Sinners should be afraid! They have a angry God above them,
a guilty conscience in them, and a
yawning hell below them!
-Matthew Henry
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Sleeping in church?
-Spurgeon, "Awake! Awake!"
Behold, how many professing Christians there are that are
asleep in this sense! They are inactive.
Sinners are dying in the street by hundreds; men are
sinking into the flames of eternal wrath, but they fold their
arms, they pity the poor perishing sinner, but they do
nothing to show that their pity is real. They go to their
places of worship; they occupy their well-cushioned easy
pew; they wish the minister to feed hem every Sabbath;
but there is never a child taught in the Sunday-school by
them; there is never a tract istributed at the poor man's
house; there is never a deed done which might be the
means of saving souls.
We call them good men; some of them we even elect to
the office of deacons; and no doubt good men they are.
But they are good-- good for nothing; for they just sit and
eat the bread, but they do not plow the field; they drink
the wine, but they will not raise the vine that produces it.
They think that they are to live unto themselves, forgetting
that "no man lives unto himself, and no man dies unto
himself." Oh, what a vast amount of sleeping we have in all
our churches and chapels; for truly if our churches were
once awake, so far as 'materials' are concerned, there are
enough converted men and women, and there is enough
talent with them, and enough money with them, and
enough time with them, God granting the abundance of His
Holy Spirit, which he would be sure to do if they were all
zealous-- there is enough to preach the gospel in every
corner of the earth. The church does not need to stop for
lack of instruments, or for lack of agencies; we have
everything now except the will; we have all that we may
expect to give for the conversion of the world, except just
a heart for the work, and the Spirit of God poured out into
our midst.
Oh! brethren, "let us not sleep as do others."
-Spurgeon, "Awake! Awake!"
Behold, how many professing Christians there are that are
asleep in this sense! They are inactive.
Sinners are dying in the street by hundreds; men are
sinking into the flames of eternal wrath, but they fold their
arms, they pity the poor perishing sinner, but they do
nothing to show that their pity is real. They go to their
places of worship; they occupy their well-cushioned easy
pew; they wish the minister to feed hem every Sabbath;
but there is never a child taught in the Sunday-school by
them; there is never a tract istributed at the poor man's
house; there is never a deed done which might be the
means of saving souls.
We call them good men; some of them we even elect to
the office of deacons; and no doubt good men they are.
But they are good-- good for nothing; for they just sit and
eat the bread, but they do not plow the field; they drink
the wine, but they will not raise the vine that produces it.
They think that they are to live unto themselves, forgetting
that "no man lives unto himself, and no man dies unto
himself." Oh, what a vast amount of sleeping we have in all
our churches and chapels; for truly if our churches were
once awake, so far as 'materials' are concerned, there are
enough converted men and women, and there is enough
talent with them, and enough money with them, and
enough time with them, God granting the abundance of His
Holy Spirit, which he would be sure to do if they were all
zealous-- there is enough to preach the gospel in every
corner of the earth. The church does not need to stop for
lack of instruments, or for lack of agencies; we have
everything now except the will; we have all that we may
expect to give for the conversion of the world, except just
a heart for the work, and the Spirit of God poured out into
our midst.
Oh! brethren, "let us not sleep as do others."
| |
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
The cream of all earthly joys!
From Spurgeon's, "Foretastes of the Heavenly Life"
This is the cream of all earthly joys-- to know
that we ourselves are accepted in God's sight.
O! to feel that I, a guilty worm, am
now received in my Father's bosom!
That I, a lost prodigal, am now
feasting at his table with delight!
That I, who once heard the voice of his anger,
now listen to the notes of his love.
This is joy--this is joy worth worlds!
From Spurgeon's, "Foretastes of the Heavenly Life"
This is the cream of all earthly joys-- to know
that we ourselves are accepted in God's sight.
O! to feel that I, a guilty worm, am
now received in my Father's bosom!
That I, a lost prodigal, am now
feasting at his table with delight!
That I, who once heard the voice of his anger,
now listen to the notes of his love.
This is joy--this is joy worth worlds!
| |
All of our sins, of every size, shape, form, hue, degree,
or fashion, are altogether gone! Crimson sins, black sins,
crying sins, every sort of iniquity from your childhood until
now, and right on till you enter into the rest of the Beloved,
they were all taken and laid upon Christ, and he made an
end of them all when he offered up His great expiatory
sacrifice! He has put away sin as a whole for His chosen ones!
or fashion, are altogether gone! Crimson sins, black sins,
crying sins, every sort of iniquity from your childhood until
now, and right on till you enter into the rest of the Beloved,
they were all taken and laid upon Christ, and he made an
end of them all when he offered up His great expiatory
sacrifice! He has put away sin as a whole for His chosen ones!
The cream of all earthly joys!
From Spurgeon's, "Foretastes of the Heavenly Life"
This is the cream of all earthly joys-- to know
that we ourselves are accepted in God's sight.
O! to feel that I, a guilty worm, am
now received in my Father's bosom!
That I, a lost prodigal, am now
feasting at his table with delight!
That I, who once heard the voice of his anger,
now listen to the notes of his love.
This is joy--this is joy worth worlds!
From Spurgeon's, "Foretastes of the Heavenly Life"
This is the cream of all earthly joys-- to know
that we ourselves are accepted in God's sight.
O! to feel that I, a guilty worm, am
now received in my Father's bosom!
That I, a lost prodigal, am now
feasting at his table with delight!
That I, who once heard the voice of his anger,
now listen to the notes of his love.
This is joy--this is joy worth worlds!
Friday, September 20, 2013
Henry Law, "Family Prayers")
"It is finished!" John 19:30
Holy Father,
The heavens, the earth, and all that are therein, proclaim Your wondrous goodness. But Your love shines forth in surpassing luster—at Calvary's stupendous scene! At the cross we see Your heavenly grace removing the tremendous load of our iniquities from us—and heaping them all on Your beloved Son! We see Him standing as a transgressor in our place. We see Him, who knew no sin—made sin for us. We see Him, the all-holy One—accounted as a curse! We see Your justice leading the spotless Lamb to the slaughter—and rigorously demanding the full payment for all our sin-debt!
The avenging sword enters into His very heart!
The stream of sin-atoning blood flows!
Full recompense is meted out!
Divine Justice can ask no more.
Charges against us are all obliterated.
The debt-book is cancelled. If our sins are searched for, they cannot now be found!
The spotless Lamb is devoted to all anguish—that we may be inheritors of all joy.
He is cast off from You—that we may be brought near to You.
He is treated as Your enemy—that we may be welcomed as Your friends.
He is deserted by You—that we may be received to Your everlasting favor.
He is surrendered to hell's worst—that we may attain heaven's best.
He is stripped—that we may be clothed.
He is wounded—that we may be healed.
He thirsts—that we may drink of the water of life.
He is in darkness—that we may rejoice in the glories of eternal day.
He weeps—that all tears may be forever wiped from our eyes.
He groans—that we may sing an endless song.
He endures all pain—that we may rejoice in unfading health.
He wears a crown of thorns—that we may receive a crown of glory.
He bows His head in death—that we may lift up our head in heaven.
He bears earth's reproach—that we may receive heaven's welcome.
He is tormented—that we may be comforted.
He is made all shame—that we may inherit all glory.
His eyes are dark in death—that our eyes may gaze on unclouded brightness.
He dies—that we may escape the second death, and live forevermore.
O gracious Father, thus You spare not Your only begotten Son—that You may spare us! All our sins are cast behind Your back—all are buried in the ocean of reconciling blood!
We can only fall low and cry, "We adore You for the gift of Your Son as our substitute; for the death of Your Son as our ransom!"
Blessed Jesus, we have been standing beneath Your cross. The sight constrains us to the deepest humility. Our vile iniquity—is the cause of Your shame! We cannot fathom the sins which plunged You into such depths of unutterable woe! We cannot estimate the burden of wrath which thus crushed You. We cannot deny that the sins which stain us are evils of infinite malignity, since nothing but Your blood could wash away their guilty stains! As transgressors, we abhor ourselves before You.
While we humbly gaze—may we anxiously ponder, "Why, blessed Jesus—why did You thus die?" May His precious answer sound through every part of our hearts and souls,
"I die—that you may not die.
I lay down My life—to purchase your life.
I present Myself as a sin-offering to—expiate all your sins.
My blood thus streams—to wash out all your guilt.
The fountain is thus opened in My side—to cleanse you from all impurity. I thus endure your curse. I thus pay your debt. I thus rescue you from all condemnation. I thus satisfy divine justice for you!"
"It is finished!" John 19:30
Holy Father,
The heavens, the earth, and all that are therein, proclaim Your wondrous goodness. But Your love shines forth in surpassing luster—at Calvary's stupendous scene! At the cross we see Your heavenly grace removing the tremendous load of our iniquities from us—and heaping them all on Your beloved Son! We see Him standing as a transgressor in our place. We see Him, who knew no sin—made sin for us. We see Him, the all-holy One—accounted as a curse! We see Your justice leading the spotless Lamb to the slaughter—and rigorously demanding the full payment for all our sin-debt!
The avenging sword enters into His very heart!
The stream of sin-atoning blood flows!
Full recompense is meted out!
Divine Justice can ask no more.
Charges against us are all obliterated.
The debt-book is cancelled. If our sins are searched for, they cannot now be found!
The spotless Lamb is devoted to all anguish—that we may be inheritors of all joy.
He is cast off from You—that we may be brought near to You.
He is treated as Your enemy—that we may be welcomed as Your friends.
He is deserted by You—that we may be received to Your everlasting favor.
He is surrendered to hell's worst—that we may attain heaven's best.
He is stripped—that we may be clothed.
He is wounded—that we may be healed.
He thirsts—that we may drink of the water of life.
He is in darkness—that we may rejoice in the glories of eternal day.
He weeps—that all tears may be forever wiped from our eyes.
He groans—that we may sing an endless song.
He endures all pain—that we may rejoice in unfading health.
He wears a crown of thorns—that we may receive a crown of glory.
He bows His head in death—that we may lift up our head in heaven.
He bears earth's reproach—that we may receive heaven's welcome.
He is tormented—that we may be comforted.
He is made all shame—that we may inherit all glory.
His eyes are dark in death—that our eyes may gaze on unclouded brightness.
He dies—that we may escape the second death, and live forevermore.
O gracious Father, thus You spare not Your only begotten Son—that You may spare us! All our sins are cast behind Your back—all are buried in the ocean of reconciling blood!
We can only fall low and cry, "We adore You for the gift of Your Son as our substitute; for the death of Your Son as our ransom!"
Blessed Jesus, we have been standing beneath Your cross. The sight constrains us to the deepest humility. Our vile iniquity—is the cause of Your shame! We cannot fathom the sins which plunged You into such depths of unutterable woe! We cannot estimate the burden of wrath which thus crushed You. We cannot deny that the sins which stain us are evils of infinite malignity, since nothing but Your blood could wash away their guilty stains! As transgressors, we abhor ourselves before You.
While we humbly gaze—may we anxiously ponder, "Why, blessed Jesus—why did You thus die?" May His precious answer sound through every part of our hearts and souls,
"I die—that you may not die.
I lay down My life—to purchase your life.
I present Myself as a sin-offering to—expiate all your sins.
My blood thus streams—to wash out all your guilt.
The fountain is thus opened in My side—to cleanse you from all impurity. I thus endure your curse. I thus pay your debt. I thus rescue you from all condemnation. I thus satisfy divine justice for you!"
"Christ, who loved us!" Romans 8:37
No condition can possibly be more dreary—than to feel that no one loves or cares for us!
There is something peculiarly sweet and pleasant—in being the object of another's love. Even the love of a poor child is sweet. But to be loved by one who is most wealthy, most exalted in station, and most honorable in character—must be peculiarly delightful!
How, then, should we rejoice; how happy should we be—who are loved by the Lord Jesus! Especially when we consider:
on the one hand:
how despicable,
how poor,
how worthless, and
how unlovely WE are!
And, on the other hand:
how glorious,
how wealthy,
how worthy,
how lovely JESUS is!
To be loved by Jesus—is to be preferred before the possession of a world!
Think of . . .
the glory of His person,
the vastness of His possessions,
the number of His angelic attendants,
the unlimited sovereignty which He exercises,
and the excellent character He bears!
Also bear in mind—that He knew what loving us would cost Him—how He would be treated by us and by others—for our sakes!
Yet He fixed His love upon US!
He loved US—just because He would!
He passed by others more dignified in nature, more exalted in station—but He chose US!
He did not, could not, NEED us—for He was infinitely happy and glorious without us!
Yet He loved us!
He still loves us!
No condition can possibly be more dreary—than to feel that no one loves or cares for us!
There is something peculiarly sweet and pleasant—in being the object of another's love. Even the love of a poor child is sweet. But to be loved by one who is most wealthy, most exalted in station, and most honorable in character—must be peculiarly delightful!
How, then, should we rejoice; how happy should we be—who are loved by the Lord Jesus! Especially when we consider:
on the one hand:
how despicable,
how poor,
how worthless, and
how unlovely WE are!
And, on the other hand:
how glorious,
how wealthy,
how worthy,
how lovely JESUS is!
To be loved by Jesus—is to be preferred before the possession of a world!
Think of . . .
the glory of His person,
the vastness of His possessions,
the number of His angelic attendants,
the unlimited sovereignty which He exercises,
and the excellent character He bears!
Also bear in mind—that He knew what loving us would cost Him—how He would be treated by us and by others—for our sakes!
Yet He fixed His love upon US!
He loved US—just because He would!
He passed by others more dignified in nature, more exalted in station—but He chose US!
He did not, could not, NEED us—for He was infinitely happy and glorious without us!
Yet He loved us!
He still loves us!
Psalm 23:1
The shepherd is a favorite Scriptural picture of the divine love and care. In the Old Testament, the twenty-third Psalm gathers the whole wonderful truth in exquisite lines, which are dear to young and old wherever the Bible is known. Then in the New Testament, when our Lord would give His friends the sweetest revealings of His heart toward them, and tell them what they are to Him, and what He would be to them—He says, "I am the Good Shepherd."
The Hebrew shepherd lives with his sheep. If they are out in the storm—he is with them. If they are exposed to danger—so is he. Just so, Christ lives with His people. He enters into closest relations with them.
The shepherd knows his sheep. He has a name for each one and calls them all by their names. Just so, Christ knows each one of His friends, has intimate personal knowledge of each one. He knows the best in us—and also the worst—our faults, our sins, our wanderings. Yet, knowing us as we are—He loves us still and never wearies of us!
The shepherd is most gentle with his sheep. He does not drive them—but goes before them and leads them. When they need rest on the way—he makes them lie down, and chooses for their resting-place, not the dusty road—but green pastures. He is especially kind to the lambs, gathers them in his arms and carries them in his bosom. All this is an exquisite picture of the gentleness of our Good Shepherd in His care of His sheep. He is thoughtful toward the weak. He loves the lambs and makes room for them on His bosom. Whatever the need is, there is something in the heart of Christ which meets its craving and supplies its lack!
The shepherd defends his flock in all danger. Often he had to risk his own safety, even his life, in protecting his sheep. Just so, the Good Shepherd gives His life—for His sheep!
Christ's sheep are absolutely safe in His keeping. "I give unto them eternal life," He said; "and they will never perish—ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand!" Then at last, He will bring His own all safely home, "and they shall become one flock—with one Shepherd!"
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
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