True comfort!
The following is from Spurgeon’s sermon, “Concerning the Consolations of God” Job 15:11.
Christian, are you hoping to find true comfort in the world? Will you be happy if you manage to get that position? if you pass that examination? if you save so much money? I beseech you, do not play the fool; there is no consolation in all this.
There is no satisfaction to be found in the greatest worldly success; millionaires, statesmen, and princes all dissatisfied. The richest men have often been the most miserable, and those who have succeeded best in rising to places of honor have been worn out in the pursuit, and disgusted with the prize.
Wealth brings care, honor earns envy, position entails toil, and rank has its annoyances.
One of our richest men once said, “I suppose you imagine I am happy, because I am rich. Why, a dozen times in a year, and oftener, some fellow threatens to shoot me if I do not give him what he wants. Do you suppose that this makes me a happy man?”
Believe me, the world is as barren of joy as the Sahara.
Vain is the hope of finding a spring of consolation in anything beneath the moon.
Seek the kingdom of God, and his righteousness.
True comfort!
The religion of JOY
The religion of JOY
(Octavius Winslow, “The Sympathy of Christ”)
The religion of Christ is the religion of JOY. Christ came to take away our sins, to roll off our curse, to unbind our chains, to open our prison house, to cancel our debt; in a word, to give us the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Is not this joy? Where can we find a joy so real, so deep, so pure, so lasting? There is every element of joy; deep, ecstatic, satisfying, sanctifying joy in the gospel of Christ. The believer in Jesus is essentially a happy man. The child of God is, from necessity, a joyful man. His sins are forgiven, his soul is justified, his person is adopted, his trials are blessings, his conflicts are victories, his death is immortality, his future is a heaven of inconceivable, unthought of, untold, and endless blessedness. With such a God, such a Savior, and such a hope, is he not, ought he not, to be a joyful man?
“Little children, abide in him.”
“Little children, abide in him.”
The following is from Spurgeon’s sermon, “Preparation
for the Coming of the Lord.” #2105. 1 John 2:28.
Just as little children are in daily dependence
on their parents, Christians depend upon the
Lord’s care.
Why, beloved, the Lord has to nurse you! He
feeds you with the unadulterated milk of the
Word; he comforts you as a mother does her
child; he carries you in his bosom, he bears
you all your days.
Your new life is as yet weak and struggling;
do not carry it into the cold atmosphere of
distance from Jesus.
Little children, since you derive all from Jesus,
abide in him. To go elsewhere will be to wander
into a howling wilderness. The world is empty;
only Christ has fullness. Away from Jesus you
will be as a child deserted by its mother, left
to pine, and starve, and die; or as a little lamb
on the hillside without a shepherd, tracked by
the wolf, whose teeth will soon extract its
heart’s blood.
Abide, O child, with your mother!
Abide, O lamb, with your shepherd!
Cling to the Lord Jesus in your feebleness,
in your fickleness, in your nothingness; and
abidingly take him to be everything to you.
Spiritual Joy!
Spiritual Joy!
(by Octavius Winslow)
Spiritual joy is a holy, sensitive plant.
It shrinks from the rude, ungentle touch;
from every influence uncongenial with its
heaven born nature. Watch it with sleepless
vigilance; shield it with every hallowed defense.
There are many hostile influences to which
it is exposed, any one of which will seriously
injure it. Temptation courted, sin tampered
with, worldliness indulged, the creature
idolized, means of grace slighted, Christ
undervalued.
Any one of these things will dampen your joy,
and cause it to shrink, and compel it to retire.
But nothing will sooner or more effectually
do this than looking away from the Object
and Source of joy, the Lord Jesus Christ.
There is everything in Christ to make you a
joyful Christian. There is all redundance of
grace to subdue your corruptions, an
overflowing sympathy to soothe your sorrows,
a sovereign efficacy in His blood to cleanse
your guilt, infinite resources to meet all your
needs, His ever encircling presence around
your path, His ceaseless intercession on your
behalf in heaven. His loving attention of all
you feel, and fear, and need.
Oh, is this not enough to make your heart a
constant sunshine, and your life a pleasant psalm?
Fly to the Word of God!
Fly to the Word of God!
(from “The Preciousness of God’s Word” by Octavius Winslow)
As a system of ‘consolation’ Christianity has no equal. No other religion in the wide world touches the hidden springs of the soul, or reaches the lowest depths of human sorrow, but the religion of Christ.
When your hearts have been overwhelmed, when adversity has wrapped you within its gloomy pall, when the broken billows of grief have swollen and surged around your soul, how have you fled to the Scriptures of truth for succor and support, for guidance and comfort! Nor have you repaired to them in vain. “The God of all comfort” is He who speaks in this Word, and there is no word of comfort like that which He speaks.
The adaptation of His truth to the varied, the peculiar and personal trials and sorrows of His Church, is one of the strongest proofs of its divinity. Take to the Word of God whatever sorrow you may, go with whatever mental beclouding, with whatever spirit sadness, with whatever heart grief; whatever be its character, its complexion, its depth unsurpassed in the history of human sorrow, there is consolation and support in the Word of God for your
mind.
God will not leave you in trouble, but will sustain you in it, will bring you out of, and sanctify you by it, to the endless glory and praise of His great and precious name!
Christian mourner, let me once more direct your eye too dimmed perhaps by tears to behold this divine source of true, unfailing comfort. God’s Word is the book of the afflicted. Written to unfold the wondrous history of the “Man of Sorrows,” it would seem to have been equally written for you, 0 child of grief! God speaks to your sad and sorrowing heart from every page of this sacred volume, with words of comfort, loving, gentle, and persuasive as a mother’s. “As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you.”
The Bible is the opening of the heart of God. It is God’s heart unveiled, each throb inviting the mourner, the poor in spirit, the widow, the fatherless, the bereaved, the persecuted, the sufferer, yes, every child of affliction and grief to the asylum and sympathy, the protection and soothing of His heart. Oh, thank God for the comfort and consolation of the Scripture! Open it with what sorrow and burden and perplexity you may, be it the guilt of sin, the pressure of trial, or the corrodings of sorrow, it speaks to the heart such words of comfort as God only could speak.
Have you ever borne your grief to God’s Word, especially to the experimental Psalms of David, and not felt that it was written for that particular sorrow? You have found your grief more accurately portrayed, your state of mind more truly described, and your case more exactly and fully met, probably in a single history, chapter, or verse, than in all the human treatises that the pen of man ever wrote.
Fly to the Word of God, then, in every sorrow! You will know more of the mind and heart of God than you, perhaps, ever learned in all the schools before. Draw, then, O child of sorrow, your consolation from God’s Word. Oh, clasp this precious Word of comfort to your sorrowful heart, and exclaim, “It is mine! The Jesus of whom it speaks is mine, the salvation it reveals is mine, the promises it contains are mine, the heaven it unveils is mine, and all the consolation, comfort, and sympathy which wells up from these hidden springs, is MINE.”
He was infinitely happy and glorious without us!
He was infinitely happy and glorious without us!
(James Smith, “The Pastor’s Evening Visit”)
“Christ, who loved us!” Romans 8:37
No condition can possibly be more dreary—than to feel that no one loves or cares for us!
There is something peculiarly sweet and pleasant—in being the object of another’s love. Even the love of a poor child is sweet. But to be loved by one who is most wealthy, most exalted in station, and most honorable in character—must be peculiarly delightful!
How, then, should we rejoice; how happy should we be—who are loved by the Lord Jesus! Especially when we consider:
on the one hand:
how despicable,
how poor,
how worthless, and
how unlovely WE are!
And, on the other hand:
how glorious,
how wealthy,
how worthy,
how lovely JESUS is!
To be loved by Jesus—is to be preferred before the possession of a world!
Think of . . .
the glory of His person,
the vastness of His possessions,
the number of His angelic attendants,
the unlimited sovereignty which He exercises,
and the excellent character He bears!
Also bear in mind—that He knew what loving us would cost Him—how He would be treated by us and by others—for our sakes!
Yet He fixed His love upon US!
He loved US—just because He would!
He passed by others more dignified in nature, more exalted in station—but He chose US!
He did not, could not, NEED us—for He was infinitely happy and glorious without us!
Yet He loved us!
He still loves us!
My Father’s eye!
My Father’s eye!
(James Smith, “The Pastor’s Evening Visit”)
“Your Father—who sees in secret.” Matthew 6:6
Can anyone hide himself from the Lord in secret places?
Can I, under any circumstances, escape His notice?
Impossible!
The eye of God has been fixed upon me every second of this day; it is now at this moment fixed fully upon me. But it is my Father’s eye! My Father sees in secret!
He sees my needs—and my woes.
He sees every secret working of my foes—and will save me from them.
He sees every secret influence which is likely to injure me—and will prevent it.
He sees . . .
the secret workings of my heart,
my hidden thoughts,
my unuttered desires,
my soul conflicts,
my private temptations.
But He sees also my secret sins!
Every evil thought,
every improper action,
every unfitting word—
passes under His eye!
Solemn consideration this!
May it make me cautious. May it preserve me. . .
from yielding to temptation,
from nourishing sinful thoughts, and
from acting inconsistent with my profession.
My heavenly Father sees me!
He sees me at this moment!
He sees me every moment!
He sees my most secret motives, thoughts, and purposes!
He who thus sees me—hates every sin with an infinite hatred!
If you meet that poor wretch who thrust his spear into My side!
If you meet that poor wretch who thrust his spear into My side!
(Benjamin Grosvenor, “The Temper of Jesus Christ towards His Enemies, and His Grace to the Chief of Sinners”)
“Repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Luke 24:47
It is very affecting that the first offers of grace should be made to those who, of all people in the world—had done it the most harm! One would rather have expected the apostles should have received another kind of charge, and that Christ should have said, “Let repentance and forgiveness of sins be preached—but do NOT carry it to Jerusalem, that wicked city, that has been the slaughter-house of my prophets, whom I have often sent. Last of all, I myself, the Son, came—and with wicked hands, they have crucified and murdered Me! They may do the same to you! Do not let the gospel enter those wicked gates, through which they led Me, its Author, to crucifixion!”
But Christ singles out exactly these—to make monuments of His mercy, and commands the first offer of eternal life to be made to them! As if our Lord had said: “Lest the poor house of Israel should think themselves abandoned to eternal despair—as cruel and vile as they have been—go, make the first offer of grace to them! Let those who spilled My blood—be welcome to its healing virtue. Tell them that there is repentance and forgiveness, even for them!”
“Nay, if you meet that poor wretch who thrust his spear into My side, tell him that there is another way, a better way of coming to My heart—even My heart’s love! Tell him, that if he will repent, and look upon Me whom he has pierced, and will mourn—then I will cherish him in that very bosom which he has wounded! Tell him that he shall find the blood which he has shed—to be an ample atonement for the sin of shedding it! And tell him from Me, that he will put Me to more pain and displeasure by refusing this offer of My blood—than when he first drew it forth!”
“For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance!” Matthew 9:13
Why Christ offends men
Why Christ offends men
The following is from Spurgeon’s sermon,
“Unbelievers stumbling; Believers rejoicing”
There are some who stumble at Christ because of his holiness.
He is too strict for them; they would like to be Christians,
but they cannot renounce their sensual pleasures; they
would like to be washed in his blood, but they desire still
to roll in the mire of sin.
Willing enough the mass of men would be to receive Christ,
if, after receiving him, they might continue in their drunkenness,
their wantonness, and self-indulgence. But Christ lays the axe
at the root of the tree; he tells them that these things must be
given up, for “because of these things the wrath of God comes
upon the children of disobedience,” and “without holiness no
man can see the Lord.”
Human nature kicks at this.
“What! May I not enjoy one darling lust? May I not indulge
myself at least now and then in these things? Must I altogether
forsake my old habits and my old ways? Must I be made a
new creature in Christ Jesus?”
These are terms too hard, conditions too severe, and so the
human heart goes back to the flesh pots of Egypt, and clings
to the garlic and the onions of the old estate of bondage, and
will not be set free even though a greater than Moses lifts up
the rod to part the sea, and promises to give to them a Canaan
flowing with milk and honey.
Christ offends men because his gospel is intolerant of sin.
“Spiritual Leadership is not won by
“Spiritual Leadership is not won by
promotion, but by prayers and tears.
It is attained by much heart-searching
and humbling before God; by
self-surrender, a courageous sacrifice
of every idol, a bold uncompromising,
and uncomplaining embracing of the
cross, and by an eternal, unfaltering
looking unto Jesus crucified.
This is a great price, but it must be
unflinchingly paid by him who would
be a real spiritual leader of men, a
leader whose power is recognized
and felt in heaven, on earth and in
hell.” -Samuel Brengle
WE NEED REVIVAL
WE NEED REVIVAL
. . . when we do not love Him as we once did.
. . . when earthly interests and occupations are
more important to us than eternal ones.
. . . when we would rather watch TV and read secular
books and magazines than read the Bible and pray.
. . . when church dinners are better attended than prayer meetings.
. . . when concerts draw bigger crowds than prayer meetings.
. . . when we have little or no desire for prayer.
. . . when we would rather make money than give money.
. . . when we put people into leadership positions in our
churches who do not meet scriptural qualifications.
. . . when our Christianity is joyless and passionless.
. . . when we know truth in our heads that we are not
practicing in our lives.
. . . when we make little effort to witness to the lost.
. . . when we have time for sports, recreation, and
entertainment, but not for Bible study and prayer.
. . . when we do not tremble at the Word of God.
. . . when preaching lacks conviction, confrontation,
and divine fire and anointing.
. . . when we seldom think thoughts of eternity.
. . . when God’s people are more concerned about their
jobs and their careers, than about the Kingdom
of Christ and the salvation of the lost.
. . . when God’s people get together with other believers
and the conversation is primarily about the
news, weather, and sports, rather than the Lord.
. . . when church services are predictable and “business as usual.”
. . . when believers can be at odds with each other and
not feel compelled to pursue reconciliation.
. . . when Christian husbands and wives are not praying together.
. . . when our marriages are co-existing rather than
full of the love of Christ.
. . . when our children are growing up to adopt worldly
values, secular philosophies, and ungodly lifestyles.
. . . when we are more concerned about our children’s
education and their athletic activities than about
the condition of their souls.
. . . when sin in the church is pushed under the carpet.
. . . when known sin is not dealt with through the biblical
process of discipline and restoration.
. . . when we tolerate “little” sins of gossip,
a critical spirit, and lack of love.
. . . when we will watch things on television and movies that are not holy.
. . . when our singing is half-hearted and our worship lifeless.
. . . when our prayers are empty words designed to impress others.
. . . when our prayers lack fervency.
. . . when our hearts are cold and our eyes are dry.
. . . when we aren’t seeing regular evidence of
the supernatural power of God.
. . . when we have ceased to weep and mourn and
grieve over our own sin and the sin of others.
. . . when we are content to live with explainable,
ordinary Christianity and church services.
. . . when we are bored with worship.
. . . when people have to be entertained to be drawn to church.
. . . when our music and dress become patterned after the world.
. . . when we start fitting into and adapting to the world,
rather than calling the world to adapt to God’s
standards of holiness.
. . . when we don’t long for the company and fellowship of God’s people.
. . . when people have to be begged to give and to serve in the church.
. . . when our giving is measured and calculated,
rather than extravagant and sacrificial.
. . . when we aren’t seeing lost people drawn to Jesus on a regular basis.
. . . when we aren’t exercising faith and believing God for the impossible.
. . . when we are more concerned about what others
think about us than what God thinks about us.
. . . when we are unmoved by the thought of neighbors,
business associates, and acquaintances who are
lost and without Christ.
. . . when the lost world around us doesn’t know or care that we exist.
. . . when we are making little or no difference in the secular world around us.
. . . when the fire has gone out in our hearts, our marriages, and the church.
. . . when we are blind to the extent of our need and don’t think we need revival.
The above article was by N. L. DeMoss
That painted harlot!
That painted harlot!
The following is from Spurgeon’s sermon,
“Jesus Meeting His Warriors” No. 589. Genesis 14:18-20.
Brother, if ever you have seen Christ’s face, that painted
harlot, the world, will never win your love again.
Did you ever eat the pure white bread of heaven?
Then the brown, gritty bread of earth will never suit
you, but will break your teeth with gravel stones.
You will never care to drink earth’s sour and watery wine,
if you have once been made to drink of the wines on the
lees well refined- the spiced wine of Christ’s pomegranate.
If you want to be strengthened against the most subtle
worldly temptations, cry, “Let him kiss me with the kisses
of his mouth: for his love is better than wine”; and you
may go forth to conflicts of every kind, more than a
conqueror, through Him that has loved you!
Losses, adversities, afflictions, griefs!
Losses, adversities, afflictions, griefs!
The following is from Spurgeon’s sermon, “The Superlative
Excellence of the Holy Spirit” No. 574. John 16:7.
The saints of God may very justly reckon
their losses among their greatest gains.
The adversities of believers minister much to their prosperity.
Although we know this, yet through the infirmity of the flesh
we tremble at soul-enriching afflictions, and dread to see those
black ships which bring us such freights of golden treasure.
When the Holy Spirit sanctifies the furnace, the flame refines
our gold and consumes our dross, yet the dull ore of our nature
likes not the glowing coals, and had rather lie quiet in the dark
mines of earth.
As silly children cry because they are called to drink the
medicine which will heal their sicknesses, even so do we.
Our gracious Savior, however, loves us too wisely to spare
us the trouble because of our childish fears; he foresees the
advantage which will spring from our griefs, and therefore
thrusts us into them out of wisdom and true affection.
The back door to the pit!
The back door to the pit!
The following is from Spurgeon’s sermon,
“A Hearer in Disguise” No. 584. 1 Kings 14:6.
Many come to God’s house disguised in manner
and appearance. How good you all look!
When we sing and you take your books, how
heavenly-minded! And when we pray, how
reverent you are! How your heads are all bowed-
your eyes covered with your hands! I do not know
how much praying there is when you sit in a devout
posture, though you assume the attitude and compose
your countenance as those who draw near to supplicate
the Lord. I am afraid there are many of you who do not
pray a word or present a petition, though you assume
the posture of suppliants.
When the singing is going on there are many who never
sing a word with the spirit and the understanding.
In the house of God I am afraid there are many who wear
a mask, stand as God’s people stand, sit as they sit, pray
as they pray, and sing as they sing- and all the while what
are you doing?
Some of you have been attending to your children while
we have been singing tonight. Some of you have been casting
up your ledger, attending to your farms, scheming about your
carpentering and bricklaying; yet all the while if we had looked
into your faces we might have thought you were reverently
worshiping God.
Oh! those solemn faces, and those reverent looks,
they do not deceive the Most High God!
He knows who and what you are!
He sees you as clearly as men see through glass.
As for hiding from the Almighty, how can you hide
yourself from him? As well attempt to hide in a glass
case, for all the world is a glass case before God!
When you look into a glass beehive, you can see the bees and
everything they do- such is this world, a sort of glass beehive
in which God can see everything. The eyes of God are on you
continually; no veil of hypocrisy can screen you from him.
It is a melancholy and a most solemn reflection that there are
many who profess to be Christians who are not Christians.
There was a Judas among the twelve; there was a Demas among
the early disciples; and we must always expect to find chaff on
God’s floor mingled with the wheat.
I have tried, the Lord knows, to preach as plainly and as
much home to the mark as I could, to sift and try you; but
for all that the hypocrite will come in. After the most searching
ministry, there are still some who will wrap themselves about
with a ‘mantle of deception’. Though we cry aloud and spare
not, and bid you lay hold on eternal life, yet, alas! how many
are content with a mere name to live and are dead.
Many come here and even hold office in the Church, yes,
the minister himself may even preach the Word, and after
all be hollow and empty. How many who dress and look
fair outside, are only fit to be tinder for the devil’s tinder
box, for they are all dry and empty within!
God save as from a profession if it is not real!
I pray that we may know the worst of our case.
If I must be damned, I would sooner go to hell unholy,
than as a hypocrite- that back-door to the pit is the
thing I dread most of all.
Oh! to sit at the Lord’s table, and to drink of the cup of devils!
To be recognized among God’s own here, and then to find one’s
own name left out when God reads the muster-roll of his servants!
Oh! what a portion for eternity!
I bid you tear off this mask, and if the grace of God is not
in you, I beg you to go into the world which is your fit place,
and abstain from joining the Church, if you are not really a
member of the body of Christ.
“You, God, see me!”
Write that on the palm of your hand, and look
at it; wake up in the morning with it; sleep with it
before you on your curtains.
“You, God, see me!”
Believers err in many things, fall
Believers err in many things, fall
in many ways, and sin is mixed with
all they do; but in the tenor of their
lives all believers are faithful, seeking
the will and glory of God in all things
and above all things.
As we become increasingly aware of our
personal sinfulness and corruption, as
we are humbled by the depravity of our
hearts, nothing is more comforting,
cheerful, and reassuring to God’s saints,
than the knowledge of the fact that in
the eyes of Christ we stand perfect in the
beauty of his righteousness, the beauty
which he has put upon us.
-Don Fortner
Avenge his death!
Avenge his death!
The following is from Spurgeon’s sermon,
“For Christ’s Sake.” No. 614 Eph. 4:32.
One of the first things which every Christian should feel
bound to do “for Christ’s sake” is to avenge his death.
“Avenge his death,” says one, “upon whom?”
Upon his murderers. And who were they? Our sins! Our sins?
“Each of our sins became a nail, and unbelief the spear.”
The very thought of sin having put Jesus to death should
make the Christian hate it with a terrible hatred. When I
recollect that my sins tore my Savior’s body on the tree,
took the crown from his head, and the comfort from his
heart, and sent him down into the shades of death, I vow
revenge against them.
“O sin! Happy shall he be who takes your little
ones and dashes them against a stone!”
Yes, doubly blessed is he who, like Samuel, shall hew
the Agag of his sins in pieces before the Lord, and not
spare so much as one single fault, or folly, or vice,
because it slew the Savior.
Be holy, be pure, be just, be separate
from sinners for Christ’s sake.
“See from his head, his hands, his feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did ever such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
His dying crimson, like a robe,
Spreads over his body on the tree;
Then am I dead to all the globe,
And all the globe is dead to me.
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.”
Can these dry bones live?
Can these dry bones live?
The following is from Spurgeon’s sermon,
“The Restoration and Conversion of the Jews”
No. 582. Ezekiel 37:1-10.
Men, by nature, are just like these dry bones
exposed in the open valley. The whole spiritual
frame is dislocated; the sap and marrow of
spiritual life has been dried out of manhood.
Human nature is not only dead, but, like the
bleaching bones which have long whitened in
the sun, it has lost all trace of the divine life.
Will and power have both departed. Spiritual
death reigns undisturbed. Yet the dry bones
can live. Under the preaching of the Word, the
vilest sinners can be reclaimed, the most stubborn
wills can be subdued, the most unholy lives can
be sanctified. When the holy “breath” comes
from the four winds, when the divine Spirit
descends to own the Word, then multitudes of
sinners, as on Pentecost’s hallowed day, stand
up upon their feet, an exceeding great army,
to praise the Lord their God.
SIN
SIN
The following is from Spurgeon’s sermon,
“The Smoke of Their Torments”
No. 602. Genesis 19:27, 28.
See the blackness of your sin by the light of hell’s fire!
Hell is the true harvest of the sowing of iniquity.
Come, lost sinner, I charge you to look at hell–
Hell is what sin brings forth.
Hell is the full-grown child.
You have dandled your sin.
You have kissed and fondled it.
But see what sin comes to.
Hell is but sin full-grown, that is all.
You played with that young lion; see how it roars and how
it tears in pieces now that it has come to its strength.
Did you not smile at the azure scales of the serpent?
See its poison; see to what its stings have brought those
who have never looked to the brazen serpent for healing.
Do you account of sin as a peccadillo, a flaw
scarcely to be noticed, a mere joke, a piece of fun?
But see the tree which springs from it.
There is no joke there- no fun in hell.
You did not know that sin was so evil.
Some of you will never know how evil it is until the
sweetness of honey has passed from your mouth,
and the bitterness of death preys at your vitals.
You will count sin harmless until you
are hopelessly stricken with its sting!
My God, from this day forward help me to see through the
thin curtain which covers up sin, and whenever Satan tells
me that such-and-such a thing is for my pleasure, let me
recollect the pain of that penalty wrapped up in it. When
he tells me that such a thing is for my profit, let me know
that it can never profit me to gain the whole world and lose
my own soul. Let me feel it is no sport to sin, for only a
madman would scatter firebrands and death, and say it is sport.
Sound theologians!
Sound theologians!
The following is from Spurgeon’s sermon,
PLAIN WORDS WITH THE CARELESS
No. 778 Luke 8:28.
A man may know a great deal about true
religion, and yet be a total stranger to it.
He may know that Jesus Christ is the Son of
God, and yet he may be possessed of a devil.
Mere knowledge does nothing for us but puff us up.
We may know, and know, and know, and so
increase our responsibility, without bringing
us at all into a state of salvation.
Beware of resting in head-knowledge.
Beware of relying upon orthodoxy,
for without love to Christ, with all your
correctness of doctrine, you will be a
sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal.
It is well to be sound in the faith,
but the soundness must be in the
heart as well as in the head.
There is as ready a way to destruction by the road
of orthodoxy as by the paths of heterodoxy.
Hell has thousands in it who were never heretics.
Remember that the devils “believe and tremble.”
There are no sounder theologians than devils,
and yet their conduct is not affected by
what they believe, and consequently they still
remain at enmity to the Most High God. A mere
head-believer is on a par therefore with fallen
angels, and he will have his portion with them
forever unless grace shall change his heart.
Giddily gliding along the broad road that leads to destruction!
Giddily gliding along the broad road that leads to destruction!
(Arthur Pink, “Laughter”)
There is a natural laughter, which is innocent and harmless.
There is a spiritual laughter, which is God-pleasing and beneficial.
There is a carnal laughter, which is sinful and injurious.
“Woe unto you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep!” (Luke 6:25). The laughter which Christ here denounced, was a state of heart which lived only for the present, and had no serious concern for the future. It was His censure of those who are giddily gliding along the broad road that leads to destruction! In the light of the immediate context, the reference is to those who rejoiced in the abundance of their worldly possessions, and found their delight in making gods of their bellies.
“I said of laughter, ‘It is madness,’ and of pleasure, ‘What does it accomplish?’” (Ecclesiastes 2:2). Those were the words of one who was granted the opportunity and afforded the means, of gratifying every carnal desire and of obtaining every object which the natural heart and eye can covet — only to prove from experience, that all were but “vanity and vexation of spirit.” There is no real or lasting happiness in anything which money can purchase. The void within the human heart cannot be filled by the objects of time and sense. For one to pursue the shadows — and miss the substance; to devote himself to the things which perish with the using — yet be indifferent to those which are eternal; to seek his delight in gratifying the lusts of the flesh — and neglect the welfare of his soul, is nothing but a species of insanity! “For as the crackling of thorns under a pot [noisy, but of brief duration] — so is the laughter of the fool!” (Ecclesiastes 7:6).
“All who see Me, laugh Me to scorn!” (Psalm 22:7). So far were they from pitying Him, they added to His afflictions with their ribaldry, making jest of His very sufferings! Horrid humanity! Fearful impiety! None should ever doubt the total depravity of man, as they see here to what unspeakable depths of iniquity man sinks, when the restraining hand of God is removed from him! The spectators of the dying Redeemer’s agonies, exerted the utmost of the venom of their hearts upon Him! This was a Diabolical laughter!
There is also a divine laughter, which is dreadful and disastrous. To such David referred: “He who sits in the heavens shall laugh” (Psalm 2:4), which is the laughter of derision against those who think to defy Him with impunity.
And again God says, “I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear comes!” (Proverbs 1:26), which is the laughter of divine retribution. He has “called” — by His Word, His providences, His ministers, and their own consciences — but they “refused” to heed Him. They were neither melted by the abundance of His mercies— nor awed by the dreadfulness of His threats. They did not respect His Law — and had no heart for His Gospel. But though He bears the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction with much long-suffering, He has appointed a day when they shall be made to reap as they have sown. As they scorned His messengers when they warned of the wrath to come — so shall He turn a deaf ear then to their cries for mercy, and righteously laugh at their calamity! Oh, that none our readers may ever be the objects of this laugh!
Our plans and dreams

Our plans and dreams
(J.R. Miller)
“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 which prevails.” Proverbs 19:21
There are few entirely unbroken lives in this world; there are few men who fulfill their own hopes and plans, without thwarting or interruption at some point. Now and then, there is one who in early youth marks out a course for himself — and then moves straight on in it to its goal.
But most people’s lives turn out very different from their own early dreams. Many find at the close of their life, that in scarcely one particular, have they realized their own life-dreams; at every point God has simply set aside their plans — and substituted His own. There are some people whose plans are so completely thwarted, that their story is most pathetic. Yet we have but to follow it through to the end, to see that the broken life was better and more effective, than if their own plans had been carried out.
“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
Think about such things!
Think about such things!
(J.R. Miller)
“The cheerful heart has a continual feast!” Proverbs 15:15
We pretty much see just what we are looking for. If our mind has become trained to look for troubles, difficulties, problems, and all gloomy and dreary things — then we shall find just what we seek. On the other hand, it is quite as easy to form the habit of looking always for beauty, for good, for happiness, for gladness — and here too we shall find precisely what we seek.
It has been said that the habit of always seeing the bright side in life, is worth a large income to a man. It makes life a great deal easier.
None of us are naturally drawn to a gloomy person, who everywhere finds something to complain about — but we are all attracted to one who sees some beauty in everything. Joy is a transfiguring quality. Its secret is a glad heart.
“Finally, brothers,
whatever is true,
whatever is noble,
whatever is right,
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable —
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy —
think about such things!” Philippians 4:8
Black seeds without beauty

Black seeds without beauty
(J.R. Miller)
“Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Luke 22:42
“Lord, what do You want me to do?” Acts 9:6
The first condition of consecration, must always be entire readiness to accept God’s will for our life. It is not enough to be willing to do Christian work. There are many people who are quite ready to do certain things in the service of Christ, who are not ready to do anything He might want them to do.
God does not send us two classes of providences — one good, and one evil. All are good. Affliction is God’s goodness in the seed. It takes time for a seed to grow and to develop into fruitfulness. Many of the best things of our lives — come to us first as pain, suffering, earthly loss or disappointment — black seeds without beauty — but afterward they grow into the rich harvest of righteousness!
“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11
The Delilah in the bosom!

The Delilah in the bosom!
(Thomas Watson, “The Lord’s Prayer“)
If you would not come short of the kingdom of heaven,
take heed of indulging any sin. One millstone will drown,
as well as more. One sin lived in will damn, as well as more.
If any one sin reigns—it will keep you from reigning in the
kingdom of heaven.
Especially keep from sins of your natural constitution;
your darling sin. “I kept myself from my iniquity”—that
sin which my heart would soonest decoy and flatter me
into. As in the hive there is one master bee—so in the
heart there is one master-sin. Oh, take heed of this!
How may this darling-sin be known?
1. That sin for which a man cannot endure the arrow of
a reproof, is the bosom-sin. Men can be content to have
other sins declaimed against; but if a minister puts his
finger upon the sore, and touches upon that one special
sin—then their eyes flash with fire, they are enraged,
and spit the venom of malice!
2. That sin which a man’s heart runs out most to, and he
is most easily captivated by—is the Delilah in the bosom!
One man is overcome with wantonness, another by worldliness.
It is a sad thing for a man to be so bewitched by a beloved sin
that he will part with the whole kingdom of heaven—to gratify
that lust!
3. That sin which a man is least inclined to part with, is the
endeared sin. Of all his sons, Jacob could most hardly part with
Benjamin. “Will you take Benjamin away!” Gen 42:35. So says
the sinner, “This and that sin I have left—but must Benjamin go
too? Must I part with this delightful sin? That goes to my heart!”
Take heed especially of this master-sin. The strength of sin
lies in the beloved sin, which, like a cancer striking at the
heart, brings death.
I have read of a monarch, who being pursued by the enemy,
threw away the crown of gold on his head—that he might run
the faster. Just so, the sin which you wore as a crown of gold
must be thrown away—that you may run the faster to the
kingdom of heaven.
Oh, if you would not lose glory, mortify the beloved sin! Set it,
as Uriah—in the forefront of the battle to be slain. By plucking
out this right eye—you will see the better to go to heaven!
The Trojan horse

The Trojan horse
(Thomas Watson, “The Lord’s Prayer“)
“Deliver us from evil.” Matthew 6:13
In this petition, we pray to be delivered from the
evil of our heart, that it may not entice us to sin.
The heart is the poisoned fountain, from whence
all actual sins flow. “For from within, out of the heart
of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft,
murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit,
sensuality, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.”
Mark 7:21-22.
The cause of all evil lies in a man’s own bosom—all
sin begins at the heart. Lust is first conceived in the
heart—and then it is midwifed into the world. Whence
comes rash anger? The heart sets the tongue on fire.
The heart is the shop where all sin is contrived and
hammered out.
The heart is the greatest seducer “Each one is
tempted when he is carried away and enticed by
his own lust.” James 1:14. The devil could not hurt
us—if our own hearts did not give consent. All that
he can do is to lay the bait—but it is our fault to
swallow it! How needful, therefore, is this prayer,
“Deliver us from the evil of our hearts!”
It was Augustine’s prayer, “Lord, deliver me from
that evil man—myself!”
Beware of the bosom traitor—the flesh. The heart
of a man is the Trojan horse—out of which comes
a whole army of lusts! O let us pray to be delivered
from the lusts and deceits of our own heart!
The Evil Consequences

Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.”
Nathan replied, “The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt, the son born to you will die.” 2 Samuel 12:13-14
David’s experience is very instructive to us. While it teaches us that God can and will forgive us, if we repent of our great and gross sins—yet it also teaches us that sin is an evil and a bitter thing; and that, though the guilt of it may be removed, the evil consequences of it will cling to us and be a subject of sorrow to us—until God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes!
Charles H Spurgeon
Her ways lead down to Hell

Man loves his own ruin. The cup of pleasure is so sweet that though he knows it will poison him—yet he must drink it. And the harlot is so lovely, that though he understands that her ways lead down to Hell—yet like a bullock he follows to the slaughter until the dart goes through his liver! Man is fascinated and bewitched by sin.
Charles H Spurgeon
Think of all the hard things there are in your life

Think of all the hard things there are in your life
(Susannah Spurgeon, “Words of Cheer and Comfort for Sick and Sorrowful Souls!” 1898)
“Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You!” Jeremiah 32:17
“Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for Me?” Jeremiah 32:26-27
Dear reader, your difficulties and trials may not be similar to those of “the weeping prophet,” but they are very real, and seemingly insurmountable to you; and it is a fact that, of yourself, you can neither overcome nor endure them, so I want to remind you that the Lord’s hand is not shortened — that what was true of His power in Jeremiah’s time, is as certainly true today — and that whatever present hardship may press upon you, or whatever burden may be weighing you down — you, yes, you may look up to Him with confident faith, and say, “There is nothing too hard for You!”
Oh, the blessed peace which such an assurance brings! I do not know what your particular sorrow or hardship may be — but I do know that, whatever its nature — cruel, or bitter, or hopeless — it is as “nothing” to Him! He is able to deliver you — as easily as you can call upon Him for support and help.
Now, dear friend, think of all the hard things there are in your life:
hard circumstances,
difficult duties,
grievous pains,
sore struggles,
bitter disappointments,
harsh words,
sinful thoughts,
a hard heart of your own,
a hard heart in others.
Gather all these, and many more together, and pile them one on another till you have one great mountain of afflictions — and your God still calmly asks the question, “Is there anything too hard for Me?”
When our hearts are weary of life’s cares and crosses, when our courage flags because of our helplessness, and we cry out with the patriarch, “All these things are against me!” — what a support and stronghold is the fact that our God has all power in Heaven and on earth! There is nothing too mighty for Him to manage — there is nothing too insignificant to escape His notice! Jeremiah’s faith . . .
sees no obstacles,
stumbles at no hindrances,
faints under no burden,
shrinks from no responsibilities —
because he realizes the sublime Omnipotence of God, and fortifies himself by calling to remembrance His “outstretched arm” in the creation of the Heavens and the earth. Cannot we do likewise?
I took up a book, in a leisure moment the other day, opened it carelessly, and this is what I read: “It is a scientifically proved fact, that this great globe on which we live, spins around on its axis at the rate of a thousand miles an hour, and propels through space in its orbit at a speed immensely greater!”
The thought of this, seemed almost to take away my breath! Was I calmly and constantly living in the swirl of such a stupendous miracle as this? Then surely I could say, “Ah, Lord God! there is nothing too hard for You! My little troubles and afflictions — how small they must be to You; yet with what tender compassion, do You stoop from guiding the worlds in their courses, to support and comfort the hearts of those who fear You!”
Never let us give up in despair, while we have such a God to trust in. If there is a great mountain of sorrow or difficulty in your way, dear friend — do not be cast down by the darkness of its shadow. Your God can either make a way for you through it — or He can guide you around it — or, just as easily, He can carry you right over it! There is nothing too hard for Him! Expect Him to make the crooked things straight, and to bring the high things low; and while you keep humbly at His feet, He will work wondrously, and you shall see His salvation!
What are you doing with your time?

What are you doing with your time?
(J.R. Miller)
“Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise — making the most of the time” Ephesians 5:15-16
Our days, as God gives them to us — are like beautiful summer fields.
The hours are like trees with their rich fruit, or vines with their blossoms of purple clusters.
The minutes are like blooming flowers, or stalks of wheat with their golden grains.
Oh the endless, blessed possibilities of our days and hours and minutes — as they come to us from God’s hands!
But what did you do with yesterday? How does the little acre of that one day look to you now?
What are you doing with your time? Every moment God gives you, has in it a possibility of beauty or usefulness — as well as something to be accounted for.
Are you using your time for God?
“Show me, O Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life!” Psalm 39:4
Two men look at the same scene:

Two men look at the same scene:
“Be joyful always!” 1 Thessalonians 5:16
“In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy!” 2 Corinthians 7:4
Thankfulness or unthankfulness is largely a matter of the attitude of our heart.
Two men look at the same scene:
one sees the defects and the imperfections;
the other sees the beauty and the brightness.
If you cannot find things to be thankful for today, and every day — the fault is in yourself, and you ought to pray for a changed heart — a heart to see God’s goodness and to praise Him.
A joyful heart transfigures all the world around us! It finds something to be thankful for in the barest circumstances, even in the dark night of the soul. Let us train ourselves to see the beauty and the goodness in God’s world, and in our own circumstances — and then we shall stop grumbling, and be content and thankful in all situations.
“A happy heart makes the face cheerful!” Proverbs 15:13
“The cheerful heart has a continual feast!” Proverbs 15:15
“A cheerful heart is good medicine — but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22
This Sea of Love!

This Sea of Love!
The following is from Spurgeon’s sermon,
“THE SHULAMITES CHOICE PRAYER”
Christian, turn it over in your mind — “Christ loves you!”
-not a little; not a little as a man may love his friend;
not even as a mother may love her child; for she may forget
the infant of her womb.
Jesus loves you with the highest degree of love that is
possible; and what more can I say, except I add, he loves
you with a degree of love that is utterly impossible to man.
No finite mind could, if it should seek to measure it,
get any idea whatever of the love of Christ towards us.
You know, when we come to measure a drop with an ocean,
there is a comparison. A comparison I say there is,
though we should hardly be able to get at it; but when
you attempt to measure our love with Christ’s, the finite
with the infinite, there is no comparison at all.
Though we loved Christ ten thousand times as much as we do,
there would even then be no comparison between our love to him
and his love to us. Can you believe this now? — “Jesus, loves me!”
Why, to be loved by others here on earth often brings the tear
to one’s eye. It is sweet to have the affection of one’s fellow;
but to be LOVED BY GOD, and to be loved so intense — so loved
that you have to leave it as a mystery the soul cannot fathom —
you cannot tell how much!
Be silent, O my soul! and be silent too before your God,
and lift up your soul in prayer thus —
“Jesus, take me into this Sea of Love, and let me be ravished
by a sweet and heavenly contentment in a sure confidence that
you have loved me and given yourself for me.”
Taken from GraceGems
Aqueous Fluid to an Infant’s Brow!

Aqueous Fluid to an Infant’s Brow!
The following is from Spurgeon’s sermon,
“UNPURCHASABLE LOVE”
The most unpopular truth in the world is this sentence which
fell from the lips of Christ– “You must be born again.”
Consequently, there are all sorts of inventions to remove the
truth out of those words. “Oh, yes!” say some, “you must be born
again, but that means the application of aqueous fluid to an
infant’s brow.”
As God is true, that teaching is a lie; there is no grain or
shade of truth within it. No operation that can be performed
by man can ever regenerate the soul. It is the work alone of
God the Holy Spirit, who creates us anew in Christ Jesus.
Men do not like that truth.
Spiritual Truth Still Displeases the Natural Man.
Taken from GraceGems
Bliss Beyond What the Angels Know
Bliss Beyond What the Angels Know
The following is from Spurgeon’s sermon,
“Love’s Vigilance Rewarded”
Why me Lord?
Words cannot express the joy of heart which I feel in knowing that
Jesus is with me, and that he has loved me with an everlasting love.
I shall never understand, even in heaven, Why
the Lord Jesus Should Ever Have Loved Me.
There is no love like it- Why Was it Fixed Upon Me?
Have you never felt that you could go in, like David, and sit before the
Lord, and say, “Who am I, O Lord God? and what is my house, that
you have brought me here?”
Yet wonderful as it is, it is true; Jesus Loves His Believing People,
loves them now at this very moment. Do you not rejoice in it?
I assure you that, in the least drop of the love of Christ when it is
consciously realized, there is more sweetness than there would be
in all heaven without it.
Talk of bursting barns, overflowing wine-vats, and riches
treasured up- these give but a poor solace to the heart.
But the Love of Jesus, this Is Another Word for Heaven.
It is a marvel that even while we are here below we should be
permitted to enjoy a Bliss Beyond What the Angels Know!
Taken from GraceGems
NEVER!
NEVER!
The following is by J. C. Ryle
“I will NEVER leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5
Let every believer grasp these words
and store them up in his heart.
Keep them ready, and have them fresh in your memory;
you will need them one day.
The Philistines will be upon you,
the hand of sickness will lay you low,
the king of terrors will draw near,
the valley of the shadow of death
will open up before your eyes.
Then comes the hour when you will find nothing so
comforting as a text like this, nothing so cheering
as a real sense of God’s companionship.
Stick to that word, “never”.
It is worth its weight in gold.
Cling to it as a drowning man clings to a rope.
Grasp it firmly, as a soldier attacked on all sides grasps
his sword. God has said, and He will stand to it,
“I will never leave you, nor forsake you.”
NEVER! Though YOUR HEART be often faint, and you are sick
of self, and your many failures and infirmities overwhelm you-
even then the promise will not fail.
NEVER! Though THE DEVIL whispers, “I shall have you at last;
yet a little time and your faith will fail, and you will be mine.”
Even then the Word of God will stand.
NEVER! When the cold chill of DEATH is creeping over you,
and friends can do no more, and you are starting on that
journey from which there is no return-
even then Christ will not forsake you.
NEVER! When the day of JUDGMENT comes, and the books are
opened, and the dead are rising from their graves, and eternity
is beginning- even then the promise will bear all your weight;
Christ will not leave His hold on your soul.
Oh believing reader, trust in the Lord for ever,
for He says, “I will never leave you.”
Lean back all your weight upon Him, do not be afraid.
Glory in His promise.
Rejoice in the strength of your consolation.
You may say boldly, “The Lord is my Helper, I will not fear.”
Taken from GraceGems
What a Sight!
What a Sight!
The following is from Spurgeon’s sermon,
“LOVE’S LOGIC”
O the beauty of the person of Jesus, when seen with
the eye of faith by the illumination of the Holy Spirit!
As the light of the morning, when the sun arises, “as a
morning without clouds,” is our Well-Beloved unto us.
The sight of the burning bush made Moses put off his shoes, but
the transporting vision of Jesus makes us put off all the world!
When once He is seen we can discern no beauties
in all other creatures in the universe.
He, like the sun, has absorbed all other
glories into his own excessive brightness.
This is the pomegranate which love feeds upon,
the flagon wherewith it is comforted.
A sight of Jesus causes such union of heart with him,
such goings’ out of the affections after him,
and such meltings of the spirit towards him,
that its expressions often appear to carnal men to
be extravagant and forced; when they are nothing but
the free, unstudied, and honest effusions of its love.
Carnal men are themselves ignorant of the divine passion of love
to Jesus, and therefore the language of the enraptured heart is
unintelligible to them. They are poor translators of love’s
celestial tongue who think it to be at all allied with the amorous
superfluities uttered by carnal passions. Jesus is the only one
upon whom the loving believer has fixed his eye, and in his converse
with his Lord he will often express himself in language which is
meant only for his Master’s ear, and which worldlings would utterly
scorn could they but listen to it. The pious feelings at which
they jeer, are as much beyond their highest thoughts as the
‘sonnets of angels’ excel the ‘gruntings of swine’.
The never-failing friend
The never-failing friend
The following is from Spurgeon’s sermon,
“LOVE’S LOGIC”
Experience of the love, tenderness, and faithfulness of
our Lord Jesus Christ will weld our hearts to him.
The very THOUGHT of the love of Jesus towards us is enough to
inflame our holy passions, but the EXPERIENCING of his love
heats the furnace seven times hotter.
He has been with us in our TRIALS, cheering and consoling us,
sympathizing with every groan, and regarding every tear with
affectionate compassion. Do we not love him for this?
He has befriended us in every TIME OF NEED, so bounteously
supplying all our neediness out of the riches of his fullness,
that he has not allowed us to lack any good thing.
Shall we be unmindful of such unwearying care?
He has helped us in every DIFFICULTY, furnishing us with
strength equal to our day; he has leveled the mountains before
us, and filled up the valleys; he has made rough places plain,
and crooked things straight. Do we not love him for this also?
In all our DOUBTS he has directed us in the path of wisdom,
and led us in the way of knowledge. He has not allowed us to
wander; he has led us by a right way through the pathless
wilderness. Shall we not praise him for his.
He has repelled our ENEMIES, covered our heads in the day of
battle, broken the teeth of the oppressor, and made us more
than conquerors. Can We Forget Such Mighty Grace?
Are we not constrained to call upon all
that is within us to bless his holy name?
Not one promise of his has been broken, but all have come to pass.
In no single instance has he failed us;
he has never been unkind, unmindful, or unwise.
The harshest strokes of his providence have been as full of
love as the softest embraces of his condescending fellowship.
We cannot, we dare not find fault with him.
He has done all things well.
His love toward his people is perfect, and the consideration
of his love is sweet to contemplation; the very remembrance
of it is like ointment poured forth, and the present enjoyment
of it, the experience of it at the present moment, is beyond
all things delightful!
At home or abroad, on the land or the sea, in health or sickness,
in poverty or wealth, JESUS, THE NEVER-FAILING FRIEND, affords us
tokens of his grace, and binds our hearts to him in the bonds of
constraining gratitude.
If we were we not dull scholars, we would, in the experience of
a single day, discover a thousand reasons for loving our Redeemer.
Return unto your rest, O my soul!
Return unto your rest, O my soul!
(Edward Griffin, 1770-1837)
“Return unto your rest, O my soul — for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.” Psalm 116:7
To rest in God, is . . .
to be satisfied with Him as our portion,
to take Him for our supreme good, and
to feel that we have enough and abound while possessing Him — though everything else is taken away.
“Give me,” says the believer, “the enjoyment of my God — and I desire no more. Allow me to feast on heavenly truth — and I shall never complain that I am poor. Let worldlings divide the globe among themselves — let emmets contend for this little heap of dust; I have God — and I ask no more. Come wars and pestilence, come poverty and death — you cannot rob me of my portion.”
Must it not be substantial rest . . .
to have the infinite God for a portion,
to have all the restless desires of the mind composed,
to feel no anxious apprehension for the future,
to know that if everything which time or death can destroy, were removed — the whole of one’s portion would remain;
to feel that nothing can injure, nothing impoverish, nothing perplex or disturb?
Ah, give me this portion — instead of thrones and kingdoms!
“Whom have I in Heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever!” Psalm 73:25-26
Taken from GraceGems
That very church which the world likes best!
That very church which the world likes best!
“As God has said: I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people. Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:16-18
That very church which the world likes best, is sure to be the church which God abhors most!
“People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud . . . lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God–having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them!” 2 Timothy 3:2-5
“We have learned to live with unholiness in our churches, and have come to look upon it as the natural and expected thing. It is scarcely possible in most places to get anyone to attend a church meeting, where the only attraction is God. One can only conclude that God’s professed children are bored with Him, for they must be wooed to church with a stick of striped candy, in the form of religious movies, games and entertainments.”
The Unseen Places
“The Word of God judges the thoughts. The word “judge” means to critique, to be or act as a critic. This is to say that Scripture is able to accurately audit a person’s life and size it up for what it is. The Word of God is able to examine the unseen attitudes and motivations, expose the secret ambitions and desires, and then render the divine verdict. Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks upon the heart. This sharp, two-edged sword is able to penetrate into the hidden crevices of the heart and judge what only God can see. The Word makes known what we alone know about ourselves – and often what we do not yet know of ourselves. Scripture plunges deep into the unseen places of the human spirit and judges the private matters of the heart. Only the razor-sharp Word of God can do this.”
There is no one who is insignificant
“There is no one who is insignificant in the purpose of God.”
A lamb with a wolf’s head!
(John Angell James, “Christian Fellowship” 1822)
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:5
Christians should excel in the manifestation of Christ’s character. The mind which was in Jesus, should be in them. They should consider His character as a model of their own; and be conspicuous for their . . .
poverty of spirit,
meekness,
gentleness,
and love.
It is matter of surprise and regret, that many people seem to think that Christianity has nothing to do with character! And that provided they are free from gross sins, and have lively feelings in devotional exercises, they may be as petulant, irritable, and implacable as they please! This is a dreadful error, and has done great mischief to the cause of God!
A sour, ill-natured Christian, is like a lamb with a wolf’s head! Or like a dove with a vulture’s beak!
If there be any one word which above all others should describe a Christian’s character, it is that which represents his divine Father; and as it is said, that ‘God is love’, so should it be also affirmed, that a Christian is love–love embodied, an incarnation of love! His words, his conduct, his very looks–should be so many expressions of love!
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us!” Ephesians 4:32-5:2
In our eagerness to make converts
In our eagerness to make converts, I am afraid we have been guilty of using the techniques of modern salesmanship–which is of course to present only the desirable qualities in a product, and ignore the rest. We go to men and offer them a cozy home on the sunny side of the hill. If they will but accept Christ–then He will . . .
give them peace of mind,
solve their problems,
prosper their business,
protect their families and
keep them happy all day long.
They believe us and come–and the first cold wind sends them shivering to some counselor to find out what has gone wrong; and that is the last we hear of many of them.
The teachings of Christ reveal Him to be a realist in the finest meaning of that word. Nowhere in the Gospels do we find Him making over-optimistic promises. He told His hearers the whole truth, and let them make up their minds. He never ran after the retreating form of an inquirer who could not face up to the truth–to try to win him with rosy promises.
He would have men follow Him, knowing the cost–or He would let them go their ways.
All this is but to say that Christ is honest. We can trust Him. He knows that He will never be popular among the lost world–and He knows that His followers need not expect to be. The wind that blows in His face will be felt by all who travel with Him, and we are not intellectually honest when we try to hide that fact from others.
And scarcely anyone appears to care!
The only power God recognizes in His Church, is the power of His Spirit. Whereas the only power actually recognized today by the majority of evangelicals, is the power of man. God does His work by the operation of the Spirit–while Christian leaders attempt to do theirs by the power of trained intellect. Bright personality, has taken the place of the divine influence. But only what is done through the Eternal Spirit, will abide eternally.
For centuries the Church stood solidly against every form of worldly entertainment, recognizing it for what it was:
a device for wasting time,
a refuge from the disturbing voice of conscience,
a scheme to divert attention from moral accountability.
But of late she appears to have decided that if she cannot conquer the great god entertainment–she may as well join forces with him and make what use she can of his power.
Christianity is so entangled with the world, that millions never guess how radically they have missed the New Testament pattern. Compromise is everywhere!
Evangelical Christianity is now tragically below the New Testament standard.
Worldliness is an accepted part of our way of life.
Our religious mood is social, instead of spiritual.
We have lost the art of worship.
We are not producing saints.
Our models are successful business men, celebrated athletes and theatrical personalities.
We carry on our religious activities after the methods of the modern advertiser.
Our homes have been turned into theaters.
Our literature is shallow, and our hymnody borders on sacrilege.
And scarcely anyone appears to care!
God’s Love
“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:15
And did the Holy and the Just,
The Sovereign of the skies,
Stoop down to wretchedness and dust,
That guilty worms might rise?
Yes, the Redeemer left His throne,
His radiant throne on high,
(Surprising mercy! love unknown!)
To suffer, bleed, and die!
He took the dying traitor’s place,
And suffered in his stead;
For man (O miracle of grace!)
For man the Savior bled!
Dear Lord, what heavenly wonders dwell
In Your atoning blood!
By this are sinners snatched from Hell,
And rebels brought to God!
What glad return can I impart
For favors so divine?
O take my all, this worthless heart,
And make it wholly Thine!
Do we understand what love is?
(J.R. Miller, “Help for the Day”)
Do we understand what love is? We like to be loved, that is, to have other people love us, and live for us, and do things for us. We like the gratifications of love. But that is only miserable selfishness, if it goes no further. It is a desecration of the sacred name, to think that love, at its heart, means getting, receiving. Nay, love gives.
That is what God’s love does — it finds its blessedness in giving. “God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son.” That is what Christ’s love does — it pours out its very lifeblood, to the last drop!
The essential meaning of loving must always be giving, not receiving.
“Christ loved the church, and gave Himself up for her” Ephesians 5:25
A spiritual playpen where the crying babies must be appeased!
A spiritual playpen where the crying babies must be appeased!
(Joseph Bianchi)
In the twenty-first century, we are obsessed with self-satisfaction and getting our desires met. Hence, any teaching that invades our lifestyle and tells us we must alter or discard out old habits, is usually consigned to the junk pile. In so thinking and doing, the church has been transformed into a spiritual playpen where the crying babies must be appeased with what makes them feel good.
The Evangelical world is abuzz with terms like “purpose driven church” or “seeker friendly church”. What these terms really amount to is one thing: compromise.
The goal of churches should not be to see how much like the world they can be, so as to make worldly people feel comfortable. Rather, the churches should be so unlike the world, so alien to the world, that the disillusioned unbeliever will be drawn to them.
“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.
For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?
Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?
What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?
For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:14-18
Religious entertainment!
Religious entertainment!
A great company of evangelical churches have already gone over into the area of religious entertainment, so that many churches are tramping on the doorstep of the theater!
The tragic results of this spirit are all about us:
shallow lives,
hollow religious philosophies,
the preponderance of the element of fun in gospel meetings,
the glorification of men,
trust in religious externalities,
quasi-religious fellowships,
salesmanship methods,
the mistaking of dynamic personality for the power of the Spirit.
These and such as these, are the symptoms of an evil disease–a deep and serious malady of the soul.
Religious entertainment has so corrupted the Church, that millions don’t know that it’s a heresy. Millions of evangelicals throughout the world have devoted themselves to religious entertainment. They don’t know that it’s as much heresy, as the “counting of beads” or the “splashing of holy water” or something else. To expose this, of course, raises a storm of angry protest among the people.
Isn’t there a difference between worship and entertainment?
The church that can’t worship, must be entertained. And men who can’t lead a church to worship, must provide the entertainment. That is why we have the great evangelical heresy here today–the heresy of religious entertainment!
The cross of popular evangelicalism!
The cross of popular evangelicalism!
“If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” Matthew 16:24
The cross of popular evangelicalism is not the cross of the New Testament.
It is, rather–a new bright ornament upon the bosom of a self-assured and carnal Christianity.
The old cross slew men–the new cross entertains them.
The old cross humbled men–the new cross amuses them.
The old cross destroyed confidence in the flesh–the new cross encourages it.
The old cross brought tears and blood–the new cross brings laughter.
The flesh, smiling and confident, preaches and sings about the cross. Before that cross it bows, and toward that cross it points with carefully staged histrionics–but upon that cross it will not die, and the reproach of that cross, it stubbornly refuses to bear.
We must do something about the cross, and only one of two things we can do–flee from it, or die upon it.
The man who takes up the cross no longer controls his destiny–he lost control, when he picked up his cross. That cross immediately became to him an all-absorbing interest, an overwhelming passion. No matter what he may desire to do, there is but one thing he can do–that is, move on toward the place of crucifixion!
“May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world!” Galatians 6:14
From such love — may I ever be delivered!
From such love — may I ever be delivered!
(J.C. Ryle, “Christian Love” 1878)
Christian love does not consist in approving everybody’s religious opinions. Here is another most serious and growing delusion. There are many who pride themselves on never pronouncing others mistaken — whatever views they may hold. Your neighbor may be an Atheist, or a Buddhist, or a Roman Catholic, or a Mormonite, a Deist, or a Skeptic, a mere Formalist, or a thorough Antinomian. But the “love” of many says that you have no right to think him wrong! “If he is sincere — then it is uncharitable to think unfavorably of his spiritual condition!”
From such love — may I ever be delivered!
At this rate, the Apostles were wrong in going out to preach to the Gentiles!
At this rate, there is no use in missions!
At this rate, we had better close our Bibles, and shut up our churches!
At this rate, everybody is right — and nobody is wrong!
At this rate, everybody is going to Heaven — and nobody is going to Hell!
Such love is a monstrous caricature! To say that all are equally right in their opinions — though their opinions flatly contradict one another; to say that all are equally in the way to Heaven — though their doctrinal sentiments are as opposite as black and white — this is not Scriptural love. Love like this pours contempt on the Bible, and talks as if God had not given us a written standard of truth. Love like this, confuses all our notions of Heaven, and would fill it with a discordant inharmonious rabble.
True love does not think everybody right in doctrine. True love cries, “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world!” 1 John 4:1. “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching — do not take him into your house or welcome him!” 2 John 1:10
The God of contemporary Christianity!
The God of contemporary Christianity!
“These things you have done, and I kept silent. You thought that I was altogether like you! But I will rebuke you and accuse you to your face!” Psalm 50:21
The God of contemporary Christianity is only slightly superior to the pagan gods of ancient Greece and Rome–if indeed He is not actually inferior to them, in that He is weak and helpless–while they at least had some imagined power.
Among the sins to which the human heart is prone, hardly any other is more hateful to God than idolatry; for idolatry is at bottom a libel on His character. The idolatrous heart assumes that God is other than He is–in itself a monstrous sin–and substitutes for the true God, one made after its own likeness. Always this god will conform to the image of the one who created it–and will be base or pure, cruel or kind, according to the moral state of the mind from which it emerges.
The essence of idolatry, is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him. Wrong ideas about God are not only the fountain from which the polluted waters of idolatry flow–they are themselves idolatrous. The idolater simply imagines things about God–and acts as if they were true.
If we insist upon trying to imagine Him–we end with an idol, made not with hands but with thoughts. And an idol of the mind, is as offensive to God as an idol of the hand!
Before a Christian Church goes into a decline, there must first be a corrupting of her Scriptural thoughts of God. She simply gives a wrong answer to the question, “What is God like?”–and goes downhill from there. Though she may continue to cling to a sound nominal creed–her practical working creed has become false. The masses of her adherents come to believe that God is different from what He actually is–and that is heresy of the most insidious and deadly kind!
The heaviest obligation lying upon the Christian Church today is to purify and elevate her concept of God, until it is once more worthy of Him–and of her!

June 8, 2018 




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