Personal Ambition Hinders Christian Life and Ministry # 2 (and others)
Is the desire for ecclesiastical advancement, ambition? If not, what is it? We may say it is a laudable ambition! Can a qualifying word change the evil nature of this dark and fallen angel? Does an angelic garb make satan into a holy angel? We may say we want a more honorable place - to do more honorable and larger service for Christ. Is not this satan clothing himself as an angle of light? The honor of service for God, depends only on the spirit in which it is done, and that spirit is one in which self, pride and ambition are crucified! SELF in us, looks to the future to personal greatness and honor. Christ in us, looks to the present to fidelity and zeal for the work at hand, and has no eye for self and future.
Can the preacher preach without faith? If he preaches with personal ambition, he is preaching without love, for ambition and love have neither union nor concord.
Can a preacher preach without humility? If he preaches with personal ambition, he is preaching without humility, for ambition is the very essence of pride!
Can a preacher preach without consecration? If he preaches with personal ambition he must, for ambition is a thing to be crucified and not consecrated. Ambition must be daily crucified - because it never can be consecrated.
Personal ambition changes the whole nature of ministry, and floods it with worldliness. Instead of the ministry being an institution where the highest Christian graces are to be produced and the loftiest virtues exhibited - personal ambition transforms it into a ministry where SELF is the mainspring, and every grace is blighted!
With personal ambition in the preacher - the church is no longer an institution to save men; but it is changed into an institution to confer honor on the preacher. And all its holy places are then polluted by the grasping, self hand of ambition, or they are trodden by its unhallowed feet!
~E. M. Bounds~
(The End)
_____________________________
The Sword of His Pure, Infinite and Incensed Wrath!
"Yet it was the Lord's will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer" (Isaiah 53:10).
To see God thrust the sword of His pure, infinite and incensed wrath through the very heart of His dearest Son, notwithstanding all His supplications, prayers, tears, and strong cries - is the highest manifestation of the Lord's hatred and indignation of sin - which ever was, or ever will be!
It is true, God revealed His great hatred against sin by casting the angels down to hell, by turning Adam out of paradise, by drowning the old world, and by raining hell out of heaven upon Sodom and Gomorrah, and by the various and dreadful judgments which He has been pouring forth upon the world in all ages. But all this hatred which God manifested against sin, is causing the whole curse to meet upon our crucified Lord!
It is true that God reveals His hatred of sin by those endless, easeless, and remediless torments, which He inflicts upon devils and damned men. But this is no hatred compared to that hatred against sin, which God revealed when He opened all the floodgates of His envenomed wrath upon His Son - His own Son, His only Son, His Son who always pleased Him!
Suppose there was a father who had but one son - and he was such a son in whom he always delighted, and by whom he had never been provoked. Now suppose you should see this father inflicting the most intensified pains and punishments, tortures and torment, calamities and miseries upon this, his dearest son. Would you not wonder at the cause of the father's exercising such amazing, such matchless severity, fury and cruelty upon his only beloved son?
Now cast your eye upon the actings of God the Father towards Jesus Christ - and you will find that he has inflicted more and greater torments upon the Son of His dearest love - than all mortals ever have or could inflict upon others. God made all the penalties and sufferings that were due to us - to fall upon Jesus Christ. God Himself inflicted upon dear Jesus, whatever was requisite to the satisfying of His justice, to the obtaining of pardon, and to the saving of all His elect!
"He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5).
~Thomas Brooks~
Saturday, October 27, 2018
Personal Ambition Hinders Christian Life and Ministry # 1
Personal Ambition Hinders Christian Life and Ministry #1
"For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus Christ sake!" (2 Cor. 4:5).
Read: Matthew 20:20-21, 25-28
Personal ambition is one of the greatest hindrances to the Christian life and especially to preaching - because it is born of SELF and nurtured by pride. It manifests itself in various ways: the desire to be a great preacher, to have the first place, to be a leader, or to secure places of honor or profit - veils itself under many disguises. It is christened with the surname "laudable", and comes into the church, then works its selfish, worldly schemes. A person may be a Christian by name and a church member, but if he is driven by personal ambition, he is an infidel at heart and worldly! The days of the prevalence of ambition in the church - have been days of supreme church worldliness and extreme apostasy.
There is much in a name, and the true and wise Christian will not allow this corrupter of the faith to enter, though clothed in a garb of innocent names. Christian faith has kindled and consecrated the flame of holy zeal, stimulating and giving ardor to effort. True zeal is a heavenly fire, the purity of which disdains all earthly adulterations. Zeal crucifies SELF - it fixes its eyes on both God and His glory. As Christ died for sin once, so the Christian by crucifixion dies to self and says, "Perish every fond ambition." In every moment of his life, in every vision of his eye, in every impulse of his heart, and in every effort of his hand - the Christian is to be true to the fact of this self-renouncing commitment.
Personal ambition is the one thing that affected the power, peace, and piety of the apostles of the Lord. We see its effects noted in their envies and strife. A few instances are recorded, but how much unrecorded jealousy and alienation was produced, we can only conjecture. We have the record of its existence and Christ's rebuke in the early part of their career, and its violence breaks out under the shadow of the Cross. The bitter thoughts of his death, are mixed with the strife of his disciples for place and its solemn charge against the religious phase of worldly ambition. The The washing of the disciples' feet was the last act of personal training that Christ used as a remedy for ambition in his disciples.
Personal ambition destroys the foundation of Christian character, by making faith impossible. Faith roots itself in the soil where selfish and worldly growths have been destroyed. "How can you believe," says Christ, "who receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that comes from God only?" (John 5:44). In this statement is shown the impossibility of blending faith with the desire to receive honor from men.
The entrance of this alluring element of human honor, draws the heart from the honor that comes from God and sweeps away the foundations of faith. When the eye seeks things other than God, when the heart desires things other than God - this is personal ambition. No man can serve these two masters; no man can combine the ends of SELF - and of God. He may think he can; he may seem to do so; but no one can perform this spiritual impossibility.
Personal ambition enthrones pride, and that is the throne on which satan sits!! Humility is destroyed by personal ambition. The history of the church attests to the fact that humility has no place in the man who is ambitious. Humility is not a virtue of those who have sought to be put in the calendar of earthly saints. No ambition is so proud as a religious ambition, and none less scrupulous! No church can be more thoroughly apostate, than the church whose leaders have come into their places though the way of ambition. No ambition is so destructive, as that which comes in under the guise of religion! Personal ambition is worldly, though it may be disguised under the name of Christianity. It easily deludes its possessor, under the plea of a wider field of influence and usefulness.
If personal ambition can be religious and can preach, then it must do so without love, for love and ambition can no more unite than can light and darkness; they are as essentially at war, as Christ and Belial. "Love seeks not her own," while ambition is ever seeking its own, and not infrequently it seeks with all its heart, that which is another's. Love in honor prefers one another, but ambition never does.
If Jesus Christ is to be our model preacher, if our attachment to Him rises to anything above a selfish sentiment - than the mind that was in Him must be in us. He was without taint of ambition. We have this attitude of Christ to ambition set before us: "Have this mind among yourselves, which was Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a Cross" (Phil. 2:5-8).
The whole history and character of Christ are in direct antagonism to personal ambition.
If Paul is to serve as an example for preachers, it is at the point of freedom from all forms of personal ambition, that his example is the most emphatic. He puts the whole inventory of ecclesiastical and earthly goods on one catalog - and renounces them all in this strong language: "But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ!" (Phil. 3:7-8). And as though this were not enough, he takes us to the Cross, where every earthly thing perished in pain, shame, and utter bankruptcy, and declares; "I am crucified with Christ!"
Many things are often allowed to come into our faith and our ministry to defame them, but nothing is more deadly to us than personal ambition. It has in its bad embrace the seeds of all evil. It has insincerity and hypocrisy. It is a tyrant! Of all the evils that grieve God's Spirit and quench His flame - ambition may be reckoned among the chief, if not the very chief! The fact that ecclesiastical pride and church worldliness will allow ambition to be christened at church altars and have the stamp of innocence and of virtue - ought to be alarming!
~E. M. Bounds~
(continued with # 2)
"For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus Christ sake!" (2 Cor. 4:5).
Read: Matthew 20:20-21, 25-28
Personal ambition is one of the greatest hindrances to the Christian life and especially to preaching - because it is born of SELF and nurtured by pride. It manifests itself in various ways: the desire to be a great preacher, to have the first place, to be a leader, or to secure places of honor or profit - veils itself under many disguises. It is christened with the surname "laudable", and comes into the church, then works its selfish, worldly schemes. A person may be a Christian by name and a church member, but if he is driven by personal ambition, he is an infidel at heart and worldly! The days of the prevalence of ambition in the church - have been days of supreme church worldliness and extreme apostasy.
There is much in a name, and the true and wise Christian will not allow this corrupter of the faith to enter, though clothed in a garb of innocent names. Christian faith has kindled and consecrated the flame of holy zeal, stimulating and giving ardor to effort. True zeal is a heavenly fire, the purity of which disdains all earthly adulterations. Zeal crucifies SELF - it fixes its eyes on both God and His glory. As Christ died for sin once, so the Christian by crucifixion dies to self and says, "Perish every fond ambition." In every moment of his life, in every vision of his eye, in every impulse of his heart, and in every effort of his hand - the Christian is to be true to the fact of this self-renouncing commitment.
Personal ambition is the one thing that affected the power, peace, and piety of the apostles of the Lord. We see its effects noted in their envies and strife. A few instances are recorded, but how much unrecorded jealousy and alienation was produced, we can only conjecture. We have the record of its existence and Christ's rebuke in the early part of their career, and its violence breaks out under the shadow of the Cross. The bitter thoughts of his death, are mixed with the strife of his disciples for place and its solemn charge against the religious phase of worldly ambition. The The washing of the disciples' feet was the last act of personal training that Christ used as a remedy for ambition in his disciples.
Personal ambition destroys the foundation of Christian character, by making faith impossible. Faith roots itself in the soil where selfish and worldly growths have been destroyed. "How can you believe," says Christ, "who receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that comes from God only?" (John 5:44). In this statement is shown the impossibility of blending faith with the desire to receive honor from men.
The entrance of this alluring element of human honor, draws the heart from the honor that comes from God and sweeps away the foundations of faith. When the eye seeks things other than God, when the heart desires things other than God - this is personal ambition. No man can serve these two masters; no man can combine the ends of SELF - and of God. He may think he can; he may seem to do so; but no one can perform this spiritual impossibility.
Personal ambition enthrones pride, and that is the throne on which satan sits!! Humility is destroyed by personal ambition. The history of the church attests to the fact that humility has no place in the man who is ambitious. Humility is not a virtue of those who have sought to be put in the calendar of earthly saints. No ambition is so proud as a religious ambition, and none less scrupulous! No church can be more thoroughly apostate, than the church whose leaders have come into their places though the way of ambition. No ambition is so destructive, as that which comes in under the guise of religion! Personal ambition is worldly, though it may be disguised under the name of Christianity. It easily deludes its possessor, under the plea of a wider field of influence and usefulness.
If personal ambition can be religious and can preach, then it must do so without love, for love and ambition can no more unite than can light and darkness; they are as essentially at war, as Christ and Belial. "Love seeks not her own," while ambition is ever seeking its own, and not infrequently it seeks with all its heart, that which is another's. Love in honor prefers one another, but ambition never does.
If Jesus Christ is to be our model preacher, if our attachment to Him rises to anything above a selfish sentiment - than the mind that was in Him must be in us. He was without taint of ambition. We have this attitude of Christ to ambition set before us: "Have this mind among yourselves, which was Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a Cross" (Phil. 2:5-8).
The whole history and character of Christ are in direct antagonism to personal ambition.
If Paul is to serve as an example for preachers, it is at the point of freedom from all forms of personal ambition, that his example is the most emphatic. He puts the whole inventory of ecclesiastical and earthly goods on one catalog - and renounces them all in this strong language: "But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ!" (Phil. 3:7-8). And as though this were not enough, he takes us to the Cross, where every earthly thing perished in pain, shame, and utter bankruptcy, and declares; "I am crucified with Christ!"
Many things are often allowed to come into our faith and our ministry to defame them, but nothing is more deadly to us than personal ambition. It has in its bad embrace the seeds of all evil. It has insincerity and hypocrisy. It is a tyrant! Of all the evils that grieve God's Spirit and quench His flame - ambition may be reckoned among the chief, if not the very chief! The fact that ecclesiastical pride and church worldliness will allow ambition to be christened at church altars and have the stamp of innocence and of virtue - ought to be alarming!
~E. M. Bounds~
(continued with # 2)
Cross Bearing # 2
Cross Bearing # 2
The word "cross" is never found in the plural number, nor is it ever found with the indefinite article before it, "a cross." Note also that in our text the cross is linked to a verb in the active voice and not the passive. It is not a cross that is laid upon us - but a cross which must be "taken up"! The cross stands for definite realities which embody and express the leading characteristics of Christ's agony.
Others understand the "cross" to refer to disagreeable duties which they reluctantly discharge - or to fleshly habits which they grudgingly deny. They imagine that they are cross-bearing when, prodded at the point of conscience, they abstain from things earnestly desired. Such people invariably turn their cross into a weapon with which to assail other people. They parade their self-denial and go around insisting that others should follow them. Such conceptions of the cross are as Pharisaical as false, and as mischievous as they are erroneous!
Now, as the Lord enables me, let me point out three things that the Cross stands for:
First, the cross is the expression of the world's hatred. The world hated Christ, and its hatred was ultimately manifested by crucifying Him. In the 15th chapter of John, seven times over, Christ refers there to the hatred of the world against Himself and against His people. And just in proportion as you and I are following Christ, just in proportion as our lives are being lived as His life was lived, just in proportion as we have come out from the world and are in fellowship with Him - so will the world hate us!
Ah, my friends, if you are following Christ - the world will think you are mad - and some of you will find it very hard to bear aspersions on your sanity. Yes, there are some who find the reproaches of the living - a harder trial than the loss of the dead. Yes, the reproach of the world becomes very real - if you are following Christ closely. No man can keep in with the world - and follow Him. The cross stands for the reproach and the hatred of the world. But as the cross was voluntary for Christ, so it is for His disciples. It can either be avoided or accepted. It can either be ignored or taken up!
But secondly, the cross stands for a life that is voluntarily surrendered to the will of God. From the standpoint of the world, the death was voluntary sacrifice. Turn for a moment to the 10th chapter of John, beginning at the 17th verse: "Therefore does My Father love Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again. No man takes it from Me - but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again." Why did Christ thus lay down His life? Look at the closing sentence of verse 18: "This commandment have I received of My Father." The cross was the last demand of God upon the obedience of His Son. That is why we read in Phil. 2 that, He "made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness." And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death" (that was the climax, that was the end of the path of obedience), "even the death of the cross!"
Christ has left us an example that we should follow His steps. The obedience of Christ should be the obedience of the Christian - voluntary, not compulsory; continuous, faithful, without any reserve, unto death. The cross stands for obedience, consecration, surrender, a life placed at the disposal of God. "If any man will come after Me, let him take up his cross and follow Me" and "Whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me - cannot be My disciple." In other words, dear friends, the cross stands for the principle of discipleship, our life being actuated by the same principle that Christ's was. He came here - and He pleased not Himself; no more must I. He made Himself of no reputation: so must I. He went about doing good: so should I. He came not to be ministered unto - but to minister; so should we. He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. That is what the Cross stands for.
Have we begun to "take up the cross" at all? Is there any wonder that we are following Him at such a distance? Is there any wonder that we have such little victory over the power of indwelling sin? There is a reason for that. Mediatorially, the Cross of Christ stands alone - but experimentally the cross is to be shared by all His disciples. Legally the Cross of Calvary annulled and put away our guilt, the guilt of our sins; but, my friends, I am perfectly convinced that the only way of getting deliverance from the power of sin in our lives and obtaining mastery over the old man within us - is by the cross becoming a part of the experience of our souls! It was at the Cross, that sin was dealt with legally and judicially. It is only as the Cross is "taken up" by the disciple that it becomes an experience, slaying the power and defilement of sin within us. And Christ says, "Whoever does not bear his cross, cannot be My disciple." O what need has each Christian here this morning to get alone with the Master, and consecrate Himself to His service!!
~A. W. PinK~
(The End)
The word "cross" is never found in the plural number, nor is it ever found with the indefinite article before it, "a cross." Note also that in our text the cross is linked to a verb in the active voice and not the passive. It is not a cross that is laid upon us - but a cross which must be "taken up"! The cross stands for definite realities which embody and express the leading characteristics of Christ's agony.
Others understand the "cross" to refer to disagreeable duties which they reluctantly discharge - or to fleshly habits which they grudgingly deny. They imagine that they are cross-bearing when, prodded at the point of conscience, they abstain from things earnestly desired. Such people invariably turn their cross into a weapon with which to assail other people. They parade their self-denial and go around insisting that others should follow them. Such conceptions of the cross are as Pharisaical as false, and as mischievous as they are erroneous!
Now, as the Lord enables me, let me point out three things that the Cross stands for:
First, the cross is the expression of the world's hatred. The world hated Christ, and its hatred was ultimately manifested by crucifying Him. In the 15th chapter of John, seven times over, Christ refers there to the hatred of the world against Himself and against His people. And just in proportion as you and I are following Christ, just in proportion as our lives are being lived as His life was lived, just in proportion as we have come out from the world and are in fellowship with Him - so will the world hate us!
Ah, my friends, if you are following Christ - the world will think you are mad - and some of you will find it very hard to bear aspersions on your sanity. Yes, there are some who find the reproaches of the living - a harder trial than the loss of the dead. Yes, the reproach of the world becomes very real - if you are following Christ closely. No man can keep in with the world - and follow Him. The cross stands for the reproach and the hatred of the world. But as the cross was voluntary for Christ, so it is for His disciples. It can either be avoided or accepted. It can either be ignored or taken up!
But secondly, the cross stands for a life that is voluntarily surrendered to the will of God. From the standpoint of the world, the death was voluntary sacrifice. Turn for a moment to the 10th chapter of John, beginning at the 17th verse: "Therefore does My Father love Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again. No man takes it from Me - but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again." Why did Christ thus lay down His life? Look at the closing sentence of verse 18: "This commandment have I received of My Father." The cross was the last demand of God upon the obedience of His Son. That is why we read in Phil. 2 that, He "made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness." And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death" (that was the climax, that was the end of the path of obedience), "even the death of the cross!"
Christ has left us an example that we should follow His steps. The obedience of Christ should be the obedience of the Christian - voluntary, not compulsory; continuous, faithful, without any reserve, unto death. The cross stands for obedience, consecration, surrender, a life placed at the disposal of God. "If any man will come after Me, let him take up his cross and follow Me" and "Whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me - cannot be My disciple." In other words, dear friends, the cross stands for the principle of discipleship, our life being actuated by the same principle that Christ's was. He came here - and He pleased not Himself; no more must I. He made Himself of no reputation: so must I. He went about doing good: so should I. He came not to be ministered unto - but to minister; so should we. He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. That is what the Cross stands for.
Have we begun to "take up the cross" at all? Is there any wonder that we are following Him at such a distance? Is there any wonder that we have such little victory over the power of indwelling sin? There is a reason for that. Mediatorially, the Cross of Christ stands alone - but experimentally the cross is to be shared by all His disciples. Legally the Cross of Calvary annulled and put away our guilt, the guilt of our sins; but, my friends, I am perfectly convinced that the only way of getting deliverance from the power of sin in our lives and obtaining mastery over the old man within us - is by the cross becoming a part of the experience of our souls! It was at the Cross, that sin was dealt with legally and judicially. It is only as the Cross is "taken up" by the disciple that it becomes an experience, slaying the power and defilement of sin within us. And Christ says, "Whoever does not bear his cross, cannot be My disciple." O what need has each Christian here this morning to get alone with the Master, and consecrate Himself to His service!!
~A. W. PinK~
(The End)
Saturday, October 20, 2018
Cross-Bearing # 1
Cross-Bearing # 1
"Jesus said unto His disciples - if any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me" (Matthew 16:24).
"Then said Jesus unto His disciples, if any man will"; the word "will" here means "desire to" just as in that verse, "If any will live godly." It signifies "determine to." "If any man will or desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross (not a cross - but his cross) and follow Me." Then in Luke 14:27 Christ declared, "And whoever does not bear his cross, and come after Me, cannot be my disciple." So cross-bearing is not optional. The Christian life is far more than subscribing to a system of truths, or adopting a code of conduct - or of submitting to religious ordinances. The Christian life is primarily a person; experience of fellowship with the Lord Jesus, and just in proportion as your life is lived in communion with Christ, to that extent are you living the Christian life, and to that extent only.
The Christian life is a life that consists of following Jesus. "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." O that you and I may gain distinction for the closeness of our walk to Christ! There is a class described in Scripture of whom it is said, "These are those who follow the Lamb wherever He goes." But sad to say, there is another class, and a large class, who seem to follow the Lord fitfully, spasmodically, half-heartedly, occasionally, distantly. There is much of the world and much of self in their lives - and so little of Christ! Thrice happy shall he be, who like Caleb - follows the Lord fully.
Now, beloved, our chief business and desire is to follow Christ - but there are difficulties in the way. There are obstacles in the path, and it is to them, that the first part of our text refers. You notice that the words "follow Me" come at the end. SELF, self stands in the way, and the world with its ten thousand attractions and distractions is an obstacle; and therefore Christ says, "If any man will come - (first) let him deny himself, (second) take up his cross, (third) and follow Me." And there we learn the reason why so few professing Christians are following Him closely, manifestly, consistently.
The first step toward a daily following of Christ, is the denying of SELF. There is a vast difference between denying self and so-called self-denial. The popular idea which prevails both in the world and among Christians, is that of giving up things which we like. There is a great diversity of opinion as to what should be given up. There are some who would restrict it to that which is characteristically worldly - such as theater-going, dancing, or other certain kinds of amusements. But such methods as those only foster spiritual pride, for surely I deserve some credit - if I give up more than my friends.
What Christ speaks of in our text (and O may the Spirit of God apply it to our souls this morning) as the first step toward following Him, is the denial of SELF itself - not simply some of the things that are pleasing to self. Not some of the things after which self hankers - but the denying of SELF itself. What does that mean, "let him deny himself?"
It means in the first place, abandoning his own righteousness; but it means far more than that. That is only its first meaning. It means refusing to rest upon my own wisdom. It means far more than that. It means ceasing to insist upon my own rights. It means repudiating SELF itself. It means ceasing to consider our own comforts, our own ease, our own pleasure, our own aggrandizement, our own benefits. It means being done with SELF. It means saying with the apostle, "For me to live is, not self - but Christ. For me to live is to obey Christ, to serve Christ, to honor Christ, to spend myself for Him. That is what it means. Let "self" be repudiated, be done with. In other words it is what you have in Romans 12:1, "Present your bodies a living sacrifice unto God."
The second step toward following Christ, is the taking up of the CROSS. Ah, my friends, to live out the Christian life is something more than a passive luxury; it is a serious undertaking. It is a life that has to be disciplined in sacrifice. The life of discipleship begins with self-renunciation and it continues by self-mortification. In other words, our text refers to the CROSS not simply as an object of faith - but as a principle of life, as the badge of discipleship, as an experience in the soul. And, listen! Just as it was true that the only way to the Father's throne for Jesus was by the Cross - so the only way for a life of communion with God and the crown at the end for the Christian, is via the cross.
I want to call your attention to the context of Matthew 16:21: "From that day forth began Jesus to show unto His disciples, how that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him. He was staggered and said, "Pity Yourself, Lord!" That expressed the policy of the world. That is the sum of the world's philosophy - self-shielding and self-seeking; but that which Christ preached was NOT spare yourself - but sacrifice yourself. The Lord Jesus saw in Peter's suggestion a temptation from satan - and He flung it away from Him. Then He turned to His disciples and said, "If any man will come after Me - let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." In other words what Christ said was this: I am going up to Jerusalem to the Cross - if anyone would be My follower - there is a cross for him. And, as Luke 14 says, "Whoever does not bear his cross - cannot be My disciple." Not only must Jesus go up to Jerusalem and be killed - but everyone who comes after Him must take up his cross. The "must" is as imperative in the one case as in the other. Mediatorially, the cross of Christ stands alone, but experimentally it is shared by all who enter into eternal life.
Now then, what does "the cross" stand for? My friends, it is deplorable that at this late date, such a question needs to be asked; and it is more deplorable still, that the vast majority of God's own people have such unscriptural conceptions of what the "cross" stands for. The average Christian seems to regard the cross in this text, as any trial or trouble that may be laid upon him. Whatever comes up that disturbs our peace, that is unpleasing to the flesh, or that irritates our temper - is looked upon as a cross. One says, "Well, that is my cross," another says, "This is my cross," and someone else says something else is their cross. My friends, the word is never so used in the New Testament!
~A. W. Pink~
(continued with # 2)
"Jesus said unto His disciples - if any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me" (Matthew 16:24).
"Then said Jesus unto His disciples, if any man will"; the word "will" here means "desire to" just as in that verse, "If any will live godly." It signifies "determine to." "If any man will or desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross (not a cross - but his cross) and follow Me." Then in Luke 14:27 Christ declared, "And whoever does not bear his cross, and come after Me, cannot be my disciple." So cross-bearing is not optional. The Christian life is far more than subscribing to a system of truths, or adopting a code of conduct - or of submitting to religious ordinances. The Christian life is primarily a person; experience of fellowship with the Lord Jesus, and just in proportion as your life is lived in communion with Christ, to that extent are you living the Christian life, and to that extent only.
The Christian life is a life that consists of following Jesus. "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." O that you and I may gain distinction for the closeness of our walk to Christ! There is a class described in Scripture of whom it is said, "These are those who follow the Lamb wherever He goes." But sad to say, there is another class, and a large class, who seem to follow the Lord fitfully, spasmodically, half-heartedly, occasionally, distantly. There is much of the world and much of self in their lives - and so little of Christ! Thrice happy shall he be, who like Caleb - follows the Lord fully.
Now, beloved, our chief business and desire is to follow Christ - but there are difficulties in the way. There are obstacles in the path, and it is to them, that the first part of our text refers. You notice that the words "follow Me" come at the end. SELF, self stands in the way, and the world with its ten thousand attractions and distractions is an obstacle; and therefore Christ says, "If any man will come - (first) let him deny himself, (second) take up his cross, (third) and follow Me." And there we learn the reason why so few professing Christians are following Him closely, manifestly, consistently.
The first step toward a daily following of Christ, is the denying of SELF. There is a vast difference between denying self and so-called self-denial. The popular idea which prevails both in the world and among Christians, is that of giving up things which we like. There is a great diversity of opinion as to what should be given up. There are some who would restrict it to that which is characteristically worldly - such as theater-going, dancing, or other certain kinds of amusements. But such methods as those only foster spiritual pride, for surely I deserve some credit - if I give up more than my friends.
What Christ speaks of in our text (and O may the Spirit of God apply it to our souls this morning) as the first step toward following Him, is the denial of SELF itself - not simply some of the things that are pleasing to self. Not some of the things after which self hankers - but the denying of SELF itself. What does that mean, "let him deny himself?"
It means in the first place, abandoning his own righteousness; but it means far more than that. That is only its first meaning. It means refusing to rest upon my own wisdom. It means far more than that. It means ceasing to insist upon my own rights. It means repudiating SELF itself. It means ceasing to consider our own comforts, our own ease, our own pleasure, our own aggrandizement, our own benefits. It means being done with SELF. It means saying with the apostle, "For me to live is, not self - but Christ. For me to live is to obey Christ, to serve Christ, to honor Christ, to spend myself for Him. That is what it means. Let "self" be repudiated, be done with. In other words it is what you have in Romans 12:1, "Present your bodies a living sacrifice unto God."
The second step toward following Christ, is the taking up of the CROSS. Ah, my friends, to live out the Christian life is something more than a passive luxury; it is a serious undertaking. It is a life that has to be disciplined in sacrifice. The life of discipleship begins with self-renunciation and it continues by self-mortification. In other words, our text refers to the CROSS not simply as an object of faith - but as a principle of life, as the badge of discipleship, as an experience in the soul. And, listen! Just as it was true that the only way to the Father's throne for Jesus was by the Cross - so the only way for a life of communion with God and the crown at the end for the Christian, is via the cross.
I want to call your attention to the context of Matthew 16:21: "From that day forth began Jesus to show unto His disciples, how that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him. He was staggered and said, "Pity Yourself, Lord!" That expressed the policy of the world. That is the sum of the world's philosophy - self-shielding and self-seeking; but that which Christ preached was NOT spare yourself - but sacrifice yourself. The Lord Jesus saw in Peter's suggestion a temptation from satan - and He flung it away from Him. Then He turned to His disciples and said, "If any man will come after Me - let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." In other words what Christ said was this: I am going up to Jerusalem to the Cross - if anyone would be My follower - there is a cross for him. And, as Luke 14 says, "Whoever does not bear his cross - cannot be My disciple." Not only must Jesus go up to Jerusalem and be killed - but everyone who comes after Him must take up his cross. The "must" is as imperative in the one case as in the other. Mediatorially, the cross of Christ stands alone, but experimentally it is shared by all who enter into eternal life.
Now then, what does "the cross" stand for? My friends, it is deplorable that at this late date, such a question needs to be asked; and it is more deplorable still, that the vast majority of God's own people have such unscriptural conceptions of what the "cross" stands for. The average Christian seems to regard the cross in this text, as any trial or trouble that may be laid upon him. Whatever comes up that disturbs our peace, that is unpleasing to the flesh, or that irritates our temper - is looked upon as a cross. One says, "Well, that is my cross," another says, "This is my cross," and someone else says something else is their cross. My friends, the word is never so used in the New Testament!
~A. W. Pink~
(continued with # 2)
Saturday, October 13, 2018
A Talk At The Wellside (and others)
A Talk At The Wellside (and others)
She came to the well - 'twas her custom,
With water pot, burden, and care;
Came at noonday so no one would see her,
And found just a stranger sat there.
He asked her for a drink of well-water.
(How deep her need only He knew!)
She asked, "Can a Samaritan woman
Give drink to a thirsty young Jew?"
He said, "You should have living water
That needeth no earthenware pot."
She gazed with a wide-eyed amazement
And wondered what secret He'd got.
She said, "Art thou greater than Jacob,
Our father, who gave us the well?"
She stayed, and she listened enraptured
To all that the Stranger could tell.
He said, "Thou dost draw of this water,
But comest again and again;
I can give thee the life-giving Water
And in thee a well will remain!"
She answered, "Oh give me this water!"
But hardly did she understand.
He said to the woman bewildered,
"Away, and call thy husband."
She started this deep conversation
And secretly wished she could stop it,
For now, to her great consternation,
She found that this Man was a prophet.
Before, she had talked at the wellside
And often enjoyed the short tryst;
But knew that on this great occasion
She talked with the Saviour, the Christ.
She said, "When Messiahs cometh,
How wonderful He will be!
For He shall tell us of all things."
He answered, "I, Woman, am He."
Away to the city to tell it,
The news that could never be priced:
"Oh come, hear a Man who knows all things!
I found Him, and He is the Christ."
~Leonard Ravenhill~
_________________________________
This I Know
Lord, I love Thee, this I know
For my conscience tells me so;
Sin I served for long, too long,
I was weak, but it was strong.
Chorus:
Saviour, I love Thee,
Saviour, I love Thee,
Saviour, I love Thee,
And love to tell Thee so.
Lord, I love Thee and will stay
In this love-life all the way;
Jesus Saviour is my song
In the night and all day long.
Lord, I love Thee, love Thee still
With my heart and soul and will;
Through Thy Cross I've perfect peace,
By Thy power have sweet release.
Lord, I love Thee for Thy grace,
And I long to see Thy face;
I will love Thee till I die,
Love Thee then for eons on high.
Lord, my love can only be
That Thou first hast loved me.
I love Thee much, I'd love Thee more;
All Thy love through me outpour.
~Leonard Ravenhill~
______________________
I Am A Slave
I am a slave! I have no will, no claim
To property, to time or sleep.
I am a slave, and bear my Owner's name!
His ways are mine; with Him I joy or weep.
I am a slave! No tears are spent for ease,
Nor do I freedom crave;
A willing slave am I to follow to the grave
My Master. Bless His Name!
~Leonard Ravenhill~
_________________________
Lord, Don't Ask Me
I'm just a week-kneed Christian,
So, Lord, don't ask of me
That I go to the battle front
To do exploits there for Thee.
I like to read of courage
And Christians who make their mark;
But, Lord, that's surely not for me;
I'm quiet and hate the dark!
I sometimes lie in bed at night,
And it upsets my quiet
To think of heathen far away,
Diseased and drunk in riot.
O Lord, a coward then I feel
As in my bed I sink;
I'd like to sleep, forget it all,
But I just think and think.
I muse on that great final day
When at Thy throne I stand.
With flaming eyes you look at me
And, under great duress,
I see excuses torn from me;
I stand in nakedness.
I hear You say, "You called me "Lord,"
And did not things I say.
You missed your glorious, great reward,
You toyed your life away.
"You did not read and pray aright,
Gave time to eat and drink,
And left the heathen far away
To fall, fall right o'er the brink.
"Of time, to hell's eternity
To grope in endless night.
You could have stretched a hand to save,
You could have changed that plight.
"Less comfort had You had on earth;
Then scores of precious souls
Had not the truth, and by your help
Had reached God's offered goals."
From all my folly, Lord, I turn,
I'll do as well as say;
And, from this hour, may all my works
Survive the judgment day.
~Leonard Ravenhill~
She came to the well - 'twas her custom,
With water pot, burden, and care;
Came at noonday so no one would see her,
And found just a stranger sat there.
He asked her for a drink of well-water.
(How deep her need only He knew!)
She asked, "Can a Samaritan woman
Give drink to a thirsty young Jew?"
He said, "You should have living water
That needeth no earthenware pot."
She gazed with a wide-eyed amazement
And wondered what secret He'd got.
She said, "Art thou greater than Jacob,
Our father, who gave us the well?"
She stayed, and she listened enraptured
To all that the Stranger could tell.
He said, "Thou dost draw of this water,
But comest again and again;
I can give thee the life-giving Water
And in thee a well will remain!"
She answered, "Oh give me this water!"
But hardly did she understand.
He said to the woman bewildered,
"Away, and call thy husband."
She started this deep conversation
And secretly wished she could stop it,
For now, to her great consternation,
She found that this Man was a prophet.
Before, she had talked at the wellside
And often enjoyed the short tryst;
But knew that on this great occasion
She talked with the Saviour, the Christ.
She said, "When Messiahs cometh,
How wonderful He will be!
For He shall tell us of all things."
He answered, "I, Woman, am He."
Away to the city to tell it,
The news that could never be priced:
"Oh come, hear a Man who knows all things!
I found Him, and He is the Christ."
~Leonard Ravenhill~
_________________________________
This I Know
Lord, I love Thee, this I know
For my conscience tells me so;
Sin I served for long, too long,
I was weak, but it was strong.
Chorus:
Saviour, I love Thee,
Saviour, I love Thee,
Saviour, I love Thee,
And love to tell Thee so.
Lord, I love Thee and will stay
In this love-life all the way;
Jesus Saviour is my song
In the night and all day long.
Lord, I love Thee, love Thee still
With my heart and soul and will;
Through Thy Cross I've perfect peace,
By Thy power have sweet release.
Lord, I love Thee for Thy grace,
And I long to see Thy face;
I will love Thee till I die,
Love Thee then for eons on high.
Lord, my love can only be
That Thou first hast loved me.
I love Thee much, I'd love Thee more;
All Thy love through me outpour.
~Leonard Ravenhill~
______________________
I Am A Slave
I am a slave! I have no will, no claim
To property, to time or sleep.
I am a slave, and bear my Owner's name!
His ways are mine; with Him I joy or weep.
I am a slave! No tears are spent for ease,
Nor do I freedom crave;
A willing slave am I to follow to the grave
My Master. Bless His Name!
~Leonard Ravenhill~
_________________________
Lord, Don't Ask Me
I'm just a week-kneed Christian,
So, Lord, don't ask of me
That I go to the battle front
To do exploits there for Thee.
I like to read of courage
And Christians who make their mark;
But, Lord, that's surely not for me;
I'm quiet and hate the dark!
I sometimes lie in bed at night,
And it upsets my quiet
To think of heathen far away,
Diseased and drunk in riot.
O Lord, a coward then I feel
As in my bed I sink;
I'd like to sleep, forget it all,
But I just think and think.
I muse on that great final day
When at Thy throne I stand.
With flaming eyes you look at me
And, under great duress,
I see excuses torn from me;
I stand in nakedness.
I hear You say, "You called me "Lord,"
And did not things I say.
You missed your glorious, great reward,
You toyed your life away.
"You did not read and pray aright,
Gave time to eat and drink,
And left the heathen far away
To fall, fall right o'er the brink.
"Of time, to hell's eternity
To grope in endless night.
You could have stretched a hand to save,
You could have changed that plight.
"Less comfort had You had on earth;
Then scores of precious souls
Had not the truth, and by your help
Had reached God's offered goals."
From all my folly, Lord, I turn,
I'll do as well as say;
And, from this hour, may all my works
Survive the judgment day.
~Leonard Ravenhill~
Saturday, October 6, 2018
The Great Separation # 6
The Great Separation # 6
1. Settle it down in your mind, that the things of which I have been speaking are all real and true. I do believe that many never see the great truths of religion in this light. I firmly believe that many never listen to the things they hear from ministers as realities. They regard it all as a matter of names and words, and nothing more - a huge shadow - a religious play-acting - a vast sham! The Bible, and Heaven, and the kingdom of Christ, and the judgment day - these are subjects that they hear unmoved. They do not really believe them.
If you have unhappily got into this frame of mind, I charge you to cast it off forever. The wheat, the chaff, the separation, the barn, the fire - all these are great realities; as real as the sun in the sky. For my part, I believe in Heaven and I believe in hell. I believe in coming judgment. I believe in the day of sifting. I am not ashamed to say so. I believe them all, and therefore I write as I do.
2. Settle it down in your mind, that the things of which I write concern YOURSELF. They are your business, your affair, and your concern. Many, I am sure, never look on religion as a matter that concerns themselves. They attend to the outward part, They hear sermons. They real religious books. They have their children christened. But all the time they never ask themselves, "What is all this to me?" They sit in our churches like spectators in a theater. But they do not say to themselves, "I am the man."
There must be an end to all this, if you are ever to be saved. I write to everybody who will read. It is on your soul's account that I am pleading. You are this very day either among the wheat - or among the chaff. Your portion will one day either be the barn or the fire. Oh, that men were wise, and would lay these things to heart! Oh, that they would not trifle, dally, linger, live on as half and half Christians, meaning well - but never acting boldly, and at last awake when it too late!
3. Settle it down in your mind, that if you are willing to be one of the wheat of the earth - the Lord Jesus Christ is willing to receive you. Does any man suppose that Jesus is not willing to see His barn filled? Do you think He does not desire to bring many sons to glory? Oh, you know little the depth of His mercy and compassion! He invites you to hear and live, to forsake the way of the foolish. If you never came to Christ for eternal life before - come to Him this very day! Come to Him with the penitent's prayer for mercy and grace. Come to Him without delay. Let this message be a word in season. Arise and call upon the Lord! Let the angels of God rejoice over one more saved soul!
4. Settle it down in your mind, that if you have committed your soul to Christ - Christ will never allow that soul to perish. The Everlasting Arms are round about you. Lean back in them, and know your safety. The same hand that was nailed to the Cross - is holding you! The same wisdom, the same power is on your side. The same love is pledged to keep you. Our faith may repose calmly on such a bed as Christ's Omnipotence!
You say that your faith is so small. But where is it said that none shall be saved except their faith is great? And after all, "Who gave you any faith at all?" You say your sins are so many. But where is the sin, or heap of sins - which the blood of Jesus cannot wash away? And after all, "Who told you you had any sins? That feeling never came from yourself." Blessed indeed is that one, who really knows and feels that he is a sinner!
Take comfort if you have really come to Christ. Take comfort, and know your privileges. Cast every care on Jesus. Tell every need to Jesus. Roll every burden on Jesus - your sins, unbelief, doubts, fears, anxieties - lay them all on Christ! He loves to see you doing so. He loves to be employed as your High Priest. He loves to be trusted. He loves to see His people ceasing from the vain effort to carry their burdens for themselves.
I commend these things to your notice. Only be among Christ's wheat now - and then, in the great day of separation, as sure as the Bible is true - you shall be in Christ's barn forever!
~J. C. Ryle~
(The End)
1. Settle it down in your mind, that the things of which I have been speaking are all real and true. I do believe that many never see the great truths of religion in this light. I firmly believe that many never listen to the things they hear from ministers as realities. They regard it all as a matter of names and words, and nothing more - a huge shadow - a religious play-acting - a vast sham! The Bible, and Heaven, and the kingdom of Christ, and the judgment day - these are subjects that they hear unmoved. They do not really believe them.
If you have unhappily got into this frame of mind, I charge you to cast it off forever. The wheat, the chaff, the separation, the barn, the fire - all these are great realities; as real as the sun in the sky. For my part, I believe in Heaven and I believe in hell. I believe in coming judgment. I believe in the day of sifting. I am not ashamed to say so. I believe them all, and therefore I write as I do.
2. Settle it down in your mind, that the things of which I write concern YOURSELF. They are your business, your affair, and your concern. Many, I am sure, never look on religion as a matter that concerns themselves. They attend to the outward part, They hear sermons. They real religious books. They have their children christened. But all the time they never ask themselves, "What is all this to me?" They sit in our churches like spectators in a theater. But they do not say to themselves, "I am the man."
There must be an end to all this, if you are ever to be saved. I write to everybody who will read. It is on your soul's account that I am pleading. You are this very day either among the wheat - or among the chaff. Your portion will one day either be the barn or the fire. Oh, that men were wise, and would lay these things to heart! Oh, that they would not trifle, dally, linger, live on as half and half Christians, meaning well - but never acting boldly, and at last awake when it too late!
3. Settle it down in your mind, that if you are willing to be one of the wheat of the earth - the Lord Jesus Christ is willing to receive you. Does any man suppose that Jesus is not willing to see His barn filled? Do you think He does not desire to bring many sons to glory? Oh, you know little the depth of His mercy and compassion! He invites you to hear and live, to forsake the way of the foolish. If you never came to Christ for eternal life before - come to Him this very day! Come to Him with the penitent's prayer for mercy and grace. Come to Him without delay. Let this message be a word in season. Arise and call upon the Lord! Let the angels of God rejoice over one more saved soul!
4. Settle it down in your mind, that if you have committed your soul to Christ - Christ will never allow that soul to perish. The Everlasting Arms are round about you. Lean back in them, and know your safety. The same hand that was nailed to the Cross - is holding you! The same wisdom, the same power is on your side. The same love is pledged to keep you. Our faith may repose calmly on such a bed as Christ's Omnipotence!
You say that your faith is so small. But where is it said that none shall be saved except their faith is great? And after all, "Who gave you any faith at all?" You say your sins are so many. But where is the sin, or heap of sins - which the blood of Jesus cannot wash away? And after all, "Who told you you had any sins? That feeling never came from yourself." Blessed indeed is that one, who really knows and feels that he is a sinner!
Take comfort if you have really come to Christ. Take comfort, and know your privileges. Cast every care on Jesus. Tell every need to Jesus. Roll every burden on Jesus - your sins, unbelief, doubts, fears, anxieties - lay them all on Christ! He loves to see you doing so. He loves to be employed as your High Priest. He loves to be trusted. He loves to see His people ceasing from the vain effort to carry their burdens for themselves.
I commend these things to your notice. Only be among Christ's wheat now - and then, in the great day of separation, as sure as the Bible is true - you shall be in Christ's barn forever!
~J. C. Ryle~
(The End)
The Hand of Jesus! (and others)
The Hand of Jesus! (and others)
The miracles of Jesus are as marvelous displays of mercy, as they are of power. They show His sympathy with man in his sufferings, and his readiness to help him.
On one occasion a ruler came to Him for help, knelt before Jesus and said, "My daughter has just died. But come and lay Your hand on her and she will live." (Matthew 9:18).
THE CONDITION. The child was DEAD. Disease did its work, death seized its prey before Jesus reached the house. In the same way, how many we have in our homes, congregations, and neighborhoods who are spiritually dead. There are no signs of life at all. They can live without prayer, which is the breath of the soul; and surely where there is no breath, there is no life. They have no faith, and faith is the spiritual energy of the soul. They have no activity in God's ways, they put forth no energy in God's cause, nor do they manifest any concern for God's glory. Surely such are dead, and in such cases there is no hope, except Jesus will come and lay His hand upon them.
THE APPLICATION. "My daughter has just died. But come and lay Your hand on her, and she will live." The hand of Jesus was a wonder-working hand! It was the instrument and emblem of almighty power and divine mercy. Many things are ascribed to the hand of Jesus in the Word.
It is a life-quickening hand. "He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose."His touch imparted life, strength, and activity to the dead girl.
It is a healing hand, "He laid His hands on the sick, and healed them." His hand expels spiritual diseases, and introduces spiritual health.
It is a saving hand, when Peter was sinking in the sea, Jesus put forth His hand and caught him, and placed him safely in the vessel. He saved Israel of old with His right hand - and His hand saves millions now!
It is a devil-dispossessing hand. When a father brought his demon-possessed boy to Jesus, the devil threw him down and tore him, "but Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up, and he arose." The hand of Jesus expelled the demon, restored him to health, and he went away with his father.
It is a leading hand. He took the blind man by the hand, led him out of the town, and restored his sight.
It is a far-reaching hand, hence He says, "Is My hand so short that it cannot ransom? Or have I no power to deliver?" "Behold, the Lord's hand is not so short that it cannot save!"
It is a purifying hand, therefore He says, "I will turn My hand against you; I will thoroughly purge away your dross and remove all your impurities." "His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor."
If therefore we need quickening or healing, saving or leading, deliverance from satan, or to be purged and purified - however distant we may seem from Him, or however difficult the work we require to be done - let us go to Jesus, and ask Him to lay His hand upon up, and restore us. In the same way, if any of our families and friends are spiritually dead, let our cry to Jesus be, "Come and lay Your hand on her; and she will live."
~James Smith~
__________________________
A Faithful Minister
"Tychicus is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord" (Colossians 4:7).
Dear fellow pastor, you have desired a good work - may the Lord give you the desires of your heart. May He give you the wisdom of Daniel, the meekness of Moses, the courage of Joshua, the zeal of Paul, and that self-abasement and humility which Job and Isaiah felt - when they not only had heard of Him by the hearing of the ear - but when they saw His glory, and abhorred themselves in dust and ashes!
May you be taught of God - for none teaches like Him - and come forth an able minister of the New Covenant, well instructed to rightly divide and faithfully distribute the Word of truth.
In the school of Christ, you will have to learn some lessons which are not very pleasant to flesh and blood. You must learn to labor, to run, to fight, to wrestle - and many other hard exercises - some of which will try your strength, and others your patience.
You know the common expression, "a jack of all trades". I am sure a minister had need be such a one: a brave soldier, an alert watchman, a caring shepherd, a hardworking farmer, a skillful builder, a wise counselor, a competent physician,and a loving nurse.
But do not be discouraged - you have a wonderful and a gracious Master, who does not only give instructions - but power and ability! He engages that His grace shall be sufficient, at all times and in all circumstances, for those who simply give themselves up to His teaching and His service.
"Be an example to all believers...
in what you teach,
in the way you live,
in your love, your faith, and your purity." (1 Timothy 4:12).
~John Newton~
The miracles of Jesus are as marvelous displays of mercy, as they are of power. They show His sympathy with man in his sufferings, and his readiness to help him.
On one occasion a ruler came to Him for help, knelt before Jesus and said, "My daughter has just died. But come and lay Your hand on her and she will live." (Matthew 9:18).
THE CONDITION. The child was DEAD. Disease did its work, death seized its prey before Jesus reached the house. In the same way, how many we have in our homes, congregations, and neighborhoods who are spiritually dead. There are no signs of life at all. They can live without prayer, which is the breath of the soul; and surely where there is no breath, there is no life. They have no faith, and faith is the spiritual energy of the soul. They have no activity in God's ways, they put forth no energy in God's cause, nor do they manifest any concern for God's glory. Surely such are dead, and in such cases there is no hope, except Jesus will come and lay His hand upon them.
THE APPLICATION. "My daughter has just died. But come and lay Your hand on her, and she will live." The hand of Jesus was a wonder-working hand! It was the instrument and emblem of almighty power and divine mercy. Many things are ascribed to the hand of Jesus in the Word.
It is a life-quickening hand. "He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose."His touch imparted life, strength, and activity to the dead girl.
It is a healing hand, "He laid His hands on the sick, and healed them." His hand expels spiritual diseases, and introduces spiritual health.
It is a saving hand, when Peter was sinking in the sea, Jesus put forth His hand and caught him, and placed him safely in the vessel. He saved Israel of old with His right hand - and His hand saves millions now!
It is a devil-dispossessing hand. When a father brought his demon-possessed boy to Jesus, the devil threw him down and tore him, "but Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up, and he arose." The hand of Jesus expelled the demon, restored him to health, and he went away with his father.
It is a leading hand. He took the blind man by the hand, led him out of the town, and restored his sight.
It is a far-reaching hand, hence He says, "Is My hand so short that it cannot ransom? Or have I no power to deliver?" "Behold, the Lord's hand is not so short that it cannot save!"
It is a purifying hand, therefore He says, "I will turn My hand against you; I will thoroughly purge away your dross and remove all your impurities." "His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor."
If therefore we need quickening or healing, saving or leading, deliverance from satan, or to be purged and purified - however distant we may seem from Him, or however difficult the work we require to be done - let us go to Jesus, and ask Him to lay His hand upon up, and restore us. In the same way, if any of our families and friends are spiritually dead, let our cry to Jesus be, "Come and lay Your hand on her; and she will live."
~James Smith~
__________________________
A Faithful Minister
"Tychicus is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord" (Colossians 4:7).
Dear fellow pastor, you have desired a good work - may the Lord give you the desires of your heart. May He give you the wisdom of Daniel, the meekness of Moses, the courage of Joshua, the zeal of Paul, and that self-abasement and humility which Job and Isaiah felt - when they not only had heard of Him by the hearing of the ear - but when they saw His glory, and abhorred themselves in dust and ashes!
May you be taught of God - for none teaches like Him - and come forth an able minister of the New Covenant, well instructed to rightly divide and faithfully distribute the Word of truth.
In the school of Christ, you will have to learn some lessons which are not very pleasant to flesh and blood. You must learn to labor, to run, to fight, to wrestle - and many other hard exercises - some of which will try your strength, and others your patience.
You know the common expression, "a jack of all trades". I am sure a minister had need be such a one: a brave soldier, an alert watchman, a caring shepherd, a hardworking farmer, a skillful builder, a wise counselor, a competent physician,and a loving nurse.
But do not be discouraged - you have a wonderful and a gracious Master, who does not only give instructions - but power and ability! He engages that His grace shall be sufficient, at all times and in all circumstances, for those who simply give themselves up to His teaching and His service.
"Be an example to all believers...
in what you teach,
in the way you live,
in your love, your faith, and your purity." (1 Timothy 4:12).
~John Newton~
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)