True beauty is not of the face--but of the soul!

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~



(Mabel Hale, "Beautiful Girlhood" 1922)

"Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears the LORD shall be praised!" Proverbs 31:30

Every girl is a lover of beauty. Beautiful homes, beautiful furnishings, beautiful flowers, beautiful clothes, beautiful faces--anything wherein beauty is found, there will be found girls to admire it. From the time her little hands can reach up, and her baby lips can lisp the words, she is admiring "pretty things." And when a little of that beauty is her own--her pleasure is unbounded.

Every girl longs to be beautiful. There is in woman a nature, as deep as humanity, which compels her to strive for good looks. There is no more forlorn sorrow for a young girl, than for her to be convinced that she is hopelessly ugly and undesirable. Oh, the bitter tears that have been shed over freckles, or a rough and pimply skin--and the energy that has been expended in painting and powdering and waving and curling herself into beauty!

A desire to be beautiful is not unwomanly. But, mark it: true beauty is not of the face--but of the soul! There is a beauty so deep and lasting, that it will shine out of the homeliest face and make it lovely! This is the beauty to be first sought and admired. It is a quality of the mind and heart--and is manifested in word and deed.

A happy heart,
a smiling face,
loving words and deeds, and
a desire to be of service--
will make any girl beautiful!

A beautiful soul shining out of a homely face--is far more attractive than a beautiful face out of which looks a soul full of selfishness and pride!

Let your chief charm be of heart and mind--not of face and form. Seek the true beauty which lasts even into old age!

Solomon, in one of his wise sayings, expressed plainly the evil that comes to a woman who is beautiful of face, but lacks the true beauty of soul: "Like a gold ring in a swine's snout--is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion!" Proverbs 11:22. As the swine would plunge the golden jewel into the filth and the mire as he dug in the dirt--so will a pretty woman who is not godly, drag her beauty down to the very lowest.

There are many peculiar temptations to those who are only lovely of face. Without true beauty of soul--a pretty face is a dangerous gift!

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight!" 1 Peter 3:3-4

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Spurgeon & Chambers Devotions January 30th

Morning, January 30

“When thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees,

then thou shalt bestir thyself.”

2 Samuel 5:24

Charles Spurgeon

The members of Christ’s Church should be very prayerful, always seeking the unction of the Holy One to rest upon their hearts, that the kingdom of Christ may come, and that his “will be done on earth, even as it is in heaven;” but there are times when God seems especially to favour Zion, such seasons ought to be to them like “the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees.” We ought then to be doubly prayerful, doubly earnest, wrestling more at the throne than we have been wont to do. Action should then be prompt and vigorous. The tide is flowing—now let us pull manfully for the shore. O for Pentecostal outpourings and Pentecostal labours. Christian, in yourself there are times “when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees.” You have a peculiar power in prayer; the Spirit of God gives you joy and gladness; the Scripture is open to you; the promises are applied; you walk in the light of God’s countenance; you have peculiar freedom and liberty in devotion, and more closeness of communion with Christ than was your wont. Now, at such joyous periods when you hear the “sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees,” is the time to bestir yourself; now is the time to get rid of any evil habit, while God the Spirit helpeth your infirmities. Spread your sail; but remember what you sometimes sing—

“I can only spread the sail;

Thou! Thou! must breathe the auspicious gale.”

Only be sure you have the sail up. Do not miss the gale for want of preparation for it. Seek help of God, that you may be more earnest in duty when made more strong in faith; that you may be more constant in prayer when you have more liberty at the throne; that you may be more holy in your conversation whilst you live more closely with Christ.

My Utmost for His Highest

January 30th

The dilemma of obedience

And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.

1 Samuel 3:15

Oswald Chambers

God seldom speaks to us in startling ways, but in ways that are easy to misunderstand, and we say, ‘I wonder if that is God’s voice?’ Isaiah said that the Lord spake to him “with a strong hand,” that is, by the pressure of circumstances. Nothing touches our lives but it is God Himself speaking. Do we discern His hand or only mere occurrence?

Get into the habit of saying, “Speak, Lord,” and life will become a romance. Every time circumstances press, say, “Speak, Lord”; make time to listen. Chastening is more than a means of discipline, it is meant to get me to the place of saying, “Speak, Lord.” Recall the time when God did speak to you. Have you forgotten what He said? Was it Luke 11:13, or was it 1 Thess. 5:23? As we listen, our ear gets acute, and, like Jesus, we shall hear God all the time.

Shall I tell my ‘Eli’ what God has shown to me? That is where the dilemma of obedience comes in. We disobey God by becoming amateur providences—I must shield ‘Eli’, the best people we know. God did not tell Samuel to tell Eli; he had to decide that for himself. God’s call to you may hurt your ‘Eli’; but if you try to prevent the suffering in another life, it will prove an obstruction between your soul and God. It is at your own peril that you prevent the cutting off of the right hand or the plucking out of the eye.

Never ask the advice of another about anything God makes you decide before Him. If you ask advice, you will nearly always side with Satan: “Immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood.”

Evening, January 30

“In whom also we have obtained an inheritance.”

Ephesians 1:11

Charles Spurgeon

When Jesus gave himself for us, he gave us all the rights and privileges which went with himself; so that now, although as eternal God, he has essential rights to which no creature may venture to pretend, yet as Jesus, the Mediator, the federal head of the covenant of grace, he has no heritage apart from us. All the glorious consequences of his obedience unto death are the joint riches of all who are in him, and on whose behalf he accomplished the divine will. See, he enters into glory, but not for himself alone, for it is written, “Whither the Forerunner is for us entered.” Heb. 6:20. Does he stand in the presence of God?—“He appears in the presence of God for us.” Heb. 9:24. Consider this, believer. You have no right to heaven in yourself: your right lies in Christ. If you are pardoned, it is through his blood; if you are justified, it is through his righteousness; if you are sanctified, it is because he is made of God unto you sanctification; if you shall be kept from falling, it will be because you are preserved in Christ Jesus; and if you are perfected at the last, it will be because you are complete in him. Thus Jesus is magnified—for all is in him and by him; thus the inheritance is made certain to us—for it is obtained in him; thus each blessing is the sweeter, and even heaven itself the brighter, because it is Jesus our Beloved “in whom” we have obtained all. Where is the man who shall estimate our divine portion? Weigh the riches of Christ in scales, and his treasure in balances, and then think to count the treasures which belong to the saints. Reach the bottom of Christ’s sea of joy, and then hope to understand the bliss which God hath prepared for them that love him. Overleap the boundaries of Christ’s possessions, and then dream of a limit to the fair inheritance of the elect. “All things are yours, for ye are Christ’s and Christ is God’s.” 

Serving the Supreme One

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 12:00 AM PST

God exalted Christ "far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet" (Eph. 1:21-22).

Yesterday we saw that Christ has both an exalted name and an exalted, authoritative position. In verses 21-22 Paul elaborates on the extent of Christ's authority, which is "far above all rule and authority and power and dominion."
"Rule," "authority," "power," and "dominion" are designations for angelic beings, whether good or evil (cf. Eph. 6:12; Col. 1:16). In His incarnation Christ was made lower in rank than the angels that He might suffer death on our behalf (Heb. 2:9). Now He has "become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they" (Heb. 1:4), and the Father commands all the angels to worship the Son (v. 6).
But Christ's rule extends far beyond angelic beings. In Ephesians 1:21 the phrase "every name that is named" is a general reference to any form of authority--whether angelic or human, eternal or temporal. Now and forever Christ is the Supreme One! Ultimately every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord (Phil. 2:10-11).
The implications of that truth are staggering. For example Christ precedes the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19-20, the heart of Christian evangelism and discipleship, with this significant statement: "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth."
Ultimately your evangelism and discipleship efforts will bear fruit because they are backed by the authority of Christ Himself. Does that encourage you to seize every opportunity to share Christ and His Word with others? It should!
Be faithful today, realizing that you represent the One in whom lies all authority. Nothing can thwart His purposes.
Suggestions for Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to direct you to a lost soul or anyone else you can encourage from the Word. Be sensitive to His leading.
For Further Study:
Read Colossians 1:15-23

• What was Christ's role in creation (vv. 15-17)?
• What is His role in the church (v. 18)? In salvation (v. 23)?
• What place have you given Him in your life?
  
  
  From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.

Look Unto Me, And Be Ye Saved

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

“Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth inrighteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Surely, shall one say, in the LORDhave I righteousness and strength: evento him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.” (Is. 45:22-24)

“Look”from the language means to turn toward and face. Salvation of the condemned is dependent upon turning them from facing the way of darkness and toward being spiritually captivated by the irresistible light of the face of God. According to Jesus, Paul’s calling to the Gentiles was: “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” (Acts 26:18) Deliverance to the uttermost is realized in the face to face encounter with the Almighty God through the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The reason is because “I am God, and there is none else.” Also, it is because “unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.” The words “shall bow” in the text means shall be brought down to their knees. If there be only one God and that in the Day of Judgment every knee shall forced down unto Him, then He is the Sovereign Eternal God worthy of all holy reverence and faithful obedience unto His spoken words of what His righteousness is.

But, what is meant by “every tongue shall swear”? The answer is in the following verse: “in the LORDhave I righteousness.” In the Day when every knee is forced to bow every tongue will verify by an open declaration that there is no other God and that He alone is the purity of true righteousness. Equally so, everyone that burns in their anger against God will be put to shame as they are cast into eternal dark abyss exiled away from the light of the face of God.  

The world's coveted possessions!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(John MacDuff, "Ripples in the Twilight" 1885)

The pride of title and the pride of riches--hereditary rank--high-sounding names--barns filled to repletion--piles of hoarded gold--these are the world's coveted possessions!

But pause and ask:
Will these bribe death?
Will these arrest the winged arrow in its flight?
Will these ferry a man easier across Jordan?
No!
The monarch and the slave;
the king and the peasant;
the millionaire and the beggar
--are the same at last!

But, here is a glorious title--enduring riches which death cannot rob, and the grave cannot spoil, "Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is!" 1 John 3:2

"In Your presence is fullness of joy! At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore!" Psalm 16:11

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Spurgeon & Chambers Devotions January 29th

Morning, January 29

“The things which are not seen.”

2 Corinthians 4:18

Charles Spurgeon

In our Christian pilgrimage it is well, for the most part, to be looking forward. Forward lies the crown, and onward is the goal. Whether it be for hope, for joy, for consolation, or for the inspiring of our love, the future must, after all, be the grand object of the eye of faith. Looking into the future we see sin cast out, the body of sin and death destroyed, the soul made perfect, and fit to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light. Looking further yet, the believer’s enlightened eye can see death’s river passed, the gloomy stream forded, and the hills of light attained on which standeth the celestial city; he seeth himself enter within the pearly gates, hailed as more than conqueror, crowned by the hand of Christ, embraced in the arms of Jesus, glorified with him, and made to sit together with him on his throne, even as he has overcome and has sat down with the Father on his throne. The thought of this future may well relieve the darkness of the past and the gloom of the present. The joys of heaven will surely compensate for the sorrows of earth. Hush, hush, my doubts! death is but a narrow stream, and thou shalt soon have forded it. Time, how short—eternity, how long! Death, how brief—immortality, how endless! Methinks I even now eat of Eshcol’s clusters, and sip of the well which is within the gate. The road is so, so short! I shall soon be there.

“When the world my heart is rending

With its heaviest storm of care,

My glad thoughts to heaven ascending,

Find a refuge from despair.

Faith’s bright vision shall sustain me

Till life’s pilgrimage is past;

Fears may vex and troubles pain me,

I shall reach my home at last.”

My Utmost for His Highest

January 29th

But it is hardly credible that one could be so positively ignorant!

Who art Thou, Lord? Acts 26:15

Oswald Chambers

“The Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand.” There is no escape when Our Lord speaks. He always comes with an arrestment of the understanding. Has the voice of God come to you directly? If it has, you cannot mistake the intimate insistence with which it has spoken to you in the language you know best, not through your ears, but through your circumstances. God has to destroy our determined confidence in our own convictions. ‘I know this is what I should do’—and suddenly the voice of God speaks in a way that overwhelms us by revealing the depths of our ignorance. We have shown our ignorance of Him in the very way we determined to serve Him. We serve Jesus in a spirit that is not His, we hurt Him by our advocacy for Him, we push His claims in the spirit of the devil. Our words sound all right, but our spirit is that of an enemy. “He rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.” The spirit of Our Lord in an advocate of His is described in 1 Corinthians 13.

Have I been persecuting Jesus by a zealous determination to serve Him in my own way? If I feel I have done my duty and yet have hurt Him in doing it, I may be sure it was not my duty, because it has not fostered the meek and quiet spirit, but the spirit of self-satisfaction. We imagine that whatever is unpleasant is our duty! Is that anything like the spirit of our Lord—“I delight to do Thy will, O My God.

Evening, January 29

“The dove came in to him in the evening.”

Genesis 8:11

Charles Spurgeon

Blessed be the Lord for another day of mercy, even though I am now weary with its toils. Unto the preserver of men lift I my song of gratitude. The dove found no rest out of the ark, and therefore returned to it; and my soul has learned yet more fully than ever, this day, that there is no satisfaction to be found in earthly things—God alone can give rest to my spirit. As to my business, my possessions, my family, my attainments, these are all well enough in their way, but they cannot fulfil the desires of my immortal nature. “Return unto thy rest, O my soul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee.” It was at the still hour, when the gates of the day were closing, that with weary wing the dove came back to the master: O Lord, enable me this evening thus to return to Jesus. She could not endure to spend a night hovering over the restless waste, not can I bear to be even for another hour away from Jesus, the rest of my heart, the home of my spirit. She did not merely alight upon the roof of the ark, she “came in to him;” even so would my longing spirit look into the secret of the Lord, pierce to the interior of truth, enter into that which is within the veil, and reach to my Beloved in very deed. To Jesus must I come: short of the nearest and dearest intercourse with him my panting spirit cannot stay. Blessed Lord Jesus, be with me, reveal thyself, and abide with me all night, so that when I awake I may be still with thee. I note that the dove brought in her mouth an olive branch plucked off, the memorial of the past day, and a prophecy of the future. Have I no pleasing record to bring home? No pledge and earnest of lovingkindness yet to come? Yes, my Lord, I present thee my grateful acknowledgments for tender mercies which have been new every morning and fresh every evening; and now, I pray thee, put forth thy hand and take thy dove into thy bosom.

The Gospel crucible!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(John MacDuff, "Ripples in the Twilight" 1885)

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God!" 1 Corinthians 1:18

It will never cease to be one of the marvels of Christianity, that her antidotes are the same in every climate, every age, and every bosom. Just as the chemist can infallibly pronounce on the action of the various elements he throws into his crucible--so in the Gospel crucible, cast the human heart in its every form and type, that of . . .
the degraded African,
the superstitious Hindu,
the ferocious Arab,
the reprobate European--
the Gospel of Christ, by a heavenly alchemy, melts that heart! It dissolves . . .
the pride of reason,
the power of superstition,
the curse and misery of vice!
It is the only universal balm!

It was tried . . .
on ignorant fishermen of Galilee,
on poor wayside beggars of Judea,
on hardened Roman soldiers and
on crouching slaves of sin and Satan.
It was tried on the great persecutor of the church--and by him on the disciples of Plato on Mars Hill. It was tried amid the tears of Bethany--and amid the courtly splendor and uncongenial influences of Caesar's household. And in not one of all these varied cases, has it failed!

The king clothed in ermine,
the pauper clothed in rags,
the statesman in his senate-house,
the merchant at his desk,
the artisan in his workshop,
the cottager at her wheel--
all feel the power of the same Gospel, all own the beauteous simplicity of the same healing words, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ--and you shall be saved!"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~  

Everyone Shall Give An Account To God

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

“For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Rom. 14:11-12)

Humans have always been obstinate brutish self-willed beasts. It is in the nature of their fleshly hearts and minds to despise the sovereign authority of Almighty God, their Creator. Mankind tramples through this world for the most part void of any serious considerations of his mortality and the eternal destiny of his soul. The vast majority are content living in rebellion to the laws of God. It is quite difficult for reprobated minds to grasp the reality of what sin really is and the inevitable condemnation for the love of sin. Lawlessness is the offspring of arrogant unbelief in brutish beasts. After all, if we do not believe there is a God then He really does not exist, right? If we believe God will not cast anyone into hell then He won’t, right? This God thing is just all a myth anyway, right?

Apostle Paul asked: “For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?”(Rom. 3:3) If one believes the earth is not round does that mean that the earth is not round? Believing has no influence on reality, whether one validates or disavows the existence of a reality does not alter reality.

The reality is that there is a sovereign eternal God that the heavens and the heavens cannot contain; He rules the heavens, the earth, and all that He has created. Not one person can opt-out of His sovereignty or being held accountable to His laws and commands.

In the day of the final eternal judgment the record books written in heaven will be opened, and all men will be judged according to their deeds inscribed within the records. “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight, but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”(Heb. 4:13) Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess and give an account of his life to God. In that day all will know the reality of it.  

Striving According to God's Power

Posted: 28 Jan 2014 12:00 AM PST

"These are in accordance with the working of the strength of [God's] might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead" (Eph. 1:19-20).

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the great hope of believers. Because He lives, we will live also (John14:19). Peter said we have been "born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away" (1 Pet. 1:3-4). We and what we have are protected by God's power (v. 5).
In Ephesians 1:19-20 Paul draws two comparisons. The first is between the power God demonstrated in the resurrection and ascension of Christ, and the power He demonstrates on behalf of every believer. That power is described as God's "working," "strength," and "might." Together those synonyms emphasize the greatness of God's power, which not only secures our salvation, but also enables us to live godly lives.
The second comparison is between our Lord's resurrection and ascension, and ours. The grave couldn't hold Him, nor can it hold us (1 Cor. 15:54-57). Satan himself couldn't prevent Christ's exaltation, nor can he prevent us from gaining our eternal inheritance.
In Christ you have all the power you will ever need. For evangelism you have the gospel itself, which "is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes" (Rom.1:16). For difficult times you have the assurance that the surpassing greatness of God's power is at work in you (2 Cor. 4:7). For holy living you have God Himself at work in you "both to will and to work for His good pleasure" (Phil.2:13).
No matter how weak or ill-equipped you may at times feel, realize God "is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that [you] ask or think, according to the power that works within [you]" (Eph. 3:20). So keep striving according to that power (Col. 1:29), but do so with the confidence that ultimately God will accomplish His good in your life.
Suggestions for Prayer:

• Thank God that He can and will accomplish His purposes in your life (Phil. 1:6; 1 Thess. 5:24).
• Pray for wisdom in how you might best serve Him today.

For Further Study:
Read Psalm 145, noting every mention of God's power David makes. Allow those examples to fill your heart with confidence and praise.



From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.

Spurgeon & Chambers Devotions January 28th

Morning, January 28

“Perfect in Christ Jesus.”

Colossians 1:28

Charles Spurgeon

Do you not feel in your own soul that perfection is not in you? Does not every day teach you that? Every tear which trickles from your eye, weeps “imperfection”; every harsh word which proceeds from your lip, mutters “imperfection.” You have too frequently had a view of your own heart to dream for a moment of any perfection in yourself. But amidst this sad consciousness of imperfection, here is comfort for you—you are “perfect in Christ Jesus.” In God’s sight, you are “complete in him;” even now you are “accepted in the Beloved.” But there is a second perfection, yet to be realized, which is sure to all the seed. Is it not delightful to look forward to the time when every stain of sin shall be removed from the believer, and he shall be presented faultless before the throne, without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing? The Church of Christ then will be so pure, that not even the eye of Omniscience will see a spot or blemish in her; so holy and so glorious, that Hart did not go beyond the truth when he said—

“With my Saviour’s garments on,

Holy as the Holy One.”

Then shall we know, and taste, and feel the happiness of this vast but short sentence, “Complete in Christ.” Not till then shall we fully comprehend the heights and depths of the salvation of Jesus. Doth not thy heart leap for joy at the thought of it? Black as thou art, thou shalt be white one day; filthy as thou art, thou shalt be clean. Oh, it is a marvellous salvation this! Christ takes a worm and transforms it into an angel; Christ takes a black and deformed thing and makes it clean and matchless in his glory, peerless in his beauty, and fit to be the companion of seraphs. O my soul, stand and admire this blessed truth of perfection in Christ.

My Utmost for His Highest

January 28th

But it is hardly credible that one could so persecute Jesus!

Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me? Acts 26:14

Oswald Chambers

Am I set on my own way for God? We are never free from this snare until we are brought into the experience of the baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire. Obstinacy and self-will will always stab Jesus Christ. It may hurt no one else, but it wounds His Spirit. Whenever we are obstinate and self-willed and set upon our own ambitions, we are hurting Jesus. Every time we stand on our rights and insist that this is what we intend to do, we are persecuting Jesus. Whenever we stand on our dignity we systematically vex and grieve His Spirit; and when the knowledge comes home that it is Jesus Whom we have been persecuting all the time, it is the most crushing revelation there could be.

Is the word of God tremendously keen to me as I hand it on to you, or does my life give the lie to the things I profess to teach? I may teach sanctification and yet exhibit the spirit of Satan, the spirit that persecutes Jesus Christ. The Spirit of Jesus is conscious of one thing only—a perfect oneness with the Father, and He says “Learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart.” All I do ought to be founded on a perfect oneness with Him, not on a self-willed determination to be godly. This will mean that I can be easily put upon, easily over-reached, easily ignored; but if I submit to it for His sake, I prevent Jesus Christ being persecuted.

Evening, January 28

“And the shepherds returned,

glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen,

as it was told unto them.”

Luke 2:20

Charles Spurgeon

What was the subject of their praise? They praised God for what they had heard—for the good tidings of great joy that a Saviour was born unto them. Let us copy them; let us also raise a song of thanksgiving that we have heard of Jesus and his salvation. They also praised God for what they had seen. There is the sweetest music—what we have experienced, what we have felt within, what we have made our own—“the things which we have made touching the King.” It is not enough to hear about Jesus: mere hearing may tune the harp, but the fingers of living faith must create the music. If you have seen Jesus with the God-giving sight of faith, suffer no cobwebs to linger among the harp strings, but loud to the praise of sovereign grace, awake your psaltery and harp. One point for which they praised God was the agreement between what they had heard and what they had seen. Observe the last sentence—“As it was told unto them.” Have you not found the gospel to be in yourselves just what the Bible said it would be? Jesus said he would give you rest—have you not enjoyed the sweetest peace in him? He said you should have joy, and comfort, and life through believing in him—have you not received all these? Are not his ways ways of pleasantness, and his paths paths of peace? Surely you can say with the queen of Sheba, “The half has not been told me.” I have found Christ more sweet than his servants ever said he was. I looked upon his likeness as they painted it, but it was a mere daub compared with himself; for the King in his beauty outshines all imaginable loveliness. Surely what we have “seen” keeps pace with, nay, far exceeds, what we have “heard.” Let us, then, glorify and praise God for a Saviour so precious, and so satisfying.

Ebenezer!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~


(John MacDuff, "Ripples in the Twilight" 1885)

"Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us." 1 Samuel 7:12

What a retrospect will that be at the end of life's journey! The rough paths, the jagged precipices, the valleys of humiliation--all will be seen to have been bathed in the luminous light of God's love. There will be nothing more but to erect earth's farewell monument, and to carve upon it, "Ebenezer!"

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Our blessings are always greater than our trials!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~



(John MacDuff, "Ripples in the Twilight" 1885)

Beware of a morbid dwelling on self with its crosses and losses. Our blessings are always greater than our trials; and most assuredly always greater than we deserve!

"Everything outside of Hell is mercy!"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

The necessity of daily prayer

~ ~ ~ ~ ~


(J.R. Miller, "Living Victoriously!")

"But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret, will reward you openly." Matthew 6:6

In the Christian's devotional life, prayer has an essential place. The godly men of the Bible were all men of prayer. Jesus, who showed us in Himself the ideal Christian life--had regular habits of prayer. He who would live the Christian life well, must regularly commune with God!

It is important, however, that we understand clearly what it is to pray. It is not enough that at stated times we go over certain forms of prayer. We only pray, when we speak to God what is in our heart as a desire, a longing, or a burden.

Jesus teaches that we are to pray to God as our Father. We must come to Him, therefore, as His redeemed children--with the genuineness, the simplicity, the confidence of children. When we stand at God's throne of grace and speak the name "Father" and ask for a child's blessing--we are sure of instant welcome.

Many people think of prayer only as coming to God with requests. They only tell Him their needs. They never bow before Him nor speak to Him, unless there is something they wish Him to do for them.

What would you think of a friend of yours who never came to you nor talked with you, except when he wanted to ask some favor of you? True friendship finds many of its sweetest moments, when there is no help to ask--but when only love's communion fills the happy time. It should be so in our relation with our heavenly Father. If we care to be with Him only when we have a favor to ask of Him--then there is something lacking in our love!

We are not to suppose that when Jesus spent whole nights in prayer, He was making requests all the time. He went away from the trying, struggling, troublesome life of the busy days among the people--to find shelter, rest, and renewal of strength, in sweet converse with His Father. Just so, most of the time we spend in prayer should be given to communion with God.

A minister relates that one Saturday morning, when he was in his study preparing his sermon, his little child opened the door and came in, stealing softly to his side. Somewhat impatiently, the father turned to her and asked, "What do you want, my child?"

"Nothing, papa," the child replied. "I only want to be with you."

This is oft-times the only desire of the true Christian when he comes to pray. He has no requests to make--he just wants to be with his Father!

The most profitable season of devotion, is that in which there is also meditation upon God's Word. It is related of a godly Christian who was known to spend much time in his prayer-closet, that a friend once secreted himself in his study to learn something of his devotional habit. The godly man was busy all the evening at his work. At eleven o'clock he put away his books and pen and opened his New Testament. For a whole hour he bent over its pages, reading, comparing, pondering the sacred words. Sometimes he would linger long over a sweet verse and his heart would glow with rapture. When the clock struck twelve, he closed the book and sought his bed.

He was not once on his knees during all the hour. He offered no petition in words. He had spent the whole time in communing with God in His Word, breathing out his love, his adoration, his longings and desires--and receiving into his heart the assurances, the encouragements, the promises, the joys of the Father's love.

There could be no better way of devotion than this!

Praying alone, without meditation on the Word of God, meets only one phase of our need. We talk to God when we pray. But it is quite as important that God talks to us--and He will only talk with us, when we open the Scriptures and wait reverently to hear what He will say to us.

What is the HELP that we are to receive from prayer?

First of all, prayer holds us close to Christ. We breathe Heaven's air when we commune with Christ. Life in this sinful world is not easy. It has its struggles, its duties, its difficulties, and its sorrows--which exhaust our strength. Hence we need continually to return to Christ to have our grace renewed. We cannot live today, on yesterday's food; every morning we must pray for our daily bread. Nor can we be faithful, strong, happy and helpful Christians today--on yesterday's supply of grace. We need to pray daily. Thus our life is kept from running down, and we are held near our Master all the while.

The true Christian life also grows--and it can only do so by daily communing with God. Our life should never run two days on just the same level. The days should be ladder rungs lifting our heart ever a little higher, nearer to God, into purer air, into loftier experiences, into holier consecration.

Prayer brings God down into our life. It was when Jesus was praying, that He was transfigured. True prayer always transfigures! One who lives habitually with Christ, becomes like Christ. Our earthly affairs become means of grace, if Christ is with us. Prayer lifts all the experiences of our life and lays them in the hand of Christ--who makes them all work together for our eternal good!

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The Father’s Performance Unto Completion

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

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”(Phil. 1:6) “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” (Rom. 8:11)

It is a peaceful reassurance to the soul to know that the Father is faithful in His sovereignty to perform all His mighty works from the beginning and into eternity. The God who cannot lie will not forsake His own leaving them to the winds of happenstance. The Father began His good work when He chose us in Christ before the world began, wrote us in the Lamb’s Book of Life before the foundation of the world, then in the fullness of time issues our holy calling unto salvation through His blessed son Jesus, and will continue to perform His good work as our Potter until He brings us to our completed end –conformed to the eternal image of Christ Jesus, joint heirs of the Kingdom, and glorified in His glory.

Moses told Israel: “And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.” (Deut. 31:8) God told Joshua: “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORDthy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” (Joshua 1:9) The Father never abandons any work that He has begun. He foreordains and sets into motion every little detail to insure His performance is impeccably true to His every promise. He has never wavered or forgotten one iota. The work of His good grace started in His child is never deserted, sold, or plucked from His hand. God began the work of salvation; He continually performs His saving graces within the believers; and He will crown His work in eternal glory. He performs His grace in eternity past, in eternity present, and in eternity future. 

Praying For Boldness To Speak

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

“And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”(Eph. 6:19-20) “And now, Lord, behold their threatening: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word. …and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:29, 31)

Untold millions cannot even begin to fathom the beautiful sweet mystery of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. For two thousand years countless multitudes have fallen into the eternal abyss eternally condemned because they could not and were not willing to see and hear the infinite loveliness of the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord of Glory. The pearl of great price was deemed a worthless fantasy, for their self–inflicted ignorance was empowered and consumed by the lusts of their brutish natures. What a difference it would have made if the wisdom of men could have been washed away by the wisdom of God in the sweet mystery of the Gospel! They had ears to hear, but they would not listen.

Are not many of us who possess intimately that precious knowledge of the wondrous good news of salvation purchased in the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lamb of God found with much blood of the condemned on our hands before God? Are we not frequently guilty of hoarding the treasures of the Gospel mystery? Brethren, it ought not to be so! It is a blatant neglect of our duty!

We need the power of the Holy Spirit upon us that with much courage and boldness we may speak forth the riches of the Father’s mercies and grace sent from His bosom in the body of Jesus the Christ. Fly to the prayer closets, Brethren! Cry unto the Father for the courage and the boldness to proclaim and to shine abroad the knowledge of the Pearl of Great Price. Are we ashamed of our glorious salvation? Do we not burn within to speak out boldly?  

Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church 1217 Dillon Texarkana, Texas 75501 January 26, 2014 Newsletter Number 449 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, Johnnie Stephens, Alecia Stephens, and children, 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 and Sarah Henderson, 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, Pat Abercrombie, Donna Jones, Dale Trahan, Ricky and Margaret McCoy, Brother David O’Neal, Diane Thomas, Gina Peel, James and Lynn Tomlin, Brother Kelley and Sister Hinson, Robert, Megan Whitaker, Manual Seymour, Sr., Brother Jerry and Sister Jean Dodson, 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.

From Our Pastor: Praising The Lord God Openly!"I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee." Psalms 138:1 How is your public prayer life, and your public praise life, is it worthy to God or man? The Psalmist David boldly said "...before the gods will I sing praise unto thee." This is the kings of the earth or people of great power in the earth. The question I have is this; in your heart do you make this promise to God? I see much and much more as the days pass "professed ministers of the gospel" who pray but fail to pray in the name of Jesus, and who forget to praise and recognize God properly. I believe this is because they are weak in faith and weak in respect of God. I believe that the world's demonization of Christ Jesus and Jehovah God has affected their faith. I remember Rick Warren did this at the inaugural prayer of President Obama when he failed to pray in the name of Christ Jesus. I heard a professed minister of the gospel just this week who did not pray in the name of Jesus Christ. There are many of these "professed ministers of the gospel" who have announced that you do not have to pray in the name of Jesus just to prevent doing it. I remember several years back hearing John MacArthur on the radio make the bold statement that it is not necessary to pray in Jesus name, but I must boldly ask who says, and why not? The scriptures are bold on this point and give no margin for error. In John 14:13 - 14 it says "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do...If ye shall ask any thing in my name..." and both scriptures conclude "...I will do it." if asked in the name of Jesus Christ. But I hear men cry "in his name", "in your name", but is that the same? I believe that unless the name of Jesus Christ has been mentioned just prior to that quote, it is invalid and God will not hear the prayer. I believe anyone who believes or refuses to pray in the name of Jesus Christ is afraid to recognize Jesus Christ to his or her hearers. I must ask, is the name of Jesus Christ an embarrassment? Let us not forget He is the Saviour of mankind and He is the God of all gods. Man cannot stand before God without going through Jesus Christ. 1Timothy 2:5 "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;" the word "mediator" means - a go between - meaning " "in his name" or "in your name" falls way short of the man Christ Jesus. Do not be afraid of speaking the name Jesus Christ because God said you should whole heartily praise Him even before the worlds gods. Psalms 86:12 - 13 "I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. (13.) For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell."

For Our Weekly Meditation: Words in Season (Part 3)"Gray hair is a crown of glory; if it is gained by living a godly life." Proverbs 16:31 Old age is honorable, and commands respect. "You shall rise up before the hoary head, and honor the face of the old man." But we cannot expect to receive true and lasting deference from others, unless our character is calculated to win their esteem. Superiority in age — should be combined with superiority in moral excellence. Multitude of years should teach wisdom. "The hoary head is a crown of glory, if" — mark that, "if it is gained by living a godly life." If it be found in the way of wickedness, its honor is forfeited, its crown profaned and laid in the dust. How is it with you, reader? Are you sanctified through faith in Christ? are you "walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless?" Oh, how lovely and dignified is old age, when marked by piety and consistency! "When piety adorns declining years, The hoary head a glorious crown appears; A dignity no earthly rank bestows Marks the believer then; and sweet repose Is stamped upon his features; all who gaze Revere his person, and his virtues praise." "Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters into that within the veil." Hebrews 6. 19. A vessel was driving ashore. Her anchors were gone, and she refused to obey the helm. A few moments more and she would strike. If any would be saved, they must be tossed by the waves on the beach. In the midst of the general consternation, there was one person quite calm. He had done all that a man could do to prepare for the worst when the wreck was inevitable; and now that death was apparently near, he was quietly waiting the event. A friend of his asked the reason of his calmness in the midst of danger so imminent: "Do you not know that the anchor is gone, and we are drifting upon the coast?" "Certainly I do; but I have an anchor to the soul." On this was his trust. It entered into that within the veil. It was the ground of his confidence in the storm, and enabled him to ride securely in the view of instant and awful death. Have you this anchor, reader? Is the hope of the gospel yours? Amidst the storms and trials of life, and in the prospect of danger and death — are you calm and trustful, assured that you will soon be admitted into the haven of everlasting peace? Or are you destitute of this hope? "Without it, how can you be happy? Without it, what will you do in the swellings of Jordan? It may be yours — yours even now — if you will seek it, if you will accept it. The gift of God is eternal life. Confidence in him — faith in Christ — will link your tempest-tossed, troubled, and perishing spirit — with perpetual repose and security — with the unseen glories of Heaven. By: Anonymous Editor's added note: this will be an ongoing series for several weeks. This is aimed at our senior members and non-members. Many have failing health and I thought this might be a blessing to them. But let s all remember we are all getting older with the passing of each and day.

Understanding Your Calling

Posted: 25 Jan 2014 12:00 AM PST

"I pray that . . . you may know what is the hope of [God's] calling" (Eph. 1:18).

In Ephesians 1:3-14 Paul proclaims the blessings of our salvation. In verse 18 he prays that we will comprehend those great truths, which he summarizes in the phrase "the hope of His calling."
"Calling" here refers to God's effectual calling--the calling that redeems the soul. Scripture speaks of two kinds of calling: the gospel or general call and the effectual or specific call. The gospel call is given by men and is a universal call to repent and trust Christ for salvation (e.g., Matt. 28:19; Acts 17:30-31). It goes out to all sinners but not all who hear it respond in faith.
The effectual call is given by God only to the elect. By it He speaks to the soul, grants saving faith, and ushers elect sinners into salvation (John 6:37-44, 65; Acts 2:39). All who receive it respond in faith.
The hope that your effectual calling instills is grounded in God's promises and Christ's accomplishments (1 Pet. 1:3), and is characterized by confidently expecting yet patiently waiting for those promises to be fulfilled. It is your hope of final glorification and of sharing God's glory when Christ returns (Col. 3:4). It is a source of strength and stability amid the trials of life (1 Pet. 3:14-15). Consequently it should fill you with joy (Rom. 5:2) and motivate you to godly living (1 John 3:3).
As you face this new day, do so with the confidence that you are one of God's elect. He called you to Himself and will hold you there no matter what circumstances you face. Nothing can separate you from His love (Rom. 8:38- 39)!
Suggestions for Prayer:

• Thank God for the security of your salvation.
• Ask Him to impress on your heart the blessings and responsibilities of your calling.
• Live today in anticipation of Christ's imminent return.

For Further Study:
Joshua's call to lead Israel was not a call to salvation, but it illustrates some important principles for spiritual leadership. You might not see yourself as a spiritual leader, but you are important to those who look to you as an example of Christian character.
Read Joshua 1:1-9 then answer these questions:

• What were the circumstances of Joshua's call (vv. 1-2)?
• What promises did God make to him (vv. 3-6)?
• What did God require of him (vv. 7-9)?

From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.

The necessity of daily Bible reading

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(J.R. Miller, "Living Victoriously")

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly!" Colossians 3:16

Probably prayer is less neglected in devotions, than is the reading of the Bible. Many people who would not go out any morning without a few moments of prayer, will go forth day after day into the thick of life's duties and perils, without reading even a verse of Scripture! They feel the necessity of asking God to keep, guide and bless them--but they fail to realize that it is in and through meditating on His Word, that God chiefly gives His richest and best blessings.

It is in His Word, that God reveals Himself. We cannot know what He is like, nor what the attributes of His character are--unless we ponder the Scriptures. We cannot learn what God's will is, nor what He would have us to do and to be--if we do not look into His Word. There is nothing that we need more, than to hear God speaking to us every morning. This is possible, only as we open the Bible and let its words whisper their messages to us.

No matter how familiar we may be with the teachings of the Scriptures, we need to ponder them anew every morning to keep their pure ideals and lofty requirements ever before us, lest we allow our standard of holy living to be lowered.

A celebrated painter always kept some purely-colored stones on his table. When asked by a visitor why he did so, he said it was to keep his eye up to tone. When he was working in pigments, unconsciously his sense of color was weakened. By keeping a pure color near him he brought his eye up to tone again, just as the musician by his tuning-fork brings himself up to the right pitch. In the same way, we continually need to turn to God's Word to keep our thoughts, and character, and life up to the true standard.

Rubenstein used to say that he could never omit his daily practice on the piano, for if he did, the quality of his playing would at once begin to deteriorate. He said that if he missed practice for three days--the public would know it; if he missed practice for two days--his friends would know it; and if he did not practice for even one day--he himself knew it!

It is no less true in Christian life, that in order to keep its holy tone up to what it should be, there must never be a break in the continuity of the study of God's Word. If we leave off for only one day, we shall become conscious of a loss of power in living. If for two successive days we fail to look into God's perfect law, our friends around us will notice the failure in the beauty, the sweetness and the grace of our character and disposition. If for three days we fail to study the Scriptures, to see how God would have us live, even the people of the world will see a lowering of the spiritual quality of our life!

One of the ways the Bible helps us, is by making Christ known to us. The noblest Christian is he before whose eyes, the character of Jesus shines in brightest splendor. Indeed, it is only when we have clear visions of Christ, that we really grow like Him.

"It seems to me," says a writer, "that nowadays men think and talk too much about improving their own character--but meditate too little on the perfectness of the divine character." Christ will never appear really great in our eyes, unless we make His Word our daily study. And only as He becomes great and glorious in our thought--will our character and standard of life be lifted up to what they should be.

Many of the blessings we seek in prayer, can come to us only through the Word of God:

We ask to be kept near the heart of Christ--but our Master tells us that only those who keep His commandments shall abide in His love. In order to keep His commandments, we must know them--and we can know them only by reading and re-reading them.

We ask God in the morning to guide us through the day, and in one of the psalms is the prayer, "Order my steps according to Your Word." That is, God leads us by His Word. If then we do not read the words of God, how can we get His guidance?

The leading He promises is not general, by long stretches--but by little steps. The Psalmist says, "Your Word is a lamp unto my feet." It is not said that prayer is the lamp--but the Word. We must carry it in our hand, too, as one carries a lantern to throw its beams about his feet.

We pray to be kept from sin, and in the Scriptures one says, "Your Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against You." Our prayers to be kept from sin, can be answered only by getting the Word of God into our heart!

These are suggestions of the necessity of reading the Bible daily, as well as of praying. Neither is complete in itself alone. We must talk to God--but we must also listen to God talk to us through His Word. We must pray for blessings--but only through the divine words of Scripture, can these blessings come to us.

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