Wednesday 31 October 2012

C.H. Spurgeon Quotes

Posted: 31 Oct 2012 01:00 AM PDT
Those whom free grace chooses, free grace cleanses. We are not chosen because we are holy, but chosen to be holy: and being chosen, the purpose is no dead letter, but we are made to seek after holiness.
C.H. Spurgeon

All glittering glow-worm glories

~ ~ ~ ~ ~


(Anne Dutton's Letters on Spiritual Subjects)

"O Israel, stay away from idols! I am the one who
looks after you and cares for you." Hosea 14:8

As to our heart-idolatry, it is a very great iniquity
of which the Lord's own people are deeply guilty.

Let us bring our every idol unto Him to be entirely
slain, so shall our hearts be separated from them,
and our admiration of, and sinful affection to, all
glittering glow-worm glories
sink and die before
the rising attracting display of His all-transcendent
and infinite excellencies!

"Little children, keep yourselves from idols!" 1 John 5:21
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Rich Poor Fool



From the Pastor: Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.
“And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (Lk. 12:19-21; please read 12:16-34)
Greed is an exceedingly deceptive sin with an artificial sense of security. Hoarding money and material possessions gives one the notion of a perfect life, but it is no more than deliriums of sugar plums dancing in his head. It is an illusion inferring that with money and material gain there is eternal happiness and merriment. However, when God’s voice awakens him with the thunder of “Thou fool!” the force of reality comes crushing in upon him.
God proclaimed: “this night thy soul shall be required of thee”! The word “required” has the thought of “demanded back”. The souls of men are under the sovereign control of Almighty God. He has the sole authority over their existence. The soul shall come and go as it pleases Him. It is written: “There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.” (Eccl. 8:8) The Lord gives and the Lord takes as it pleases Him. When God demands, the soul departs.
If it be true, and it is, that the hoarding up of worldly wealth is of no value in one’s relationship with God, then why do we expend so much effort, time and money on things which have no eternal value? Would it not be most logical for one to concentrate primarily on his spiritual relationship with the God who has authority over his soul? Is it not a fool that would ignore the eternal in favor of the temporal? Is the destiny of our souls of so little value to us? Dare we to gamble our eternal heaven and eternal hell? It is indeed a fool that does not make the future status of his eternal soul a daily priority!

Tuesday 30 October 2012

C.H. Spurgeon Quotes

Posted: 30 Oct 2012 01:00 AM PDT
You believe the Gospel is true, but you doubt whether it is for you. Well, no, it is not for you if you are not a sinner. If you can say, “I am not guilty,” then farewell to all hope, for Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners! If you are a sinner, surely He came to save such as you are!
C.H. Spurgeon

You shall love him!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~


(J. R. Miller, "Loving Your Neighbor")

"You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Mark 12:31

What is it to love our neighbor? It is the loving that is hard. We could do almost anything else, short of loving unpleasant neighbors.

But love is the word--and no revised version changes it. No matter how disagreeable, unlovely, unworthy, our neighbors may be--still the commandment persistently and relentlessly says to us, "You shall love him!"

Our neighbors are around us all the time, needing our love. Indeed, they touch our lives so continually, that we must guard our every look, word, and act--lest we hurt some sensitive spirit.

Some people seem to forget that other people have feelings. They are constantly saying words and doing things which give pain. True love is thoughtful. We ought to train our hearts to the most delicate sense of kindness, that we may never, even jokingly, give pain to any other human being.

Our neighbors have hearts, and we owe to every one of them--the beggar we meet on the street, the degraded wretch we find crawling in the mire of sin's debasement, the enemy who flings his insults in our face--to every one, we owe the love that is thoughtful, gentle, and gives no hurt.

Our love ought also to be patient. Our neighbor will have his faults. But we are taught to bear with one another's infirmities. If we knew the story of men's lives, the hidden burdens they are often carrying, the unhealed wounds in their heart--we would have most gentle patience with them. Life is hard for most people, certainly hard enough without our adding to its burdens--by our criticisms, our jeering and contempt, and our lack of love.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Monday 29 October 2012

C.H. Spurgeon Quotes

Posted: 29 Oct 2012 01:00 AM PDT
They who think that predestination and the fulfillment of the divine purpose is contrary to the free agency of man, know not what they say, nor whereof they affirm. It were no miracle for God to
effect his own purpose, if he were dealing with stocks and stones, with granite and with trees; but this is the miracle of miracles, that the creatures are free, absolutely free, and the divine purpose stands! Herein is wisdom!
C.H. Spurgeon

C.H. Spurgeon Quotes

Posted: 28 Oct 2012 01:00 AM PDT
There are some households where all are saved—how happy they should be!—where every son and every daughter, father, and mother are all believers—a church in the house, a church of which the whole of the house is comprised. It is such an unspeakable blessing that those who enjoy it ought never to cease to praise God for it day and night.
C.H. Spurgeon

He will not forget the lambs!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(John Angell James, "The Christian Professor")
"He tends His flock like a shepherd. He will carry the
lambs in His arms, holding them close to His heart.
He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young."
Isaiah 40:11

Are you alarmed at the difficulties and dangers of
the wilderness way? Consider that you enjoy the
notice, the love, intercession, and the support of
the Great and Good Shepherd, who carries the
lambs in His arms, holding them close to His heart.
He will not forget the lambs--their feeble bleat
attracts His notice, their helplessness draws His
attention; and for them He puts forth all His
pastoral kindness and skill.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

To fill Heaven with Hells!


~ ~ ~ ~ ~


(Thomas Brooks, "The Crown and Glory of Christianity,
or, HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness", 1662)

"Man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks up evil
like water!" Job 15:16

A wicked man is a sin-lover; he is a sin-maker,
he lives in sin upon choice.

All profane people . . .
give up themselves to wickedness,
wallow in all ungodliness,
delight themselves in all manner of filthiness,
commit wickedness with greediness,
draw iniquity and sin with cords of vanity,
weary themselves to commit iniquity, and
are so desperately set upon wickedness,
that neither the rod of God, the lashes and checks of
their own consciences, nor the flashes of Hell upon their
souls--can stop them. They are resolved that they will
gratify their lusts--though they damn their souls; that
they will live wickedly--though they perish eternally!

By custom in sin, they have destroyed all conscience
of sin, and contracted such desperate hardness upon
their own hearts, as neither . . .
God's smiles--nor frowns,
God's promises--nor threatenings,
life--nor death,
Heaven--nor Hell,
can possibly hinder them!

The hearts and ways of wicked men are full of
Hells; and therefore to fill Heaven with such,
would be to fill Heaven with Hells!

Certainly God will shut the gates of glory upon
such workers of iniquity. These souls are . . .
sadly abandoned by God, and
woefully blinded by Satan, and
fully ripened for ruin.

"All will be damned who have not believed the truth, but
have delighted in wickedness." 2 Thessalonians 2:12

"Unless you are converted . . . you will never enter
the kingdom of Heaven." Matthew 18:3

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sovereign Grace Missionary BaptistChurch
1217 Dillon Texarkana, Texas 75501
October 28, 2012
Newsletter Number 389
Brother Randy Johnson, Pastor Brother Ronnie Henderson, Song Director
Pastor E-Mail: pastor@sgmbaptist.com Web Site: www.sgmbaptist.com
"Where The Truths Of God’s Word Have Been Taught For More Than Fifty Years”
You Were Asked To Pray For:
All of Our Military, Their Family’s & All the Civilian Workers in The Middle East, Zee Mink Fuller and Family, Her son’s Bryan Armstrong and Hunter Hackie, Daughter Shannon, and Brother Philip & Sondra Thornsberry, Frank & Sonya Trusty, Frank & Dawana Reigel, Andrew Preston, Larry Mollette, Larry Mollette II & Family, Kerry Pennington, Kim Poole, Danny & Nita Mollette, Deloris Davis , Wendell Henderson, Judy Dunn, Martha Gray, Joshua Kidd, Matthew Kidd, Ronnie Henderson Jr. & Children, Ricky Henderson and Family, Jacie Henderson, Bro. & Mrs. Hammond, Charles, Don Hammond and Families, Archie & Barbara Griffin, Bro. & Sister Bob Keller, Mary Ramsey, Donna Johnson, Fay Johnson, James and Luann Reynolds, Timothy and Nathan Fails, Jacob Ramsey, Jerry Hughes, Sister Nita Bookout, Pastor G. L. Burr, Melody Carr, Janie Capps, Imajo Tracy, Linda Hughes, Roy Lemmon, Rosie Tomlin, Lee Mollette’s Daughter & Granddaughter Kristal, Dale Barnes – Kathy Johnson and their mother, Pat and Waymon Abercrombie, Barbara Brewer, Donna Jones, Frank Roberts, Dale and Linda Trahan, Linda Mollette– Shawn and girls, Ricky and Margaret McCoy, Brother David O’Neal, Todd Fifield, Robert, Brother Curtis Pugh, Brother Dan Sullivan and the work in Thailand, Brother Raul and the work in Romania, and Bro. Sergey Mochalov and the Churches in Russia.
A Thought For The Week:
“When Prayer Shakes Our Assembling”
“…grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, ... And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:29, 31)
I believe it not to be a naive thing to trust in the absolute validity of the Holy Bible, and that every word of it has been forever settled in the Father’s mind. I equally trust that it is the holy duty of every child of God to study the Scriptures that they may be approved of the Father. No doubt, through our neglect much of the Spirit’s availability has been set adrift, and to a great extent the Christians’ and churches’ power has diminished sadly below poverty levels.
Modern prayer is filled with shallow self-centered “give me” fraudulent attempts to gain the Father’s ear. The “old paths” of prayer were ever mindful of our unworthiness and thus sought the true mercies of God. The word “servants” identifies the willing obedience of the praying ones to submit in all things to the glory of the Father and the Son. Their desire was to perform the work of the Kingdom in a fashion suitable to the sons of God – in holy power. They sought not their own, but yearned to be filled of Holy Spirit.
God’s work cannot be accomplished by the works of the flesh. It demands the Christ-centered willing spirit to be endued with power from on high. Heavenly occupation demands heavenly muscle. The saints are not at liberty to set foot on the battleground ill-equipped. Hence, it demands due diligence to plead with the Father for the appropriate empowerment for the task at hand.
As Paul and Silas prayed the presence of the Holy Spirit shook the very foundations of the jail to the saving of souls. In our text when the church prayed with a believing mindset to obtain courage for preaching the word unto the saving of souls, the filling of the Spirit once again quaked the assembly. Has God changed? Where are the consecrated ones praying for a shaking of their assembly?
By Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.
For Our Weekly Meditation:
Tied to their minister's apron strings
It is lamentable when a boy in his teens is still tied to his mother's apron strings. Yet is it not equally deplorable for those who have been Christians many years—to be tied to their minister's apron strings? Yet how often we witness this very thing. There is a certain class who seem to be afraid, or at any rate unwilling, to think for themselves—to search the Scriptures for themselves, and act accordingly—and we suspect that in many cases the preacher is as much to be blamed as they are. It is true that he is their teacher, and as such he should possess a wider and deeper knowledge of spiritual things than they have. Yet it is his duty to instruct them—to familiarize themselves with God's Word, and thus become qualified to "Test all things—and hold fast that which is good." (1 Thess. 5:21). In other words, the preacher is not to be a nurse unto them all their lives!
It has long been our conviction that the preacher who is really of greatest service to his people—is the one who makes them most independent of human help, and casts them back directly upon God Himself. For souls to run to their pastor every time they are in trouble, or look to him to solve all their spiritual problems—is virtually to give him the same place in their lives, as the deluded Papists accord their "priests." This is not only to rob God of His glory—but also retards their spiritual progress. It is with God Himself, that I most need to deal, and any man who comes between me and the Lord is really a hindrance, no matter how good his intentions may be. Moreover, the preacher is human, and therefore liable to err—but God is omniscient and never misdirects. "If any of you lacks wisdom—let him ask of God." (James 1:5).
Sooner or later there comes a time in the lives of most real Christians, when those words, "Stop trusting in man!" (Isaiah 2:22) are applied to their hearts in Divine power. This will not mean that they now refuse to hear God's servants or read their writings—but that they will no longer place the same blind confidence in their teachers as the Papists do in their priests. Instead, they will emulate the Bereans, who did not mechanically accept what they heard, even from the lips of the Apostle Paul—but "examined the Scriptures every day—to see if what Paul said was true." (Acts 17:11)
- By Arthur Pink, from his article "Spiritual Nurses"
Notice:
The next time change will be next Sunday November 04 when Daylight savings time ends, be sure to set your clocks. Your clocks will fall back one hour.

The Next churches business meeting will ne Sunday November 11 at 4:00
Reflectors Of The Lord’s Beauty:
"As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness" Ps. 17:15
The portion of other men fills their bodies, and enriches their children, but the portion of the believer is of another sort. Men of the world have their treasure in this world, but men of the world to come look higher and further.
Our possession is twofold. We have God's presence here and His likeness hereafter. Here we behold the face of the Lord in righteousness, for we are justified in Christ Jesus. Oh, the joy of beholding the face of a reconciled God! The glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ yields us Heaven below, and it will be to us the Heaven of Heaven above.
But seeing does not end it: we are to be changed into that which we gaze upon. We shall sleep a while and then wake up to find ourselves as mirrors which reflect the beauties of our Lord. Faith sees God with a transforming look. The heart receives the image of Jesus into its own depths, till the character of Jesus is imprinted on the soul. This is satisfaction. To see God and to be like Him -- what more can I desire? David's assured confidence is here by the Holy Ghost made to be the Lord's promise. I believe it. I expect it. Lord, vouchsafe it. Amen.
By Charles Spurgeon from his "Faith's Checkbook" .

Treasuring Up Wrath


From the Pastor: Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.
“Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, … But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;” (Rom. 1:32, 2:1a, 5)
For those people who do not desire to retain God in their knowledge, God gives them over to a reprobate mind to wallow in the stench of the basest of debaucheries. It is not that they are ignorant of the sin or of the sentence of death in the judgment to come; it is simply because they do not care anymore because of their reprobated minds. This means God has no holy designs for them.
The list of unrighteous acts given in chapter one is meant to highlight warning signs of that road to destruction. Yet, many do not heed the forewarnings, which is a product of callous and stubborn hearts. This callousness strangles every thought of repentance, which in succession amasses the anger of God against themselves in the day of the coming judgment. It is said, “ignorance is bliss,” but there shall be no blissfulness in that day when all hearts shall be made manifest. One drop of the Almighty’s anger is sufficient to consume billions of galaxies; but, to heap up His anger and store it up, what shall be the force of the coming condemnation of the damned? Is there such ignorance as to treasure this day?
Far too many callously willing souls are hurdled into eternity, self-deceived that they are prepared for what is to come. O, what fools populate the massive ranks of so-called intelligent men! How long shall they remain hardened and unrepentant, O LORD? Knowing the terror of the LORD, may all the saints of God sound the alarm again and again as faithful watchmen on the walls of time! O our blessed Lord, give them ears to hear, eyes to see, and tender hearts to receive the engrafted Word unto eternal salvation!

Saturday 27 October 2012

C.H. Spurgeon Quotes

Posted: 27 Oct 2012 01:00 AM PDT
To keep debt, dirt, and the devil out of my cottage has been my greatest wish ever since I set up housekeeping; and although the last of the three has sometimes got in by the door or the window, for the old serpent will wriggle through the smallest crack, yet thanks to a good wife, hard work, honesty, and scrubbing brushes, the two others have not crossed the threshold.
C.H. Spurgeon

It is in life's common experiences

~ ~ ~ ~ ~


(J. R. Miller, "The Life of Jesus")

"When He was at the table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him!" Luke 24:30-31

It was a wonderful walk that the two friends took that afternoon. The Man who joined them, seemed only to be a common stranger. He had a kindly manner, and the three were soon talking familiarly. He opened to them, the meaning of great Scripture words, saying many things His companions could never forget. They were so pleased with His company, that when they reached the end of their journey, they urged Him to become their guest, and He consented.

It was at their evening meal together, that the Stranger revealed His identity. Perhaps, as He took the bread and was in the act of breaking it, they saw His hands with the print of the nails in them. We do not know just how it happened; we only know that it was while they were at their plain, simple evening meal--that "then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him!"

It is in life's common experiences
, that Christ usually reveals Himself to us. One of His disciples asked Him to show them the Father--he wanted some remarkable revealing, a great glory, like the Sinai splendor. Jesus said, "Have I been with you these three years--and have you never known Me? I have been showing you the Father all the while!" He had been doing this in sweet, gentle living, in patience, in kindness, in thoughtfulness, in purity and simplicity of life. The disciples had seen all these beautiful things in their Master, day after day--but they had not dreamed that these were divine revealings; that in them, He was revealing God!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Friday 26 October 2012

C.H. Spurgeon Quotes

Posted: 26 Oct 2012 01:00 AM PDT
Why, these are sham Christians; they are not genuine Christians; they are of the world, and do the things of the world. We may conclude that their hearts and natures are worldly, for if they were spiritual they would love spiritual things, and their hearts would be engaged in spiritual exercises.
C.H. Spurgeon

Missing the Gift of God


From the Pastor: Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.
“But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.” (Mk. 6:4) Because some folk are too close to something, it is said that they cannot see the forest for the trees. It is not that the forest is not there, but the closeness severely limits the vision to the near trees, and the view of the whole forest is hindered.
The Scriptures teach that Jesus “led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers”. (Eph. 4:8, 11) These are the precious gifts of the Lord Jesus Christ endowed with Holy Spirit anointing and certain heavenly graces. The heavenly hosts know them as “men of the Almighty God” and “servants of the Lord of Glory.” These gifts are no small matter in the hand of the Living God; and He is most jealous of them.
The world as a whole has always vehemently loathed the beloved gifts of the Eternal One, and has sought to annihilate them; but they knew not what they were doing. Randomly, some throughout the ages have received them with gladness. Yet, overwhelmingly, closeness or familiarity has clouded many eyes to the gift of the Lord Jesus in their midst. What the eyes see is not always what the whole reality is. The gift is of the spiritual and in the spiritual; yet, its presence is as sure as the Christ of Glory.
Families and friends are most often the greater offenders and abusers of the gift the Lord has given. This is probably due to being too close to the tree to see the forest. The gift may be a father, a husband, a son, or a family member; and nature, being what it is, cannot conceive the possibility of it. Hence, the heavenly gift is hidden from the eyes. It is sad that many a gift from the Lord has gone unnoticed by those nearest him. The wound is his, but the loss is theirs. A tender heart of grace amongst the thorns soon bleeds when the winds of evil thrash the thorns about him.

Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~


(J.R. Miller, "A Message for the Day" 1901)

"Far be it from You to do such a thing--to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" Genesis 18:25

Some people worry about the destiny of the Heathen, and ask if God can be just--and do so and so. A great deal better solution of such perplexities, is Abraham's: "Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" Surely we can trust Him with all such things, and leave them in His hands.

Others have perplexity concerning the apparent lack of justness in the allotment of earth. Some holy people have little but trouble here--and some wicked people have very much worldly favor. We have the same truth on which to rest all such seeming inequities. God will surely do right. What we call trouble, may have more real blessing in it, than what we call prosperity. Also, the end of life is not here. God has eternity in which to adjust the inequities.

There are other people who think that their own lot is very hard. They complain about their trials and disappointments, and are discontented with what God does for them and gives them. They say that God is good; yet they imply by their petulance, that He is not good. This word of Abraham's should rebuke all such complaints. Sooner might the Heavens fall--than that in any smallest thing, God could do anything but what is absolutely right and just.

"Commit your way unto the Lord; trust also in Him--and He shall bring it to pass." Psalm 37:5
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Thursday 25 October 2012

C.H. Spurgeon Quotes

Posted: 25 Oct 2012 01:00 AM PDT
I must frankly confess that of all my expectations of Heaven, I will cheerfully renounce ten thousand things if I can but know that I shall have perfect holiness, for if I may become like Jesus Christ as to His Character—pure and perfect—I cannot understand how any other joy can be denied me! If we shall have that, surely we shall have everything! This, then, is our hope—that ‘we shall be like He, for we shall see Him as He is.’
C.H. Spurgeon

He loves to see His poor, helpless, suffering patients come!


~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(James Smith, "The Love of Christ! The Fullness, Freeness, and Immutability of the Savior's Grace Displayed!")

"The whole head is sick, and the whole heart is faint. From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it--but wounds and bruises and putrefying sores!" Isaiah 1:5-6

Sin not only brings us under condemnation--but it assumes the character of a disease! It has infected the whole soul, and spoiled every faculty. We need healing--as well as pardon. Jesus, in the greatness of his love, provides for both. He becomes not only our Redeemer--but our Physician. He employs His Spirit, His Word, and His Providence--to bring us to a healthy state.

He lays open the wound to our view--and then applies His own most precious blood to heal it! He makes us to feel our sickness--and then bestows His grace to restore us to health. All healing is by His skill--and through His Spirit, grace, blood, and Word. He is the maker of the Balm of Gilead--and He is the Physician there.

He undertakes the healing of all who apply to Him! He never yet failed in any case! He heals all gratuitously. His wisdom shines in the management of every case--and also His skill in healing the most desperate and alarming cases. He acts so kindly and tenderly to all His patients, and heals so judiciously--that He wins the heart of every patient--and all are delighted with His skill.

Thousands throng Him--but not one is overlooked or neglected by Him. He is always at His office, and ready to heal. He loves to see His poor, helpless, suffering patients come--and always greets them with a hearty welcome.
The plague of the heart,
the plague of the head,
weakness in the hands,
feebleness in the knees,
blindness,
deafness,
leprosy,
disease in every form--
are easily removed by Him.

Before Him . . .
the lame man leaps like an deer,
the tongue of the dumb sings,
broken hearts rejoice, and
the blind see out of darkness and out of obscurity.

This process of healing is on-going--none are completely healed at present. And when they are healthy enough--they are sent from the hospital below--to paradise above! Every patient who is healed--is provided with a mansion above, and has a title to the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. There the inhabitants shall no more say, "I am sick," and the people who dwell there are forgiven their iniquities!

All His patients feel and manifest the symptoms of returning health--which are love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, meekness, goodness, faith, etc. But none of them rest satisfied with any symptoms; they all visit His office frequently, asking Him to complete the cure. And such is His love, kindness, and grace--that He assures all those who have a good work begun in them--that He will complete it in the day of His glorious appearing!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Spurgeon and Chambers

Morning, October 25

“For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.”
2 John 2
Charles Spurgeon
Once let the truth of God obtain an entrance into the human heart and subdue the whole man unto itself, no power human or infernal can dislodge it. We entertain it not as a guest but as the master of the house—this is a Christian necessity, he is no Christian who doth not thus believe. Those who feel the vital power of the gospel, and know the might of the Holy Ghost as he opens, applies, and seals the Lord’s Word, would sooner be torn to pieces than be rent away from the gospel of their salvation. What a thousand mercies are wrapped up in the assurance that the truth will be with us for ever; will be our living support, our dying comfort, our rising song, our eternal glory; this is Christian privilege, without it our faith were little worth. Some truths we outgrow and leave behind, for they are but rudiments and lessons for beginners, but we cannot thus deal with Divine truth, for though it is sweet food for babes, it is in the highest sense strong meat for men. The truth that we are sinners is painfully with us to humble and make us watchful; the more blessed truth that whosoever believeth on the Lord Jesus shall be saved, abides with us as our hope and joy. Experience, so far from loosening our hold of the doctrines of grace, has knit us to them more and more firmly; our grounds and motives for believing are now more strong, more numerous than ever, and we have reason to expect that it will be so till in death we clasp the Saviour in our arms.

Wherever this abiding love of truth can be discovered, we are bound to exercise our love. No narrow circle can contain our gracious sympathies, wide as the election of grace must be our communion of heart. Much of error may be mingled with truth received, let us war with the error but still love the brother for the measure of truth which we see in him; above all let us love and spread the truth ourselves.

My Utmost for His Highest
October 25th
The external crush of things
I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 1 Cor. 9:22
Oswald Chambers
A Christian worker has to learn how to be God’s noble man or woman amid a crowd of ignoble things. Never make this plea—‘If only I were somewhere else!’ All God’s men are ordinary men made extraordinary by the matter He has given them. Unless we have the right matter in our minds intellectually and in our hearts affectionately, we will be hustled out of usefulness to God. We are not workers for God by choice. Many people deliberately choose to be workers, but they have no matter in them of God’s almighty grace, no matter of His mighty word. Paul’s whole heart and mind and soul were taken up with the great matter of what Jesus Christ came to do, he never lost sight of that one thing. We have to face ourselves with the one central fact—Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
“I have chosen you.” Keep that note of greatness in your creed. It is not that you have got God, but that He has got you. Here, in this College, God is at work, bending, breaking, moulding, doing just as He chooses. Why He is doing it, we do not know; He is doing it for one purpose only—that He may be able to say, ‘This is My man, My woman.’ We have to be in God’s hand so that He can plant men on the Rock as He has planted us.
Never choose to be a worker, but when God has put His call on you, woe be to you if you turn to the right hand or to the left. He will do with you what He never did with you before the call came; He will do with you what He is not doing with other people. Let Him have His way.


Evening, October 25

“She gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz,
who was of the kindred of Elimelech.”
Ruth 2:3
Charles Spurgeon
Her hap was. Yes, it seemed nothing but an accident, but how divinely was it overruled! Ruth had gone forth with her mother’s blessing, under the care of her mother’s God, to humble but honourable toil, and the providence of God was guiding her every step. Little did she know that amid the sheaves she would find a husband, that he should make her the joint owner of all those broad acres, and that she a poor foreigner should become one of the progenitors of the great Messiah. God is very good to those who trust in him, and often surprises them with unlooked for blessings. Little do we know what may happen to us to-morrow, but this sweet fact may cheer us, that no good thing shall be withheld. Chance is banished from the faith of Christians, for they see the hand of God in everything. The trivial events of to-day or to-morrow may involve consequences of the highest importance. O Lord, deal as graciously with thy servants as thou didst with Ruth.

How blessed would it be, if, in wandering in the field of meditation to-night, our hap should be to light upon the place where our next Kinsman will reveal himself to us! O Spirit of God, guide us to him. We would sooner glean in his field than bear away the whole harvest from any other. O for the footsteps of his flock, which may conduct us to the green pastures where he dwells! This is a weary world when Jesus is away—we could better do without sun and moon than without him—but how divinely fair all things become in the glory of his presence! Our souls know the virtue which dwells in Jesus, and can never be content without him. We will wait in prayer this night until our hap shall be to light on a part of the field belonging to Jesus wherein he will manifest himself to us.

Wednesday 24 October 2012

C.H. Spurgeon Quotes

Posted: 24 Oct 2012 01:00 AM PDT
Some people seem to be afraid lest we should be the means of saving some of the nonelect—but that is a fear which never troubles either my head or my heart, for I know that with all the effort and preaching in the world, we shall never bring more to Christ than Christ has had given to Him by His Father!
C.H. Spurgeon

The Christian's vital breath!

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(David Harsha, "The Savior's Intercession")
"O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy." Psalm 130:2
Prayer is the motion of our renewed hearts towards God.
Prayer lifts the soul unto Him in sweet and heavenly
communion, 'Unto You, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.'
Prayer calls down upon us the choicest blessings of heaven.
Prayer brings our spirits near the throne of
God, and fills them with inexpressible delight.
Prayer elevates our views and affections far above
this world of sensual and perishing enjoyments.
Prayer is the Christian's vital breath!
No true child of God can live without prayer.
If we have the spirit of adoption, we
will be often crying, 'Abba, Father!'
"O God, You are my God; early will I seek You.
My soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You
in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water."
Psalm 63:1
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Tuesday 23 October 2012

Spurgeon and Chambers

Morning, October 23

“Will ye also go away?”
John 6:67
Charles Spurgeon
Many have forsaken Christ, and have walked no more with him; but what reason have you to make a change? Has there been any reason for it in the past? Has not Jesus proved himself all-sufficient? He appeals to you this morning—“Have I been a wilderness unto you?” When your soul has simply trusted Jesus, have you ever been confounded? Have you not up till now found your Lord to be a compassionate and generous friend to you, and has not simple faith in him given you all the peace your spirit could desire? Can you so much as dream of a better friend than he has been to you? Then change not the old and tried for new and false. As for the present, can that compel you to leave Christ? When we are hard beset with this world, or with the severer trials within the Church, we find it a most blessed thing to pillow our head upon the bosom of our Saviour. This is the joy we have to-day that we are saved in him; and if this joy be satisfying, wherefore should we think of changing? Who barters gold for dross? We will not forswear the sun till we find a better light, nor leave our Lord until a brighter lover shall appear; and, since this can never be, we will hold him with a grasp immortal, and bind his name as a seal upon our arm. As for the future, can you suggest anything which can arise that shall render it necessary for you to mutiny, or desert the old flag to serve under another captain? We think not. If life be long—he changes not. If we are poor, what better than to have Christ who can make us rich? When we are sick, what more do we want than Jesus to make our bed in our sickness? When we die, is it not written that “neither death, nor life, nor things present, nor things to come, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord!” We say with Peter, “Lord, to whom shall we go?”

My Utmost for His Highest
October 23rd
Not a bit of it!
If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away. 2 Cor. 5:17
Oswald Chambers
Our Lord never nurses our prejudices, He mortifies them, runs clean athwart them. We imagine that God has a special interest in our particular prejudices; we are quite sure that God will never deal with us as we know He has to deal with other people. ‘God must deal with other people in a very stern way, but of course He knows that my prejudices are all right.’ We have to learn—‘Not a bit of it!’ Instead of God being on the side of our prejudices, He is deliberately wiping them out. It is part of our moral education to have our prejudices run straight across by His providence, and to watch how He does it. God pays no respect to anything we bring to Him; there is only one thing He wants of us, and that is our unconditional surrender. When we are born again, the Holy Spirit begins to work His new creation in us, and there will come a time when there is not a bit of the old order left; the old solemnity goes, the old attitude to things goes, and “all things are of God.” How are we going to get the life that has no lust, no self-interest, no sensitiveness to pokes, the love that is not provoked, that thinketh no evil, that is always kind? The only way is by allowing not a bit of the old life to be left, but only simple perfect trust in God, such trust that we no longer want God’s blessings, but only want Himself. Have we come to the place where God can withdraw His blessings and it does not affect our trust in Him? When once we see God at work, we will never bother our heads about things that happen, because we are actually trusting in our Father in Heaven Whom the world cannot see.[1]


Evening, October 23

“Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.”
Luke 22:46
Charles Spurgeon
When is the Christian most liable to sleep? Is it not when his temporal circumstances are prosperous? Have you not found it so? When you had daily troubles to take to the throne of grace, were you not more wakeful than you are now? Easy roads make sleepy travellers. Another dangerous time is when all goes pleasantly in spiritual matters. Christian went not to sleep when lions were in the way, or when he was wading through the river, or when fighting with Apollyon, but when he had climbed half way up the Hill Difficulty, and came to a delightful arbour, he sat down, and forthwith fell asleep, to his great sorrow and loss. The enchanted ground is a place of balmy breezes, laden with fragrant odours and soft influences, all tending to lull pilgrims to sleep. Remember Bunyan’s description: “Then they came to an arbour, warm, and promising much refreshing to the weary pilgrims; for it was finely wrought above head, beautified with greens, and furnished with benches and settles. It had also in it a soft couch, where the weary might lean.” “The arbour was called the Slothful’s Friend, and was made on purpose to allure, if it might be, some of the pilgrims to take up their rest there when weary.” Depend upon it, it is in easy places that men shut their eyes and wander into the dreamy land of forgetfulness. Old Erskine wisely remarked, “I like a roaring devil better than a sleeping devil.” There is no temptation half so dangerous as not being tempted. The distressed soul does not sleep; it is after we enter into peaceful confidence and full assurance that we are in danger of slumbering. The disciples fell asleep after they had seen Jesus transfigured on the mountain top. Take heed, joyous Christian, good frames are near neighbours to temptations: be as happy as you will, only be watchful.


[1] Chambers, O. (1986). My utmost for his highest: Selections for the year. Grand Rapids, MI: Oswald Chambers Publications; Marshall Pickering.

C.H. Spurgeon Quotes

Posted: 23 Oct 2012 01:00 AM PDT
Our Arminian antagonists always leave the fallen angels out of the question: for it is not convenient to them to recollect this ancient instance of Election. They call it unjust, that God should choose one man and not another. By what reasoning can this be unjust when they will admit that it was righteous enough in God to choose one race—the race of men, and leave another race—the race of angels, to be sunk into misery on account of sin.
C.H. Spurgeon

There are many roaring devils around us!


~ ~ ~ ~ ~


(
Thomas Watson, "Body of Divinity")

There is nothing that more troubles a child of God, than that he fears he shall never hold out. "These weak legs of mine," he says, "will never carry me to Heaven!" But he is kept by the power of God! Once in Christ--forever in Christ. A believer may fall from some degrees of grace--but not from the state of grace.

How despairing is the Arminian doctrine of falling from grace! Today a saint--tomorrow a reprobate; today a Peter--tomorrow a Judas! This is like boring a hole in a vessel--to make all the wine of his joy run out. Were the Arminian doctrine true, what comfort would it be--to have one's name written in the book of life--if it might be blotted out again? But be assured, for your comfort, that grace--if it is true--though ever so weak, shall persevere.

"Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation." 1 Peter 1:5.
See whence it is, that believers persevere in holiness. It is to be ascribed solely to the power of God.
It is a wonder that any Christian perseveres, if you consider:

(1.) Corruption within. There is more sin than grace; yet grace is habitually predominant. Grace is like a spark in the sea--it is a wonder that it is not quenched! It is a wonder that sin does not destroy grace.

(2.) Temptations without. Satan envies us happiness, and he raises his militia, and stirs up persecution. He shoots his fiery darts of temptations--which are called darts for their swiftness, fiery for their terribleness. We are every day beset with devils! As it was a wonder that Daniel was kept alive in the midst of the roaring lions, so there are many roaring devils around us--and yet we are not torn in pieces! Now, whence is it, that we stand against these powerful temptations? We are kept by the power of God!

(3.) The world's old snares--riches and pleasure. How many have been shipwrecked upon these golden rocks! "Demas has deserted me, because he loved this present world." 2 Timothy 4:10

What a wonder any persevere in holiness--that the earth does not choke the fire of all holy affections! Whence is this, but from the power of God? We are kept by His power.

"My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish--ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand!" John 10:27-29

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A Servant of God


From the Pastor: Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.
“Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;” (Titus 1:1)
Sometimes the Gospel of Christ becomes a most difficult work. It would indeed be nice if all under the umbrella of “Christianity” were a flawless mirror of the Word of God. The reality of life is that most of what is projected to man is twisted mirrors of deceptions. Most folk come to “Christianity” with an uninformed quest for something to satisfy a yearning for some form of religion. This is totally natural for someone lost and groping in the darkness of sin. The dilemma is anchored in the inability of the spiritually dead to know truth and the deceptive cunningness of Satan and his servants masquerading as “ministers of righteousness” distorting the truth.
Anyone can profess to be “a servant of God”, but not everyone has the qualifying credentials with the seal of the living God. Paul relates that he is “a servant of God”, and then he continues to set forth his certifications, namely, or according to: 1) the faith of God’s elect, and 2) the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness.
Faith can be a general term entrusted to an object, an animal, a human, or an imaginary spiritual thing. The faith Paul is referencing is the eternal faith birthed out of heaven wrought saving faith. This peculiar faith can only be witnessed in the elect of God. Many have tried to imitate it, but none have been able to duplicate it, or harness its power. The evidences of this faith certify the servant’s Master.
The next point of certification is the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness. While it is truth that if you hit you finger with a hammer it will hurt, but this is not the truth of certification. The revealing truth of servitude Paul acknowledges is the one “which is after godliness.” This is a truth that directs one’s piety toward God. Satan and his deceiving ministers never us this truth. God’s servant can only use holy faith and holy truth leading to God.

Monday 22 October 2012

If I am seeking everything that can delight my senses

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(William Law, "A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life")

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction--and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life--and only a few find it!" Matthew 7:13-14

If I am seeking everything that can delight my senses, and regale my appetites; spending my time and fortune in pleasures, in diversions, and worldly enjoyments--then how can it be said that I am working out my salvation with fear and trembling?

If there is nothing in my life and conversation that shows me to be different from the heathen; if I use the world, and worldly enjoyments, as the generality of people now do, and in all ages have done--then why should I think that I am among those few who are walking in the narrow way to Heaven?

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C.H. Spurgeon Quotes

Posted: 22 Oct 2012 01:00 AM PDT
Those who are saved by God the Holy Spirit are created anew according to Scripture; but who ever dreamed of creation creating itself? God spoke the world out of nothing, but nothing did not aid in the creation of the universe. Divine energy can do everything, but what can nothing do? Now if we have a new creation, there must have been a creator, and it is clear that being then spiritually created, we could not have assisted in our own new creation, unless, indeed, death can assist life, and non-existence aid in creation.
C.H. Spurgeon

Sunday 21 October 2012

C.H. Spurgeon Quotes

Posted: 21 Oct 2012 01:00 AM PDT
To suppose that temporal things are too little for our condescending God, is to forget that he observes the flight of sparrows, and counts the hairs of his people’s heads. Besides, everything is so little to him, that, if he does not care for the little, he cares for nothing.
C.H. Spurgeon

Weeping Willows and Joyful Jails


From the Pastor: Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.
“…yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a strange land?” (Ps. 137:1-2, 4)
These are the words of the saddened Israelites after having been carried away from the Promised Land as victims of their own spiritual whoredom. As revealed in Jeremiah: “And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks.” (3:9) It was their own rebellion that brought the defilement of God’s precious promise of rest. In their great lost and sorrow they found no melody in their hearts. Their lips were heavy with weeping guilt, no words of joy. How could they sing the LORD’s song that belongs to the redeemed?
In stark contrast we read: “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.” (Acts 16:25) The rebellious Israelites were out amongst the willow trees, but Paul and Silas were beaten with stripes, thrust into the inner prison, and chained. Their predicament of captivity was by far a greater distress upon the body. Yet, the circumstance of their imprisonment was not due to rebellion but of their faithfulness, for “…the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.” (Acts 13:2) Their bodies did suffer, but their hearts leaped with great joys of obedience. There was no agonizing sorrow for guilt of sin, thus, no weight upon the lips to entrap the music of the heart. Redeemed, Redeemed, O how I love to proclaim it! Their voices rang out sure praises unto God.
The ability to sing the LORD’s song of the redeemed with heavenly joy is not controlled by outward circumstance but by the spiritual condition of the heart. Rebellious hearts are too laden with weeping sorrows of sin; while, obedient hearts have wells of living waters springing up from within full of the Holy Spirit. Faithful obedience stirs up the heart with rejoicing tunes of the LORD’s song.

Saturday 20 October 2012

Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest


~ ~ ~ ~ ~


(J. R. Miller, Daily Bible Readings in the Life of Christ, 1890)

There is a tendency to leave the Bible out of the prayer-closet. We hear a great deal of earnest counsel concerning secret prayer:
we must both open and close the day at God's feet;
prayer is the Christian's vital breath;
if we would live strong, noble, beautiful, radiant, and useful Christian lives--we must get seasons of secret prayer into all our busy days.

But we must take our Bibles with us into the prayer-closet. While we talk to God--we must also let God talk to us. God feeds us through His Word. It is "into all truth" (John 16:13) that the Holy Spirit leads Christ's disciples. Seasons of prayer without meditation on some portion of the Word of God, cannot yield the full blessing that we need.

Life is hard for most of us; at least, it is hard to live nobly, lovingly, purely, Christianly. We can do so only by getting a great deal of help from Christ. We need, therefore, daily to heed His invitation, "Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." (Mark 6:31). In communion with Him--we shall receive strength and blessing to enable us to live each day more beautifully, more victoriously, more radiantly, more lovingly. We shall rob ourselves therefore, of divine help--if we do not make room in our busiest days, for quiet retreats from noise and strife--to be alone with Christ, where we may sit at His feet to hear His words; or lie on His bosom to absorb His spirit--for the refreshing and transforming of our lives.
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Sovereign Grace Missionary BaptistChurch
1217 Dillon Texarkana, Texas 75501
October 21, 2012
Newsletter Number 388
Brother Randy Johnson, Pastor Brother Ronnie Henderson, Song Director
Pastor E-Mail: pastor@sgmbaptist.com Web Site: www.sgmbaptist.com
"Where The Truths Of God’s Word Have Been Taught For More Than Fifty Years”
You Were Asked To Pray For:
All of Our Military, Their Family’s & All the Civilian Workers in The Middle East, Zee Mink Fuller and Family, Her son’s Bryan Armstrong and Hunter Hackie, Daughter Shannon, and Brother Philip & Sondra Thornsberry, Frank & Sonya Trusty, Frank & Dawana Reigel, Andrew Preston, Larry Mollette, Larry Mollette II & Family, Kerry Pennington, Kim Poole, Danny & Nita Mollette, Deloris Davis , Wendell Henderson, Judy Dunn, Martha Gray, Joshua Kidd, Matthew Kidd, Ronnie Henderson Jr. & Children, Ricky Henderson and Family, Jacie Henderson, Bro. & Mrs. Hammond, Charles, Don Hammond and Families, Archie & Barbara Griffin, Bro. & Sister Bob Keller, Mary Ramsey, Donna Johnson, Fay Johnson, James and Luann Reynolds, Timothy and Nathan Fails, Jacob Ramsey, Jerry Hughes, Sister Nita Bookout, Pastor G. L. Burr, Melody Carr, Janie Capps, Imajo Tracy, Linda Hughes, Roy Lemmon, Rosie Tomlin, Lee Mollette’s Daughter & Granddaughter Kristal, Dale Barnes – Kathy Johnson and their mother, Pat and Waymon Abercrombie, Barbara Brewer, Donna Jones, Frank Roberts, Dale and Linda Trahan, Linda Mollette– Shawn and girls, Ricky and Margaret McCoy, Brother David O’Neal, Robert, Brother Curtis Pugh, Brother Dan Sullivan and the work in Thailand, Brother Raul and the work in Romania, and Bro. Sergey Mochalov and the Churches in Russia.
The Pastors Corner:
Don’t Hate For The Truth’s Sake! “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
Oh! What a most wonderful God we all serve. We serve the God of all gods, the Lord of all lords, the King of all kings. We serve the one single being that controls all things as He chooses for them to be. He left nothing to chance, and He left nothing to man. God said “For unto us a child is born…” in Bethlehem and to the Virgin Mary. Not just any son but the Son of God also known as the Son of man. While they are one in the same they are separate in that one is God and the other is man; one is God himself and the other sits on the right hand of God. John said that when he was called up in spirit in to heaven he saw one that set on the throne. "And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne." Revelation 4:2 this One is God. We also learn that to the right of this throne is another throne and he that set on that throne is the man Christ Jesus. "Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God." Luke 22:69 it is He (the Son of man) that God shall set the governments of the earth, and it is also Him who’s shoulders God has given all power and rule. Jesus Christ has all powers over the earth and one day He will once again sit on the earth one King David’s throne and rule it once again.
In a couple of weeks we will have an election; we will either keep the powers that be or we will replace them with new powers. As Believers in Jesus Christ we can take much comfort in the fact that God rules and controls everything and He has predetermined this world’s future as He has chosen for it to be. With this being said God sets kings and powers up as He chooses and He takes them down as He chooses. Whoever is the victor on November 6th will be by Gods choosing and not ours. However I believe it is the duty of every believe to vote and to vote with biblical valves. However on the night of November 6 or the morning of the 7th we must understand the victor was installed by Gods power. This does not mean that one or even either one is godly servants but rather a servant that God will use for a certain purpose. God uses the lost just as He uses the saved to accomplish His blessed will. God has certainly predestinated an end to this world and the next great event following the second coming will be the tribulation period and it is this event that the world is heading under the headship of God. Romans 13:1 "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God." In 1 Peter 2:13-17 we are told that the powers that be whether kings or goveners we are to obey them because god has set them into place. "...king, as supreme; Or unto governors..." So beloved do not fret about this election; just vote and trust the Lord with the results.
We do not understand everything the Lord does; but we certainly should trust Him in the results of everything. In this election we have two men, one who claims (with not fruits) to be a Christian and a Mormon, therefore we must ask [why not a good Christian] and [how can God set either one of these men in office]. Well the answer is simple; while neither of these men serves God as Christians the winner will serve God; not to the good as Christians do but to the bad in helping to bring together the tribulation period. Romans 13:3 "For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:" Therefore beloved however the election turns out be sure not to fret but to praise Gods holy name for the results, because either way this person will be used of God to help set the world up for the tribulation period. And please remember to vote because God will use your vote in whichever direction this election goes.
For Our Weekly Meditation:
AMONG THE REDEEMED"Lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations" Num. 23:9
Who would wish to dwell among the nations, and to be numbered with them? Why, even the professing church is such that to follow the Lord fully within its bounds is very difficult. There is such a mingling and mixing that one often sighs for "a lodge in some vast wilderness."
Certain it is that the Lord would have His people follow a separated path as to the world, and come out decidedly and distinctly from it. We are set apart by the divine decree, purchase, and calling, and our inward experience has made us greatly to differ from men of the world; and therefore our place is not in their Vanity Fair, nor in their City of Destruction, but in the narrow way where all true pilgrims must follow their Lord.
This may not only reconcile us to the world's cold shoulder and sneers, but even cause us to accept them with pleasure as being a part of our covenant portion. Our names are not in the same book, we are not of the same seed, we are not bound for the same place, neither are we trusting to the same guide, therefore it is well that we are not of their number. Only let us be found in the number of the redeemed, and we are content to be odd and solitary to the end of the chapter.
By Charles Haddon Spurgeon from his "Faith's Checkbook" series
Notice:
The next time change will be November 04, 2012 When Daylight savings time ends. Your clocks will fall back one hour.
Romans 13:12 – 14
"The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. (13.) Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. (14.) But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof."