Chronicles of a Watchman by Dr. James P. Norman Jr.

TO BE IN CHRIST – THE SALT THAT YOU NEED (PART FIVE)   The resurrection life of the Lord Jesus is imparted to the true believer by the presence of the Holy Spirit! The Lord Jesus said "he that believeth on me out of his inner most being shall flow rivers of living (not stagnant) water". But this spoke he of the spirit, which they that believe on him should receive for the Holy Spirit, was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified John 7:38-39. That is to say, salt at the source! Salt at the spring of the waters II Kings 2:21.   This Ezra went up from Babylon and he was a ready scribe in the Law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given. The King granted him all of his requests according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him Ezra 7:6. It is a wonderful thing to be in such a relationship to God that everything you need for any circumstance is always yours by the good hand of your God upon you!   For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek ...

TO BE IN CHRIST – SALT (PART FOUR) Salt speaks of the risen life of Jesus Christ, imparted by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to the redeemed sinner. It is the salt for barrenness! As you have been reconciled to God by his death, you are constantly to be saved by his life. It is only the life of the Lord Jesus, his activity, clothed with you and displayed through you that ultimately will find the approval of God. As a forgiven sinner, you are a member of a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ (I Peter 2:5). It is that Lord Jesus Christ alone who makes your sacrifices acceptable to God. Only what he does in you and through you merits his approval and God can and will accept nothing less! Every oblation of the meat offering shall though season with salt; neither shall you suffer the salt of the covenant of the God to be lacking from the meat offering, with all your offerings you shall offer salt. (Lev 2:13) Under no circ...

TO BE IN CHRIST – THE CARNAL CHRISTIAN (PART THREE)   You say, I thought a carnal Christian was a backslider somebody for instance who used to go to church but has run off with somebody else’s wife! Oh no! That is only one kind of carnal Christian, and I would not suggest that you were that kind of carnal Christian.   No, No! I am talking about some Sunday school teachers. I am talking about some Sunday school superintendents. I am talking about some Pastor in his pulpit. I am talking about some missionary on the field. I am talking about many ordinary average earnest Christians. They are wonderful people. You would love to meet them. They talk all the language of salvation and they mean every work. They say they are not hypocrites.   They are overwhelmed inwardly with a sense of defeat, frustration, futility and bareness. When you meet them they will smile sweetly and they will mean the smile they give you. They will grip you by the hand and they will say ...