Holy is the Lord

It is Well with my Soul

John Piper - Why Does God Save People?

UNBELIEF WAS THE FIRST

Unbelief was the first sin, and pride was the first-born of it.

-- Stephen Charnock

We often learn more of God under the rod that strikes us, than under the staff that comforts us.

-- Stephen Charnock

RARE, VERY RARE

All men promiscuously do homage to God, but very few truly reverence him. On all hands there is abundance of ostentatious ceremonies, but sincerity of heart is rare.

-- John Calvin

WHAT THOU WILT

I have no hope at all but in thy great mercy. Grant what thou commandest and command what thou wilt. Thou dost enjoin on us continence . . . Truly by continence are we bound together and brought back into that ...unity from which we were dissipated into a plurality.

For he loves thee too little who loves anything together with thee, which he does not love not for thy sake. O love that ever burnest and art never quenched! O Charity, my God, enkindle me! Thou commandest continence. Grant what thou commandest and command what thou wilt.

-- Augustine

continence means = (self-restraint)

HOPE AND COURAGE

Hope has two beautiful daughters Their names are anger and courage; anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain the way they are.

-- Augustine

FOUNDATION

Whoever has Christ in his heart, so that no earthly or temporal things -- not even those that are legitimate and allowed -- are preferred to Him, has Christ as a foundation. But if these things be preferred, then even though a man seem to have faith in Christ, yet Christ is not the foundation to that man.

-- Augustine

CONCEALS

"Religion is one of the chief ways that man conceals his unwillingness to forsake self-reliance and bank all his hopes on the unmerited mercy of God (Luke 18:9-14; Colossians 2:20-23)."

-John Piper-

IDOLATRY

"Nevertheless, let me tell you, that trust, confidence, reliance, and dependence, for salvation, are all acts and very solemn ones too, of divine worship: and upon whatsoever you depend, whether in whole or in part, for your acceptance with God,and for your justification in His sight, whatsoever, you rely upon, and trust in, for the attainment of grace or glory; if it be any thing short of God in Christ, you are an idolater to all intents and purposes."

- Augustus Toplady

FULLEST DISPLAY

Evil is anything and everything opposed to the fullest display of the glory of Christ

~ John Piper

RESPONSIBLE

"You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say."

- Martin Luther

NO HANKERINGS

"Every man who loves himself and seeks salvation by his own works, will loathe sovereign grace, and seek to load it with contempt. On the other hand, those who have been effectually humbled by the Holy Spirit and brought to realize that they are utterly dependent upon the discriminating mercy of God will have no hankerings after, nor patience with a system which sets the crown of honour upon the creature." - AW. Pink

Joy from Christ, not your performance - Paul Washer

TURNING STONES

"The devil would have Christ prove Himself to be God, by turning stones into bread; but the Holy Ghost shows His Godhead by turning stones into flesh (Eze. 36:26)."

-Thomas Watson

Toplady SET #3

ORIGINAL SOURCE: HERE

One great contest, between the religion of Arminius, and the religion of Jesus Christ, is, who shall stand entitled to the praise and glory of a sinner’s salvation? Conversion decides this point at once; for I think, that, without any imputation of uncharitableness, I may venture to say, that every truly awakened person, at least when he is under the shine of God’s countenance upon his soul, will fall down upon his knees, with this hymn of praise ascending from his heart, “Not unto me, O Lord, not unto me, but to Thy Name, give the glory: I am saved not for my righteousness, but for Thy mercy and Thy truth’s sake..”

And this holds true even as to the blessings of the life that now is. It is God that sets up one, and puts down another (see Psalm 75:7). Victory, for instance, when contending princes wage war, is all of God. “The race is not to the swift, as swift; nor the battle to the strong” (Ecclesiastes 9:11), as such. It is the decree, the will, the power, the providence of God, which effectually, though sometimes invisibly, order and dispose of every event.

Toplady SET #2

ORIGINAL SOURCE: HERE

Very different is the idea which Scripture gives us, of the ever-blessed God, from that of those false gods worshipped by the heathens; and from that degrading representation of the true God, which Arminianism would palm upon mankind. “Our God [says this Psalm, verse the third] is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased.” This is not the Arminian idea of God: for our free-willers and our chance-mongers tell us, that God does not do whatsoever He pleases; that there are a great number of things, which God wishes to do, and tugs and strives to do, and yet cannot bring to pass: they tell us, as one ingeniously expresses it:

That all mankind He fain would save, But longs for what He cannot have. Industrious, thus, to sound abroad, A disappointed, changing God.

How does this comport with that majestic description, “Our God is in the heavens”! He sits upon the throne, weighing out, and dispensing, the fates of men; holding all events in His own hand; and guiding every link of every chain of second causes, from the beginning to the end of time. Our God is in heaven, possessed of all power; and (which is the natural consequence of that) He hath done whatsoever He pleased: or as the Apostle expresses it, (the words are different, but the sense is the same) “He worketh all things after the counsel of His own will” (Ephesians 1:11).

Therefore it is, that we both labour, and suffer reproach: even because we say (and the utmost we can say upon the subject, amounts to no more than this: to wit, that) our God is in heaven, and has done whatsoever pleased Him. And do according to His own sovereign pleasure He will, to the end of the chapter; though all the Arminians upon earth were to endeavor to defeat the divine intention, and to clog the wheels of divine government. He, that sits in heaven, laughs them to scorn: and brings His own purposes to pass, sometimes, even through the means of those very incidents, which evil men endeavor to throw in His way, with a mad view to disappoint Him of His purposes. ‘All things,” saith the Psalmist, “serve Thee” (Psalm 119:91).

Toplady SET #1

ORIGINAL SOURCE: HERE

by Augustus Toplady (1740-1778)

Not unto us, o LORD, not unto us, but unto Thy Name, give glory for Thy mercy, and for Thy truth’s sake (Psalm 115:1).

Some expositors have supposed, that this Psalm was penned by the prophet Daniel; on occasion of the miraculous deliverance of Shadrac, Meshac, and Abednego, when they came out, unhurt, from the burning fiery furnace, into which they had been thrown by the command of king Nebuchadnezzar.

And, indeed, there are not wanting passages, in the Psalm itself, which seem to countenance this conjecture. As where we read, at the fourth verse (speaking of the idols of the heathens, and, perhaps, with particular reference to that golden image which Nebuchadnezzar commanded to be worshipped), their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands: they have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they but they see not.

I dare say, that, in such an auditory as this, a number of Arminians are present. I fear, that all our public assemblies have too many of them. Perhaps, however, even these people, idolaters as they are, may be apt to blame, and, indeed, with justice, the absurdity of those who worship idols of silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. But let me ask: If it be so very absurd, to worship the work of other men’s hands; what must it be, to worship the works of our own hands? Perhaps, you may ask, “God forbid that I should do so.” Nevertheless, let me tell you, that trust, confidence, reliance, and dependence, for salvation, are all acts and very solemn ones too, of divine worship: and upon whatsoever you depend, whether in whole or in part, for your acceptance with God, and for your justification in His sight, whatsoever, you rely upon, and trust in, for the attainment of grace or glory; if it be any thing short of God in Christ, you are an idolater to all intents and purposes.

MORE THAN PAINT

"There is as much difference between heavenly comforts and earthly, as between a banquet that is eaten and one that is painted on the wall."

- Thomas Watson

PRIDE SAYS

'In canvassing this momentous truth, let us begin where God Himself began: namely, with election. To whom are we indebted, for that first of all spiritual blessings? Pride says, “To me.” Self-righteousness says, “To me.” Man’s uncoverted will says, “To me.” But faith joins with God’s Word in saying, “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to Thy Name, be the whole glory of thy electing love ascribed"'

- Augustus Toplady

SAME LESSON

"Indeed all the saints are taught the same lesson - to renounce their own strength, and rely on the power of God; their own policy, and cast themselves on the wisdom of God; their own righteousness, and expect all from the pure mercy of God in Christ, which act of faith is so pleasing to God, that such a soul shall never be ashamed."

- William Gurnall,

JEREMIAH 6:10

Jeremiah 6:10 To whom shall I speak and give warning, that they may hear? Behold, their ears are uncircumcised, they cannot listen; behold, the word of the Lord is to them an object of scorn; they take no pleasure in it.

WENT MOER WILLINGLY

The Puritan Thomas Watson comments on prayer, "Jesus Christ went more willingly to the cross than we do to the throne of grace."

-- Thomas Watson

GREAT HYMN

Hail, thou once despised Jesus — St. Hilda

Original Trinity Hymnal, #128

Hail, thou once despised Jesus,
Hail, thou Galilean King!
Thou didst suffer to release us:
Thou didst free salvation bring.
Hail, thou agonizing Saviour,
Bearer of our sin and shame!
By thy merits we find favor;
Life is given through thy name.

Paschal Lamb, by God appointed,
All our sins were on thee laid;
By almighty love anointed,
Thou hast full atonement made:
All thy people are forgiven
Through the virtue of thy blood;
Opened is the gate of heaven,
Peace is made 'twixt man and God.

Jesus, hail! enthroned in glory,
There for ever to abide;
All the heav'nly hosts adore thee,
Seated at thy Father's side:
There for sinners thou art pleading;
There thou dost our place prepare;
Ever for us interceding,
Till in glory we appear.

Worship, honor, power, and blessing
Thou art worthy to receive:
Loudest praises without ceasing,
Meet it is for us to give.
Help, ye bright angelic spirits,
Bring your sweetest, noblest lays;
Help to sing our Saviour's merits,
Help to chant Immanuel's praise.

HOW CAN

"Can I ask you a question? How can a dead man pass through a narrow gate?"

— Paul Washer

THUNDERING

Sinners must hear the thundering of Mount Sinai before we bring them to Mount Zion.

---George Whitfield

USELESS UNLESS

"The best teaching in the world is useless unless the Holy Spirit takes hold of it and applies it and opens our understanding to it, and gives it a deep lodging place in our whole being."

- Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Monergism Books)

NOTHING AT ALL

[Regarding confidence in God], I did no more than pray and preach; otherwise nothing at all. The Word did it all...while I sat still and drank beer with Philip and Amsdorf...

-Martin Luther

JESUS IS LIFE

Unto them that believe unto the saving of the soul, he (Jesus) is, he always has
been, precious — the sun, the rock, the life, the bread of their souls —
every thing that is good, useful, amiable, desirable, here or unto eternity.
In, from, and by him, is all their spiritual and eternal life, light, power,
growth, consolation, and joy here; with everlasting salvation hereafter. By
him alone do they desire, expect, and obtain deliverance from that woeful
apostasy from God, which is accompanied with — which containeth in it
virtually and meritoriously whatever is evil, noxious, and destructive unto
our nature, and which, without relief, will issue in eternal misery.

By him are they brought into the nearest cognation, alliance, and friendship with
God, the firmest union unto him, and the most holy communion with him,
that our finite natures are capable of, and so conducted unto the eternal
enjoyment of him. For in him “shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and
shall glory;” (Isaiah 45:25;) for “Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an
everlasting salvation;” they “shall not be ashamed nor confounded, world
without end:” verse 17.

from John Owen's Preface page 1:

A DECLARATION OF THE GLORIOUS MYSTERY
OF THE PERSON OF CHRIST — GOD AND MAN:

WITH

The Infinite Wisdom, Love, And Power Of God In The Contrivance
And Constitution Thereof;

AS ALSO,

Of The Grounds And Reasons Of His Incarnation; The Nature Of
His Ministry In Heaven; The Present State Of The Church Above
Thereon; And The Use Of His Person In Religion:

WITH

An Account And Vindication Of The Honor, Worship, Faith, Love,
And Obedience Due Unto Him, In And From The Church.

OWEN AND BUNYAN

There was no sufferer whose behalf John Owen exerted more his influence more earnestly than John Bunyan.

It is well known that, as a preacher, Bunyan excited, wherever he went, an interest not surpassed even by the ministry of Baxter. When Bunyan preached in barns or on commons, he gathered eager thousands around him; and when he came to London, 1200 people would be found gathered together at seven on the dark of morning of a winter working-day to hear him expound the Word of God. Among these admiring multitudes John Owen had often been discovered;-- the most learned of the Puritans hung for hours, that seemed like moments, upon the lips of this untutored genius.

The King is reported to have asked Owen on one occasion, how a learned man like him could go "to hear a tinker prate;" to which the great theologian answered, "May it please your majesty, could I poosess the tinker's abilities for preaching, I would willingly relinquish all my learning."

Volume 1. The Works of John Owen, page. XCII

ACCEPTABLE

"The task of the modern preacher is not to make Christ acceptable to sinners. Because Jesus Christ will never be acceptable to a sinner. The problem that faces us is not "how to make Christ or God acceptable to sinners?" but how do we make sinners acceptable to God. The answer to that is the Gospel, the cross of Jesus Christ."

(Greis Svdbygrace )

BARK

"A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God's truth is attacked and yet would remain silent."

- John Calvin

WAKE UP CHURCH!!!!

CONTEMPT

Sin is the dare of God’s justice, the rape of His mercy, the jeer of His patience, the slight of His power, and the contempt of His love.

-- JOHN BUNYAN

Power Over Sin is the Fruit of Repentance

J-moss we must praise

Praise On The Inside - J. Moss

BEST OF MY DUTIES

"Not only the worst of my sins, but the best of my duties speak me a child of Adam."

- William Beveridge

NOT INDUCEMENTS

"Sinful man stands in need, not of inducements or assistance to save himself, but precisely of saving; and Jesus Christ has come not to advise, or urge, or woo, or help him to save himself, but to save him."

- B.B. Warfield

FAITH FIRST

"the design of Christian doctrine is that believers should exercise themselves in good works," but "faith must go before in such a manner that good works may follow."

-- John Calvin

WRONG VIEW

"The doctrine of regeneration is absolutely foundational. It is because so many do not realize this that they have a wrong view of evangelism, and become interested overmuch in decisions."

- Martyn Lloyd-Jones

MERE PLEASURE OF GOD

"Those who are ordained unto eternal life were not so ordained on account of any worthiness foreseen in them, or of any good works to be wrought by them, nor yet for their future faith, but purely and solely of free, sovereign grace, and according to the mere pleasure of God."

- Augustus Toplady

All I Have Is Christ

DIVINE WORK

"Conversion is as divine a work as creation."

- C.H. Spurgeon (monergism books)

(my note: yea, Conversion is even a greater divine work than creation; creation was making nothing into something without the death of Jesus; conversion is grounded in making the unclean to be clean due to the death of Jesus)

VERY HONORABLE

The outward appearance and condition of the saints in those days being
very mean and contemptible, — their leaders being accounted as the filth
of this world, and as the offscouring of all things, — the inviting others
unto fellowship with them, and a participation of the precious things
which they did enjoy, seems to be exposed to many contrary reasonings
and objections: “What benefit is there in communion with them? Is it any
thing else but to be sharers in troubles, reproaches, scorns, and all manner
of evils?”

To prevent or remove these and the like exceptions, the apostle
gives them to whom he wrote to know (and that with some earnestness of
expression), that notwithstanding all the disadvantages their fellowship lay
under, unto a carnal view, yet in truth it was, and would be found to be (in
reference to some with whom they held it), very honorable, glorious, and
desirable. For “truly,” saith he, “our fellowship is with the Father, and
with his Son Jesus Christ.”

-- John Owen, "Communion with God, Chapter 1"

MAGNIFIES MAN

Free-will doctrine – what does it? It magnifies man into God; it declares God’s purposes a nullity, since they cannot be carried out unless men are willing. It makes God’s will a waiting servant to the will of man, and the whole covenant of grace dependent upon human action. Denying election on the ground of injustice it holds God to be a debtor to sinners so that if He gives grace to one He is bound to do so to all.

It teaches that the blood of Christ was shed equally for all men and since some are lost, this doctrine ascribes the difference to man’s own will, thus making the atonement itself a powerless thing until the will of man gives it efficacy. Those sentiments dilute the scriptural description of man’s depravity, and by imputing strength to fallen humanity, rob the Spirit of the glory of His effectual grace: this theory says in effect that it is of him that willeth, and of him that runneth, and not of God that showeth mercy."

C.H. Spurgeon

THEIR INSIGNIFICANCE

Hence the dread and amazement with which, as Scripture uniformly relates, holy men were struck and overwhelmed whenever they beheld the presence of God...Men are never duly touched and impressed with a conviction of their insignificance until the have contrasted themselves with the majesty of God.

-John Calvin

GOD IS THE OCEAN

The enjoyment of God is the only happiness with which our souls c an be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. Fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, or children, or the company of earthly friends, are but shadows; but God is the substance. These are but scattered beams, but God is the sun. These are but streams, but God is the fountain. These are but drops; but God is the ocean.

-Jonathan Edwards

ROMANS 8:28

All the sins of the saints

(Thomas Brooks, "The Crown and Glory of Christianity,
or, HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness", 1662)

"We know that all things work together for good,
to those who love God, to those who are called
according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

All the afflictions, and
all the temptations, and
all the oppressions, and
all the oppositions, and
all the persecutions--
which befall a godly man,
shall work for his good.

Every cross, and
every loss, and
every disease--
which befall the holy man,
shall work for his good.

Every device,
every snare,
every deceit,
every stratagem,
and every enterprise of Satan against
the holy man, shall work for his good.

They shall all help to make him . . .
more humble,
more holy,
more heavenly,
more spiritual,
more faithful,
more fruitful,
more watchful.

Every prosperity and every adversity;
every storm and every calm;
every bitter and every sweet;
every cross and every comfort--
shall work for the holy man's good.

When God gives a mercy--
that shall work for his good.
When God takes away a mercy--
that shall work for his good.

Yes, even all the falls and all the sins of
the saints shall work for their good. Oh . . .
the care,
the fear,
the watchfulness,
the tenderness,
the zeal--
which God raises in the souls of His saints by their
very falls! Oh the hatred, the indignation, and the
detestation--which God raises in the hearts of His
children against sin--by their very falling into sin!

Oh what love to Christ,
what thankfulness for Christ,
what admiration of Christ,
what cleaving to Christ,
what exalting of Christ,
what drawings from Christ's grace--
are saints led to, by their very falls!

It is the glory of God's holiness, that . . .
He can turn spiritual diseases--into holy remedies!
He can turn soul poisons--into heavenly cordials!
He can prevent sin by sin, and cure falling by falling!

O Christian! What though friends and relations frown upon you,
what though enemies are plotting and conspiring against you,
what though needs, like armed men, are breaking in upon you,
what though men rage, and devils roar against you,
what though sickness is devastating your family,
what though death stands every day at your elbow--
yet there is no reason for you to fear nor faint, because
all these things shall work for your good! Yes, there is
wonderful cause of joy and rejoicing in all the afflictions
and tribulations which come upon you--considering that
they shall all work for your good.

O Christians! I am afraid, I am afraid--that you do not
run so often as you should--to the breasts of this promise,
nor draw that sweetness and comfort from it, that it would
yield, and that your several cases may require. "We know
that all things work together for good, to those who love
God, to those who are called according to His purpose." I
have been the longer upon this verse, because the condition
of God's people calls for the strongest cordials, and the
choicest and the sweetest comforts.

116 Clique - I See The Lord

HE IS HEARD

Everyone wants their voice heard, yet are not really interested in hearing what others are saying. The good news is, His sheep hear His voice, and they follow Him.

ABIDE SERIES #1

Abiding in Christ, at least means we don't abide in our emotions.

BUSINESS

"Even the choicest saints who seek to remain free from the condemning power of sin need to make it their business, as long as they live, to mortify the indwelling power of sin."

-- John Owen.

(source: Daniel Mac)

BACK UPON GOD

The loneliness of the Christian results from his walk with God in an ungodly world, a walk that must often take him away from the fellowship of good Christians as well as from that of the unregenerate world. His God-given instincts cry out for companionship with others of his kind, others who can understand his longings, his aspirations, his absorption in the love of Christ; and because within his circle of friends there are so few who share his inner experiences he is forced to walk alone.

The unsatisfied longings of the prophets for human understanding caused them to cry out in their complaint, and even our Lord Himself suffered in the same way.

The man [or woman] who has passed on into the divine Presence in actual inner experience will not find many who understand him. He finds few who care to talk about that which is the supreme object of his interest, so he is often silent and preoccupied in the midst of noisy religious shoptalk. For this he earns the reputation of being dull and over-serious, so he is avoided and the gulf between him and society widens.

He searches for friends upon whose garments he can detect the smell of myrrh and aloes and cassia out of the ivory palaces, and finding few or none he, like Mary of old, keeps these things in his heart.

It is this very loneliness that throws him back upon God. His inability to find human companionship drives him to seek in God what he can find nowhere else.

A.W. Tozer

NEVER LIKELY

“Let us take with us to church, not only our bodies, but our minds, our reason, our hearts and our consciences. Let us often ask ourselves, ‘What have I got from this sermon?’, ‘What have I learned?’, ‘What truths have been impressed on my mind?’.

“The heart is unquestionably the main point: but we must never forget that the Holy Ghost generally reaches the heart through the mind. Sleepy, idle, inattentive hearers are never likely to be converted.”

~ J.C. Ryle

http://networkedblogs.com/p12723781

GREAT AIM

"To cut off the sinner from all reliance upon himself, his merits and his powers; and throw him, naked and helpless, into the hands of the Holy Spirit to lead him to Christ in faith; should be the one great aim of the ministry.”

- Ichabod S. Spencer, (Monergism Books)

RIGHTEOUSNESS

“One day as I was passing into the field, this sentence fell upon my soul: ‘Thy righteousness is in heaven.’ And with the eyes of my soul I saw Jesus at the Father’s right hand. ‘There,’ I said, ‘is my righteousness!’ So that wherever I was or whatever I was doing, God could not say to me, ‘Where is your righteousness?’ For it is always right before him.

I saw that it is not my good frame of heart that made my righteousness better, nor yet my bad frame that made my righteousness worse, for my righteousness IS Christ. Now my chains fell off indeed. My temptations fled away, and I lived sweetly at peace with God.

Now I could look from myself to him and could reckon that all my character was like the coins a rich man carries in his pocket when all his gold is safe in a trunk at home. Oh I saw that my gold was indeed in a trunk at home, in Christ my Lord. Now Christ was all: my righteousness, sanctification, redemption.”

- John Bunyan, Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners

http://firstimportance.org/2009/09/24/thy-righteousness-is-in-heaven-2/

John Piper - You Love Human Praise, Not the Glory of God

FLOW OUT OF

"We do more to bless and satisfy God by being shut up with Him in loving communication than by doing anything else. Whatever work He might open up for us to do at home or abroad, will flow effortlessly out of our communion with Him. He is more interested in winning our whole hearts than in our winning the world for Him."

- David Wilkerson (source: Disciple Life)

Christ Commands to Make Disciples, Not Returning Customers

DEATH TO SIN

"Were it not for sin--death would never have had a beginning! And were it not for death--sin would never have an ending!" By Jesus death we are declared, "not guilty"! praise be to God!!

( Bronni Vincent VanDerwerker )

God's Glory

"God's glory is the end of our being and doing, for being and doing are both from him, and therefore for him alone."

- Thomas Manton

PROGRAM

This is our real "Program": faith in Christ, fellowship with Christ, faithfulness to Christ, fruitfulness for Christ.

- Richard Baxter

EXTOL AND MAGNIFY

Extol and magnify God’s mercy, who has adopted you into his family; who, of slaves, has made you sons; of heirs of hell, heirs of the promise. Adoption is a free gift. He gave them power, or dignity, to become the sons of God. As a thread of silver runs through a whole piece of work, so free grace runs through the whole privilege of adoption."

-- Thomas Watson, A Body of Divinity, p. 240

SAME BODY

When I was beaten on the bottom of my feet, my tongue cried. Why did my tongue cry? It was not beaten. It cried because the tongue and the feet are both part of the same body. And you free Christians are part of the same Body of Christ that is now beaten in prisons in restricted nations, that even now gives martyrs for Christ. Can you not feel our pain?

-Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, Tortured for Christ

GREATEST SORROW

"I do not understand how a man can be a sincere believer unto whom sin is not the greatest burden and sorrow"

-John Owen

EXCELLENCY

"The notion that there is a Christ, and that Christ is holy and gracious, is conveyed to the mind by the Word of God, but the sense of the excellency of Christ by reason of that holiness and grace, is nevertheless immediately the work of the Holy Spirit."

- Jonathan Edwards

Hillsong United . Here I Am To Worship

Michael W. Smith - You Are Holy

TO QUESTION

Election - "Whatever may be said about the doctrine of election, it is written in the Word of God as with an iron pen, and there is no getting rid of it; there it stands." Disbelief of Election - "I believe the man who is not willing to submit to the electing love and sovereign grace of God, has great reason to question whether he is a Christian at all...

-Charles H. Spurgeon

John Piper - Where are the faithful young men?

A Call to Anguish - David Wilkerson

FATHER PLANNED IT ALL

My Father Planned It All

1- What tho the way be lonely,and dark the shadows fall,
I know wher'er it leadeth, My Father planned it all.
I sing thru the shade and the sunshine, I'll trust Him whatever befall;
I sing for I cannot be silent, My Father planned it all.

2- There may be sunshine tomorrow, Shadows may break and flee,
Twill be the way He chooses, My Father's plan for me.
I sing thru the shade and the sunshine, I'll trust Him whatever befall;
I sing for I cannot be silent, My Father planned it all.

3- He guides my fal'tring footsteps, A--long the weary way;
For well he knows the pathway, Will lead to endless day.
I sing thru the shade and the sunshine, I'll trust Him whatever befall;
I sing for I cannot be silent, My Father planned it all.

4- A day of light and gladness, On which no shade will fall;
Tis this at last awaits me , My Father planned it all....
I sing thru the shade and the sunshine, I'll trust Him whatever befall;
I sing for I cannot be silent, My Father planned it all.

NEAR TO GOD

Dear friend,

I hope that you have found your trials so sweetened, and so sanctified, by God's blessing, that you have been enabled to rejoice in them!

Whatever may be the immediate causes of your troubles--they are all under the direction of a gracious hand--and each, in their place, cooperating to a gracious end. Your afflictions all come from God's heart, who loves you better than you love yourself! They are all tokens of His love and favor--and are necessary means of promoting your growth in faith and grace.

You are in the hands of Him who does all things well, and conducts His most afflictive dispensations to those who fear Him, with wisdom and mercy!

The Lord knows what is best for you! When there is an especial need-be for your being in the furnace--He knows how to support you; and at what season, and in what manner, deliverance will best comport with His glory and your good. These are the two great ends which He has in view, and which are inseparably connected together.

He knows our frame, and of what we are made. His pity exceeds that of the most tender parent. And though He causes grief--He will have compassion. Your afflictions which at present are not joyous but grievous, shall, when you have been duly exercised by them--yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness. I trust the Lord gives you a measure of patience and submission to His holy will. If so, everything shall be well--and when He has fully tried you--you shall come forth as gold!

The thoughts of what we have deserved at His hands--and what Jesus suffered for our sakes--when applied by his Holy Spirit, have a sovereign efficacy to compose our minds, and enable us to say, "Not my will--but may Yours be done!" How unspeakably better is it to be chastened by the Lord now--than to be left to ourselves for a season, and at last condemned with the world.

The path of affliction is sanctified by the promises of God, and by the consideration of our Lord Jesus, who walked in it Himself, that we might not think it too much to tread in His steps. Yes, it has been a beaten path in all ages; for the innumerable multitudes of the redeemed who are now before the eternal throne, have entered the kingdom by no other way. Let us not then be weary and faint--but cheerfully consent to be the followers of those who, through faith and patience, are now inheriting the promises!

If, after much tribulation, we stand accepted before the Lord in His glory, we shall not then think much of the difficulties we met with in our pathway to glory. Then sorrow and sighing shall cease forever--and songs of triumph and everlasting joy shall take their place! Oh, happy transporting moment, when the Lord God Himself shall wipe every tear from our eyes!

Until then, may the prospect of this glory which shall be revealed, cheer and comfort our hearts! Hitherto the Lord has helped us. He has delivered us in six troubles--and we may trust Him in the seventh.

Whatever storms may arise, we have an infallible and almighty Pilot, who will be a Sun and a Shield to those who love Him!

As long as we live, new trials will be needful. It is not that the Lord delights in grieving us and putting us to pain; on the contrary, He rejoices in the prosperity of His servants. No, it is not for His pleasure--but for our profit, that we may be made partakers of His holiness!

Perhaps you may have observed a bird, in a hedge, or upon the boughs of a tree; if you disturb it--it will move a little higher--and thus you may make it change its place three or four times. But if it finds, after a few trials, that you continue to follow it--it takes wing at last, and flies away!

Thus it is with us! When the Lord drives us from one creature-rest, we immediately perch upon another! But He will not allow us to stay long upon any. At length, like the bird, we are sensible that we can have no safety, no stable peace below! Then our hearts take flight and soar heavenwards, and we are taught by His grace to place our treasure and affections out of the reach of earthly vanities. So far as this end is accomplished, we have reason to be thankful and say, happy rod--that brought me nearer to my God!

-- John Newton; (from Gracegems)

John Piper - The Pride of Attachment to Someone Special

REJOICING OF GOD

The evangelist can get weary for after giving his message to man it is "forgotten, ignored, and without impact." but the solution for joy is to know God, "remembers, pays attention, and is pleased." Our joy is not based on the reaction of man, but the rejoicing of God.

Christ's Call to Follow in His Footsteps - K.P. Yohannan

ANNOY MEN NOT GOD

We fail to witness, because we know people are annoyed when they are presented with the gospel, but this works 3 ways. #2. You should be annoyed by their disinterest in the gospel, so why should you appease their annoyance, and they not appease your annoyance; but more importantly #3. We should rather annoy men in witnessing, than annoy God in not witnessing. Jesus knew his message offended men, but He lived to please God, and not men; So if need be, offend men, than offend God. And may this Jesus live in us by the Spirit.

PRAYER HELPS

“…it is very important for us to call upon him: First, that our hearts may be fired with a zealous and burning desire ever to seek, love and serve him, while we become accustomed in every need to flee to him as to a sacred anchor. Secondly, that there may enter our hearts no desire and no wish at all of which we should be ashamed to make him a witness, while we learn to set all our wishes before his eyes, and even to pour out our whole hearts. Thirdly, that we be prepared to receive his benefits with true gratitude of heart and thanksgiving, benefits that our prayer reminds us come from his hand [cf. Ps. 145:15-16]. Fourthly, moreover, that, having obtained what we were seeking, and being convinced that he has answered our prayers, we should be led to meditation upon his kindness more ardently. And fifthly, that at the same time we embrace with greater delight those things which we acknowledge to have been obtained by prayers. Finally, that use and experience may, according to the measure of our feebleness, confirm his providence, while we understand not only that he promises never to fail us, and of his own will opens the way to call upon him at the very point of necessity, but also that he ever extends his hand to help his own, not wet-nursing them with words but defending them with present help.”

John Calvin: Institutes of the Christian Religion (Book Three, Chapter XX)

source: http://cal.vini.st/

ABSENCE OF

If you aren't a witness for Christ in the absence of suffering, what makes you think you'll be a witness 4 him in the presence of suffering?-- Tim Brister.

SCRIPTURE POST#2

1 Samuel 8:1-9 When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. 2 The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. 3 Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice. 4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah 5 and said to him, "Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations." 6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." And Samuel prayed to the LORD.

7 And the LORD said to Samuel, "Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.

8 According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. 9 Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them."

SCRIPTURE POST

1 Kings 11:1-14 Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, 2 from the nations concerning which the LORD had said to the people of Israel, "You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods." Solomon clung to these in love. 3 He had 700 wives, princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart. 4 For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6 So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and did not wholly follow the LORD, as David his father had done. 7 Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites, on the mountain east of Jerusalem. 8 And so he did for all his foreign wives, who made offerings and sacrificed to their gods. 9 And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice 10 and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods. But he did not keep what the LORD commanded. 11 Therefore the LORD said to Solomon, "Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant. 12 Yet for the sake of David your father I will not do it in your days, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son. 13 However, I will not tear away all the kingdom, but I will give one tribe to your son, for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem that I have chosen." 14 And the LORD raised up an adversary against Solomon, Hadad the Edomite. He was of the royal house in Edom.

PRAYER WORK

The godly man does not play at prayer, for his heart is in it. Prayer to him is his chief work. (forget the source)

For prayer in secret is the veritable mainspring of the godly man’s life. And when we speak of prayer we are not referring to the prim, proper, stereotyped, self-regarding formalities which sometimes pass for the real thing. (forget the source, probably a puritan)

Like God Himself, the godly man is supremely jealous that God, and God only, should be honoured. (forget the source, probably a puritan)

"We take for granted that prayer is preparation for the work, whereas prayer is the work."

- Oswald Chambers (source: Mark Calhoun)

"We bank on service and do away with prayer. Consequently, by succeeding in the external we fail in the eternal, because in the eternal we succeed only by prevailing prayer"

- Oswald Chambers. (source: Mark Calhoun)

Christ's Call by K.P. Yohannan - Part 1

Christ's Call by K.P. Yohannan - Part 2

DEEMED IT MEET

"The first man fell because the Lord deemed it meet that he should: why he deemed it meet, we know not. It is certain, however, that it was just, because he saw that his own glory would thereby be displayed."

-- John Calvin, (Inst. 3.23.8)

source: Gene Long;

DELUSIONS

"Since our sins were so great that nothing could take them away except a ransom so immeasurable, shall we still claim to obtain righteousness by the strength of our own will, by the power of the law, or by the teaching of men? What shall we do with all these artifices, with all these delusions?" -

-- Martin Luther

source: monergism.com

ADJUSTMENT

Peace is the deliberate adjustment of my life to the will of GOD.


-- from J.M. Vergara

FOR A MOMENT

"If we were left to ourselves but for a moment–we would destroy ourselves in that moment! We can defile ourselves–but we cannot cleanse ourselves. The sheep can go astray alone–but can never return to the fold, without the assistance of the shepherd. “Hold me up–and I shall be safe!” (Psalm 119:117)"

— William Secker, The Consistent Christian, 1660

(source: newdemonstration.com)

HATRED AND LOVE

“Sense of sin and deep hatred of it, faith in Christ and love to Him, delight in holiness and longing after more of it, love for God’s people and distaste for the things of the world, – these are the signs and evidences which always accompany conversion.”

~ J.C. Ryle

NECESSARY

“Everything is necessary that [God] sends. Nothing can be necessary that he withholds.”

-- John Newton

"Pride is more fatal than death."

--John Piper

"Replacing the mercy of disapproval with tolerance is replacing medicine with poison."

--Robert Hart

“Boasting is the response of pride to success. Self-pity is the response of pride to failure.”

--John Piper

Four great quotes from a new FB friend.

HOW GREAT

How great is that strength you have, if that strength is Jesus Himself?

How great is that joy you have, if that joy is Jesus Himself?

How great is that shield you have, if that shield is Jesus Himself?

How great is that hope you have, if that hope is Jesus Himself?

How great is that reward you have, if that reward is Jesus Himself?

How great is that boasting you have, if that boasting is Jesus Himself?

HOLY

"God is Holy, and is angry with the unholy, but in love has provided a Holy Sacrifice to make unholy people holy"

RELEVANT

"To be always relevant, you have to say things which are eternal."

- Simone Weil

(RT @bkauflin)// J.m. Vergara RT @MattRodatus

CONFUSION PREVAILS

God's Sovereignty and the Human Will: A.W. Pink

Concerning the nature and the power of fallen man’s will, the greatest confusion prevails today, and the most erroneous views are held, even by many of God’s children. The popular idea now prevailing, and which is taught from the great majority of pulpits, is that man has a “free will”, and that salvation comes to the sinner through his will cooperating with the Holy Spirit. To deny the “free will” of man, i.e. his power to choose that which is good, his native ability to accept Christ, is to bring one into disfavour at once, even before most of those who profess to be orthodox. And yet Scripture emphatically says, “It is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy” Rom. 9:16. Which shall we believe: God, or the preachers?

Should it be asked, But does not the Holy Spirit overcome a man’s enmity and hatred when he convicts the sinner of his sins and his need of Christ; and does not the Spirit of God produce such conviction in many that perish? Such language betrays confusion of thought: were such a man’s enmity really “overcome”, then he would readily turn to Christ; that he does not come to the Saviour, demonstrates that his enmity is not overcome. But that many are, through the preaching of the Word, convicted by the Holy Spirit, who nevertheless die in unbelief, is solemnly true. Yet, it is a fact which must not be lost sight of that, the Holy Spirit does something more in each of God’s elect than he does in the non-elect: he works in them “both to will and to do of God’s good pleasure” Php 2:13.

In reply to what we have said above, Arminians would answer, No; the Spirit’s work of conviction is the same both in the converted and in the unconverted, that which distinguishes the one class from the other is that the former yielded to his strivings, whereas the latter resist them. But if this were the case, then the Christian would make himself to “differ”, whereas the Scripture attributes the “differing” to God’s discriminating grace 1 Cor. 4:7. Again; if such were the case, then the Christian would have ground for boasting and self-glorying over his cooperation with the Spirit; but this would flatly contradict Eph 2:8, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God”.

A.W. Pink

typed by: Bob Timenuff Johnson

SHOW MY LOVE

"Probably the only way to show my love to Muslims is to be persecuted by them."

-Susanne Geske, writing in her journal before her husband was martyred for Christ in Turkey.
(The Voice of the Martyrs - USA)

You Must Suffer - John Piper

PRAYER GRACE

“This is what we should say: ‘Lord, I am a poor, wretched creature, and am unworthy to look up and to seek anything from you. Nevertheless you continually take me by the hand. Your reach is wide. Although I am far from you, do not withhold your grace from me. Despite all I have done, extend your boundless power even to me, and hear my request.’”

-- John Calvin, Sermons on the Beatitudes p.9

Kent B Jenkins// A lack of prayer demonstrates a lack of faith and a lack of trust in God’s Word. We pray to demonstrate our faith in God, that He will do as He has promised in His Word and bless our lives abundantly more than we could ask or hope for. (and my note...blessing is not always connected to materialistic ideas)

Mark Calhoun// Amen and fully agree! It also demonstrates a lack of desire to commune with God.

Mark Calhoun// "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desire of Him." - 1 John 5:14

Kent B Jenkins // Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. - James 5: 16-18

ONLY COMFORT

Question 1. What is thy only comfort in life and death?

Answer 1: That I with body and soul, both in life and death, (a) am not my own, (b) but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ; (c) who, with his precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins, (d) and delivered me from all the power of the devil; (e) and so preserves me (f) that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; (g) yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, (h) and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, (i) and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him. (j)

-- The Heidelberg Catechism; 1563

LIFE BREATH

"Prayer is the very life-breath of true Christianity."

~ J.C. Ryle