{"id":3301,"date":"2015-05-30T07:22:41","date_gmt":"2015-05-30T07:22:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=3301"},"modified":"2015-05-30T07:22:41","modified_gmt":"2015-05-30T07:22:41","slug":"bulletin-edition-254-may-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=3301","title":{"rendered":"Bulletin Edition #254 May 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

Poor, naked, penniless, worthless? <\/strong><\/p>\n

(Octavius Winslow, “Morning Thoughts”)<\/p>\n

“I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has \u00a0now come when the dead will hear the voice
\nof the Son of God and those who hear will live.”
\nJohn 5:25<\/p>\n

There is the special, direct, and effectual call of the Spirit, in the elect of God, without which all other calling is in vain.\u00a0 The Spirit effectually works in the soul with an inward, supernatural, secret power. There is an energy put forth with the call, which . . .
\nawakens the conscience, \u00a0 breaks the heart, \u00a0 convinces the judgment, \u00a0 opens the eye of the soul, and \u00a0 pours a new and an alarming sound \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 upon the hitherto deaf ear.<\/p>\n

Mark the blessed effects . . .
\nthe scales fell from the eyes, \u00a0 the veil is torn from the mind, \u00a0 the deep fountains of evil in the heart are broken up.<\/p>\n

The sinner sees himself as . . . \u00a0 lost and undone \u00a0 without pardon, \u00a0 without a righteousness,
\nwithout acceptance, \u00a0 without a God, \u00a0 without a Savior, \u00a0 without a hope!<\/p>\n

Awful condition!<\/p>\n

“What shall I do to be saved?” is his cry! “I am a wretch undone! I look within me, all is dark
\nand vile; I look around me, everything seems but the image of my woe; I look above me, I
\nsee only an angry God. Whichever way I look, is hell! And were God now to send me there,
\njust and right would He be.”<\/p>\n

But, blessed be God, no poor soul that ever uttered such language, prompted by such
\nfeelings, ever died in despair! That faithful Spirit who begins the good work, effectually
\ncarries it on, and completes it.<\/p>\n

Presently He leads him to the cross of Jesus and unveils to his glimmering eye of faith a . . .
\nsuffering, \u00a0 wounded, \u00a0 bleeding, \u00a0 dying Savior; and yet a Savior with outstretched arms!<\/p>\n

That Savior speaks; oh, did ever music sound so melodious? “All this I do for you . . .
\nthis cross for you, \u00a0 these sufferings for you, \u00a0 this blood for you, \u00a0 these stretched out arms for you. Come unto Me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Look unto Me, and be saved! Are you lost? I can save you! Are you guilty? I can cleanse you! Are you poor? I can enrich you! Are you sunk low? I can raise you! Are you naked? I can clothe you! Have you nothing to bring with you?
\nNo price? \u00a0 No money? \u00a0 No goodness? \u00a0 No merit? I can and will take you to Me, just as you are . . .
\npoor, \u00a0 naked, \u00a0 penniless, \u00a0 worthless; for such I came to seek, for such I came to die.”<\/p>\n

“Lord, I believe,” exclaims the poor convinced soul! You are just the Savior that I need. I needed one
\nthat could and would save me . . . \u00a0 with all my vileness, \u00a0 with all my rags, \u00a0 with all my poverty. I needed one that would . . .
\nsave me fully, \u00a0 save me freely, save me as an act of mere unmerited, undeserved
\ngrace! I have found Him whom my soul loves! and will be His through time, and His through eternity!”<\/p>\n

Thus effectually does the blessed Spirit call a sinner, by His especial, invincible, and supernatural power,<\/p>\n

Hosea-type of Christ<\/strong> Hosea 1-3 The name \u2018Hosea\u2019 is the same with Joshua and Jesus and signified a saviour or a deliverer. Hosea was not only a faithful prophet and servant of the Lord, but he is a powerful type and picture of our Lord Jesus in his love and mercy to sinners. It is surprising that we do not hear more sermons on Hosea, since he has such a name and his writings are so filled with grace for the guilty. The story in brief: God commanded Hosea to take a wife from among the people of whoredom. Fornication and adultery was their form of life. Hosea married Gomer, who was quite young, and she bore him three children. Then Gomer began to walk the way of her heritage, leaving Hosea for her lovers. Even though she had left him and was living in wickedness and shame, Hosea continued to provide corn, wine, oil, and money for her. Gomer thought these gifts were from her lovers, and she praised them. Soon she was brought down to poverty, shame, and loneliness and was to be sold on the block as a common slave. Hosea loved her yet, and he went to the marketplace and bought her for the price demanded and took her home to be his wife, no more to leave. 390 With New Testament Eyes Hosea 1-3 The key to this story Hosea 3:1. \u2018Then said the Lord unto me, go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, according to the love of the Lord toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine.\u2019 The Lord put Hosea through this unusual experience to demonstrate his grace, love, and mercy to his people, all of whom have \u2018sinned and gone astray, turning to our own way.\u2019 We did not love him, but he loved us with an \u2018everlasting love\u2019 and \u2018loved us to the end.\u2019 1:1-3. According to the commandment of the Lord, Hosea went among a vile race, a sinful people, and took his bride, joining himself to her as one! Our Lord chose his bride from Adam’s fallen, sinful race (1 Cor. 1: 26-29; Rom. 5:6-8; Eph. 2:1-4). We did not love him; he loved us (1 John 4:10). We did not choose him; he chose us (John 15:16). We did not deserve his mercy and love. The cause of his love for us and our redemption is found only in himself, not in us! 2:1-5. A short time after their marriage, Gomer left Hosea and followed the ways of her people. She was from a people of whoredom; and when she became of full age, she walked the same path they walked. Though our God entered a covenant with Christ, chose us in Christ, and made us his own before the world began (Eph. 1: 3- 6; 2 Thess. 2:13; Gal. 1:15), we were born into this world sons of Adam, fallen sinners; and we go astray from the womb (Psalm 51:5; 58:3; Jer. 13:23; Rom. 5:12, 19). We do not come into the world as those who might fall; we are born fallen and only have to reach certain ages and be 391 Hosea 1-3 Henry Mahan exposed to certain temptations to reveal what we already are! We are not sinners because we sin; we sin because we are sinners (Rom. 3:10-19). It is our nature to love sin and hate holiness. 2:5-8. Hosea took care of Gomer even in her rebellion and sin. She said, \u2018I will go after my lovers who gave me good things.\u2019 Hosea said, \u2018She did not know that I gave her these things.\u2019 Oh, how gracious the Lord is to his people all the days of our lives! From our birth and all the days of our lives he has protected us, provided for us, and blessed us, even when we knew him not nor desired to know him. Like Gomer, we praise ourselves, talk about good luck, or give the glory to the flesh, and know not that our Lord is the giver of every good gift (Rom. 8:28-31; Gal. 1:15). 2:9-11. Finally, Gomer was brought low; her life became a burden; her joy was turned to mourning; the sweetness became bitter; that which she had loved, she hated. The Lord God will bring his people to this place. A sinner must be lost to be saved; he must be brought low before he can be lifted up and exalted; he must, like Gomer and the prodigal son, discover what he is, where he is, and feel the guilt, shame, and burden of sin (John 6:44-45). We cannot taste of grace until we weary of sin. We will not love and flee to Christ until we hate our fleshly lovers and what they have done to us. To miss conviction of sin is to miss repentance, and to miss repentance is to miss faith, and to miss faith is to miss Christ. The Holy Spirit of God, in bringing us to repentance toward God and faith in Christ Jesus, will convince us of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8-11). 392 With New Testament Eyes Hosea 1-3 3:1-3. Gomer belonged to the fallen system! She was in the clutches and possession of her masters. There was a price on her head. Hosea bore the shame of identification with her and, revealing his special care for her, paid the price and set her free. We belonged to a fallen humanity; we were in the possession of the law and justice. There was a price on our heads\u2014eternal condemnation, curse, and death (Isa. 53:4-6, 10-12). Christ loved us, was numbered with us, and \u2018despising the shame,\u2019 he endured the cross and paid what we owed but could not pay. \u2018He paid a debt he did not owe for us who owed a debt we could not pay.\u2019 Hosea 3:3 reveals the security of the Lord’s purchased bride and her eternal union with him (John 10:24-30). This is the covenant revealed in Jeremiah, \u2018They shall be my people, and I will be their God… I will not turn away from them to do them good and they shall not depart from me\u2019 (Jer. 32: 38-40; Mal. 3:6; Phil. 1:6). Henry Mahan<\/p>\n

The Alluring<\/strong><\/p>\n

James Smith, 1860
\nThe Lord having chosen his people for himself \u2014 will bring them to know him, confide in him, and love him. So, when they have backslidden and wandered from him \u2014 he will employ means, that his banished ones be not expelled from him. Thus he brought Israel out of Egypt, and consecrated them to himself; and thus he led them out of Babylon, and again set them apart for his praise. These things were types, and show unto us, how the Lord deals with his people now, both at their first conversion, and at their restoration afterwards. How striking are the words of the Lord by his servant Hosea, on this point, “Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably to her;” or as the margin reads, “I will speak to her heart.” Hosea 2:14. What will the Lord do?<\/p>\n

“I will allure her.” The eye and the heart of God, are upon his people \u2014 before they know it, and when they little think of it. He loves them with an everlasting love \u2014 therefore, he will draw, or allure them. He will draw them from their . . .
\ncarnal pleasures, \u00a0vain pursuits, and wordily company.<\/p>\n

He will secretly persuade them . . .
\nby a divine operation upon their minds; or by disappointments, vexations, convictions, distress of soul, and bereavements; or by discoveries of his glorious grace, the blessedness of his people, or the felicity of Heaven
\n\u2014 to leave the pleasures and pursuits that are carnal \u2014 and seek for himself, and spiritual things. He will entice her, or draw her, by the revelation, and exhibition, of Jesus \u2014 in his glory, beauty, and exact adaptation to her.<\/p>\n

“I will bring her into the wilderness.” Not an uninhabited spot \u2014 but what is elsewhere called “the wilderness of the people.” So, that though surrounded by society, the soul feels ALONE \u2014 it has an inward persuasion, that it is an isolated being. The allured soul feels that no one is like it \u2014 no one ever had such feelings, such fears, such corruptions, such temptations, such doubts. Therefore as Jeremiah says, “Let him sit alone in silence, for the Lord has laid it on him. Let him bury his face in the dust \u2014 there may yet be hope.”<\/p>\n

The believer, like a person in a wilderness, has a painful sense of BARRENNESS. Beneath, there is no green and pleasant verdure \u2014 but scorching sands; above, no shower bearing clouds \u2014 but a burning sky. All is barren, and tends to barrenness. So the soul finds it \u2014 the means of grace are barren; prayer, preaching, and conversation, all are barren. Even the Bible appears to be a barren book.<\/p>\n

So the man feels exposed to DANGER \u2014 danger from Satan, sin, the world, and death. Danger from the law, and danger even from Christian friends.<\/p>\n

There is also a painful sense of DESTITUTION, and the man becomes wearied, bewildered, and exhausted.<\/p>\n

This wilderness is a place of INSTRUCTION, here the soul learns many a painful \u2014 but important lesson. Here it learns dependence on God, the emptiness and insufficiency of the creature, and the need of a divine agency to carry on the work. It learns that there is no bread but from Heaven, and what comes down appears to be small and unusual; so that with Israel, as we gather and feed on it, we are ready to cry, “Manna,” what is it? what is it?<\/p>\n

Here God works wonders, in preserving, supplying, correcting, restoring, and guiding. Here the bridegroom finds his bride, raises her to his side, allows her to lean upon him, holds secret, soul-sustaining communion with her, and conducts her to the promised land.<\/p>\n

“I will speak to her heart.”<\/p>\n

He speaks a divorce from all creatures \u2014 that we may enjoy union to, and find happiness in himself alone.<\/p>\n

He calls us away from centering in self \u2014 to fix our faith and affections on himself.<\/p>\n

He speaks, so as to prevail with us to leave all others, and give ourselves up . . .
\nto be ruled by his will,
\nto feed at his table, and
\nto be satisfied with his goodness.<\/p>\n

He speaks comfort, and speaks comfortably to us. By a Barnabas, or by the Comforter \u2014 he speaks, and, brings home a word of promise to the heart. This encourages faith, emboldens hope, and persuades the soul to close in with Christ. Or some sweet word flows into the mind, assuring us that he . . .
\nhas pardoned our sins,
\nwill take us as his own,
\nwill guide us by his counsel, and
\nafterwards receive us to glory.<\/p>\n

Reader, has the Lord ever allured you, and drawn you away into a wilderness, revealing himself to you? Has he ever spoken to your heart, words of peace and love? Jesus spoke to the heart of the poor woman, when he said, “Your sins, which are many, are all forgiven,” and to the poor man, when he said, “Your faith has saved you, go in peace.” Such pleasant words are as a honeycomb \u2014 sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. Such good words will make the heart glad.<\/p>\n

We must be weaned from the world, from the creatures, and be brought into secret, heart-affecting, soul transforming communion with God. We must therefore find the world a wilderness, a desert, a land of drought. We must turn from man to God, and in God as revealed in Jesus, find a friend that loves at all times, and be able to say, with the apostle, “Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Poor, naked, penniless, worthless? (Octavius Winslow, “Morning Thoughts”) “I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has \u00a0now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.” John 5:25 There is the special, direct, and effectual call of the Spirit, in the elect […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3301","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bulletin-editions"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3301","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3301"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3301\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3303,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3301\/revisions\/3303"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3301"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3301"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3301"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}