boasted strength of chariot and horses. “He is my refuge
and strength.” Do not forget the fact that God is our refuge just
now, in the immediate present, as truly as when David penned the
word. God alone is our all in all. All other refuges are refuges of
lies, all other strength is weakness, for power belongs unto God: but
as God is all-sufficient, our defense and might are equal to all
emergencies.</span></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;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-weight:normal">46:4.
</span><b><i>There is a river. </i></b><span style="font-weight:normal">Divine
grace like a smoothly flowing, fertilizing, full and never-failing
river, yields refreshment and consolation to believers. </span><b><i>The
streams thereof, </i></b><span style="font-weight:normal">in their
various influences, for the</span><span style="font-weight:normal">y</span><span style="font-weight:normal">
are man</span><span style="font-weight:normal">y</span><span style="font-weight:normal">,
</span><b><i>shall make glad the city of God</i></b><span style="font-weight:normal">
by assuring the citizens that Zion’s Lord will unfailingly supply
all their needs. The streams are not transient, like Cherith; nor
muddy, like the Nile; nor furious, like Kishon; nor treacherous, like
Job’s deceitful brooks; neither are their waters “naught” like
those of Jericho - they are clear, cool, fresh, abundant, and
gladdening. The great fear of an Eastern city in time
of war was lest the water supply should be cut off during a siege; if
that were secured the city could hold out against attacks for an
indefinite period. In this verse, Jerusalem, which represents the
church of God, is described as well supplied with water, to set forth
the fact that in seasons of trial all-sufficient grace will be given
to enable us to endure unto the end. </span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-weight:normal">
</span><b><i>The holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High.</i></b><span style="font-weight:normal">
To be a temple for the Holy Spirit is the delightful portion of each
saint; to be the living temple for the Lord our God is also the high
honor of the church in her corporate capacity. We have not a great
God in nature and a little God in grace; no, the church contains as
clear and convincing a revelation of God as the works of nature, and
even more amazing in the excellent glory which shines between the
cherubim overshadowing that mercy-seat which is the center and
gathering place of the people of the living God.</span></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;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-weight:normal">46:5.
</span><b><i>God shall help her, and that right early. </i></b><span style="font-weight:normal">The
Lord is up betimes. We are slow to meet Him, but He is never tardy in
helping us. Impatience complains of divine delays, but in very deed
the Lord is not slack concerning His promise. Man’s haste is often
folly, but God’s apparent delays are ever wise, and, when rightly
viewed, are no delays at all.</span></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;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-weight:normal">46:6.
</span><b><i>The heathen raged. </i></b><span style="font-weight:normal">The
nations were in a furious uproar; they gathered against the city of
the Lord like wolves ravenous for their pray; they foamed and roared
and swelled like a tempestuous sea.</span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-weight:normal">
</span><b><i>The kingdoms were moved. </i></b><span style="font-weight:normal">A
general confusion seized upon society; the fierce invaders convulsed
their own dominions by draining the population to urge on the war,
and they desolated other territories by their devastating march to
Jerusalem. Crowns fell from royal heads, ancient thrones rocked like
trees driven of the tempest, powerful empires fell like pines
uprooted by the blast: everything was in disorder, and dismay seized
on all who knew not the Lord. </span><b><i>He uttered His
voice, the earth melted. </i></b><span style="font-weight:normal">How
mighty is a word from God! How mighty the Incarnate Word. Oh, that
such a word would come from the excellent glory even now to melt all
hearts in love to Jesus and to end forever all the persecutions,
wars, and rebellions of men!</span></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;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-weight:normal">46:8.
</span><b><i>Come, behold the works of the Lord.</i></b><span style="font-weight:normal">
It were well if we also carefully noted the providential dealings of
our covenant God and were quick to perceive His hand in the battles
of His church. Whenever we read history, it should be with this verse
sounding in our ears. We should read the newspaper in the same
spirit, to see how the Head of the church rules the nations for His
people’s good, as Joseph governed Egypt for the sake of Israel.
</span><b><i>What desolations He has made in the earth.</i></b><span style="font-weight:normal">
The destroyers He destroys, the desolaters He desolates. How
forcible is the verse at this date! The ruined cities of Assyria,
Babylon, Petra, Bashan, Canaan, are our instructors, sand in tables
of stone record the doings of the Lord. In every place where His
cause and crown have been disregarded, ruin has surely followed; sin
has been a blight on nations and left their palaces to lie in heaps.</span></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;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-weight:normal">46:10.
</span><b><i>Be still, and know that I am God. </i></b><span style="font-weight:normal">Hold
off your hands, you enemies! Sit down and wait in patience, you
believers! Acknowledge that Jehovah is God, you who feel the terrors
of His wrath! Adore Him, and Him only, you who partake in the
protections of His grace. Since none can worthily proclaim His
nature, let “expressive silence muse His praise.” The boasts of
the ungodly and the timorous forebodings of the saints should
certainly be hushed by a sight of what the Lord has done in past
ages. </span><b>(From “The Treasury of David” by C.H. Spurgeon,
abridged by D.O. Fuller)</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;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT">
<font size="3"><b>TO
SUBSCRIBE - Please Email: <a href="mailto:mailing-subscribe@2rbetter.org" target="_blank">mailing-subscribe@2rbetter.org</a></b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font size="3"><b>TO
UNSUBSCRIBE - Please Email: <a href="mailto:mailing-unsubscribe@2rbetter.org" target="_blank">mailing-unsubscribe@2rbetter.org</a></b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font size="3"><b>FOR
ARCHIVE ARTICLES - Web:<a href="http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/" target="_blank">http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/</a></b></font></p>