A New And Living Way (part I)

From the Pastor:  Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.

 

“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;” (Heb. 10:19-20) 

Real prayer can be quite elusive for the many believers.  Perhaps it is in the vagueness of our understanding.  It is not just a bowing of the head and saying a few words that resemble some kind of want list, if it is possible.  Prayer is a matter of our bond to and in Christ. 

“Boldness” carries the thought of a peaceful confidence free of all fears of the Father’s retribution.  It is not a blundering arrogance believing God is obligated to respond to our every wish.  Prayer is an affair of holiness; it is holiness of heart, holiness of thought, holiness of location, holiness of mediator, and the holiness of the One we approach.  It is what puts into motion the heavens and earth.  We seek to enter the holiest place of all eternity to commune with the Holiest of all.  Dare we be so ignorantly brash in this effort? 

The new way did away with the blood of dead animals and provided a living way, which is “by” or “in the blood of Jesus.”  Now, how do we enter the blood of Jesus?  We must pass through “the veil, that is to say, his flesh.”  The blood of the body is restrained by the fleshy tissue.  The gate of the tabernacle, the veil of the Holy, and the veil of the Holy of Holies were made of three colors – blue (of the heavens), purple (the King reconciling), and scarlet (the flesh pouring out sacrificial blood).  The Christ came in the flesh, sacrificed in the flesh, died in the flesh, was buried in the flesh, resurrected in the flesh, ascended in the flesh, and sits at the right hand of the Father in the flesh.  He is alive forevermore!!!

Jesus consecrated the new way to be through His flesh (the Gospel) and in His blood, being peacefully confident that He is sufficient to bring us without guilt into the Holiest Place and before the Holiest of all.  Forevermore a new and living way for prayer!  

Reader, either you are mad--or you once were!

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(George Mylne, "Lessons for the Christian's Daily Walk" 1859)

"The hearts of men are full of evil, and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead!" Ecclesiastes 9:3

In life a madman--a madman still in death! Such, such is man.

Man thinks he is wise. He looks with pity on the poor maniac. How little he suspects that he himself is tenfold mad--not only mad for time; mad also for eternity!
He brings madness into the world;
he imbibes madness with his mother's milk;
he learns madness at school;
he confirms and strengthens madness in manhood;
he feeds madness by all he does;
he reads madness in books;
he finds madness in every company;
he bears madness along in every walk of life;
sleeping or waking--silent or speaking--learned or ignorant--rich or poor
--he is a maniac still!

A madman was his father; and so was his father's father! Go backwards until you come to Adam--they were all maniacs!

All his children are mad; and so will be his children's children, even to the final child--they will all be maniacs!

What do you think of a man, who walks blindfolded on a yawning precipice? Is he not mad?

And what are all men? What do they do?
They sport with life.
They play with death.
They slumber above the flames of Hell.
They defy their Maker and their Judge.
They think nothing of judgment and eternity
--and thus they die!
Is it a libel, then, to say, "They are all mad!"

And what comes after death? Does wisdom then come? Will madness cease then? They will hear of wisdom, but they will not have it. Man will then discover how mad he has been. He well see his madness then--but only to know its endless misery!

Happy the man who, "coming to himself," resolves once more to seek his Father's house! (Luke 15:17, 18.) Yes, "coming to himself." Thus speaks the parable. I ask you to mark the words; they are full of meaning. As though the man had been asleep; or drunk; or mad; or had swooned away--unconscious of himself, and all around him. And then, as touched by a sudden hand, and sense as suddenly infused, he awakes--comes to himself again, and immediately he lives, as another man. Such is fallen nature--and such is grace in its effects.

Happy is the man, who thus recovers the gift of reason! Happy is the man, who sits at Jesus' feet, "in his right mind," and clothed with grace--cured of his madness! Jesus has said the healing word--the "legion" is cast out and gone. The man is a maniac no more. (Luke 8:35.)

Reader, either you are mad--or you once were! Say, have you looked to Jesus--or are you a madman still?

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Men chosen—fallen angels rejected

“Verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.” Hebrews 2:16
Suggested Further Reading: 2 Peter 2:4-9
Adam broke the covenant of works; he touched the accursed fruit, and in that day he fell. Ah! What a fall was there! Then you, and I, and all of us fell down, while cursed sin triumphed over us; there were no men that stood; there were some angels that stood, but no men, for the fall of Adam was the fall of our entire race. After one portion of the angels had fallen, it pleased God to stamp their doom, and make it fast and firm; but when man fell, it did not so please God; he had threatened to punish him, but in his infinite mercy he made some the object of his special affection, for whom he provided a precious remedy, and secured it by the blood of his everlasting Son. These are the persons whom we call the elect; and those whom he has left to perish, perish on account of their own sins, most justly, to the praise of his glorious justice. Now, here you notice divine sovereignty; sovereignty, that God chose to put both men and angels on the footing of their free-will, sovereignty, in that he chose to punish all the fallen angels with utter destruction; sovereignty, in that he chose to reprieve, and grant an eternal pardon to a number, whom no man can number, selected out of men, who shall infallibly be found before his right hand above. My text mentions this great fact, for when properly translated it reads thus:- “He took not up angels, but he took on him the seed of Abraham.”
For meditation: The Lord Jesus Christ witnessed Satan’s expulsion from Heaven, and as surely guarantees the believer’s entrance into Heaven (Luke 10:18,20).
Sermon no. 90
30 June (Preached 29 June 1856)
C.H. Spurgeon

Partners In Evil Deeds

From the Pastor:  Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.

 

“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God.  He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the son.  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” (II Jn. Verses 9-11)  “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.” (Gal. 1:6-7)  “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is not more grace.  But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” (Rom. 11:6)  The doctrine of Christ is the doctrine of GRACE. 

Spiritually speaking, we live in the time of the Church of the Tower of Babel.  It is not a church of the Lord Jesus Christ, but it is the big universal conglomerate of abominations.  “You’re OK and I’m OK!” is the rallying cry of the “another gospel” constituencies.  Holy separation has been lost in the Laodicean mentality otherwise known in this age as “Political Correctness.”  It is the “Four Dodo Birds Philosophy” - hear no holiness, see no holiness, speak no holiness, and follow no holiness.  Ignorance is bliss and blissfulness abounds as multitudes nakedly dance around the Tower of Babel.  

“But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ,” (Rom 14:14)  “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,” (II Cor. 6:17)  The saints of God are to separate themselves from those who support and propagate  “another gospel.”  We are not to receive them or bid them God’s speed, for that is to condone their poisoning of the doctrine of the GRACE of Christ. Biblically, they are the ministers of Satan masquerading as minister of righteousness; make no mistake, they are Satan’s emissaries seeking to destroy GRACE.  To validate them is to become partners in their evil desecration of the grace of Christ.  

Adoption of Sons

From the Pastor:  Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.

 

“Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.” (Gal. 4:1-2) 

The Apostle Paul is giving a parallel view of the carnal and the spiritual to instruct us in the eternalness of being the sons of God (past, present, and future).  The question is, at what point in time did a believer become an heir?  Perhaps, the true lies in the “adoption of sons.” (Gal. 4:5)  The word “adoption” from the language reveals that it is not - “Well, I think I like that child, so let us do the paperwork and bring him into our family.”  It means that when a child was born then weaned, it was placed under tutors and governors(schoolmasters) until the father determined that he had reached that point in his life to take on full responsibilities as an adult member of the family.  He was set in his birthright place in the family unit for all the duties and benefits bestowed upon him as son of the father. 

Prior to this Paul wrote: “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen;” (Gal. 1:15-16a)  The Father in His good time set Saul of Tarsus as Paul the Apostle in his place to fulfill his duty to preach Jesus among the nations.  But, when did he become a son?  It is written: “…he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, … Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, …” (Eph. 1:4-5)  The same Greek word for adoption is used in this passage.  When?  We were the sons of God before the world began and set in our place in the Father’s time.  

Of the angels it is written: “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Heb.1:14)  Those who were written in the Lamb’s Book before the foundation of the world are the heirs of salvation and are the sons of God.  In the Father’s time they will be set in their adulthood place. 

The infernal dungeon of Hell!

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(John Bunyan)

"Depart from Me, you who are cursed--into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels!" Matthew 25:41

Those in the infernal dungeon of Hell, will undergo a VARIETY of torments. Those who are most afflicted upon earth, have seldom any more than one malady at a time. But should they have the plague, the gout, the stone, and fever all at one time--how miserable would they think themselves! Yet all that is but like the biting of a flea--compared to those intolerable, pungent pains which those in Hell endure! There, they have all the loathed variety of Hell to grapple with:
  the unquenchable fire to burn them;
  a lake of burning brimstone ever choking them;
  eternal chains to bind them;
  utter darkness to affright them, and
  a worm of conscience which gnaws upon them eternally!
Any one of these is worse to bear--than all the torments which mankind ever felt on earth!

But the torments in Hell are also UNIVERSAL, afflicting each part of the body and soul--which renders what they suffer, most insufferable! In those illnesses which men are seized with on earth, though some parts are afflicted--other parts are free. But in Hell, each member of the soul and body is continually tormented:

  The eye is tormented with the sight of the devils, who appear in all the horrid and black shapes which sin can give them!

  The ear is tormented with the loud yellings and continual outcries of the damned.

  The nostrils are smothered with sulphurous flames.

  The tongue is covered with burning blisters.

  The the whole body is rolled in flames of liquid fire!

  The imagination is tormented with the thoughts of what a Heaven has been lost.

  The memory is tormented with reflecting on those opportunities they had of being saved.

  The mind is tormented with considering how vainly precious time has been wasted.

  The understanding is tormented with the thoughts of of present pains, and future sorrows--which are to last forever!

  The conscience is tormented with a continual gnawing worm.

Another thing which makes the misery of Hell so dreadful, is the EXTREMITY of the torments. The fire which burns is so violent that all the water in the sea can never quench it! The pains suffered are so extreme, that it is impossible they should be known by any, but those who feel them!

Another part of Hell's misery is the CEASELESSNESS of the torments. As various, as universal, and as extremely violent as they are--they are continual, also. Nor have they the least rest from them. If there were any relaxation--it might be some allay. But what makes this condition so deplorable--is that there is no easing of the torments! "They will go away into eternal punishment!" Matthew 25:46

The COMPANY they have there, is another element of their misery. Tormenting devils and tormented souls are all the company! Dreadful shrieks and howlings, under the fierceness of pain, and fearful blasphemies, is all the conversation!

The PLACE in which they suffer is another thing which increases the sufferings. Hell is the epitome of all misery--
  a prison,
  a dungeon,
  a bottomless pit,
  a lake of fire and brimstone,
  a furnace of fire which burns to eternity,
  the blackness of darkness forever!

The cruelty of our TORMENTORS is another thing which adds to the torments. The tormentors are devils, in whom there is no pity. Being tormented themselves, they take pleasure in tormenting others.

But that which makes these sufferings most grievous--is that they shall ALWAYS be so--these most intolerable sufferings shall last to all eternity. 'Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire!" will perpetually sound in the ears of the damned! The miserable situation they are in, shall be forever!

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Hatred without cause

“They hated me without a cause.” John 15:25
Suggested Further Reading: 1 Peter 4:12-19
Take care, if the world does hate you, that it hates you without a cause. If the world is to oppose you, it is of no use making the world oppose you. This world is bitter enough, without my putting vinegar in it. Some people seem to fancy the world will persecute them; therefore, they put themselves into a fighting posture, as if they invited persecutions. Now, I do not see any good in doing that. Do not try and make other people dislike you. Really, the opposition some people meet with is not for righteousness’ sake, but for their own sin’s sake, or their own nasty temper’s sake. Many a Christian lives in a house—a Christian servant girl perhaps; she says she is persecuted for righteousness’ sake. But she is of a bad disposition; she sometimes speaks sharp, and then her mistress reproves her. That is not being persecuted for righteousness’ sake. There is another, a merchant in the city, perhaps; he is not looked upon with much esteem. He says he is persecuted for righteousness’ sake; whereas, it is because he did not keep a bargain some time ago. Another man says he is persecuted for righteousness’ sake; but he goes about assuming authority over everybody, and now and then persons turn round and reproach him. Look to it, Christian people, that if you are persecuted, it is for righteousness’ sake; for if you get any persecution yourself you must keep it yourself. The persecutions you bring on yourself for your own sins, Christ has nothing to do with them; they are chastisements on you. They hated Christ without a cause; then fear not to be hated. They hated Christ without a cause; then court not to be hated, and give the world no cause for it.
For meditation: The apostle Paul knew what suffering for Christ’s sake really means (2 Corinthians 11:23-27). It was something he avoided when he could appeal to the law, (Acts 22:25-29) and he did not pretend to be persecuted when he brought trouble upon himself (Acts 23:1-5).
Sermon no. 89
29 June (1856)
C.H. Spurgeon

They cannot leave the lap of Delilah!

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(Joseph Alleine, "Alarm to the Unconverted!" 1671)

The unsound convert takes Christ by halves. He is all for the salvation of Christ--but he is not for sanctification. He divides the offices and benefits of Christ. Hypocrites do not love the Lord Jesus in sincerity. They will not have Him as God offers, "to be a Prince and a Savior" (Acts 5:31).

They divide what God has joined, the King who rules--and the Priest who saves.
They desire salvation from suffering--but they do not desire to be saved from sinning.
They would have their souls saved--but still would have their lusts.
They would be content to have some of their sins destroyed--but they cannot leave the lap of Delilah, or divorce the beloved Herodias.
They cannot be cruel to the right eye or right hand.

The sound convert takes a whole Christ, and takes Him for all intents and purposes, without exceptions, without limitations, without reserve. He is willing to have Christ upon any terms. He is willing to have the dominion of Christ--as well as deliverance by Christ. He says with Paul, "Lord, what will you have me to do?" Anything, Lord! He gives Christ the blank page--to write down His own conditions.

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Prayer—the forerunner of mercy

“Thus saith the Lord God; I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock.” Ezekiel 36:37
Suggested Further Reading: 1 Samuel 22:9-23:5
First, I enquire what the promise is. I turn to my Bible, and I seek to find the promise whereby the thing which I desire to seek is certified to me as being a thing which God is willing to give. Having enquired so far as that, I take that promise, and on my bended knees I enquire of God whether he will fulfil his own promise. I take to him his own word of covenant, and I say to him, “O Lord, wilt thou not fulfil it, and wilt thou not fulfil it now?” So that there, again, prayer is enquiry. After prayer I look out for the answer; I expect to be heard; and if I am not answered I pray again, and my repeated prayers are but fresh enquiries. I expect the blessing to arrive; I go and enquire whether there is any tidings of its coming. I ask; and thus I say, “Wilt thou answer me, O Lord? Wilt thou keep thy promise. Or wilt thou shut up thine ear, because I misunderstand my own wants and mistake thy promise?” Brethren, we must use enquiry in prayer, and regard prayer as being, first, an enquiry for the promise, and then on the strength of that promise an enquiry for the fulfilment. We expect something to come as a present from a friend: we first have the note, whereby we are informed it is upon the road. We enquire as to what the present is by the reading of the note; and then, if it arrive not, we call at the accustomed place where the parcel ought to have been left, and we ask or enquire for such and such a thing. We have enquired about the promise, and then we go and enquire again, until we get an answer that the promised gift has arrived and is ours. So with prayer.
For meditation: Asking comes in two shapes—questions and requests. God is able to give us all the answers we need (Luke 11:9,10).
Sermon no. 138
28 June (1857)
C.H. Spurgeon

Sermons without words!

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(J.R. Miller)

"Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called." 1 Corinthians 7:20

When you are tempted to complain and resist the difficulties of your circumstances, and the limitations of your place in life--remember that Jesus, even with all His divine life and all His great powers, for thirty years found room in a humble peasant home, for worthy living and for service not unfitting to His true exalted character.

If you can do nothing but live a true Christian life which is patient, gentle, kind, pure--in your home, in society, at your daily occupation--you will perform a service of great value, and leave many blessings in the world. This kind of life is a little gospel--displaying the wonderful story of the cross of Christ, in sermons without words!

"I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need." Philippians 4:12

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The conversion of Saul of Tarsus

“And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” Acts 26:14
Suggested Further Reading: John 15:16-25
When you were first pricked in the heart, how personal the preacher was. I remember it well. It seemed to me that I was the only person in the whole place, as if a black wall were round about me, and I were shut in with the preacher, something like the prisoners at the penitentiary, who each sit in their cell and can see no one but the chaplain. I thought all he said was meant for me; I felt persuaded that some one knew my character, and had written to him and told him all, and that he had personally picked me out. Why, I thought he fixed his eyes on me; and I have reason to believe he did, but still he said he knew nothing about my case. Oh, that men would hear the word preached, and that God would so bless them in their hearing, that they might feel it to have a personal application to their own hearts. But note again—the apostle received some information as to the persecuted one. If you had asked Saul who it was he persecuted, he would have said, “Some poor fishermen, that had been setting up an impostor; I am determined to put them down.” “Why, who are they? They are the poorest of the world, the very scum and dregs of society; if they were princes and kings we perhaps might let them have their opinion; but these poor miserable ignorant fellows, I do not see why they are allowed to carry out their infatuation, and I shall persecute them. Moreover, most of them are women I have been persecuting—poor, ignorant creatures. What right have they to set their judgement up above the priests? They have no right to have an opinion of their own, and therefore it is quite right for me to make them turn away from their foolish errors.” But see in what a different light Jesus Christ puts it. He does not say, “Saul, Saul, why didst thou persecute Stephen?” or “Why art thou about to drag the people of Damascus to prison;” No—“Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?”
For meditation: What a personal Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ is! He personally calls his people to himself (Luke 19:5) and he takes it personally when they are persecuted (Luke 10:16).
Sermon no. 202
27 June (1858)
C.H Spurgeon

No one gets the crown--without the conflict!

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(J.R. Miller)

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." Revelation 2:7

The daily temptations which make every true life such a painful conflict from beginning to end--bring us constant opportunities for growth of character. To struggle--is to grow strong. The soldier's art can be learned, and the soldier's honors can be won--only on the field of battle.

If you would grow into the beauty of the Master, you must accept the conflicts, and fight the battles. You can live easy if you will, by declining every struggle--but you will then get little out of life which is truly noble and worthy. The best things all come after the battle--you must fight your way across the field to get them. Heaven is only for those who overcome. No one gets the crown--without the conflict!

"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." Revelation 3:21

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A home mission sermon

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest” Ecclesiastes 9:10
Suggested Further Reading: Luke 22:24-27
George Washington, the commander-in-chief, was going around among his soldiers. They were hard at work, lifting a heavy piece of timber at some fortification. There stood the corporal of the regiment calling out to his men, “Heave there, heave ahoy!” and giving them all kinds of directions. As large as possible the good corporal was. So Washington, alighting from his horse, said to him, “What is the good of your calling out to those men, why don’t you help them yourself and do part of the work.” The corporal drew himself up and said, “Perhaps you are not aware to whom you are speaking, sir; I am a corporal.” “I beg your pardon,” said Washington; “you are a corporal are you; I am sorry I should have insulted you.” So he took off his own coat and waistcoat and set to work to help the men build the fortification. When he had done he said, “Mr Corporal, I am sorry I insulted you, but when you have any more fortifications to get up, and your men won’t help you, send for George Washington, the commander-in-chief, and I will come and help them.” The corporal slunk away perfectly ashamed of himself. And so Christ Jesus might say to us, “Oh, you don’t like teaching the poor; it is beneath your dignity; then let your commander-in-chief do it; he can teach the poor, he can wash the feet of the saints, he can visit the sick and afflicted—he came down from heaven to do this, and he will set you the example.” Surely we should each be ashamed of ourselves, and declare from this time forward whatever it is, be it great or little, if it comes to our hand, and if God will but give us help and give us grace, we will do it with all our might.
For meditation: Our Master knew how to be humble (Philippians 2:6-9); he also knows how to deal with people who are proud or humble (1 Peter 5:5-6).
Sermon no. 259
26 June (1859)
C.H. Spurgeon

The sound in the mulberry trees

“When thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the Lord go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.” 2 Samuel 5:24
Suggested Further Reading: 2 Timothy 2:14-19
If any of your acquaintance have been in the house of God, if you have induced them to go there, and you think there is some little good doing but you do not know, take care of that little. It may be God has used us as a foster mother to bring up his child, so that this little one may be brought up in the faith, and this newly converted soul may be strengthened and edified. But I’ll tell you, many of you Christians do a deal of mischief, by what you say when going home. A man once said that when he was a lad he heard a certain sermon from a minister, and felt deeply impressed under it. Tears stole down his cheeks, and he thought within himself, “I will go home to pray.” On the road home he fell into the company of two members of the church. One of them began saying, “Well, how did you enjoy the sermon?” The other said, “I do not think he was quite sound on such a point.” “Well,” said the other, “I thought he was rather off his guard,” or something of that sort; and one pulled one part of the minister’s sermon to pieces, and another the other, until, said the young man, before I had gone many yards with them, I had forgotten all about it; and all the good I thought I had received seemed swept away by those two men, who seemed afraid lest I should get any hope, for they were just pulling that sermon to pieces which would have brought me to my knees. How often have we done the same! People will say, “What did you think of that sermon?” I gently tell them nothing at all, and if there is any fault in it—and very likely there is, it is better not to speak of it, for some may get good from it.
For meditation: If you must have the sermon for Sunday lunch, beware of devouring someone’s faith along with it (Mark 4:4,15).
Sermon no. 147
25 June (Preached 31 May 1857)
C.H. Spurgeon

Neither youth, nor wit, nor beauty, nor strength, nor money

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(George Mylne, "Lessons for the Christian's Daily Walk" 1859)

"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." Ecclesiastes 8:8

Man, for six thousand years, has tried to understand his spirit--yet knows as little of it as he did at first. What is the soul of man? Whence did it come? Where does it go? He can't explain how spirit dwells with flesh--what binds the two together, for a time, in perfect unity. He has never seen, as little can he feel, the links that knit them to each other. It is all within him--his flesh, his spirit, his life, his being--all the machinery of soul and body, thus closely interlaced. Yet is it as foreign to his grasp, as that which happens in another world!

Thus flesh and spirit dwell together. Who could suppose they ever would part again! Who can explain how soul and body part, or how the links of union are undone--what makes the spirit fly away, or how the flesh gives up its hold! God wills it. God does it. God does not explain why. God does not tell how. He speaks, unheard; and immediately it is done--the spirit returns to Him who made it.

Man may detain the body--but he cannot keep the soul, nor say, "You shall not go!" God says, "Return to Me!" The command must be obeyed. Neither youth, nor wit, nor beauty, nor strength, nor money, can delay His omnipotent hand.

How mysterious is death! At times how unexpected! At times how stealthy! At times He takes your darling from your side--and robs you unblushingly before your face! At other times, days, months, and years may intervene before you know it. The spirit fled--and you knew it not. You thought it still on earth; but it was gone. You think of him, prepare for him, and write to invite him to your home. But alas! the spirit is gone; and had you known it, what could you have done!

Oh, vanity of vanities! What pain, what misery--man's sin has brought to pass! And yet how astonishing is the ignorance, the recklessness of sinful man! Dead in spiritual death, he neither knows nor seeks a remedy, but binds his misery around him with thoughtless energy. And yet there is a remedy--a remedy in Jesus--a remedy for those who look to Jesus!

Say, reader, can you look around you, can you look backward or forward and be happy--unless you find this remedy for all the misery and uncertainty of this poor, passing world?

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23

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The desire of the soul in spiritual darkness

“With my soul have I desired thee in the night.” Isaiah 26:9
Suggested Further Reading: Psalm 42
There are times when all the saints can do is to desire. We have a vast number of evidences of piety: some are practical, some are experimental, some are doctrinal; and the more evidences a man has of his piety the better, of course. We like a number of signatures, to make a deed more valid, if possible. We like to invest property in a great number of trustees, in order that it may be all the safer; and so we love to have many evidences. Many witnesses will carry our case in the courts better than a few: and so it is well to have many witnesses to testify to our piety. But there are seasons when a Christian cannot get any. He can get scarcely one witness to come and attest his godliness. He asks for good works to come and speak for him. But there will be such a cloud of darkness about him, and his good works will appear so black that he will not dare to think of their evidences. He will say, “True, I hope this is the right fruit; I hope I have served God; but I dare not plead these works as evidences.” He will have lost assurance, and with it his enjoyment of communion with God. “I have had that fellowship with him,” perhaps he will say, and he will summon that communion to come and be in evidence. But he has forgotten it, and it does not come, and Satan whispers it is a fancy, and the poor evidence of communion has its mouth gagged, so that it cannot speak. But there is one witness that very seldom is gagged, and one that I trust the people of God can always apply, even in the night: and that is, “I have desired thee—I have desired thee in the night.”
For meditation: The light shines best in the darkness (John 1:5); the people of God have proved it when all else has failed them (Psalm 73:21-26; Jonah 2:1-7).
Sermon no. 31
24 June (1855)
C.H. Spurgeon

Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church
1217 Dillon Texarkana, Texas 75501
June 23, 2013          
 Newsletter Number 421

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, Junior Baldridge, Frankie Baldridge and daughter, Buckie Thompson, Frank & Sonya Trusty, Frank & Dawana Reigel, Andrew Preston, Larry & Martha Mollette, Larry Mollette II & Family, Kerry Pennington, Kim Poole, Danny & Nita Mollette, Robert Riggs, Wendell Henderson, Judy Dunn, Martha Gray, Joshua Kidd, Matthew Kidd, Ronnie Henderson Jr. & Children, Ricky Henderson and Family, Jacie Henderson, Velma 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, Teresa Bookout, Pastor G. L. Burr, Melody Carr, Janie Capps, Imajo Tracy, Linda Hughes, Roy Lemmon, Rosie Tomlin, Lee Mollette’s Daughter & Granddaughter Kristal, Pat Abercrombie, Barbara Brewer, Donna Jones, Dale and Linda Trahan, Ricky and Margaret McCoy, Brother David O’Neal, Tommy Walker and family, Dina Thomas, Brother Kelley and Sister Hinson, Brother Steve McCool and the work in Canada, 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 From Our Pastor:

The Father’s Love.
1 John 3:1 “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.”

Oh! What love, the Father hath bestowed on us. What a marvelously thought in three blessed words, love, Father, and bestowed. I think the thought of these three words I could write volumes of books. This is why, John started this verse with the word “behold” which means - to see or to know – that is to see the marvelous and wonderful love of God, a love that only God has. It took a special, one of a kind love for God to love sinners like us. Lets test our love in the flesh; God said “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” Matthew 5:44 are we capable in the flesh, without the blessings of God to do this? No! We are not. We may act as though we do but we do not. In this flesh we cannot even love God much less each other, or our enemies. I know what people believe, they believe they love God but I must ask how a lost person can ever love God. If they say that they do then they call God a liar. "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (11.) There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God." Romans 3:10 – 11 Paul also told us in Romans 8:7 “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” In fact the only way one can even love God is that the enmity against God be slain. Ephesians 2:15 "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;" Abolishing the enmity and making peace with God only comes as a result of Gods grace or Gods glorious gift of salvation to us. I know there are some who believe they are saved because they chose Christ, they chose to turn over a new leaf, but I am here to say that is impossible. If those people are right then the three words spoken of here are worthless. If you are the potter of your own salvation (that is the maker of it) then God has done nothing. But please pay close attention to what God has just said thorough John, “…what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God…” The love that the Father has bestowed on us is the ability to call Him Father. The love is the love He bestowed on us, that is the love He has given to us, not to all mankind but to those He chose to give it too. That love gives us the ability to call Him Father. Jesus Christ is that love; his birth, his death, His resurrection, His ascension into heaven, His seat next to God is all that love. This is love that God sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to surrender His life for our sins. This love gift is what gives us the ability to call him Father. Thirdly, “…that we should be called the sons of God…” We have no right as enemies of God in the flesh to call Him Father. We are blessed with this by the same love that delivered Jesus Christ to the cross. Oh! How blessed we are if we are saved from eternal damnation and truly able to call Him Father.

This is why the world hates us and hates God. The fact that God is sovereign and saves sinners of His own choosing, and not by our choosing, the fact that He is the potter and we are simply the clay. The fact that they cannot love a God that hates things that are politically incorrect in this world. They hate the fact that God is not irrelevant and insignificant as they want Him to be. They hate the fact that they may not be included in the election of God and they might reside in hell for all eternity no matter what they do. God has bestowed his love on a remnant of people and the only way to know if you are included is to believe that Jesus Christ is your Saviour. Thank you Father for your blessed love!   

For Our Weekly  Meditation:

Why Is The Lord’s House Forsaken?
“Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken?  And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.” (Neh. 13:11)  “…the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28b)

The text of Nehemiah is in response to the deplorable condition at the Temple Mount.  The Israelites had neglected the assembly, the sacrifices, the offerings, and the care of the priesthood.  This abandonment forced the priesthood to leave off the work of God that they might provide for their own families.  The spirituality of Israel had been relegated down to mere lip service.  Israel boasted of being God’s people, but the brag was as empty as their hearts were. 

Sadly, our generation is also experiencing the great abandonment of the houses of worship for the love of the world.  Preachers are leaving the ministry in large numbers that they might adequately provide for their families, just as the Levities did.  The chief question at hand is, “Why is the house of God forsaken?”  There are many self-rationalizing excuses that are used to sooth one’s conscience.  Israel had gone the same way, finding worldly appeasements more suitable to their fleshly lusts.  Baseless excuses!  Simply, one forsakes the house of God because his heart has already forsaken God and cares nothing for the will of God. 

Holy Writ instructs us: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Heb. 10:25)  Abandoning the Lord’s local assembling of the saints at His designated location is a gross sin in the eyes of God.  Has not the church (not the building) been purchased by the blood of God?  Shall we then neglect the blood of God and the body of Jesus? 

Forsaking the house of God is the product of ungodliness and sinful hearts.  We are told: “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.” (Eph. 3:21)

By Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.

Happy Birthday

Brother Larry Mollette Sunday June 23^rd

Pastor Randy Johnson Thursday June 27^th

There is no discharge in that war!

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(George Mylne, "Lessons for the Christian's Daily Walk" 1859)

"No one has power over the spirit to retain the spirit; and no one has power in the day of death. There is no discharge in that war!" Ecclesiastes 8:8

Oh, what a war it is! Since Adam's day, the war is carried on. There is no respite granted, no peace, no armistice, and no exchange of prisoners. Each moment of the day, hundreds are slain! Each one is carried off in turn--but none ever come back again. "There is no discharge in that war!" Some have been prisoners for centuries, and tens of centuries, fast bound in chains of DEATH. As yet there is no discharge!

Parents have seen their children snatched away--and none have returned again! Wives have been torn from husbands, husbands from wives, and friends from friends. There is no exception, "no discharge."

Oh, DEATH, you are the conqueror now! Some fear you; others brave you; most forget you--but all alike fall under you! You take some when life is scarcely begun. Even for them, "there is no discharge!" Some are removed in bloom of youth--in beauty's prime--in the midst of usefulness. Death, are you not mistaken? Was not your stroke intended for another? Oh, give them back! Alas! "There is no discharge in that war!"

We have seen one while still young--and loved to think how long and useful he would live. We gave him many years and hopes. But no! He is taken away! "There is no discharge in that war!" What anguish in the thought, "He will never return!" Imagination can hardly take it in. Each meal you think you see his well-known face. Each opening door, seems opened for his form to enter! Alas! "there is no discharge!"

As YET there is none. But will there never be? "There is no discharge!" Death, do not say so! One day you will see it. As all have gone--all will return; as all have died--so all will live again. Oh, death, you are doomed! "The lake of fire" is reserved for you. (Rev. 20:14.) You will be totally conquered!

The wicked are even taken from your grasp. They will rise again--to misery, it is true; yet still they will live. Oh, death--they are not yours!

But, for those who have died in faith, it is not death--they sleep in Jesus. They wait the appointed time. Their "change" will come. Jesus will not forget them, nor leave them in the dust of death. (Job 14:14, 15.)

Where, then, is your sting, O Death? Where O Grave, where then, is your victory! O Death, your war is at an end; not now, but then. And then, O Death, there is no discharge for you!

"Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire!" Revelation 20:14

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Old and Grey-headed

From the Pastor:  Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.

 

“Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.” (Psalm 71:18) 

It has been said that no Christian has finished his duty until he has raised up at least one other person to take his place.  In Biblical thought this is completely consistent with the sovereignty of God.  When God created the vegetation of the earth the beast of the field, the fowl of the air, living creatures of the sea, and man, He designed them to multiply and replenish the earth.  It is the natural course of things for like to beget like and if it stops doing so it goes extinct.  It is equally so with the living creatures we call Christians.  God designed Christians to multiply and replenish the earth.  The fruit of every believer is more believers, and this being consistent with the sovereignty of God. In fact, not to do so is an act of rebellion against the sovereignty of God.  Have we completed our duty?

There must be a replenishing for a continuation.  It is an abomination that most “Christians” live as if they are practicing birth control.  Is not Matt. 28:19-20 the Great Commission for Christians?  If it is not carried out, then is not the Great Omission?  Did not Jesus tell his disciples - “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” (Matt. 9:37-38) The words “send forth” carry the weight of “force out.”  Lord, force them out of their comfort zones and make them duty bound!!! 

Yes, many of us are old, grey-headed, and sickly; but let these not be our excuses; rather let them be our call to urgency.  This generation and those that follow must learn of the mercy, grace, and sovereignty of God through the true Gospel of the Lord Jesus, “for it is the power of God unto salvation.” (Rom. 1:16)  Pity indeed those generations that follow in the steps of that generation which has had no power with God or a faithful commitment to a holy posterity! 

The plea of faith

“Do as thou hast said.” 2 Samuel 7:25
Suggested Further Reading: Psalm 19:7-11
Unless we know what God has said, it will be folly to say, “do as thou hast said.” Perhaps there is no book more neglected in these days than the Bible. I do truly believe there are more mouldy Bibles in this world than there are of any sort of neglected books. We have stillborn books in abundance; we have innumerable books which never see any circulation, but we have no book that is so much bought, and then so speedily laid aside, and so little used, as the Bible. If we buy a newspaper, it is generally handed from one person to another, or we take care to peruse it pretty well; indeed some go so far as to read advertisements and all. If a person purchases a novel, it is well known how he will sit and read it all the way through, till the midnight candle is burnt out; the book must be finished in one day, because it is so admirable and interesting; but the Bible, of course, in the estimation of many, is not an interesting book; and the subjects it treats of are not of any very great importance. So most men think; they think it is a very good book to carry out on a Sunday, but never meant to be used as a book of pleasure, or a book to which one could turn with delight. Such is the opinion of many; but no opinion can be more apart from the truth; for what other book deals with truths half so important as those that concern the soul? What book can so well deserve my attention as that which is written by the greatest of all authors, God himself?
For meditation: This book will become a hindrance to your soul if you allow it to become a substitute for your daily Bible reading. The correct use of these daily readings is found in Acts 17:11.
Sermon no. 88
23 June (Preached 22 June 1856)
C.H. Spurgeon

Thank God that He has veiled the future!

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(George Mylne, "Lessons for the Christian's Daily Walk" 1859)

"Since no man knows the future, who can tell him what is to come?" Ecclesiastes 8:7

God's purposes have all their seasons of fulfillment. His judgments each have their time of visitation. Mapped out in clear perspective, your every dispensation was fixed from everlasting in the eternal mind of God. Your sunny seasons, and your cloudy days; sorrow and pain, anxiety and lack, your every loss of property or friends--all was designed before you ever saw the light. Trials may be in store for you, the thoughts of which would harrow up your soul--if you knew they were coming!

All this is known and ordained by God. What it will be, or when it is to come--He never tells to His creatures. As lightning strikes--for quickness, as wave comes after wave--for frequency; so may trials visit you. They are as uncertain as the wind. Yet fixed in divine purpose, and in performance sure--they come. From day to day, from hour to hour, who can foretell his future?

"Therefore, the misery of man is great upon him!" Reader, is this your feeling? Is "therefore" misery great on you? Does it make you brood over possibilities--alarmed at the contingency of woes? Would you rather, that all were known before, that you might be prepared for whatever trials and tribulations come?

Rather, thank God that He has veiled the future, and deals out His dispensations one by one. The time, the way, the kind, the circumstances--are all fixed by unerring wisdom, and by boundless love. It is thus that God is glorified; His power felt; His sovereignty known, free from the trammels of His creatures' will. Matchless in skill; unfailing in resources--He thus proclaims His sovereign Godhead.

The world may murmur--but the saints submit to God's sovereign plan. The world may tremble--but the saints are glad. In all their woes, they see a Father's hand, and a Savior's sympathy. They would not alter it if they could! They meekly leave the future to their God.
The times and seasons;
the "what,"
the "when,"
the "how,"
the "why"--
they would not, dare not, know!

But these things they do know:
that as their days--so their strength shall be;
that He who counts the stars, and calls them by their names--will heal the broken-hearted and bind up their wounds;
that divine comforts shall keep pace with worldly sorrows, and
that God's grace will be sufficient for every time of need!

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The majestic voice

“The voice of the Lord is full of majesty.” Psalm 29:4
Suggested Further Reading: Hebrews 1:1-4
In some sense Jesus Christ may be called the voice of God, for you know he is called the Word of God frequently in Scripture; and I am sure this Word of God “is full of majesty.” The voice and the word are very much the same thing. God speaks: it is his Son. His Son is the Word; the Word is his Son, and the voice is his Son. Truly the voice, the Word of God, “is full of majesty.” Angels! Ye can tell what majesty sublime invested his blest person when he reigned at his Father’s right hand; ye can tell what were the brightnesses which he laid aside to become incarnate; ye can tell how sparkling was that crown, how mighty was that sceptre, how glorious were those robes bedecked with stars. Spirits! Ye who saw him when he stripped himself of all his glories, ye can tell what was his majesty. And oh! Ye glorified, ye who saw him ascend up on high, leading captivity captive—ye beloved songsters, who bow before him, and unceasingly sing his love! Ye can tell how full of majesty he is. High above all principalities and powers ye see him sit; angels are but servants at his feet; and the mightiest monarchs like creeping worms beneath his throne. High there, where God alone reigns, beyond the sight of angels or the gaze of immortal spirits—there he sits, not majestic merely, but full of majesty. Christian! Adore your Saviour; adore the Son of God; reverence him, and remember at all seasons and times, how little so ever you may be, your Saviour, with whom you are allied, the Word of God, is essentially full of majesty.
For meditation: The Lord Jesus Christ is full of grace and truth (John 1:14); in him the fulness of God dwells bodily (Colossians 1:19; 2:9). It should be a staggering thought that every Christian has received from his fullness (John 1:16; Ephesians 1:22,23).
Sermon no. 87
22 June (1856)
C.H. Spurgeon

Chance!

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(George Mylne, "Lessons for the Christian's Daily Walk" 1859)

"The race is not to the swift,
  or the battle to the strong;
  nor does food come to the wise,
  or wealth to the brilliant,
  or favor to the learned--
but time and chance happen to them all." Ecclesiastes 9:11

Time, and her handmaid, what the world calls "chance", are clad in the vesture of uncertainty. What the worldling calls "chance"--in reality, is nothing but God's divine providence. God's ways bespeak His wisdom and His power--He is wise to adapt, and mighty to fulfill. Viewed with the eye of sense, God's ways often assume an air of fickleness; by which it is inferred that all things happen without rhyme or reason--with no settled law pervading, and no sovereign will directing their occurrence.

Thus man twists the attributes of God, and robs Him of His honor--as though some mock divinity called "chance" presided over us, and made caprice his rule of action.

Man's needs are various, and require an ever varying treatment--hence the varieties of "time and chance." Not one event occurs without its meaning. All events are divinely fitted by the supreme Disposer's wisdom and sovereignty.

Such treatment is required for a fallen race. No one uniform law would suit every purpose. Shivered to atoms by the "fall"--all order is gone from man. Each broken fragment of his nature reflects prismatic rays of frailty--their hue, their color, their intensity, forever varying; each calling for a divine providence adapted to fit its need; and, as the prism varies, so is the divine treatment changed.

The divine eye which counts the feathers on the wings of insects; which numbers up the blades of grass; which counts the drops of water in the ocean; and registers each grain of sand upon the shore--is quick to see, and swift to direct. Hence, are all the changes, accidents, and "chances" of man's experience.

Hence, "the race is not to the swift, or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise, or wealth to the brilliant, or favor to the learned." Man may propose--but all the disposing is of God. God's "chance" (divine providence) is not the "chance" of men--all fickle and confused. God's "chance" is sure--fixed in its principle, certain in its aim, acting on rules of wisdom, inscrutable to man, yet clear and well-defined.

Man fails--and he knows not why. He calculates in vain. His plans are crossed by divine counter-plans--the underworkings of the divine Hand which made the worlds; of Him, who sovereignly controls all things of "time and chance."

     ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

"The word 'chance' should be forever banished from the Christian's conversation! Luck or chance is a base heathenish invention! God rules and overrules all things!" Charles Spurgeon

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Mercy, omnipotence, and justice

“The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked.” Nahum 1:3
Suggested Further Reading: Nehemiah 9:9-31
Have you ever observed that scene in the garden of Eden at the time of the fall? God had threatened Adam, that if he sinned he should surely die. Adam sinned: did God make haste to sentence him? ‘Tis sweetly said, “The Lord God walked in the garden in the cool of the day.” Perhaps that fruit was plucked at early morn, maybe it was plucked at noon-tide; but God was in no haste to condemn; he waited till the sun was well nigh set, and in the cool of the day came, and as an old expositor has put it very beautifully, when he did come he did not come on wings of wrath, but he “walked in the garden in the cool of the day.” He was in no haste to slay. I think I see him, as he was represented then to Adam, in those glorious days when God walked with man. Methinks I see the wonderful similitude in which the unseen did veil himself: I see it walking among the trees so slowly—if it is right to give such a picture—beating its breast, and shedding tears that it should have to condemn man. At last I hear its doleful voice: “Adam, where art thou? Where hast thou cast thyself, poor Adam? Thou hast cast thyself from my favour; thou hast cast thyself into nakedness and into fear; for thou art hiding thyself. Adam, where art thou? I pity thee. Thou thoughtest to be God. Before I condemn thee I will give thee one note of pity. Adam, where art thou?” Yes, the Lord was slow to anger, slow to write the sentence, even though the command had been broken, and the threatening was therefore of necessity brought into force.
For meditation: There are good and bad ways of taking advantage of God’s apparent slowness (2 Peter 3:3,4,9).
Sermon no. 137
21 June (1857)
C.H. Spurgeon

What are You doing?

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(George Mylne, "Lessons for the Christian's Daily Walk" 1859)

"Where the word of a King is, there is power! Who may say to Him: What are You doing?" Ecclesiastes 8:4

What word, what power, are like the Lord's? With earthly kings words may be loud--and power small. Not so with God. His purpose knows no hindrance. His word can never fail. Who can resist His power? With God, purpose, and word, and power are but one.

Who, then, may say to God: "What are You doing?" To hinder His purpose, you must be able to overcome Omnipotence! Infinite, unchangeable, almighty--with God to will, is to perform; to speak, is to proclaim His past eternal purpose, and His endless might. Who can arrest His hand, or thwart His providence? Who can? That is not the word. Rather, who ought to wish it? Who ought to quarrel with His will, or say, either with bold or fretful opposition, "What are You doing?"

Your child has died; or perhaps a shipwreck has bereft you at one stroke, of all your family; or other ills untold, unspeakable, have made you drink the wine of desperation. My friend, these things were ordained by God "before the world began." In God's eternal mind it was written--it was settled long ago. How vain to say, "What are You doing?" And when the time was come, God sent His messengers--noiseless, unseen, invisible--to do His righteous will. Could you have said, "What are You doing with my child? What are You doing with the winds and waves? Forbear!"

Your will was not consulted--your permission was not asked. Do not say, "What are You doing?" Be silent before the omnipotent Disposer! "I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for You are the one who has done this!" (Psalm 39:9.) "But what can I say? He Himself has done this! I will walk humbly all my years because of this anguish of my soul." (Isaiah 38:15.) Go softly all your years--yet not "in anguish of soul." If you have faith in Christ, you are better taught than this. Go softly--yet in faith, in patience. Looking to Jesus, let your language be: "It is the Lord! Let my Lord do what seems good in His eyes!" (1 Samuel 3:18.)

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The outpouring of the Holy Spirit

“While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.” Acts 10:44
Suggested Further Reading: Micah 3:5-8
There is a necessity that the preacher himself, if souls are to be saved, should be under the influence of the Spirit. I have constantly made it my prayer that I might be guided by the Spirit even in the smallest and least important parts of the service; for you cannot tell if the salvation of a soul may depend upon the reading of a hymn, or upon the selection of a chapter. Two persons have joined our church and made a profession of being converted simply through my reading a hymn—“Jesus, lover of my soul.” They did not remember anything else in the hymn; but those words made such a deep impression upon their mind, that they could not help repeating them for days afterwards, and then the thought arose, “Do I love Jesus?” And then they considered what strange ingratitude it was that he should be the lover of their souls, and yet they should not love him. Now I believe the Holy Spirit led me to read that hymn. And many persons have been converted by some striking saying of the preacher. But why was it the preacher uttered that saying? Simply because he was led thereunto by the Holy Spirit. Rest assured, beloved, that when any part of the sermon is blessed to your heart, the minister said it because he was ordered to say it by his Master. I might preach today a sermon which I preached on Friday, and which was useful then, and there might be no good whatever come from it now, because it might not be the sermon which the Holy Spirit would have delivered today. But if with sincerity of heart I have sought God’s guidance in selecting the topic, and he rests upon me in the preaching of the Word, there is no fear but that it shall be found adapted to your immediate wants. The Holy Spirit must rest upon your preachers.
For meditation: The one who is filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) is filled with the word of Christ (Colossians 3:16); the mark of being filled with the Spirit is speaking the word of God (Luke 1:41, 42, 67; Acts 2:4; 4:8,31; 7:55,56; 13:9-10). Do you pray this for your preachers? And for yourself?
Sermon no. 201
20 June (1858)
C.H. Spurgeon

His name—the mighty God

“The mighty God.” Isaiah 9:6
Suggested Further Reading: Hebrews 2:10-18
Great is the mystery of godliness, for the passage from which the text is taken says, “Unto us a child is born.” A child! What can a child do? It totters in its walk, it trembles in its steps—and it is a child newly born. Born! An infant hanging on its mother’s breast, an infant deriving its nourishment from a woman? That! Can that work wonders? Yea, saith the prophet, “Unto us a child is born.” But then it is added, “Unto us a Son is given.” Christ was not only born, but given. As man he is a child born, as God he is the Son given. He comes down from on high; he is given by God to become our Redeemer. But here behold the wonder! “His name,” this child’s name, “shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God.” Is this child, then, to us the mighty God? If so, O brethren, without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness indeed! And yet, just let us look through the history of the church, and discover whether we have not ample evidence to substantiate it. This child born, this Son given, came into the world to issue a challenge against sin. For thirty years and upwards he had to struggle and wrestle against temptations more numerous and more terrible than man had ever known before. Adam fell when a woman tempted him; Eve fell when a serpent offered fruit to her, but Christ, the second Adam, stood invulnerable against all the shafts of Satan, though tempted he was in all points like as we are. Not one arrow out of the quiver of hell was spared; the whole were shot against him. Every arrow was aimed against him with all the might of Satan’s archers, and that is not little! And yet, without sin or taint of sin, more than conqueror he stood.
For meditation: Here, on the morning of his 25th birthday, Spurgeon gloried in the birthday of his great elder brother, the Lord Jesus Christ—God born of a woman, given in the likeness of sinful flesh so that God could condemn our sin in his flesh (Galatians 4:4; Romans 8:3). What an appropriate birthday meditation, remembering how Christ identified with us so that we could be identified with him!
Sermon no. 258
19 June (1859)
C.H. Spurgeon

Vile ingratitude

“Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations.” Ezekiel 16:1,2
Suggested Further Reading: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
God gives to his people riches, and they offer them before the shrine of their covetousness. He gives them talent, and they prostitute it to the service of their ambition. He gives them judgement, and they pander to their own advancement, and seek not the interest of his kingdom. He gives them influence; that influence they use for their own aggrandisement, and not for his honour. This is like taking his gold, and his jewels, and hanging them upon the neck of the god Ashtaroth. Ah! Let us take care when we think of our sins, that we set them in this light. It is taking God’s mercies to lavish them upon his enemies. Now, if you were to make me a present of some token of your regard, I think it would be the meanest and most ungracious thing in the world I could do to take it over to your enemy, and say, “There, I come to pay my respects.” To pay my respects to your foe with that which had been the token of your favour! There are two kings at enmity with one another—two powers that have been at battle, and one of them has a rebellious subject, who is caught in the very act of treason, and condemned to die. The king very graciously pardons him, and then munificently endows him. “There,” says he, “I give you a thousand crown-pieces;” and that man takes the bounty, and devotes it to increasing the resources of the king’s enemies. Now, that were a treason and baseness too vile to be committed by worldly men. Alas then! That is what you have done. You have bestowed on God’s enemies what God gave to you as a love-token. Oh, men and brethren, let us bow ourselves in dust and ashes before God.
For meditation: Is a readiness to use God’s gifts selfishly the reason why he appears to say “No” to so many of your prayer-requests (James 4:3-4)?
Sermon no. 323
18 June (Preached 27 May 1860)
C.H. Spurgeon