Jewels From John Angell James
Afflictions tend to wean us from the world - and to fix our affections on things above.
A good Christian cannot be a bad husband or father. He who has the most piety - will shine the most in all the relationships of life.
Let us never forget that to be profited and spiritually improved in knowledge, faith, holiness, joy, and love - is the end of hearing sermons, and not merely to have our taste gratified by genius, eloquence and oratory.
Holiness is happiness! The more you have of the former - the more you will undoubtedly enjoy of the latter.
To bear adversity with meek submission to the will of God; to endure chastisement with all patience and joyfulness; to appear cheerful amid surrounding gloom, hopeful amidst desponding circumstances, happy in God when there is nothing else to make us happy - he who does, this has indeed made great advances in the divine life.
Too many have no idea of the subjection of their temper to the influence of religion - and yet what is changed, if the temper is not? If a man is as passionate, malicious, resentful, sullen, moody, or morose after his conversion as before it - then what is the converted from or to?
Every woman whether rich or poor, married or single, has a circle of influence within which, according to her character, she is exerting a certain amount of power for good or harm. Every woman, by her virtue or her vice, by her folly or her wisdom, by her levity or her dignity - is adding something to our national elevation or degradation. A community is not likely to be overthrown where a woman fulfills her mission,for by the power of her noble heart over the hearts of others - she will raise that community from its ruins and restore it again to prosperity and joy.
All who wait upon the Lord shall rise higher and higher upon the mighty pinions of strong devotion, and with the unblinking eye of faith, into the regions of heavenly-mindedness, and shall approach nearer and nearer to God, the Sun of our spiritual day.
The inquirer after holiness should associate with those:
whose intelligence will instruct him;
whose example will guide him;
whose conversation will inspire him;
and whose cautions will warn him.
The study of everything that stands connected with the death of Christ, whether it is in...
the types of the ceremonial law,
the predictions of the prophets,
the narratives of the gospels,
the doctrines of the epistles, or
the sublime vision of the Apocalypse.
Christ is the food of the soul - the manna from heaven - the Bread of life. He is food indeed and drink indeed.
The friends of evangelical doctrine, and the advocates of orthodoxy, have the following objects to keep ever in view in this age:
they must take care of their theology - that it be not perverted by false philosophy;
they must take care of their pulpits - that they be not occupied by heretical, unspiritual, or incompetent ministers.
Kindness is the visible expression of a feeling and merciful heart. Kindness is the going forth of a tender and susceptible mind - it claims kindred with the human race. Kindness...
all ear to listen,
all heart to feel,
all eye to examine and to weep,
all hand and foot to relieve.
Kindness invites the sufferer with kind words - and never sends him empty away.
~John Angell James~
Saturday, May 26, 2018
Saturday, May 19, 2018
Holiness # 2
Holiness # 2
The Throne and the Altar
That is what is here. It is holiness that governs. The throne comes in as the throne of holiness. But note: in relation to this unholiness in which the prophet is involved, from which he has to be separated in order to be God's instrument, the throne does not, even in its holiness, directly operate. It operates through the altar. There is the throne; there is the altar. The throne does not directly deal with him; the throne comes to him through the altar. The throne always works through the Cross. That infinite holiness can only be made good in us through the Cross, the blood of His Cross. There is no gift of holiness, there is no cleansing, there is no deliverance, there is no separation, there is no commission, only on the ground of the making active and experimental in our own hearts of the work of His Cross. The throne, in all its wonderful power, moves by way of the altar. The throne brings in a terrible consciousness of conviction of unholiness, and brings from the heart a cry, but the throne cannot in that direct way deliver us. It can only condemn us and make us aware that there is a holiness before which we cannot stand. How shall we live before such a throne? How can we be delivered from death in the presence of that infinite holiness, and the impact of that holiness upon our sinful state? By being led to the altar, by being brought to the precious blood, and when the cry is wrung from the heart concerning an unholy state, which carries with it a cry to be delivered therefrom, "Then flew one of the seraphim unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged" (Isaiah 6:6-7). Then everything else follows and the way is open for all else in the way of commission and authority.
The point is, when all has been said, that everything hangs upon the holiness which is produced by a living application of the Cross to our hearts in the power of that throne; the power of that holiness operating through the Cross of the Lord Jesus in our hearts. Whatever may be the state, whether it be general or particular in the case of Isaiah, it seems that he focused the whole question upon what is implied by "unclean lips". He did not mean that he and his people were guilty of language which was not right. What is meant in the Scriptures by "unclean lips" is that things were said with the lips which were not true in the heart; a false profession of allegiance or faithfulness to God. Yet they said: "Wherein have we robbed Thee?" (Mal. 3:8). All the time professing to be the Lord's, professing and declaring themselves, and yet contradicting in their hearts. So that the lips were unclean by reason of a life which contradicted the thing. It was a lie. What they were saying was not the truth in their own hearts.
That was Israel's state. It was not that they were outwardly, voluntarily, manifestly blaspheming the Lord and declaring that they would have nothing to with Him, but they were keeping up the old system and professing to be what they were not. That is, they were uttering a lie, and their lips were defiled.
Ministry and Holiness
It may be specific in our case. Lips may in that general sense be defiled, unclean. They may be in a more specific sense unclean. We can never fulfill a ministry of holiness, never bring home to others their sin, never be a voice of judgment against wrong if in either general or specific ways our lips are unclean. Lips may be unclean by empty talk, gossip, criticism; not intentionally - for who would intentionally injure the Lord's interests - but just letting ourselves talk. And in the end there is mischief, there is a seed sown unintentionally that bears a crop.
It may be lips, it may be other things, but with the Lord it is all a question of holiness. It is not our thought to deal with specific sins, but it is our leading just to point out this matter of holiness, which is basic to everything. Holiness has to work out in every part. We can be unclean by what we allow ourselves to listen to. Sometimes it would be the maintaining of holiness before the Lord for us to say, "I do not want to hear that, that is not good, that is not glorifying to the Lord, we are not going to get anywhere by that, it is only death and injury along that line."
It may be eyes. Sometimes the question of holiness is bound up with our refusing to take account of some things. There are many things that in responsibility we have to take account of, but there are times when we could afford to shut our minds to some things because they are only going to lead to an unholy state. It is all a question of holiness, because holiness is life. Leviticus 16 says with that object: "...that he die not" (Lev. 16:2, 13). This all relates to Aaron going into the most holy place and not dying before the presence of infinite holiness, having on the garments of holiness, and taking the precious blood. All the garments are for every part of the man, that his whole flesh be covered up, "that he die not", when he comes into the presence of the Lord. The Lord says, in a full and inclusive way, that there must be life in everything, in all work, in all service, in all relationships, and it is a question of holiness. If there is talk that is not holy, then there is death. If there is listening that is not holy, then there is death. If there is taking account in an unholy way, then there is death. If there is taking account in an unholy way,then there is death. Holiness is LIFE; unholiness is always spiritual death. The altar works by reason of the throne and the throne works through the altar.
Christ Triumphant
One other word. It is a very blessed thing to realize what these two things do say, the throne and the altar. You have two pictures. That altar is the Lord Jesus, that blood is His blood, that sacrifice is His sacrifice, that live coal is the Holy Spirit working in relation to the work of the Lord Jesus in His Cross. And yet at the same time, that throne is just as much the Lord Jesus as that Cross, that altar and that sacrifice. These are both the Lord Jesus, the two things in Leviticus 16 making one thing. The ram for Azazel - the wilderness, the unknown land, bearing sin, and the ram offered to God and accepted, are really one sacrifice in two halves. One bearing sin and carrying sin away out of God's sight, out of God's remembrance, into an unknown land. At the same time the other side of the offering coming up into God's presence, being accepted, and going right through. They represent the two aspects of Christ. One the altar, the Cross: "My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" - forsaking sin. The other side: accepted and in the throne. But the fact that He is in the throne, the fact that you see Christ there, is the great declaration of the fact that that Cross was absolutely successful and triumphant, that all that the Cross represented was perfect, complete in its result, and that He occupies the throne by reason of the once and for all perfection of the work of the Cross, and He never sets that aside. In His throne He say, I witness to that all the time, to the perfection of that. Fellowship with the throne means that we stand absolutely in the completed, perfected work of His Cross. Israel was losing fellowship with the throne because all that that altar represented had not become real in their experience. You see what the altar does. It declares to us that the thing has been done fully, finally, perfectly, and that there can be fellowship with the throne. It works both ways. Not only does the throne work through the altar to us, but we have perfect fellowship with the throne because of the altar. We are today able to stand in the presence of infinite holiness, because we by faith have recognized the perfection of the work of Christ's Cross, where there is no fear, and yet we must recognize that that Cross and that precious blood demand that at every point unholiness is put away.
~T. Austin-Sparks~
(The End)
The Throne and the Altar
That is what is here. It is holiness that governs. The throne comes in as the throne of holiness. But note: in relation to this unholiness in which the prophet is involved, from which he has to be separated in order to be God's instrument, the throne does not, even in its holiness, directly operate. It operates through the altar. There is the throne; there is the altar. The throne does not directly deal with him; the throne comes to him through the altar. The throne always works through the Cross. That infinite holiness can only be made good in us through the Cross, the blood of His Cross. There is no gift of holiness, there is no cleansing, there is no deliverance, there is no separation, there is no commission, only on the ground of the making active and experimental in our own hearts of the work of His Cross. The throne, in all its wonderful power, moves by way of the altar. The throne brings in a terrible consciousness of conviction of unholiness, and brings from the heart a cry, but the throne cannot in that direct way deliver us. It can only condemn us and make us aware that there is a holiness before which we cannot stand. How shall we live before such a throne? How can we be delivered from death in the presence of that infinite holiness, and the impact of that holiness upon our sinful state? By being led to the altar, by being brought to the precious blood, and when the cry is wrung from the heart concerning an unholy state, which carries with it a cry to be delivered therefrom, "Then flew one of the seraphim unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged" (Isaiah 6:6-7). Then everything else follows and the way is open for all else in the way of commission and authority.
The point is, when all has been said, that everything hangs upon the holiness which is produced by a living application of the Cross to our hearts in the power of that throne; the power of that holiness operating through the Cross of the Lord Jesus in our hearts. Whatever may be the state, whether it be general or particular in the case of Isaiah, it seems that he focused the whole question upon what is implied by "unclean lips". He did not mean that he and his people were guilty of language which was not right. What is meant in the Scriptures by "unclean lips" is that things were said with the lips which were not true in the heart; a false profession of allegiance or faithfulness to God. Yet they said: "Wherein have we robbed Thee?" (Mal. 3:8). All the time professing to be the Lord's, professing and declaring themselves, and yet contradicting in their hearts. So that the lips were unclean by reason of a life which contradicted the thing. It was a lie. What they were saying was not the truth in their own hearts.
That was Israel's state. It was not that they were outwardly, voluntarily, manifestly blaspheming the Lord and declaring that they would have nothing to with Him, but they were keeping up the old system and professing to be what they were not. That is, they were uttering a lie, and their lips were defiled.
Ministry and Holiness
It may be specific in our case. Lips may in that general sense be defiled, unclean. They may be in a more specific sense unclean. We can never fulfill a ministry of holiness, never bring home to others their sin, never be a voice of judgment against wrong if in either general or specific ways our lips are unclean. Lips may be unclean by empty talk, gossip, criticism; not intentionally - for who would intentionally injure the Lord's interests - but just letting ourselves talk. And in the end there is mischief, there is a seed sown unintentionally that bears a crop.
It may be lips, it may be other things, but with the Lord it is all a question of holiness. It is not our thought to deal with specific sins, but it is our leading just to point out this matter of holiness, which is basic to everything. Holiness has to work out in every part. We can be unclean by what we allow ourselves to listen to. Sometimes it would be the maintaining of holiness before the Lord for us to say, "I do not want to hear that, that is not good, that is not glorifying to the Lord, we are not going to get anywhere by that, it is only death and injury along that line."
It may be eyes. Sometimes the question of holiness is bound up with our refusing to take account of some things. There are many things that in responsibility we have to take account of, but there are times when we could afford to shut our minds to some things because they are only going to lead to an unholy state. It is all a question of holiness, because holiness is life. Leviticus 16 says with that object: "...that he die not" (Lev. 16:2, 13). This all relates to Aaron going into the most holy place and not dying before the presence of infinite holiness, having on the garments of holiness, and taking the precious blood. All the garments are for every part of the man, that his whole flesh be covered up, "that he die not", when he comes into the presence of the Lord. The Lord says, in a full and inclusive way, that there must be life in everything, in all work, in all service, in all relationships, and it is a question of holiness. If there is talk that is not holy, then there is death. If there is listening that is not holy, then there is death. If there is taking account in an unholy way, then there is death. If there is taking account in an unholy way,then there is death. Holiness is LIFE; unholiness is always spiritual death. The altar works by reason of the throne and the throne works through the altar.
Christ Triumphant
One other word. It is a very blessed thing to realize what these two things do say, the throne and the altar. You have two pictures. That altar is the Lord Jesus, that blood is His blood, that sacrifice is His sacrifice, that live coal is the Holy Spirit working in relation to the work of the Lord Jesus in His Cross. And yet at the same time, that throne is just as much the Lord Jesus as that Cross, that altar and that sacrifice. These are both the Lord Jesus, the two things in Leviticus 16 making one thing. The ram for Azazel - the wilderness, the unknown land, bearing sin, and the ram offered to God and accepted, are really one sacrifice in two halves. One bearing sin and carrying sin away out of God's sight, out of God's remembrance, into an unknown land. At the same time the other side of the offering coming up into God's presence, being accepted, and going right through. They represent the two aspects of Christ. One the altar, the Cross: "My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" - forsaking sin. The other side: accepted and in the throne. But the fact that He is in the throne, the fact that you see Christ there, is the great declaration of the fact that that Cross was absolutely successful and triumphant, that all that the Cross represented was perfect, complete in its result, and that He occupies the throne by reason of the once and for all perfection of the work of the Cross, and He never sets that aside. In His throne He say, I witness to that all the time, to the perfection of that. Fellowship with the throne means that we stand absolutely in the completed, perfected work of His Cross. Israel was losing fellowship with the throne because all that that altar represented had not become real in their experience. You see what the altar does. It declares to us that the thing has been done fully, finally, perfectly, and that there can be fellowship with the throne. It works both ways. Not only does the throne work through the altar to us, but we have perfect fellowship with the throne because of the altar. We are today able to stand in the presence of infinite holiness, because we by faith have recognized the perfection of the work of Christ's Cross, where there is no fear, and yet we must recognize that that Cross and that precious blood demand that at every point unholiness is put away.
~T. Austin-Sparks~
(The End)
Saturday, May 12, 2018
Holiness # 1
Holiness # 1
Reading: Isaiah 6:1-11
In this passage, if the text were printed in the Hebrew form, that is, translated according to the Hebrew emphasis, various words would be thrown up in clear relief, and they would be in Isaiah 6 the following words or phrases: "throne", "temple", "woe", "altar", "go", and "how long".
So there six leading words or phrases in this passage, and these give you very largely the key to its message. What is clearly represented by this chapter is that the whole question is that of holiness. Everything else is included in that. This is not, first of all, as has so often been stressed, a message about service. Service is there, but it is not the main thing. Worship is there, and this passage has been very often used, and is constantly used, as something for public worship, to introduce the element of worship. But worship, like service, is not the primary thing; it is also conditional and contingent. There are several things here in this portion which could be dealt with as things in themselves, but everything is included in one thing, and that is HOLINESS.
God's Judgement
It relates to Israel's condition to begin with. As you see, the chapter brings that in, and the chapter itself is set within that realm with regard to Israel and then with regard to the nations beyond. It is a question of holiness. The Lord, in taking account of things, in raising up this prophet, does so because of an unholy state which has made necessary the determination to judge, and has brought into view for a time the closing of those mercies of God, and for a period, the casting off of His people, though He will not cast off for ever. Captivity is in view, judgement is in view, and it is all a matter of holiness. The terrible issue of this chapter is that what the people have been doing themselves spiritually, is now fixed by the Lord. They have been closing their eyes; now the Lord fixes that state. They have been closing their ears; the Lord takes action. They have been hardening their hearts; the Lord hardens. They have been living for themselves; the Lord hands them over to themselves. So the judgement is by reason of an unholy state, and everything has to do with holiness.
God's Call
Then so far as the prophet is concerned, first of all there is his call. He is brought in, and his call carries with it the necessity for separation. You notice that immediately the question of holiness is raised, the prophet becomes conscious of being involved in the whole state: "I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips" (Isa. 6:5). He is conscious, as he was never conscious before of his being involved in a state utterly opposed to God, and His call necessitates complete separation from that state of unholiness. And then his commission necessitates his cleansing. Notice, he is going to be the mouthpiece of the Lord in judgement. He is going, in effect, to fix the state of this people from the divine side. He is saying: "You have closed your eyes, then you shall not see if you want to. You have closed your ears, then you shall not hear, even if you want to hear. You have hardened your heart, then you will not be able to turn your heart to the Lord, even when you want to. You have lived for yourselves; very well, the Lord hands you over, and the Lord will not accept you, even when you turn to Him." Now, nobody can take action of that kind and at the same time be involved in the condition.
You and I, if we are going to preach, to testify, must be altogether outside of the condition against which we are testifying, or else we are testifying against ourselves. So that this man Isaiah, in order to fulfill his commission, must be separated and cleansed from the condition against which he is to testify, and he must not become involved in the judgements which he is to declare, so that holiness governs everything here. It is the thing which governs the judgement of God. It is the question of holiness that produces judgement. It is also the thing which governs the call of God and the commission of God. Holiness is basic, and the background to everything in the divine activities. God's judgement against sinners, and His methods with His servants; everything is directed by holiness.
God's Throne
Then there is this other thing. The throne, which is the throne of infinite holiness, and the majesty of that throne, is based upon holiness. The very majesty of the Lord is the majesty of His holiness. He is in that position as here represented, because of holiness. We must remember that in passages like this in Isaiah and elsewhere, the throne is not just the throne of the Infinite, Almighty, Eternal God. That is, it is not the throne of the Almighty One alone. It is that, but that is not the feature of the throne in this portion, and in others. It is the throne of holiness, but that holiness is by reason of something having been done. It is comparable with Philippians 2:9: "Wherefore God highly exalted Him, and gave Him the Name which is above every name." It is comparable with the Hebrew letter: "We see Jesus...crowned with glory and honor" (Heb. 2:9), because of the suffering of death. Something has been done in relation to sin which establishes that throne in holiness, and give to that throne the right to judge sin. It is not just the judgement of men as creatures, under the hand of an Almighty God. It is the judgement of a sinful state under a holy state. There is all the difference between a potentate upon his throne, governing in sheer majesty because of his superior position, and One who, because of something which has been done in relation to sin, is established in holiness, dealing with an unholy state. It is very important to see that.
The Lamb's Worthiness
I want to point out the difference which is marked in the two chapters in the Book of Revelation by this very law, that first of all you have a song in heaven: "Worthy art thou, O Lord...for thou didst create all things,and for thy pleasure they are and were created" (Rev. 4:11). Then the next chapter brings in a new book of grace, this is the sealed book of judgement. The apostle says that he looked to see who would unlock the book, open the seals, but there was no one found who could unlock those seals and open the book of judgement. And he says: "i wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the book...and one of the elders said unto me, "Weep not: behold, the Lion that is of the tribe of Judah...has overcome to open the book and I saw...a Lamb..." (Rev. 5:4-6). And then another song is heard immediately: "Worthy art thou...to open the seals thereof: for thou...didst purchase unto God with thy blood men of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation" (Rev. 5:9). The first "Worthy art thou" is on the basis of creation, but that was not a sufficient worthiness to unlock the seals of judgement, because judgment is not merely upon the basis of creation. Judgement is upon the basis of "redemption." Our attitude is not towards the Creator,but towards the Redeemer: not towards God in His creative power, but towards God in His redemptive work. Judgement is based upon that. We shall never be judged by God simply because we did not recognize Him as Creator. The judgement will be because men did not recognize His redemption. So that the Lamb comes in with a superior worthiness to creation, because of redemption.
~T. Austin-Sparks~
(continued with # 2)
Reading: Isaiah 6:1-11
In this passage, if the text were printed in the Hebrew form, that is, translated according to the Hebrew emphasis, various words would be thrown up in clear relief, and they would be in Isaiah 6 the following words or phrases: "throne", "temple", "woe", "altar", "go", and "how long".
So there six leading words or phrases in this passage, and these give you very largely the key to its message. What is clearly represented by this chapter is that the whole question is that of holiness. Everything else is included in that. This is not, first of all, as has so often been stressed, a message about service. Service is there, but it is not the main thing. Worship is there, and this passage has been very often used, and is constantly used, as something for public worship, to introduce the element of worship. But worship, like service, is not the primary thing; it is also conditional and contingent. There are several things here in this portion which could be dealt with as things in themselves, but everything is included in one thing, and that is HOLINESS.
God's Judgement
It relates to Israel's condition to begin with. As you see, the chapter brings that in, and the chapter itself is set within that realm with regard to Israel and then with regard to the nations beyond. It is a question of holiness. The Lord, in taking account of things, in raising up this prophet, does so because of an unholy state which has made necessary the determination to judge, and has brought into view for a time the closing of those mercies of God, and for a period, the casting off of His people, though He will not cast off for ever. Captivity is in view, judgement is in view, and it is all a matter of holiness. The terrible issue of this chapter is that what the people have been doing themselves spiritually, is now fixed by the Lord. They have been closing their eyes; now the Lord fixes that state. They have been closing their ears; the Lord takes action. They have been hardening their hearts; the Lord hardens. They have been living for themselves; the Lord hands them over to themselves. So the judgement is by reason of an unholy state, and everything has to do with holiness.
God's Call
Then so far as the prophet is concerned, first of all there is his call. He is brought in, and his call carries with it the necessity for separation. You notice that immediately the question of holiness is raised, the prophet becomes conscious of being involved in the whole state: "I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips" (Isa. 6:5). He is conscious, as he was never conscious before of his being involved in a state utterly opposed to God, and His call necessitates complete separation from that state of unholiness. And then his commission necessitates his cleansing. Notice, he is going to be the mouthpiece of the Lord in judgement. He is going, in effect, to fix the state of this people from the divine side. He is saying: "You have closed your eyes, then you shall not see if you want to. You have closed your ears, then you shall not hear, even if you want to hear. You have hardened your heart, then you will not be able to turn your heart to the Lord, even when you want to. You have lived for yourselves; very well, the Lord hands you over, and the Lord will not accept you, even when you turn to Him." Now, nobody can take action of that kind and at the same time be involved in the condition.
You and I, if we are going to preach, to testify, must be altogether outside of the condition against which we are testifying, or else we are testifying against ourselves. So that this man Isaiah, in order to fulfill his commission, must be separated and cleansed from the condition against which he is to testify, and he must not become involved in the judgements which he is to declare, so that holiness governs everything here. It is the thing which governs the judgement of God. It is the question of holiness that produces judgement. It is also the thing which governs the call of God and the commission of God. Holiness is basic, and the background to everything in the divine activities. God's judgement against sinners, and His methods with His servants; everything is directed by holiness.
God's Throne
Then there is this other thing. The throne, which is the throne of infinite holiness, and the majesty of that throne, is based upon holiness. The very majesty of the Lord is the majesty of His holiness. He is in that position as here represented, because of holiness. We must remember that in passages like this in Isaiah and elsewhere, the throne is not just the throne of the Infinite, Almighty, Eternal God. That is, it is not the throne of the Almighty One alone. It is that, but that is not the feature of the throne in this portion, and in others. It is the throne of holiness, but that holiness is by reason of something having been done. It is comparable with Philippians 2:9: "Wherefore God highly exalted Him, and gave Him the Name which is above every name." It is comparable with the Hebrew letter: "We see Jesus...crowned with glory and honor" (Heb. 2:9), because of the suffering of death. Something has been done in relation to sin which establishes that throne in holiness, and give to that throne the right to judge sin. It is not just the judgement of men as creatures, under the hand of an Almighty God. It is the judgement of a sinful state under a holy state. There is all the difference between a potentate upon his throne, governing in sheer majesty because of his superior position, and One who, because of something which has been done in relation to sin, is established in holiness, dealing with an unholy state. It is very important to see that.
The Lamb's Worthiness
I want to point out the difference which is marked in the two chapters in the Book of Revelation by this very law, that first of all you have a song in heaven: "Worthy art thou, O Lord...for thou didst create all things,and for thy pleasure they are and were created" (Rev. 4:11). Then the next chapter brings in a new book of grace, this is the sealed book of judgement. The apostle says that he looked to see who would unlock the book, open the seals, but there was no one found who could unlock those seals and open the book of judgement. And he says: "i wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the book...and one of the elders said unto me, "Weep not: behold, the Lion that is of the tribe of Judah...has overcome to open the book and I saw...a Lamb..." (Rev. 5:4-6). And then another song is heard immediately: "Worthy art thou...to open the seals thereof: for thou...didst purchase unto God with thy blood men of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation" (Rev. 5:9). The first "Worthy art thou" is on the basis of creation, but that was not a sufficient worthiness to unlock the seals of judgement, because judgment is not merely upon the basis of creation. Judgement is upon the basis of "redemption." Our attitude is not towards the Creator,but towards the Redeemer: not towards God in His creative power, but towards God in His redemptive work. Judgement is based upon that. We shall never be judged by God simply because we did not recognize Him as Creator. The judgement will be because men did not recognize His redemption. So that the Lamb comes in with a superior worthiness to creation, because of redemption.
~T. Austin-Sparks~
(continued with # 2)
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
Active, Operating, Influential Principles of the Life! (and others)
Active, Operating, Influential Principles of the Life! (and others)
It is the work of the blessed Holy Spirit to take of the things of Christ, and to show them to the soul; to reveal to us the precious benefits of redemption, and the riches of Divine grace - and to present them to us in such a transforming, and convincing, and penetrating form, as that they shall not only become sources of abiding comfort to the heart - but active, operating, influential principles of the life!
It is the work of the blessed Spirit to be the Comforter of the children of God. Yes...
wherever a believer is afflicted;
wherever he sheds a sorrowful tear;
wherever he is pained by some heart-rending grief;
wherever he is bowed beneath some oppressive burden -
there is the Comforter to cheer, to solace, to sustain;
pointing him...
from the wound to its balm,
from the grief to its ultimate cure,
from present suffering to eternal rest at God's right hand!
The Holy Spirit is not a traveler to sojourn for a season,
but He is a Friend to abide and dwell with you -
a Spiritual Mentor to be always near...
to guide you - in all seasons of perplexity,
to strengthen you - in all times of weakness,
when you are discouraged - to uphold you,
when you are wandering - to lead you back,
when you are nearly overcome in your spiritual conflict -
to bring you more of His divine strength and grace.
~John McDuff~
___________________________
What Does Our Church Need?
"Our gospel came to you not simply with words - but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction" (1 Thessalonians 1:5).
"We have," said one pastor, "the gospel regularly preached, the prayer meetings are continued, the church is in peace - but very few souls are converted to God! What Does Our Church Need?
It needs the presence and power of the Holy Spirit!! For unless the Holy Spirit works - your minister may preach, your church may meet - but no real good will be done! God's work is carried on, not by might nor by power - but by the Spirit of the Lord Almighty. It is the Spirit who must...
open the heart,
quicken the soul, and
sanctify the person!
And if the Spirit works - then the feeblest ministry is efficient, and the smallest church prospers!
All the success that followed the preaching of Peter, and the labors of Paul - was from the Holy Spirit. Therefore Paul says, "God gave the increase." Then the church felt her need of the Spirit; she realized her dependence on that divine Agent; she prayed with faith, fervor, and importunity for the blessing; and God answered her prayers, and filled His servants with the Holy Spirit and with power!
But today, we merely talk of the Spirit - rather than feel our need! We boast of our instruments - rather than realize our dependence on the Almighty Spirit!
~James Smith~
_____________________________
Spiritual Conviction
Spiritual conviction reaches to all sins; to sins of heart - as well as sins of life; to the sin of our nature - as well as the sins of practice; to the sin which is born in us - as well as the sin which is done by us. Where the Spirit of the Lord comes to work effectually in any soul - He holds the looking glass of the Word before the sinner's eyes, and then opens his eyes to look into the looking glass, to see all that deformity and filthiness which is in his heart and nature!
How blind was Paul to his sinfulness - until the Spirit of the Lord revealed it to him. The Spirit alone, can make the sinner see all the deformity and filthiness which is within. It is He alone, who pulls off all the sinner's rags, and makes him see his naked and wretched condition. It is He alone, who shows us:
the blindness of the mind,
the stubbornness of the will,
the disorderedness of the affection,
the seardness of the conscience,
the sin of our natures,
the desperateness of our state!
Natural conviction carries the soul out to look more on the evil which comes as a result of sin - than on the evil which is in sin. The soul which is under natural conviction, is more troubled at the dread of hell, and wrath,and damnation - than at the vileness and heinous nature of sin!
But spiritual convictions work the soul into a greater sensibleness of the evil which is in sin - than of the evil which comes as a result of sin. The dishonor done to God by walking contrary to His will; the wounds which are made in the heart of Christ; the grief which the Holy Spirit is put to - this wounds the soul more than a thousand hells!
Natural convictions are not durable, they quickly die out. They are like a slight cut in the skin, which bleeds a little, a is sore for the moment - but is soon healed again, and in a few days not so much as a scar is seen.
But spiritual convictions are durable, they cannot be worn out, they abide in the soul until they have reached their end - which is the change of the sinner.
The convictions of the Spirit are like a deep wound which goes to the vital organs, and seems to endanger the life of the patient, and is only healed by the great skill of the heavenly Physician. And when it is healed, there are the tokens of it remaining in the soul, which can never be worn out!
Spiritual conviction is an essential part of sound conversion. True conversion begins in convictions - and true convictions end in conversion. Until the sinner is convinced of sin - he can never be converted from sin. Christ's coming was as a Saviour to die for sinners. The Spirit's coming is to convince us of sin - that we may close with Christ as our Saviour. So long as sin is unseen - Christ will be unsought. "Those who are whole need not the physician - but those who are sick."
Slight convictions, when they are but skin-deep,are the cause of much hypocrisy. Slight convictions have filled the church with hypocrites! Nay, this is not only the spring of hypocrisy - but it is also the spring of apostasy! What was the cause that the seed was said to wither away? It was because it had no depth of soil. Just so, where convictions of sin are slight- there the seed of the Word withers for lack of depth! But where there is thorough conviction, there is a depth of soil in the heart - and there the seed of the Word grows!
~Matthew Mead~
(from the "Almost Christian")
It is the work of the blessed Holy Spirit to take of the things of Christ, and to show them to the soul; to reveal to us the precious benefits of redemption, and the riches of Divine grace - and to present them to us in such a transforming, and convincing, and penetrating form, as that they shall not only become sources of abiding comfort to the heart - but active, operating, influential principles of the life!
It is the work of the blessed Spirit to be the Comforter of the children of God. Yes...
wherever a believer is afflicted;
wherever he sheds a sorrowful tear;
wherever he is pained by some heart-rending grief;
wherever he is bowed beneath some oppressive burden -
there is the Comforter to cheer, to solace, to sustain;
pointing him...
from the wound to its balm,
from the grief to its ultimate cure,
from present suffering to eternal rest at God's right hand!
The Holy Spirit is not a traveler to sojourn for a season,
but He is a Friend to abide and dwell with you -
a Spiritual Mentor to be always near...
to guide you - in all seasons of perplexity,
to strengthen you - in all times of weakness,
when you are discouraged - to uphold you,
when you are wandering - to lead you back,
when you are nearly overcome in your spiritual conflict -
to bring you more of His divine strength and grace.
~John McDuff~
___________________________
What Does Our Church Need?
"Our gospel came to you not simply with words - but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction" (1 Thessalonians 1:5).
"We have," said one pastor, "the gospel regularly preached, the prayer meetings are continued, the church is in peace - but very few souls are converted to God! What Does Our Church Need?
It needs the presence and power of the Holy Spirit!! For unless the Holy Spirit works - your minister may preach, your church may meet - but no real good will be done! God's work is carried on, not by might nor by power - but by the Spirit of the Lord Almighty. It is the Spirit who must...
open the heart,
quicken the soul, and
sanctify the person!
And if the Spirit works - then the feeblest ministry is efficient, and the smallest church prospers!
All the success that followed the preaching of Peter, and the labors of Paul - was from the Holy Spirit. Therefore Paul says, "God gave the increase." Then the church felt her need of the Spirit; she realized her dependence on that divine Agent; she prayed with faith, fervor, and importunity for the blessing; and God answered her prayers, and filled His servants with the Holy Spirit and with power!
But today, we merely talk of the Spirit - rather than feel our need! We boast of our instruments - rather than realize our dependence on the Almighty Spirit!
~James Smith~
_____________________________
Spiritual Conviction
Spiritual conviction reaches to all sins; to sins of heart - as well as sins of life; to the sin of our nature - as well as the sins of practice; to the sin which is born in us - as well as the sin which is done by us. Where the Spirit of the Lord comes to work effectually in any soul - He holds the looking glass of the Word before the sinner's eyes, and then opens his eyes to look into the looking glass, to see all that deformity and filthiness which is in his heart and nature!
How blind was Paul to his sinfulness - until the Spirit of the Lord revealed it to him. The Spirit alone, can make the sinner see all the deformity and filthiness which is within. It is He alone, who pulls off all the sinner's rags, and makes him see his naked and wretched condition. It is He alone, who shows us:
the blindness of the mind,
the stubbornness of the will,
the disorderedness of the affection,
the seardness of the conscience,
the sin of our natures,
the desperateness of our state!
Natural conviction carries the soul out to look more on the evil which comes as a result of sin - than on the evil which is in sin. The soul which is under natural conviction, is more troubled at the dread of hell, and wrath,and damnation - than at the vileness and heinous nature of sin!
But spiritual convictions work the soul into a greater sensibleness of the evil which is in sin - than of the evil which comes as a result of sin. The dishonor done to God by walking contrary to His will; the wounds which are made in the heart of Christ; the grief which the Holy Spirit is put to - this wounds the soul more than a thousand hells!
Natural convictions are not durable, they quickly die out. They are like a slight cut in the skin, which bleeds a little, a is sore for the moment - but is soon healed again, and in a few days not so much as a scar is seen.
But spiritual convictions are durable, they cannot be worn out, they abide in the soul until they have reached their end - which is the change of the sinner.
The convictions of the Spirit are like a deep wound which goes to the vital organs, and seems to endanger the life of the patient, and is only healed by the great skill of the heavenly Physician. And when it is healed, there are the tokens of it remaining in the soul, which can never be worn out!
Spiritual conviction is an essential part of sound conversion. True conversion begins in convictions - and true convictions end in conversion. Until the sinner is convinced of sin - he can never be converted from sin. Christ's coming was as a Saviour to die for sinners. The Spirit's coming is to convince us of sin - that we may close with Christ as our Saviour. So long as sin is unseen - Christ will be unsought. "Those who are whole need not the physician - but those who are sick."
Slight convictions, when they are but skin-deep,are the cause of much hypocrisy. Slight convictions have filled the church with hypocrites! Nay, this is not only the spring of hypocrisy - but it is also the spring of apostasy! What was the cause that the seed was said to wither away? It was because it had no depth of soil. Just so, where convictions of sin are slight- there the seed of the Word withers for lack of depth! But where there is thorough conviction, there is a depth of soil in the heart - and there the seed of the Word grows!
~Matthew Mead~
(from the "Almost Christian")
Tuesday, May 8, 2018
The Sanctification of the Holy Spirit (and others)
The Sanctification of the Holy Spirit (and others)
"God has chosen you to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit" (2 Thessalonians 2:13).
To sanctify, is to separate and set apart for holy purposes and holy uses. The Lord separated His people, by choosing them in Christ to be holy; and He sanctifies them now for Himself - by the power, operation, and indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
In sanctification, a work is commenced which is to make us exactly like Christ. A sanctified person has...
his heart changed,
his will changed,
his will renewed,
his understanding enlightened,
his conscience purified, and
his affections spiritualized.
Sanctification extends to the whole man, soul and body, and is carried on through...
the Word,
the ordinances, and
the providence of God.
Sanctification has its seat in the heart; but it regulates the whole man, and appears in his conduct in every day life. If a man experiences the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, then...
sin grieves him,
satan tries him,
the world troubles him,
and Heaven attracts him.
Spirit of Jesus, sanctify us deeply, thoroughly - that we may be just like Jesus! Sanctify us...
by every trial,
by every affliction,
by every privilege,
by every comfort!
~James Smith~
__________________________
One Truth, Brought Home to the Soul By the Holy Spirit
We do believe the truths of God's Word - but we need to make them bear more upon our experiences and practice. Our religion is too much in the head - and too little in the heart! Truth rather floats in the understanding - than sinks down into the soul. Our memory lets it slip - and nothing but frequent meditation on these things, will cause us to profit by them. The truths of God's Word are calculated and intended to benefit the Lord's people - but unless we exercise our minds upon them - we shall not be benefited by them.
One truth, brought home to the soul by the Holy Spirit, and digested by meditation - does us more good than volumes which just pass through the mind! We ought, therefore, to pray more over what we read - and look to the Holy Spirit,beseeching Him to unfold and apply the truth to us!
~James Smith~
______________________________
The Transforming Power of the Holy Spirit!
"To all those in Rome, who are loved by God and called to be saints" (Romans 1:7).
Believers are separated from the world by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit calls them out from the world, and separates them as effectively as if a wall were built between them and it. He puts in them....
new hearts,
new minds,
new tastes,
new desires,
new sorrows,
new joys,
new wishes,
new pleasures,
new longings.
He gives them...
new eyes,
new ears,
new affections,
new opinions.
He makes them new creatures. They are born again - and with a new birth they begin a new existence. Mighty indeed is the transforming power of the Holy Spirit!
~J. C. Ryle~
"God has chosen you to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit" (2 Thessalonians 2:13).
To sanctify, is to separate and set apart for holy purposes and holy uses. The Lord separated His people, by choosing them in Christ to be holy; and He sanctifies them now for Himself - by the power, operation, and indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
In sanctification, a work is commenced which is to make us exactly like Christ. A sanctified person has...
his heart changed,
his will changed,
his will renewed,
his understanding enlightened,
his conscience purified, and
his affections spiritualized.
Sanctification extends to the whole man, soul and body, and is carried on through...
the Word,
the ordinances, and
the providence of God.
Sanctification has its seat in the heart; but it regulates the whole man, and appears in his conduct in every day life. If a man experiences the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, then...
sin grieves him,
satan tries him,
the world troubles him,
and Heaven attracts him.
Spirit of Jesus, sanctify us deeply, thoroughly - that we may be just like Jesus! Sanctify us...
by every trial,
by every affliction,
by every privilege,
by every comfort!
~James Smith~
__________________________
One Truth, Brought Home to the Soul By the Holy Spirit
We do believe the truths of God's Word - but we need to make them bear more upon our experiences and practice. Our religion is too much in the head - and too little in the heart! Truth rather floats in the understanding - than sinks down into the soul. Our memory lets it slip - and nothing but frequent meditation on these things, will cause us to profit by them. The truths of God's Word are calculated and intended to benefit the Lord's people - but unless we exercise our minds upon them - we shall not be benefited by them.
One truth, brought home to the soul by the Holy Spirit, and digested by meditation - does us more good than volumes which just pass through the mind! We ought, therefore, to pray more over what we read - and look to the Holy Spirit,beseeching Him to unfold and apply the truth to us!
~James Smith~
______________________________
The Transforming Power of the Holy Spirit!
"To all those in Rome, who are loved by God and called to be saints" (Romans 1:7).
Believers are separated from the world by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit calls them out from the world, and separates them as effectively as if a wall were built between them and it. He puts in them....
new hearts,
new minds,
new tastes,
new desires,
new sorrows,
new joys,
new wishes,
new pleasures,
new longings.
He gives them...
new eyes,
new ears,
new affections,
new opinions.
He makes them new creatures. They are born again - and with a new birth they begin a new existence. Mighty indeed is the transforming power of the Holy Spirit!
~J. C. Ryle~
Where We Direct Our Allegiance
Where We Direct Our Allegiance
Our generation makes a great deal out of this, and we give it the name of "individualism." On the basis of our individuality, we claim the right of self-determination. In an airplane, the pilot who sits at the controls determines where that plane is going. He must determine the destination. Now, if God had made us humans to be mere machines, we would not have the power of self-determination. But since He made us in His own image and made us to be moral creatures, He has given us that power of self-determination. The poet Tennyson must have thought about this for he wrote in his "In Memoriam"; "Our wills are ours, we know not how; our wills are ours to make them Thine." Oh, this mystery of a man's free will is far too great for us! Tennyson said, "We know not how." But then he girds himself and continues, "Yes, our wills are ours to make them Thine." And that is the only right we have here to make our wills the wills of God, to make the will of God our will!
We must remember that God is Who He is, and we are what we are. God is the Sovereign and we are the creatures. He is the Creator and therefore He has a right to command us with the obligation that we should obey. It is a happy obligation, I might say, for His yoke is easy, and His burden is light" (Matt. 11:30).
Now, this is where I raise the point again of our human insistence that Christ may sustain a divided relationship toward us. This is now so commonly preached that to oppose it or object to it means that you are sticking your neck out and you had best be prepared for what comes. But how can we insist and teach that our Lord Jesus Christ can be our Saviour without being our Lord? How can we continue to teach that we can be saved without any thought of obedience to our Sovereign Lord"
I am satisfied that when man believes on Jesus Christ, he must believe on the whole Lord Jesus Christ - NOT making any reservation! I am satisfied that it is wrong to look upon Jesus as a kind of divine nurse to whom we can go when sin has made us sick, and after He has helped us, to say "Goodbye" - and go on our own way.
Suppose I slip into a hospital and tell the staff I need a blood transfusion or perhaps an X-ray of my gall bladder. After they have ministered to me and given their services, do I just slip out of the hospital again with a cheery "Goodbye" - as though I owe them nothing and it was kind of them to help me in my time of need? That may sound like a grotesque concept to you, but it does pretty well draw the picture of those who have been taught that they can use Jesus as Saviour in their time of need without owning Him as Sovereign and Lord and without owing Him obedience and allegiance.
Both Saviour and Lord
The Bible never in any way gives us such a concept of salvation. Nowhere are we ever led to believe that we can use Jesus as a Saviour and now own Him as our Lord. He is the Lord and as the Lord He saves us, because He has all of the offices of Saviour and Christ and High Priest and Wisdom and Righteousness and Sanctification and Redemption!! He is all of these things and all of these are embodied in Him as Christ the Lord.
My brethren, we are not allowed to come to Jesus Christ as shrewd, clever-operators, "We will take this and this, but we won't take that!" We do not come to Him as one who, buying furniture for his house, declares: "I will take this table but I don't want that chair" - dividing it up! No, sir! It is either ALL of Christ or NONE of Christ! I believe we need to preach again a whole Christ to the world - a Christ who does NOT need our apologies, a Christ Who will NOT be divided, a Christ Who will either be Lord of all or Who will NOT be Lord at all!
I think it is important to agree that true salvation restores the right of a Creator-creature relationship because it acknowledges God's right to our fellowship and communion. You see, in our time we have over-emphasized the psychology of the sinner's condition. We spend much time describing the woe of the sinner, the grief of the sinner and the great burden he carries. He does have all of these, but we have over-emphasized them until we forget the principal fact - that the sinner is actually a rebel against properly constituted authority! That is what makes sin, sin. We are rebels! We are sons of disobedience. Sin is the breaking of the law and we are in rebellion and we are fugitives from the just laws of God while we are sinners.
By way of illustration, suppose a man escapes from prison. Certainly he will have grief. He is going to be in pain after bumping logs and stones and fences as he crawls and hides away in the dark. He is going to be hungry and cold and weary. His beard will grow long and he will be tired and cramped and cold - all of these will happen, but they are incidental to the fact that he is a fugitive from justice and a rebel against the law.
So it is with sinners. Certainly they are heartbroken and they carry a heavy load. Certainly they labor and are heave-laden. The Bible takes full account of these things; but they are incidental to the fact that the reason the sinner is what he is, is because he has rebelled against the law of God and he is a fugitive from divine judgment.
It is that which constitutes the nature of sin; not the fact that he carries a heavy load of misery and sadness and guilt. These things constitute only the outcropping of the sinful nature, but the root of sin is rebellion against God. Does not the sinner say: "I belong to myself - I owe allegiance to no one unless I choose to give it!" That is the essence of sin!
But thankfully, salvation reverses that and restores the former relationship so that the first thing the returning sinner do4es is to confess: "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before Thee, and am no more worthy to be called Thy son; make me as one of Thy hired servants" (Luke 15:18-19). Thus, in repentance, we reverse that relationship and we full submit to the Word of God and the Will of God - as obedient children.
Now that happiness of all the moral creatures lies right here, brethren, in the giving of obedience to God. The Psalmist cries out in Psalm 103:21, "Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of His, that do His pleasure." On the other hand, hell is certainly the world of disobedience. Everything else that may be said about hell may be true, but this one thing is the essence - hell is the world of the rebel! Hell is the Alcatraz for the unconstituted rebels who refuse to surrender to the will of God.
I thank God that heaven is the world of God's obedient children. Whatever else we may say of its pearly gates, its golden streets and its jasper walls, heaven is heaven because children of the Most High God find they are in their normal sphere as obedient moral beings. Jesus said there are fire and worms in hell, but that is not the reason it is hell. You might endure worms and fire, but for a moral creature to know and realize that he is where he is because he is a rebel - that is the essence of hell and judgment. It is the eternal world of all the disobedient rebels who have said, "I owe God nothing!"
This is the time given to decide. Each person makes his own decision as to the eternal world he is going to inhabit.
~A. W. Tozer~
(The End)
Our generation makes a great deal out of this, and we give it the name of "individualism." On the basis of our individuality, we claim the right of self-determination. In an airplane, the pilot who sits at the controls determines where that plane is going. He must determine the destination. Now, if God had made us humans to be mere machines, we would not have the power of self-determination. But since He made us in His own image and made us to be moral creatures, He has given us that power of self-determination. The poet Tennyson must have thought about this for he wrote in his "In Memoriam"; "Our wills are ours, we know not how; our wills are ours to make them Thine." Oh, this mystery of a man's free will is far too great for us! Tennyson said, "We know not how." But then he girds himself and continues, "Yes, our wills are ours to make them Thine." And that is the only right we have here to make our wills the wills of God, to make the will of God our will!
We must remember that God is Who He is, and we are what we are. God is the Sovereign and we are the creatures. He is the Creator and therefore He has a right to command us with the obligation that we should obey. It is a happy obligation, I might say, for His yoke is easy, and His burden is light" (Matt. 11:30).
Now, this is where I raise the point again of our human insistence that Christ may sustain a divided relationship toward us. This is now so commonly preached that to oppose it or object to it means that you are sticking your neck out and you had best be prepared for what comes. But how can we insist and teach that our Lord Jesus Christ can be our Saviour without being our Lord? How can we continue to teach that we can be saved without any thought of obedience to our Sovereign Lord"
I am satisfied that when man believes on Jesus Christ, he must believe on the whole Lord Jesus Christ - NOT making any reservation! I am satisfied that it is wrong to look upon Jesus as a kind of divine nurse to whom we can go when sin has made us sick, and after He has helped us, to say "Goodbye" - and go on our own way.
Suppose I slip into a hospital and tell the staff I need a blood transfusion or perhaps an X-ray of my gall bladder. After they have ministered to me and given their services, do I just slip out of the hospital again with a cheery "Goodbye" - as though I owe them nothing and it was kind of them to help me in my time of need? That may sound like a grotesque concept to you, but it does pretty well draw the picture of those who have been taught that they can use Jesus as Saviour in their time of need without owning Him as Sovereign and Lord and without owing Him obedience and allegiance.
Both Saviour and Lord
The Bible never in any way gives us such a concept of salvation. Nowhere are we ever led to believe that we can use Jesus as a Saviour and now own Him as our Lord. He is the Lord and as the Lord He saves us, because He has all of the offices of Saviour and Christ and High Priest and Wisdom and Righteousness and Sanctification and Redemption!! He is all of these things and all of these are embodied in Him as Christ the Lord.
My brethren, we are not allowed to come to Jesus Christ as shrewd, clever-operators, "We will take this and this, but we won't take that!" We do not come to Him as one who, buying furniture for his house, declares: "I will take this table but I don't want that chair" - dividing it up! No, sir! It is either ALL of Christ or NONE of Christ! I believe we need to preach again a whole Christ to the world - a Christ who does NOT need our apologies, a Christ Who will NOT be divided, a Christ Who will either be Lord of all or Who will NOT be Lord at all!
I think it is important to agree that true salvation restores the right of a Creator-creature relationship because it acknowledges God's right to our fellowship and communion. You see, in our time we have over-emphasized the psychology of the sinner's condition. We spend much time describing the woe of the sinner, the grief of the sinner and the great burden he carries. He does have all of these, but we have over-emphasized them until we forget the principal fact - that the sinner is actually a rebel against properly constituted authority! That is what makes sin, sin. We are rebels! We are sons of disobedience. Sin is the breaking of the law and we are in rebellion and we are fugitives from the just laws of God while we are sinners.
By way of illustration, suppose a man escapes from prison. Certainly he will have grief. He is going to be in pain after bumping logs and stones and fences as he crawls and hides away in the dark. He is going to be hungry and cold and weary. His beard will grow long and he will be tired and cramped and cold - all of these will happen, but they are incidental to the fact that he is a fugitive from justice and a rebel against the law.
So it is with sinners. Certainly they are heartbroken and they carry a heavy load. Certainly they labor and are heave-laden. The Bible takes full account of these things; but they are incidental to the fact that the reason the sinner is what he is, is because he has rebelled against the law of God and he is a fugitive from divine judgment.
It is that which constitutes the nature of sin; not the fact that he carries a heavy load of misery and sadness and guilt. These things constitute only the outcropping of the sinful nature, but the root of sin is rebellion against God. Does not the sinner say: "I belong to myself - I owe allegiance to no one unless I choose to give it!" That is the essence of sin!
But thankfully, salvation reverses that and restores the former relationship so that the first thing the returning sinner do4es is to confess: "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before Thee, and am no more worthy to be called Thy son; make me as one of Thy hired servants" (Luke 15:18-19). Thus, in repentance, we reverse that relationship and we full submit to the Word of God and the Will of God - as obedient children.
Now that happiness of all the moral creatures lies right here, brethren, in the giving of obedience to God. The Psalmist cries out in Psalm 103:21, "Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of His, that do His pleasure." On the other hand, hell is certainly the world of disobedience. Everything else that may be said about hell may be true, but this one thing is the essence - hell is the world of the rebel! Hell is the Alcatraz for the unconstituted rebels who refuse to surrender to the will of God.
I thank God that heaven is the world of God's obedient children. Whatever else we may say of its pearly gates, its golden streets and its jasper walls, heaven is heaven because children of the Most High God find they are in their normal sphere as obedient moral beings. Jesus said there are fire and worms in hell, but that is not the reason it is hell. You might endure worms and fire, but for a moral creature to know and realize that he is where he is because he is a rebel - that is the essence of hell and judgment. It is the eternal world of all the disobedient rebels who have said, "I owe God nothing!"
This is the time given to decide. Each person makes his own decision as to the eternal world he is going to inhabit.
~A. W. Tozer~
(The End)
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Saturday, May 5, 2018
The Blessing of Dissatisfaction
The Blessing of Dissatisfaction
A young Christian girl sat in a room one beautiful summer afternoon. The sound of the birds chirping on the lawn and other noises of the outdoors came in through the open window to her. There was a look of melancholy upon her face, and her gaze rested steadily upon the floor. It was clear that she was troubled about something. Just then a minister entered the room. Noticing her forlorn appearance, he said cheerily, "What is the matter, young lady?"
She looked up at him and answered wearily, "O pastor, I am so dissatisfied."
"Well," he replied, "I am glad of it."
She almost gasped with astonishment, and exclaimed, "Why, pastor! What do you mean?"
He then sat down in a chair near her and explained to her the substance of what I am going to say to you.
We have all thought how good it is to be satisfied. How many times we have heard people testify and rejoice that they had reached this experience! I would not depreciate this sense of satisfaction, for out of it come many enjoyable things. It is a very pleasurable feeling and one that most people very earnestly desire. There are times, however, when such a feeling would be anything but a blessing. Perhaps this surprises you as it did the sister.
God has made provision to satisfy us. Christ said that he who would drink of the water of life would thirst no more - for it would be in him a well of water, and thus his thirst would be continually quenched. So there is a continual satisfaction in God. It is a good thing to be thus satisfied with God and His plans and ways and with our salvation - and dissatisfaction with any of these, if we are saved, is an evil to which we should not give place. But hardly any greater evil could come upon us than a complete and constant sense of satisfaction relating to our attainments in grace, the development of our spiritual powers, or the measures of our service to God.
Dissatisfaction is the mother of progress. The Chinese for centuries have been taught to be satisfied with having things like their fathers had. As a consequence they have almost entirely lost the inventive faculty. Long ago they were an inventive nation, but now as invention among them is a rarity. As long as people are satisfied - they are content to remain as they are.
Satisfaction is the foe to progress. As long as you are fully satisfied, you are like a sailing vessel in a dead calm. The sea about you may be very smooth. Everything may be very peaceful and serene. But all the time this calm prevails you are getting nowhere - you are at a standstill. It is only when the wind rises and the swells begin to move the vessel up and down and the sails begin to strain that good progress begins. You may feel very comfortable in your satisfaction. It may be very delightful and dreamy - but it may be dangerous also. Those who are fully satisfied for very long may be sure that there is need for an investigation. It is only when we become dissatisfied with present conditions and attainments, that we are spurred to effectual effort to make progress.
Suppose God had been satisfied with the world-conditions before Christ came. We would now have no Saviour and no salvation. He was dissatisfied, thoroughly dissatisfied, and so He made the greatest sacrifice that He could make to change existing conditions. Paul was once very well satisfied with his place in the Jewish religion - he was not looking for anything better. His dissatisfaction arose from the fact that some other people were not satisfied thus, but were finding and advocating something different. This aroused his severest condemnation. What he had was good enough for him - and ought to be good enough for them.
There are many today who are just like Paul was. They are fully contented in their present situation, and should anyone try to show them its insufficiency and the need of higher attainment, it would only arouse their opposition and indignation. That is why so many people oppose holiness. Just as soon as Paul saw Christ and the higher and better things for which Christ stood - he suddenly lost his satisfaction and became an earnest seeker for those better things. Sometimes it takes a rude shock to break through our self-satisfaction and to show us our true needs; but when it comes and arouses a dissatisfaction, it is truly a blessing.
Suppose Luther had been satisfied to continue in the Romish church, approving and submitting to her teaching and practises. Where might the world have been today? He became dissatisfied and gave voice to that dissatisfaction. Others heard and became dissatisfied. This dissatisfaction made their hearts hungry for God, and out of that heart-hunger came the Reformation.
Dissatisfaction has brought us a multitude of new things which we have to use and enjoy. It has been because men became dissatisfied with old methods and old implements and old ideas and customs and old attainments - that they have toiled in painful research, that they have labored night and day to invent new things. In some places, people still plow with a crooked stick and grind their four in hand-mills. What their fathers had, is good enough for them.
Some people are like that about religion. What their fathers had, is good enough for them, and they are indignant if we even suggest something better - they are satisfied. There are others who sought and obtained a new experience of forgiveness, but right there they stopped. Years have passed. They were satisfied when they were first saved; the only trouble was that they remained satisfied and never made any further progress. They can never be persuaded to press on in the Christian life. They go on from year to year and never make any real spiritual advancement. What is the trouble? Oh, they are just satisfied - that is all; and they will never get any further until their sleepy satisfaction is rudely broken in upon by something that startles them out of their security and awakens them to their needs. That will bring dissatisfaction, and that in time will set them to seeking to have those needs supplied.
Some people are content just to drift with the tides. They go along with the crowd, whichever way sentiment goes, and are quite content. They are no real moral force in their community or in the church. They are aware of the fact, and they seem to be satisfied to have it so. They will never amount to very much, so long as they are thus satisfied. Getting dissatisfied is the only thing that will ever make anything worth while of them.
There are those who know that they are less spiritual than they used to be - still, they are not much concerned about it. They are resting very easy. Such satisfaction is a curse! What such folks need is a good case of dissatisfaction; for that is the only thing that will keep them from drying up and withering away. I now of people who once had a glorious experience, but who for years have been so satisfied with themselves that they have not progressed an inch! Instead, they have gone backwards, with the result that today they are cold and formal. They are still satisfied, they still profess to be saved, but they amount to practically nothing for God or the church. There is no moral force radiating from their lives. To such persons the coming of dissatisfaction would be a great blessing. So long as they are satisfied with their present condition - so long they will be cold formalists.
Some people know that they are coming short of their duty and of their privileges in the Lord, but in spite of this they seem content and are making no effort - at least no effective effort - to do better. O brother, sister, if you are satisfied where you ought to be dissatisfied - it is time you awakened, it is time you looked toward better things until your hunger for them stirred you to action to obtain them.
To those who are dissatisfied, who realize your needs and lacks, I say - Do not be discouraged. God means by this very feeling of dissatisfaction with yourself, to spur you on to seek diligently for higher and better attainments. If you allow yourself to be discouraged, it will only hinder you. God will help you to obtain that which you need. Do not falter because your need seems great; God's supply is more abundant than your need. Cast off every weight. Press forward. God will help you. When once he has aroused you to effort - you will find Him ready to help. Your dissatisfaction is most encouraging. Press on until you obtain what you need. You will never attain your full measure of desire in this life - but you may obtain much, and what you do obtain will prepare you for that fullness and satisfaction which only eternity can bring you.
Dissatisfaction is never welcome- but it is a true friend. Through it you may reach blessed attainments and soul-enriching grace. Value it and use it rightly, and it will prove a great blessing, though it may often be a blessing in disguise!
~Charles Naylor~
(The End)
A young Christian girl sat in a room one beautiful summer afternoon. The sound of the birds chirping on the lawn and other noises of the outdoors came in through the open window to her. There was a look of melancholy upon her face, and her gaze rested steadily upon the floor. It was clear that she was troubled about something. Just then a minister entered the room. Noticing her forlorn appearance, he said cheerily, "What is the matter, young lady?"
She looked up at him and answered wearily, "O pastor, I am so dissatisfied."
"Well," he replied, "I am glad of it."
She almost gasped with astonishment, and exclaimed, "Why, pastor! What do you mean?"
He then sat down in a chair near her and explained to her the substance of what I am going to say to you.
We have all thought how good it is to be satisfied. How many times we have heard people testify and rejoice that they had reached this experience! I would not depreciate this sense of satisfaction, for out of it come many enjoyable things. It is a very pleasurable feeling and one that most people very earnestly desire. There are times, however, when such a feeling would be anything but a blessing. Perhaps this surprises you as it did the sister.
God has made provision to satisfy us. Christ said that he who would drink of the water of life would thirst no more - for it would be in him a well of water, and thus his thirst would be continually quenched. So there is a continual satisfaction in God. It is a good thing to be thus satisfied with God and His plans and ways and with our salvation - and dissatisfaction with any of these, if we are saved, is an evil to which we should not give place. But hardly any greater evil could come upon us than a complete and constant sense of satisfaction relating to our attainments in grace, the development of our spiritual powers, or the measures of our service to God.
Dissatisfaction is the mother of progress. The Chinese for centuries have been taught to be satisfied with having things like their fathers had. As a consequence they have almost entirely lost the inventive faculty. Long ago they were an inventive nation, but now as invention among them is a rarity. As long as people are satisfied - they are content to remain as they are.
Satisfaction is the foe to progress. As long as you are fully satisfied, you are like a sailing vessel in a dead calm. The sea about you may be very smooth. Everything may be very peaceful and serene. But all the time this calm prevails you are getting nowhere - you are at a standstill. It is only when the wind rises and the swells begin to move the vessel up and down and the sails begin to strain that good progress begins. You may feel very comfortable in your satisfaction. It may be very delightful and dreamy - but it may be dangerous also. Those who are fully satisfied for very long may be sure that there is need for an investigation. It is only when we become dissatisfied with present conditions and attainments, that we are spurred to effectual effort to make progress.
Suppose God had been satisfied with the world-conditions before Christ came. We would now have no Saviour and no salvation. He was dissatisfied, thoroughly dissatisfied, and so He made the greatest sacrifice that He could make to change existing conditions. Paul was once very well satisfied with his place in the Jewish religion - he was not looking for anything better. His dissatisfaction arose from the fact that some other people were not satisfied thus, but were finding and advocating something different. This aroused his severest condemnation. What he had was good enough for him - and ought to be good enough for them.
There are many today who are just like Paul was. They are fully contented in their present situation, and should anyone try to show them its insufficiency and the need of higher attainment, it would only arouse their opposition and indignation. That is why so many people oppose holiness. Just as soon as Paul saw Christ and the higher and better things for which Christ stood - he suddenly lost his satisfaction and became an earnest seeker for those better things. Sometimes it takes a rude shock to break through our self-satisfaction and to show us our true needs; but when it comes and arouses a dissatisfaction, it is truly a blessing.
Suppose Luther had been satisfied to continue in the Romish church, approving and submitting to her teaching and practises. Where might the world have been today? He became dissatisfied and gave voice to that dissatisfaction. Others heard and became dissatisfied. This dissatisfaction made their hearts hungry for God, and out of that heart-hunger came the Reformation.
Dissatisfaction has brought us a multitude of new things which we have to use and enjoy. It has been because men became dissatisfied with old methods and old implements and old ideas and customs and old attainments - that they have toiled in painful research, that they have labored night and day to invent new things. In some places, people still plow with a crooked stick and grind their four in hand-mills. What their fathers had, is good enough for them.
Some people are like that about religion. What their fathers had, is good enough for them, and they are indignant if we even suggest something better - they are satisfied. There are others who sought and obtained a new experience of forgiveness, but right there they stopped. Years have passed. They were satisfied when they were first saved; the only trouble was that they remained satisfied and never made any further progress. They can never be persuaded to press on in the Christian life. They go on from year to year and never make any real spiritual advancement. What is the trouble? Oh, they are just satisfied - that is all; and they will never get any further until their sleepy satisfaction is rudely broken in upon by something that startles them out of their security and awakens them to their needs. That will bring dissatisfaction, and that in time will set them to seeking to have those needs supplied.
Some people are content just to drift with the tides. They go along with the crowd, whichever way sentiment goes, and are quite content. They are no real moral force in their community or in the church. They are aware of the fact, and they seem to be satisfied to have it so. They will never amount to very much, so long as they are thus satisfied. Getting dissatisfied is the only thing that will ever make anything worth while of them.
There are those who know that they are less spiritual than they used to be - still, they are not much concerned about it. They are resting very easy. Such satisfaction is a curse! What such folks need is a good case of dissatisfaction; for that is the only thing that will keep them from drying up and withering away. I now of people who once had a glorious experience, but who for years have been so satisfied with themselves that they have not progressed an inch! Instead, they have gone backwards, with the result that today they are cold and formal. They are still satisfied, they still profess to be saved, but they amount to practically nothing for God or the church. There is no moral force radiating from their lives. To such persons the coming of dissatisfaction would be a great blessing. So long as they are satisfied with their present condition - so long they will be cold formalists.
Some people know that they are coming short of their duty and of their privileges in the Lord, but in spite of this they seem content and are making no effort - at least no effective effort - to do better. O brother, sister, if you are satisfied where you ought to be dissatisfied - it is time you awakened, it is time you looked toward better things until your hunger for them stirred you to action to obtain them.
To those who are dissatisfied, who realize your needs and lacks, I say - Do not be discouraged. God means by this very feeling of dissatisfaction with yourself, to spur you on to seek diligently for higher and better attainments. If you allow yourself to be discouraged, it will only hinder you. God will help you to obtain that which you need. Do not falter because your need seems great; God's supply is more abundant than your need. Cast off every weight. Press forward. God will help you. When once he has aroused you to effort - you will find Him ready to help. Your dissatisfaction is most encouraging. Press on until you obtain what you need. You will never attain your full measure of desire in this life - but you may obtain much, and what you do obtain will prepare you for that fullness and satisfaction which only eternity can bring you.
Dissatisfaction is never welcome- but it is a true friend. Through it you may reach blessed attainments and soul-enriching grace. Value it and use it rightly, and it will prove a great blessing, though it may often be a blessing in disguise!
~Charles Naylor~
(The End)
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