"HIM" and the Hymns

“And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives”

(Matt. 26:30)

“...teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

(Col. 3:16)

One of the last things Christ did before His sufferings and death was to lead His followers in a spiritual hymn. I guarantee it was not one that caused their foot to pat, but was one that caused the heart to pant. Ditties about “me, my, and I” can never take the place place of Deity! The book of Psalms was Israel’s “HIM” book.

Sad indeed so little is heard in Evangelical and Fundamental churches of the old hymns, in many cases little or nothing. Especially in the former’s case, where worship teams have taken precedence over congregational singing. In such assemblies we no longer hear congregations singing,“Lustily,”  as John Wesley put it.

Whenever a man my age speaks of old times as an example, the newer generation accuses him of being outdated, out of touch, if you will. But I would remind my young friends to read 1 Pet. 3:5, “For after this manner in the old time….”  When Peter wanted his present generation to see a truth he used the “old timers,” to do it.

The Bible speaks of both old and new songs. The new songs of the scriptures, I assure you, had as much spiritual meat as the old ones. We’re told we’ll sing both in Heaven (Rev. 5:9; cp. 15:3). Until then Paul admonishes the Church on earth to sing Psalms, hymns,and spiritual songs.

How about this coming Lord’s Day we lift those, slightly used, hymn books in the pew in front of us, and sing some old hymns, “LUSTILY!

Our Real Enemy

"The enemy…is the devil.”

(Matt. 13:39)

“…the devil, [the] enemy of all righteousness.”

(Acts 13:10)

For the last few years, I have spent many of my days in “Lion Country,” as A.W. Tozer liked to call it. As with many of you, I have not only heard his roar, but felt his breath on the back of my neck. It seems at every turn I bump into him. Since we’re going opposite ways.  

Far too many Christians are living in a fantasy world. They think Christianity is no more than waiting around for some imaginary “Tinker Bell” to scatter pixie dust on them. Some of us need to wake up to the fact that the Christian life is not a playground, but a battleground. Satan is not chained as yet, as some mistakenly suppose. If he is, it’s an awfully long chain, for it reaches to me! And for any duped soul that does not believe in a personal devil, I quote the old evangelist Billy Sunday, “Don’t tell me there is no devil, I’ve done business with him.”

True, much is blamed on the devil that he has had no hand in. But on the other hand, and just as true, he is not recognized as the perpetrator of many other things that transpire in our lives. Once we have discerned a thing to be of his making, by faith we need to say to him, “NO!” God never intended for us to be kicked around like a football, like cowards cowering in a corner. With a humble spirit, using our God-given authority, we are to defy the devil.  The question each of us needs to ask ourselves is, “Why go I mourning all the day?”   

Someone has said, “Satan hates God, and the only way he has of attacking Him is by attacking the objects of His love.”                                                      

The Bitterness of Betrayal

“And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.”

(Lk. 21 16)

Is there any greater hurt than the deep hurt that comes from the betrayal of family or friends? This hurt above all others is the hardest to withstand. It is said of darling David, and prophetically of our blessed Lord concerning His betrayal by His friend Judas, “For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company” (Psa. 55:12-14). Betrayal is the last of all hurts to heal, and it lasts long after all the others have healed.

Let me list just a few in the scripture who knew this horrible hurt of heart, resulting from betrayal. It was Joseph’s brothers who turned on him; both David and Job experienced the bitterness of family and friends’ disloyalty; the blind man’s parents didn’t stand by him when they were needed most; and of Jesus we’re told, “... He was wounded in the house of His friends” (Zach. 13:6). But in each case God stood with His misunderstood, misrepresented, and mistreated child. My wife, Salle Jo, used to sing a song at the ordination of young preachers I would ordain in our church. It applies to any and all saints. The following is one of the verses out of the five from that blessed song.

“In the midst of faults and failures,

Stand by me (stand by me);

In the midst of faults and failures,

Stand by me (stand by me);

When I do the best I can,

And my friends misunderstand,

Thou Who knowest all about me,

Stand by me (stand by me).”

So I'm Not Perfect

“Barnabas and Paul [said]...We also are men of like passions with you”

(Acts 14:14,15)

“Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are”

(Ja.5:17)

“For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.”

(Eccl. 20)

One of my readers once wrote, “Sometimes I am overwhelmed with the Bible. I just don't seem to be able to come up to its teachings.” If you have ever felt this way, there’s no need to be overly concerned. All of us “wart-infested” saints have this sense of falling short from time to time, that is, with the exception of those associated with the pseudo perfectionist movement or some of the self-deceived “Deeper-Lifers.”

We see the above truth embodied in both the Old and New Testament saints. They, both men and women, show us the unvarnished lives in these human personages. As I’ve quoted my son Andrew so often, “You can’t run from your humanity.” The Bible is careful to paint its characters as they actually were, without re-touching their photographs. In other words, they lived on our street, and we can all easily identify with them.

In the Man Christ Jesus we find inspiration from one who never failed; in the saints, we find encouragement from those who failed, but by His grace and help are able to rise up again, to face life's difficulties. We need the perfect Man, Christ Jesus, on the one side of us, and and the weak, faltering saints on the other. Jesus is the ideal Man, and the fallible saints show what we can become, with His enabling power.

“I ain’t what I outta be, I ain’t what I wanta be, I ain’t what I’m gonna be, but thank God, but by His grace I’m more than I was.”

(Heard first from Harold Coldiron, my preacher brother-in-law. Sixty years ago).

Those Blessed Feet of Jesus

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

(Isa. 52:7)

“ How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

(Rom. 10:15)

Looking at the context I think, possibly, Isaiah is speaking of the Lord Jesus; but Paul is applying the text to those preachers who follow in His train. Interestingly, people do not generally speak of feet as being beautiful. Other parts of the anatomy yes, but not feet. But I say without hesitation or apology, the most beautiful feet that ever graced this sin-cursed world were those of my Lord, Jesus Christ!

His were tired feet, and it’s estimated that during His three-year ministry on earth He walked over 2,500 miles, without ever going further than 200 miles from His home. Is it any wonder then that we are told, “Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well.” John tells us, “...His feet [were] like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace.”  The three Hebrew children can explain this for you. Darling David said, speaking prophetically, “They pierced my …  feet.” He still bears these marks in His glorified body in Heaven. Lest I forget!

It is no surprise, then, that we read of people falling at His feet in worship; of Mary washing and kissing them and of sitting at His feet and hearing His Word; of the maniac sitting at His feet in his right mind; and of many others simply falling at His feet, pouring out their hearts for His help.

For those who are dismayed at the present Satanic world conditions, take heart! The first prophecy in the Bible has to do with Jesus’ blessed feet, and it is found in Gen. 3:15, “And it [Christ] shall bruise thy [Satan] head.” Our beloved Paul makes reference to this text, “And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly,” Rom. 16:20. O, blessed thought, God is going to let us in on it.

“The Hard Man”

“Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man”

(Matt. 25:24)

If you’ll read the context of our text it is apparent, like so many professing Christians today, that this man knew nothing of his Lord, although he thought he did. Hardhearted saints believe their Saviour to be so. This false notion of Christ comes, we are told, from “...wicked servants.”

The pseudo, spiritually soft syrupy saints of our age, would never admit to calling  Christ hard. But they give themselves away in referring to His followers who emulate Him, as such. Sin-hating, sin-condemning saints are not considered compassionate or loving. They’re thought of as, “Hard.”

What would they say of me if I were to tell a new convert awful things await them if they return to their previous ways? Would they not say, “You’re discouraging them, even before they get started.” Would they say the same thing of Christ? I trow (think) not!

Consider the paralytic at the pool of Bethesda, in John chapter five. Immediately after getting the man on his feet we’re told in verse fourteen, “Afterward Jesus findeth him...and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.”

“A one-sided Christ produces a two-faced saint.”

(rds)

Don't Forget the "So Great..."

The writer of Hebrews, refers to that greatest of all events in a Christian’s life as, “So great salvation.” All else in the Christian life is like tinsel on a tree. Everything hangs on that one thing. Once you have forgotten, “the hole of the pit [whence] ye are digged,” and those blessed punctured hands which dug us out of the filth and mire of the dunghill, we are left void of any real spiritual substance.

When the devil has been permitted to strip God’s child of everything, there is one thing that stays eternally intact: his salvation. I love the way hurting Habakkuk puts it, “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither [shall] fruit [be] in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and [there shall be] no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”

Martyn Lloyd-Jones wisely advises, when all around us, things get hazy and we’re uncertain, to come back to our one sure foundation. “Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner [stone], a sure foundation.” When the waters threaten to overflow us it is wonderful to feel that ROCK under you.

“I sink in deep waters,” cried a dying man. “All His waves and His billows go over me.” Then said the other, “Be of good cheer, my brother. I feel the bottom, and it is good.”

In front of my mobile home I have placed a large onyx stone with letters written in white, “Christ Is My Rock!”

The Speaking Word

“As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.”

(Lk. 1:55)

A.W. Tozer has a book entitled, “God Still Speaks.” And He does, even in our day. Maybe not audibly, but most certainly factually. I am not speaking in the sense of the fanatical or mystical way, but the scriptural. God speaks to those who have their ears turned and tuned His way. “If any man have ears to hear, let him hear”  (Mk. 7:16).

The song writer had it right, “And He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am his own.” Many believe the first part, that He walks with us, but shy away from the latter part, that He talks with us. Think! How can you be sure of Him walking with you if He does not assure you by talking to you?

In John’s gospel chapter ten, Jesus tells us His sheep know His voice. And in chapter twenty, of the same book, it’s illustrated. Mary weeping at His tomb thought the man speaking with her was the gardener, that is, until He spake. He said only one word, “Mary,” and she recognized her Lord’s voice.

Holy Ann, an old Irish scrub woman, could miraculously read the Bible, but nothing else. Her employer teasingly showed her a newspaper in which the word "Lord," referring to a politician, was found. When shown, she recognized the word, but said, "This 'tis not speakin' of me Lord, for me heart does not burn within me when me reads it."

Growth or Change

To me, growth carries the thought of developing, while basically remaining the same in substance. But change seems to imply putting something in place of another, a replacing with something different. I’m afraid many older Christians, as well as ministers, are mistakenly accused of changing, when actually it is simply maturing. But you’ll never convince the dogged dogmatists of this.

As one advances as a child of God, he or she sees that in reality there are only a few things worth fighting for in the Christian faith. Or at least that’s the way some of we antiquated saints feel. Like my old friend, the late Dr. Tom Malone Sr. used to say, “A bulldog can whip a skunk, but it isn’t worth the fight!” Some people create more stink than anything else.

I have watched through the years those who slander good men who have mellowed in the Lord. They brand them as going soft and compromising. But invariably, you will find these revilers become harder and harder, while those they attack grow sweeter and sweeter. I think it wise to remind ourselves form time to time of Augustine’s words, “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.”

Principle or preference: The latter is not worth defending!

(rds)

The Greatest of all Fears

I have found in my dealings with God’s people throughout these long years, untold numbers live in constant fear that He will hurt them when they sin. But this only exposes the fact they do not have an intimate relationship with Christ, nor have they meditatively entered into His sufferings.

Our greatest fear should not be that God would hurt us for our sins, but rather that we will hurt Him by our sins. Our first consideration should never be what sin will do to us or others, but what it has done, and does, to the Lover of our Souls. Sin is most hurtful, first and foremost to Jesus Christ. I need only to take you to the Place of the Skull to prove my point.

Darling David, after his sin with Bathsheba, and being responsible for her husband’s death, along with many other innocent men, prayed to God, “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight." And Joseph’s words when tempted to commit adultery with Potiphar’s wife said, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” To these godly men, a sin against God was immeasurably more serious than a crime against man.

“Our greatest security against sin is to be shocked by it.”

(Dr. E.M. Blaiklock)

A Three Word Vocabulary

“His name...Jesus”

(Matt.1:21 )

If, for some reason, my vocabulary should need be limited to three brief words, and I could select them, I without question, or hesitation, would choose, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.” I pray that God will grant the last words to fall from my lips, before taking my last breath on this earth, will be that blessed two syllable word, JESUS!”

I wish I had the words to express my deep love, adoration, and praise I have for this Man, “The Man Christ Jesus,” as Paul refers to Him. He is the talk of Heaven; He is on everyone's lips there. All thoughts, fellowship, worship, and singing is centered on Him. The Lamb of God, no longer on the Altar of Suffering, but the Lamb on the Throne of Glory!

“JESUS IS THE SUM TOTAL OF ALL MY DELIGHTS!”

(rds)

Time Will Tell

“What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.”

(Jn. 13:7)

Time always vindicated Jesus’ sayings and actions. The little idiom, “Time will tell” was certainly true in His life and ministry. This unusual and unique trait is found in few of us, His followers. Wait and see is not one of our better characteristics, is it? Some of us spend a lifetime explaining the reason behind our actions. The reason is twofold: either we are not sure of ourselves, or we fear our peers will misunderstand us.

Jesus never took pains justifying His conduct. For example: His delay in answering Lazarus’ sisters urgent request to come to the aid of their brother, who was deathly ill. It could have been construed He was indifferent to His friends’ dire situation. It would have been difficult, I think, in restraining ourselves from explaining our actions. But He was willing to allow the passage of time to vindicate Him and His Father's will.

Many years ago someone very close to me, but very critical of the way I did some things, called me and said “I’m sorry, you were right.” That was thirty years in coming, but it was worth the wait!

“ And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.”

(Matt. 27:12-14)

The Completed book

“Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ...written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.”

(2 Cor. 3:3)

Writers and speakers sometimes say in emphasizing Jesus’ influence on the world, “He never traveled more than two hundred miles from His hometown, nor did He ever write a book.” The later of these two statements is not exactly correct. Unnumbered volumes of His writings have been around for over two thousand years, and have been read by multitudes.

John speaks of writing with  ink, pen, and paper (3 Jn. 1:13;2 Jn. 1:12). But Jesus’ writings are found on the hearts of His elect. These writings have been “...read and known of all men.” You have heard the saying, “Your life is an open book.” This is especially true in lives of the saints of God. We are the only book most will ever read about Christ in their life. I wonder: is our life small print or large print?

He is still writing on many of our hearts, and He will not cease till the manuscript is finished (Phil. 1:6). He does not have any unfinished manuscript lying around: “Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2). You need not worry; He does not disregard a book and start over. He makes many corrections but never forsakes it. He stays at it till He writes, “The End.” And that, my friend, will be our beginning!

The Three "R's"

When Sir William Curtis introduced the “Three R's’” it was from then on assumed that reading, writing, and arithmetic would be the basis of education. I’m sure he’d gasp in unbelief in the fact that a good number in and coming out of our educational system lack sadly in all three of these areas. Many have no reading skills at all, legible writing is no more than childish scribbling, and not only can they not do simple math, but can’t even figure out how to come in out of the rain, as my blessed mother would say.

But I am much more concerned about three other “R’s.” They fall under the headings of: RETURN, REVIVAL, or RUIN. If our Lord does not return soon, it is imperative we have revival, if one of these does not happen soon, then we’re doomed to ruin. Or as A.W. Tozer so apply put it, “ROT.” The early church was looking daily for their Lord’s return, and thus expectancy brought about a personal revival in each heart. I think if the truth were known most Christians no longer pray the last prayer of the Bible, “Come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:20).

In my daily prayers, I almost always say, “Come quickly, Lord Jesus.” When I do, my pulse immediately begins to accelerate. It seems those words are the match that lights the fire in this old disciple’s heart.

Well Meaning Intentions

The old preachers of my time used to say, "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions." This is true, but just as true is the fact that heaven is populated with such people, and not just a few. It all comes down to motive as it relates to God's acceptance of such intentions. The issue is whether one's intent is to glorify the God of Glory. Good intentions are good if for God's glory!

We see this principle played out in David's life in the building of the Temple. "And the LORD said unto David. ... Whereas it was in thine heart to build an house unto my name, thou didst well that it was in thine heart. Nevertheless thou shalt not build the house." God’s choosing David to be a man of war prevented him from his life-long desire. We, like David, would’ve if we could’ve.

Many of us had wonderful plans for our lives, how we could glorify our precious Lord, but He had another design for us. Yet, at the judgment seat of Christ, to the surprise of many, these folks will be rewarded as if they had actually carried out their dreams and good intentions for their God, although, like Solomon in David's case, someone else might fulfill them in our place.

"Our Sovereign King will both recognize and accept what we would have done if we could have done it for His great name."

(rds)  

The Christian's History

When a Christian sins and confesses it, in God’s sight, it is like he never sinned at all. The Blood of Christ both forgives and cleanses away all sin. To continue to ask God’s forgiveness for the same sins over and over again, I am sure grieves Him. Like Joseph, when his already forgiven brothers asked him to forgive them a second time, “Joseph wept.”

But, praise His name, it goes even deeper than that. Once you acknowledge and repent of your sin, it is just as though you were newly formed. Like Adam, when created a new, he had no previous history. And a renewed Christian has no past history of sins. So when you pray repeatedly, asking for forgiveness for the same sins, like the gospel songs says, God asks, “What sins are you talking about?

Arise, my soul, arise

Shake off your guilty fears

The bleeding sacrifice

On my behalf appears

Before the throne my surety stands

Before the throne my surety stands

My name is written on His hands.

Problems and Principles

There is no question that problem texts are to be found in the Word of God. Some are put there to get us to think, pray, study and search. Others are among God’s secret things, and to be taken by faith and left alone (Deut. 29:29). I have found the best way to handle perplexing texts that the Spirit has not opened up to me, as of yet, is to go by the principle that lies within the text.

Let me cite just two such scriptures. The first is found in John chapter thirteen, and concerns foot washing. Some believe it is a church ordinance to be practiced today, while others hold baptism and the Lord’s supper are the only two to be observed and practiced. I hold to the latter. But both sides, if taking the principle it teaches, will agree we’re to lovingly and humbly minister to our brethren, no matter the area of life it involves. The Bible teacher H.A. Ironside came out of a group that practiced foot washing. He said he found some would have liked to wash their brother’s feet in scalding water.

The second text that has created a great problem in many lives is the blasphemy of the Holy Ghost (Matt. 12:31). But no matter what position one takes, again by taking the principle it teaches, each will agree it certainly shows the Holy Spirit seems to be the most sensitive person in the Godhead. Just an additive, if you want the answer, allow the Holy Spirit to compare scripture with scripture (see Mk. 3:29-30).

You will find there are those in the Bible who say, “What meaneth this?”  Paul on various occasions asks, “What saith the scripture?”  I believe we would be wise to concern ourselves first with what the text says, than what it means. Generally, it means what it says!