Wednesday 30 November 2011

God Is in the Front Line

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Faith's Check Book, Daily Entry

C. H. Spurgeon


November 30

God Is in the Front Line

The Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed. (Deuteronomy 31:8)

In the presence of a great work or a great warfare, here is a text which should help us to buckle on our harness. If Jehovah Himself goes before us, it must be safe to follow. Who can obstruct our progress if the Lord Himself is in the van? Come, brother soldiers, let us make a prompt advance! Why do we hesitate to pass on to victory?

Nor is the Lord before us only; He is with us. Above, beneath, around, within is the omnipotent, omnipresent One. In all time, even to eternity, He will be with us even as He has been. How this should nerve our arm! Dash at it boldly, ye soldiers of the cross, for the Lord of hosts is with us!

Being before us and with us, He will never withdraw His help. He cannot fail in Himself, and He will not fail toward us. He will continue to help us according to our need, even to the end. As He cannot fail us, so He will not forsake us. He will always be both able and willing to grant us strength and succor till fighting days are gone.

Let us not fear nor be dismayed; for the Lord of hosts will go down to the battle with us, will bear the brunt of the fight, and give us the victory.

Daily Promises


Blue Letter Bible
November 30, 2011

For the Lord will not cast off for ever: But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men. (Lamentations 3:31-33)

Great is the faithfulness of the Lord. Sometimes it seems that He is at such a great distance, yet still He is near. And though it may seem that we are alone in our trials, yet still He is near. His kingdom is come—enter it by faith! Know that you are at His right hand, O believer, and know that He loves you!

Titus - Introduction

Introduction to the book of Titus; who is Titus?

By Pastor Randy Johnson

  1. Titus was a young preacher who was saved under Paul’s ministry.
    1. Titus 1:4 “To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.”
    2. Let us not forget Young Timothy was also a young convert under Paul’s ministry. 1 Timothy 1:2 “Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.”
  2. He was a trusted companion and fellow laborer of Paul’s.
    1. He was instrumental in planting churches in and throughout Macedonia and the Mediterranean world. 2 Corinthians 8:16-24 "But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. (17.) For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you. (18.) And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches; (19.) And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind: (20.) Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: (21.) Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. (22.) And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you. (23.) Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ. (24.) Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf."
    2. Titus was a wonderful addition to Paul’s ministry because he was “all Gentile” the churches were basically being converted by God from the all Jewish church in Jerusalem to Gentile. Titus was valuable to Paul and the Ministry in this area.
    3. We know nothing of Titus conversion nor about his first meeting Paul but we do find him first with Paul and Barnabas in Jerusalem. Galatians 2:1-3 “Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. (2.) And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. (3.) But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:” - The elders and other Apostles in the Jerusalem church (which was the first church and a Jewish church) accepted Titus without circumcision. This was a breakthrough and the start of the Gentiles becoming church members. Titus was one of the first.
    4. We find Titus visiting the church at Corinth Paul visited the church in first Corinthians but the issues in the church were not fixed.

a. In second Corinthians Paul sent Titus to attempt to solve the issues, it appeared that some in the church had turned against Paul and Titus was to attempt to fix these issues. 2 Corinthians 7:5-7 "For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. (6.) Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus; (7.) And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more."

b. It is at this time Titus delivered the second letter from Paul to the Corinthian church. Paul was in Ephesus at this time.

  1. He rejoined Paul.
    1. After Paul was first released from his arrest in Rome he went to the Island of Crete this is where we find Titus again. Paul left Crete and left Titus there basically to oversee the churches and to make sure they organized properly. Titus 1:5 “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:”
    2. This was a most difficult work for several reasons.

a. These Cretian’s were very bad and unruly people.

b. The churches there were struggling.

c. The false teachers had invaded the churches.

d. Titus 1:10-12 “For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: (11.) Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. (12.) One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.”

e. It appears that since Titus had so wonderfully helped with the Corinth church that he was suited to help on the Island of Crete.

    1. This work was to be completed and Paul had requested Titus to join him in Nicopolis (an Island on the west coast of Greece) for the winter. Titus 3:12 “When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter.”
    2. It is believed that it was from Nicopolis when Paul was imprisoned again in Rome and eventually martyred.
    3. It is believed that Titus was also after this winter retreat sent to Dalmatia (a Roman province now known as Yugoslavia)
    4. Some believe that Titus may have returned to Crete and continued his work until his latter years, however this is not scriptural.

Tuesday 29 November 2011

Daily Promises


Blue Letter Bible
November 29, 2011
I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. (John 6:51)
Jesus speaks of Himself as the Living Bread of life. For those of us who are in Christ, we shall never again experience the spiritual hunger that existed before our conversion. Jesus Christ, the Living Manna, provides all that we need to live day by day with God.

Monday 28 November 2011

Profiting from the Scriptures


by J.C. Ryle

(1) For one thing, begin reading your Bible this very day. The way to do a thing--is to do it; and the way to read the Bible--is actually to read it! It is not merely meaning, or wishing, or resolving, or intending, or thinking about it--which will advance you one step. You must positively read. There is no royal road in this matter, any more than in the matter of prayer. If you cannot read yourself, you must persuade somebody else to read it to you. But one way or another, through eyes or ears--the words of Scripture must actually pass before your mind.

(2) For another thing, read the Bible with an earnest desire to understand it. Do not think for a moment, that the great object is to turn over a certain quantity of printed paper, and that it matters nothing whether you understand it or not. Some ignorant people seem to imagine, that all is done if they advance so many chapters every day, though they may not have a notion what they are all about, and only know that they have pushed on their bookmark ahead so many pages. This is turning Bible reading into a mere ritual form. It is almost as bad as the Popish habit of 'buying indulgences'--by saying an astounding number of 'Ave-Marias' and 'Pater-nosters' (Hail-Mary's and Our-Father's--on their 'rosary beads'.) It reminds one of the poor Hottentot who ate up a Dutch hymn-book because he saw it comforted his neighbors' hearts! Settle it down in your mind as a general principle, that a Bible not understood--is a Bible that does no good! Say to yourself often as you read, "What is this all about?" Dig for the meaning like a man digging for gold.

(3) For another thing, read the Bible with child-like faith and humility. Open your heart--as you open God's book, and say, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening!" Resolve to believe implicitly whatever you find there, however much it may run counter to your own desires and prejudices. Resolve to receive heartily every statement of truth--whether you like it or not. Beware of that miserable habit into which some readers of the Bible fall--they receive some doctrines because they like them; and they reject others because they are condemning to themselves, or to some relation, or friend. At this rate, the Bible is useless! Are we to be judges of what ought to be in God's Word? Do we know better than God? Settle it down in your mind--that you will receive all and believe all, and that what you cannot understand--you will take on trust. Remember, when you pray--that you are speaking to God, and God hears you. But, remember, when you read Scripture--that God is speaking to you, and you are not to "dictate," but to listen!

(4) For another thing, read the Bible in a spirit of obedience and self-application. Sit down to the study of it with a daily determination that you will . . .
live by its rules,
rest on its statements,
and act on its commands.

Consider, as you travel through every chapter, "How does this affect my thinking and daily conduct? What does this teach me?" It is poor work to read the Bible from mere curiosity, and for speculative purposes--in order to fill your head and store your mind with mere opinions; while you do not allow the book to influence your heart and life. That Bible is read best--which is practiced most!

(5) For another thing, read the Bible daily. Make it a part of every day's business to read and meditate on some portion of God's Word. Private means of grace are just as needful every day for our souls--as food and clothing are for our bodies. Yesterday's food will not feed the laborer today; and today's food will not feed the laborer tomorrow. Do as the Israelites did in the wilderness. Gather your manna fresh every morning. Choose your own seasons and hours. Do not scramble over and hurry your reading. Give your Bible the best, and not the worst part of your time! But whatever plan you pursue, let it be a rule of your life to visit the throne of grace and God's Word every day.

(6) For another thing, read all of the Bible--and read it in an orderly way. I fear there are many parts of the Word which some people never read at all. This is to say at the least, a very presumptuous habit. "All Scripture is profitable." (2 Timothy 3:16.) To this habit may be traced that lack of well-proportioned views of truth, which is so common in this day. Some people's Bible-reading is a system of perpetual 'dipping and picking'. They do not seem to have an idea of regularly going through the whole book.

This also is a great mistake. No doubt in times of sickness and affliction, it is allowable to search out seasonable portions. But with this exception, I believe it is by far the best plan to begin the Old and New Testaments at the same time--to read each straight through to the end, and then begin again. This is a matter in which every one must be persuaded in his own mind. I can only say it has been my own plan for nearly forty years, and I have never seen cause to alter it.

(7) For another thing, read the Bible fairly and honestly. Determine to take everything in its plain, obvious meaning--and regard all forced interpretations with great suspicion. As a general rule, whatever a verse of the Bible seems to mean--it does mean! Cecil's rule is a very valuable one, "The right way of interpreting Scripture is to take it as we find it, without any attempt to force it into any particular theological system."

(8) In the last place, read the Bible with Christ continually in view. The grand primary object of all Scripture, is to testify of Jesus! Old Testament ceremonies are shadows of Christ. Old Testament deliverers are types of Christ. Old Testament prophecies are full of Christ's sufferings, and of Christ's glory yet to come.
The first coming and the second;
the Lord's humiliation and His glorious kingdom;
His cross and the crown--
shine forth everywhere in the Bible. Keep fast hold on this clue, if you would read the Bible aright!

I might easily add to these hints, if space permitted. Few and short as they are--you will find them most profitable when implemented.