The Great Defect # 3
The Holy Spirit sets us apart for God, leads us to engage in the service of God, enables us to perform the will of God, blesses us to the Church of God, and first enables, and then honors us, in being witnesses to the world for God.
Without the Spirit, therefore, we have no title to church privileges; no fitness for the Lord's service; no enjoyment of spiritual fellowship; no consecration to the Lord's glory.
The consequences of not having the Spirit, hereafter will be truly dreadful! Make whatever profession we may, pass muster among the saints now as we will - we shall surely be detected then.
The chaff will be separated from the corn, the tares from the wheat, the sheep from the goats, and the foolish virgins from the wise.
We shall be disowned by Jesus Himself! He will say, "I never approved of you." In vain we plead, "Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and in Your name cast out devils, and in Your name done many wonderful works," for then will he say unto us, I never knew you, depart from Me, you who practice iniquity!"
We shall be shut out of the marriage supper of the Lamb. The wise virgins, all who have oil in their vessels, or all who have the Spirit, will be admitted within; but it will be in vain for us to come, stand outside and knock, crying, "Lord, Lord, open to us!" for He will answer, "Truly I say unto you, I know you not!"
We shall be exposed. Our folly will be made manifest unto all. Our portion will be shame and everlasting contempt. We will be treated with contempt by devils, and as the scum of God's creation - after being treated with respect both by saints and sinners here! This will be dreadful - unspeakably dreadful! Everlasting contempt! Oh, how fearful! How humbling! How degrading!
We shall be punished. Eternally punished. We shall know what the wrath of God means. We shall understand what the curse of God is. We shall feel the terrible force of the expressions, "weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth!" We shall suffer all that is intended by a consuming fire, everlasting burnings, fire and brimstone, and a horrible tempest! We shall be where the worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched. Then, then we shall find that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God!
Reader, reader - have you the Spirit? Do you profess to have the Spirit? If so, see to it that you have it in reality; for if you have not, in a very little time you will certainly be detected; you will be publicly exposed; you will be openly disowned by the Judge of all; you will be shut out of Heaven; you will be shut into hell; you will be treated with contempt by all God's creation; you will be punished with everlasting destruction, away from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power.
It is of little consequence what a man has then - if he has not the fullness of the Spirit; for all real religion begins, is carried on, and completed by the Spirit. He breathes the first breath of life in us, He feeds and fosters the life He imparts, and He completes the work which He begins in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ.
As no substitute can be found for the Holy Spirit and His work, we should carefully examine ourselves, whether we have received the Holy Spirit or not. Lest we should be deceived, let us not be satisfied with less than the fullness of the Spirit. We are not to suppose that this was a peculiar privilege, to be confined to a few, for Paul exhorts the members of the Church at Ephesus to be "filled with the Spirit."
On this fullness of the Spirit - let us set our hearts; for this fullness of the Spirit - let us seek; without this fullness of the Spirit - let us not be satisfied.
Father of mercies, fill us with the Holy Spirit. Gracious Saviour, giveus the Comforter in fullness and in power, to abide with us forever! Dear Holy Spirit, come and make our hearts Your home, and let us be filled with your presence, power, and glory - yes, let us be filled with all the fullness of God! Amen!
~James Smith~
(The End)
Saturday, February 15, 2020
Saturday, February 8, 2020
The Great Defect # 2
The Great Defect # 2
Not having the Holy Spirit - they have no right, heart-affecting, soul-transforming views of Christ. They may think highly of Him, and they may speak well of Him. But to them He is not a personal, present, soul-satisfying Saviour. The eye does not affect the heart. Therefore the heart is not set upon Christ, so as to devote itself and all that it has to Christ. Now the Spirit, while He unfolds the work of Christ, testifies to the ability of Christ, and applies the blood of Christ. he directs the heart, and fixes the affections supremely upon the person of Christ. So that just in proportion as we experience the teaching and work of the Spirit - shall we be taken up with the person and personal glories of Christ.
Not having the Spirit - they have no deep and abiding conviction of sin, especially of the sin of unbelief. Now when the Spirit of truth has come, He convinces the world of sin, because it believes not in Christ. The people of whom we are writing, are convinced of outward acts of sin, and also that there are many things within them which are contrary to the law of God. But the hidden evils of the heart are not discovered by them; the great tap root of all sin, UNBELIEF, is not unfolded to their view; and therefore they are not humbled under it, nor led to loathe themselves before God on account of it.
Not having the Spirit - they have no hearty, thorough, self-renunciation. Now SELF must be renounced, before Christ can be enthroned in the heart - religious self, sinful self, self in every form! For we must sink into nothingness, into self-abhorrence - before we shall prize or glory in a salvation all of grace. The more we experience of the Spirit's work and power in our hearts, the less we shall think of ourselves, our experiences, our attainments, or our works. Self will be nothing - that Christ may be all in all.
Now where there is not a living faith in a living Saviour; genuine sorrow for sin, and departure from sin; spiritual love to God and all that is godlike; enlightened zeal for God and His glory; heart affecting, soul-transforming views of Christ; deep and abiding convictions of sin, specially of the sin of unbelief; and habitual and thorough self-renunciation - there is not the Spirit - at least is not that satisfactory proof of the indwelling of the Spirit which every professor of Christ should seek to possess.
What Are the Consequences of NOT Having the Spirit?
Not having the Spirit - we have no title to church privileges. Baptism, without faith, is not pleasing to God. The Lord's supper, unless we discern the Lord's body, is only eating our own condemnation. A place in the church, without Christ in the heart, only makes our conversion more difficult, our salvation more improbable, and leads to a hotter place in Hell. The church is no place for an unconverted sinner. Without union to the head - we can have no communion with the body; and without the Spirit - there is no union to Christ.
Not having the Spirit - we have no fitness for the Lord's service. Spiritual services require spiritual people. We cannot preach, or teach, or pray, or do anything acceptable to God - without the Holy Spirit. So that whatever gifts we may possess, whatever station we may fill, whatever calls we may have - we are not qualified to engage in the Lord's service, unless the Spirit of God dwells in us.
Not having the Spirit - we can have no spiritual fellowship, either with God, or with the saints. Fellowship springs from sameness, or similarity of nature. Light can have no fellowship with darkness. Christ can have no fellowship with Belial. God can have no fellowship with an unconverted sinner. If we would have fellowship with God, or with God's people - we must be taught, led, and sanctified by the Spirit of God. We may have fellowship with believers in temporal things, or in religious services; but fellowship with them as saints, in spiritual things - we cannot have without the Holy Spirit.
Not having the Spirit - there can be no consecration to the Lord's service and glory. People and things were consecrated under the law, by the application of blood and oil; and consecration effected in the same way now. The blood of Christ must be applied to the conscience to remove the guilt of sin - and the Spirit must be imparted to set us apart for God. Therefore John wrote to God's consecrated ones of old, "You have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things." That Holy One is the Lord Jesus; the anointing is the Holy Spirit; the things known are the things freely given to us of God. Again he says, "The anointing which you have received of Him abides in you." The Spirit once given, abides; as Jesus said, "I will send you another Comforter, who shall abide with you forever."
~James Smith~
(continued with # 3)
Not having the Holy Spirit - they have no right, heart-affecting, soul-transforming views of Christ. They may think highly of Him, and they may speak well of Him. But to them He is not a personal, present, soul-satisfying Saviour. The eye does not affect the heart. Therefore the heart is not set upon Christ, so as to devote itself and all that it has to Christ. Now the Spirit, while He unfolds the work of Christ, testifies to the ability of Christ, and applies the blood of Christ. he directs the heart, and fixes the affections supremely upon the person of Christ. So that just in proportion as we experience the teaching and work of the Spirit - shall we be taken up with the person and personal glories of Christ.
Not having the Spirit - they have no deep and abiding conviction of sin, especially of the sin of unbelief. Now when the Spirit of truth has come, He convinces the world of sin, because it believes not in Christ. The people of whom we are writing, are convinced of outward acts of sin, and also that there are many things within them which are contrary to the law of God. But the hidden evils of the heart are not discovered by them; the great tap root of all sin, UNBELIEF, is not unfolded to their view; and therefore they are not humbled under it, nor led to loathe themselves before God on account of it.
Not having the Spirit - they have no hearty, thorough, self-renunciation. Now SELF must be renounced, before Christ can be enthroned in the heart - religious self, sinful self, self in every form! For we must sink into nothingness, into self-abhorrence - before we shall prize or glory in a salvation all of grace. The more we experience of the Spirit's work and power in our hearts, the less we shall think of ourselves, our experiences, our attainments, or our works. Self will be nothing - that Christ may be all in all.
Now where there is not a living faith in a living Saviour; genuine sorrow for sin, and departure from sin; spiritual love to God and all that is godlike; enlightened zeal for God and His glory; heart affecting, soul-transforming views of Christ; deep and abiding convictions of sin, specially of the sin of unbelief; and habitual and thorough self-renunciation - there is not the Spirit - at least is not that satisfactory proof of the indwelling of the Spirit which every professor of Christ should seek to possess.
What Are the Consequences of NOT Having the Spirit?
Not having the Spirit - we have no title to church privileges. Baptism, without faith, is not pleasing to God. The Lord's supper, unless we discern the Lord's body, is only eating our own condemnation. A place in the church, without Christ in the heart, only makes our conversion more difficult, our salvation more improbable, and leads to a hotter place in Hell. The church is no place for an unconverted sinner. Without union to the head - we can have no communion with the body; and without the Spirit - there is no union to Christ.
Not having the Spirit - we have no fitness for the Lord's service. Spiritual services require spiritual people. We cannot preach, or teach, or pray, or do anything acceptable to God - without the Holy Spirit. So that whatever gifts we may possess, whatever station we may fill, whatever calls we may have - we are not qualified to engage in the Lord's service, unless the Spirit of God dwells in us.
Not having the Spirit - we can have no spiritual fellowship, either with God, or with the saints. Fellowship springs from sameness, or similarity of nature. Light can have no fellowship with darkness. Christ can have no fellowship with Belial. God can have no fellowship with an unconverted sinner. If we would have fellowship with God, or with God's people - we must be taught, led, and sanctified by the Spirit of God. We may have fellowship with believers in temporal things, or in religious services; but fellowship with them as saints, in spiritual things - we cannot have without the Holy Spirit.
Not having the Spirit - there can be no consecration to the Lord's service and glory. People and things were consecrated under the law, by the application of blood and oil; and consecration effected in the same way now. The blood of Christ must be applied to the conscience to remove the guilt of sin - and the Spirit must be imparted to set us apart for God. Therefore John wrote to God's consecrated ones of old, "You have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things." That Holy One is the Lord Jesus; the anointing is the Holy Spirit; the things known are the things freely given to us of God. Again he says, "The anointing which you have received of Him abides in you." The Spirit once given, abides; as Jesus said, "I will send you another Comforter, who shall abide with you forever."
~James Smith~
(continued with # 3)
Saturday, February 1, 2020
The Great Defect! # 1
The Great Defect # 1
Some things in religion may be dispensed with, without affecting our eternal salvation. But there is one thing we must experience - we must be born again. There is one blessing we must possess, and that is the Holy Spirit. As well may we expect to be saved without the Spirit of God within us! And yet, in all ages, there have been those, under a profession of religion, who have thought themselves safe without this indispensable qualification. In the days of the Apostles, there were those who were worldly people, having not the Holy Spirit." (Jude 19). This was the great defect, and this defect was the cause of all the errors they fell into, and the evil course into which they were betrayed. There is reason to fear that in these favored times, and in our privileged land, there are many professing Christ who are in just the same state - they have not the Spirit; and yet, no testimony can be plainer or more decisive than this, "If any man has not the Spirit of Christ - he is none of his." Let us attend to this subject a little.
What May Such People Have?
They may have a profession of religion, and that profession may have been made in a scriptural way. No one may be able to object to their creed - for it may be sound; nor to their conduct - for it may be moral. All the doctrines of the gospel may be believed, and all the moral requirements of the gospel may be outwardly observed.
The intellect may be enlightened, the memory may be well furnished, and the life may be generally consistent. Yet such people may not have the Spirit!
They may fill an office in the church, and be a deacon, an elder, or even a minister. Their gifts may be respectable. Their duties may be regularly performed. Their names may stand high. Their usefulness may appear to be great. They may be loved by the Lord's people. They may be honored in the church. Yet they may be destitute of the Spirit!
They may have a false hope buoying them up, and bearing them onward, so that they may not even doubt the goodness of their state: and this false hope may arise from impressions they have felt, pleasures in religious services which they have enjoyed, and the doctrines of the gospel which they have embraced.
They may have an unfounded confidence, which makes them bold, fearless and active. A confidence founded, not on Christ, not warranted by the word - but produced by mistaking the gospel, and being ignorant of their own depravity and pollution.
They have tolerably clear light, which is the foolish virgin's lamp. They have a profession of religion, which is the foolish virgin's robe. They unite with the Lord's people, which is going forth to meet the bridegroom. But they have no oil in their vessels - they have not the Holy Spirit.
How much a man may have without this! How far a man may go without this! How long a person may remain under a profession of religion without this! With how many, a man may pass for a Christian without this! Let us beware, lest we should at last be found among those of whom it will be said, "having not the Spirit."
In What Are Such People Deficient?
Not having the Spirit - they lack true saving faith, for faith is of the operation of God, and is a fruit of the indwelling of the Spirit. They may give their assent and consent to all the great truths of the gospel, and to all that is said about Christ. But they have never been brought as poor sinners - to apply to Christ for salvation; as really lost - to trust in Him for deliverance; as condemned - to commit themselves to Him to be justified by His blood; as stripped of everything of their own, and of all confidence in the flesh - to place their confidence in Christ alone.
Not having the Spirit - they have no genuine repentance. They may be sorry that they have sinned, for fear they should be punished - but they have never had their hearts broken at the Cross, by an exhibition of the love of God to them, notwithstanding their sins. Repentance toward God flows from faith in Christ, which faith is produced by the Holy Spirit in the heart. The true penitent thinks not so much of the punishment which his sin deserves - as of the goodness, grace, and holiness of the God against whom he has sinned.
Not having the Spirit - they have no spiritual love. The natural affections may be excited, and be drawn forth toward spiritual things; but it is not spirituality which excites them - but some amiable characteristic, some moral excellence, or some natural beauty. Spirit love flows from a spiritual nature, and is fixed supremely upon God in Christ - and subordinately upon all people, and things, in proportion as they have a resemblance to Him. Spirit love never seeks its own advantage, or honor - but the honor and advantage of the object loved. This love also flows from faith, and is regulated by faith in its exercise and degrees.
Not having the Spirit - they have no enlightened zeal. They may be very zealous for a creed, a form of religion, or any of the outworks of Christianity; but for God's glory, for the honor of Christ, and for the good of souls, irrespective of sect or party - they are not, they cannot be. Zeal is the flower of love. True zeal flows from love, enlightened by divine truth, and always aims principally at the Divine glory.
~James Smith~
(continued with # 2)
Some things in religion may be dispensed with, without affecting our eternal salvation. But there is one thing we must experience - we must be born again. There is one blessing we must possess, and that is the Holy Spirit. As well may we expect to be saved without the Spirit of God within us! And yet, in all ages, there have been those, under a profession of religion, who have thought themselves safe without this indispensable qualification. In the days of the Apostles, there were those who were worldly people, having not the Holy Spirit." (Jude 19). This was the great defect, and this defect was the cause of all the errors they fell into, and the evil course into which they were betrayed. There is reason to fear that in these favored times, and in our privileged land, there are many professing Christ who are in just the same state - they have not the Spirit; and yet, no testimony can be plainer or more decisive than this, "If any man has not the Spirit of Christ - he is none of his." Let us attend to this subject a little.
What May Such People Have?
They may have a profession of religion, and that profession may have been made in a scriptural way. No one may be able to object to their creed - for it may be sound; nor to their conduct - for it may be moral. All the doctrines of the gospel may be believed, and all the moral requirements of the gospel may be outwardly observed.
The intellect may be enlightened, the memory may be well furnished, and the life may be generally consistent. Yet such people may not have the Spirit!
They may fill an office in the church, and be a deacon, an elder, or even a minister. Their gifts may be respectable. Their duties may be regularly performed. Their names may stand high. Their usefulness may appear to be great. They may be loved by the Lord's people. They may be honored in the church. Yet they may be destitute of the Spirit!
They may have a false hope buoying them up, and bearing them onward, so that they may not even doubt the goodness of their state: and this false hope may arise from impressions they have felt, pleasures in religious services which they have enjoyed, and the doctrines of the gospel which they have embraced.
They may have an unfounded confidence, which makes them bold, fearless and active. A confidence founded, not on Christ, not warranted by the word - but produced by mistaking the gospel, and being ignorant of their own depravity and pollution.
They have tolerably clear light, which is the foolish virgin's lamp. They have a profession of religion, which is the foolish virgin's robe. They unite with the Lord's people, which is going forth to meet the bridegroom. But they have no oil in their vessels - they have not the Holy Spirit.
How much a man may have without this! How far a man may go without this! How long a person may remain under a profession of religion without this! With how many, a man may pass for a Christian without this! Let us beware, lest we should at last be found among those of whom it will be said, "having not the Spirit."
In What Are Such People Deficient?
Not having the Spirit - they lack true saving faith, for faith is of the operation of God, and is a fruit of the indwelling of the Spirit. They may give their assent and consent to all the great truths of the gospel, and to all that is said about Christ. But they have never been brought as poor sinners - to apply to Christ for salvation; as really lost - to trust in Him for deliverance; as condemned - to commit themselves to Him to be justified by His blood; as stripped of everything of their own, and of all confidence in the flesh - to place their confidence in Christ alone.
Not having the Spirit - they have no genuine repentance. They may be sorry that they have sinned, for fear they should be punished - but they have never had their hearts broken at the Cross, by an exhibition of the love of God to them, notwithstanding their sins. Repentance toward God flows from faith in Christ, which faith is produced by the Holy Spirit in the heart. The true penitent thinks not so much of the punishment which his sin deserves - as of the goodness, grace, and holiness of the God against whom he has sinned.
Not having the Spirit - they have no spiritual love. The natural affections may be excited, and be drawn forth toward spiritual things; but it is not spirituality which excites them - but some amiable characteristic, some moral excellence, or some natural beauty. Spirit love flows from a spiritual nature, and is fixed supremely upon God in Christ - and subordinately upon all people, and things, in proportion as they have a resemblance to Him. Spirit love never seeks its own advantage, or honor - but the honor and advantage of the object loved. This love also flows from faith, and is regulated by faith in its exercise and degrees.
Not having the Spirit - they have no enlightened zeal. They may be very zealous for a creed, a form of religion, or any of the outworks of Christianity; but for God's glory, for the honor of Christ, and for the good of souls, irrespective of sect or party - they are not, they cannot be. Zeal is the flower of love. True zeal flows from love, enlightened by divine truth, and always aims principally at the Divine glory.
~James Smith~
(continued with # 2)
Saturday, January 25, 2020
The Troubled Soul # 2 (and others)
The Troubled Soul # 2 (and others)
It is strange how the people were affected by this miracle. Jesus had come among them to bless them. He would have gone on, working other miracles, if they had been willing. But the loss of their swine was too much for them. There always are people who hate Christ's religion, because it interferes with their wrong business and cuts off the source of their sinful gain. Saloon keepers oppose revivals, because when the devil is cast out of men they do not patronize the saloons any more!
But it is always a perilous thing to ask Jesus to go away. He did now as these people asked Him to do - He would not stay where He was not wanted. He went away; carrying with Him the blessings He had brought and meant to leave. So the sick remained unhealed, the lame still continued lame, demoniacs remained demon-possessed. We must be careful never to ask Christ to go away from us. We see Jesus sailing away from this coast, to come back again no more. May He not do the same if we ask Him to leave us?
He knows where He wants His saved ones to witness for Him. This ex-demoniac wished to go with Him - but there was other work for him to do. There are different ways of serving Christ. Some of His disciples, He asks to leave home and friends to follow Him into distant lands. Others He wants to stay at home and bear witness among those who have known them to the grace and love of God. Each one of us may be sure that if we truly put our life into the hands of Christ - He will give us our work where it will do the greatest good.
If He wants one young minister to go to the foreign field as a missionary, he must go. But he must not blame his classmate who does not go to the foreign mission field - but enters the mission field at home. The home mission service is just as honorable as the foreign one. The only question with anyone should be, "What does Christ want me to do? Where does He want me to work for Him?" We serve Christ best - when we serve in the place and in the manner in which He directs us!
~J. R. Miller~
(The End)
___________________________
~T. Austin-Sparks~
_________________________
It is strange how the people were affected by this miracle. Jesus had come among them to bless them. He would have gone on, working other miracles, if they had been willing. But the loss of their swine was too much for them. There always are people who hate Christ's religion, because it interferes with their wrong business and cuts off the source of their sinful gain. Saloon keepers oppose revivals, because when the devil is cast out of men they do not patronize the saloons any more!
But it is always a perilous thing to ask Jesus to go away. He did now as these people asked Him to do - He would not stay where He was not wanted. He went away; carrying with Him the blessings He had brought and meant to leave. So the sick remained unhealed, the lame still continued lame, demoniacs remained demon-possessed. We must be careful never to ask Christ to go away from us. We see Jesus sailing away from this coast, to come back again no more. May He not do the same if we ask Him to leave us?
He knows where He wants His saved ones to witness for Him. This ex-demoniac wished to go with Him - but there was other work for him to do. There are different ways of serving Christ. Some of His disciples, He asks to leave home and friends to follow Him into distant lands. Others He wants to stay at home and bear witness among those who have known them to the grace and love of God. Each one of us may be sure that if we truly put our life into the hands of Christ - He will give us our work where it will do the greatest good.
If He wants one young minister to go to the foreign field as a missionary, he must go. But he must not blame his classmate who does not go to the foreign mission field - but enters the mission field at home. The home mission service is just as honorable as the foreign one. The only question with anyone should be, "What does Christ want me to do? Where does He want me to work for Him?" We serve Christ best - when we serve in the place and in the manner in which He directs us!
~J. R. Miller~
(The End)
___________________________
Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God! (Acts 7:56 ISV)
One, perhaps supreme, factor in the significance of Stephen was what he saw at the end and said with almost his last breath: "Behold, I see the heavens opened; and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God" (Acts 7:56). Here we have the central and basic reality of true New Testament Christianity, of the Church and the churches – Jesus on the right hand of God. The government, the authority, the headquarters, vested in the ascended Lord, and centered in heaven; not in Jerusalem, nor anywhere else on earth.... The Jewish rulers and Stephen's accusers were quick and shrewd enough to recognize the implications, for they had no less and no other import than that the "Temple made with hands" was finished; the dispensation of the Law was ended. There was an implicit call to the Church of Jesus to leave the Temple and all that went with it and to move into the greater, the fuller, and the abiding reality.
The tragedy is that, with [the book of] "Hebrews" in their hands, responsible leaders of the Church can still adhere to a system and form which is but the extension or carry-over of the Old Testament, with certain changes of phraseology. The immensity of the change and gap has certainly not been apprehended. Some of the most terrible things in the whole Bible are contained in that letter in relation to the crisis and the two ways and realms. The issue is no less than that of Life and death. All this has much to say regarding the true nature of the Church and the churches. He that hath eyes to see, let him see!
~T. Austin-Sparks~
_________________________
The Power of the Holy Spirit
Have you ever felt inadequate to live the Christian life? If so, then you are exactly where God wants you to be, because you have discovered a vital truth: No one has the power in him- or herself to live a holy life. We are all in the same boat, but there is someone else with us who has the power we need—the Holy Spirit.
When Jesus gave His disciples the task of preaching the gospel to the entire world, they had absolutely no ability to carry it out. That’s why He told them to wait until the Holy Spirit came. In the same way, if we hope to accomplish what God desires in our life, we need to live with full dependence on the third Person of the Godhead.
The power of the Spirit is God’s divine energy and authority released in believers’ lives for the purpose of righteous living and fruitful service. When we walk in the Spirit, we’re relying on His strength to accomplish God’s will. As a result, we experience the following benefits:
• We may get tired, but we won’t burn out.
• We’ll trust God instead of trying to manipulate our circumstances.
• We may experience distress, but we won’t become desperate.
• We won’t become overwhelmed with discouragement or obstacles, knowing the Spirit within us will enable us to do what He’s called us to accomplish.
• We’ll trust God instead of trying to manipulate our circumstances.
• We may experience distress, but we won’t become desperate.
• We won’t become overwhelmed with discouragement or obstacles, knowing the Spirit within us will enable us to do what He’s called us to accomplish.
When we do God’s work by His strength, in His way, and with His wisdom, we’ll be blessed no matter what goes on around us. Walking in the Spirit doesn’t mean life will be easy—but we never have to walk through it alone, because our Helper is always with us.
~Dr. Charles F. Stanley~
Saturday, January 18, 2020
A Troubled Soul # 1
A Troubled Soul # 1
"When Jesus got out of the boat - a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet Him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones!"
In this demoniac, we have a sample of the work of satan - when he gets full control in a man. He destroys every beautiful thing in the life, and leaves only ruin! No chains could bind this demoniac. When sin is on the throne, all other influences and constraints become like spiders' threads in comparison! No chain is strong enough to bind the man - who has yielded himself to the sway of the evil one! The love of a godly mother is a strong bond - but many a child tears off this holy chain and rushes into wayward and evil paths! Home ties are strong - but these too are broken asunder, by the victim of satan's ungodly rule.
One feature of this case, was that the demoniac cut and gashed himself with stones. This illustrates what in many ways satan's captives always do. They may not literally go about cutting their flesh with knives or bruising their bodies with stones; but they do gash and bruise their souls! Sin always wounds the life - and one of its fearful consequences is the self-destruction it works. Every sin one commits leaves an ugly scar! We grieve God by our wrongdoing, and we harm others when we sin against them; but we always injure ourselves - by every evil word we speak, by every wrong act we commit, even by the evil thoughts we think in our hearts. The self-hurt of sin is one of its saddest consequences!
Demons are afraid of Christ. "Swear to God that you won't torture me!" The torment this demon dreaded, was in being deprived of the opportunity of tormenting the man of whom he had possession. Demons find their pleasure in working mischief, in destroying the beautiful work of God's hands, and in ruining lives. Godly men count that day lost - in which they have done no act of kindness to another. Demons count the day lost - in which they have stained no pure soul or led no one into sin!
We ought to tear off satan's mask and show him as he is! Evil comes to us pretending to be a friend. It holds flowers in its hands and whispers entrancing words, promising rich rewards: "Only do this - and it will bring you pleasure, honor, wealth and joy!" That is the way sin talks. But this is all false. Sin is never a friend to man. It never does good to anyone - but always harm. However plausibly satan may present his temptations, under the guise of pleasure - his secret aim is to destroy the soul he tempts. Nothing gives the evil one so much pleasure - as to see a fair and beautiful life - stained and debauched!
It is most comforting to us, to find that Christ is able to dislodge even the most obdurate and persistent demon! No one could bind this demoniac, nor resist his superhuman strength. But at His word - the foul spirit was compelled to leave the man he had possessed for so long. No human hand can break the chains of sinful habits. No mere resolution can free one from satan's bondage. Only Christ can set the devil's captives free! Those who have long been trying in vain to reform, to break away from evil practises - see in Christ the Friend who alone can deliver them and save them. No demon-power can resist His command. Only Christ can free the poor slaves of satan! He alone can free them, drive out their enemy, and save them from his terrible sway!
"Jesus gave them permission. So the evil spirits came out of the
man and entered the swine. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned!" (Mark 5:13).
In the swine, under demoniac possession, rushing down the steep cliff and perishing in the lake - we have another illustration of the end of all satan's ruinous work. It is with men - as it was here with the swine. It never yet has been known that satan impelled anyone upward to a better life or to anything noble and lofty; he always drives down steep ways into choking floods. God's ways lead upward - it is always uphill to Christ and to heaven. Every divine impulse is toward something higher and better. Christ never yet sent a man downhill. But the devil always drives downward. These poor swine, demon-possessed, rushed down the steep bank, into the lake - and perished. Just so do human souls, demon-possessed, rush down sin's precipitous course and perish! It would be well to keep this dreadful picture in our mind when we are tempted in any way by the devil; for if we follow him - this is the way it will surely end with us!
~J. R. Miller~
(continued with # 2)
"When Jesus got out of the boat - a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet Him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones!"
In this demoniac, we have a sample of the work of satan - when he gets full control in a man. He destroys every beautiful thing in the life, and leaves only ruin! No chains could bind this demoniac. When sin is on the throne, all other influences and constraints become like spiders' threads in comparison! No chain is strong enough to bind the man - who has yielded himself to the sway of the evil one! The love of a godly mother is a strong bond - but many a child tears off this holy chain and rushes into wayward and evil paths! Home ties are strong - but these too are broken asunder, by the victim of satan's ungodly rule.
One feature of this case, was that the demoniac cut and gashed himself with stones. This illustrates what in many ways satan's captives always do. They may not literally go about cutting their flesh with knives or bruising their bodies with stones; but they do gash and bruise their souls! Sin always wounds the life - and one of its fearful consequences is the self-destruction it works. Every sin one commits leaves an ugly scar! We grieve God by our wrongdoing, and we harm others when we sin against them; but we always injure ourselves - by every evil word we speak, by every wrong act we commit, even by the evil thoughts we think in our hearts. The self-hurt of sin is one of its saddest consequences!
Demons are afraid of Christ. "Swear to God that you won't torture me!" The torment this demon dreaded, was in being deprived of the opportunity of tormenting the man of whom he had possession. Demons find their pleasure in working mischief, in destroying the beautiful work of God's hands, and in ruining lives. Godly men count that day lost - in which they have done no act of kindness to another. Demons count the day lost - in which they have stained no pure soul or led no one into sin!
We ought to tear off satan's mask and show him as he is! Evil comes to us pretending to be a friend. It holds flowers in its hands and whispers entrancing words, promising rich rewards: "Only do this - and it will bring you pleasure, honor, wealth and joy!" That is the way sin talks. But this is all false. Sin is never a friend to man. It never does good to anyone - but always harm. However plausibly satan may present his temptations, under the guise of pleasure - his secret aim is to destroy the soul he tempts. Nothing gives the evil one so much pleasure - as to see a fair and beautiful life - stained and debauched!
It is most comforting to us, to find that Christ is able to dislodge even the most obdurate and persistent demon! No one could bind this demoniac, nor resist his superhuman strength. But at His word - the foul spirit was compelled to leave the man he had possessed for so long. No human hand can break the chains of sinful habits. No mere resolution can free one from satan's bondage. Only Christ can set the devil's captives free! Those who have long been trying in vain to reform, to break away from evil practises - see in Christ the Friend who alone can deliver them and save them. No demon-power can resist His command. Only Christ can free the poor slaves of satan! He alone can free them, drive out their enemy, and save them from his terrible sway!
"Jesus gave them permission. So the evil spirits came out of the
man and entered the swine. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned!" (Mark 5:13).
In the swine, under demoniac possession, rushing down the steep cliff and perishing in the lake - we have another illustration of the end of all satan's ruinous work. It is with men - as it was here with the swine. It never yet has been known that satan impelled anyone upward to a better life or to anything noble and lofty; he always drives down steep ways into choking floods. God's ways lead upward - it is always uphill to Christ and to heaven. Every divine impulse is toward something higher and better. Christ never yet sent a man downhill. But the devil always drives downward. These poor swine, demon-possessed, rushed down the steep bank, into the lake - and perished. Just so do human souls, demon-possessed, rush down sin's precipitous course and perish! It would be well to keep this dreadful picture in our mind when we are tempted in any way by the devil; for if we follow him - this is the way it will surely end with us!
~J. R. Miller~
(continued with # 2)
Saturday, January 11, 2020
The Great Giver # 3
The Great Giver # 3
The word "freely" not only signifies that God is under no constraint, but also means that He makes no charge for His gifts, He places no price on His blessings. God is no retailer of mercies or barterer of good things; if He were, justice would require Him to charge exactly what each blessing was worth, and then who among the children of Adam could find the payment? No, blessed be His name, God's gifts are "without money and without price" - unmerited and unearned.
Finally, rejoice over the comprehensiveness of His promise: "How shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" The Holy Spirit would here regale us with the extent of God's wondrous grant. What is it you need, fellow Christian? Is it pardon? Then has He not said, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9)? Is it grace? Then has He not said, "God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work" (2 Cor. 9:8)? Is it a thorn in the flesh? This too will be given "there was given to me a thorn in the flesh" (2 Cor. 12:7). Is it rest? Then heed the Saviour's invitation, "Come unto Me...and I will give you rest (Matt. 11:28). Is it comfort? Is He not the God of all comfort (2 Cor. 1:3)?"
"How shall he not with Him also freely give us all things?" Is it temporal mercies that the reader is in need of? Are your circumstances adverse so that you are filled with dismal forebodings? Does your cruse of oil and barrel of meal look as though they will soon be quite empty? Then spread your need before God, and do it in simple childlike faith. Do you think that He will bestow the greater blessings of grace - and deny the lesser ones of Providence? No! "My God shall supply all your need" (Phil. 4:19). True, He has not promised to give all you ask, for we often ask amiss." Mark the qualifying clause: "How shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" We often desire things which would come in between us and Christ if they were granted, therefore does God in His faithfulness withhold them.
Here then are four things which should bring comfort to every renewed heart.
The Father's costly sacrifice. Our God is a giving God and no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
The Father's gracious design. It was for us that Christ was delivered up; it was our highest and eternal interests that he had at heart.
The Spirit's infallible inference. The greater includes the less; the unspeakable Gift guarantees the bestowment of all other needed favors.
The comforting promise. Its sure foundation, its present and future scope, its blessed extent - are for the assuring of our hearts and the peace of our minds.
May the Lord add His blessing to this little meditation.
~A. W. Pink~
(The End)
The word "freely" not only signifies that God is under no constraint, but also means that He makes no charge for His gifts, He places no price on His blessings. God is no retailer of mercies or barterer of good things; if He were, justice would require Him to charge exactly what each blessing was worth, and then who among the children of Adam could find the payment? No, blessed be His name, God's gifts are "without money and without price" - unmerited and unearned.
Finally, rejoice over the comprehensiveness of His promise: "How shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" The Holy Spirit would here regale us with the extent of God's wondrous grant. What is it you need, fellow Christian? Is it pardon? Then has He not said, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9)? Is it grace? Then has He not said, "God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work" (2 Cor. 9:8)? Is it a thorn in the flesh? This too will be given "there was given to me a thorn in the flesh" (2 Cor. 12:7). Is it rest? Then heed the Saviour's invitation, "Come unto Me...and I will give you rest (Matt. 11:28). Is it comfort? Is He not the God of all comfort (2 Cor. 1:3)?"
"How shall he not with Him also freely give us all things?" Is it temporal mercies that the reader is in need of? Are your circumstances adverse so that you are filled with dismal forebodings? Does your cruse of oil and barrel of meal look as though they will soon be quite empty? Then spread your need before God, and do it in simple childlike faith. Do you think that He will bestow the greater blessings of grace - and deny the lesser ones of Providence? No! "My God shall supply all your need" (Phil. 4:19). True, He has not promised to give all you ask, for we often ask amiss." Mark the qualifying clause: "How shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" We often desire things which would come in between us and Christ if they were granted, therefore does God in His faithfulness withhold them.
Here then are four things which should bring comfort to every renewed heart.
The Father's costly sacrifice. Our God is a giving God and no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
The Father's gracious design. It was for us that Christ was delivered up; it was our highest and eternal interests that he had at heart.
The Spirit's infallible inference. The greater includes the less; the unspeakable Gift guarantees the bestowment of all other needed favors.
The comforting promise. Its sure foundation, its present and future scope, its blessed extent - are for the assuring of our hearts and the peace of our minds.
May the Lord add His blessing to this little meditation.
~A. W. Pink~
(The End)
Saturday, January 4, 2020
The Great Giver # 2
The Great Giver # 2
Yes, for you fellow Christian, who are sometimes tempted to interpret your afflictions as tokens of God's hardness; who regard your poverty as a mark of His neglect, and your seasons of darkness as evidences of His desertion, O, confess to Him now the wickedness of such dishonoring doubtings, and never again question the love of Him who spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all.
Faithfulness demands that I should point out the qualifying pronoun in our text. It is not God "delivered him up for all," but "for us all." This is definitely defined in the verses which immediately precede. In v. 31 the question is asked, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" In v. 30 this "us" is defined as those whom God did predestinate and has "called" and "justified." The "us" are the high favorites of heaven, the objects of sovereign grace. God's elect. And yet in themselves they are, by nature and practice, deserving of nothing but wrath. But yet, thank God, it is "us all" - the worst as well as the best, the five hundred pounds debtor, equally as much as the five pence debtor.
3. The Spirit's Blessed Inference.
Ponder well this glorious "conclusion" which the Spirit of God here draws from the wondrous fact stated in the first part of our text, "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." How conclusive and how comforting is the inspired reasoning of the apostle. Arguing from the greater to the lesser, he proceeds to assure the believer of God's readiness to also freely bestow all needed blessings. The gift of His own Son, so ungrudgingly and unreservedly bestowed, is the pledge of every other needed mercy.
Here is the unfailing guaranty and pledge of perpetual reassurance to the drooping spirit of the tried believer. If God has done the greater - will He leave the less undone? Infinite love can never change. That love which spared not Christ - cannot fail its objects nor begrudge any needed blessings. The sad thing is that our hearts dwell upon what we have not - instead of upon what we do have. Therefore the Spirit of God would here still our restless self-communings and quiet the repinings of ignorance with a soul-satisfying knowledge of the truth, by reminding us not only of the reality of our interest in the love of God, but also of the extent of that blessing which flows therefrom.
Weigh well what is involved in the logic of this verse. First, the great Gift was given unasked; will He not bestow others for the asking? None of us supplicated God to send forth His beloved; yet He sent Him! Now, we may come to the throne of grace and there present our requests in the virtuous and all-efficacious name of Christ.
Second, the one great Gift cost Him much; will He not then bestow the lesser gifts which cost Him nothing but the delight of giving! If a friend were to give me a valuable picture, would he begrudge the necessary paper and string to wrap it in? Of if a loved one made me a present of a precious jewel, would he refuse a little box to carry it in? How much less will He who spared not His own Son, withhold any good thing from them that walk uprightly.
Third, the one Gift was bestowed when we were enemies; will not then God be gracious to us now that we have been reconciled and are His friends? If He had designs of mercy for us while we were yet in our sins, how much more will He regard us favorably now that we have been cleansed from all sin by the precious blood of His Son!
4. The Comforting Promise
Observe the tense that is used here. It is not "how has he not with him also freely given us all things," though this is also true, for even now are we "heirs of God" (Romans 8:17). But our text goes further than this: "How shall he not with Him also freely give us all things?" The second half of this wondrous verse contains something more than a record of the past; it supplies reassuring confidence both for the present and for the future. No time limits are to be set upon this "shall." Both now in the present and forever and ever in the future God shall manifest Himself as the great Giver. Nothing for His glory and for our good, will He withhold. The same God who delivered up Christ for us all "does not change like shifting shadows."
Mark the manner in which God gives: "How shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" God does not have to be coaxed; there is no reluctance in Him for us to overcome. He is ever more willing to give than we are to receive. Again, He is under no obligations to any; if He were, He would bestow of necessity, instead of giving "freely." Ever remember that He has a perfect right to do with His own as He pleases. He is free to give to whom He wills.
~A. W. Pink~
(continued with # 3)
Yes, for you fellow Christian, who are sometimes tempted to interpret your afflictions as tokens of God's hardness; who regard your poverty as a mark of His neglect, and your seasons of darkness as evidences of His desertion, O, confess to Him now the wickedness of such dishonoring doubtings, and never again question the love of Him who spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all.
Faithfulness demands that I should point out the qualifying pronoun in our text. It is not God "delivered him up for all," but "for us all." This is definitely defined in the verses which immediately precede. In v. 31 the question is asked, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" In v. 30 this "us" is defined as those whom God did predestinate and has "called" and "justified." The "us" are the high favorites of heaven, the objects of sovereign grace. God's elect. And yet in themselves they are, by nature and practice, deserving of nothing but wrath. But yet, thank God, it is "us all" - the worst as well as the best, the five hundred pounds debtor, equally as much as the five pence debtor.
3. The Spirit's Blessed Inference.
Ponder well this glorious "conclusion" which the Spirit of God here draws from the wondrous fact stated in the first part of our text, "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." How conclusive and how comforting is the inspired reasoning of the apostle. Arguing from the greater to the lesser, he proceeds to assure the believer of God's readiness to also freely bestow all needed blessings. The gift of His own Son, so ungrudgingly and unreservedly bestowed, is the pledge of every other needed mercy.
Here is the unfailing guaranty and pledge of perpetual reassurance to the drooping spirit of the tried believer. If God has done the greater - will He leave the less undone? Infinite love can never change. That love which spared not Christ - cannot fail its objects nor begrudge any needed blessings. The sad thing is that our hearts dwell upon what we have not - instead of upon what we do have. Therefore the Spirit of God would here still our restless self-communings and quiet the repinings of ignorance with a soul-satisfying knowledge of the truth, by reminding us not only of the reality of our interest in the love of God, but also of the extent of that blessing which flows therefrom.
Weigh well what is involved in the logic of this verse. First, the great Gift was given unasked; will He not bestow others for the asking? None of us supplicated God to send forth His beloved; yet He sent Him! Now, we may come to the throne of grace and there present our requests in the virtuous and all-efficacious name of Christ.
Second, the one great Gift cost Him much; will He not then bestow the lesser gifts which cost Him nothing but the delight of giving! If a friend were to give me a valuable picture, would he begrudge the necessary paper and string to wrap it in? Of if a loved one made me a present of a precious jewel, would he refuse a little box to carry it in? How much less will He who spared not His own Son, withhold any good thing from them that walk uprightly.
Third, the one Gift was bestowed when we were enemies; will not then God be gracious to us now that we have been reconciled and are His friends? If He had designs of mercy for us while we were yet in our sins, how much more will He regard us favorably now that we have been cleansed from all sin by the precious blood of His Son!
4. The Comforting Promise
Observe the tense that is used here. It is not "how has he not with him also freely given us all things," though this is also true, for even now are we "heirs of God" (Romans 8:17). But our text goes further than this: "How shall he not with Him also freely give us all things?" The second half of this wondrous verse contains something more than a record of the past; it supplies reassuring confidence both for the present and for the future. No time limits are to be set upon this "shall." Both now in the present and forever and ever in the future God shall manifest Himself as the great Giver. Nothing for His glory and for our good, will He withhold. The same God who delivered up Christ for us all "does not change like shifting shadows."
Mark the manner in which God gives: "How shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" God does not have to be coaxed; there is no reluctance in Him for us to overcome. He is ever more willing to give than we are to receive. Again, He is under no obligations to any; if He were, He would bestow of necessity, instead of giving "freely." Ever remember that He has a perfect right to do with His own as He pleases. He is free to give to whom He wills.
~A. W. Pink~
(continued with # 3)
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