Jul 16
26
Bearing Our Cross
“He that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” – Matthew 10:38
Mere professing Christians loudly and proudly like to speak of ‘bearing their cross.’ What they mean by that is going through some sort of trouble or suffering. If that is what it means then the whole world is bearing some sort of cross. But that is not what is meant by bearing the cross.
The Lord Jesus Christ was put on a cross because of what He said. He was crucified by men (according to God’s will and purpose), because of His claim to Sovereignty, His claim to being the only way, truth and life. They crucified Him because He claimed to be God. And the Lord said that everyone who truly believes and confesses Him will also be hated by the world and if lawful, will kill them, too. They would put every believer on a cross for confessing Christ to be Who He is . . . not just a man, but very God of very God, the Sovereign Lord and Creator, the Judge of all, the giver and taker of life, the One with the keys of Hell and death, the One before Whom we stand to be accepted or rejected, the only Way to God, the only Truth of God (all else a lie) the only Life (he that hath not the Son hath not life), the only Mediator, High Priest, Tabernacle, Sin Offering, Messiah, Saviour, Intercessor, Righteousness, Builder of the church, Foundation, Prophet, Priest, and King, yea . . . all and in all!! All other gods, jesuses, christs, messiahs, mediators, prophets, priests, ways, words, religions. . . are a lie!
Just as Christ was crucified without the camp, all who confess Him will have to go unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach. Those who truly follow the Lord will be partakers of His sufferings. The man or woman who follows Him, it will follow them to be crucified to the world and the world to (them). “For Thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter” – Rom.8:36
Paul Mahan
A Credible Witness
Criminal investigators learn that a false witness will describe the facts in great detail, in a logical, chronological, precise manner. A true witness may not be as precise but will include the senses of experience: their sorrow–has the prick of the Holy Spirit made you mourn?; the taste–have you tasted that the Lord is gracious?; the smell–have you smelled the myrrh, and cassia of Christ’s garments; the touch–has his hand settled you comfortably in the full assurance that Christ is able to keep you?
We do not put our hopes in feelings or religious experiences but the believer has witnessed, not merely facts, but a Person. It is the Power of Christ in us that exercises our senses to discern both good and evil, the Person from mere facts. By the Power and Wisdom of God the believer is a credible witness! Clay Curtis.
Why Brethren Suffer?
Acts 12: 1-3
Two of the greatest reasons that believer’s suffer in this world are given in this passage. One, James and Peter suffered for preaching Christ and him crucified. They stood for the truth that the sovereign power of God alone saves sinners apart from the help of men. Their gospel was concerning the complete atonement accomplished by the Christ Jesus the Son of God. They left man no room to glory in matters of regeneration but declared plainly that spiritual life and the fruits of grace are by the Holy Spirit only. When the triune God receives all the glory in salvation, in our believing, in our sanctified walk and in our perseverance then men will surely rebel against that message. Two, the brethren suffered when they beheld the mistreatment, suffering and even death of their brethren. They knew these were men loved by their Lord. These were men whom they loved. Beholding brethren suffer causes much suffering in the brethren. Our peace during these times is in Christ alone. Our joy is in Christ alone. In Christ we are more than conquerors through him that loved us (Rom 8: 37.) This was our Lord’s comforting and reassuring word to all who suffer for his name’s sake. John 16: 33: These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Clay Curtis.
NEVER AFFLICTED ALONE
Any child of God suffering affliction can take comfort from the truth that no child of God suffers affliction alone. “In all their affliction he was afflicted” (Is. 63:9). When a child of God suffers affliction, Christ our Savior suffers affliction with us. He personally feels the affliction of His people because believers are the body of Christ. This is why the Lord said to Saul “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou ME?” (Acts 9:4). Our great High Priest is touched with the feeling of our infirmity (Heb 4:15) so He not only comforts, but He sympathizes with us in our affliction and delivers us from it. God said “I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them” (Acts 7:34).
This passage is also translated “In all their affliction, there was no affliction.” Trials never come accidentally. Trials are always sent by the purpose of God. Trials are also never sent to punish God’s children. A believer’s sin has already been punished in Christ our Substitute so trials are always sent for our good and our learning. Any trial that increases faith in Christ is for our good, no matter how painful the trial may be at the time. This is what enabled the apostle Paul to say “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). Frank Tate
We are very eager to put our hands to work. Like Uzzah, we must needs prop up the ark when we see it stumbling; when faith totters, we must come to bear a helping hand. But this is prejudicial to the work of God upon the soul. If the whole is to be a spiritual building; if we are “living stones” built upon a living Head, every stone in that spiritual temple must be laid by God the Spirit. And if so, everything of nature, of creature, of self, must be effectually laid low, that Christ may be all—that Christ, and Christ alone, may be formed in our heart, the hope of glory.
How many trials some of you have passed through! how many sharp and cutting exercises! how many harassing temptations! how many sinkings of heart! how many fiery darts from hell! how many doubts and fears! how much hard bondage! how many galling chains! how often has the very iron entered into your soul! Why? That you may be prevented from adding one stone by your own hands to the spiritual building.
The Apostle tells us that “Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid,” even Jesus Christ. He then speaks of those who build “wood, hay, and stubble,” as well as of those who used “gold, silver, and precious stones;” and that the “wood, hay, and stubble” must be burned with fire. It is after the Lord has laid a foundation in the sinner’s conscience, brought him near to himself, made Jesus precious to his soul, raised up hope and love in his heart, that he is so apt to take materials God never recognizes, “wood, hay, straw, stubble,” and rear thereby a flimsy superstructure of his own. But this gives way in the trying hour: it cannot stand one gust of temptation. One spark of the wrath to come, one discovery of God’s dread majesty, will burn up this “wood, hay, and stubble” like straw in the oven.
The Lord’s people, therefore, have to pass through troubles, trials, exercises, and temptations, doubts and fears, and all that harassing path that they usually walk in, that they may be prevented from erecting a superstructure of nature upon the foundation of grace, “wood, hay, and stubble” upon the glorious mystery of an incarnate God. JC Philpot
“The preaching of the cross is to those who perish foolishness.” If what I preach is not foolishness to the natural man, know assuredly that I preach not the Gospel. The Gospel troubles exceedingly the Pharisees; they are very unwilling to cast away their false idols. William Tiptaft (1803-1864)
HERESY
Acts 24:14
“But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets.”
The word heresy means a choice. So someone who decides to believe something is a heretic. Anyone who “Decides to let Jesus into their heart” is a heretic. Any choice our sinful nature makes can never do us any spiritual good because our sinful nature will always choose the way of the flesh.
At one time or another most people who believe and preach the Truth of salvation in Christ alone, have been accused of heresy. But no believer can be a heretic because believers don’t choose to believe Christ of their own free will. Believers can’t help but believe on Christ because God has given them faith to believe. And God given faith always believes Christ alone. – Frank Tate
Concerning the character of God, what gross mistakes men make! I believe it is a mistake about God Himself which has been the root and foundation of all the mistakes in theology. My conviction is that the freewill theology of today makes God to be less than He is. The professors of that system have come to receive its doctrine because they have not a clear understanding either of the omnipotence, the immutability, or the sovereignty of God. God has an absolute right to do what He will, with whom He will, when He will. He has the power also to accomplish that will and the ransom which enables Him to be true to His character in carrying out that will. When Almighty God comes to the soul of a man in grace, none can stay His hand. The beauty is that the enemy’s power is broken and the sinner is made willing. Satan cannot stay the conquering hand of Jehovah, and the sinner wants to be conquered. To see the holiness and mercy, the righteousness and grace, the justice and love of God in Christ, rising like a mighty sun, will put an end to the darkness and confession of will-worship and modern fundamentalism. What will your God do? How will your God do what He does? Tell me who He is! If He is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient and dwells in the heavens, He will do what He pleases. If he is less than this, he must wait to see what you will do. But the subdued king in Daniel 4:35 declared, “He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay His hand or say unto Him, What does thou?” – Henry Mahan