Saturday, December 29, 2012

A GOOD PREACHER

“A good preacher should have these properties and virtues: first, to teach systematically; secondly, he should have a ready wit; thirdly, he should be eloquent; fourthly, he should have a good voice; fifthly, a good memory; sixthly, he should know when to make an end; seventhly, he should be sure of his doctrine; eighthly, he should venture and engage body and blood, wealth and honor, in the Word; ninthly, he should suffer himself to be mocked and jeered of everyone.” -- Martin Luther

Monday, December 17, 2012

I BLESS THEE

‎"O God, I bless thee for the happy moment when I first saw thy law fulfilled in Christ, wrath appeased, death destroyed, sin forgiven, my soul saved. Ever since, Thou hast been faithful to me, daily I have proved the power of Jesus' blood, daily I have known the strength of the Spirit, my teacher, director, sanctifier." -from "The Life Look" (page 54)

Friday, December 14, 2012

TRIFLES


"We all profess that we are bound for heaven, immortality, and glory: but is it any evidence that we really design it if all our thoughts are consumed about the trifles of this world, which we must leave behind us, and have only occasional thoughts of things above?"

- John Owen

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

CAN YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR

I've known this before and known it for years, and yet have failed to rest in the fact; but today I very deep and profound peace came in the confidence of: "It is not my responsibility if others fail to hear the sermon." The greatest under-shepherds you can name will stay have men sit and day dream with a wandering mind and never engaged with the Scripture or message. And yes, I have also been frequently guilty of such disrespect to God's Word; but I am just saying from the pastor's point of view, it is his duty to preach clearly, prayerfully, accurately; those who need 7 jokes and 7 sentimental stories to keep them interested are saying in effect: the death and resurrection of Christ does not interest me by itself.

Saturday, December 8, 2012

THE DELIGHT OF THE FATHER


"Christ is the desire of nations, the joy of angels, the delight of the Father. What solace then must that soul be filled with, that has the possession of Him to all eternity!"

- John Bunyan

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

FEELINGS COME AND GO

“Feelings come and feelings go,
And feelings are deceiving;
My warrant is the Word of God--
Naught else is worth believing.

Though all my heart should feel condemned
For want of some sweet token,
There is One greater than my heart
Whose Word cannot be broken.

I'll trust in God's unchanging Word
Till soul and body sever,
For, though all things shall pass away,
HIS WORD SHALL STAND FOREVER!”



― Martin Luther

NOT PERMITTED

"I am not permitted to let my love be so merciful as to tolerate and endure false doctrine. When faith and doctrine are concerned and endangered, neither love nor patience are in order....when these are concerned, neither toleration nor mercy are in order, but only anger, dispute, and destruction - to be sure, only with the Word of God as our weapon."

Martin Luther

PUBLIC WORSHIP

"The Lord is more glorified by public worship than private. God is then glorified by us when we acknowledge that he is glorious. And he is most glorified when this acknowledgment is most public. This is obvious. A public acknowledgment of the worth and excellency of any one tends more to his honour than that which is private or secret. It was more for David's honour that the multitude did celebrate his victory, 1 Sam. 18:7, than if a particular person had acknowledged it only in private. Hence the psalmist, when he would have the glory of God most amply declared, contents not himself with a private acknowledgment, but summons all the earth to praise him, Ps. 96:1-8. Then is the Lord most glorified, when his glory is most declared, and then it is most declared when it is declared by most, by a multitude." -David Clarkson-

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

OUR BEARD COMES BACK

‎"Original sin is in us like our beard. We are shaved today and look clean; tomorrow our beard has grown again, nor does it cease growing while we remain on earth. In like manner original sin cannot be extirpated from us; it springs up in us as long as we live." -- Martin Luther