May 22
1
If we ever truly learn that faith in Christ is the gift, work and operation of God, — a supernatural thing, — it will have a profound effect. It will alter everything.
· We will stop trying to figure out how to make the gospel effectual, and just preach it.
· We will quit trying to determine where God is likely to work, and serve him where we are.
· We will cease trying to determine who is likely to be saved, and preach the gospel to anyone whose ear we can get.
· We will quit trying to make the gospel politically correct, socially palatable and culturally relative, and just preach it.
“Then Were The Disciples Glad” John 20:20
The disciples were a band of poor men and women, disowned and disinherited by their families, maligned by their neighbors, and persecuted for their faith. They had nothing of this world’s comforts. They met in secrecy, behind closed doors, for fear of the Jews. Yet, something made them glad. When the Lord Jesus revealed himself to them, spoke peace to them, and showed them his hands and his side, “Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.” When they saw their redemption accomplished by Christ and realized the love and grace it revealed, they were glad. What makes you glad?
Christ Crucified – All The Counsel of God
Without question, the Apostle Paul is the pattern for preachers. He was the Apostle to the Gentiles, miraculously called and gifted for the work of the gospel. God used him mightily and honoured him with revelations made to no other man on earth. Fourteen of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament were written by Paul. His message, his ministry, and his methods should be carefully studied by all who preach the gospel. Every preacher should strive to pattern himself after Paul.
This man, Paul, summed up his entire ministry in two statements, one made to the elders of the church at Ephesus, and one written to the church at Corinth. These two statements summarise all that Paul ever preached or sought to accomplish in the work of the ministry.
To the Ephesian elders he said, “I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). Neither the fear of man, nor covetousness, nor the love of money, nor desire for approval, nor personal ambition could keep Paul from preaching the full purpose, counsel, and redemptive glory of God revealed in the Holy Scriptures.
To the church at Corinth Paul wrote, “I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). In both places he was declaring the same thing. Christ crucified is all the counsel of God! To preach Christ crucified is to declare all the counsel of God, for all that God almighty has purposed, decreed, revealed, required from and given to the sons of men is in Jesus Christ and him crucified. No text of Scripture in the Old Testament or the New has any message, meaning, or relevance apart from Christ crucified. The Doctrine of the Bible is Jesus Christ and him crucified. “And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures” (Luke 24:44-45). The motive, the inspiration, the example, and the reward of all Christian service is Jesus Christ. The basis of unity, love, and forgiveness among God’s saints is Christ crucified. And the glory of heaven is Christ crucified.
“It shall be perfect to be accepted” – Leviticus 22:21
The Lord God is perfect. And he will never accept anything, or any person, that is not perfect. The only obedience that God will accept is perfect obedience. The only sacrifice that God will accept is a perfect sacrifice. The only man that God will accept is a perfect man. Are we then without hope? No! The Lord has provided for us a perfect obedience and a perfect sacrifice in the perfect God-Man Jesus Christ. ~Don Fortner (1950-2020)
Contrary Not Complicated
The gospel does not remain a mystery to the natural man because it is complicated. The gospel remains a mystery because it is contrary to everything he believes to be true. It is contrary to his view of God. He will honor God with his lips but believe in his heart in a god that is not God. All men by nature set themselves up on the throne of God. They make God dependent upon their will or works to save them. The gospel is contrary to what the natural man believes about himself. He does not believe himself to be dead in his trespasses and sins. He believes that he holds the power of salvation in what he decides. Until the Lord gives the spirit of repentance (changed mind), the simple, clear gospel of God’s free grace in the glorious person and accomplished work of Christ will remain a mystery. ~Greg Elmquist
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1 Corinthians 15:20-22
J.C.Philpot
Christ risen is the firstfruits of that mighty crop of buried dead whose remains still sleep in the silent dust, and who will be joined by successive ranks of those who die in him, until all are together wakened up in the resurrection morn. The figure is that of the sheaf of the firstfruits which was waved before the Lord before the harvest was allowed to be reaped (Lev. 23:10, 11). This offering of the wave sheaf was the consecration and dedication of the whole crop in the field to the Lord, as well as the manifest pledge that the harvest was fully ripe for the reaper’s sickle.
The firstfruits represented the whole of the crop, as Christ is the representative of his saints; the offering of them sanctified what was still unreaped in the field, as Christ sanctified or consecrated unto God the yet unreaped harvest of the buried dead; and the carrying them into the tabernacle was the first introduction therein of the crop, as Christ entering heaven as the firstfruits secures thereby the entrance of the bodies of the saints into the mansions prepared for them before the foundation of the world.
Thus Christ rising from the dead presented himself before the Lord as the firstfruits of the grand harvest of the resurrection yet unreaped, and by doing so consecrated and dedicated the whole crop unto God. As, then, he rose from the dead, so shall all the sleeping saints rise from the dead at the last day, for his resurrection is the fitst-fruits, the pledge, and the earnest of theirs.
Religion Without Love
“Beloved, let us love, for love is of God.” In God alone love has its true abode. Beloved, let us love, for those who love are truly His sons born from above. Beloved, let us love, for love is rest, and he who loveth not remains unblest!
Religion without love is like a body without life; it is offensive and needs to be buried from sight. Religion without love is like a contaminated well which should bear the sign, “Do not drink.” Religion without love is a house built on sand, a branch which bears no fruit, a cloak of hypocrisy covering an unregenerate heart, and a form of godliness which denies the power!
Henry Mahan
The atonement of Christ
There are three views of the atonement of Christ. One is that He died for all men and all men will ultimately be saved. The next is that He died for all men; some of them will be saved and some will not. The other is that He died for the elect and all of them will be saved. The first view cannot be supported from Scripture. There is a place called hell. This view denies that. The second view denies that the blood of Christ is sufficient to save. He can pay for your sins and you can still be in hell. It makes salvation depend on human works. The third view is not a view, but the Truth! The other two are a denial of the Truth! There is no Gospel in the first two views. The third is a declaration of the Truth of the Gospel! “Who is he that condemneth, it is Christ who died, yea rather, who is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God: who also maketh intercession for us.” ~Todd Nibert
Don’t Blame God
Whenever worship attendance is sparse, almost always, someone makes the comment, “Everybody is here that is supposed to be.” I know that is true. God always works everything after the counsel of His own will, and He makes no mistakes. (Ephesians 1:11) However, we must be careful as to what we blame on God. Our Lord has prepared a great supper and has bidden sinners to come. If you don’t come, that is on you, not God. By nature, we will not come to Christ that we might have life. (John 5:40) May God be pleased to make us willing in the day of His power. (Psalms 110:3) ~David L. Eddmenson
Dear Sir,
By this time I hope you are both returned in peace, and happy together in your stated favored tract; rejoicing in the name of Jesus yourselves, and rejoicing to see the savor of it spreading like a precious perfume among the people. Every day I hope you find the prejudices of the people wearing off, and more disposed to hear the words of life. The Lord has given you a fine first-fruits, which I trust will prove the pledge of a plentiful harvest. In the mean time he will enable you to sow the seed in patience, leaving the event in his hands. Though it does not spring up visibly at once, it will not be lost. I think He would not have sent you—if He had not a people there to call; but they can only come forth to view as He is pleased to bring them. Satan will try to hinder and disturb you; but he held by a chain which he cannot break, nor go a step farther than he is permitted.
And if you have been instrumental to the conversion of but a few, in those few you have an ample reward already for all the difficulties you have or can ever meet with. It is more honorable and important to be an instrument of saving one soul, than to rescue a whole kingdom from temporal ruin! Let us therefore, while we earnestly desire to be more useful, not forget to be thankful for what the Lord has been pleased already to do for us; and let us expect, knowing whose servants we are, and what a Gospel we preach, to see some new miracles wrought from day to day. For indeed, every real conversion may be accounted miraculous, being no less than an immediate exertion of that power which made the heavens, and commanded the light to shine out of darkness.
I wish I had more of that clear air and sunshine you speak of, that with you I might have more distinct views of the land of promise. I cannot say my prospect is greatly clouded by doubts of my reaching it at last; but then there is such a languor and deadness hangs upon my mind, that it is almost amazing to me how I can entertain any hopes at all. It seems, if doubting could ever be reasonable, there is no one who has greater reason for doubting than myself. But I know not how to doubt—when I consider the faithfulness, grace, and compassion of Him who has promised. If it could be proved that Christ had not died, or that he did not speak the words which are ascribed to him in the Gospel, or that he is not able to make them good, or that his word cannot safely be taken—in any of these cases I would doubt—and lie down in despair.
John Newton
The predestined moment has not yet struck!
(Charles Spurgeon)
Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:
For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.
Acts 18:9-10
This should be a great encouragement to evangelise, since God has . . .
among the vilest of the vile,
among the most reprobate,
among the most debauched and drunken
—an elect people who must be saved!
When you take the Word to them, you do so because God has ordained you to be the messenger of life to their souls, and they must receive it—for so the decree of predestination runs. They are as much redeemed by Christ’s blood, as the saints before the eternal throne! They are Christ’s property—yet perhaps they are at present, lovers of the ale-house and haters of holiness. But if Jesus Christ has purchased them—He will have them.
God is not unfaithful to forget the price which His Son has paid. He will not allow His substitutionary sacrifice to be in any case an ineffectual, dead thing. Tens of thousands of redeemed ones are not regenerated yet—but regenerated they must be! This is our comfort when we go forth to them with the quickening Word of God.
Nay, more, these ungodly ones are prayed for by Christ before the throne. “My prayer is not for them alone,” says the great Intercessor, “I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message.” Poor, ignorant souls, they do not pray for themselves—but Jesus prays for them! Their names are on His breastplate, and before long they must bow their stubborn knee, breathing the penitential sigh before the throne of grace.
The predestined moment has not yet struck! But when it comes, they shall obey—for God will have His own redeemed people! They must obey—for the Spirit is not to be withstood when He comes forth with the fullness of His saving power. They must become the willing servants of the living God.
“My people shall be willing in the day of My power.”
“He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied.”