It's the Face in the Mirror

“Wilt thou not revive us again..?” “...revive thy work.” “...thou wilt revive me.” There is a national, institutional, and personal revival. Great masses are praying for the first, some for the second, but few for the latter. There is debate as to the probability of the first; a number will concede to the second; but all agree that the third can be had. It’s doubtful the first two will ever happen until the third is experienced. You generally start a fire with one match or an individual spark.

Why is it we pray for national and institutional revival, but not a personal one? Oswald Chambers answers this question profoundly. He states, “A revival adds nothing; it simply brings back what had been lost and a confession of failure.” And here lies our problem. We are more than willing, in our self-righteous pride, to say that others need reviving, but never us, for that would be an admission that we are not as close to the Lord as we would like others to believe we are.

The prayer that brings personal revival is, “It’s not my brother, or my sister, but me, O Lord.”

(RDS)

*Faith's Consolation

I have a little plaque on my dresser which reads, “Faith isn’t faith till it’s all you’re holding onto!” The Bible says, “…from faith to faith.” We start our Christian lives with it, and we are to end with it. And all in between is to be governed by it, for we are told, “…the just shall live by faith.” And without it, “…it is impossible to please [God].”

The Scriptures say we are to “…walk by faith.” And what are we to do when too weak and frail to any longer do this? It is then we are to “…stand by faith.” Like the patriarch of old, “By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed…and worshipped, leaning upon his staff.” And when the old man could no longer do this, “…he gathered his feet into his bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.”

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.” (Heb.11:13-14)

It's Never Too Late

“Lord, if thou hadst been here...” Both Mary and Martha were deeply hurt and perplexed at their brother’s death. During such times, it is easy to play the blame game. It all did not make sense. Was not Lazarus he whom Jesus loved? Was he not His friend? In effect, they charged Jesus with all that had happened. Why did He not come while there was something possible that could be done? Why wait until the situation became impossible?

Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity. Our Lord’s delays are not necessarily denials. There was Divine design to all that was happening. At such times, it requires patience and trust on our part. We need to learn to trust God in the dark.

“What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.” It is texts such as this that we must sink our spiritual teeth into during the tough times. Once we have eaten and assimilated it by faith, it becomes sweet to the soul and strength to the life.

Mary and Martha were concerned with Lazarus and his sickness. Jesus was concerned with Lazarus and the glory of God.

(R.D.S)

*It' a No-Win Situation

“Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker!” Webster’s definition of “strive” is: 1) to make great effort; try very hard, and 2) to struggle. I heard an old camp meeting preacher say once, “Whenever you read the word, ‘Woe’ in the Bible, you’d better stop.” When will we learn to stop fighting God? Do we not realize, no man ever got into the ring with God and won the fight? Ask Jacob as he limps along.

There is no prospering as long as we try to resist Him. “…who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?” Mighty Pharaoh certainly didn’t. To fight God makes us look so foolish. Paul talks about one that “…beateth the air.” If we fought the world, the flesh, and the devil like we often fight God, what victorious Christians we would be.

If we want to be changed from what we are unto a prince with God, then we’ll need to stop fighting God and surrender, lying prostrate at His feet, simply clinging to Him. Why go through life with two black eyes?

*Inconvenienced

"...when I have found a convenient season..." Felix, like Herod and Judas, was a man of convenience. But I would suggest, if you are looking for a convenient lifestyle, you should not consider becoming a Christian. Christianity can be a very inconvenient thing at times. For example, opening one's home at all hours of the night (sometimes to strangers) is neither convenient for the host or hostess. Giving to another what you have set aside for you and your son, watching an elderly shut-in to give their loved ones a little time to themselves, and sitting aside your leisure time to busy yourself in helping the hurting, is anything but the convenient thing to do.

As I get older, I find I do not like to be inconvenienced. As they say, I like all my ducks in a row. Or to put it another way, "Don't rock the boat." But I'm reminded over and again by the sweet Spirit of God that cross-bearing is not convenient. After a long, hard day, Jesus took time with Nicodemus at nightfall. Although His sufferings were imminent, He had a meal with his sad friends. And He didn't mind being awakened from a restful sleep to help those in a storm. Let each of us remember, He left us an example to follow. Jesus always went out of His way to help others; ask the woman at the well.

A Universal Sin: WORRY!

“Be careful (full of care) for nothing.” It is possible for the legitimate concerns of life, like in Martha’s case, where an over-concern by over-emphasizing, to become an almost paralyzing anxiety.  Worry holds one like a vice so that you can hardly move or think of anything other than the problem before you. A problem which, more often than not, was created by us. We’re good at turning simple molehills into mountains.

Worry is a universal sin; there is none among Adam’s race it has not touched. Some more severely than others, but all experience it to some degree. If the devil cannot make our lives fruitless by tempting us to worldly debauchery, then he will get us by debilitating worries (Matt.13:22). “The Liar” will tell us our worrying is simply a hereditary habit of weakness and not sin. But Jesus tells us it is what the pagans do, and that we are not to emulate the heathen in their wicked distrust of God.

We cannot trust and worry at the same time. We’re told in scripture that sweet and bitter water does not flow from the same fountain. And so it is with trust and worry. These two cannot sleep in the same bed. They are not strange bedfellows; they are not bedfellows at all. Once trust gets into bed, he kicks worry out.

*Know Thyself

“…for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?” David was secure in his position. He could not be provoked into proving it. He did not have to bully it over others; he knew it within himself. God has a way of vindicating His man or woman by humbling stone-throwing Shimei’s before them. We do not have to flex our spiritual muscle; God is our “Muscle-man!”

As Matthew Henry says, quoting a Latin proverb, “It suffices the lion that he has laid his victim prostrate.” Whenever God wants to humiliate those who abuse and misuse us, He does it by raising us up and bringing them down. Mordecai and Haman are good examples of this.

It is not important that others know who we are, but it is for us. (RDS)

Hide-and-Seek

“…the Lord hideth his face…I will look for him.”  When our four children were young, on family nights we would often play hide-and-seek. I always chose the darkest spot, because I knew each child’s fear of entering into such a place. But, in spite of this, they would still boldly venture into the dreaded area, because they knew they could find me there. It was a thrill for them to find the others, but it was a special joy to find their father. That was always apparent by their cheerful countenance when I came from the dark shadows.

For one reason or the other, our Heavenly Father hides Himself, from time to time, from His children. During such intervals, we are to diligently seek Him. Seeming discouragement can be turned into encouragement, if we look for Him aright. His promise to us is, “…ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”

*He’s Not a Casual Acquaintance

One of Job’s three fair-weather friends admonishes, “Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.” This is always good advice, no matter whose lips it falls from. We should always be thankful for those who lead us into a deeper knowledge of God, no matter what group they belong to.

A little knowledge of God is worth more than a great knowledge about Him. Someone has said, “When people know God, losses and crosses cease to matter to them; what they have gained simply banishes those things from their minds.” To know God is to experience peace that passes understanding, and good is the ultimate dessert.

J.I. Packer says, “John Calvin knew more theology than John Bunyan, but the latter knew his God every bit as well as the former.” Both the intellect and the illiterate can know God alike, for He is no respecter of persons. It is humbling to think we are known of God; it is awesome to think we can know God.

Keep close company with Jesus, and it will not be long before you get to know God better.

Have You Done Your Part?

“I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me.” The “which” refers back to the “do.” It is not “who,” as in many translations, but “which,” as in the K.J.V. It is in the doing that we are strengthened. This was Paul’s teaching to young Timothy when he exhorted him to “…exercise thyself…unto godliness.” Anyone who does this will, over time, build spiritual muscle. As the old song puts it, “Each victory will help you some other to win.”

Notice, also, we are to do these things “through Christ.” It is not Christ doing things through us, as is so often taught. You will be hard pressed to find any such Scripture proof. We are to come by way of Him, not vice-versa. Sanctification is cooperation; it’s a two-way street. It is not “I” without “Christ.”  It is not “Christ,” without “I.” It is “I” with “Christ.” (Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

Many Christians today have become spiritually syrupy in their Christian walk. It seems, with all the talk about the deeper, victorious, overcoming life, we have lost our way. J.I. Packer said,” I have found the best way to face temptation is to simply say, “No,” and ask Christ to help me to keep saying it till it passes.

If you do your part, you can be sure God will do His.

                                                                   

*Threats from the Threatened

“But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.” A preaching that gets a man on his feet so he can walk independently of others will always be a threat to the religious legalist. They will go to any extent to silence such a ministry. But their threatenings do not intimidate a man who has witnessed cripples who crawled in the dust, now walking in newness of life. Rules do not strengthen a man’s spiritual feet and anklebones. It’s not rules, but a relationship with God that puts a man back on his feet.

There is a movement going on today in which people are entering into the“glorious liberty" that is in Jesus Christ. This is a great threat to the boring boards, and one-man shows, that want the control over God’s people. They are trying to put a cap on this freedom “that it spread no further,” but, from my observation, it’s too late. It’s going to be a “gusher” that spills over into every group and corner of Christendom.

There is no need for “popes,” when you believe in the priesthood of all believers.

When God Waits

“God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing...” Many of us find difficulty in waiting on God, but what do you think it is like for Him to wait for us? This is the One of whom it is written, “For he spake and it was done.” God is eternally instantaneous. But He does not generally work independent of us; He works in cooperation with us. Not because He needs to, but because that’s what He chooses.

Like a father is longsuffering when seeing his unskilled child assembling a Tinker Toy, so God patiently waits for us to get things together. Our whole lives are spent in preparation of one thing or another, but, unlike God, ours never seem to be completed. After the completion, then another awaits that demands our attention. Therefore, time and patience in preparation is a necessity for us. We need to remember, no time spent in preparation is wasted.

“If God’s longsuffering and patience waited one-hundred and twenty years as Noah was preparing, I’m sure he’ll wait a few more years for you and me.

The God Who Speaks

“They have mouths, but they speak not.” Twice, the Psalmist gives the exact same words in describing the god[s] of the heathen. The phrase, “God said,” is found some 587 times in the Bible. This is not counting other kindred expressions such as: “Thus saith the Lord,” “God spake,” etc.

A preacher brought a message on “God Still Speaks.” One of those doctrinally sound, but spiritually inept theologians approached him with the standard question that characterizes those deaf to God’s voice by filling their ears with cotton. The query was, “Do you not realize God no longer speaks directly to His people?” To which my friend, while looking him straight in the eyes, quoted a portion of a song, “He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His Own.” Then he abruptly turned and walked away.

Many today, are like Israel of old, when speaking to Moses said, “Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us.” Why? Simply because they knew if they heard God’s voice they would have to either obey Him, or refuse to do what He said. As Oswald Chambers put it, “If it is only the servant’s voice we hear, we feel it is not imperative; we can say, “Well, that is simply your own idea.”

It takes a humble child-like spirit to say, “Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth.” As important as it is to go to the Word, it’s equally important that the Word of the Lord comes unto us. When is the last time God spoke to your heart?

“Get into the habit of saying, ‘Speak Lord,’ and life will become a romance.” (Oswald Chambers)

*When the Camel's Back Breaks

“[In]…our trouble…we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life. But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth up the dead.”

We’re not told exactly what this “trouble” was, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. But we do know it was above and beyond the normalcy of everyday Christian trials. So much so that this suffering saint “despaired even of life.” This unknown and unique experience brought the apostle to the place of utter helplessness.

It’s well to remember that this human beast of burden had borne the heaviest of loads all his life. But this one weighed him down to the extent that it could be said, it was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

What are we to do at such a time of hopelessness? We can emulate Paul. He passed sentence on all fleshly confidence, letting it become history. And, in exchange, he put all his trust in the God who “…raiseth up all those that are bowed down.”

God tells us to burden him with whatever burdens us.

THE GREAT CELEBRATION

“The father said to his servants… bring hither the fatted calf, and kill [it]; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again.”

If you think there were festivities in the father's house at the return of the  Prodigal Son, what think ye the merriment in “The Father’s House” at the homecoming of His Precious Son?  The One who had left Heaven as the “Son of God,” and returned home with an added precious identity: “The Son of Man.”   

When Christ left the dead I can imagine the voice of the Father crying out with such jubilance that it reverberated throughout the galaxies, “My Son is coming home!” We celebrate His Resurrection from “down under,” but oh, what must be the unspeakable ecstasy from Heaven’s side!

When Jesus left for Home, one of the last things He promised His followers was, “I’ll keep the door open for you.” And one of the first things He experienced upon His return home was “Ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands” of saints and angels saying,

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, [be] unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever”.

And what did His Father say to Him, but of course, what else, “This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

The heavens with joy receive their Lord,
By saints, by angel hosts adored;
O day of exultation!
O earth, adore thy glorious King!
His rising, His ascension sing
With grateful adoration.

Child-Like Forgiveness

“Except ye…become as little children.” Years ago, while in my early twenties, and before my conversion to Christ, I studied acting for a brief time at a dramatic school in Los Angeles. One of the principles my drama coach emphasized was that an actor should have the head of an adult but the heart of a child. One class assignment was to observe and study the habits of children.

Among the many characteristics that little children have and has always moved me, especially now that I am converted, is how forgiving they are. As a father of four, I remember when my children were still little tykes, and I would have to ask their forgiveness for dumb things I had done or said. Each time, I remember those little innocent faces looking up to me, and with their assuring, childish words letting me know all was well.

Maybe it is time for some of us parents who have now been asked for our forgiveness by our children to “Go, and do thou likewise.” Yes, they are grown now and responsible for what they have done, but so were we. What brought us relief and inner joy will bring them the same thing, now that they are in our place as adults. The apostle’s words are appropriate hear: “…ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Wherefore, I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.”

Repentance can be bitterness to the soul, but the forgiveness that follows makes it sweet!

Satan’s Boundary Lines

“And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power: only upon himself put not forth thine hand.” Satan is on God’s leash; he can only go so far. God has appointed bounds, both to the degree and duration of Satan’s trials. His two-fold lie during these testing times is you will not be able to bear up under such a load, and this is the way it will always be; there is no end. But the enlightened child of God knows the Scripture has given us a two-fold promise to combat these. “God...will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able,” the second being, “And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.”

We have a secure hedge about us, and Satan can only enter in by permission. Our Sovereign has put restrictions and limitations upon the devil when it comes to us. This hedge is the will of God, and we are safe and secure within it, even when God grants permission to the Wicked One to try us for a season.

But let us be careful that we do not leave our safety zone, for, without that hedge, we are fair game. “...whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.” If you have left the fold, and have been bitten, there is hope. His venomous bite need not be lethal (cp. Num.21:8,9 and Jno.3:14,15).

“Like a good chess player Satan is always trying to manoeuver you into a position where you can save your castle only by losing your bishop.” C.S. Lewis

But Do You Love Me?

“Jesus saith… lovest thou me?..He saith to him again the second time…lovest thou me?.. He saith unto him the third time…lovest thou me?

Three times at the enemy’s fire, Simon had denied Him, now sitting at the fire Jesus had kindled, he is asked thrice by his Lord, “Lovest thou me?” Peter’s great doctrinal confession of faith, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God,” is now complete with this great devotional statement of faith, “I love thee.” The two have met together and kissed each other. (Psl.85:10)

It seems to me, for all practical purposes, Jesus likes to be told He’s loved. It is not to be taken for granted, as we often do with loved ones. For we also, like Simon, when asked by a family member or friend, “Do you love me? answer, “You know I love you.” God’s darling David did not have this problem, “I love the Lord,” was his unblushing testimony for all to hear and read!

And what is to be the proof of Simon Peter’s love to Christ? That he takes care of both God’s lambs (young) and sheep (mature). Paul writes believers of his day admonishing them to prove their love, and explains the proof is seen when taking care of each other. Is this not our Lord’s teaching when He said, “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me?”

“Believest thou me” is the base of the mountain; “Lovest thou me” is the pinnacle!

*When the Unanswerable is Answered

“…now I know in part; but then shall I know…” As Jesus told Peter, “What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.” We must not spend our time vainly trying to understand “The secret things belong[ing] unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong[ing] unto us and to our children…”

If we are to live a life of contentment, we must then be content with not knowing certain things. There will always be unanswered questions. Our knowledge is incomplete and partial, at best. And to turn to speculation will only bring frustration. There is a portion of two songs I like to hang my doubting hat on: “Someday, He’ll make it plain to me, someday when I His face shall see”; and the second: “I’ll ask the reason, He’ll tell me why, when we talk it over in the bye and bye.” Until then, the writer of Hebrews says, “Now faith…”

Dedicated to suffering saints everywhere.

The Equal Yoke

“Take my yoke upon you…For my yoke is easy.” This is not like any other yoke in Scripture. It is not a “yoke of iron,” nor a “heavy yoke,” or is it a “yoke of bondage.” But it is an easy yoke to bear up under. The reason being that the One we are harnessing ourselves with “fainteth not, neither is weary.” This One whose name is called “Wonderful” carries the world upon His shoulders.

Therefore, when we bind ourselves to God’s Strong Servant we are exchanging our weak, feeble strength for His. This is truly Divine fellowship. To unite ourselves with any other is an “unequal yoke.” But when we join ourselves to Him that, my friend, is what we might call an equal yoke. For one of the main reasons He became like us was that He might help each of us pull the load of life.

You don’t have “pull your weight” when you’re yoked with Jesus.

The Overlap

“One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts”… “[One] generation passeth away, and [another] generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever”.

God does not abruptly stop with one generation and start at that point with another. There is a carry over, a gradual transition. An overlap, if you please. Like the waves of the sea coming in to the shore. The purpose for this is that the previous generation might convey to the present one the successes and failures of their own times, so that the testimony of the elders might be used to help and warn them against the danger.

The older generation is obligated to pass on to the coming generation the pitfalls on the pathway of life, as well as the ingredients that go into successful living. That is, they are to pass the torch, so that they will not stumble in darkness on life’s journey. Thus, there’ll be no need for them to “walk in the light of their own fire.” When light is needed, a floodlight is to be preferred to a candle, if available.

Both these groups have a choice. The one can gain wisdom by listening and learning; or, because of youthful pride, reject the counsel of the elders and pay a dear consequence. The second has the option of warning and exhorting, or because of fear of being misunderstood, keeping silent, which will be a detriment to the next generation.

The previous generation is not necessarily smarter or wiser than the present one, but they have already been down the road the younger are to travel!

From Dread to Delight

"And Esau ran to meet him, and he embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept." What a sight this must have been, especially when you consider the great gulf that existed between these two. For years, the one had carried a grudge, while the other was loaded down with guilt.

But the God who makes both ends to meet in the middle can also make the two extremes compatible and compassionate when they meet face to face. Time is a great healer. The wise man tells us there's "…a time to embrace."

Let's allow in others what we desire for ourselves—time to grow and mature. It's amazing the change a few years can bring. God turned Jacob's long dreading into delight, and so can he do with us.

Compatibility is always a possibility with God.

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An Open Letter To My Black Friend

Dear James,

My blessed mother used to say, “If you’re going to send me flowers, do it while I’m alive.” I thought since we are both “kickin” I’d send you a nice spray. The Bible tells us to give honor to whom honor is due. Well I want to do just that. And may I add, I think it to be long overdue!

As I near the fourscore and five mark in my life, needless to say, I have met and observed a great number within the male race. Out of this great host there have been few I met who possessed the manliness, character and unwavering principles that you own. Whenever I think of you, as well as your lovely wife Dee, and the two grown children, James and Alicia, I think of the word class!

I’ve always liked to think of you as Ebedmelech the Ethiopian in the Old Testament. Just as he pulled Jeremiah up from the miry pit, so you have pulled out untold numbers of souls from the mire of this world. Your long ministry in Norfolk, as well as your dear people can attest to this fact.

James, I thank my God for the day our paths crossed, and the great privilege I have had in serving with you as a bond-slave of Jesus Christ. It has truly been an honor for me. It is wonderful to realize our camaraderie will not end here but will continue on there.

In closing, I think of something I recently heard while watching the western movie, “Rooster Cogburn.” John Wayne and Kathryn Hepburn starred. At the end, they parted ways, but as she rode off, she suddenly stopped and rode back. And what she said to the character played by Wayne I say to you dear friend. “Reuben…I have to say you're a credit to the whole male sex, and I'm proud to have ya for my friend.”

Richard

Back to the Bible

A woman once said to me, “Like the Bible says, preacher, ‘Every tub must sit on its own bottom.’” We laugh, but such ignorance is rampant today among so-called Christians. It is reported 85% of our nation professes to be Christians. Yet, just to take one example, the immorality that plagues us is equal only to that of the Roman Empire before its fall (some think worse).

Ignorance to the law is no excuse. So we are told in our courts. Well nether is ignorance of God’s Law before His tribunal. Breaking commandments such as, “Thou shalt not commit adultery,” Thou shalt not steal,” and “Honour thy father and thy mother,” etc., cannot be justified by arguing, “I didn’t know.” Neither by saying, “That’s your interpretation.” It means what it says, as do all His Commandments!

We are in desperate need of a Bible Revival in our time. You can understand a Bible Blindness during the Dark Ages; but not a self-imposed willful one, in our enlightened day. God promises blessings and prosperity to all those who both read and keep His Word, and a curse to those who do not. I for one want the blessings of God upon my life.  

“The Bible will keep me from sin or sin will keep me from the Bible!” (D. L. Moody)

Sentimentality/Spirituality

Today we have a syrupy type of Christianity. We have become so sweet we’re sickening. We have substituted sentimentality for spirituality. Trying to pass off the former as being the latter. Oswald Chambers mentions this in one of his books, saying we have replaced the God-Man with Brother-man, turning spirituality into sentimentality.

Some descriptive words the dictionary associates with sentimental are: romantic, emotional, slushy, impressionable, and gushy. One definition is, “Resulting from or colored by emotion rather than reason or realism.” You always find this type of person with the “Bleeding Heart” crowd. Their feelings take precedent over the scriptures, every time. “I think,” is their standard terminology. “Thus saith the Lord,” is not a part of their vocabulary.

The greatest need of our day is getting back to a raw, rugged, Christianity. Tough love, if you please. Principled saints who are willing to be seen as harsh. People who hold to the same teaching as the Army instructor who told would-be medics attending the wounded on the battle field, “If you’re not willing to hurt them, you can’t help them (Prov.27:6, b). I have observed in a ministry that spans over half a century that the men and women who are most compassionate are those with the strongest convictions! Those like their Lord.

FOR THOSE OVER FIFTY

The following is a portion of a sermon by C.H. Spurgeon entitled, The Old Man’s Sermon. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Richard

Your work is almost done, it only remains to leave behind you a monument by which you may be remembered. Mar- ble and brass will perish, but the Truth of God will remain! Set up a memorial of faithful testimony! Not much longer will you mingle with the sons of men. Your seat will be empty and the place which knows you today will know you no more. Hand on, then, the blessed treasure of the Gospel! You die, but the cause of God must not. Speak now, so that when you are gone it may be said of you, “He, being dead, yet speaks.” Call your children and your grandchildren to- gether and tell them what a good God you have served! Or, if you have no such dear ones, speak to your neighbors and your friends, or write it down that other eyes may read it when yours are glazed in death.

Reach out your hands to the ages yet to come and present them with the pearl of great price. Pray God to enable you to set your mark upon the coming generation and then set about winning youth to Jesus by a cheerful, bold, unhesitating witness to His love and power! Willing to go, we all ought to be, but we ought scarcely to desire departure till we have seen the interests of the cause of God secured for coming time! If there is one more soul to be saved, one more heart to be comforted, one more jewel to be gathered for the Redeemer’s crown, you will say, dear Friend, I am sure “Let me wait till my full day’s work is done.”—

“Happy if with my last breath I may but lisp your name,

Preach you to all, and say in death,

‘Behold, behold the Lamb!’”

With this last practical thought I send away my venerable Brothers and Sisters, asking them to take care that their eventide shall be made to glow with the special light of usefulness by their abundant witnessing. I would urge the Lord’s veterans to yet more valorous deeds. If, like David, you have slain the lion and the bear and the Philistine when you were young, up! Do another deed of daring, for the Lord lives, still, and His people have need of you! Though your joints are rather rusty and your limbs can hardly bear you to the battlefield, yet limp to the conflict, for the lame take the prey. He who helped you when you were but a youth and ruddy will help you now though you are old and infirm—and who knows what you may do?

One of the finest paintings I ever saw to move one’s soul was the picture of old Dandolo, the Doge of Venice, leading the way in an attack at sea upon the enemies of the Republic. He was far past the usual age of man and blind—yet, when the efforts of others failed to save his country, he became the leader—and was the first to board the ships of the enemy. The young men felt that they could not hold back when they saw the heroic conduct of the blind, gray-bearded man! His brave example seemed to say, “Soldiers of Venice, will you ever turn your backs?” And the response was worthy of the challenge!

Oh, my honored Brethren, deserving reverence for your years, show us your metal! Let the young ones see how victo- ries are won! Quit yourselves like men and let us see how he who is washed in the blood of Jesus would not hesitate to shed his own blood in the Redeemer’s cause! Your zeal will stimulate us, your courage nerve us and we, too, will be val- iant for the Lord God of Israel! So may God’s Spirit work in you and in us. Amen.

Canning Time

Once each year, my old Granny Morrison of Kentucky would set aside a week for canning. During this time she would take the fresh vegetables and fruits they had grown and put them in jars, and then seal the lid to preserve them. If not sealed properly, in time the lid would pop and the ingredients spoil.

God preserves also, but He has never had one container that did not, or will not, make it to His heavenly table. He seals His children with the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit keeps what is committed to Him from spoiling and going bad. The saints’ perseverance is only because of God’s preservation.

Jesus said that both He and His Father keep their sheep, which, He states, are in the hands of them both. They’re sandwiched in, so to speak. This, says our Lord, is why no man is able to pluck them out of their hands. We are clasped between Sovereign hands. 

To suppose that this doctrine leads to careless living is a misconception and misunderstanding of the Holy Scriptures. In every real saint there is heart-holiness. True, a sheep may fall into a mud hole, but it is out of character for it to stay there. It is not its nature! A hog will wallow in the mire and enjoy it, but God’s sheep is miserable until restored to righteousness.

*Guard Your Heart

“If I know my heart, I could never do that.” Whenever you hear a statement such as this, it is apparent the person making it knows little or nothing of the human heart. Peter, like many before and after him, thought he knew it. He believed others capable of doing atrocious things, but never himself. This is the worse, and most dangerous, of spiritual pride.

The Bible tells us of a deceiver who lives inside each of Adam’s race. We are constantly lied to by him, and what is worse, as Israel of old with its false prophets, we love to have it so. We are not coerced into believing falsehoods about ourselves. We readily consent to it. We allow ourselves to be deceived by ourselves.

Is it any wonder then that the wise man says, “Madness is in their heart while they live.” Have we not learned by now that the liar within always promises good but ends by performing the bad? Only by having a regenerate heart, and yielding unconditionally to the One who gave it, can we be assured it will “…do [us] good and not evil all the days of [our] life.

Whoever rules your heart will decide your outcome.

Faith in the Possible

“…because thou believest not my words.” Zacharias was a priest after the old order, his wife Elisabeth of the daughters of Aaron. They were both righteous, walking before the Lord blameless, but were now old and well stricken in years. They were childless and had prayed for a little one during those years when it was possible for his wife to conceive.  But when it was no longer humanly achievable, they had evidently given up any hope. Thus he questions the angel. This is all made plain by the conversation between Zacharias and Gabriel (Lk.1:5-20).

Earlier in the chapter when Mary was approached by the same angel and told of her conception, she basically asked the same question as Zacharias, but was not reproached for it. Why? Because what was going to happen to her had never been done before in the history of the world. But in the case of Zacharias it had been, in the case of Abraham and Sarah. In other words, he had the Old Testament scriptures and the words spoken to Abraham by the angel, “Is any thing too hard for the LORD?” The account in Gen 18: 9-14 is almost identical to Luke’s.

How easy it is to flaunt ones faith in the presence of possibilities.But once it enters the realm of the impossible, we seem to leave our faith outside the door. Do we not yet realize, as the little poem says, “God is a tower without a stair, and His perfection loves despair?” It is when we come to the end of self that we find God. The reason God has not yet worked on behalf of many of us is because there is still yet a human possibility. How wonderful when “all hope is taken away.” It is then we can be of good cheer, knowing it shall be even as it was told us! (Acts 27)

The Preeminence of Preaching

When writing his young protégé, Timothy, Paul referred to himself first as a preacher, then as an apostle and teacher (1Tim.2:7; 2Tim.1:11). Paul, like his Lord, was preeminently a preacher (Lk.4:18). It seems to me that preaching is basically a calling, whereas teaching has to do with the gifts (Eph.4:11). I tend to believe God calls men to preach, then gifts them for the particular ministry he has for them, evangelist, pastor, teacher, etc. For example, in the latter’s case, he was called first to preach, then gifted as a teacher.

How sad it is today that there are so few real old-fashioned preachers. Yet, at the same time, we seem to have an over-abundance of teachers. This could account for the woeful condition of the Church in our time. I have a little saying: “Preaching gets you right; teaching keeps you right.” I’ve seen few get right with God under a teaching ministry. And I’ve observed there is very little spiritual growth under preaching. The order is preaching, then comes the teaching. To reverse this order is to fill a church with educated sinners.

I remember when the saints used to say to one another, “Let’s go  to preaching.” But now they heap to themselves teachers. Paul admonished young Timothy, “Preach the word.” If you’re a preacher reading this today, then I adjure you by the living God, “PREACH! PREACH! PREACH”! And you, who have been blessed to sit under a real old-time type of preacher, bow your heads and thank God for him. You’re not apt to see his kind again.

  

Courageous or Coward

In Ephesians chapter six, we find God has provided seven pieces of spiritual armour for every Christian warrior. These are to be applied daily by faith. You will notice the greaves for the legs have been replaced by prayer, because our battles are fought on our knees, thus protecting them.

Six of these parts are for defense, and only one (the sword) is offensive. This tells me we are to take more than we dish out. Few, if any of God’s soldiers have ever quit the battle while wielding their swords. It’s when the enemy fights back and the going gets tough that they desert The Captain of their Salvation.

I find the ones who stay the course wind up tough as leather, but the defectors become hard as a rock. And understandingly so, for shame and disgrace follow turncoats wherever they go! By the way, the wise man tells us, “…there is no discharge in that war.”  

If you get knocked down, get up. At least as far as your knees.

 

*Just Do It!

A promise kept is better than a promise made. It takes little if any character to do the latter, but it takes a lot for the first. Jesus’ story of the father who asked his two sons to work in his vineyard bears this out. One promised he would, but didn’t; the other made no such promise, and did. It was the second of these that our Lord commended.

The wise man in Ecclesiastes tells us it is better not to promise than to do so and not keep it. We need to stop talking and start doing. As one of our modern day cliché’s goes, “Just do it.” And even an older one says, “Talk is cheap.” As I used to tell my people when I was a pastor, “I’m gonna’ never done nothin’!”

“Arise [therefore], and be doing, and the LORD be with thee.”

An Old Man’s Advice

“But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him.” If you’re familiar with the story, you know from this point on Rehoboam’s life began falling apart, becoming a shambles.

Even from a young age I have always sought the advice of older men. It never made sense to me to ask someone on the same road as myself what may lie ahead. I figured asking and listening to someone who had been down that road was the smartest thing to do.

If I could advise our younger generation (as well as some of my well-meaning peers), I would counsel them to cease trying to be “Spiritual.” There is nothing more nauseating, I believe, to God and man, than a man or woman who puts on a spiritual air. It seems important for him or her to always be seen as a “spiritual person.” God forbid he or she ever be considered as a human being.

God’s emphasis is on obedience! If one is that, the Spiritual will take care of itself. “To obey is better_____.” And anything you may fill-in the blank with will not suffice. Saul would have come across as “Spiritual” to most today, but not to God. To Him, he was a disobedient rebel! He knew exactly what God required of him, yet attempted with his “spiritual” substitute to buy off the Lord. But the grand old Book still says, “To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth [it] not, to him it is sin.

If you act “spiritual,” then you’re an actor.

The Immorality of Unbelief

“But the...unbelieving, and…whoremongers...shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone.” Unbelief is a terrible thing. It’s kin to the abominable, murderers, whoremongers, sorcerers, idolaters and liars. Unbelief is immoral. It’s the most serious of all sins. It’s the only thing that damns the soul (Mk. 16:16b).

Christians seem to think that their initial faith in Christ was sufficient for all of life, not realizing that was only the beginning. Our life is to be “from faith to faith.” From start to finish, it’s faith. Paul said, “The life I now live I live by the faith of the Son of God.” He said in another place, “The just shall live by faith.” Dear friend, do we not realize “without faith it is impossible to please God”? 

 We do not consider our sins to be as vile as the ones mentioned in our text. But unbelief is as immoral as whoremongering. In the Old Testament, when the people of God ceased to put their faith in the Lord, and turned their backs on Him, the term the Bible uses is “Then were they defiled...and went a whoring.”

“Take heed, brethren, lest their be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.” (Heb.3:12).

Indwelling Sin

Three times in Romans chapter seven the Apostle tells us sin dwells in us. The emphasis today is on the outward results of sin, not the inward reality. It is only that person who understands indwelling sin who is useful to and fruitful for God.

 Our very nature is opposed to God. Every act of sin shows the old nature being antagonistic toward God. No area of our life is secured without a struggle. When we would do good, evil is always there to fight against it. There is a continual civil war going on within each of us, and it will remain so “till death do us part.” This is why we are to, “put no confidence in the flesh.” We are to have a habitual distrust in ourselves.

In our modern day we no longer blame sinfulness, but replace it with “sickness.” We want external reformation, without the Spirit’s internal regeneration. Outward cosmetic surgery will not change the inward condition of the heart. The Puritan, John Owen, dreamed for “a commonwealth of godliness,” but saw it all collapse. The political aspiration he had for his beloved nation burst like soap bubbles. He saw clearly, in the latter part of his life, that the reality of it all was indwelling sin.

When the Hounds Hound You

Shimei cursed David. And what was David’s response? “Let him curse.” David knew that man’s curses are impotent, but God’s blessings are omnipotent. You can’t curse what God has blessed; ask Baalim. If God blesses us, it matters little who curses us. The curser only shows the malice and mischief of his own heart.

The blessings of God do not counterbalance the curses of the foe; they by far outweigh them. David’s principle at such times was, “Let them curse, but bless thou.” God’s chosen vessel always expected a special blessing from God when the cursing started. No wonder David finishes this text in Psalms by saying he would rejoice at such times.

When you’re cursed for being blessed,” bless them that curse you.”

Loving Life

There are small pockets of dear folk in Christianity who believe and teach that life is simple, and that it should be lived accordingly. I’m sure all believer’s wish it were so, but that is not reality. Life is a paradox. It is both fascinating and perplexing; wonderful yet mysterious. To escape the unpleasantries of life, as Paul wrote…“for then must ye needs go out of the world.”

I told my wife once while driving how I thanked God He created and chose me to be His own, that He put me on this earth to live among mankind. To think that I may have, but for God’s grace, never existed, being a nonentity, boggles my mind. But living this life without my Maker being central to it, well, as our Lord said, “…good were it for that man if he had never been born.”

Yes, there can be some bitter experiences along life’s journey. But just as Moses put the tree into the bitter waters, making them sweet for God’s people to drink, so we can put Christ into every bitter situation, thereby transforming bitterness into sweetness. As in mixing a cake, many of the ingredients are distasteful when taken separately, but when mixed together, and after enduring the heat, it is a delight

Peter speaks to Christians who “love life.” Well I’m one who does. “The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God.”

*When He Comes

“Men ought always to pray and not to faint...Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on earth?” The latter part of our text is not speaking of the whole of Faith, but that of the individual. The context proves this to be so. It’s continual, prevailing, importune prayer that our Lord is drawing our attention to. The old timers referred to it as “prayin’ through.

Jesus tells us that just before His coming there will be a fainting among His elect, rather than an unceasing prayer of faith. There will be a form, but not faith. It will be feigned prayer; that is, play-acting. Our text seems to prove a universal darkness will prevail on earth before the Sun of Righteousness arises in His strength. You know, “It’s always darkest before the dawn.” At least, it appears that way to me. Paul’s epistles seem to indicate this also (1Tim.4; 2Tim.3).

No matter what one believes the teaching of the text to be, all must agree that Christ is looking for faith in His followers. He’s not impressed with all the things we try to substitute for it—but, faith itself. And without it, it’s impossible for us to ever please Him; no matter what else we may try to get His attention with.

God heard Elijah because Elijah heard God. (A.W Tozer)

He’s Lord of the Ship

It is difficult for me to understand people who misunderstand Lordship. It seems like something that is so simple, clear, and settled in Heaven, would not be so hotly debated on earth. He did teach us to pray “...on earth as it is in heaven,” did He not?

I can’t imagine anyone wanting to argue over His Lordship. To me, it is an established fact. I don’t know where the term “Lordship salvation” came from, but that is not the issue. What is plain is that all the major texts in the New Testament on salvation in Jesus Christ always have His Lordship associated with them.

I have seen people go to a so-called “altar” and return to the pew saying they made Jesus Lord of their lives. Preachers and evangelists constantly appeal to their hearers to make Jesus Lord. I’ve listened to long, drawn-out testimonies of how someone was supposedly saved, and, after continuing in sin for years, they finally made Jesus, Lord.

The truth is, no one can make Jesus, Lord. We are told in Acts 2:36, “..that God hath made…Jesus…Lord…” Only a Sovereign God has the right and power to make Him Lord. I can acknowledge Him as such; I can confess Him to be my Lord; but I cannot make Him Lord. He is Lord, no matter what I say, think, or do.

If Jesus Christ is not Lord of the ship I’m on, then I’ve taken the wrong ship.

“[N]o man can say that Jesus is Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.” “David in Spirit call[ed] him Lord.”

Four-Hundred and Ninety Times

“Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”

My wife and I were having lunch with our elder son and his lovely wife at a quaint little restaurant, not long ago. During the course of the meal (as is always the case; he’s a pastor), we began discussing the scriptures. I mentioned the above text and how I was fascinated, not so much by the one doing the forgiving, but the sorry person, as I described him that keeps sinning against his brother. Andrew mentioned I should do an article on the subject.

I think all will admit there is something drastically missing in the dispositional makeup of a man or woman who is continually sinning against another and asking forgiveness. But what I do not want to admit is that I am that “sorry person” I was going to write about. It seems as I get older, and go on for the Lord that the biggest part of my prayer time and fellowship is spent in saying, “Forgive me, Lord.” And I thank God the answer has been, and always will be, as long as I am in this flesh, “I freely forgive you all.”

I passed the four-hundred and ninety mark long, long ago, but bless His Holy name, He doesn’t keep score!   

“If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?” “But [there is] forgiveness with thee.”