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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">April 27, 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">
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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>OCT
28 - HEBREWS 12 - ENDURANCE: IN THE ARENA</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.
12:2 (12:1-3, NNT) CHRIST: ENDURED THE CROSS THAT WE MIGHT RUN THE
RACE. “Looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of the faith,
who for the joy set before him endured a cross, despising the shame,
and has sat down at <i>the</i><span style="font-style:normal"> right
of the throne of :God.” </span></b><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">Father,
open our eyes that we may see. Show us Jesus as You would have us see
Him! We </span></span><span style="font-style:normal"><u><span style="font-weight:normal">loose</span></u></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
His Spirit within us. </span></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.
12:10 (12:4-11) EARTHLY FATHER’S CHASTENING: EXAMPLE OF HEAVENLY
CHASTENING. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“For
our fathers indeed for a few days chastened </span></font><font size="3"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">us</span></i></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">
as seemed good to them; but he for :profit, that </span></font><font size="3"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">we</span></i></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">
may be partakers of his holiness.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Father,
we bless You for loving us enough as Your sons and daughters to
discipline us! We submit to Your will in this respect. </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.
12:12-13. EXHORTATION: DON’T CAVE IN! </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“Wherefore
straighten the hanging down hands, and the paralyzed knees; </span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">13
</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">and
make straight paths for your :feet, that what is lame be not turned
out of </span></font><font size="3"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">the</span></i></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">
way, but rather be healed.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">We
endure discipline because through it, You Father, are making us like
Jesus! </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.
12:14-15 (12:14-17) PEACE AND HOLINESS: SEEK THEM DILIGENTLY.
</span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“Follow
after peace with all, and the sanctification without which no one
shall see the Lord: </span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">15
</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">looking
carefully lest </span></font><font size="3"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">there
be</span></i></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">
any root of bitterness springing up trouble </span></font><font size="3"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">you</span></i></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">,
and thereby the many be defiled.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Forgive
us Father, for being so naïve concerning the way of sin and
bitterness. O teach us the way of holiness!</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;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.
</span><span style="text-decoration:none">12:22-24 (12:18-24)
MOUNT ZION VERSUS MOUNT SINAI. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“But
you are come unto mount ion, and unto </span></font><font size="3"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">the</span></i></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">
city of </span></font><font size="3"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">the</span></i></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">
living God, heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, </span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">23
</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">a
general assembly and church of firstborn enrolled in </span></font><font size="3"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">the</span></i></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">
heavens, and to God, Judge of all, and to spirits of perfect just
</span></font><font size="3"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">men,
</span></i></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">24
</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">and to
Jesus, mediator of a new covenant, and to blood of sprinkling that
speaks better than :Abel.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">In
the light of the above, </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">how
blessed we are</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">!
</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.
12:25 (12:25-27) SOLEMN ADMONITION. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“See
that you refuse not him that speaks. For if THEY escaped not when
they refused him that warned on earth, much less we who turn away
from him that is from </span></font><font size="3"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">the</span></i></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">
heavens.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Yes
Father, we choose to hear Your voice! </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.
12:28-29. SOBER EXHORTATION. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“Wherefore,
receiving an </span></font><font size="3"><u>unshakable kingdom</u></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">,
let us have grace, whereby we may offer service well-pleasing to :God
with godly fear and awe: </span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">29
</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">For
our :God is indeed a consuming fire.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Father,
You are the Spirit of the </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">fear
of Jehovah</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">!
We worship You for this! </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>:
12:11 (12:4-11) DISCIPLINE: A BLESSING IN THE END. </b></span><b><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“Now
all chastening seems for the present to be not joyous but grievous;
yet </span></font><u><font size="3">afterward</font></u><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">
yields to th</span></font><font size="3"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">os</span></i></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">e
exercised </span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">thereby
</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">peaceable
fruit of righteousness.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Amen!
We receive this truth, Father!</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;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">Quote
from Samuel Chadwick - </span></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">“There
are blessing of The Kingdom that are only yielded to the violence of
the vehement soul.”</span></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" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">Our
Psalm for the Day: 118:22-24 (118, ESV) HIS STEADFAST LOVE ENDURES
FOREVER. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“The
stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.</span></font><span style="text-decoration:none">
</span><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">23
</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">Those
who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your
word. </span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">24
</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">This
is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
</span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">The
great even of all history: You Father, sending Your Son as the
beginning of the Church, Your New Creation! This is Reconciliation
through Redemption! </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;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt">In
the Book of Ezra (3:10-11) we read that <b>“when the builders laid
the foundation of the Temple of the Lord</b><b>, they set the priests
in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph
with cymbals, to praise the Lord, after the ordinance of David, king
of Israel. And they sang together by course in praising and giving
thanks unto the Lord; because He is good, for His mercy endures
forever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout,
when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of
the Lord was laid.” </b>Now the words mentioned in
Ezra are the first and last sentences of this Psalm, and we therefore
conclude that the people chanted the whole of this sublime song; and,
moreover, that the use of this composition on such occasions was
ordained by David, whom we conceive to be the author<b>.</b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt">118:1.
<i><b>O give thanks unto the </b></i><i><b>Lord. </b></i>Grateful
hearts are greedy of men’s tongues and would monopolize them all
for God’s glory. We must never tolerate an instant’s unbelief as
to the goodness of the Lord; whatever else may be questionable, this
is absolutely certain, that Jehovah is good; His dispensations may
vary, but His nature is always the same, and always good. It is not
only that He was good, and will be good, but He is good; let His
providence be what it may. Therefore, let us even at this present
moment, though the skies be dark with clouds, yet give thanks unto
His name. <i><b>Because His mercy endures forever.
</b></i>Mercy is a great part of His goodness, and one which more
concerns us than any other, for we are sinners and have need of His
mercy. Angels may say that He is good, but they need not His mercy
and cannot therefore take an equal delight in it; inanimate creation
declares that He is good, but it cannot feel His mercy, for it has
never transgressed; but man, deeply guilty and graciously forgiven,
beholds mercy as the very focus and center of the goodness of the
Lord.</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt">118:4.
<i><b>Let them now that fear the Lord say, that His mercy endures
forever. </b></i>In each of the three exhortations, notice carefully
the word “now.” There is no time like time present for telling
out the praises of God. The present exaltation of the Son of David
now demands from all who are the subjects of His kingdom continual
songs of thanksgiving to Him Who has set Him on high in the midst of
Zion. Now, with us, should mean always. When would it be right to
cease from praising God, Whose mercy never ceases? The fourfold
testimonies to the everlasting mercy of God which are now before us
speak like four evangelists, each one declaring the very pith and
marrow of the gospel; and they stand like four angels at the four
corners of the earth, holding the winds in their hands, restraining
the plagues of the latter days that the mercy and long-suffering of
God may endure towards the sons of men. Here are four cords to
bind the sacrifice to the four horns of the altar, and four trumpets
with which to proclaim the year of jubilee to every quarter of the
world. Let not the reader pass on to the consideration of the rest of
the Psalm until he has with all his might lifted up both heart and
voice to praise the Lord, <b>“for His mercy endures forever.”</b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt">118:5.
<i><b>I called upon the Lord in distress. </b></i>(Or, “out of
anguish, I invoked Jah.”.) Nothing was left him but prayer, his
agony was too great for anything beside; but having the heart and the
privilege to pray, he possessed all things. Prayers which come out
of distress generally come out of the heart. Prayer may be bitter in
the offering, but it will be sweet in the answering. The man of God
had called upon the Lord when he was not in distress, and therefore
he found it natural and easy to call upon Him when in distress.
Saul sought to slay David, but David outlived Saul and sat upon
his throne. Scribe and Pharisee, priest and Herodian, united in
opposing the Christ of God, but He is exalted on high none the less
because of their enmity. The mightiest man is a puny thing when he
stands in opposition to God, yes, he shrinks into utter nothingness.</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt">118:14.
<i><b>The Lord is my strength and song. </b></i>Thus can all the
Lord’s redeemed say, “Salvation is of the Lord.” We cannot
endure any doctrine which puts the crown upon the wrong head and
defrauds the glorious King of His revenue and praise.</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt">118:22.
<i><b>The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone
of the corner. </b></i>They could see no excellence in Him that they
should build upon Him; He could not be made to fit in with their
ideal of a national church; He was a stone of another quarry from
themselves, and not after their mind nor according to their taste;
therefore they cast Him away and poured contempt upon Him even as
Peter said, “This is the stone which was set at naught of you
builders:; they reckoned Him to be as nothing, though He is Lord of
all. In raising Him from the dead, the Lord God exalted Him to be the
head of His church, the very pinnacle of her glory and beauty.
Since then He has become the confidence of the Gentiles, even of
them that are afar off upon the sea, and thus He has joined the two
walls of Jew and Gentile into one stately temple, and is seen to be
the binding corner-stone, making both one. This is a delightful
subject for contemplation. All this in a very emphatic sense true of
our blessed Lord, <b>“The Shepherd, the Stone of Israel.” </b>God
Himself laid Him where He is, and hid within Him all the precious
things of the eternal covenant; and there He shall forever remain,
the foundation of all our hopes, the glory of all our joys, the
united bond of all our fellowship. He is <b>“the head over all
things to the church,” </b>and by Him the church is fitly framed
together, and grows unto a holy temple in the Lord. Still do
the builders refuse Him: even to this day the professional teachers
of the gospel are far too apt to fly to any and every new philosophy
sooner than maintain the simple gospel, which is the essence of
Christ: nevertheless, He holds His true position amongst His people,
and the foolish builders shall see to their utter confusion that His
truth shall be exalted over all. Those who reject the chosen
stone will stumble against Him to their own hurt, and ere long will
come His second advent, when He will fall upon them from the heights
of heaven and grind them to powder.</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt">118:26.
<i><b>Blessed be He that comes in the name of the Lord. </b></i>In
the Psalmist's days, He was the Coming One, and He is still the
Coming One, though He has already come. We are ready with our
hosannas both for His first and second advent; our inmost souls
thankfully adore and bless Him and invoke upon His head unspeakable
joys. <b>(From “The Treasury of David” by C.H. Spurgeon,
abridged by D.O. Fuller)</b></font></font></p>
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