The\nreligion which I want
\n
\n(Letters of J. C. Philpot)
\n
\nI am quite sick of modern religion–it is such a mixture, such a medley, such a\ncompromise. I find much, indeed, of this religion in my own heart, for it suits\nthe flesh well–but I would not have it so, and grieve it should be so.
\n
\nThe religion which I want is that of the Holy Spirit. I know nothing but what\nHe teaches me. I feel nothing but what He works in me. I believe nothing but\nwhat He shows me.
\nI only mourn when He smites my rocky heart. I only rejoice when He reveals the\nSaviour.
\n
\nThis religion I am seeking after, though miles and miles from it–but no other\nwill satisfy or content me.
\nWhen the blessed Spirit is not at work in me, and with me, I fall back into all\nthe . . .
\ndarkness,
\nunbelief,
\nearthliness,
\nidleness,
\ncarelessness,
\ninfidelity, and
\nhelplessness
\nof my Adam nature.
\n
\nTrue religion is a supernatural and mysterious thing.
\n
\n
\n
\n
\nLord, I am a poor, blind child
\n
\n(Winslow, “Daily Need Divinely Supplied”)
\n
\n“He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and\ncarries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young.”
\nIsaiah 40:11
\n
\nJesus leads those who are burdened, and need a skilful, sure, and gentle\nshepherd.
\n
\nOur journey to heaven is across a waste, howling wilderness, through an enemy’s\ncountry, all armed and combined to resist, dispute, and oppose our every step.
\nIt is a road, also, all untraveled and unknown. Over the entrance of every new\npath is written,
\n
\n“You have not passed this way before.” A new bend in our life\ntranspires, a new path in our pilgrimage is presented, involving new duties and\nresponsibilities, new cares and trials. And with fear and trembling we gird ourselves\nfor the new cloud veiled pilgrimage which God in His goodness has appointed us.
\n
\nBut why these doubts, these tremblings, these fears? Jesus is our Leader! He\nknows all the way we take, has mapped every road, and has appointed every path.
\n
\nAs a Teacher, He leads us into all truth;
\nas a Captain, He leads us from victory to victory;
\nas a Shepherd, He leads us into green pastures;
\nas a Guide, He leads us along our difficult path, skillfully, gently, and\nsafely.
\n
\nAnd HOW does Jesus lead us? He leads us graciously. He leads us along all the\nstages, and through all the exercises of our Christian experience, leaving us\nnot when our frames are low, and our faith is assailed, and darkness, often\nthick darkness, covers our soul.
\n
\nWho could skillfully, patiently, and faithfully lead us along all the mazes,\nintricacies, and perils of our Christian course safely to glory, but Christ our\nLeader?
\n
\nCommit yourself, O my soul, confidently to the Lord’s leading. The way may\nappear all wrong to you, but it is the right way.
\nMystery may enshroud it, trials may pave it, sorrows may darken it, tears may\nbedew it, nevertheless He is leading you by the right way home.
\n
\n“I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths\nI will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them, and make\nthe rough places smooth. These are the things I will do;
\n
\nI will not forsake them.” Isaiah 42:16
\n
\n
\n“Lord, I am a poor, blind child, not knowing my way; and when I do see it,\nI am often so burdened that I cannot walk. Take me by the hand, and gently,\nskilfully lead me until traveling days are over, and I am at home with You\nforever. You have promised gently to lead the burdened and feeble who cannot\nkeep up with the flock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lord,\nlead ME!”
\n
\n
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jesus Christ is\ncompletely sufficient!
\n
\n(author unknown)
\n
\n“For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are\ncomplete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power!”
\nColossians 2:9-10
\n
\n
\nOne of the great tenets of Scripture, is the claim that Jesus Christ is\ncompletely sufficient for all matters of life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3-4)!
\n
\nHe is sufficient for:
\ncreation (Colossians 1:16-17)
\nsalvation (Hebrews 10:10-12)
\nsanctification (Ephesians 5:26-27)
\nand glorification (Romans 8:30).
\n
\nSo pure is He, that there is no blemish, stain, spot of sin, defilement,\ndeception, corruption, error, or imperfection in Him! (1 Peter 1:18-20)
\n
\nSo complete is He, that . . .
\nthere is no other God besides Him (Isaiah 45:5)
\nHe is the only begotten Son (John 1:14, John 1:18)
\nall the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in Him (Colossians 2:3)
\nthe fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily in Him (Colossians 2:9)
\nHe is heir of all things (Hebrews 1:2)
\nHe created all things\u2014and all things were made
\nby Him, through Him, and for Him (Colossians 1:16)
\nHe upholds all things by the word of His power (Colossians 1:17, Hebrews
\n1:3)
\nHe is the firstborn of all creation (Colossians 1:15)
\nHe is the exact representation of God (Hebrews 1:3).
\nHe has no beginning and no end (Revelation 1:17-18)
\nHe is the spotless Lamb of God (John 1:29)
\nHe is our peace (Ephesians 2:14)
\nHe is our hope (1 Timothy 1:1)
\nHe is our life (Colossians 3:4)
\nHe is the living and true Way (John 14:6)
\nHe is the Root and Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star
\n(Revelation 22:16)
\nHe is Faithful and True (Revelation 19:11)
\nHe is the Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2)
\nHe is Captain of our Salvation (Hebrews 2:10)
\nHe is the Elect One (Isaiah 42:1)
\n
\nHe is the Apostle and High-Priest of our confession (Hebrews 3:1)
\nHe is the Righteous Servant (Isaiah 53:11).
\nHe is the Lord Almighty (Malachi 3:17)
\nHe is the Redeemer (Isaiah 41:14)
\nHe is the Holy One of Israel (Isaiah 54:5)
\nHe is the God of the whole earth (Isaiah 54:5)
\nHe is the Man of Sorrows (Isaiah 53:3)
\nHe is the Light of the world (John 9:5)
\nHe is the Son of Man (Matthew 20:28)
\nHe is the true Vine (John 15:5)
\nHe is the Bread of Life (John 6:48)
\nHe is the Door to Heaven (John 10:7)
\nHe is the Sovereign Lord (Philippians 2:10-13)
\nHe is Prophet, Priest and King (Hebrews 1:1-3)
\nHe is our Sabbath rest (Hebrews 4:9)
\nHe is our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6)
\nHe is the Wonderful Counsellor, the Mighty God,
\nthe Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)
\nHe is the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4)
\nHe is the Lion of Judah (Revelation 5:5)
\nHe is the Rock of Salvation (Psalm 62:2)
\nHe is the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:13)
\nHe is the Counsellor and Comforter (John 14:26)
\nHe is the Messiah (John 4:25-26) and
\nHe is the great I AM! (John 8:58)
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\nTHE FLAMING SWORD OF JUSTICE QUENCHED IN THE HOLY, LOVING BOSOM OF JESUS!
\n
\nOctavius Winslow
\n
\nThe most significant and appalling demonstration of God’s holiness that the\nuniverse ever beheld, infinitely distancing and transcending every other, is\nthe sufferings and death of His only and beloved Son! The cross of Calvary\nexhibits God’s hatred and punishment of sin in a way and to an extent which the\nannihilation of millions of worlds, swept from the face of the universe by the\nbroom of His wrath, could never have done! “Who his own self bare our sins\nin his own body on the tree.”
\n
\nBehold the most awful display of God’s hatred of sin! Finding the sins of the\nChurch upon Christ as its Surety, Substitute, and Saviour, the wrath of God was\npoured out upon Him without measure! God finding the sins of His people laid\nupon His Son, emptied upon His holy soul all the vials of His wrath due to\ntheir transgressions! Go, my soul, to Calvary, and learn how holy God is, and\nwhat a monstrous thing sin is, and how
\nimperiously, solemnly, and holily bound Jehovah is to punish it, either in the\nperson of the sinner, or in the person of a Surety. Never was the Son of God\ndearer to the Father than at the very moment that the sword of divine justice,\nflaming and flashing, pierced to its hilt His holy heart!
\n
\nBut it was the wrath of God, not against His beloved Son, but against the sins\nwhich met on Him when presenting Himself on the cross as the substitutionary\nsacrifice and offering for His Church\u2014He gave Himself for us. What a new\nconception must angels have formed of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, when\nthey beheld the flaming sword of justice quenched in the holy, loving bosom of\nJesus! And in what a dazzling light does this fact place the marvelous love of\nGod to sinners! Man’s sin and God’s love; the indescribable enormity of the\none, and the immeasurable greatness of the other; are exhibited in the cross of\nChrist as nowhere else. Oh, to learn experimentally these two great facts\u2014sin’s\ninfinite hatefulness, and love’s infinite holiness! The love of God in giving\nHis Son to die; the love of Christ in dying; the essential turpitude and\nunmitigated enormity of sin, which demanded a sacrifice so Divine, so holy, and\nso precious!
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\nThe Spirit’s work in salvation
\n
\nby Spurgeon
\n
\nThe Holy Spirit lays bare his heart, lets him see the loathsome cancer that is\nthere eating away his life, uncovers to him all the blackness and defilement of\nthat sink of hell– the human heart; and then the man stands aghast–
\n
\n“I never thought I was like this! Oh! those sins I thought were little,\nhave swelled to an immense stature. What I thought was a mole-hill has grown\ninto a mountain; it was a hyssop on the wall before, but now it has become a\ncedar of Lebanon.”
\n
\nThen the man says to himself, “Oh, I will try to reform; I will do enough\n‘good’ deeds to wash these ‘black’ deeds out.”
\n
\nThen the Holy Spirit comes and shows him that he cannot do this, takes away all\nhis ‘fancied’ power and strength, so that the man falls down on his knees in\nagony and cries, “Oh! once I thought I could save myself by my good works,\nbut now I find that-
\n
\n‘Could my tears forever flow,
\nCould my zeal no respite know,
\nAll for sin could not atone,
\n
\nYou must save, and You alone.’ “
\n
\nThen his heart sinks, and the man is ready to despair. He says, “I can\nnever be saved. Nothing can save me.”
\nThen the Holy Spirit comes and shows the sinner the cross of Christ, gives him\neyes anointed with heavenly eye-salve, and says, “Look to yonder cross.\nThat Man died to save sinners; you feel you are a sinner; He died to save\nyou.”
\n
\nAnd then the Holy Spirit enables the heart to believe, and come to Christ.
\n
\n
\n
\nThat Heavenly Teacher
\n
\n(Philpot, “Daily Words for Zion’s Wayfarers”)
\n
\nWe do not learn that we are sinners merely by reading it in the Bible. It must\nbe wrought, I might say, burnt into us. Nor will anyone sincerely and\nspiritually cry for
\nmercy, until sin is spiritually felt and known . . .
\nin its misery,
\nin its dominion,
\nin its guilt,
\nin its entanglements,
\nin its wiles and allurements,
\nin its filth and pollution, and
\nin its condemnation.
\n
\nWhere the Holy Spirit works, He kindles . . .
\nsighs,
\ngroans,
\nsupplications,
\nwrestlings, and
\npleadings
\nto know Christ, feel His love, taste the efficacy of His atoning blood, and\nembrace Him as all our salvation and all our desire.
\n
\nAnd though there may, and doubtless will be, much barrenness, hardness,\ndeadness, and apparent carelessness often felt; still that heavenly Teacher\nwill revive His work, though often by painful methods; nor will He let the\nquickened soul rest short of a personal and experimental enjoyment of Christ\nand His glorious salvation.
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\nBlow upon my garden
\n
\n(John MacDuff, “Communion Memories”)
\n
\n“Awake, O north wind, and come, O south wind! Blow upon my garden, let its\nspices flow. Let my Beloved come to His garden, and eat its choicest\nfruits.” Song of Solomon 4:16
\n
\nCome! Blessed Spirit, in all the plenitude of Your gifts and graces!
\n
\nCome, as the north wind bringing with it conviction of sin–my own sin–seen in\nthe light of my Saviour’s Cross and sufferings.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The religion which I want (Letters of J. C. Philpot) I am quite sick of modern religion–it is such a mixture, such a medley, such a compromise. I find much, indeed, of this religion in my own heart, for it suits the flesh well–but I would not have it so, and grieve it should be […]<\/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-5461","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\/5461","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=5461"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5461\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5462,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5461\/revisions\/5462"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5461"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5461"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5461"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}