Daily Devotions May 31, 2016

Faith’s Check Book

By Charles H. Spurgeon

 

"BE OF GOOD CHEER"

 

"In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" John 16:33

 

My Lord’s words are true as to the tribulation. I have my share of it beyond all doubt. The flail is not hung up out of the way, nor can I hope that it will be laid aside so long as I lie upon the threshingfloor. How can I look to be at home in the enemy’s country, joyful while in exile, or comfortable in a wilderness? This is not my rest. This is the place of the furnace, and the forge, and the hammer. My experience tallies with my Lord’s words.

 

I note how He bids me "be of good cheer." Alas! I am far too apt to be downcast. My spirit soon sinks when I am sorely tried. But I must not give way to this feeling. When my Lord bids me cheer up I must not dare to be cast down.

 

What is the argument which He uses to encourage me? Why, it is His own victory. He says, "I have overcome the world." His battle was much more severe than mine. I have not yet resisted unto blood. Why do I despair of overcoming? See, my soul, the enemy has been once overcome. I fight with a beaten foe. O world, Jesus has already vanquished thee; and in me, by His grace, He will overcome thee again. Therefore am I of good cheer, and sing unto my conquering Lord.

 

 

Thought’s for the Quiet Hour

Without me ye can do nothing.… I can do all things, through Christ which strengtheneth me

John 15:5; Phil. 4:13

Apart from Him we can do nothing. Whilst we are abiding in Him nothing is impossible. The one purpose of our life should therefore be to remain in living and intense union with Christ, guarding against everything that would break it, employing every means of cementing and enlarging it. And just in proportion as we do so, we shall find His strength flowing into us for every possible emergency. We may not feel its presence; but we shall find it present whenever we begin to draw on it. There is no temptation which we cannot master; no privation which we cannot patiently bear; no difficulty with which we cannot cope; no work which we cannot perform; no confession or testimony which we cannot make, if only our souls are living in healthy union with Jesus Christ; for as our day or hour, so shall our strength be.

F. B. Meyer

The matchless wisdom of God which devised this system of salvation!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

    (Charles Spurgeon)

"Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her!" Ephesians 5:25

The more I consider the doctrine of substitution--the more is my soul enamored of the matchless wisdom of God which devised this system of salvation. As for a hazy atonement which atones for everybody in general, and for nobody in particular--an atonement made equally for Judas and for John--I care nothing for it. But a literal, substitutionary sacrifice, Christ vicariously bearing the wrath of God on my behalf--this calms my conscience with regard to the righteous demands of the law of God, and satisfies the instincts of my nature which declare that, as God is just, He must exact the penalty of my guilt!

 "I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep!" John 10:11

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Daily Promises

Blue Letter Bible
May 31, 2016

And not only [so], but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Romans 5:3-5)

We are promised that our sufferings will bear a fruit greater than the power of the suffering: we are promised genuine hope that does not disappoint! What glorious fruit! So then is suffering counted by Paul a reason for rejoicing!

Daily Promises

Blue Letter Bible
May 30, 2016

Blessed [is] the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. (James 1:12)

The crown of life is a promise that God grants to those who love Him. Though we endure tremendous trials and tribulations, we will not be crushed. Our suffering will end in the glory of Jesus Christ and we will receive the crown of life. What a beautiful ending for this life! May God be glorified in our daily trials. May we seek His face and continue to be molded into His perfect image.

Daily Promises

Blue Letter Bible
May 29, 2016

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? (Matthew 7:11)

Rejoice, O believer! Rejoice in the unaccountably vast treasure of mercy the Lord showers upon His bride! He is the King of All and is faithful to reward His children. He has given you a throne! A robe of righteousness! A crown of victorious glory! Every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places is yours by the Father's hand. Give thanks, sing "Hallelujah," and proclaim the joy of His resurrection!

Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church "Where The Truths Of God’s Word Have Been Taught For More Than Fifty-Four Years” 1217 Dillon Texarkana, Texas 75501 May 29, 2016            Newsletter Number 568 Brother Randy Johnson, Pastor                   Brother Ronnie Henderson Sr., Song Leader Pastor E-Mail: pastor@sgmbaptist.com                       Web Site: www.sgmbaptist.com “A Church Believing And Standing On The Truth, As The Holy Spirit Has Taught It.”

Our Prayer Request: 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, Frankie Baldridge and daughter, Buckie Thompson, Frank & Sonya Trusty, Frank & Dawana Reigel, Andrew Preston, Larry & Martha Mollette and Her Family, Ted O'Bonion, Larry Mollette II & Family, Kerry Pennington, Kim Poole, Danny & Nita Mollette, The Muncy Family,  Wendell Henderson, Joshua Kidd, Matthew Kidd, Ronnie and Sarah Henderson, Cindy Lane, Ronnie Henderson Jr. & Children, Ricky Henderson and Family, Jacie Henderson, Velma Hammond, Charles, Don Hammond and Families, Vickie Adkins, Archie & Barbara Griffin, Donna Johnson, James and Luann Reynolds, Timothy Fails, Nathan Fails, Jacob Ramsey, Jerry Hughes, Pastor G. L. Burr, Melody Carr, Janie Capps, Imajo Tracy, Linda Hughes, Roy Lemmon, Rosie Tomlin, James and Lynn Tomlin, Pat Abercrombie, Donna Jones, Brandy Sullivan, Gina, Tammy Hairston and family, Brother Kelley and Sister Hinson, Manual Seymour, Sr, Dewayne Sewell, The Harris Family, Teresa Bookout, Little Titan Thomas (Trent and Tiffane Thomas child), James – Diane and Brooke Thomas, Jace Fails, Steve Sparks, Brother Harold & Ann McSwain, 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:   What Must I Do To Be Saved?Acts 16:30 - 31 “And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved…And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”   What a most beautiful image of salvation God has painted for us here. It took a miracle to save this man’s soul, but God did it. Here was this poor lost sinner that was a jailer and God shook the place causing this jailer to think about his eternal life, and what he saw was horrible. God brought this old sinner to his knees and asking the glorious question “what must I do to be saved” and Paul and Silas answered “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” and this jailer believed and was saved. This is put together like a play right before our eyes. God is the entire creator of this play, director, producer, writer, and etc. but it is not a play, it is real, real in that a poor sinner was saved and God did so much to deliver this man to Jesus Christ. Yes, it is true that God could have just had Paul or Silas to preach a salvation sermon and God could have used that sermon to have saved this man, but God wanted to show His glorious power in this man’s salvation. God ordained this entire event in order to save this jailer to show us His glorious power in salvation. People have belittled salvation by making it possible by man to bring about their own salvation, therefore leaving God out of it. These two men could have preached till they were out of breath and this jailer would have never believed in Jesus Christ. So God cause an earthquake in order to bring about this one man’s salvation. What did God do to save you? I believe if you search back to your own salvation that something happened, something different, something out of normal that caused to you seek Jesus for salvation. God may not have cause an earthquake but God did something special in your own salvation. I have heard many stories or testimonies of many people telling me about their own salvation and some of them are simply amazing. Some people God simply brings them to salvation and some are as exciting as this event here, but we all have a story of our salvation.   It has been debated much as to what is meant here in the scriptures. I have heard things like “well they did not finish the answer to the question, they only told him the beginning, they are other things to salvation”. Folks, the question is “what must I do to be saved” and the answer is “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” there is nothing more to salvation. Jesus Christ is the Saviour, ("Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12) and nothing else is needed. We have the complete gospel in 1 Cor. 15 1-4 and here we have the complete necessity for salvation. We do not need to add anything, works, baptism, church membership, and etc. are all wonderful things for the person who are saved but for the lost sinner, as this jailer was, Christ Jesus is the need. That is the truth and to add to it or to take away from it is to change the truth into a lie. This change is made to take God out of the act of salvation and to put it into the hands of the man. However, as we can see by this glorious event, God delivered this sinner to Christ and all Paul and Silas did was to point him to Christ. If we point in any other direction, baptism, works, church membership, or etc. we are pointing to a dead-end and not to eternal life. "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus...Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." 1 Timothy 2:5 – 6 What must you do to be saved? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. Folks, to believe anything different will only get you eternal damnation.

A CHILD BORN AND A SON GIVEN: By Brother Curtis Pugh      The Bible is precisely correct. It always is. For instance consider this prophecy, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace,” (Isaiah 9:6). The Son of God was already in existence at creation. It is said of Jesus, “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made,” (John 1:3). Other Scriptures indicate that the Father and the Holy Spirit were also involved in creation. Jesus was and is the Son of God – just as much God as is the Spirit and the Father. Being co-equal and co-eternal with the Spirit and the Father, as the Son of God, He could not be born. As Isaiah wrote, “a son is given.” Whose son? The Son of God! The Bible is right!    Isaiah also said, “unto us a child is born.” The Son of God became the Son of man. God formed Him in the womb of the virgin Mary, thus He escaped the curse that is upon all the descendants of Adam. He was not the seed of a man, but was called the “seed” of the woman when God cursed the serpent in Eden (see Genesis 3:15). The “child” had a beginning. The Son did not!     In Christ's coming as a man God the Son took upon Himself not just a sinless body in such a way that Jesus was a sort of “zombie.” Rather God the Son took unto Himself a complete human person. This is the miracle of God in the flesh. Paul wrote, “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh...” (1 Timothy 3:16). This revealed mystery is beyond human understanding. We can only take it by faith. The incarnation is unique: one of a kind. There never was before or since anything like it!    After specifying that while a child would be born and at the same time the Son of God would be given, Isaiah goes on to speak of His greatness. Eventually He shall openly and directly rule all creation for “the government shall be on his shoulder.” His names are these: “Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Ah! He is a man, yet He is “The mighty God,” “The everlasting Father,” “The Prince of Peace.” These names reveal who He is!    “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him [Jesus], and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father,” (Philippians 2:8-10). Some people confess His deity now: the confession of all others will come, but will come too late.

Noteworthy: Next weekend Friday and Saturday June 3 – 4 the Pastor will be speaking at the Grace Bible Baptist Church in Denham Springs, Louisiana for their Bible Conference. However, since the Pastor speaks twice on Saturday he will return for all the services on Sunday here. Please pray for him and all others going to this conference for God’s safe blessings. It is a long trip.

Daily Promises

Blue Letter Bible
May 28, 2016

The LORD [is] good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. (Nahum 1:7)

Not only is the Lord an unbreachable defence to those who find their identity and righteousness in Christ, but He knows intimately each whom He defends. He is aware of our every need and every weakness, and thus, we, His people, can be supremely confident in His ability to bolster us in the face of even the fiercest enemy. Rejoice, O believer, for He is our great shield and high wall of bastion!

Daily Devotions May 27th

 

Faith’s Check Book

By Charles H. Spurgeon

 

AS THE LIFE -- SO THE FRUIT

 

"For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren

nor tin fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" 2Peter 1:8

 

If we desire to glorify our Lord by fruitfulness we must have certain things within us; for nothing can come out of us which is not first of all within us. We must begin with faith, which is the groundwork of all the virtues; and then diligently add to it virtue, knowledge, temperance, and patience. With these we must have godliness and brotherly love. All these put together will most assuredly cause us to produce, as our life fruit, the clusters of usefulness, and we shall not be mere idle knowers, but real doers of the Word. These holy things must not only be in us, but abound, or we shall be barren. Fruit is the overflow of life, and we must be full before we can flow over.

 

We have noticed men of considerable parts and opportunities who have never succeeded in doing real good in the conversion of souls; and after close observation we have concluded that they lacked certain graces which are absolutely essential to fruit-bearing. For real usefulness, graces are better than gifts. As the man is, so is his work. If we would do better we must be better. Let the text be a gentle hint to unfruitful professors, and to myself also.

Thought’s for the Quiet Hour

Whatsoever ye do.… do all in the name of the Lord Jesus

Col. 3:17

Do little things as if they were great, because of the majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ, who dwells in thee; and do great things as if they were little and easy, because of His omnipotence.

Pascal

Go to Him in your emptiness, and receive daily out of His fullness!

   ~  ~  ~  ~


    (Ashton Oxenden, "The Christian Life" 1882)

"As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord--so walk in Him!" Colossians 2:6

We are apt to think that all we need is to look to Christ as our Sin-bearer; and that, having once gone to Him in faith, and obtained forgiveness, the work is done. But the believer now needs the same Savior who pardoned him--to be ever with him, to help him on his way, and to keep his soul alive. He must ever run his Christian race, 'looking unto Jesus.' He must 'come out of the wilderness, leaning on his Beloved.' In himself, the believer is powerless. Christ is both the Life and Strength of the renewed soul.

The believer needs daily strength. He cannot fight by his own power. He cannot even walk alone. If he hopes to resist temptation, and to lead a holy life of service to his heavenly Master--if he wants boldly to come out from the world, and to stand forth as a decided follower of Christ--he must look to Jesus for daily grace to strengthen him.
It is living upon Christ, which alone can make us growing, thriving, vigorous Christians!

To be ever looking to Christ for grace, to be constantly stretching out the hand and heart to Christ for help, to be daily feeding upon Him--this is the secret of all our spiritual life, and of all our spiritual well-being.

Never suppose that you can become strong enough to do without Christ. Never imagine that you can reach such a point, that you are anything more than a poor, helpless being. As you humbled yourself beneath His cross at the first--so continue to feel your place to be in the dust before Him, your righteousness to be as filthy rags, your strength as utter weakness!

Go to Him in your emptiness, and receive daily out of His fullness!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Daily Promises

Blue Letter Bible
May 27, 2016

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. (1 Peter 5:7)

Implicit in Peter's direction to the believer to cast away all cares to the feet of God is the truth that God Himself will care for them. God is powerful! He is sovereign, calling all matters into submission to His will! And He cares for us! If such a powerful God cares for us and our needs, can we fail to cast mastery of our cares and worries into His mighty hands?

Daily Devotions May 26th

Faith’s Check Book

By Charles H. Spurgeon

 

COMMONEST THINGS BLESSED

 

"Ye shall serve the Lord your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water" Exodus 23:25

 

What a promise is this! To serve God is in itself a high delight. But what an added privilege to have the blessing of the Lord resting upon us in all things! Our commonest things become blessed when we ourselves are consecrated to the Lord. Our Lord Jesus took bread and blessed it; behold, we also eat of blessed bread. Jesus blessed water and made it wine: the water which we drink is far better to us than any of the wine with which men make merry; every drop has a benediction in it. The divine blessing is on the man of God in everything, and it shall abide with him at every time.

 

What if we have only bread and water! Yet it is blessed bread and water. Bread and water we shall have. That is implied, for it must be there for God to bless it. "Thy bread shall be given thee, and thy waters shall be sure." With God at our table, we not only ask a blessing, but we have one. It is not only at the altar but at the table that He blesses us. He serves those well who serve Him well. This table-blessing is not of debt, but of grace. Indeed, there is a troubled grace; He grants us grace to serve Him, by His grace feeds us with bread, and then in His grace blesses it.

 

 

Thought’s for the Quiet Hour

 

Keep thy heart with all diligence: for out of it are the issues of life

Proverbs 4:23

He who would keep his heart pure and holy must plant a sentinel at every avenue by which sin may find access there, guarding against none more than the “little” sins, as they are called.

The man of God has his eyes to keep, and so Job said, “I have made a covenant with mine eyes”—his tongue, and hence the exhortation, “Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile”—his ears, and hence the warning, “Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err”—his feet, and hence David says, “I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.” And since there is no gate of the five senses by which the enemy may not come in like a flood, unless the Spirit lift up a standard against him, we have need to guard every port, and write over every portal, “Here there entereth nothing to hurt or to defile.”

Guthrie

What a Heaven!

   ~  ~  ~  ~
      
      (J. A. James, "The Practical Believer Delineated")

Heaven will consist of . . .
  the moral perfection of the soul,
  perfect knowledge,
  perfect holiness,
  perfect love,
  perfect likeness to Christ,
  perfection of the body in . . .
      incorruptibility,
      immortality,
      glory, and
      spirituality;
  the presence of God in the full manifestation of His glory,
  the beatific vision of Christ,
  the fellowship of angels and all the redeemed,
  the joint worship of the heavenly multitudes,
  the perfect service of Christ, without . . .
      interruption,
      imperfection, or
      cessation,
  complete freedom from . . .
      pain,
      toil,
      hunger,
      thirst,
      anxiety,
      fear,
      sorrow,
      death!

Such is the substance of heavenly felicity. Take
any one of them by itself--and each is a Heaven!
Add them altogether--and what a Heaven!

How pure! How elevated! How felicitous!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Daily Devotions May 25th

 

Faith’s Check Book

By Charles H. Spurgeon

 

GOD'S TREASURY

 

"The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure" Deuteronomy 28:12

 

This refers first to the rain. The Lord will give this in its season. Rain is the emblem of all those celestial refreshings which the Lord is ready to bestow upon His people. Oh for a copious shower to refresh the Lord’s heritage!

 

We seem to think that God’s treasury can only be opened by a great prophet like Elijah, but it is not so, for this promise is to all the faithful in Israel, and, indeed, to each one of them. O believing friend, "the Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure." Thou, too, mayest see Heaven opened, and thrust in thy hand and take out thy portion, yea, and a portion for all thy brethren round about thee. Ask what thou wilt, and thou shalt not be denied, if thou abidest in Christ, and His words abide in thee.

 

As yet thou hast not known all thy Lord’s treasures, but He shall open them up to thine understanding. Certainly thou hast not yet enjoyed the fullness of His covenant riches, but He will direct thine heart into His love, and reveal Jesus in thee. Only the Lord himself can do this for thee; but here is His promise, and if thou wilt hearken diligently unto His voice, and obey His will, His riches in glory by Christ Jesus shall be thine.

 

Thought’s for the Quiet Hour

If we suffer we shall also reign with him

2 Timothy 2:12

The highest bidder for the crown of glory is the lowliest wearer of the cross of self-denial.

A. J. Gordon

The one book for all ages and all nations, for all classes of men and all states of society, for all capacities of intellect and all necessities of the soul!

   ~  ~  ~  ~     
    
(Daniel March, 1868)
The Bible is the oldest and the newest of books. It surveys the whole field of time--and it looks farthest into the infinite depths of eternity. It lends the most vivid and absorbing interest to the scenes and events of the past--and it keeps us in the most active sympathy with the time in which we live. It gives us the most reliable record of what has been--and it affords us our only means of knowing what is yet to be. It is strict enough to denounce the very shadow and semblance of sin--and it is liberal enough to save the chief of sinners. It is full of God--and must therefore be read with a pure heart or its true glory will not be seen. It is full of man--and must therefore always be interesting and instructive to all who would know themselves.
The Bible is the plainest of books--and yet it has depths of wisdom which no created mind can fathom! It is set up as a beacon to show all wanderers the safe way--and yet its light shines forth from thick clouds of mystery and from abysses of infinite darkness. It describes all conditions of life, and it gives utterance to all desires and emotions of the soul.
It sparkles with the fervor and gladness of youth, it celebrates the strength and glory of manhood--and it bewails the sorrows and infirmities of old age. It sympathizes with the poor and lowly, it lifts up the fallen, it delivers the oppressed, and it breathes the blessing of peace upon the quiet homes of domestic life. It describes with startling clearness the seductions of temptation, the conflicts of doubt, and the miseries of skepticism. It searches the secret chambers of the heart, and brings to light its purest love and its darkest hate, its highest joy and its deepest grief. It compasses the utmost range of thought and feeling and desire--and it sounds the utmost depth of motive and character and passion.
The composition of the Bible was extended through a long course of years; it was carried on under a great variety of circumstances; it bears the impress of every diversity of individual character. And yet the spirit of inspiration speaks with equal fullness through all the times and circumstances and characters. Thus in the Bible, God and man, earth and Heaven, time and eternity--speak with one voice and teach the same truth. Thus the Bible is made to be the one book for all ages and all nations, for all classes of men and all states of society, for all capacities of intellect and all necessities of the soul. It sets forth the most spiritual and heavenly truths--in the lights and shadows of earthly scenes and human characters.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Daily Promises

Blue Letter Bible
May 25, 2016

Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth [is] mine: (Exodus 19:5)

Once we have placed our faith in Christ, we are exhorted to follow His commands and allow Him to rule in our lives. From that moment, we are considered God's own possession and treasure. There is tremendous hope and peace in the promise to be called "a particular treasure" for the Almighty King who is lacking in nothing. How amazing is His gracious lovingkindness toward us!

Daily Devotions May 24th

Faith’s Check Book

By Charles H. Spurgeon

 

ONE A MAJORITY!

 

"One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the Lord your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you" Joshua 23:10

 

Why count heads? One man with God is a majority though there be a thousand on the other side. Sometimes our helpers may be too many for God to work with them, as was the case with Gideon, who could do nothing till he had increased his forces by thinning out their numbers. But the Lord’s hosts are never too few. When God would found a nation, He called Abram alone and blessed him. When He would vanquish proud Pharaoh, He used no armies, but Only Moses and Aaron. The "one man ministry," as certain wise men call it, has been far more used of the Lord than trained bands with their officers. Did all the Israelites together slay so many as Samson alone? Saul and his hosts slew their thousands, but David his ten thousands.

 

The Lord can give the enemy long odds and yet vanquish him. If we have faith, we have God with us, and what are multitudes of men? One shepherd’s dog can drive before him a great flock of sheep. If the Lord sent thee, O my brother, his strength will accomplish his divine purpose. Wherefore, rely on the promise, and be very courageous.

Thought’s for the Quiet Hour

His kingdom ruleth over all

Ps. 103:19

His kingdom ruleth over all—therefore thou canst find nothing which is not matter for praise, since there is nothing which is not the matter of thy Lord’s gracious permission, or planning, or control. Over all—nowhere canst thou step outside His realm, nor in anything get beyond His care and government. Over all—therefore take all as from God; hold all as from God; and by thy gratitude give all back to God again, and thus complete the circle, making Him the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending of all things.

Mark Guy Pearse

The dull, and the slow, and the stupid, and the doubting!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

(J.C. Ryle, "The Gospel of John")

"Then He said to Thomas: Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side." John 20:27

We see here, how kind and merciful Christ is to dull and slow believers. Nowhere, perhaps, in all the four Gospels, do we find this part of our Lord's character so beautifully illustrated, as in the story before our eyes. It is hard to imagine anything more tiresome and provoking than the conduct of Thomas, when even the testimony of ten faithful brethren had no effect on him, and he doggedly declared, "Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side--I will not believe."

But it is impossible to imagine anything more patient and compassionate, than our Lord's treatment of this weak disciple. He does not reject him, or dismiss him, or excommunicate him. He comes again at the end of a week, and apparently for the special benefit of Thomas. He deals with him according to his weakness, like a gentle mother dealing with a froward child, "Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side." If nothing but the grossest, coarsest, most material evidence could satisfy Thomas--even that evidence was supplied. Surely this was a love which surpasses knowledge, and a patience which surpasses understanding.

A passage of Scripture like this, we need not doubt, was written for the special comfort of all true believers. The Holy Spirit knew well that the dull, and the slow, and the stupid, and the doubting, are by far the commonest type of disciples in this evil world. The Holy Spirit has taken care to supply abundant evidence that Jesus is rich in patience as well as compassion, and that He bears with the infirmities of all His people. Let us take care that we drink into our Lord's spirit, and copy His example. Let us never set down men as godless--because their faith is feeble, and their love is cold. Let us remember the case of Thomas, and be very compassionate and of tender mercy.

Our Lord has . . .
  many weak children in His family,
  many dull pupils in His school,
  many raw soldiers in His army,
  many lame sheep in His flock.

Yet He bears with them all, and casts none away!

Happy is that Christian who has learned to deal likewise with his brethren. There are many in the Church, who, like Thomas, are dull and slow--but for all that, like Thomas, are real and true believers.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Daily Promises

Blue Letter Bible
May 24, 2016

He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. (Revelation 21:7)

Echoing the testimony of His promise to the nation of Israel, God speaks thus to the overcoming church: "I will be your God and you will evermore be my people." The Father's love is great. It is a beauty to behold. Ever and beyond the end of days will God's majesty remain; and we, His people shall endure and praise His name forever.

Daily Devotions May 23rd

Faith’s Check Book

By Charles H. Spurgeon

 

FULL RELIANCE ON GOD

 

"For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper" Psalms 72:12

 

The needy cries; what else can he do? His cry is heard of God; what else need he do? Let the needy reader take to crying at once, for this will be his wisdom. Do not cry in the ears of friends, for even if they can help you it is only because the Lord enables them. The nearest way is to go straight to God, and let your cry come up before Him. Straightforward makes the best runner: run to the Lord, and not to secondary causes.

 

"Alas!" you cry, "I have no friend or helper." So much the better; you can rely upon God in both capacities — as without supplies and without helpers. Make your double need your double plea. Even for temporal mercies you may wait upon God, for He careth for His children in these temporary concerns. As for spiritual necessities, which are the heaviest of all, the Lord will hear your cry, and will deliver you and supply you.

 

O poor friend, try your rich God. O helpless one, lean on His help. He has never failed me, and I am sure He will never fail you. Come as a beggar, and God will not refuse you help. Come with no plea but His grace. Jesus is King, will He let you perish of want? What! Did you forget this?

 

Thought’s for the Quiet Hour

Hide thyself by the brook

1 Kings 17:3

Not by the river, but by the brook. The river would always contain an abundant supply, but the brook might dry up at any moment.

What does this teach us? God does not place His people in luxuriance here. The world’s abundance might withdraw their affections from Him. He gives them not the river, but the brook. The brook may be running today, tomorrow it may be dried up.

And wherefore does God act thus? To teach us that we are not to rest in His gifts and blessings, but in Himself. This is what our hearts are always doing—resting in the gift, instead of the Giver. Therefore God cannot trust us by the river, for it unconsciously takes up His place in the heart. It is said of Israel that when they were full they forgot God.

F. Whitfield

Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church "Where The Truths Of God’s Word Have Been Taught For More Than Fifty-Four Years” 1217 Dillon Texarkana, Texas 75501 May 22, 2016            Newsletter Number 567 Brother Randy Johnson, Pastor                   Brother Ronnie Henderson Sr., Song Leader Pastor E-Mail: pastor@sgmbaptist.com                       Web Site: www.sgmbaptist.com “A Church Believing And Standing On The Truth, As The Holy Spirit Has Taught It.”

Our Prayer Request: 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, Frankie Baldridge and daughter, Buckie Thompson, Frank & Sonya Trusty, Frank & Dawana Reigel, Andrew Preston, Larry & Martha Mollette and Her Family, Ted O'Bonion, Larry Mollette II & Family, Kerry Pennington, Kim Poole, Danny & Nita Mollette, The Muncy Family,  Wendell Henderson, Joshua Kidd, Matthew Kidd, Ronnie and Sarah Henderson, Cindy Lane, Ronnie Henderson Jr. & Children, Ricky Henderson and Family, Jacie Henderson, Velma Hammond, Charles, Don Hammond and Families, Vickie Adkins, Archie & Barbara Griffin, Donna Johnson, James and Luann Reynolds, Timothy Fails, Nathan Fails, Jacob Ramsey, Jerry Hughes, Pastor G. L. Burr, Melody Carr, Janie Capps, Imajo Tracy, Linda Hughes, Roy Lemmon, Rosie Tomlin, James and Lynn Tomlin, Pat Abercrombie, Donna Jones, Brandy Sullivan, Gina, Tammy Hairston and family, Brother Kelley and Sister Hinson, Manual Seymour, Sr, Dewayne Sewell, The Harris Family, Teresa Bookout, Little Titan Thomas (Trent and Tiffane Thomas child), James – Diane and Brooke Thomas, Jace Fails, Steve Sparks, Brother Harold & Ann McSwain, 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:   God Haters Will Answer To God.“And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.” Deuteronomy 7:10   We live in an era where the world’s hatred for God could not be more prevalent. Almost in every section of the world people hate God, and they don’t even try to hide it. They hate God so much that they even hate anything or anyone connected with God. The world thinks they are gaining a victory, but if the truth be known God will always have the victory. People who hate God will never have a victory. There was no victory when they crucified Jesus Christ, the victory was God’s. God will allow people to hate Him because everyone who are not saved will always hate Him. It is God’s creation and the reasoning to how He does things are totally in His choosing. Why God allows His own creation to hate Him is Gods way of allowing sin to run her course, but be assured one day it will run out of road. God will stop the hate and when He does, He will punish this sin. God’s longsuffering with evil has a punishment, and that punishment will be to their faces because God has no reason to hide or to punish from a distance. Jesus Christ is going to be their judge and He will call them up to the Great White Throne and will judge them, we will tell them their sins and then condemn them because they did not believe in Him as Saviour. The world believes they have topped the hill of defeating God and are now on a downhill roll, but what they do not know is they will run into a barrier and when they do it’s going to be painful. It is called the Great Tribulation because the troubles of that time will be so painful and awful that no one has ever thought possible. God will repay people for their hate and that repayment will be very painful. God promised, “To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.” Deuteronomy 32:35 So while God allows their hate today, and while it may seem they are victorious, their victory will be short. Exactly how long we do not know, but we do know the victory is God’s. I do not know the anger of God, I have never seen the anger of God, and I thank God I will only see it from afar. Nahum 1:2 “God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.” Yes, beloved, today God is most hated and we as Christians are most hated, but we are to stand strong and faithful in the Lord. Faithful is He who will bring the hatred to an end. Vengeance is His and He will repay him. Victory is ours in Jesus Christ. 1 John 5:4 “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”

Who does He think He is?By Frank Hall   "Is it not lawful for Me to do what I wish with what is My own?" Matthew 20:15   How dare people walk their pets on leashes to control them! How dare parents force their children to obey their rules! How dare employers insist that their employees do their jobs! How dare governors rule over the people! How dare policemen take criminals to jail without their permission!   How dare God have His way with His creatures! How dare the Potter make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor! How dare God love and hate whom He will! How dare God the Father choose to save whom He will! How dare God the Son die for whom He will! How dare God the Spirit call whom He will! How dare the Almighty have His way with all men, in all places, at all times! How dare God save and damn whom He will! How dare God judge us! How dare God call us into question! How dare the indisputable Sovereign of the universe do . . .   what He pleases,   when He pleases,   where He pleases,   how He pleases, and   with whom He pleases!   Who does He think He is--God?   "Our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases!" Psalm 115:3   "I know that the LORD is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods. The LORD does whatever pleases Him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths!" Psalm 135:5-6   "All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as He pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back His hand or say to Him: What have You done?" Daniel 4:35

The strongest Christian! By J.C. Ryle Let us watch jealously over our hearts, and beware of giving way to the beginnings of sin. Happy is he who always fears God, and walks humbly with Him. The strongest Christian is the one who feels his weakness most, and cries most frequently, "Hold me up — and I shall be safe!" Psalm 119:117   "And He said to me: 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong!" 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

My Father's eye!

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          (James Smith, "The Pastor's Evening Visit")

"Your Father who sees in secret." Matthew 6:6

Can anyone hide himself from the Lord in secret places?

Can I, under any circumstances, escape His notice?

Impossible!

The eye of God has been fixed upon me every second of this day; it is now at this moment fixed fully upon me. But it is my Father's eye! My Father sees in secret!

He sees my needs--and my woes.

He sees every secret working of my foes--and will save me from them.
He sees every secret influence which is likely to injure me--and will prevent it.

He sees . . .
  the secret workings of my heart,
  my hidden thoughts,
  my unuttered desires,
  my soul conflicts,
  my private temptations.

But He sees also my secret sins!
Every evil thought,
every unfitting word,every improper action--
passes under His eye!

Solemn consideration this!

May it make me cautious. May it preserve me . . .
  from yielding to temptation,
  from nourishing sinful thoughts, and
  from acting inconsistent with my profession.

My heavenly Father sees me!

He sees me at this moment!

He sees me every moment!

He sees my most secret motives, thoughts, and purposes!

He who thus sees me--hates every sin with an infinite hatred!
"There is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do!" Hebrews 4:13

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