Wednesday, April 29, 2009

IN MAN

Right after stating that Jesus "knew what was in a man," John.... writes, "Now there was a man," that is, Nicodemus, who comes to visit with Jesus.

-- Vincent Cheung

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

PISTEUWN

CANNOT OBEY

"Sinners cannot obey the gospel, any more than the law, without renewal of heart."

- J.I. Packer

"The saving power of the cross does not depend on faith being addded to it; its saving power is such that faith flows from it"

- J.I. Packer.


Friday, April 17, 2009

MOTIVE

If we have a wrong motive for an action, the solution is not to just scrap the action, but rather change the motive and thereafter provide the action.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

JOY SOURCE

" The joy of every believer will come from one thing: embracing the sovereignty, supremacy, and sufficiency of God in all things and recognizing that every promise is true and has the character and integrity of God behind it."

Rev. Fred Spivey

Saturday, April 4, 2009

DEVIL'S ROLE

MY WORD

“Their speech is filled with flattery.” (Psalm 5:9)

This is the identifying mark of the “hireling,” the false pastor. He aims at pleasing his hearers, making them feel satisfied with themselves, ever patting them on the back.

“But he who has My Word–let him speak My Word faithfully” (Jeremiah 23:28), no matter how unpalatable it may be to the flesh, how much of a weariness to those who wish to have their ears tickled with novelties, or how loud the outcry against it is!

Ministerial faithfulness includes loyalty to his Master, devotion to His interests, steadfast adherence to the preaching of His Word, dispensing the Truth unto those whose souls are committed to Him–not mixing it with his speculations, much less substituting false doctrine. A far higher motive than the pleasing of his hearers must actuate and regulate ministerial service. Faithful preaching will render the minister unpopular, and will ‘empty’ churches — not ‘fill’ them!

“Then you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.” (John 8:32) Souls are caught fast in the meshes of Satan’s lies–and nothing but the sword of God’s Truth can cut them free! “A faithful man–who can find?” (Proverbs 20:6). Why is this? Because it is the part of fallen human nature to take the line of least resistance, and choose the path easiest to the flesh. But remember, my reader, whoever you are, that, “Lying lips are abomination to the Lord; but those who deal ‘faithfully’ are His delight.” (Proverbs 12:22)

“Be faithful unto death–and I will give you a crown of life!” (Revelation 2:10)


taken from: http://www.symphonyofscripture.com/?p=1523

DUTY JOY

Disciplined Duty vs the Lie of Legalism

By John Piper | The hard truth is that most Christians don’t pray very much. They pray at meals—unless they’re still stuck in the adolescent stage of calling good habits legalism. They whisper prayers before tough meetings. They say something brief as they crawl into bed. But very few set aside set times to pray alone—and fewer still think it is worth it to meet with others to pray. And we wonder why our faith is weak. And our hope is feeble. And our passion for Christ is small.

And meanwhile the devil is whispering all over this room: “The pastor is getting legalistic now. He’s starting to use guilt now. He’s getting out the law now.” To which I say, “To hell with the devil and all of his destructive lies. Be free!” Is it true that intentional, regular, disciplined, earnest, Christ-dependent, God-glorifying, joyful prayer is a duty? . . . Is it a discipline?

You can call it that.

  • It’s a duty the way it’s the duty of a scuba diver to put on his air tank before he goes underwater.
  • It’s a duty the way pilots listen to air traffic controllers.
  • It’s a duty the way soldiers in combat clean their rifles and load their guns.
  • It’s a duty the way hungry people eat food.
  • It’s a duty the way thirsty people drink water.
  • It’s a duty the way a deaf man puts in his hearing aid.
  • It’s a duty the way a diabetic takes his insulin.
  • It’s a duty the way Pooh Bear looks for honey.
  • It’s a duty the way pirates look for gold.

I hate the devil, and the way he is killing some of you by persuading you it is legalistic to be as regular in your prayers as you are in your eating and sleeping and Internet use. Do you not see what a sucker he his making out of you? He is laughing up his sleeve at how easy it is to deceive Christians about the importance of prayer.

God has given us means of grace. If we do not use them to their fullest advantage, our complaints against him will not stick. If we don’t eat, we starve. If we don’t drink, we get dehydrated. If we don’t exercise a muscle, it atrophies. If we don’t breathe, we suffocate. And just as there are physical means of life, there spiritual are means of grace. Resist the lies of the devil in 2009, and get a bigger breakthrough in prayer than you’ve ever had.

taken from http://www.symphonyofscripture.com/?p=1512