Mar 26
29
BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD
Psalm 146:10
“Be still.” What a needful command. This word has with it the idea
of being weak, failing, ceasing, and abating. Instead of thinking about what
we need to do, “Be still”! That is a command. “And know that I am
God.” The only time we know that in the sense the Psalmist means is when
we are still! God is in the plural, meaning God the Father, God the Son, and
God the Holy Spirit. And when we know that He is God, we know, “I will
be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” When by His
grace we can be still, we are privileged to know Who He is and what will
be! He will be exalted! All is well!
Todd Nibert
Fruits Meet for Repentance
“Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.”
(Matthew 3:8)
Repentance is a change of mind about God, myself, and His salvation. And there are fruits that are meet (befitting, congruent, corresponding) for repentance. A proud, arrogant, judgmental, unforgiving, self-righteous attitude are certainly not fruits meet for repentance. A careless, cold, apathetic indifferent spirit is certainly not fruit meet for repentance. Fruit meet for repentance is the character expressed in the beatitudes – poverty of spirit, mourning over sin, meekness before God, hungering and thirsting for His righteousness, being merciful, pure in heart, a peace-maker, and persecuted for righteousness sake. The “fruit of the Spirit” is certainly fruit meet for genuine repentance. Humility before God, humility over our own sinfulness, humility over the greatness of His salvation, is certainly fruit meet for repentance. “From Me is thy fruit found” (Hosea 14:8). Lord, please give me this fruit meet for repentance.
Todd Nibert
Avoid
the world’s religion!
The following is from Spurgeon’s sermon,
“Abram’s call. Or, Half-Way And All the Way”
#2011. Genesis 11:31, 12:5
Will you devote yourself to God and His cause and truth? In matters of religion follow the Lord fully. Let the Word of God be your sole and sure rule and nothing else. That religion which is not according to God’s Word is a false religion.
Accept neither doctrine nor ceremony for which there is no Scriptural warrant. Search the Word about it all, “to the Law and to the testimony, if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them.”
Avoid the world’s religion!
For if there is one world worse than another, it is the religious world. Be distinctly removed from the religion which is based upon self-will, pride of intellect, and worldly conformity.
The world’s religion is as evil as the world’s irreligion.
Surrender to the plain teaching of the Spirit of God and resolve in all things to follow your Lord wherever He may lead you.
Stand alone, if others will not obey.
My brethren, if we thus separate ourselves from the world’s religion, we must expect violent opposition. Severe criticism will not be spared us. Some will say, “The man is mad!” Others more gently will murmur, “He is sadly misled.” Many will accuse you of a liking to be singular, or a weakness for going to extremes. Having once made up their mind that you are foolish and contemptible they will view all your conduct through coloured glasses and condemn you up and down.
Be not dismayed but endure hardship for the love of Jesus. The life of a consecrated believer involves trials.
Avoid the world’s religion!
O you, who by Divine Grace are beginners in the heavenly life, make a strong resolve to be the servants of God and endeavour in all things to obey Him.
We live here in this world as strangers and pilgrims. We find little to charm us in this foreign land. Our treasure is above and it will be a joy for our souls to rise to the place where our hearts already dwell.
If you are now separated unto Him, you shall find your reward in that day when He shall divide the sheep from the goats. You shall be placed at His right hand to hear Him say, “Come, you blessed of My Father.”
Avoid the world’s religion!
The carnal mind rages at the Cross of Christ!
The following is from Spurgeon’s sermon,
“Jesus Affirmed to Be Alive” #2016. Acts 25:18-19
Do not imagine that it is possible, fairly and squarely, to preach Jesus Christ and His Gospel without raising opposition.
There is no hope of faithfully preaching Christ without being called disrespectful names, regarded as a fool and reckoned among the vulgar and ignorant. Some kind of ugly name will always be appended to the preacher of the true Gospel.
Brethren, expect it and accept it! Bid
farewell to a quiet life, if you resolve
to be true to Jesus.
Nothing excites such animosity as the preaching of Jesus!
The carnal mind rages at the
Cross of Christ!
That which would be to men the greatest comfort and the greatest joy if they were in their right minds, is their direst hate because sin has perverted their judgments.
Of course nobody opposes an
indistinct, colourless, please everybody
gospel that is not worth
anything.
But speak clearly and distinctly the doctrine of the great Sacrifice and you will bring upon your head a shower of opposition.
The carnal mind rages at the Cross of Christ!
Destitute of vital godliness
“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:5
There is nothing so deceitful as having “a form of godliness,” while the “power” of it is denied—nothing so delusive as having a “name to live,” while the soul is dead before God. If there is one hypocritical character more than another, whom the man of God should point out—it is he who, with a profession, is destitute of vital godliness—he who has the ‘form of doctrinal truth in the judgment,’ but who never has experienced ‘the power of that truth in his soul’—humbling him in the dust, and raising him up to a spiritual knowledge of Jesus Christ.
J.C.Philpot
“TO WHOM WE GAVE NO PLACE BY SUBJECTION”
Galatians 2:5
In the early days of the church there were some self-appointed, free-lance preachers who came from Jerusalem to Antioch, perverting the gospel of Christ and subverting the souls of men. They were preaching the law of Moses, telling God’s people that faith in Christ is not sufficient; you must also keep the law of Moses. Paul and Barnabas refused to tolerate their heresy. Paul calls these legalists “false brethren” and “spies”. His choice of terms was not accidental. Usually, those who preach and promote the law of Moses spend a great deal of time spying on others, so that they may bolster their own claims to “righteousness” by setting in judgment upon others.
Paul shows us by his example that THE SPIRIT AND DOCTRINES OF LEGALISM MUST NOT BE TOLERATED BY THE PEOPLE OF GOD. It matters not whether men preach the law of Moses as a basis for justification, as the measure of sanctification, as a rule of life, as a motive for Christian service, or as the grounds of reward in heaven, ALL PREACHING OF LAW WORKS IS AN INTOLERABLE EVIL.
Let no one confuse the issue. The issue is not godliness or ungodliness of life. The issue is not what the believer does, or how the believer lives in this world. THE ISSUE IS THE MOTIVE AND ATTITUDE OF THE HEART. The legalist is motivated by fear. The believer is motivated by love. The legalist hopes to be rewarded for his work. The believer hopes to honour God in his work. All law service is looked upon and performed as a matter of duty. Prayer, Bible reading, attendance at public worship, and tithing always have an element of either the fear of punishment or the promise of reward, as they are performed by the legalist. The believer prays because his heart longs to commune with God, reads the Word because he wants to know God, attends worship because he desires to hear from God, and gives because he loves God. The service and work of love is considered a privilege by the one who performs it. And you can be sure of this: GOD WILL NEVER ACCEPT ANYTHING EXCEPT THAT WHICH IS DONE WITH A WILLING HEART (II Cor. 8:12).
Don Fortner
“Enemies of the Cross”
Philippians 3:18
Because he was a man devoted to the Gospel, zealous for the glory of Christ, and concerned about the souls of men, the apostle Paul clearly identified men in the early church who were “the enemies of the cross of Christ.” Sometimes, he even called them by name!
Those enemies of the cross were preachers and teachers who came in the name of Christ, professing to be followers of Christ, and pretending to preach the Gospel of Christ. But they were offended by the cross of Christ. The fact that Christ died on the cross did not offend them; but the doctrine of the cross they could not and would not endure. Because of their great hatred for Paul’s message, the doctrine of the cross, they sought to destroy his ministry by raising smoke screens and clouds of dust around it, falsely accusing him of many hideous things. Some said, “Paul is not a true apostle.” Others said, “Paul is an antinomian.” Another raised the cry, “Paul is a preacher of licentiousness.” And some said, “Paul is lording over God’s church.” By these things, the false preachers and teachers in the early church tried to discredit Paul’s ministry, and sought to excuse their rebellion and enmity toward the doctrine of the cross.
We have such men in the church today. Some are preachers, some are teachers, some are deacons, and some are in the pews. They falsely accuse God’s faithful servants of many evil things. They raise many false issues in an attempt to hide the one real issue. They are “the enemies of the cross of Christ.” What is the source and cause of their anger, wrath, and hostility toward those who faithfully preach the Gospel? What are the real issues?
Who is God?
The real issue is this — Who is God? Is he totally, absolutely, and universally sovereign, or is he not? The Word of God says that he is; and the natural man hates that fact (Isaiah 46:10; Daniel 4:35-37; Romans 9:11-23). God is sovereign in all things: creation, providence, and salvation. God does what he will, when he will, with whom he will, in the way he will, and gives account of his actions to no one. Either God is absolutely sovereign, or he is not God.
What is Man?
The real issue is this— What is man? Is man good, or is he vile? Is man weak, or is he depraved? Is man sick, or is he dead? What does the Bible say? You do not have to read much to find out (Romans 3:9-19; 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3). These things are true concerning all men by nature, no matter what their age, their race, or their condition in life: All men are spiritually dead, without life toward God. All men are morally depraved. Their hearts are evil, vile, wretched, and incapable of doing that which is good in the sight of God (Matthew 15:19). There is nothing you can or will do, of yourself, by your own power, of your own accord, to change your nature. And all men are justly condemned. Unless God Almighty intervenes and does for you what you cannot do for yourself, you are going to wind up in hell. And if you do, it will be right and just; you have well earned it.
How is salvation accomplished?
The real issue is this— How is salvation accomplished? Man will accept any method of salvation which allows him some part in the work. And he naturally rebels against any method of salvation which denies him all pride and dignity. The scriptures are clear. — “Salvation is of the Lord!” — “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Salvation is not an offer; it is a free gift. Salvation is not accomplished by the gentle persuasion of the Holy Spirit, never invading the territory of the sinner’s free-will; but it is accomplished by the sovereign power of God the Holy Spirit, irresistibly drawing sinners to Christ and creating faith in their hearts. Salvation does not come by the decision of man, but by the revelation of God. Salvation is not walking down an aisle. It is bowing to Christ the King. The new birth is nothing less than an effectual awakening of dead sinners by God the Holy Ghost. It is God giving life to the dead. It is a spiritual resurrection.
Who is Jesus Christ?
The real issue is this—Who is Jesus Christ? Modem day preachers have made a conscience-soothing, fire-escape from hell, and named it Jesus. The modem preacher has made Jesus a pathetic, helpless beggar at the sinner’s heart’s door. The preacher of easy-believism and decisionism has made the will of Christ, the work of Christ, and the glory of Christ subject to the sinner’s will.
He has put the Son of God into the sinner’s power, saying, “What will you do with Jesus? Will you accept the Lord? Won’t you let Jesus come into your heart? Let him have his way with you.” It’s all a lie, a blasphemous delusion, a snare of hell. My friend, Jesus Christ is God, the sovereign Lord and King (John 17:2). He has you in his hands. You don’t have him in your hands. The question is not, “Will you receive Jesus?” but “Will Jesus receive you?” The question is not, “Will you accept the Lord?” but “Will the Lord accept you?” He has the authority, the right, and the power to save you or to damn you. The one thing you must do is bow down to him. Bow down before the great King and sue for mercy. — “Lord, if you will, you can make me whole.”
What did Jesus Christ do?
The real issue is this — What did Jesus Christ do? Did the Son of God die to make salvation a possibility for all men, or did he make an infinite satisfaction to divine justice, accomplishing the eternal redemption of his people? The modem theory of the atonement is this — The Lord Jesus Christ died at Calvary to make it possible for all the people of the world to be saved, though he did not actually secure and make certain the salvation of any. And when any sinner believes on Christ, the blood of Christ becomes powerful and effectual to save him.
That blasphemy makes the blood of Christ a dormant and useless thing, until the sinner’s faith makes it meritorious and effectual. But what does the Word of God say? If there is anything plainly taught in the Bible, it is this — The Lord Jesus Christ actually put away the sins of his people, and actually obtained eternal redemption for us when he poured out his life’s blood unto death at Calvary (Romans 3:24-26; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 9:12, 26).
Though the doctrine of the cross offends unbelieving men, and stirs up their wrath, every faithful man, called of God to preach the Gospel, goes on preaching it with boldness. This is the only hope of my soul. And, though you may not know it, it is your only hope, too. Any who preach any other Gospel are “the enemies of the cross of Christ,” and are to be treated as such (Galatians 1:6-8).
Don Fortner