The Great Giver # 1
"He who spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all - how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32).
The above verse supplies us with an instance of Divine logic. It contains a conclusion drawn from a premise; the premise is that God delivered up Christ for all His people, therefore everything else that is needed by them is sure to be given. There are many examples in Holy Writ of such Divine logic. "If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire - will He not much more clothe you?" (Matt. 6:30). "For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son - how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!" (Romans 5:10). "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children - how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!" (Matt. 7:11). So here in our text the reasoning is irresistible and goes straight to the understanding and heart.
Our text tells of the gracious character of our loving God as interpreted by the gift of His Son. And this, not merely for the instruction of our minds, but for the comfort and assurance of our hearts. The gift of His own Son is God's guarantee to His people of all needed blessings. The greater includes the lesser. His unspeakable spiritual gift is the pledge of all needed temporal mercies. Note in our text four things:
1. The Father's costly sacrifice.
This brings before us a side of the truth upon which I fear we rarely meditate. We delight to think of the wondrous love of Christ, whose love was stronger than death, and who deemed no suffering too great for His people. But what must it have meant to the heart of the Father when His beloved left His Heavenly Home! God is love, and nothing is so sensitive as love. I do not believe that Deity is emotionless, or stoical. I believe the sending forth of the Son was something which the heart of the Father felt - that it was a real sacrifice on His part.
Weigh well then, the solemn fact which premises the sure promise that follows: God "spared not His own Son!" Expressive, profound, melting words! Knowing full well, as He only could, all that redemption involved - the Law rigid and unbending, insisting upon perfect obedience and demanding death for its transgressors. Justice, stern and inexorable, requiring full satisfaction, refusing to "clear the guilty." Yet God withheld not the only Sacrifice which could meet the case.
God "spared not His own Son," though knowing full well the humiliation and ignominy of Bethlehem's manger, the ingratitude of men, the not having where to lay His head, the hatred and opposition of the ungodly, the enmity and bruising of satan - yet He did not hesitate. God did not relax ought of the holy requirements of His throne, nor abate one whit of the awful curse. No, He "spared not His own Son." The utmost farthing was exacted; the last dregs in the cup of wrath must be drained. Even when His Beloved cried from the Garden, "If it be possible, let this cup pass from Me," God "spared Him not. Even when vile hands had nailed Him to the tree, God cried "Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, the man who is my Partner, says the Lord Almighty. Strike down the Shepherd!" (Zech. 13:7).
2. The Father's Gracious Design.
"But delivered Him up for us all." Here we are told why the Father made such a costly sacrifice. He did not spare His Son - that He might spare us! It was not lack of love to the Saviour - but wondrous, matchless, fathomless love for us!! Oh marvel at the wondrous design of the Most High. "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son." Truly, such love passes knowledge. Moreover, He made this costly sacrifice not grudgingly or reluctantly, but freely - out of love for us!
Once God had said to rebellious Israel, "How shall I give you up, Ephraim?" (Hosea 11:8). Infinitely more cause had He to say this of the Holy One, His well-beloved, the One in whom His soul daily delighted. Yet, He "delivered Him up" - to shame and spitting, to hatred and persecution, to suffering and death itself. And He delivered Him up for us - descendants of rebellious Adam, depraved and defiled, corrupt and sinful, vile and worthless! For us who had gone into the "far country" of alienation from Him, and there spent our substance in riotous living. Yes, "for us" who had gone astray like sheep, each one turning to "his own way." For us "who were by nature the children of wrath, even as others" in whom there dwelt no good thing. For us who had rebelled against our Creator, hatred His holiness, despised His Word, broken His commandments, resisted His Spirit. For us who richly deserved to be cast into the everlasting burnings and receive those wages which our sins so fully earned.
~A. W. Pink~
(continued with # 2)
Saturday, December 28, 2019
Saturday, December 21, 2019
I Am In Agony In This Fire! (and others)
I Am In Agony In This Fire! (and others)
The rich man called to him, "Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire!" But Abraham replied, "Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony!" (Luke 16:24-25).
It is a grievous fact that many an ungodly sinner walks in a flowery path to perdition - and goes merrily to his eternal ruin. It is, on the contrary, as certain that many a godly Christian travels by a rough and toilsome road to heaven - and ascends to glory amid many tears. Our Divine Lord has set forth this in the most solemn of His parables - the rich man and Lazarus. If we looked only at the outward and earthly condition of these two men, we would say one is the type of all that is felicitous; while the other is the type of all that is miserable.
But who that looks upon their eternal abode, would not a thousand times rather be Lazarus with his poverty, sores, and beggary, feeding at the rich man's gate upon the crumbs which fell from his table - than the wealth possessor of the mansion, with his purple and fine linen and daily luxurious living! Look up at the one who has dropped all his poverty, borne by angels to Abraham's bosom! And then look down upon the other, stripped of his splendid garments, deprived of his luxurious living, and from the midst of his torment begging for a drop of water to cool his parched tongue - and there see the end and outcome of "sanctified poverty" and of "unsanctified wealth."
~John Angell James~
________________________
Honor, Wealth, and Pleasure Lose Their Charms
"Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey Your word. It was good for me to be afflicted!" (Psalm 119:67, 71).
Afflictions tend to wean us from the world - and to fix our affections on things above.
We are all too worldly!
We gravitate too much to earth!
Our feet stick in the mire, and we do not soar aloft on the wings of faith and hope into the regions above, as we ought.
We are like moles - when we should be like eagles!
Hence the need, and the benefit too, of afflictions.
~John Angell James~
______________________
Vacationing At Resorts?
The line of distinction between the world and the church is fast disappearing.
What shall be said of the conduct of some professing Christians vacationing at resorts? It has become almost one of the necessaries of life to most. To say that this is wrong to those who can afford to pay for it, is certainly not my intention. But some professing Christians have ruined themselves, and plunged their families into poverty and distress, by habits of expense and idleness, acquired by this annual excursion to the sea. The taste of the age is for luxurious gratification, and it is certainly one of these luxuries to while away a week or two amidst the beauties of the coast. I will suppose, however, that the professor can afford the gratification; still, are not his spendings for this enjoyment, out of all due proportion with his donations to the cause of Christ? When did he ever give, in one amount, to any Christian cause, what he gives, in one amount, for his treat to his family to a resort? No, put together all that he gives to the cause of the Lord for a whole year, and does it equal what he spends upon one vacation, lavishing hundreds - or thousands, in riding into the country, or sailing on the sea, and luxuriating in other ways on the shore.
When a world is perishing, and immortal souls are sinking daily in crowds to perdition, a Christian should give much thought to those souls around him. It is fun to have a little pleasure for ourselves if, and only if, we can value the cause of Christ also.
~John Angell James~
The rich man called to him, "Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire!" But Abraham replied, "Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony!" (Luke 16:24-25).
It is a grievous fact that many an ungodly sinner walks in a flowery path to perdition - and goes merrily to his eternal ruin. It is, on the contrary, as certain that many a godly Christian travels by a rough and toilsome road to heaven - and ascends to glory amid many tears. Our Divine Lord has set forth this in the most solemn of His parables - the rich man and Lazarus. If we looked only at the outward and earthly condition of these two men, we would say one is the type of all that is felicitous; while the other is the type of all that is miserable.
But who that looks upon their eternal abode, would not a thousand times rather be Lazarus with his poverty, sores, and beggary, feeding at the rich man's gate upon the crumbs which fell from his table - than the wealth possessor of the mansion, with his purple and fine linen and daily luxurious living! Look up at the one who has dropped all his poverty, borne by angels to Abraham's bosom! And then look down upon the other, stripped of his splendid garments, deprived of his luxurious living, and from the midst of his torment begging for a drop of water to cool his parched tongue - and there see the end and outcome of "sanctified poverty" and of "unsanctified wealth."
~John Angell James~
________________________
Honor, Wealth, and Pleasure Lose Their Charms
"Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey Your word. It was good for me to be afflicted!" (Psalm 119:67, 71).
Afflictions tend to wean us from the world - and to fix our affections on things above.
We are all too worldly!
We gravitate too much to earth!
Our feet stick in the mire, and we do not soar aloft on the wings of faith and hope into the regions above, as we ought.
We are like moles - when we should be like eagles!
Hence the need, and the benefit too, of afflictions.
~John Angell James~
______________________
Vacationing At Resorts?
The line of distinction between the world and the church is fast disappearing.
What shall be said of the conduct of some professing Christians vacationing at resorts? It has become almost one of the necessaries of life to most. To say that this is wrong to those who can afford to pay for it, is certainly not my intention. But some professing Christians have ruined themselves, and plunged their families into poverty and distress, by habits of expense and idleness, acquired by this annual excursion to the sea. The taste of the age is for luxurious gratification, and it is certainly one of these luxuries to while away a week or two amidst the beauties of the coast. I will suppose, however, that the professor can afford the gratification; still, are not his spendings for this enjoyment, out of all due proportion with his donations to the cause of Christ? When did he ever give, in one amount, to any Christian cause, what he gives, in one amount, for his treat to his family to a resort? No, put together all that he gives to the cause of the Lord for a whole year, and does it equal what he spends upon one vacation, lavishing hundreds - or thousands, in riding into the country, or sailing on the sea, and luxuriating in other ways on the shore.
When a world is perishing, and immortal souls are sinking daily in crowds to perdition, a Christian should give much thought to those souls around him. It is fun to have a little pleasure for ourselves if, and only if, we can value the cause of Christ also.
~John Angell James~
Israel's Need And God's Mercy # 3
Israel's Need And God's Mercy # 3
Blessed be God for the provision He has made for us, for we have found His grace sufficient for us, and His strength perfected in our weakness. Our shoes have been iron and brass; and as our day - so has our strength been. We have gone by day and night. Ah, some of us have traveled much by night! But we have ever found the truth of the testimony, "Unto the upright - there arises light in darkness."
He continued His kindness to them unto the end. "Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people." The symbol of the divine presence continued with them until Moses died. When Joshua became leader, the ark opened the way through the Jordan, and conducted them into the promised land.
Just so, God's providence will care for us, comfort us, lead us, and supply us - until we come to the Jordan. And then Jesus, the Captain of our salvation, Jesus, the ark of the everlasting covenant - will lead us across the river, make the way plain and easy, and introduce us to the promised land.
He who began with us, will go on with us - nor will He leave us nor forsake us until He has done all that He has spoken to us of. Every jot and tittle of His Word must be fulfilled, for the Lord will not forsake His people for His great name's sake; because it has pleased the Lord to make them His people. We are confident of this very thing - that He who has begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ!
Beloved, are you traveling from Egypt to Canaan - from earth to Heaven? If so, you need a guide. No creature will be found sufficient. It must be the Lord Himself!
He guides all His people by His providence, for His eyes run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in behalf of all those whose hearts are perfect towards Him.
He guides them by His grace. His Word is our directory - the map of our journey. On that He shines by His Holy Spirit, and in us He works by the same divine agent. He convinces, He inclines, He leads, He sustains, and at length introduces us to the eternal rest prepared for the people of God.
If God is your guide - He will adapt His manifestation to your circumstances. There will be no visible could or fire - but He will make your way plain before your face. He will not guide you as a horse or mule - with bit and bridle; but as a rational being - as a beloved child. He will take you by the hand, gradually and graciously clear your way, and comfort and encourage you as you go on.
Under His guidance you will make progress both by day and night.
In prosperity and adversity,
in joy and sorrow,
in light and darkness,
in summer and winter,
you will still make way to the promised land.
The true Christian can travel by day or night. He is not dependent on circumstances. He often rises beyond the region of second causes. He makes progress - because the Lord is with him.
If God begins to lead you, He will go through the whole journey with you. He will not leave you in the middle. He will not forsake you toward the end.
Doubts may beset you, fears may assault you, satan and the world may conspire against you - but your God will guide you. He will support, supply, and defend you; and make all His goodness pass before you!
When Israel was from Egypt freed,
The Lord who brought them out,
Helped them in every time of need,
But led them round about.
They often murmured by the way,
Because they judged by sight;
But were at length constrained to say,
The Lord had led them right!
By fire and cloud their way was shown,
Across the pathless sands;
And Amelek was overthrown,
By Moses' lifted hands.
The way was right, their hearts to prove,
To make God's glory known,
And show His wisdom, power, and love,
Engaged to save His own!
Just so the true believer's path
Through many dangers lies;
Though dark to sense, 'tis right to faith,
And leads us to the skies!
~James Smith~
(The End)
Blessed be God for the provision He has made for us, for we have found His grace sufficient for us, and His strength perfected in our weakness. Our shoes have been iron and brass; and as our day - so has our strength been. We have gone by day and night. Ah, some of us have traveled much by night! But we have ever found the truth of the testimony, "Unto the upright - there arises light in darkness."
He continued His kindness to them unto the end. "Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people." The symbol of the divine presence continued with them until Moses died. When Joshua became leader, the ark opened the way through the Jordan, and conducted them into the promised land.
Just so, God's providence will care for us, comfort us, lead us, and supply us - until we come to the Jordan. And then Jesus, the Captain of our salvation, Jesus, the ark of the everlasting covenant - will lead us across the river, make the way plain and easy, and introduce us to the promised land.
He who began with us, will go on with us - nor will He leave us nor forsake us until He has done all that He has spoken to us of. Every jot and tittle of His Word must be fulfilled, for the Lord will not forsake His people for His great name's sake; because it has pleased the Lord to make them His people. We are confident of this very thing - that He who has begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ!
Beloved, are you traveling from Egypt to Canaan - from earth to Heaven? If so, you need a guide. No creature will be found sufficient. It must be the Lord Himself!
He guides all His people by His providence, for His eyes run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in behalf of all those whose hearts are perfect towards Him.
He guides them by His grace. His Word is our directory - the map of our journey. On that He shines by His Holy Spirit, and in us He works by the same divine agent. He convinces, He inclines, He leads, He sustains, and at length introduces us to the eternal rest prepared for the people of God.
If God is your guide - He will adapt His manifestation to your circumstances. There will be no visible could or fire - but He will make your way plain before your face. He will not guide you as a horse or mule - with bit and bridle; but as a rational being - as a beloved child. He will take you by the hand, gradually and graciously clear your way, and comfort and encourage you as you go on.
Under His guidance you will make progress both by day and night.
In prosperity and adversity,
in joy and sorrow,
in light and darkness,
in summer and winter,
you will still make way to the promised land.
The true Christian can travel by day or night. He is not dependent on circumstances. He often rises beyond the region of second causes. He makes progress - because the Lord is with him.
If God begins to lead you, He will go through the whole journey with you. He will not leave you in the middle. He will not forsake you toward the end.
Doubts may beset you, fears may assault you, satan and the world may conspire against you - but your God will guide you. He will support, supply, and defend you; and make all His goodness pass before you!
When Israel was from Egypt freed,
The Lord who brought them out,
Helped them in every time of need,
But led them round about.
They often murmured by the way,
Because they judged by sight;
But were at length constrained to say,
The Lord had led them right!
By fire and cloud their way was shown,
Across the pathless sands;
And Amelek was overthrown,
By Moses' lifted hands.
The way was right, their hearts to prove,
To make God's glory known,
And show His wisdom, power, and love,
Engaged to save His own!
Just so the true believer's path
Through many dangers lies;
Though dark to sense, 'tis right to faith,
And leads us to the skies!
~James Smith~
(The End)
Saturday, December 14, 2019
Israel's Need and God's Mercy # 2
Israel's Need and God's Mercy # 2
Overcoming faith is impossible without the constant renewings of the Holy Spirit. We doubt the promise - and distrust the promiser. Sometimes we question whether we have ever left Egypt - and at other times we are ready to conclude, that for our sin, He has brought us out to slay us in the wilderness. This distrusting God is the sin that does so easily beset us.
With so long a journey, so strange a path, such numerous foes, so many dangers, and such unbelieving hearts - can we ever reach the promised land? Can we? Not if left to ourselves. Not if led only by Moses. Not if we have merely an angel for our guide. We must have a guide who well knows the road; who can conquer our many foes; who can lead us safely through all our dangers; who can bear with our stubborn hearts and lives!
We need a guide whose wisdom is perfect, whose power is almighty, whose care is constant, whose patience is immutable, and whose mercy endures forever! And we have such a guide, for the Most High God, who rules over the kingdoms of men has said to us, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go! I will guide you with My eye!" (Psalm 32:8). And so sweetly has He assured us of His love, won our confidence, and revealed His character and qualifications, that we have right heartily said, "You shall guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory!" Israel's God was Israel's guide; and this God is our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even unto death, through death, and beyond it. "By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night." This leads us to notice -
Secondly - The Lord's Mercy. God provided just what the Israelites needed in the wilderness - a guide to lead them by day and night. He went ahead of them; thus pointing out the road, clearing it of insurmountable difficulties, and conducting them in it.
This is what our good and gracious God does for us! He is really present with us - though unseen by us. He is never far from any one of us. He marks out our road, He removes every real impediment out of our way, and conducts us step by step in the path to the promised land!
Naturally we do not know the path; and when we do, our nature always dislikes it. Left to ourselves, we would choose the short-cut, the smooth path, and well-frequented road. But He leads us in a zigzag way, by a rough and uneven road - where there are but few fellow-travelers. His choice is best. The way He points out is the only right one. It is to humble us, and test us, and show what is in our hearts. It is that we may walk by faith - and not by sight. It is to teach us our need of Himself - and to lead us to cleave to Him.
He came behind them. When the Egyptians drew near, the pillar of fire moved, and fell down as a fiery partition, as an impassable barrier between the two companies.
The Lord went before them, and the God of Israel was their reward.
Just so, our wise and watchful guide becomes our SHIELD - He interposes between us and danger. Often, very often, would the Egyptians have come upon us from behind, and injured, if not destroyed us - but our God was there, He protected and preserved us. We shall never know until we get to glory - how often and in how many ways, the Lord has interposed for us and preserved us!
He adapted Himself to all their circumstances.
By day, when the sun was pouring down its streams of glaring light and scorching heat - it was a warming cheerful fire. it was shade or light; shadow or warmth - just as they needed. And, oh, beloved, how has our God adapted Himself to all our circumstances these many years in the wilderness! He has warmed us with His love - and cooled us with His mercy. He has sheltered us with His broad hand - and cheered us with His loving Word.
In looking back, we can see that we have had the cloud by day - and the fire by night. He has fully provided for them that they might journey by day and night. If they had to strike their tents and pack up for a march at noon - the cloud shadowed them; and if they had to prepare for a removal at night - the fire gave them light to work by. If they traveled on scorching sands, and under a burning sky - they were sheltered; and if they journeyed under the gloom of midnight - they were illumined and cheered.
~James Smith~
(continued with # 3)
Overcoming faith is impossible without the constant renewings of the Holy Spirit. We doubt the promise - and distrust the promiser. Sometimes we question whether we have ever left Egypt - and at other times we are ready to conclude, that for our sin, He has brought us out to slay us in the wilderness. This distrusting God is the sin that does so easily beset us.
With so long a journey, so strange a path, such numerous foes, so many dangers, and such unbelieving hearts - can we ever reach the promised land? Can we? Not if left to ourselves. Not if led only by Moses. Not if we have merely an angel for our guide. We must have a guide who well knows the road; who can conquer our many foes; who can lead us safely through all our dangers; who can bear with our stubborn hearts and lives!
We need a guide whose wisdom is perfect, whose power is almighty, whose care is constant, whose patience is immutable, and whose mercy endures forever! And we have such a guide, for the Most High God, who rules over the kingdoms of men has said to us, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go! I will guide you with My eye!" (Psalm 32:8). And so sweetly has He assured us of His love, won our confidence, and revealed His character and qualifications, that we have right heartily said, "You shall guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory!" Israel's God was Israel's guide; and this God is our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even unto death, through death, and beyond it. "By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night." This leads us to notice -
Secondly - The Lord's Mercy. God provided just what the Israelites needed in the wilderness - a guide to lead them by day and night. He went ahead of them; thus pointing out the road, clearing it of insurmountable difficulties, and conducting them in it.
This is what our good and gracious God does for us! He is really present with us - though unseen by us. He is never far from any one of us. He marks out our road, He removes every real impediment out of our way, and conducts us step by step in the path to the promised land!
Naturally we do not know the path; and when we do, our nature always dislikes it. Left to ourselves, we would choose the short-cut, the smooth path, and well-frequented road. But He leads us in a zigzag way, by a rough and uneven road - where there are but few fellow-travelers. His choice is best. The way He points out is the only right one. It is to humble us, and test us, and show what is in our hearts. It is that we may walk by faith - and not by sight. It is to teach us our need of Himself - and to lead us to cleave to Him.
He came behind them. When the Egyptians drew near, the pillar of fire moved, and fell down as a fiery partition, as an impassable barrier between the two companies.
The Lord went before them, and the God of Israel was their reward.
Just so, our wise and watchful guide becomes our SHIELD - He interposes between us and danger. Often, very often, would the Egyptians have come upon us from behind, and injured, if not destroyed us - but our God was there, He protected and preserved us. We shall never know until we get to glory - how often and in how many ways, the Lord has interposed for us and preserved us!
He adapted Himself to all their circumstances.
By day, when the sun was pouring down its streams of glaring light and scorching heat - it was a warming cheerful fire. it was shade or light; shadow or warmth - just as they needed. And, oh, beloved, how has our God adapted Himself to all our circumstances these many years in the wilderness! He has warmed us with His love - and cooled us with His mercy. He has sheltered us with His broad hand - and cheered us with His loving Word.
In looking back, we can see that we have had the cloud by day - and the fire by night. He has fully provided for them that they might journey by day and night. If they had to strike their tents and pack up for a march at noon - the cloud shadowed them; and if they had to prepare for a removal at night - the fire gave them light to work by. If they traveled on scorching sands, and under a burning sky - they were sheltered; and if they journeyed under the gloom of midnight - they were illumined and cheered.
~James Smith~
(continued with # 3)
Thanksgiving # 2
Thanksgiving # 2
3. Offer unto God, thanksgiving for your personal interest in spiritual blessings.
Thank God for your conversion. What were you more than others, that He should have chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth?
Thank God for enlightening and quickening you. When you sat in the region and shadow of death - the dayspring from on high visited you. When you had no more thought for God than a dead man, then he "made you alive in Christ!" (Eph. 2:1).
Thank God for pardoning and justifying you.
Thank God for adopting love. "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty!" (2 Cor. 6:18).
Thank God for sanctification; for "though you lay among
the pots, you are like a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold."
Thank Him for growth in grace. "The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree, and grow like the cedar in Lebanon."
Thank Him for the hope of perfection; knowing that "He who has begun the good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."
Thank Him for supporting grace in the prospect of death, for the promise of His presence then to enable you to conquer - for the hope of a glorious resurrection, and admission to immortal bliss!
II. The Manner of Offering Thanks to God.
1. Thanksgiving may be mental - as when we indulge admiring, adoring, and affectionate thoughts of God, or meditate upon His graciousness with pleasure and delight.
2. Thanksgiving may be vocal. "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth may be compelled to speak." In private - in the family - in the house of God.
3. Thanks giving must be with reverence. It is praise to the Great I Am - to God, who is a Spirit, pure, infinite" (Nehemiah 9:5; Psalm 91:1, 2; 95:1-3.)
4. Thanksgiving must be with humility - as unworthy recipients, acknowledging the salvation of God. As prodigals, returned outcasts, miserable sinners - confessing salvation to be all of grace.
5. Thanksgiving must be practical. This is called a "showing forth the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light." Tell others what He has done for you. Go, spread His truth - advance His cause. The people upon whom Christ wrought miracles did this. Paul, the persecutor, after his conversion, did this.
6. Thanksgiving must be ardent. The greatness of the blessings, demands fervent thanks. Life from the dead - translation from satan's kingdom into the kingdom of God's dear Son - deliverance from perdition to the hope of Heaven, etc. (Psalm 71:8; 138:1, 2).
III. Enforce the Duty of Thanks to God.
1. Thanksgiving is the command of God. It was so under the Levitical economy (Lev. 7:12); much more so under the Gospel dispensation; (1 Cor. 9:11; Phil. 4:6; Col. 2:7).
2. Thanksgiving is a striking evidence of spiritual vitality. It indicates sensibility - experience - love to God.
3. Thanks giving is delightful. (Psalm 33:1; 147). Delightful to feel - beautiful to behold.
Sweet is the work, my God, my King.
To praise Your name, give thanks and sing.
To show Your love by morning light.
And talk of all Your truth at night.
4. Thanksgiving is acceptable to God, and honors Him. (Psalm 50:23; 2 Cor. 4:15). God neither needs our services nor our songs - as He is all perfection, and an everlasting harmony to Himself, without the feeble notes that we can raise. Yet through Christ, He is well pleased with our imperfect praises. Where He has given His grace, the grateful heart is an instrument of music to Him; and He loves it to be kept in tune, and to sound forth His praises.
5. Thanksgiving is the precursor of praise to be offered in the celestial temple! Thanksgiving is the practice-tune, the rehearsal for the grand chorus of all the redeemed in Heaven! We are tuning our hearts here for perfect praise there!
When the Church militant shall be joined to the Church triumphant - O what voices, what songs of melody, what rapturous joys, will then be heard in Heaven to all eternity, when Christ shall lead the worship, and the praises that have been growing for thousands of years, shall burst forth, and be diffused abroad, and all creation echo to the song, "Glory to God in the highest!" This is what the saints are waiting for; that which they ardently believe and hope they shall realize!
~William Nicholson~
(The End)
3. Offer unto God, thanksgiving for your personal interest in spiritual blessings.
Thank God for your conversion. What were you more than others, that He should have chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth?
Thank God for enlightening and quickening you. When you sat in the region and shadow of death - the dayspring from on high visited you. When you had no more thought for God than a dead man, then he "made you alive in Christ!" (Eph. 2:1).
Thank God for pardoning and justifying you.
Thank God for adopting love. "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty!" (2 Cor. 6:18).
Thank God for sanctification; for "though you lay among
the pots, you are like a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold."
Thank Him for growth in grace. "The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree, and grow like the cedar in Lebanon."
Thank Him for the hope of perfection; knowing that "He who has begun the good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."
Thank Him for supporting grace in the prospect of death, for the promise of His presence then to enable you to conquer - for the hope of a glorious resurrection, and admission to immortal bliss!
II. The Manner of Offering Thanks to God.
1. Thanksgiving may be mental - as when we indulge admiring, adoring, and affectionate thoughts of God, or meditate upon His graciousness with pleasure and delight.
2. Thanksgiving may be vocal. "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth may be compelled to speak." In private - in the family - in the house of God.
3. Thanks giving must be with reverence. It is praise to the Great I Am - to God, who is a Spirit, pure, infinite" (Nehemiah 9:5; Psalm 91:1, 2; 95:1-3.)
4. Thanksgiving must be with humility - as unworthy recipients, acknowledging the salvation of God. As prodigals, returned outcasts, miserable sinners - confessing salvation to be all of grace.
5. Thanksgiving must be practical. This is called a "showing forth the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light." Tell others what He has done for you. Go, spread His truth - advance His cause. The people upon whom Christ wrought miracles did this. Paul, the persecutor, after his conversion, did this.
6. Thanksgiving must be ardent. The greatness of the blessings, demands fervent thanks. Life from the dead - translation from satan's kingdom into the kingdom of God's dear Son - deliverance from perdition to the hope of Heaven, etc. (Psalm 71:8; 138:1, 2).
III. Enforce the Duty of Thanks to God.
1. Thanksgiving is the command of God. It was so under the Levitical economy (Lev. 7:12); much more so under the Gospel dispensation; (1 Cor. 9:11; Phil. 4:6; Col. 2:7).
2. Thanksgiving is a striking evidence of spiritual vitality. It indicates sensibility - experience - love to God.
3. Thanks giving is delightful. (Psalm 33:1; 147). Delightful to feel - beautiful to behold.
Sweet is the work, my God, my King.
To praise Your name, give thanks and sing.
To show Your love by morning light.
And talk of all Your truth at night.
4. Thanksgiving is acceptable to God, and honors Him. (Psalm 50:23; 2 Cor. 4:15). God neither needs our services nor our songs - as He is all perfection, and an everlasting harmony to Himself, without the feeble notes that we can raise. Yet through Christ, He is well pleased with our imperfect praises. Where He has given His grace, the grateful heart is an instrument of music to Him; and He loves it to be kept in tune, and to sound forth His praises.
5. Thanksgiving is the precursor of praise to be offered in the celestial temple! Thanksgiving is the practice-tune, the rehearsal for the grand chorus of all the redeemed in Heaven! We are tuning our hearts here for perfect praise there!
When the Church militant shall be joined to the Church triumphant - O what voices, what songs of melody, what rapturous joys, will then be heard in Heaven to all eternity, when Christ shall lead the worship, and the praises that have been growing for thousands of years, shall burst forth, and be diffused abroad, and all creation echo to the song, "Glory to God in the highest!" This is what the saints are waiting for; that which they ardently believe and hope they shall realize!
~William Nicholson~
(The End)
Saturday, December 7, 2019
Israel's Need - and God's Mercy # 1
(another sermon that is so important!)
Israel's Need - and God's Mercy # 1
Life is but a journey - a journey from the present fleeting world, to the eternal world.
"By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people." (Exodus 13:21-22).
In the books of Moses were now for the first time put into our hands with what deep interest would we read them, and what a powerful impression would their contents make upon our minds. To sit down and read, how God fitted up the world for our reception, how He created our first parents, how they fell by sin, and how graciously God opened a door of hope before them. To go through the history of the long-lived ante-diluvians, the history of the patriarchs, and above all, God's wonderful dealings with His people. Surely we would be absorbed in the subject, and filled with admiration at the book.
But we have been familiar with these things from our childhood, and therefore they have lost the charm of novelty. Still we cannot read these books carefully and with prayer, especially when we bear in mind that the past was typical of the present - without interest, instruction, and profit.
Israel had been brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand; they were about to cross the sea, enter the wilderness, and travel to the promised land. Moses was their leader - but they needed one wiser, more patient, and more powerful than Moses.
Just so with ourselves; the Lord has brought us out of the Egypt of our natural state; we have crossed the sea, which forever forbids our return to it; we are strangers and pilgrims on earth; and are traveling to a country which the Lord has promised to give us for an inheritance. There is, therefore, a similarity between Israel's circumstances - and our own; and we will keep this in view while we meditate on this portion of the Lord's
Word. Here we see -
First - Israel's need. They needed a GUIDE.
They had a long journey before them, which would take them forty years.
They had to travel by a strange path, on which they had never trodden before.
Numerous foes would endeavor to obstruct their progress.
Many dangers lined the way. And they had mistrustful and deceiving hearts.
Fellow-Christians - is it not even so with us? We are going on a journey to a country of which the Lord our God has told us.
The journey is long and trying. It takes some twenty, some forty, and some sixty years to travel from earth to Heaven.
It is a strange path. A path which no one knows - a path we have never trodden before. A path which by nature we could never find, and from which we are prone to turn aside.
We are surrounded by numerous foes, visible and invisible.
The WORLD frowning as a determined persecutor, or fawning as a base deceiver - is our foe. Now by sneers, sarcasms, or sword; and then by its gilded vanities, flesh-pleasing baits, and blandishments - it endeavors to turn us aside from the right ways of the Lord.
satan and his hosts - crafty, cunning, cruel, united, persevering and determined - set themselves to terrify and drive us back, or to allure us from the way.
And worst of all, in our own natures, we have a determined foe who is ever present, ever vigilant, ever powerful.
Yes, the FLESH lusts against the Spirit. We find a law in our members warring against the law of our minds.
The world, the flesh, and the devil all combine to oppose our progress, hinder us in our march, and, if possible, to destroy us in the wilderness!
Then there are so many dangers: the towering rocks of presumption, the quagmires of doubt and fear, the pitfalls of error, the ravines of willful sin, the fiery-flying serpent of temptation, the scorpion of indulged lust, the sunshine - and the shade; the barren sands - and the verdant valleys; the granite rocks - and the flowing streams - all of them have dangers concealed in them! Nor can we be trusted alone for one moment - if we are to be safe. Worst of all, there are our distrustful and deceitful hearts!
~James Smith~
(continued with # 2)
Israel's Need - and God's Mercy # 1
Life is but a journey - a journey from the present fleeting world, to the eternal world.
"By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people." (Exodus 13:21-22).
In the books of Moses were now for the first time put into our hands with what deep interest would we read them, and what a powerful impression would their contents make upon our minds. To sit down and read, how God fitted up the world for our reception, how He created our first parents, how they fell by sin, and how graciously God opened a door of hope before them. To go through the history of the long-lived ante-diluvians, the history of the patriarchs, and above all, God's wonderful dealings with His people. Surely we would be absorbed in the subject, and filled with admiration at the book.
But we have been familiar with these things from our childhood, and therefore they have lost the charm of novelty. Still we cannot read these books carefully and with prayer, especially when we bear in mind that the past was typical of the present - without interest, instruction, and profit.
Israel had been brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand; they were about to cross the sea, enter the wilderness, and travel to the promised land. Moses was their leader - but they needed one wiser, more patient, and more powerful than Moses.
Just so with ourselves; the Lord has brought us out of the Egypt of our natural state; we have crossed the sea, which forever forbids our return to it; we are strangers and pilgrims on earth; and are traveling to a country which the Lord has promised to give us for an inheritance. There is, therefore, a similarity between Israel's circumstances - and our own; and we will keep this in view while we meditate on this portion of the Lord's
Word. Here we see -
First - Israel's need. They needed a GUIDE.
They had a long journey before them, which would take them forty years.
They had to travel by a strange path, on which they had never trodden before.
Numerous foes would endeavor to obstruct their progress.
Many dangers lined the way. And they had mistrustful and deceiving hearts.
Fellow-Christians - is it not even so with us? We are going on a journey to a country of which the Lord our God has told us.
The journey is long and trying. It takes some twenty, some forty, and some sixty years to travel from earth to Heaven.
It is a strange path. A path which no one knows - a path we have never trodden before. A path which by nature we could never find, and from which we are prone to turn aside.
We are surrounded by numerous foes, visible and invisible.
The WORLD frowning as a determined persecutor, or fawning as a base deceiver - is our foe. Now by sneers, sarcasms, or sword; and then by its gilded vanities, flesh-pleasing baits, and blandishments - it endeavors to turn us aside from the right ways of the Lord.
satan and his hosts - crafty, cunning, cruel, united, persevering and determined - set themselves to terrify and drive us back, or to allure us from the way.
And worst of all, in our own natures, we have a determined foe who is ever present, ever vigilant, ever powerful.
Yes, the FLESH lusts against the Spirit. We find a law in our members warring against the law of our minds.
The world, the flesh, and the devil all combine to oppose our progress, hinder us in our march, and, if possible, to destroy us in the wilderness!
Then there are so many dangers: the towering rocks of presumption, the quagmires of doubt and fear, the pitfalls of error, the ravines of willful sin, the fiery-flying serpent of temptation, the scorpion of indulged lust, the sunshine - and the shade; the barren sands - and the verdant valleys; the granite rocks - and the flowing streams - all of them have dangers concealed in them! Nor can we be trusted alone for one moment - if we are to be safe. Worst of all, there are our distrustful and deceitful hearts!
~James Smith~
(continued with # 2)
Thanksgiving # 1
Thanksgiving # 1
"Offer unto God thanksgiving!" (Psalm 50:14).
In the beginning of the Psalm, the Divine majesty and glory are exhibited. So glorious a Being is worthy of the highest homage, and the most ardent praise. But He will not be mocked with mere formal services. Sacrifices the most costly and splendid; offerings the most munificent and pompous, presented to Him without the heart - are an abomination in His sight. A charge of formality is brought against the Jews, "I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens - for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are Mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is Mine, and all that is in it!" (Psalm 50:9-12).
In all praise, in all worship, the heart is demanded.
I. The Mercies of God Demand Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is a part of Divine worship, which consists of acknowledging Him as the Source of all good, and rendering grateful homage to the power, wisdom, and goodness of God on that account.
1. Offer unto God, thanksgiving for TEMPORAL blessings.
Thank Him for your existence. You are fearfully and wonderfully made! You are made for a noble purpose - for your own personal happiness and dignity here and in eternity, to the glory of God the Father.
Thank Him for your preservation. God has preserved you in health, from sickness, from death, from evil courses, from damning crimes, degradation, and ruin.
Thank Him for the blessing of reason. What a calamity is the suspension of the soul's faculties! The man sinks below the level of the beasts - and becomes more helpless and miserable than those who are guided by the instincts of their nature!
See that man, once the learned philosopher, or the honorable statesman, or the eloquent advocate, or the brave general, or the clever theologian! O see him bereft of his reason, his faculties spoiled of their beauty, and the intellectual machinery of the soul in ruins! Hear the clanking of his chains, the hysteric laugh, the frantic cry, or the heavy groan - and then offer to God thanks for the blessing of reason!
Thank God for deliverances. You may have been sick and near unto death - but He has raised you up. You have been exposed to the deadly temptations and snares of the wicked one - yet God has delivered you. Had the temptation succeeded, what would you have been now? What would you have suffered? Then offer to God thanksgiving.
Thank God for Civil and Religious privileges. What blessings are here. "He has not dealt so with every nation." Compare our civil government with the despotic governments of the earth, forbidding the liberty of the press, and, in some cases, even the liberty of speech! Go, while your tongue is free, and offer unto God thanksgiving!
2. Offer unto God, thanksgiving for the GOSPEL dispensation and all its privileges.
Thank God for the mission of Christ to this world. The gospel is the grand remedy for man's woes, the life of the world, the salvation from perdition, and the mighty lever that exalts to Heaven.
Thank God that you are born in a land of Gospel light. Millions in benighted lands are worshiping idols, sticks and stones, reptiles, and devils! Think of their loathsome impurities, their dreadful sufferings and painful rites, their tragic destiny, perishing without vision.
Offer to the God of light, thanksgiving!
Offer praise to God for Gospel ordinances and privileges. The Sabbath day is appointed for sublime and merciful purposes; it is a day on which the richest blessings are received - a day of delicious enjoyment - a day which is the epitome of Heaven.
Then you have the preaching of the Gospel, and the ordinance of the Lord's Supper. By the first, God immediately addresses sinful men, graciously offering terms of reconciliation. In the second, He allows His people to have intimate fellowship with Himself, and cheers their hearts by the whispers of His unchanging love.
~William Nicholson~
(continued with # 2)
"Offer unto God thanksgiving!" (Psalm 50:14).
In the beginning of the Psalm, the Divine majesty and glory are exhibited. So glorious a Being is worthy of the highest homage, and the most ardent praise. But He will not be mocked with mere formal services. Sacrifices the most costly and splendid; offerings the most munificent and pompous, presented to Him without the heart - are an abomination in His sight. A charge of formality is brought against the Jews, "I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens - for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are Mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is Mine, and all that is in it!" (Psalm 50:9-12).
In all praise, in all worship, the heart is demanded.
I. The Mercies of God Demand Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is a part of Divine worship, which consists of acknowledging Him as the Source of all good, and rendering grateful homage to the power, wisdom, and goodness of God on that account.
1. Offer unto God, thanksgiving for TEMPORAL blessings.
Thank Him for your existence. You are fearfully and wonderfully made! You are made for a noble purpose - for your own personal happiness and dignity here and in eternity, to the glory of God the Father.
Thank Him for your preservation. God has preserved you in health, from sickness, from death, from evil courses, from damning crimes, degradation, and ruin.
Thank Him for the blessing of reason. What a calamity is the suspension of the soul's faculties! The man sinks below the level of the beasts - and becomes more helpless and miserable than those who are guided by the instincts of their nature!
See that man, once the learned philosopher, or the honorable statesman, or the eloquent advocate, or the brave general, or the clever theologian! O see him bereft of his reason, his faculties spoiled of their beauty, and the intellectual machinery of the soul in ruins! Hear the clanking of his chains, the hysteric laugh, the frantic cry, or the heavy groan - and then offer to God thanks for the blessing of reason!
Thank God for deliverances. You may have been sick and near unto death - but He has raised you up. You have been exposed to the deadly temptations and snares of the wicked one - yet God has delivered you. Had the temptation succeeded, what would you have been now? What would you have suffered? Then offer to God thanksgiving.
Thank God for Civil and Religious privileges. What blessings are here. "He has not dealt so with every nation." Compare our civil government with the despotic governments of the earth, forbidding the liberty of the press, and, in some cases, even the liberty of speech! Go, while your tongue is free, and offer unto God thanksgiving!
2. Offer unto God, thanksgiving for the GOSPEL dispensation and all its privileges.
Thank God for the mission of Christ to this world. The gospel is the grand remedy for man's woes, the life of the world, the salvation from perdition, and the mighty lever that exalts to Heaven.
Thank God that you are born in a land of Gospel light. Millions in benighted lands are worshiping idols, sticks and stones, reptiles, and devils! Think of their loathsome impurities, their dreadful sufferings and painful rites, their tragic destiny, perishing without vision.
Offer to the God of light, thanksgiving!
Offer praise to God for Gospel ordinances and privileges. The Sabbath day is appointed for sublime and merciful purposes; it is a day on which the richest blessings are received - a day of delicious enjoyment - a day which is the epitome of Heaven.
Then you have the preaching of the Gospel, and the ordinance of the Lord's Supper. By the first, God immediately addresses sinful men, graciously offering terms of reconciliation. In the second, He allows His people to have intimate fellowship with Himself, and cheers their hearts by the whispers of His unchanging love.
~William Nicholson~
(continued with # 2)
Saturday, November 30, 2019
He Has Some Secret Source of Happiness (and others)
He Has Some Secret Source of Happiness (and others)
It is highly incumbent upon Christians, to take care against a worldly spirit. They are in extreme peril of losing the power of godliness from their hearts, and joining the number of those, of whom it is said, in the expressive language of Paul, that "they mind earthly things!"
Such earthlings look upon the possession of wealth as "the one thing needful." Wealth is their chief object of pursuit, the chief source of happiness. Nothing modifies or mitigates their desire for riches. They are of the earth, earthly!
Now certainly a Christian is, or ought to be, of another spirit than this! He should be industrious, frugal, and persevering in his attention to the concerns of this world. But still there should be in his mind, an ultimate and supreme regard for the possession of everlasting life. He ought not to be slothful in business; but then he must be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. He should be seen to unite the diligent worker and sincere Christian - and to be busy for both worlds.
The men of this world should be constrained to say of him, "This man is as attentive to business, and as diligent in it as we are; but we can perceive in all he does, an inflexible regard to morality, and an invariable reference to piety. We can discover no lack of diligence or prudence; but it is perfectly evident, that his heart and highest hope are in heaven. He is neither so elated in prosperity, nor so depressed in adversity, as we are. He has some secret source of happiness, of which we are not possessed! His eye is upon some drive force, which we do not recognize."
What a testimony!
Who can obtain a higher one?
Who should seek less?
~John Angell James~
_______________________
We Live By Faith
"We live by faith, not by sight" (2 Cor. 5:7). Faith is the root of all true piety. Christians need faith for sanctification, consolation, and perseverance. Every act of the spiritual life is an act of faith. Every step in the spiritual walk is a step of faith. The Christian's course is not one of merely "doing," but of believing.
His prayers are the breathing of faith; his works are the actings of faith; his penitence is the tear of faith; his joy is the smile of faith; his fears are the tremblings of faith; his strength is the confidence of faith; his submission is the acquiescence of faith.
Faith is the eye which looks at Christ. Faith is the foot which moves to Christ. Faith is the hand which receives Christ. Faith is the mouth which feeds upon Christ.
It is not only by the activity of obedience, but by the silent and passive power of dependence, that the Christian is made strong and victorious.
"We live by faith, not by sight." Here is the reason why so many professors are so worldly and so weak; why they make such little progress, and such small attainments. They are so much under the dominion of sense, and are so almost wholly given up to a life of sight, that they have neither time nor inclination to look at the things which are unseen and eternal.
There is in them no habitual looking to Christ, no abiding in Him, no vivid consciousness that all their springs are in Him, and that it is from His fullness they are to receive necessary grace.
We must prefer the invisible realities of eternity, to the visible things of time - all that is dazzling to sight, gratifying to appetite, and dear to passion, by faith, spend a life of self-denial, mortification of sin, and separation from the world.
Be this then your sincere and earnest prayer, my dear friends, "Lord, increase our faith!" Be willing to have the world displaced from your soul, to make room for the objects of faith! Be ready to come from the dazzling glare of earthly scenes, to dwell in the calm and holy light of faith.
Watch diligently against the influence of those objects which have a fatal tendency to eclipse faith's light, to obstruct its operation, and enfeeble its life - namely, sensual pleasure; eager pursuit of the world; and a too intimate converse with those who mind earthly things.
~John Angell James~
It is highly incumbent upon Christians, to take care against a worldly spirit. They are in extreme peril of losing the power of godliness from their hearts, and joining the number of those, of whom it is said, in the expressive language of Paul, that "they mind earthly things!"
Such earthlings look upon the possession of wealth as "the one thing needful." Wealth is their chief object of pursuit, the chief source of happiness. Nothing modifies or mitigates their desire for riches. They are of the earth, earthly!
Now certainly a Christian is, or ought to be, of another spirit than this! He should be industrious, frugal, and persevering in his attention to the concerns of this world. But still there should be in his mind, an ultimate and supreme regard for the possession of everlasting life. He ought not to be slothful in business; but then he must be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. He should be seen to unite the diligent worker and sincere Christian - and to be busy for both worlds.
The men of this world should be constrained to say of him, "This man is as attentive to business, and as diligent in it as we are; but we can perceive in all he does, an inflexible regard to morality, and an invariable reference to piety. We can discover no lack of diligence or prudence; but it is perfectly evident, that his heart and highest hope are in heaven. He is neither so elated in prosperity, nor so depressed in adversity, as we are. He has some secret source of happiness, of which we are not possessed! His eye is upon some drive force, which we do not recognize."
What a testimony!
Who can obtain a higher one?
Who should seek less?
~John Angell James~
_______________________
We Live By Faith
"We live by faith, not by sight" (2 Cor. 5:7). Faith is the root of all true piety. Christians need faith for sanctification, consolation, and perseverance. Every act of the spiritual life is an act of faith. Every step in the spiritual walk is a step of faith. The Christian's course is not one of merely "doing," but of believing.
His prayers are the breathing of faith; his works are the actings of faith; his penitence is the tear of faith; his joy is the smile of faith; his fears are the tremblings of faith; his strength is the confidence of faith; his submission is the acquiescence of faith.
Faith is the eye which looks at Christ. Faith is the foot which moves to Christ. Faith is the hand which receives Christ. Faith is the mouth which feeds upon Christ.
It is not only by the activity of obedience, but by the silent and passive power of dependence, that the Christian is made strong and victorious.
"We live by faith, not by sight." Here is the reason why so many professors are so worldly and so weak; why they make such little progress, and such small attainments. They are so much under the dominion of sense, and are so almost wholly given up to a life of sight, that they have neither time nor inclination to look at the things which are unseen and eternal.
There is in them no habitual looking to Christ, no abiding in Him, no vivid consciousness that all their springs are in Him, and that it is from His fullness they are to receive necessary grace.
We must prefer the invisible realities of eternity, to the visible things of time - all that is dazzling to sight, gratifying to appetite, and dear to passion, by faith, spend a life of self-denial, mortification of sin, and separation from the world.
Be this then your sincere and earnest prayer, my dear friends, "Lord, increase our faith!" Be willing to have the world displaced from your soul, to make room for the objects of faith! Be ready to come from the dazzling glare of earthly scenes, to dwell in the calm and holy light of faith.
Watch diligently against the influence of those objects which have a fatal tendency to eclipse faith's light, to obstruct its operation, and enfeeble its life - namely, sensual pleasure; eager pursuit of the world; and a too intimate converse with those who mind earthly things.
~John Angell James~
Abide With Me # 5
Abide With Me # 5
The great thing needed by the Church, in order to its union, harmony, and increase - is the Spirit in His fullness and in power. That blessing would remove our prejudices against each other, break down all the walls and hedges that keep us asunder, lead us more fully into the truth, and fill us with love to one another.
Then we would love one another as Christ has loved us, and this being the case, the Church of Jesus would soon "appear like the dawn, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, majestic as the stars in procession!"
Then the poor, selfish worldlings around us, would be compelled to exclaim, "See how these Christians love one another!" And then the conviction would be forced on every conscience, that the religion of Christ is a divine reality, a holy power, and a supernatural nature. Nothing will impact the world - like the holiness of the Church! This, then, is what we need for the Church - not worldly titles, places, or honors; not so much great gifts, splendid talents, or powerful minds - but the Holy Spirit in His fullness and in power!
This is the great thing needed by the world. It has the Gospel, the Christian ministry, the Church, and all various religious societies - and yet it still lies in the power of the wicked one! There are comparatively few conversions, while multitudes are hardening in sin. Nothing but the Spirit in His fullness and in power - will awaken sinners to a sense of their danger, convince them of sin before God, or lead them to the Cross for life and salvation. The world is God's enemy. The world is governed by satan. The world hates the light. And in this state it will continue "until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high" - and then there will be deep convictions, numerous conversions, and the glory of the Lord will be revealed!
Reader, are in in Christ? This is a very solemn and important question. Press it home on your heart, nor rest until you can say, "Yes, blessed be God, through free and sovereign grace - Christ and my soul are one!'
If you are in Christ - are you intimate with Christ? Is there a constant fellowship carried on between Christ and your soul, in reference to all things, both temporal and spiritual? Remember, if you are a Christian, the Lord Jesus feels interested in everything that affects you, however insignificant it may appear.
Do you act for Christ? Is the honor and glory of Jesus the great end at which you aim, the chief object which you have habitually in view? Think for Jesus. Speak for Jesus. Act for Jesus. Let your whole life be consecrated to Jesus.
Are you like Christ! If you would be like Christ, you must be much with Christ; and if you are much with Christ, you will in Christ see the glory of God, and be gradually changed "into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."
Will you receive the fullness of the Spirit from Christ? He has it! He has promised it. He is prepared to bestow it. But He will have us feel our need of it, ardently long for it, earnestly seek it, until we obtain it. We have not - because we ask not.
And now to conclude, let us pity the Church - torn and divided, comparatively powerless and feeble as it is. Let us set our hearts upon obtaining the empowering of the Holy Spirit for it, in greater fullness than it has been enjoyed by it in our day.
And while we pray that the Holy Spirit may descend upon it, let us speak to all about us of Jesus, and try, as if all depended on our efforts - to save souls from death. The secret of success lies here, in our being united to Christ, abiding in Christ, and acting for Christ; acting for Christ - as if everything depended on what we do - and yet depending upon the Holy Spirit - as if everything depended on His presence, power, and fullness alone.
Gracious Lord, make us thorough Christians, and use, oh, use us, to bring about a revival of pure and undefiled religion, for Christ's sake! Amen.
~James Smith~
(The End)
The great thing needed by the Church, in order to its union, harmony, and increase - is the Spirit in His fullness and in power. That blessing would remove our prejudices against each other, break down all the walls and hedges that keep us asunder, lead us more fully into the truth, and fill us with love to one another.
Then we would love one another as Christ has loved us, and this being the case, the Church of Jesus would soon "appear like the dawn, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, majestic as the stars in procession!"
Then the poor, selfish worldlings around us, would be compelled to exclaim, "See how these Christians love one another!" And then the conviction would be forced on every conscience, that the religion of Christ is a divine reality, a holy power, and a supernatural nature. Nothing will impact the world - like the holiness of the Church! This, then, is what we need for the Church - not worldly titles, places, or honors; not so much great gifts, splendid talents, or powerful minds - but the Holy Spirit in His fullness and in power!
This is the great thing needed by the world. It has the Gospel, the Christian ministry, the Church, and all various religious societies - and yet it still lies in the power of the wicked one! There are comparatively few conversions, while multitudes are hardening in sin. Nothing but the Spirit in His fullness and in power - will awaken sinners to a sense of their danger, convince them of sin before God, or lead them to the Cross for life and salvation. The world is God's enemy. The world is governed by satan. The world hates the light. And in this state it will continue "until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high" - and then there will be deep convictions, numerous conversions, and the glory of the Lord will be revealed!
Reader, are in in Christ? This is a very solemn and important question. Press it home on your heart, nor rest until you can say, "Yes, blessed be God, through free and sovereign grace - Christ and my soul are one!'
If you are in Christ - are you intimate with Christ? Is there a constant fellowship carried on between Christ and your soul, in reference to all things, both temporal and spiritual? Remember, if you are a Christian, the Lord Jesus feels interested in everything that affects you, however insignificant it may appear.
Do you act for Christ? Is the honor and glory of Jesus the great end at which you aim, the chief object which you have habitually in view? Think for Jesus. Speak for Jesus. Act for Jesus. Let your whole life be consecrated to Jesus.
Are you like Christ! If you would be like Christ, you must be much with Christ; and if you are much with Christ, you will in Christ see the glory of God, and be gradually changed "into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."
Will you receive the fullness of the Spirit from Christ? He has it! He has promised it. He is prepared to bestow it. But He will have us feel our need of it, ardently long for it, earnestly seek it, until we obtain it. We have not - because we ask not.
And now to conclude, let us pity the Church - torn and divided, comparatively powerless and feeble as it is. Let us set our hearts upon obtaining the empowering of the Holy Spirit for it, in greater fullness than it has been enjoyed by it in our day.
And while we pray that the Holy Spirit may descend upon it, let us speak to all about us of Jesus, and try, as if all depended on our efforts - to save souls from death. The secret of success lies here, in our being united to Christ, abiding in Christ, and acting for Christ; acting for Christ - as if everything depended on what we do - and yet depending upon the Holy Spirit - as if everything depended on His presence, power, and fullness alone.
Gracious Lord, make us thorough Christians, and use, oh, use us, to bring about a revival of pure and undefiled religion, for Christ's sake! Amen.
~James Smith~
(The End)
Saturday, November 23, 2019
Our Condition - God's Mercy!
Our Condition - God's Mercy!
Many of the Psalms are poetic records of God's mercy towards His ancient people, calling upon them to bless and praise His most glorious name. Israel's history forms a mirror in which we see our own spiritual history. Oh for grace, so to read it, meditate upon it, and exercise faith in it - as to permanently profit by it. My eye is now fixed upon one important verse, a record of God's goodness to them, and equally so of His kindness to us. "Give thanks to the One who remembered us in our low estate: for His mercy endures forever!" (Psalm 136:23).
Our Condition. LOW! We were not created so - but were brought into it by Adam's sin, who represented us, ruined us, and laid us low! Our own conduct sunk as lower still! We are now, by nature, so low, that we cannot be lower! We are now so vile, so weak, that we could not be worse!
Look at man in reference to God - he is God's determined foe! Look at man under the law - he is condemned, condemned to everlasting burnings! Look at man in the world - he is its dupe - victimized by its fashions, customs and spirit.
Look at man in connection with satan - he is satan's vassal, satan's abject slave - inhabited and influenced by satan. Not only so, but he is led captive by satan to do his will!
Look at man - in association with his fellow men - see his craft, cruelty, and covetousness!
Look at man ruling the brute creation - what lack of feeling, care and kindness! Often, man seems to be sunk even lower than they!
GOD'S MERCY. This was freely fixed upon us, is very great towards us, and will always distinguish us.
He remembered us - and sent His Son to redeem us!
He remembered us - and sent His Spirit to quicken us!
He remembered us - and sent His Word to instruct us!
He remembered us - and sent His ordinances to comfort us!
He remembered us - and sent His grace to sanctify us!
He remembered us - and sent His rod to correct us!
He remembered our guilt - and provided an atonement, our weakness - and provided strength, our danger - and provided a refuge, our destitute state - and provided for us a home in Heaven.
"The One who remembered us." It was not the exercise of God's memory merely - but the exercise of His memory influenced by immortal love. It was a father, remembering his child, a bridegroom, remembering his bride, a God, remembering His poor fallen creatures, who were the objects of His love, and whom He had determined to save! Blessed, forever blessed be the Lord, for remembering us in our low estate, for His mercy endures forever!
Mercy is man's best friend. It is that in God which looks upon us with pity, feels for us with sympathy, and exerts itself for our relief and deliverance.
Divine mercy was personified in Jesus, and wept over us, stretched out its hand to help us, and shed its blood to save us.
God's mercy should be our heart's theme. We should think of it, speak of it, and sing of it.
We should rejoice in its freeness, fullness, and immutability. Let us think more of God's mercy than of our trials, our troubles, or our foes.
God's mercy began with us of its own accord, came to us unsought and unsolicited, raised us from our low estate, has heaped favors upon us, will not leave us now - but will follow us all the days of our life, will comfort us in all our tribulations, against all our sorrows, and make us a match for all our troubles!
God's mercy will crown us at last! Mercy will accompany us to the day valley, and through it. Mercy will conduct us to the Jordan, and over it!
Mercy will lead us up into the holy city that has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Mercy will place a crown of pure gold, or of sparkling glory, upon our heads, that we may wear it to its honor forever and ever!
O beloved, how will God's mercy look, when we contemplate it in the light of glory - when from the holy city we look back upon the past, and lift up our voices and sing, "To the One who remembered us in our low estate; for His mercy endures forever!
~James Smith~
(The End)
Many of the Psalms are poetic records of God's mercy towards His ancient people, calling upon them to bless and praise His most glorious name. Israel's history forms a mirror in which we see our own spiritual history. Oh for grace, so to read it, meditate upon it, and exercise faith in it - as to permanently profit by it. My eye is now fixed upon one important verse, a record of God's goodness to them, and equally so of His kindness to us. "Give thanks to the One who remembered us in our low estate: for His mercy endures forever!" (Psalm 136:23).
Our Condition. LOW! We were not created so - but were brought into it by Adam's sin, who represented us, ruined us, and laid us low! Our own conduct sunk as lower still! We are now, by nature, so low, that we cannot be lower! We are now so vile, so weak, that we could not be worse!
Look at man in reference to God - he is God's determined foe! Look at man under the law - he is condemned, condemned to everlasting burnings! Look at man in the world - he is its dupe - victimized by its fashions, customs and spirit.
Look at man in connection with satan - he is satan's vassal, satan's abject slave - inhabited and influenced by satan. Not only so, but he is led captive by satan to do his will!
Look at man - in association with his fellow men - see his craft, cruelty, and covetousness!
Look at man ruling the brute creation - what lack of feeling, care and kindness! Often, man seems to be sunk even lower than they!
GOD'S MERCY. This was freely fixed upon us, is very great towards us, and will always distinguish us.
He remembered us - and sent His Son to redeem us!
He remembered us - and sent His Spirit to quicken us!
He remembered us - and sent His Word to instruct us!
He remembered us - and sent His ordinances to comfort us!
He remembered us - and sent His grace to sanctify us!
He remembered us - and sent His rod to correct us!
He remembered our guilt - and provided an atonement, our weakness - and provided strength, our danger - and provided a refuge, our destitute state - and provided for us a home in Heaven.
"The One who remembered us." It was not the exercise of God's memory merely - but the exercise of His memory influenced by immortal love. It was a father, remembering his child, a bridegroom, remembering his bride, a God, remembering His poor fallen creatures, who were the objects of His love, and whom He had determined to save! Blessed, forever blessed be the Lord, for remembering us in our low estate, for His mercy endures forever!
Mercy is man's best friend. It is that in God which looks upon us with pity, feels for us with sympathy, and exerts itself for our relief and deliverance.
Divine mercy was personified in Jesus, and wept over us, stretched out its hand to help us, and shed its blood to save us.
God's mercy should be our heart's theme. We should think of it, speak of it, and sing of it.
We should rejoice in its freeness, fullness, and immutability. Let us think more of God's mercy than of our trials, our troubles, or our foes.
God's mercy began with us of its own accord, came to us unsought and unsolicited, raised us from our low estate, has heaped favors upon us, will not leave us now - but will follow us all the days of our life, will comfort us in all our tribulations, against all our sorrows, and make us a match for all our troubles!
God's mercy will crown us at last! Mercy will accompany us to the day valley, and through it. Mercy will conduct us to the Jordan, and over it!
Mercy will lead us up into the holy city that has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Mercy will place a crown of pure gold, or of sparkling glory, upon our heads, that we may wear it to its honor forever and ever!
O beloved, how will God's mercy look, when we contemplate it in the light of glory - when from the holy city we look back upon the past, and lift up our voices and sing, "To the One who remembered us in our low estate; for His mercy endures forever!
~James Smith~
(The End)
Abide With Me # 4
Abide With Me # 4
My dear friends, we live in stirring times, everything is full of life and vigor - except the Church of Christ, which ought to be more so than anything else. We hear of the outpouring of the Spirit, and of a great revival of religion in another land, and we need the same blessing in our own. Many seem to be impressed with this fact, and means are being used to obtain such a blessing. But is it not to be feared that many are looking to meetings, to excitement, and to the use of means - rather than to God? And is there not reason to fear that the feelings produced by exciting circumstances and startling news from abroad, will end with them? It is not mere excitement that we need - but something purer, deeper, and more spiritual. We may have physical excitement, mental excitement, and even spiritual excitement - and it may end in nothing. We need deep spirituality. We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. We need abiding in Christ, that we may breathe the spirit of Christ, copy the example of Christ, and so be extensively useful in the cause of Christ.
Shall we have a revival of pure and undefiled religion? Shall we be instrumental in obtaining and bringing about such a blessed state of things? If so, we must attend to the following things:
First, we must be in Christ. Apart from Christ, without union to Him - we can do nothing in this matter. As poor sinners, we must feel our need of Christ, come to Christ, obtain salvation from Christ, and by faith and love be united to the person of Christ. No union to Christ - no grace, no spiritual life, no acceptance with God, or access with confidence to God. Without union to Christ, we have no power with God; and unless we have power with God, we shall have no power with man for spiritual and saving purposes.
Second, we must be intimate with Christ. We must live by faith in Him. We must walk with Him. We must carry everything to Him. We must seek all we need from Him. We must be constantly going to Christ, conversing with Christ, and obtaining from Christ.
The branch receives from the vine night and day, summer and winter; there is a constant communication from the root, through the trunk to the branches, and hence the buds, the blossoms, and the fruit.
Just so, there must be constant fellowship between Christ and our souls. The more we receive from Christ, the more we can do for Christ. This leads me to observe,
Thirdly, that we must act for Christ. There are many things done by religious people, and in the cause of God - but they are not done for Christ. Jesus could not say, "You did it unto Me." We may act from pity - or from pride, for applause - or to satisfy conscience; but we should act for Christ. The glory of Christ should ever be our aim and end in all our religious actions. As all that Christ did, as the Saviour - He did for us; so all that we do as Christians - should be done for Him.
Now, unless we are in union with Christ, we cannot be intimate with Christ; so unless we are intimate with Christ, we shall not, in our efforts and endeavors to do good acts for Christ.
Fourth, we must be like Christ. We may possess His nature, for "if any man has not the Spirit of Christ - he is none of His." We must become His disciples, and learn of Him. We must copy His example, breathe His spirit, and imbibe His temper.
Every Christian should represent Christ in the world, in the family, and in the Church; and if we do not give a fair representation of Christ - we do not answer the end of our new creation.
Until we are more like Christ, it cannot be said of us, "You are manifestly declared to be the epistles of Christ, written not with ink - but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone - but in the fleshy tables of the heart." O for grace to make us more like Christ!
Finally, we must receive the Holy Spirit from Christ. The Father promised to give His Holy Spirit to the Church. When the Son had finished His work on earth, He went up to Heaven, and received of the Father the promised Spirit. On the day of Pentecost He sent down that Spirit into His Church; and by the wisdom, power, and operations of that Spirit - sinners were converted, the Church increased, and believers were edified.
Now, the great thing we need for ourselves, is the Spirit in His fullness and in power. That fullness and power of the Spirit that we need must be obtained from Christ - but it can only be obtained by close walking with Christ.
~James Smith~
(continued with # 5)
My dear friends, we live in stirring times, everything is full of life and vigor - except the Church of Christ, which ought to be more so than anything else. We hear of the outpouring of the Spirit, and of a great revival of religion in another land, and we need the same blessing in our own. Many seem to be impressed with this fact, and means are being used to obtain such a blessing. But is it not to be feared that many are looking to meetings, to excitement, and to the use of means - rather than to God? And is there not reason to fear that the feelings produced by exciting circumstances and startling news from abroad, will end with them? It is not mere excitement that we need - but something purer, deeper, and more spiritual. We may have physical excitement, mental excitement, and even spiritual excitement - and it may end in nothing. We need deep spirituality. We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. We need abiding in Christ, that we may breathe the spirit of Christ, copy the example of Christ, and so be extensively useful in the cause of Christ.
Shall we have a revival of pure and undefiled religion? Shall we be instrumental in obtaining and bringing about such a blessed state of things? If so, we must attend to the following things:
First, we must be in Christ. Apart from Christ, without union to Him - we can do nothing in this matter. As poor sinners, we must feel our need of Christ, come to Christ, obtain salvation from Christ, and by faith and love be united to the person of Christ. No union to Christ - no grace, no spiritual life, no acceptance with God, or access with confidence to God. Without union to Christ, we have no power with God; and unless we have power with God, we shall have no power with man for spiritual and saving purposes.
Second, we must be intimate with Christ. We must live by faith in Him. We must walk with Him. We must carry everything to Him. We must seek all we need from Him. We must be constantly going to Christ, conversing with Christ, and obtaining from Christ.
The branch receives from the vine night and day, summer and winter; there is a constant communication from the root, through the trunk to the branches, and hence the buds, the blossoms, and the fruit.
Just so, there must be constant fellowship between Christ and our souls. The more we receive from Christ, the more we can do for Christ. This leads me to observe,
Thirdly, that we must act for Christ. There are many things done by religious people, and in the cause of God - but they are not done for Christ. Jesus could not say, "You did it unto Me." We may act from pity - or from pride, for applause - or to satisfy conscience; but we should act for Christ. The glory of Christ should ever be our aim and end in all our religious actions. As all that Christ did, as the Saviour - He did for us; so all that we do as Christians - should be done for Him.
Now, unless we are in union with Christ, we cannot be intimate with Christ; so unless we are intimate with Christ, we shall not, in our efforts and endeavors to do good acts for Christ.
Fourth, we must be like Christ. We may possess His nature, for "if any man has not the Spirit of Christ - he is none of His." We must become His disciples, and learn of Him. We must copy His example, breathe His spirit, and imbibe His temper.
Every Christian should represent Christ in the world, in the family, and in the Church; and if we do not give a fair representation of Christ - we do not answer the end of our new creation.
Until we are more like Christ, it cannot be said of us, "You are manifestly declared to be the epistles of Christ, written not with ink - but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone - but in the fleshy tables of the heart." O for grace to make us more like Christ!
Finally, we must receive the Holy Spirit from Christ. The Father promised to give His Holy Spirit to the Church. When the Son had finished His work on earth, He went up to Heaven, and received of the Father the promised Spirit. On the day of Pentecost He sent down that Spirit into His Church; and by the wisdom, power, and operations of that Spirit - sinners were converted, the Church increased, and believers were edified.
Now, the great thing we need for ourselves, is the Spirit in His fullness and in power. That fullness and power of the Spirit that we need must be obtained from Christ - but it can only be obtained by close walking with Christ.
~James Smith~
(continued with # 5)
Saturday, November 16, 2019
Abide With Me # 3
Abide With Me # 3
As we must trust Jesus, so we must identify our cause with His. Christ and His people are one. As the branch and the vine are one, as the members and the head are one, as the building and the foundation are one - so Christ and His people are one. He has identified Himself with them - and they should identify Him with themselves. He has identified His cause with theirs - and they should identify theirs with His. Jesus takes an interest in all that concerns them and theirs - and they should take an interest in all that concerns Him and His. "You are not your own, you are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your bodies and in your spirits, which are His."
Christ says, "My person, My obedience, My grace, My Spirit, My Word, My wealth, My glory - is yours! You shall taste My sorrows now - and share in My throne, kingdom, and glory by and by." We therefore should say, "My person, my property, my time, my talents, my influence, my all - is Yours. You, O my Saviour, shall be honored by my poverty or wealth, my adversity or prosperity, my sickness or health, my life or my death.
I will be for You, and for You alone now - as I hope to be with You and like You forever!
Beloved, let us think of Christ more, let us read of Christ more, let us commune with Christ more, and let us identify ourselves with the cause of Christ - so shall we abide in Him.
What will abiding in Christ secure?
1. It will secure our safety. Noah was no so safe in his ark; Lot was not so safe in Zoar; the man-slayer was not so safe in the city of refuge - as the true believer is in Christ. Abiding in Christ, to Him there is no condemnation; every sin is pardoned; the whole, the perfect, the glorious righteousness of Christ is his! All the glorious perfections of His nature are thrown around the man who abides in Him. He is safe from satan, who cannot destroy him; safe from sin, which shall not have dominion over him; safe from men, for no weapon formed against him shall prosper; and safe from death, for Jesus has said, "he who keeps My sayings shall never taste of death." In Christ! his person is secure.
2. Abiding in Christ - all things work together for his good. Happy believer, no one shall ever pluck you out of your Redeemer's hands, or sever you from your Saviour's love! Abiding in Christ will not only secure our safety - but our happiness! Happy, thrice happy is the man who is in Christ. He is not only pardoned - but justified; not only justified - but accepted and pleasant in the sight of God; not only accepted - but adopted, and is God's beloved child; not only a beloved child - but an heir of God, and a joint heir with Christ!
It is not enough to make a man happy, to know that God has blotted out all his sins; has given him a glorious, eternal inheritance; and never looks upon him, but as in Christ, nor treats him otherwise than as a beloved child?
3. Abiding in Christ not only fixes us in a happy state - but secures our supplies. All that we need for the body and for the soul, for life and in death - is provided for us, secured to us, and will be conferred upon us - as we need it. O how precious the Apostle's words to the Philippians: "My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus!" Well may our beloved Lord say, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself." (Matt. 6:34).
Beloved, the God who has numbered the very hairs of our heads; the God who has redeemed our souls from everlasting death; the God who has made us one with His Son, that we are forever united with Him - this God has provided for all our needs, has promised to supply all our needs, and will be as good as His Word.
4. Abiding in Christ will also secure our usefulness. We long to be useful, and by our usefulness to glorify our God, and honor our beloved Saviour. Usefulness does not depend on great gifts, on exalted station, or bodily vigor; but it does depend very much on our union to Christ, communion with Christ, and abiding in Christ. "He who abides in Me," says Jesus, "and I in him, the same thing brings forth much fruit." Not only fruit, you see - but much fruit. O if we were living in close and intimate fellowship with Jesus, if we were abiding in Him as the branch in the vine - then how useful we should be!
Let us then be deeply impressed with the consideration that our safety, happiness, supplies, and usefulness - depend on our abiding in Jesus! And just in proportion as we wish to realize our safety, enjoy solid happiness, live without care and anxiety, and to be useful in our day and generation - shall we endeavor to abide in Jesus.
~James Smith~
(continued with # 4)
As we must trust Jesus, so we must identify our cause with His. Christ and His people are one. As the branch and the vine are one, as the members and the head are one, as the building and the foundation are one - so Christ and His people are one. He has identified Himself with them - and they should identify Him with themselves. He has identified His cause with theirs - and they should identify theirs with His. Jesus takes an interest in all that concerns them and theirs - and they should take an interest in all that concerns Him and His. "You are not your own, you are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your bodies and in your spirits, which are His."
Christ says, "My person, My obedience, My grace, My Spirit, My Word, My wealth, My glory - is yours! You shall taste My sorrows now - and share in My throne, kingdom, and glory by and by." We therefore should say, "My person, my property, my time, my talents, my influence, my all - is Yours. You, O my Saviour, shall be honored by my poverty or wealth, my adversity or prosperity, my sickness or health, my life or my death.
I will be for You, and for You alone now - as I hope to be with You and like You forever!
Beloved, let us think of Christ more, let us read of Christ more, let us commune with Christ more, and let us identify ourselves with the cause of Christ - so shall we abide in Him.
What will abiding in Christ secure?
1. It will secure our safety. Noah was no so safe in his ark; Lot was not so safe in Zoar; the man-slayer was not so safe in the city of refuge - as the true believer is in Christ. Abiding in Christ, to Him there is no condemnation; every sin is pardoned; the whole, the perfect, the glorious righteousness of Christ is his! All the glorious perfections of His nature are thrown around the man who abides in Him. He is safe from satan, who cannot destroy him; safe from sin, which shall not have dominion over him; safe from men, for no weapon formed against him shall prosper; and safe from death, for Jesus has said, "he who keeps My sayings shall never taste of death." In Christ! his person is secure.
2. Abiding in Christ - all things work together for his good. Happy believer, no one shall ever pluck you out of your Redeemer's hands, or sever you from your Saviour's love! Abiding in Christ will not only secure our safety - but our happiness! Happy, thrice happy is the man who is in Christ. He is not only pardoned - but justified; not only justified - but accepted and pleasant in the sight of God; not only accepted - but adopted, and is God's beloved child; not only a beloved child - but an heir of God, and a joint heir with Christ!
It is not enough to make a man happy, to know that God has blotted out all his sins; has given him a glorious, eternal inheritance; and never looks upon him, but as in Christ, nor treats him otherwise than as a beloved child?
3. Abiding in Christ not only fixes us in a happy state - but secures our supplies. All that we need for the body and for the soul, for life and in death - is provided for us, secured to us, and will be conferred upon us - as we need it. O how precious the Apostle's words to the Philippians: "My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus!" Well may our beloved Lord say, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself." (Matt. 6:34).
Beloved, the God who has numbered the very hairs of our heads; the God who has redeemed our souls from everlasting death; the God who has made us one with His Son, that we are forever united with Him - this God has provided for all our needs, has promised to supply all our needs, and will be as good as His Word.
4. Abiding in Christ will also secure our usefulness. We long to be useful, and by our usefulness to glorify our God, and honor our beloved Saviour. Usefulness does not depend on great gifts, on exalted station, or bodily vigor; but it does depend very much on our union to Christ, communion with Christ, and abiding in Christ. "He who abides in Me," says Jesus, "and I in him, the same thing brings forth much fruit." Not only fruit, you see - but much fruit. O if we were living in close and intimate fellowship with Jesus, if we were abiding in Him as the branch in the vine - then how useful we should be!
Let us then be deeply impressed with the consideration that our safety, happiness, supplies, and usefulness - depend on our abiding in Jesus! And just in proportion as we wish to realize our safety, enjoy solid happiness, live without care and anxiety, and to be useful in our day and generation - shall we endeavor to abide in Jesus.
~James Smith~
(continued with # 4)
The True Remedy # 2
The True Remedy # 2
In every time of trial, in every season of darkness, in every severe conflict - turn then to the Lord's Word, and with David say, "The Lord Almighty is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge, therefore will we not fear!" Or, "The lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear?" This is the only true remedy!
3. Another soul-disorder is ANXIOUS CARE. Worry or anxiety is prohibited by the gospel, because it is injurious to us, and reflects badly upon the care and kindness of God. Yet we, like Martha - are anxious and troubled about many things. We lose sight of the fact that God is our Father, and as such is engaged to provide for us. We forget that we are in our Father's world, are living under our Father's eye, are fed by our Father's hand, and that our interests lie near our Father's heart!
The true remedy for anxious care is to realize daily, and every hour of every day that the Lord cares for us, that He knows where we are, and what we are, that He has fixed the bounds of our habitation, that His feeding the sparrows is a proof that He will never neglect His children.
Anxiety! As a believer in Jesus, as a child of God - about what should I be anxious?
God is my Father, and He loves me - loves me just as He loves Jesus.
He cares for me - cares for me as much as He cared for the apostle Paul.
He watches over me, as a tender mother watches over her precious infant.
He keeps me - keeps me as the apple of His eye; and lest anything should hurt me, He will keep me night and day. He bids me cast every care upon Him. He exhorts me not to worry about anything - but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, to let my requests be made known unto Him.
This is the true remedy for care: to live close and intimate fellowship with God, and cast all my cares upon Him as they come in; to live realizing the fact, that I am the object of the constant, tender, loving care of God - that my God cares for me, for my best interests, for my everlasting welfare. Yes, this is the only true remedy!
4. Another soul-disorder is SPIRITUAL WEAKNESS. This we deeply and daily feel. When we look at our duties, on our foes, on our difficulties - we feel at times almost overwhelmed. We are not sufficient of ourselves so much as to think a holy thought; and yet... the old man is to be crucified, satan is to be conquered, the world is to be overcome, the journey through a waste howling wilderness is to be completed, and the crown is to be won before we wear it.
But there is a remedy for our weakness; it is union to Jesus. When united to Jesus His wisdom becomes ours, His righteousness becomes ours, His strength becomes ours; His fullness is placed against our emptiness; His wealth is placed against our poverty; His strength is placed against our weakness.
Our needs are to drive us to His fullness; our weakness is to cause us to lean upon His arm; and our sense of nothingness to make Him all in all.
If I am one with Christ - all that He has is mine!
Let us, then, seek daily to realize our union to Christ - that we are members of His body; and let us obtain mercy and grace from Him to help us in time of need. Then our weakness will endear His strength, increase our dependence, stimulate us to earnest fervent prayer, and glorify the riches of His free grace.
This is the only true remedy!
~James Smith~
(The End)
In every time of trial, in every season of darkness, in every severe conflict - turn then to the Lord's Word, and with David say, "The Lord Almighty is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge, therefore will we not fear!" Or, "The lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear?" This is the only true remedy!
3. Another soul-disorder is ANXIOUS CARE. Worry or anxiety is prohibited by the gospel, because it is injurious to us, and reflects badly upon the care and kindness of God. Yet we, like Martha - are anxious and troubled about many things. We lose sight of the fact that God is our Father, and as such is engaged to provide for us. We forget that we are in our Father's world, are living under our Father's eye, are fed by our Father's hand, and that our interests lie near our Father's heart!
The true remedy for anxious care is to realize daily, and every hour of every day that the Lord cares for us, that He knows where we are, and what we are, that He has fixed the bounds of our habitation, that His feeding the sparrows is a proof that He will never neglect His children.
Anxiety! As a believer in Jesus, as a child of God - about what should I be anxious?
God is my Father, and He loves me - loves me just as He loves Jesus.
He cares for me - cares for me as much as He cared for the apostle Paul.
He watches over me, as a tender mother watches over her precious infant.
He keeps me - keeps me as the apple of His eye; and lest anything should hurt me, He will keep me night and day. He bids me cast every care upon Him. He exhorts me not to worry about anything - but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, to let my requests be made known unto Him.
This is the true remedy for care: to live close and intimate fellowship with God, and cast all my cares upon Him as they come in; to live realizing the fact, that I am the object of the constant, tender, loving care of God - that my God cares for me, for my best interests, for my everlasting welfare. Yes, this is the only true remedy!
4. Another soul-disorder is SPIRITUAL WEAKNESS. This we deeply and daily feel. When we look at our duties, on our foes, on our difficulties - we feel at times almost overwhelmed. We are not sufficient of ourselves so much as to think a holy thought; and yet... the old man is to be crucified, satan is to be conquered, the world is to be overcome, the journey through a waste howling wilderness is to be completed, and the crown is to be won before we wear it.
But there is a remedy for our weakness; it is union to Jesus. When united to Jesus His wisdom becomes ours, His righteousness becomes ours, His strength becomes ours; His fullness is placed against our emptiness; His wealth is placed against our poverty; His strength is placed against our weakness.
Our needs are to drive us to His fullness; our weakness is to cause us to lean upon His arm; and our sense of nothingness to make Him all in all.
If I am one with Christ - all that He has is mine!
Let us, then, seek daily to realize our union to Christ - that we are members of His body; and let us obtain mercy and grace from Him to help us in time of need. Then our weakness will endear His strength, increase our dependence, stimulate us to earnest fervent prayer, and glorify the riches of His free grace.
This is the only true remedy!
~James Smith~
(The End)
Saturday, November 9, 2019
Abide With Me # 2
Abide With Me # 2
Fellowship with Christ is necessary to our abiding in Christ. Peter describes the Christian life thus: "Coming to Him as to a living stone...you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:4-5).
If therefore we would abide in Jesus, we must more and more feel our need of Him; we must increase in our knowledge of Him; we must seek all our supplies from Him; and realize that we are in union with Him!
What does abiding in Christ require? Many things - and we will notice a few of them. We must think of Him, or exercise the intellect upon Him. As we are capable of thinking, and have the power of fixing our thoughts upon an object - we must make Christ the great object of our thoughts, and think of Him. That we think of Christ so little, so seldom - is one great reason why we enjoy Christ so little.
Beloved, we should think of His glorious person; of His free and abounding grace; of His infinite and everlasting merit; of His deep and tender sympathy; of His authority and unlimited dominion; and of His eternal and changeless love!
We should think of what He was in glory; of what He became on earth; of what He did while here below; of what He suffered on our behalf; and of what He is now doing at the right hand of God.
We should think of His nature, His offices, His relations, and His glorious second advent!
Oh, how much more is in Jesus to occupy our thoughts, and feast our souls! Is it not astonishing that we do not think of Him more? Never, never, shall we enjoy deep spirituality; or rise above our doubts and fears; or rejoice in God; or be very useful among our fellow men - unless we think of Christ more!
As we must think of Christ - so we must hear and read of Christ. The senses should be employed on Christ, as well as the intellect. If we can hear at all - we should go where we can hear of Christ, not only on the Lord's day - but on other days too. If we can read at all, we should read of Christ; and as Christ is the most important subject, and as we are more deeply interested in Him than in anything else - we should read of Him most. It is one thing to read religious books - and quite another thing to read of Christ; for many religious books have very little of Christ in them. Nor should we so much read what man says of Christ - as what God says. God's own book should be our book, and we should read it, that we may know more of Christ, and become more like Christ.
We shall never abide in Christ as we ought, unless we hear more of Christ, read more of Christ, and think more of Christ. But we must not stop at thinking, hearing, or reading of Christ - we must actually commune with Christ. There is often much prayer - and yet little communion with Christ. We should realize that Christ is present with us. That we are alone with Him. That He is giving us His whole attention. That He expects us to tell Him all that troubles us, all that grieves us, all that pleases us, all that we need, and all that we desire.
We should keep back nothing from Him - but speak to Him freely on every subject, and every circumstance. And realizing that Christ is with us, listening to us, and by sympathy entering into all our circumstances - we should expect to receive intimations of His will, proofs of His approbation, communications of His grace, and the consoling influences of His love.
Our thoughts should ascent to Jesus, and His thoughts should descend and take possession of our minds. Without more direct, sensible, and secret communion with Christ - we shall not much enjoy our union with Christ, or attend to the admonition to abide in Him.
Having communion with Christ - we must trust Him. He requires us to treat Him with confidence; to believe what He says; to expect what He promises; to do what He bids us.
We must trust Him with the salvation of our souls, and having put them into His hands, having committed them to His keeping - we should rest satisfied that He will save them. We must trust Him with the body as well as the soul, believing that He feels an interest in the one as well the other. Yes, we must ask Him to work in us to will and to do of His good pleasure; to fulfill in us all the good pleasure of His goodness, and the work of faith with power. And we must trust for temporal concerns also, looking to Him for food and clothing, as well as for grace and glory.
We do not half trust the Saviour as we ought. Our confidence in Him is not worthy of Him. Our doubts, fears, and misgivings dishonor Him. Let us therefore seek grace that we may trust in Him at all times; trust Him for all, and trust Him notwithstanding all.
~James Smith~
(continued with # 3)
Fellowship with Christ is necessary to our abiding in Christ. Peter describes the Christian life thus: "Coming to Him as to a living stone...you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:4-5).
If therefore we would abide in Jesus, we must more and more feel our need of Him; we must increase in our knowledge of Him; we must seek all our supplies from Him; and realize that we are in union with Him!
What does abiding in Christ require? Many things - and we will notice a few of them. We must think of Him, or exercise the intellect upon Him. As we are capable of thinking, and have the power of fixing our thoughts upon an object - we must make Christ the great object of our thoughts, and think of Him. That we think of Christ so little, so seldom - is one great reason why we enjoy Christ so little.
Beloved, we should think of His glorious person; of His free and abounding grace; of His infinite and everlasting merit; of His deep and tender sympathy; of His authority and unlimited dominion; and of His eternal and changeless love!
We should think of what He was in glory; of what He became on earth; of what He did while here below; of what He suffered on our behalf; and of what He is now doing at the right hand of God.
We should think of His nature, His offices, His relations, and His glorious second advent!
Oh, how much more is in Jesus to occupy our thoughts, and feast our souls! Is it not astonishing that we do not think of Him more? Never, never, shall we enjoy deep spirituality; or rise above our doubts and fears; or rejoice in God; or be very useful among our fellow men - unless we think of Christ more!
As we must think of Christ - so we must hear and read of Christ. The senses should be employed on Christ, as well as the intellect. If we can hear at all - we should go where we can hear of Christ, not only on the Lord's day - but on other days too. If we can read at all, we should read of Christ; and as Christ is the most important subject, and as we are more deeply interested in Him than in anything else - we should read of Him most. It is one thing to read religious books - and quite another thing to read of Christ; for many religious books have very little of Christ in them. Nor should we so much read what man says of Christ - as what God says. God's own book should be our book, and we should read it, that we may know more of Christ, and become more like Christ.
We shall never abide in Christ as we ought, unless we hear more of Christ, read more of Christ, and think more of Christ. But we must not stop at thinking, hearing, or reading of Christ - we must actually commune with Christ. There is often much prayer - and yet little communion with Christ. We should realize that Christ is present with us. That we are alone with Him. That He is giving us His whole attention. That He expects us to tell Him all that troubles us, all that grieves us, all that pleases us, all that we need, and all that we desire.
We should keep back nothing from Him - but speak to Him freely on every subject, and every circumstance. And realizing that Christ is with us, listening to us, and by sympathy entering into all our circumstances - we should expect to receive intimations of His will, proofs of His approbation, communications of His grace, and the consoling influences of His love.
Our thoughts should ascent to Jesus, and His thoughts should descend and take possession of our minds. Without more direct, sensible, and secret communion with Christ - we shall not much enjoy our union with Christ, or attend to the admonition to abide in Him.
Having communion with Christ - we must trust Him. He requires us to treat Him with confidence; to believe what He says; to expect what He promises; to do what He bids us.
We must trust Him with the salvation of our souls, and having put them into His hands, having committed them to His keeping - we should rest satisfied that He will save them. We must trust Him with the body as well as the soul, believing that He feels an interest in the one as well the other. Yes, we must ask Him to work in us to will and to do of His good pleasure; to fulfill in us all the good pleasure of His goodness, and the work of faith with power. And we must trust for temporal concerns also, looking to Him for food and clothing, as well as for grace and glory.
We do not half trust the Saviour as we ought. Our confidence in Him is not worthy of Him. Our doubts, fears, and misgivings dishonor Him. Let us therefore seek grace that we may trust in Him at all times; trust Him for all, and trust Him notwithstanding all.
~James Smith~
(continued with # 3)
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