Old Yet Ever New By Theodore Epp

    By Theodore Epp 

1 John 2:7-11

The statements concerning the old and the new commandment sound paradoxical. They can be readily reconciled, however. The Apostle John wrote here, as 1 John 2:9-11 shows, about our love for one another. 

In a sense this is not a new commandment; it is an old one that goes back to the time when God made man in His own image. Since man was made in the image of God, love was part of the expression of his life. It is old also in the sense that the Old Testament Law was summarized in the commands to love God and love our neighbor.

From all of this one might conclude that there is nothing new about this commandment at all, and yet there is an aspect that is new. We are given the clue to this in the expression, "The darkness is past, and the true light now shineth" (v. 8). Here again the present tense was used, and the translation could read: "The darkness is passing, and the true light is now shining." 

Under the Old Testament Law, people were commanded to love, but the Law did not provide them with the ability to obey. Only as the Holy Spirit could get control of individual hearts was this possible.

"This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you" (John 15:12).

I will deal well with you-James Smith

(James Smith "The Pastor's Morning Visit")

"I will deal well with you!" Genesis 32:9

So the Lord promised Jacob; and the promises made unto our spiritual fathers — He will fulfill unto us, their children. But such a promise does not exclude:
  great trials,
  sore temptations,
  deep personal afflictions,
  fiery persecutions,
  poverty,
  disappointments,
  and perplexity!

All these things may happen unto us — and yet the Lord is still dealing well with us. The promise secures . . .

   the sanctification of our troubles,
   the communication of necessary grace,
   deliverance from all real evils,
   the supply of all real needs, and
   the satisfying of our best desires.

Is not this enough — to know that Jehovah will deal well with us . . .
   in sickness and health;
   in life and in death;
   in time and through eternity?

This promise is . . .

Jehovah's bond,
the believer's plea,
the ground of the Christian's confidence,
a reason for contentment and gratitude,
and the cause of our enemies' confusion.

Jacob, though tried, found the Lord faithful — and so shall we! Let us therefore rejoice that our God has said, "I will deal well with you!I will make all My goodness pass before you. I will save you with an everlasting salvation. I will be your God, and your glory."

Gracious Lord, do as You have said!

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Father knows best by Thomas Brooks

("The Mute Christian Under the Smarting Rod"
 or, "The Silent Soul with Sovereign Antidotes"
 by Thomas Brooks, 1659, London.)

"Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they
 thought best; but God disciplines us for our good,
 that we may share in His holiness." Hebrews 12:10.

What God, our Father wills, is best.

When He wills sickness, sickness in better than health.

When He wills weakness, weakness is better than strength.

When He wills want, want is better than wealth.

When He wills reproach, reproach is better than honor.

When He wills death, death is better than life.

As God is wisdom itself, and so knows that which is
best; so He is goodness itself, and therefore cannot
do anything but that which is best—therefore remain
silent before the Lord.

    ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Prayer for a time of bereavement By John MacDuff

(John MacDuff, "Family Prayers" 1885)

The desire of our eyes has been taken away by a stroke! The shadows of death have unexpectedly fallen around us! Oh forbid that we should rebel under the rod, and refuse to be comforted. Let us glorify You "in the fires!" Let us feel that if we are Your children, there is not a drop of wrath, in that cup of sorrow; but all is love, infinite love! We would see no hand but Yours. You gave us our blessings—and You have a supreme and inalienable right to take them away! "Even so, Father, for it seems good in Your sight." 

O Lord God Almighty, though Your way may sometimes seem to be in the sea, and Your path in the deep waters, and Your judgments unsearchable—yet nothing can happen by accident or chance. All is the unerring dictate of Your infinite wisdom and unchanging faithfulness and love. "This also comes from the Lord Almighty," who is ever "excellent in working." Often we cannot discern, through our tears, the rectitude and love of Your afflictive dispensations. Often are we led to say, with trembling hearts, "Truly, You are a God who hides Yourself." But all is well. We could not wish our concerns in better hands, than in Yours. 

You cannot send one trial that is unnecessary, or light one spark in the furnace that might be spared. We will be silent, we will not open our mouths, because You are the one who has done this! Man may err, and has often erred. But, O unerring God—the Judge of all the earth must do right! We would seek to lie submissive at Your feet, and say in unmurmuring resignation, "May Your will be done." 

Our earnest prayer, blessed God, is, that this severe trial may be sanctified to us all. We have need of such a blow—to remind us that this earth is not our rest. We were leaning on the creature—we were disowning and undeifying the Great Creator. You would not leave us to ourselves, to settle on our lees. You saw the need of Fatherly chastisement, to bring back our alien and truant hearts to Yourself. Oh, may we listen to our Father's voice. May we feel it to be a loud voice, and yet full of gentle tenderness. May it rouse within each of us the question, "What will You have me to do?" May we "arise and call upon our God!" Thus may this very affliction, which, for the present, seems not to be joyous but grievous, nevertheless afterward yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness. 

Let us hear Jesus' voice of encouragement and love, sounding amid the stillness of the death-chamber, and from the depths of the sepulcher, "Don't be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one who died. Look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave!" 

O Helper of the helpless, Comforter of all who are cast down, better and dearer than the dearest and best of earthly relatives—give us that grace which You have promised specially in seasons of weakness. May we realize the truth of Your own precious promise, "As your day—so shall your strength be." 

May this thought reconcile us to bear all and suffer all—that we shall soon be done with this present evil world—and be with our God, and that forever and ever! Hide us meanwhile, in the clefts of the Smitten Rock, until this and all other of earth's calamities are over and past. May we trust Your heart—where we cannot trace Your hand! We wait patiently for the great day of disclosures, when all shall be revealed; and all be found redounding to the praise and the glory of Your great name!

Hear us, blessed God. All that we ask, is for the sake of Your dear Son—our only Lord and Savior.  Amen.

God's chain and God's plan By William S. Plumer

(William S. Plumer, "A Treatise on Providence")

God's ways are unsearchable.

God's judgments are past finding out.

God's compassions are infinite.

God's power is almighty.

God's wisdom is unerring.

"I know that You can do all things; no plan of Yours
can be thwarted." Job 42:2

Providences are long chains with many links in them.
If one link were missing, the event would fail. But it
is God's chain and God's plan. The thing is fixed.
The outcome is not doubtful.

"My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.
What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have
planned, that will I do." Isaiah 46:10-11

"The plan of Him who works out everything in conformity
with the purpose of His will." Ephesians 1:11

"This is the plan determined for the whole world."
Isaiah 14:26

Isaiah 32:8

8 But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand.

The Fire Falls By Theodore Epp

By Theodore Epp

      

1 Kings 18:30-39

By having water poured over the sacrifice as often as he did, Elijah prevented any human counterfeiting or trickery. Then he began to pray.

This short prayer has only 63 English words (even fewer in Hebrew), and it takes about 20 seconds to speak them. But the prophets of Baal had prayed to their idol for several hours and had received no answer at all. Elijah prayed for 20 seconds, and God answered by fire.

Elijah's prayer differed in character and sincerity from that of the prophets of Baal. James described it when he said, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5:16).

Even some Christians seem to misunderstand what this verse means. They shout in prayer as though God were deaf. They put on a demonstration as though they had to attract God's attention. Earnestness in prayer does not involve physical gestures but a condition of the heart and will with regard to the purposes of God.

Perhaps here we may learn to examine our own prayers. Since Elijah's prayer was motivated by his desire to see God honored, God answered His servant. In writing concerning prayer James said, "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts" (4:3). Right motives are essential if our prayers are to be answered.

"For our God is a consuming fire" (Heb. 12:29).

A new year-Arthur Pink

                                       (Arthur Pink)

"Go forward!" Exodus 14:15

Is not this a timely word for each of us as we enter into, and journey through, a new year?

We need to clearly realize that there is no such thing as remaining stationary in the spiritual life. If we do not progress — we inevitably retrograde. How that solemn fact should search our hearts!

Christian friend, your history this year will be either one of going forward — or backsliding. This new year will mark either an increased fruitfulness in your soul and life, to the glory of Him whose name you bear — or increased leanness and barrenness, to His reproach. It will witness either a growing in grace — or a decline in your spirituality. It will record either an increased love for the Word, use of the Throne of Grace, strictness of walk and closer communion with Christ — or a growing coldness and a following of Him afar off!

"Go forward!" Exodus 14:15

  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Wait on the Lord By James Smith

By James Smith, of Cheltenham, New York, 1869.

"Lead me in your truth, and teach me; for you are the God of my salvation; on you do I wait all the day." Psalm 25:5

The Lord intends to keep his people dependent upon himself. He has everything they can need. He intends to supply all their needs; but he will be applied to. He will have his people wait on him, and wait for him. In doing so, he will try their faith, fortitude, patience, and perseverance. He will sometimes put them to a severe test, but he will never fail them, forsake them, or leave them destitute. If they trust in him, plead with him, and wait on him, they will be raised to a state of comparative security, for they need not fear any man, or any circumstance, or any state they can be in. The Lord will be to them their God. He will do for them all that God can do; and that is, all they can require, all that is consistent with their welfare and his own glory.

Believer, you may be independent of all creation by realizing your dependence upon your God, and waiting upon him continually. You must believe the love he has to you, his watchful care over you, his delight in you, the promises he has given you, the provision he has made for you, the glory he will get by you, and the honor to which he intends to raise you. In so doing, the fear of man will die, joy in God will spring up, the peace of God will fill your heart and mind, your dependence on creatures will cease, and you will be happy in looking only to the Lord. "My soul, wait only upon God; for my expectation is from him." "Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt you to inherit the land– when the wicked are cut off, you shall see it"

Wait in all CIRCUMSTANCES.

You can be in no circumstances in which the Lord can not help you, in which he will not help you, if you look simply to him, rest on him, and wait for him. For every condition in which you may be placed, there is a promise; by that promise the Lord stands pledged to appear for you and help you; he is ever ready to deliverer you; only he will have you believe his word, exercise confidence in him, plead the promise at his throne, and wait for its fulfillment. Wait, then, on the Lord at all times. Times will change, creatures will vary, but the Lord remains always the same. In youth and health, in manhood and prosperity, in old age and its infirmities, we should wait on the Lord. He will adapt his mercies to us, make all his goodness pass before us, and cause all things to work together for our good. He will never leave us, change his views of us, or withhold his tender mercies from us. He is faithful to his word, true to his character, and full of love to his people.

Whatever change there may be in creatures, there is no change in him. Health may give way to sickness, plenty to poverty, strength to weakness, and life to death, but he is the same. With him there is no variableness, neither shadow of a turn. Therefore, "wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord."

Wait for LIGHT IN DARKNESS.

Dark seasons you will have, for it is the lot of all Christians. A cloud may come over your prospects, and the sentence of death may be passed on many of your comforts. Your gourd may be smitten and wither, and the Lord may take away the desire of your eyes with a stroke. He may seem to turn against you, to turn his hand against you all the day. There may be no sweet intimations of his love, no pleasant communion with him at his throne, no sensible communion with him in his ordinances– all within may be cold, cheerless, and dreary; and all without disheartening and discouraging. Instead of success, there may be losses; instead of comfort, trouble; instead of friendship, enmity and alienation. Business may decline; employment may fail; health may give way; all things may seem to be against you.

But however discouraging your circumstances may be, however dull and dreary you may be in your soul, or cast down on account of the difficulties of the way, still wait on the Lord, nor shall you wait in vain.

Deep and almost overwhelming were the trials, distresses, and soul troubles of David, but though his soul was cast down within him, he waited on the Lord, and he has recorded the result– "I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he has put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God– many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord."

However dark, then, your way, however trying your circumstances, however severe the exercises of your soul, still wait on the Lord; hold fast by the promise; so "shall your light rise in obscurity, and your darkness be as the noonday; and the Lord shall guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought."

Wait for DIRECTION IN DIFFICULTY.

Difficulties often arise from our ignorance, or relations in life, or the duties that devolve upon us. These difficulties are often great, so that we know not what to do, or which way to take. Our wisdom is swallowed up, and our friends are unable to advise us. One rash step may ruin us. We appear to be impelled and urged to go forward, and yet are afraid to take a step. Every plan we have formed has failed; every effort has been abortive. We dare not go back; we fear to go forward– and yet we feel as if we could not stand still. We imagine that no creature was ever tried as we are. We have been sincere, and yet have gone wrong. We have tried our best, and yet have failed. We are tempted to envy others who succeed, to think that the Lord has dealt harshly with us, and even to become reckless. Before us are difficulties, seemingly as great as the Red Sea before Israel; behind us are obstacles, as fearful as the Egyptians behind them. Besides which, we have no Moses with the rod of God to make a way for us.

What can we do? Do as the prophet of old did, who said– "I will wait upon the Lord, who hides his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him." Yes, wait on the Lord, who has given you this precious promise– "I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go; I will guide you with my eye." He will point out the way, he will teach you in the way, he will guide as a loving Father or a faithful friend. There are no difficulties with him. He sees the end from the beginning. He has directed thousands, millions, who have been in as great or greater difficulties than you are. What he has done for others, he will do for you. Hear his own word– "I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known; I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them." Wait, therefore, on the Lord, and say– "Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us."

Wait for POWER IN WEAKNESS.

The Christian, at best, is but weak; but, at times, his sense of weakness is truly painful. He feels weaker than a bruised reed. And very often he feels weakest when he has the heaviest burden to carry, the most difficult hill to climb, or the most arduous duties to perform. Also, it often happens that the strongest foes are allowed to assault us in our weakest seasons. So that what with foes opposing us, a heavy burden pressing upon us, corruption working within us, and a rough and trying road before us– we are at a loss what to do.

Now is the time to wait on the Lord, and to say with the Psalmist– "Truly my soul waits upon God; for my expectation is from him." Now the promise suits us, and is intended for us– "He gives power to the faint, and to those who have no might, he increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall; but those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Precious promise for a dark day and a trying path! Wait on the Lord, then, however weak, faint, or weary you may feel– and all needful strength and courage shall be given you; for he will strengthen you with strength in your soul.

Wait for PROTECTION IN DANGER.

Every believer is exposed to foes, and is in danger from the world, the flesh, and the devil. The world will injure him, if it can; Satan seeks to worry or devour, to fascinate or terrify; and the flesh ever lusts against the spirit, and has mighty power to injure him. He is in danger from false doctrines, untried paths, and an evil heart of unbelief. He needs constant protection; for unless he is kept by One who is wise and vigilant, watchful and wary, powerful and present, he is almost sure to be overcome. Now the Lord says– "Fear not, I am your shield." And David could say– "You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your gentleness has made me great." With the eye fixed upon him, the heart resting on his word, and the voice calling to him in every danger, protection is certain. "For as the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so is the Lord round about his people from henceforth, even forever."

Nor does it matter what instruments may be devised or employed against them, if they wait on the Lord in faith and prayer; as it is written, "Your enemies will always be defeated because I am on your side. I have created the blacksmith who fans the coals beneath the forge and makes the weapons of destruction. And I have created the armies that destroy. But in that coming day, no weapon turned against you will succeed. And everyone who tells lies in court will be brought to justice. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their vindication will come from me. I, the Lord, have spoken!" Isaiah 54:15-17

Wait, then, on the Lord; let whatever danger will threaten, commit yourself to his gracious keeping, and his powerful arm shall defend you, and his wisdom shall make a way for your escape. So that, however imminent the danger, though in the very grasp of the foe, you shall have to sing– "My soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowler; the snare is broken, and I am delivered."

Wait for WISDOM IN TRIALS.

One mark of growth in grace-J.C. Ryle

(J.C. Ryle, "Growth in Grace" 1879)

"Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" 2 Peter 3:18

One mark of growth in grace, is increased HUMILITY. The man whose soul is growing, feels his own sinfulness and unworthinessmore every year.

He is ready to say with Job, "I am vile!"

And with Abraham, "I am dust and ashes!"

And with Jacob, "I am not worthy of the least of all Your mercies!"

And with David, "I am a worm!"

And with Isaiah, "I am a man of unclean lips!"

And with Peter, "I am a sinful man, O Lord!"

The nearer the Christian draws to God, and the more he sees of God's holiness and perfections — the more thoroughly is he sensible of his own countless sins and imperfections. The further he journeys in the way to Heaven — the more he understands what Paul meant when he says,
"I am not already perfect!"
"I am not fit to be called an apostle!"
"I am less than the least of all the saints!"
"I am the chief of sinners!"

The riper the Christian is for glory, the more, like the ripe corn — he hangs down his head with humility. The brighter and clearer his gospel light — the more he sees of the shortcomings and infirmities of his own heart. When first converted, he would tell you he saw but little of them — compared to what he sees now.

Would anyone know whether he is growing in grace? Be sure that you look within for increased humility.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

And we ought to be content with that By James Smith

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

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing — we will be content with that." 1 Timothy 6:6-8

We cannot really need more than food and clothing; and if God sees fit to withhold more — then we ought not even to wish for more.

But our food may be coarse — and our clothing very common. What then? If we have God's blessing, if we enjoy His presence — we are better off than if we possessed a kingdom without them! If God gives us no more — then we ought to believe that more would beinjurious to us.

God either loves us — OR He does not. He either cares for us and provides for us — OR He leaves things to 'chance'.

If we are genuine believers, then . . .
   God certainly does love us!
   He certainly does care for us!
   He certainly does provide for us!

He has . . . .
  numbered the very hairs of our head,
  fixed the bounds of our habitation, and
  promised to supply all our needs! 
He cannot have left anything to 'chance'.

Let us then be content with such things as our heavenly Father gives us. Let us learn to be content in every state and condition. Let us bear in mind that it is written, that "all things which pertain unto life and godliness," are given to us through the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. So that knowing Jesus — we may expect all that is necessary to a godly life — and we ought to be content with that!

  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Cut it off By J.R. Miller

(J.R. Miller, "Daily Bible Readings in the Life of Christ" 1890)

"If your hand or your foot causes you to sin — cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled — than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire!" Matthew 18:8

Our life is so full of temptation and peril — that even its best things may become stumbling-blocks. Our very qualities of strength — may become fatal forces driving us to eternal ruin.

Human beauty is a blessing from God — and yet beauty has proved a snare to many a woman, drawing her away from God. 

Ability to make money is a perilous gift — which has led many a man to spiritual ruin. It is better to altogether throw away the money-making ability, and go poor through life with the talent wasted and shriveled, and reach Heaven — than to exercise the ability and grow rich, and be lost forever! These are illustrations of our Lord's meaning when He speaks of 'cutting off' the hand or the foot which causes us to sin.

The appetites, desires, and affections — are part of the glory of humanity; and yet, when they are unbridled — they have whirled many a noble life to eternal destruction!

A steam-boat came into port which had long been out on the sea. An accident had happened which caused delay. The coal gave out; then all that would burn — cargo, stores, furniture — had to be burned up, in order to bring the vessel home. At last she gained the shore — but stripped of everything of value. Yet it was better to burn up all her cargo and stores — than perish at sea.

Just so, some men can get to Heaven — only by sacrificing every earthly pleasure and crucifying every sinful desire; but who will say that the prize is not worth the sacrifice? The hand would be better chopped off — than steal or strike down another. The foot would be better cut off — than carry one into crime or sin. The eye would be better plucked-out — than by its lustful gazing set the soul on fire. A man on a wrecked vessel had better throw his bags of gold into the sea and have his life saved — than hold on to the gold and sink into the waves!

 

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We are not to forget the Giver — as we enjoy His gifts-J.R. Miller

(J.R. Miller, "Morning Thoughts" 1906)

"The Lord your God will soon bring you into the land He swore to give you. It is a land with large, prosperous cities that you did not build. The houses will be richly stocked with goods you did not produce. You will draw water from cisterns you did not dig, and you willeat from vineyards and olive trees you did not plant. When you have eaten your fill in this land — be careful not to forget the Lord, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt!" Deuteronomy 6:10-12

The people were going to a country which had long been possessed by a nation who had built cities, filled fine houses with good things, and planted vineyards. All these things, the Lord would give to them. They would not have to erect houses nor plant orchards of their own.

But the danger was, that when they had received all these things — they would forget that they were gifts from God — and would turn away into sin. We are not to forget the Giver — as we enjoy His gifts!

It is always a perilous thing to forget God. To forget any friend who has been good to us — is a base sin. But to forget God, to whom we owe every blessing — is heinous ingratitude!

"Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:20

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Isaiah 43:18-21

18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

20 The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.

21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.

Storms may Arise...Do not be Discouraged - J.R. Miller

The muddy waters of this world By Favell Lee Mortimer

photo

(Favell Lee Mortimer, "Family Devotions")

"Everyone who drinks this water will thirst
again." John 4:13

There is a defect in all earthly pleasures and 
comforts--they seem to satisfy us for a little 
while, but soon the tormenting thirst returns. 

Have we not often experienced the truth of this? 

We have partaken of some pleasure, and have felt 
satisfied--but O how short was our satisfaction! We 
soon become restless and uneasy again. 

Thus we continue to thirst until we are made 
partakers of the Holy Spirit--then we feel satisfied. 
Then we find within ourselves a source of happiness. 
What is this source of never-failing delight? It is the 
sense of pardoned sin, of God's love in Christ, the 
hope of heaven, and of meeting our Redeemer there. 

Have you not heard of people racked with pain, who 
yet enjoyed a peace that passes all understanding? 
Perhaps you have seen such people, and have wondered 
at their case. Behold the mystery explained! They drank, 
indeed, of no stream of earthly comforts, but there was 
in them a well of water springing up that never could be 
exhausted, and therefore they did not thirst after the 
muddy waters of this world. 

"Please, sir give me some of that water! Then
I'll never be thirsty again!" John 4:15

Grace Gems 

A Glimpse That Strengthens By Theodore Epp

By Theodore Epp

      

Job 1:6-11

In the first two chapters of the Book of Job, God gives us a look behind the scenes so that we can see events on earth from the standpoint of heaven.

There is no doubt that if Job could have seen into the councils of heaven before and during his trial, he would have answered his friends quite differently. But God did not allow him to know about this heavenly scene presented to us.

Nor did God explain it to him at the close of his experiences. He may have learned about it after he went to heaven but not before.

God's eternal purpose for Job would have been thwarted if Job had been given the explanation for his trial. If he had known all that went on behind the scenes in heaven, there would have been no place for faith.

Without faith, Hebrews 11:6 tells us, it is impossible to please God. Job could never have been purified, as gold is purified by fire, if he had not gone through the situation in which he had to trust God implicitly.

God has permitted us to see these things to help strengthen our faith when we face baffling afflictions. His purpose is that we might place implicit faith in Him and in His counsel and His goals for us, believing that the hard experiences in life are permitted for a good purpose.

This is the teaching of Romans 8:28,29: "All things work together for good" for the believer.

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (2 Cor. 4:17).

Power Given to the Faint by J. C. Philpot

Preached at Zoar Chapel, London, on July 20, 1845, by J. C. Philpot

"He gives power to the faint; and to those who have no might he increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall; but those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:29-31

In order to understand the mind and meaning of the Holy Spirit in these words, we must take a glimpse at their connection.

We find, in the preceding verses, the Lord addressing himself to his people, and speaking to them as deeply exercised in their souls. But what was the source of their exercises? It was this--that their path was so dark and obscure. "Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, my way is hidden from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God?" The path in which the family of God were then walking was exceedingly perplexing. Their "way"--that is, the path they were taking--the way of the Spirit's teaching in their conscience--the mode of the Lord's dealing with their soul, was so intricate and obscure, that they could not believe it was a right way. 

The Lord had hidden his face from them, and did not show them the nature or reason of his dealings with them. Infidelity, seizing hold of this circumstance, worked so powerfully in their hearts, that they burst forth into this cry, "My way is hidden from the Lord." Surely he cannot see the way I am taking, or he would have appeared sooner on my behalf. "And my judgment," that is, my cause, "is passed over from my God." He neglects to take that notice of me which I seek at his hands; he passes me by as unworthy of his regard; he slights my cause, and rejects my prayer, as though I did not belong to him.

Now, in order to meet these exercises in the hearts of his people--in order to apply a suitable remedy for these workings of unbelief and infidelity--the Lord answers by appealing to their own experience--"Have you not known, have you not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, faints not, neither is weary?" However you may faint, however you may be wearied of him--whatever be your hard thoughts concerning his dealings with you--do you not know, that the everlasting God remains "the same yesterday, today, and forever"--that he is not a changeable God, tossed to and fro like yourself; but that he "rests in his love," and is ever the same--that "he faints not" under the burdens which you cast upon him; "neither is weary" of you, though you are often weary of him? And, with respect to this intricate path in which you are walking, he adds, "No one can measure the depths of his understanding." He knows what is best for you; and though your present path is dark and obscure in your eyes, it is bright and clear in his.

He would, therefore, urge this upon the conscience of his exercised and complaining child, 'Your part is to sit still, and wait until the deliverance appear; in due time, I will explain to you the nature and reason of these mysterious dealings.' He then goes on still further to clear up the point by the words of the text--"He gives power to the faint; and to those who have no might he increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall--but those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

If we look at the text, we shall observe, that there are two characters traced out in it. Of these, one is set forth by the expression "youths" and "young men." And not only is their character set forth, but also their destiny is described that they "shall faint," and "shall utterly fall." And, on the other hand, we have another, a spiritual character traced out, as one who "has no might," and yet "waits upon the Lord." And we find his destiny also pointed out. For as there is an end reserved for the one--an utter fall; so there is an end reserved for the other--a spiritual blessing.

I shall, then, if God enable me, endeavor this morning to trace out these two distinct characters, and show the allotted portion and end of each.

We will begin with a description of the character pointed out by the expression "youths" and "young men;" and then show what is their allotted portion and appointed destiny.

I. By the expression "youths" and "young men" is implied a contrast between the whole-hearted condition of the professing world and the fainting state of God's family. Youth is the season of loveliness, vigor, and strength; and thus, figuratively and typically, the "youths" and "young men" are those professors of religion who have never been weakened and brought down by a work of the Spirit upon their hearts; but who retain all their natural loveliness, activity, and vigor. In the exercise of this activity and strength, these youths run a race, but not the race that God's people run in faith and patience. In a word, the expression "youths" and "young men" describes unburdened professors, who have never had such a work of grace upon their hearts as has laid trouble upon their souls, or wrought penetrating convictions in their conscience. Never having been humbled in their souls, nor exercised in their minds, nor afflicted by a body of sin and death, they retain all their natural vigor. It has never been drawn away from them by the running sores of sin and guilt; they have never been drained nor exhausted of it by lacerating wounds in their conscience; and they thus preserve all that loveliness, youthful vigor, and beauty which have been battered down in the Lord's afflicted family.

Now when the Lord's people, exercised and tried in their souls, compare their deformity, ugliness, and wrinkles, with the loveliness of these unhumbled professors, it is often to them a bitter contrast. They often see in unexercised professors much more zeal, consistency, earnestness, amiability, activity, and apparent devotedness, than they can see and feel in their own hearts; and, contrasting their own wrinkled and weather-beaten visages with the smooth and glowing cheeks of others, they cry out, "My skin is black upon me; my flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust--my skin is broken and become loathsome" Job 30:30

And so with respect to the activity, strength, and vigor of these "youths" and "young men." The Lord's people have often no heart to "run with patience the race that is set before them." Spiritual things, instead of being their solace and delight, are often their burden. The enmity of their carnal mind works up against divine realities; and so far from being active and zealous in them, they are often so burdened in the things of God, that they feel unable to do any one thing which is acceptable in His sight. But these "young men," who have never seen the breadth, nor felt the spirituality of God's law--who have never known their inward corruption, never been plagued with a body of sin and death, never exercised with the perplexities that God's people are tried with--retain all that zeal and loveliness--those fleshly substitutes for vital power and godliness--which the exercised family of God once had, but have long lost.

There are those among the Lord's family "whose senses are not as yet exercised to discern both good and evil," and therefore cannot see the difference between pretense and reality, between 'nature in its highest form' and 'grace in its lowest form'. When therefore one of these poor, burdened, exercised children of God contrasts his own lack of zeal, earnestness, and activity--his darkness of mind, deadness of soul, and coldness of affection--with the earnestness and activity of many a zealous religionist around him, he is almost tempted to think that they are right and he wrong, and that they will stand when he shall fall.

But how different are God's ways from our ways, and God's thoughts from our thoughts! How differently does he view these "youths" and "young men" from the admiration bestowed upon them by the professing world! What hollowness, deceitfulness, and hypocrisy does he see working under all this natural loveliness, strength, and vigor! How the Lord sees that all this strength is weakness, all this wisdom is folly, all this righteousness is hypocrisy, and all this earnestness and zeal is but fallen nature carrying into religion the same restless activity which cultivates the farm, or manages the shop--a buyer and seller in the temple, and not a spiritual worshiper in the sanctuary!

But what is the sentence which the Lord has passed concerning such? A sentence that we see, more or less, fulfilled every day. They shall all "utterly fall." In due time these lovely and vigorous "youths," these strong and active "young men" will faint and fall. Though for a time they seem to run well, they never reach the goal. Sin, which for a time was dead in them, begins to revive; temptations that before never beset them, are laid in their paths; snares before hidden, they are now entangled by--their zeal, their earnestness, their activity gradually decline; and thus, long before they come to the end of the race, they faint, and are utterly unable to proceed any further. They give up their religion, often abandon even a profession, go back into the world, fall into sin, and "concerning faith make shipwreck."

The Wrong Kind of Teachers By A.W. Tozer

By A.W. Tozer


      The newborn Christian finds himself alive with a sweet, enjoyable kind of life that he accepts naively, almost unconsciously. To him everything is simple and immediate. He knows no intermediary. Christ is to him on an infinitely higher level what its mother is to a baby--warmth, nourishment, protection, rest and an object of satisfying affection.

Right here is where the wrong kind of Bible teacher can do his damage. The first thing he does is to destroy the new Christian's simplicity. He introduces something between the Christian and Christ. He makes him Biblo-centric instead of Christo-centric. (And there is a difference, let no one deceive you.)

 The Spirit-anointed Bible teacher will so teach the Word as to keep it transparent, so as to allow it to be what it always should be, a kind of burning bush which God indwells and out of which He shines in awesome splendor. The beholder sees the bush, it is true, but the object of his interest is the Presence, not the bush. The wrong kind of teacher gets so technical about the bush that the fire dims down and the light ceases to fall on the Christian's face.

That is what the gentle cynic meant when he said "before he has met too many Bible teachers."

As for "too many church members" spoiling the new Christian's happiness, it is the result of disillusionment pure and simple.

I know everything about every one of them By J. C. Ryle

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(J. C. Ryle, "The Privileges of the True Christian")

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them,

and they follow Me." (John 10:27)

The Lord Jesus Christ says of His sheep who hear His

voice and follow Him, "I know them." I know . . .

their number,

their names,

their particular characters,

their besetting sins,

their troubles,

their trials,

their temptations,

their doubts,

their prayers,

their private meditations.

I know everything about every one of them!

Be comforted, all you who are tried and buffeted

with difficulties in your way towards heaven,

difficulties from without and difficulties from within,

difficulties abroad and difficulties at home, grief for

your own sins and grief for the sins of others--the

Good Shepherd Jesus knows you well, though you

may not realize it.

You never shed a secret tear over your own corruption,

you never breathed a single prayer for forgiveness and

helping grace, you never made a single struggle against

wickedness--which He did not observe and note down in

the book of His remembrance.

You need not fear His not understanding your needs.

He knows your particular necessities far better than

you do yourselves. Your humble prayers are no sooner

offered up than heard. You may sometimes sigh and

mourn for lack of Christian fellowship--but remember

that the Good Shepherd is ever about your path and

about your bed. His eyes are on all your movements.

No husband, brother, father, mother, sister, friend,

could take more tender interest in your soul's welfare

than He does. If you sorrow He will bind up your

broken heart and pour in balm. He is ever watching

and observing and listening. The Good Shepherd is

acquainted with all your ways.

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The Bias Of Degeneration By Oswald Chambers

By Oswald Chambers

  

'Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.'
Romans 5:12

The Bible does not say that God punished the human race for one man's sin; but that the disposition of sin, viz., my claim to my right to myself, entered into the human race by one man, and that another Man took on Him the sin of the human race and put it away (Heb. 9:26) - an infinitely profounder revelation. The disposition of sin is not immorality and wrong-doing, but the disposition of self-realization - I am my own god. 

This disposition may work out in decorous morality or in indecorous immorality, but it has the one basis, my claim to my right to myself. When Our Lord faced men with all the forces of evil in them, and men who were clean living and moral and up right, He did not pay any attention to the moral degradation of the one or to the moral attainment of the other; He looked at something we do not see, viz., the disposition.

Sin is a thing I am born with and I cannot touch it; God touches sin in Redemption. In the Cross of Jesus Christ God redeemed the whole human race from the possibility of damnation through the heredity of sin. God nowhere holds a man responsible for having the heredity of sin. The condemnation is not that I am born with a heredity of sin, but if when I realize Jesus Christ came to deliver me from it, I refuse to let Him do so, from that moment I begin to get the seal of damnation. "And this is the judgment" (the critical moment), "that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light."

Why would God want ME?

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Author Unknown

I'm not perfect. I have all kinds of problems. I have no ability. I have no gifts. I'm just not worthy. Why would God want me?

Well, did you know that

Moses stuttered.
David's armor didn't fit.
John Mark deserted Paul.
Timothy had ulcers.
Hosea's wife was a prostitute.
Amos' only training was in the school of fig-tree pruning.
Jacob was a liar.
David had an affair.
Solomon was too rich.
Jesus was too poor.
Abraham was too old.
David was too young.
Peter was afraid of death.
Lazarus was dead.
John was self-righteous.
Naomi was a widow.
Paul was a persecutor of the church.
Moses was a murderer.
Jonah ran from God's will.
Miriam was a gossip.
Gideon and Thomas both doubted.
Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal.
Elijah was burned out.
John the Baptist was a loudmouth.
Martha was a worry-wart.
Noah got drunk.
Did I mention that Moses had a short fuse?
So did Peter, Paul - well, lots of folks did.

But God doesn't require a job interview for salvation. He's our Heavenly Father. He doesn't look at financial gain or loss. He's not prejudiced or partial, not judging, grudging, sassy, or brassy, not deaf to our cry, not blind to our need. He know who we are and what we are and loves us in spite of ourselves

SATAN SAYS, "YOU'RE NOT WORTHY."
JESUS SAYS, "SO WHAT? I AM."
SATAN LOOKS BACK AND SEES OUR MISTAKES.
GOD LOOKS BACK AND SEES THE CROSS.

He doesn't calculate how you failed in '99. It's not even on the record.

Sure, there are lots of reasons why God shouldn't call us. But if we are in love with Him, if we hunger for Him, He'll use us in spite of who we are, where we've been, what we have done, or the fact that we are not perfect!

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