Wednesday 29 February 2012

Disappointing Results

February 29, 2012

Disappointing Results
by Charles R. Swindoll

Read Acts 14:1–20

A sentence in the diary of James Gilmore, pioneer missionary to Mongolia, has stayed with me since the day I first read it. After years of laboring long and hard for the cause of Christ in that desperate land, he wrote, "In the shape of converts I have seen no result. I have not, as far as I am aware, seen anyone who even wanted to be a Christian."

Let me add some further reality to that statement by taking you back to an entry in Gilmore's journal made in the early days of his ministry. It expressed his dreams and burdens for the people of Mongolia. Handwritten in his journal are these dreams: "Several huts in sight. When shall I be able to speak to the people? O Lord, suggest by the Spirit how l should come among them, and in preparing myself to teach the life and love of Christ Jesus."

That was his hope. He longed to reach the lost of Mongolia with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. How different from his entry many years later, "I have not, as far as I am aware, seen anyone who even wanted to be a Christian."

What happened in between? He encountered the jagged edge of an authentic ministry. When I write about succeeding in the work of the Lord, I'm not promising success as we define it in human terms. I'm not saying because you are faithful to proclaim the Word of God your church will be packed. Some of God's most faithful servants are preaching their hearts out in places where the church is not growing. A great temptation for those in that difficult setting is to turn to some of the other stuff that holds out the promise of more visible results. Don't go there. Stay at it. God is at work.

Thinking of preparing for a life of ministry? Does the thought of standing before crowds of people and delivering the Word of God with passion and conviction appeal to your sense of adventure? I need to ask you one more time: Is there anything else in this world that would bring you greater enjoyment? If so, go there. Don't even hesitate.

But if you know the Lord has called you into His work, and you would not be fulfilled doing anything else, then go there and never look back, even if the results often seem disappointing.

Excerpted from Charles R. Swindoll, Great Days with the Great Lives (Nashville: W Publishing Group, 2005). Copyright © 2005 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

http://www.insight.org/library/insight-for-today/disappointing-results.html

What Follows Us

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Faith's Check Book, Daily Entry

C. H. Spurgeon


February 29

What Follows Us

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. (Psalm 23:6)

A devout poet sings

Lord, when thou

Puttest in my time a day,

as thou dost now,

Unknown in other years, grant, I entreat,

Such grace illumine it, that whate'er its phase

It add to holiness, and lengthen praise!

This day comes but once in four years.... Up till now goodness and mercy, like two guards, have followed us from day to day, bringing up the rear even as grace leads the van; and as this out-of-the-way day is one of the days of our life, the two guardian angels will be with us today also. Goodness to supply our needs and mercy to blot out our sins—these twain shall attend our every step this day and every day till days shall be no more. Wherefore, let us serve the Lord on this peculiar day with special consecration of heart and sing His praises with more zest and sweetness than ever. Could we not today make an unusual offering to the cause of God or to the poor? By inventiveness of love let us make this twenty-ninth of February a day to be remembered forever.

Daily Promises


Blue Letter Bible
February 29, 2012

Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. (2 Corinthians 13:11)

The life of peace is the life God blesses with spiritual peace. By the life and blood of Christ we have been hidden in the identity of the Prince of Peace himself. Remember who you are, dear believer! As a son of the very Lord of Heaven, you are inheritor of every spiritual blessing in the heavenly placestake hold of your peace by the faith God will grant you!

You shall see greater abominations than these!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~



(
James Smith, "Daily Bible Readings for the Lord's Household")

"You shall see greater abominations than these!" Ezekiel 8:15

The prophet had no idea of the extent of Israel's wickedness; nor have we any adequate idea of the depravity of our hearts! We may have discovered much--but there is more concealed, than has yet been revealed. The work of the Holy Spirit is to . . .
reveal these abominations to us,
to humble us on account of them,
to lead us to the blood of Jesus to be cleansed from them,
and to set our hearts against them.

To see all the evils that are in our heart at once--would plunge us into black despair! Therefore it is only little by little, that the great depth of depravity is opened up to us. Herein we see God's mercy. Hereby we should be kept humble, watchful, prayerful, and daily exercising faith in the precious blood of the Lord Jesus.

No one knows the depths of our depravity, or the variety of abominations that are in our hearts--but God! If any other person knew the abominations of our heart--he would hate us on account of it! But God knows all--and yet loves us! This is Godlike. This is being full of compassion, abundant in goodness, and plenteous in mercy. May we be humble before God, hoping in His mercy.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Titus - 13

A Study Of The Book Of Titus.

Lesson 13 Chapter 3:4 – 5

By Pastor Randy Johnson

  1. Verse 4 “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,”
    1. While verse 3 paints a pretty awful picture of us in our lost state verse 4 allows us to truly see what changed us “….the kindness and love of God our Saviour…”

a. For all those folks that believes they do something for salvation verse 4 proves you wrong without a doubt.

b. It was the kindness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ that brought it about. The first chapter of Ephesians gives a more detailed explanation as does so many other scriptures. Ephesians 1:3, 6 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (6.) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved."

c. Ephesians 2:7 "That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."

d. Titus 2:11 "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,"

    1. It is this kindness and love that changed us, man has never; nor never changed themselves from bad to good, it is impossible. Romans 3:11 "There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God."
    2. It was grace that brought it to us; period.
  1. Verse 5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”
    1. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done…” Any sort of an action is a work on our part. Even our believing was a gift to us.

a. This destroys baptismal salvation. Matthew 3:15 “And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness…”

b. all righteousness comes as a gift from God from start to finish there is absolutely no action on our part.

c. Works is a reason for us to boast and salvation includes no boasting on our part. Ephesians 2:9 “Not of works, lest any man should boast.” – the scriptures could not be more clearer on this point.

d. Galatians 3:11 - 12 "But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. (12.) And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them."

    1. C. H. Spurgeon once said: "Works of righteousness are the fruit of salvation, and the root must come before the fruit. The Lord saves His people out of clear, unmixed, undiluted mercy and grace, and for no other reason."
    2. “…but according to his mercy he saved us…” This is another clear statement that salvation includes nothing on our part.

a. The word “mercy” means – compassion – it means simply “pity” only by Gods pity did He save us and for no other reason.

b. It is for this single reason we owe God all glory. Romans 15:9 "And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name."

c. Love and grace brought salvation but mercy or pity must have been first. – It shows the unworthiness and the inability of it on our part. 1 Peter 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”

d. Paul contrasts our lost condition with the overwhelming mercy of God. God's mercy toward us provides the greatest reason for us to be merciful to others.

e. Micah 7:18 - 19 "Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. (19.) He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea."

    1. “…by the washing of regeneration…” the word “washing” means – bathe – it also describes the washing of a garment – I believe Ephesians 5:26 is a proper understanding of defining this word. “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,” - we are cleansed by Gods word as though we were a dirty garment that was all cleaned. - 1 Peter 1:18 - 19 "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (19.) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:"
    2. “…and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” the word “renewing” means – renovation – The Holy Spirit rebuilds our inward man; He is the “Master Contractor” that rebuilds our hearts.

a. The Psalmist prayed: Psalms 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”

b. Colossians 3:10 “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:”

c. The renewing of the inner man is only possible by the workings of the Holy Spirit; the death of Jesus Christ; and the pity, love, and grace of God. Verse 6 “Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;”

d. For one to say that salvation is brought about in any other way is to call God a liar. 1 John 5:10 “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.”


Tuesday 28 February 2012

Daily Promises


Blue Letter Bible
February 28, 2012

My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me. (Psalms 63:8)

Praise the Lord that He lifts us up! When we are weak, it is then that He will be strong. Rely upon the Lord your God for He is your strength, defence, and guide in all your ways.