PASSION AND JOY FOR HIS GLORY

God’s purpose for my life was that I have a passion for God’s glory and that I have a passion for my joy in that glory, and that these two are one passion."

— Jonathan Edwards  

Now what is glorifying God, but a rejoicing at that glory He has displayed?

--Jonathan Edwards.

(Most likely this has already been posted on my blog months or years ago, but it bears repeating). 

IT IS ENOUGH FOR ME

“Thou, O Lord, thou bruises me, it is enough for me to know it is thy hand.” -- John Calvin

GOD BRINGS IT TO THE HEART

There could be potential frustration for a pastor to tell of God's glory and grace, only to have souls nod their head in an intellectual agreement which is tottering on boredom for "old news"; yet we preach by faith (not frustration), knowing God will bring the truth deeper than the mind all the way to the heart.  Because this is the work of God, we are free to rest in His power, and so we proclaim His goodness with freedom and joy.

REMEMBER THE VANDALS

Remember the Vandals

From the February 1810 edition of the Baptist Magazine:

At a meeting held at Wittenburg by the leading parties of the reformation with a view to promote the harmony of the whole; it was agreed that Albert, Bucer and Luther should be the preachers. At the close of the services Luther requested Bucer to be his guest, to which Bucer readily acceded. In the course of the evening Luther found an opportunity to make his remarks on the sermon delivered by his sage friend. He spoke highly in its praise, but added “Bucer, I can preach better than you.” Such an observation sounded oddly to the ears of his friend, who however took it in good part, and readily replied “Every person of course will agree that Luther should bear the palm.” Luther immediately changed the tone of his voice, and with indescribable seriousness addressed his friend to this effect. “Do not mistake me, my brother; as though I spake merely in the praise of myself; I am fully aware of my weakness, and am conscious of my inability to deliver a sermon so learned and judicious, as the one I have heard from your lips this afternoon. But my method is, when I enter the pulpit to look at the people that sit in the aisle; because they are principally Vandals–[By this term he meant the ignorant common people, and alluded to the circumstance of those parts having been formerly overrun by hordes of ignorant Vandals]–I keep my eye, says he, on the Vandals, and endeavour to preach what they can comprehend. But you shot over their heads; your sermon was adapted for learned hearers, but my Vandals could not understand you. I compare them to a crying babe who is sooner satisfied with the breast of its mother, than with the richest confectionaries; so my people are more nourished by the simple word of the Gospel, than by the deepest erudition though accompanied with all the embellishments of Eloquence.”–The contributor of this article wishes that himself and his brethren may always imitate Luther, and remember the Vandals.

WE HAVE NOTHING

''God knoweth we have nothing of ourselves, therefore in the covenant of grace he requireth no more than he giveth, and giveth what he requireth, and accepteth what he giveth.'' Richard Sibbes from The Bruised Reed

WE CAN DO NOTHING

"Without the Spirit of God, we can do nothing. We are as ships without wind. We are useless." - C. H. Spurgeon

SATISFACTION

SATISFACTION

“I am not satisfied with my faith,” says one. NO, of course you aren’t, nor will you ever be, at least I hope not! The Bible does not say, “Therefore being satisfied with our faith we have peace with God,” it says, “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God.” “I am not satisfied with my repentance.” That is wonderful! What would you do with your repentance if you were satisfied with it? Would you bring it to God instead of the blood?

Oh, what pride and self-righteousness must be in any person who is satisfied with his repentance and faith! That person could never find true peace, for such a refuge of lies must fall.

“I am not satisfied with my love.” What? Did you expect, on this earth to be satisfied with any grace found in you? Was it your love for Christ or His love for you that gave you peace at first? Now then, there is but one thing with which Almighty God is satisfied – entirely satisfied – and that is THE PERSON AND WORK OF HIS SON! It is with Christ that we must be satisfied, not with ourselves, nor anything about us! When we cease from ALL our labors, and ALL our righteousness, and ENTER INTO HIS REST, pardon and peace will come without delay.

– Horatius Bonar (1809-1889)

SATISFACTION

SATISFACTION “I am not satisfied with my faith,” says one. NO, of course you aren’t, nor will you ever be, at least I hope not! The Bible does not say, “Therefore being satisfied with our faith we have peace with God,” it says, “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God.” “I am not satisfied with my repentance.” That is wonderful! What would you do with your repentance if you were satisfied with it? Would you bring it to God instead of the blood? Oh, what pride and self-righteousness must be in any person who is satisfied with his repentance and faith! That person could never find true peace, for such a refuge of lies must fall. “I am not satisfied with my love.” What? Did you expect, on this earth to be satisfied with any grace found in you? Was it your love for Christ or His love for you that gave you peace at first? Now then, there is but one thing with which Almighty God is satisfied – entirely satisfied – and that is THE PERSON AND WORK OF HIS SON! It is with Christ that we must be satisfied, not with ourselves, nor anything about us! When we cease from ALL our labors, and ALL our righteousness, and ENTER INTO HIS REST, pardon and peace will come without delay. – Horatius Bonar (1809-1889)

THE OLD MAN IN A BELIEVER

The Old Man in a Believer


God has left in all His children the old man, to remind us of our base origin, to hide pride from our eyes, to exclude boasting form our lips, and to keep us from putting any confidence in the flesh. It is to exercise our grace, especially patience; to make us watchful, to make us sensible of the depth of man’s fall, and finally, to exalt the grace of God; to make us sick of self, and sick of the world, sick of sin, and to teach us to prize Christ the Great Physician, and to make us long for that perfect rest which remaineth to the people of God. – William Huntington 1745-1813

He Found Nothing

God creates faith in the human heart, the same way He created the world. He found nothing and created something. -- Martin Luther

He Found Nothing

God creates faith in the human heart, the same way He created the world. He found nothing and created something. -- Martin Luther

PARTICULAR REDEMPTION

Tertullian (A.D. 200): “Christ died for the salvation of His people…for the church.” Cyprian (A.D. 250): “All the sheep which Christ hath sought up by His blood and sufferings are saved…Whosoever shall be found in the blood, and with the mark of Christ shall only escape…He redeemed the believers with the price of His own blood…Let him be afraid to die who is not reckoned to have any part in the cross and sufferings of Christ.” Lactantius (A.D. 320): “He was to suffer and be slain for the salvation of many people…who having suffered death for us, hath made us heirs of the everlasting kingdom, having abdicated and disinherited the people of the Jews…He stretched out His hands in the passion and measured the world, that He might at the very time show that a large people, gathered out of all languages and tribes, should come under His wings, and receive the most great and sublime sign.” Eusebius (A.D. 330): “To what ‘us’ does he refer, unless to them that believe in Him? For to them that do not believe in Him, He is the author of their fire and burning. The cause of Christ’s coming is the redemption of those that were to be saved by Him.” Julius (A.D. 350): “The Son of God, by the pouring out of His precious blood, redeemed His set apart ones; they are delivered by the blood of Christ.” Hilarion (A.D. 363): “He shall remain in the sight of God forever, having already taken all whom He hath redeemed to be kings of heaven, and co-heirs of eternity, delivering them as the kingdom of God to the Father.” Ambrose (A.D. 380): “Before the foundation of the world, it was God’s will that Christ should suffer for our salvation…Can He damn thee, whom He hath redeemed from death, for whom He offered Himself, whose life He knows is the reward of His own death?” Pacian (A.D. 380): “Much more, He will not allow him that is redeemed to be destroyed, nor will He cast away those whom He has redeemed with a great price.” Epiphanius (A.D. 390): “If you are redeemed…If therefore ye are bought with blood, thou are not the number of them who were bought with blood, O Manes, because thou deniest the blood…He gave His life for His own sheep.” Jerome (A.D. 390): “Christ is sacrificed for the salvation of believers…Not all are redeemed, for not all shall be saved, but the remnant…All those who are redeemed and delivered by Thy blood return to Zion, which Thou hast prepared for Thyself by Thine own blood…Christ came to redeem Zion [a metaphor for the church] with His blood. But lest we should think that all are Zion or every one in Zion is truly redeemed of the Lord, who are redeemed by the blood of Christ form the Church…He did not give His life for every man, but for many, that is, for those who would believe.” Anselm: “If you die in unbelief, Christ did not die for you.” Remigius (A.D. 850): “Since only the elect are saved, it may be accepted that Christ did not come to save all and did not die on the cross for all.” IRRESISTIBLE GRACE Ignatius: “Pray for them, if so be they may repent, which is very difficult; but Jesus Christ, our true life, has the power of this.” Justin Martyr (A.D. 150): “Having sometime before convinced us of the impossibility of our nature to obtain life, hath now shown us the Savior, who is able to save them which otherwise were impossible to be saved…Free will has destroyed us; we are sold into sin.” Barnabas (A.D. 70): “God gives repentance to us, introducing us into the incorruptible temple.” Irenaeus (A.D. 180): “Not of ourselves, but of God, is the blessing of our salvation…Man, who was before led captive, is taken out of the power of the possessor, according to the mercy of God the Father, and restoring it, gives salvation to it by the Word; that is, by Christ; that many may experimentally learn that not of himself, but by the gift of God, he receives immortality.” Tertullian (A.D. 200): “Do you think, O men, that we could ever have been able to have understood these things in the Scriptures unless by the will of Him that wills all things, we had received grace to understand them?…But by this it is plain, that it (faith) is not given to thee by God, because thou dost not ascribe it to Him alone.” Cyprian (A.D. 250): “Whatsoever is grateful is to be ascribed not to man’s power, but to God’s gift. It is God’s, I say, all is God’s that we can do. Yea, that in nothing must we glory, since nothing is ours.” Arnobius (A.D. 303): “You place the salvation of your souls in yourselves, and trust that you may be made gods by your inward endeavor, yet it is not our own power to reach things above.” Lactantius (A.D. 320): “The victory lies in the will of God, not in thine own. To overcome is not in our power.” Athanasius (A.D. 350): “To believe is not ours, or in our power, but the Spirit’s who is in us, and abides in us.”

IF WE WOULD PERCEIVE

"If we would perceive the worthlessness of this fading life, we must be deeply affected by the view of the heaven life." (Syn. Gosp. II:305) "No man can meditate on the heavenly life, unless he be dead to the world, and to himself." (Is. IV:242) "If meditation on the heavenly life were the prevailing sentiment in our hearts, the world would have no influence in detaining us." (John II: 30) "We ought to apply our minds to meditation upon a future life, so that this world may become cheap to us." (Dan. I:226) "We look at nothing but the world, till the Lord has drawn us to Himself." (Past. Epp. 319) "The Lord, by calling us to heaven, withdraws us from the earth." (Past. Epp. 320) John Calvin

the sense of the excellency of Christ

"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 (Monergism Books)

ADDING SOMETHING

Charles Spurgeon: And what is the heresy of Arminianism but the addition of something to the work of the Redeemer? Every heresy, if brought to the touchstone, will discover itself here.

GRATEFUL AND PEACEFUL HEARTS

"If it be plain that adversities are good for us, why should we not then endure them with grateful and peaceful hearts?" - John Calvin, On the Christian Life

"All the miseries which God sends in this world for sin are to put us in mind of our state and condition we are in, and therefore that we should thereby enter into an examining of our sins, to condemn ourselves before God, and after we are condemned, to ask him pardon and pray him to clothe us anew with those blessings which we lost through our thanklessness, and to reform us by his justice and repair us by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ." - John Calvin, Sermons on 1 Timothy

Men and women are ...stuffed with all kinds of rebellion, of ignorance, of want of faith, of deceit, of hypocrisy, and such like. And now, what is he that dares boast of himself? So then our faults must put us in mind to run to God and confess that we are in his sight as castaways and without any hope. Ibid

PRAYER IN ALL

If Jesus is to save you, you must pray. If your sins are to be forgiven, you must pray. If the Spirit is to dwell in your heart, you must pray. If you are to have strength against sin, you must pray. If you are to dwell with God in heaven, your heart must talk with God upon earth by prayer. Oh! do not be a prayerless Christian, whatever others may think right. Begin to pray this day if you never prayed before. Remember if you and I are to meet each other with joy at Christ’s appearing, you must pray. -J.C. Ryle-

KIND AND DURATION

Thomas Watson "A contented Christian does not seek to choose his cross but leaves God to choose for him. He is content with both for the kind and the duration."

WORRIED OR BITTER

Worry is not believing God will get it right, and bitterness is believing God got it wrong. ~Tim Keller

Happiness in Thee

Help me never to expect happiness from the world, but only in Thee. -- Valley of Vision

ADOPTION IS A GREATER MERCY

Adoption is a greater mercy than Adam had in paradise.

Author: Thomas Watson

PROPER WORSHIP

"When we believe that we should be satisfied rather than God glorified in our worship, then we put God below ourselves as though He had been made for us rather than that we had been made for Him."

-Stephen Charnock

Gate of the Year

I actually prefer Ravi's paraphrased version better, but I will post the original poem.

God Knows

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”
So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night.
And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.

So heart be still:
What need our little life
Our human life to know,
If God hath comprehension?
In all the dizzy strife
Of things both high and low,
God hideth His intention.

God knows. His will
Is best. The stretch of years
Which wind ahead, so dim
To our imperfect vision,
Are clear to God. Our fears
Are premature; In Him,
All time hath full provision.

Then rest: until
God moves to lift the veil
From our impatient eyes,
When, as the sweeter features
Of Life’s stern face we hail,
Fair beyond all surmise
God’s thought around His creatures
Our mind shall fill

"The Gate of the Year" is the popular name given to a poem by Minnie Louise Haskins. The title given to it by the author was "God Knows"

GOD HEARS OUR PRAYERS

"...If we will pray to God aright, we must know what his will is, and to understand that, we must know what he has shown us in his word, we must frame ourselves to it, we must hear what he says to us and adjust all of our requests according to his will, resting ourselves upon his promises. And then let us not doubt but that when we call upon him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we shall feel that our prayers will not be in vain, nor unprofitable...."  -- John Calvin

GOD REMEMBERS HIS CHILDREN

He who counts the stars and calls them by their names is in no danger of forgetting His children.

-- CHS

PRAYER AND LABOR

The praying disciple needs to be taught the necessity of labor and the laboring disciple needs to be taught the necessity of prayer. When our men of devotion become men of diligence and our men of diligence become men of devotion, when there is a union of humble hearts and busy hands, then shall the wonders of the Gospel be spread fruitfully abroad. -Thomas Chalmers-

PERSUADED OF GOD'S KINDNESS

"He who is persuaded of God's kindness towards him is able to stand firm in the heaviest afflictions." John Calvin

PRAYER IS UTTER DEPENDENCY

"Prayer is abandoning hope of independent capability and believing that in Christ you're given everything you need for life and godliness ...prayer decimates my independent self-surety; it puts my utter dependency before my eyes and calls me to cry out for the help that I am so often tempted to deny I need." - Paul David Tripp

MICHIGAN STADIUM

Roughly 7000 people die per day in America. At some level that is a low number considering there are over 300 million in America. But just think that every day 7000 people are finding out the reality of either eternal hell or eternal heaven. The number is higher when you consider those that die each day in other nations. According to wikipedia the number jumps to roughly 150,000 per day. The largest capacity football stadium in America holds 107,000. So if you ever see a broadcast of Michigan Stadium and it is packed in attendance, then that would still not convey the number of people who are either in Abraham's bosom or the flame's torment.

A PASSION FOR BEING USED

 Scripture says what motivates real men is a love for the truth; a contempt for error; and a passion for being used by God in the work of snatching people from the grip of the father of lies.
-- Phil Johnson.

RECEIVE SOMETHING AGAIN AND AGAIN

Before it is called to do anything, the church is called to receive something-and not only once, but again and again: namely the announcement that even in its weakness, suffering, half-heartedness, and a legacy of faith stained by unfaithfulness, Christ is King. ~Michael Horton (The Gospel-Driven Life)

NONE OF OUR OWN

"We have no power from God unless we live in the persuasion that we have none of our own." - John Owen

TITLE TO GLORY

“The heir of a great estate, while a child, thinks more of a few shillings in his pocket than of his inheritance. So a Christian is often more elated by some frame of heart than by his title to glory.” 

JOHN NEWTON

HIS DEAR REST

Throw yourself upon God's faithfulness as you do upon your bed, bringing all your weariness to His dear rest. -C.H. Spurgeon-

LOOK TO CHRIST

(George Everard, "Christian Living!" 1881)

I well remember the tenants of a humble cottage in a village in one of the eastern counties. The old couple who dwelt there had once known better days. But they were not left altogether without provision. They had an only son, who had risen to a position of competency, and he never neglected his aged parents. Very liberally did he contribute to their support, and spared nothing that would add to their comfort.

By-and-by the old man died, and the widow was left alone. She had one earthly comfort: she was able to rely with confidence on the kindness and affection of her son. Though she had little means of her own, she never feared that she should lack anything so long as he lived. Shortly after her husband's death, her son wrote her a letter full of filial affection. He told her how deeply he felt for her, and then he promised that he would pay the rent of her cottage, and send her amply enough for the supply of all her needs. If ever she had any special need or difficulty, he assured her that if she would only write and tell him, he would do all in his power to assist her. 

So the old lady lived upon her son, and was without anxiety. She had no care about the future. She had received many tokens of her son's affection, and knew that he loved her. She knew also that his means were sufficient, and that she could trust his promise. So she lived happily and peacefully, relying entirely upon the care which her son had for her.

The life of this aged woman seemed to me a sort of parable of the life which a Christian should lead. It seemed to me very clearly to illustrate the words of Paul: "The life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me."

The Christian, like this woman, has no resources in himself. 
He has no stock of grace.
He has no strength to meet temptation. 
He has no means of providing the supplies needful for the journey of life. 
He is poor and needy, frail, weak, and helpless. 
He has nothing to call his own, but sin and misery.

But the Christian has One upon whose faithful love he can ever depend. He can say in his heart, "Christ has given me a sure token of His love. He laid down His life for my sake, He gave Himself for me, and shed His precious blood to cleanse me from my guilt. He has brought me back after all my wanderings. He has taught me to love and serve Him. He has heard my prayers and helped me hitherto--and can I doubt that He will help me even to the end?"

The Christian knows that in Christ, there is abundance of all that he needs. This woman could rely upon her son's affection, and she knew also that he had the ability as well as the will to assist her. The Christian also is persuaded that in Christ are to be found inexhaustible supplies. He has unsearchable riches of mercy, grace, and consolation!

Reader, look unto Christ--and expect from Him all you need. 

Look unto Him for wisdom, to guide and direct you in the difficulties that beset your path.

Look unto Him for righteousness, that, in spite of all your unworthiness and many sins, you may ever have boldness and confidence before God.

Look unto Him for the continual power and grace of His blessed Spirit, the Comforter. You need to mortify sin, and grow in holiness--and this you can only do as the Spirit empowers in you. You need to have a clearer view of Jesus' love, and an increase of faith day by day--and this, too, is given to you by His Spirit. It is the Spirit who testifies of Him, and who can perfect you in His likeness. And He has promised that the Spirit shall dwell with you and lead you into all truth.

Look unto Christ, to assist you and stand by you in the smallest and in the greatest matters. Everything in earth and in Heaven is in the hand of Christ. He can help us in matters that affect our present comfort. He can help us in the hour of death, when friends and kindred must bid us farewell.

The One in whom we trust, can never die. It is quite possible that the son might have died before the widow of whom I have been speaking--and then her prop and her stay would have been gone. But "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever." He was dead--yet He is alive for evermore.

Though all earthly friends depart, though we are left alone without a human comforter near--yet Christ abides for evermore. If we trust in Him, we can never be left desolate.

Strive thus to live by faith on Christ continually.

HERE IS THE SACRIFICE

All other sacrifices were consumed by the fire of God’s altar.

Here is the Sacrifice that consumed the fire of God’s wrath.

-- Don Fortner. FROM HEBREWS 1 SERMON.  

CHRIST SHALL BE SATISFIED

"It is not possible that He should be robbed of the purchase of His blood. I tremble when I hear some people talk about the disappointed Christ—or about His having died at a chance to accomplish He knew not what—dying for something which the will of man might give Him if it would, but it might possibly be denied Him! I buy nothing on such terms as that! I expect to have what I purchase and Christ will have what He bought with His own blood—especially as He lives again to claim His purchase! He shall never be a defeated and disappointed Savior! “He loved the Church and gave Himself for it.” He has redeemed His loved ones from among men and He shall have all those whom He has purchased. “He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied.”

CH Spurgeon.

IF GOD LEFT US

If God left us!

(Thomas Watson, "Four Sad Evils" 1663)

The sins of the ungodly are looking-glasses in which we 
may see our own hearts. Do we see a heinous, impious
wretch? Behold a picture of our own hearts! Such would
we be--if God left us! What is in wicked men's practice
--is in our nature. Sin in the wicked--is like fire which
flames and blazes forth. Sin in the godly--is like fire hid
in the embers. Christian, though you do not break forth
into a flame of scandalous sin--yet you have no cause
to boast, for there is as much sin in the embers of your
nature! You have the root of all sin in you, and would
bear as hellish fruit as any ungodly wretch--if God did
not either curb you by His power, or change you by
His grace!

Why might not God have left you--to the same excess
of wickedness? Think with yourself, O Christian--why
should God be more merciful to you, than to another?
Why should He snatch you, as brand plucked out of
the fire--and not him? How should this make you to
adore free grace! What the Pharisee said boastingly,
we may say thankfully--"God, I thank you that I am
not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers, etc."

If we are not as wicked as others--we should adore the
riches of free-grace! Every time we see men hastening
on in sin--we are to thank God that we are not such!
If we see a crazy person--we thank God that it is not
so with us. When we see another infected with the
plague--how thankful are we, that God has preserved
us from it! Much more when we see others under the
power of Satan--how thankful we should be, that this
is no longer our condition!

"For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived,
captives of various passions and pleasures, living in
malice and envy, hateful . . . ." Titus 3:3

COMMUNITY INSTEAD OF CHRIST

This a close quote and paraphrase of wise words from a distant friend,

 =================
"THE GRAVE ERROR AND TRAGEDY IS THAT:
 1. PEOPLE WANT COMMUNITY INSTEAD OF CHRIST
 2. PEOPLE COME FOR COMMUNITY INSTEAD OF CHRIST
 3. CHURCHES SERVE COMMUNITY INSTEAD OF CHRIST
 4. CHURCHES PROVIDE COMMUNITY INSTEAD OF CHRIST" =======================

THE BEST OF SAINTS

Even the best of saints, being left to themselves, will quickly appear to be less than men--to be nothing. All our own strength is weakness, and all our wisdom folly. John Owen, Of Temptation, ch. 1.

DEAR TO US

"I say, who can hear Jesus Christ speaking thus, and his heart not fall in love and league with Christ, and his soul not unite to Christ and resign to Christ, and cleave to Christ, and for ever be one with Christ, except it be such that are for ever left by Christ? Well, remember this, the more vile Christ made himself for us, the more dear he ought to be unto us."

THOMAS BROOKS

ENJOY COMMUNION

"Believer, closet prayer will be found to be but a lifeless, comfortless thing, if you do not enjoy communion with God in it. That should be the very soul of all your closet duties, therefore press after it, as for life; when you go into your closet banish every thing that can hinder your enjoyment of Christ."

THOMAS BROOKS

JAMES WHITE ARTICLE

...and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. (2 Thessalonians 2:10–12)

 So another "Planned Parenthood is Run by the Descendants of Himmler, Eicke, Göring, and Goebbels" video came out today. Didn't hear? Yeah, I know. Each one generates less and less interest, less and less outrage. We've all noticed it...well, maybe not. Some have just moved on. I mean, football season is back, school has started...September is a busy time you know! I too had hoped that maybe, just maybe, we could see some progress in light of the outrages these videos document. But it did not take too much reflection to realize that nothing was going to happen. The political parties in the United States represent the utter decay of the governmental system of that nation.

The Socialists (why bother with the term Democrat anymore? Let's just get honest, shall we?) are the party of abortion, the destruction of the family, and utter unfettered erotic license, so the last thing they are going to do is allow even the slightest examination of the abortion industry and its centrality to the culture of death. And the other party---well, the terms "gutless," "sold-out," and "compromised" come to my mind all too easily.

 Did you catch the section of The Briefing this week where Albert Mohler discussed George Will's adoption of a position favoring euthanasia? He discussed a "secular conservatism," and how that worldview has no meaningful foundation within it to resist the pull toward the culture of death. The same thing is true here: when you show these videos to a culture that has exchanged the truth of God (life) for the lie (the culture of death, human autonomy, the uncreated nature of man as an accident rather than a responsible creature of God), they may well react negatively (even secularism cannot utterly destroy the imago Dei) in the short term, but the fact is, they do not change the worldview of the viewers. Only the gospel can do that, and even then, only when God blesses that gospel with the Spirit's gracious moving.

If God's wrath has yet to be seen in its full strength upon this nation, you can provide all the evidence you want that our leaders are utterly sold out to corruption, that Planned Parenthood makes Himmler look like a novice, and that it will not be long before our enemies will take from us all of our freedoms and possessions, and it will fall upon judicially closed ears, hardened hearts, and blinded eyes. Yes, yes, I know---how depressing of me. Well, try reading a bit in Jeremiah if you want some kind of precedent. It is not that the prophets of God were not clear enough---it was that God had set the times and seasons for His dealing with Israel, Assyria, Babylonia, Egypt, etc., and remember, "Whatever the LORD pleases, He does, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps" (Psalm 135:6).

 No, I am not saying "give up" or "go into hiding." But I am saying that faithfulness in this dark and evil time must be totally, completely focused upon fulfilling one desire: "Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him." (2 Corinthians 5:9). εὐάρεστοι αὐτῷ εἶναι. In all our words and actions and thoughts. In functioning as salt and light. In being abused and decried and detested. One ambition, one goal, one all-ordering principle in our lives. To be pleasing to Him. No pragmatism. No, "Well, that didn't work! Looks, the pagans are still acting like pagans!" Yes, well, while the wrath of God falls, that is the world we will live in. Who will deny themselves and live for Christ? Who will seek to please Him? That's the question.

GOLDEN COFFIN

"A golden coffin, will be a poor compensation for a damned soul." Spurgeon.

GRACE FROM BEGINNING TO END

"The Christian life starts with grace, it must continue with grace, it ends with grace. Grace, wondrous grace." ~ Lloyd-Jones

Two things always go together

(Arthur Pink, "The Doctrine of Sanctification" 1937) Two things always go together in the experience of a genuine believer: a growing discovery of the vileness of self, and a deepening appreciation of the preciousness of Christ. "Behold, I am vile!" Job 40:4 "O wretched man that I am!" Romans 7:24 "Yes, He is altogether lovely!" Song of Songs 5:16 "To you who believe, He is precious!" 1 Peter 2:7

MERCIFUL GOD

"There is no such thing as a great man of God, only weak, pitiful, faithless men of a great and merciful God." (Paul Washer)

PREACHING CHRIST ALONE

"I do believe we slander Christ when we think we are to draw the people by something else but the preaching of Christ crucified." ~ Charles H. Spurgeon

CONGREGATIONS THAT SLANDER CHRIST

CONGREGATIONS THAT SLANDER CHRIST

"I do believe we slander Christ when we think we are to draw the people by something else but the preaching of Christ...

Posted by Preach the Gospel on Wednesday, February 25, 2015

THE MORE HE MOURNS

“I believe the holier a man becomes, the more he mourns over the unholiness which remains in him” -C. H. Spurgeon

The more a man looks to Christ, the more he rejoices that his sins are forgiven;  Christ turns our mourning into joy;  We do mourn, being convicted by the Holy Spirit, but we are not condemned.  Todd Lambert

THE SAME COIN

[P]raying and living are two sides of the same coin. -Derek Thomas-

FEELINGS 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~

EVEN MY TEARS

"Even my tears of repentance have to be washed by the blood of the Lamb"  -- John Owen.

LET NO ONE FLATTER HIMSELF

'Let no one flatter himself. Each person is a devil, and the only good he has is what comes from God. For what do you have which is yours, except sin? If you would take what is yours, take sin, for righteousness is from God.' -Augustine

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.

ONLY A CHOSEN FEW FRIENDS

“A student who does not want his labor wasted must so read and reread some good writer so that the author is changed, as it were, into his flesh and blood. For a great variety of reading confuses and does not teach. It makes the student like a man who dwells everywhere and, therefore, nowhere in particular. Just as we do not daily enjoy the society of every one of our friends but only that of a chosen few, so it should also be in our studying.”

 –Martin Luther, What Luther Says: An Anthology, comp. Ewald M. Plass (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959), entry no. 344, 112.

FEWER THAN MY SINS

MY TRIALS HAVE BEEN FEWER THAN MY SINS

FROM VALLEY OF VISION

WE ARE WEAK

“Like sheep, we are weak, destitute, defenceless, prone to wander, unable to return, and always surrounded with wolves.

But all is made up in the fulness, ability, wisdom, compassion, care, and faithfulness of our great Shepherd. He guides, protects, feeds, heals, and restores, and will be our guide and our God even until death.

Then He will meet us, receive us, and present us unto Himself, and we shall be near Him, and like Him, and with Him for ever.”

–John Newton, “Cardiphonia” in The Works of John Newton, Volume 1 (London: Hamilton, Adams & Co., 1824), 1: 495.

LOOKING TO GOD FOR FORGIVENESS

“An hour should never pass without our looking up to God for forgiveness and peace. This is the noblest science: to know how to live in hourly communion with God in Christ.”

–Robert Murray M’Cheyne, Memoir and Remains of the Rev. Robert Murray McCheyne, Ed. Andrew A. Bonar (Edinburgh; London: Oliphant Anderson & Ferrier, 1894), 146.

HOUSE OF PRAYER

"If Christ lives in you then you have become the temple of God (1 Cor 6:19), and as the temple of God you are to be a house of prayer (Mat 21:13)" Larry Bray.

JOHN OWEN INTRODUCES HEBREWS

Working on Hebrews 1. This introduction by Owen is fabulous foundation to approaching every verse.

WE proceed now unto our principal intendment in all these discourses, which is, the consideration and discussion of those great principles, as of all religion in general, so of the Christian in particular, which the apostle supposeth as a foundation of his whole treaty [reasoning] with the Hebrews, and which are the basis that he stands upon in the management of his whole design.

For in all discourses that are parenetical, as this Epistle for the most part is, there are always some principles taken for granted, which give life and efficacy unto the exhortations in them, and where into they are resolved. For, as to persuade men unto particulars in faith, opinion, or practice, without a previous conviction of such general principles of truth as from which the persuasions used do naturally flow and arise, is a thing weak and inefficacious; so to be exercised in the demonstration of the principles themselves, when the especial end aimed at is to persuade, would bring confusion into all discourse.

Wherefore, although our apostle do assert and confirm those dogmata and articles of truth which he dealt with the Hebrews in a way of persuasion to embrace, yet he supposeth and takes for granted those more general first maxims, which are the foundation both of the doctrines and exhortations insisted on, as all skill in teaching doth require.

And these are those which now we aim to draw forth and consider, being these that follow:-

First, That there was a Messiah, or Savior of mankind from sin and punishment, promised upon, and from, the first entrance of sin into the world, in whom all acceptable worship of God was to be founded, and in whom all the religion of the sons of men was to center.

Secondly, That this Messiah, long before promised, was now actually exhibited in the world, and had finished the work committed unto him, when the apostle wrote this Epistle.

Thirdly, That Jesus of Nazareth was this Messiah, and that what he had done and suffered was the work and duty promised of old
concerning him.

There is not a line in the Epistle to the Hebrews that doth not virtually begin and end in these principles, — not an assertion, not a doctrine, not an exhortation, that is not built on this triple foundation.---- John Owen.

CLEAR THE CHURCH

Lord, clear the Church of all the rot and rubbish the devil has imposed on her, and bring us back to apostolic methods!
C.H.S.

His Grace Supplies My Faith

It is His grace that supplies and sustains my faith, not my faith that supplies and sustains His grace. God supplies the grace and His grace supplies the faith.

SANK IN THE MUD

So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king’s son, which was in the court of the guard, letting Jeremiah down by ropes. And there was no water in the cistern, but only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.

FORMS

(Arthur Pink, "An Exposition of the Gospel of John")

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you!" John 15:18-19 

"Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you!" 1 John 3:13 

The professing Church has boasted that it would convert the world. To accomplish this aim, it has sought to "popularize" religion. Innumerable devices have been employed to attract the ungodly--many of which even a sense of propriety should have suppressed! 

The result has been that the world has converted the professing Church! 
But notwithstanding this, it still remains true that the world hates the true followers of the Lamb. And nowhere is this more plainly evident, than in those who belong to what we may term the religious world!

If you resolve that by Divine grace you will live godly in Christ Jesus--then know you that persecution must be your portion. And that persecution will come upon you not from atheists and infidels--but from those bearing the name of Christians. It will issue from those who still keep up a form (or semblance) of godliness, but who are strangers to its living power. It will come to you from empty professors whose compromising ways are condemned by your refusal to conform thereto; whose worldliness and carnality is rebuked by your spirituality. 

Remember, it was the religious leaders who hounded the Savior to His death!

STEERED BY DIVINE PROVIDENCE

(Charles Spurgeon, "Esther Defeats her Enemies")

"In his heart a man plans his course--but the LORD determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9 
"Many are the plans in a man's heart--but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21 
"A man's steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand his own way?" Proverbs 20:24 
Do not judge divine providence in little pieces--it is a grand mosaic, and must be seen as a whole. 

The Lord's wisdom is seen in arranging the smallest events so as to produce great results. We frequently hear people say of a pleasant or a great event, "What a providence! This is the finger of God!"--while they are silent as to anything which appears less important, or has an unpleasant savor.

But the place of the flower upon the hillside--is as fixed as the station of a king! And the dust which is raised by a cart-wheel--is as surely steered by divine providence as the planet in its orbit! 

There is as much providence in the creeping of an insect upon a rose leaf--as in the marching of an army to ravage a continent!

Everything, the most minute, as well as the most magnificent--is ordered by the Lord who has prepared His throne in the heavens, whose kingdom rules over all. 

Whatever the event may be, the attentive eye will as clearly see the Lord's providential hand. 

I am sure that God is in the world, yes, and is at my own fireside, and in my chamber--and manages my affairs, and orders all things for me, and for each one of His redeemed children. We need no miracles to convince us of His working,the wonders of His providence are as great marvels as miracles themselves.

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

NO MIDDLE GROUND

God has no middle ground.  The Law of God has no middle ground.  Moses had no middle ground.  Holiness and Purity has no middle ground.  The supposed classification of: moral laws, judicial laws, civil laws, ceremonial laws had no middle ground.  Jesus did not live a life keeping only the middle ground, but rather to complete perfection.  The punishment of Christ on the cross was not the Father's middle ground in justice or wrath.  The command to not murder has no middle ground.  The command to not commit adultery or idolatry has no middle ground. 

 When you say, "We are not going to be legalists, nor antinomians, but follow the middle ground" then you have already lowered the bar and have already abandoned the Law of God.  You cannot appeal to the law for a rule's existence and then appeal to a middle ground for the law's enforcement.  This approach to the Christian life and church discipline will not work with Christians who murder, and it is not allowed for Christians who broke the Sabbath.  

In church discipline it should be made public that, "This member was removed for murdering, or this member was removed for immorality due to breaking the Sabbath."  However this seems unlikely to happen, which in my opinion is not above board.  So what is occurring is that men are binding the consciences of others with a subjective rule which is not based on the Law of God, but on personal preference

WITHOUT THE HEART

"Without the heart it is no worship. It is a stage play. It is an acting of a part without being that person, really. It is playing the hypocrite."

STEPEHEN CHARNOCK

EVANGELISM IS NOT ABOUT YOU

“The more evangelism is about you, the less you will evangelize." ~ Matt Chandler

FELLOWSHIP

The serious Christian, set down for the first time in a Christian community, is likely to bring with him a very definite idea of what Christian life together should be and to try to realize it. But God’s grace speedily shatters such dreams. Just as surely as God desires to lead us to a knowledge of genuine Christian fellowship, so surely must we be overwhelmed by a great disillusionment with others, with Christians in general, and, if we are fortunate, with ourselves. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together

Suffering Saints

(Jerome Zanchius, 1516-1590)

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son!" Romans 8:28-29 

The sovereignty of God is a comfort for suffering saints, acting to remove anxiety. How sweet must the following considerations be to a distressed believer!

1. There most certainly exists an almighty, all-wise and infinitely gracious God (Hebrews 11:6).

2. His love for His elect people is immutable; He never repents of it nor withdraws it (Jeremiah 31:3).

3. Whatever comes to pass in time, is the result of His sovereign will from everlasting (1 Corinthians 8:6).

4. Consequently my afflictions are a part of His sovereign will, and are all ordered in number, weight, and measure (Psalm 22:24).

5. The very hairs of my head (every one) are counted by Him; nor can a single hair fall to the ground but in consequence of His wise determination (Luke 12:7).

6. Hence my afflictions and distresses are not the result of chance, accident, or a fortuitous combination of circumstances (Psalm 56:8).

7. They are the providential accomplishment of God's eternal purpose (Romans 8:28), and are designed to answer some wise and gracious ends (James 5:10-11).

8. Nor shall my affliction continue a moment longer than God sees fit (2 Corinthians 7:6-7).

9. He who brought the affliction to me--has promised to support me under it and to carry me through it (Psalm 34:15-17).

10. All shall, most assuredly, work together for His glory and my good.

11. Therefore, "Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me?" (John 18:11).

However keenly afflictions might wound us on their first access--yet, under the impression of such animating views, we should quickly come to ourselves again, and the arrows of affliction, would, in great measure lose their sharpness. 

Christians need nothing but absolute resignation to God's wise and gracious Providence, to render them perfectly happy in every possible circumstance. And absolute resignation can only flow from an absolute belief of, and an absolute acquiescence in, God's absolute Providence, founded on His absolute predestination (1 Thessalonians 1:2-4).