BLOOD BEFORE THE LORD<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Note in scripture how many times the\nblood is said to be \u201cbefore the Lord.\u201d Whether any man saw it or not was\nof small account, for it was offered for sin \u201cbefore the Lord.\u201d When the\nPassover Lamb was slain in Egypt, where was the blood placed? It was on the\nOUTSIDE of the door \u201cbefore the Lord.\u201d He said, \u201cWhen I see\nthe blood, I will pass over you\u201d (Exodus 12:13). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The suffering and death of Christ\non behalf of His people was \u201cBEFORE the Lord.\u201d UNTO the Lord, to declare the\nLord\u2019s righteousness, to satisfy the Lord\u2019s justice, to fulfil the Lord\u2019s\npurpose, to glorify the Lord\u2019s character, to enable the Lord to be both just\nand justifier! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The atonement does not change the NATURE\nand character of God, but rather the atonement HONOURS and MAGNIFIES the\ncharacter of God. The death of Christ is NOT the cause of God\u2019s love, but the\nresult of it. God is not merciful because Christ died; Christ died because God\nis merciful. In order that every attribute might be expressed, glorified, and\nhonoured, God gave His Son to be the Saviour of the chosen people! Thank God we\nhave an atonement \u201cbefore the Lord.\u201d \n \n \n Pastor Henry T. Mahan<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have learned over the years that\nwhenever someone wants more \u201cpractical application\u201d in preaching, what they\nreally want is to be recognized for the way they are living. For those who walk\nby faith, nothing has a more practical effect on every part of their life than\nChrist. Nor, do they desire to hear anything except Christ and Him crucified.\nHe IS their life in all grace now and in glory forevermore.\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Greg Elmquist<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both\nour teacher <\/em>and our lesson!<\/em><\/strong> \u201cHe shall glorify me: for he\nshall receive of mine, and shall shew <\/em>it unto you<\/em>.\u201d (John\n16:14)<\/p>\n\n\n\n All the comfort, instruction, and\ndirection of God the Holy Spirit comes to sinners through the Lord Jesus\nChrist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/strong>In\naccordance with the disposition of the covenant of grace the Holy Spirit is\nChrist\u2019s agent in this world, just as he was the Father\u2019s agent in this world.\nHe does nothing of himself, speaks nothing of himself, and receives nothing to\nhimself. It is the Spirit\u2019s delight to do Christ\u2019s bidding in this world, even\nas it has been the Son\u2019s delight to do his Father\u2019s bidding. Christ is the\nFountain of grace. The Holy Spirit is the channel through whom all the waters\nof grace flow to us from the Fountain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \nThe gifts of the Spirit are actually the gifts of Christ bestowed upon his\nchurch by the Spirit for the glory of Christ, for the furtherance of the gospel\nof Christ, and for the increase and spiritual welfare of the body of Christ. A\ncomparison of Scripture with Scripture will show this plainly (1 Corinthians\n12:11; Ephesians 4:7-12). The Holy Spirit is not in competition with Christ. He\nhas come to glorify Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \nEverywhere today we hear men saying, \u201cThis is the age of the Holy Spirit.\u201d They\ntalk about the anointing of the Spirit, the baptism of the Spirit, being slain\nin the Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit, the filling of the Spirit, the presence\nof the Spirit, and the works of the Spirit, and say very little about the\nPerson, work, and glory of Christ. Those who tell you to seek the Spirit, those\nwho focus your attention on the Holy Spirit do not have the Holy Spirit. The\nHoly Spirit speaks only of Christ. And those who have the Spirit of Christ\nspeak of Christ. That man who preaches by the Spirit of God preaches Christ\nonly, Christ alone, and Christ always.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \nLet no one misunderstand me.Let us reverence the Holy Spirit,\nworship the Spirit, and honour the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God. But the only\nway to reverence the Spirit is to reverence Christ. The only way to worship the\nSpirit is to worship Christ. The only way to honour the Spirit is to honour\nChrist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. To have\nthe anointing of the Spirit is to have Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. To be\nbaptised in the Spirit is to be baptised into Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. To have\nthe gifts of the Spirit is to have the covenant blessings of God\u2019s grace in\nChrist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. To have\nthe filling of the Spirit is to have Christ in you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5. To have\nthe power of the Spirit is to have the power of Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6. To have\nthe presence of the Spirit is to have the presence of Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 7. To have\nthe work of the Spirit is to have Christ formed in you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 8. To walk\nin the Spirit is to walk in Christ, with Christ, toward Christ, and for Christ\nby faith in Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \nThis is not the age of the Spirit. This is the age of the Son. This is the age\nof Christ! This is the day of grace, the gospel day, the day of Christ. It\nbegan when the Sun of Righteousness arose from the grave with healing in his\nwings! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Don Fortner<\/p>\n\n\n\n The\n“illuminated” Bible?<\/strong> That Heavenly Teacher<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n (J.C.Philpot, “Daily Words\nfor Zion’s Wayfarers”)<\/p>\n\n\n\n We do not learn that we\nare sinners<\/em> merely by reading it in the Bible. It must be\nwrought, I might say, burnt into us. The\ndecipherer…<\/strong> Active, operating,\ninfluential principles of the life!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n (John MacDuff, “The Throne\nof Grace”) <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n THE\nREMEDY FOR DOUBT…<\/strong> CHRIST’S\nHOLD ON US<\/strong> I am a perverse and\nunruly patient!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n (John Newton)<\/p>\n\n\n\n I am bound to speak well\nof my Physician<\/strong>; He treats me with great tenderness, and bids me in\ndue time to expect a perfect cure. I know too much of Him (though I know but\nlittle) to doubt either His skill or His promise. BLOOD BEFORE THE LORD Note in scripture how many times the blood is said to be \u201cbefore the Lord.\u201d Whether any man saw it or not was of small account, for it was offered for sin \u201cbefore the Lord.\u201d When the Passover Lamb was slain in Egypt, where was the blood placed? It […]<\/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-6876","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\/6876","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=6876"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6876\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6877,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6876\/revisions\/6877"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6876"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6876"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6876"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n
\n(C.H.Spurgeon)
\n
\n“He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures \u2014 the things\nconcerning Himself<\/em>.” Luke 24:27
\n
\nThe two disciples on the road to Emmaus had a most profitable\njourney. Their companion was the best of teachers<\/strong><\/em> \u2014\nin whom is hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
\n
\nThis unrivalled tutor used as His class-book, the best\nof books<\/strong><\/em>. He showed us that the surest road to wisdom is not\nspeculation, reasoning, or reading human books \u2014 but meditation upon the Word\nof God. The readiest way to be spiritually rich in heavenly knowledge, is to\ndig in this mine of diamonds, to gather pearls from this heavenly sea! When\nJesus Himself sought to enrich others \u2014 He wrought in the quarry of Holy\nScripture.
\n
\nThe favoured pair were led to consider the best of subjects<\/strong><\/em> \u2014\nfor Jesus spoke of Jesus, and expounded the things concerning Himself! Here the\ndiamond cut the diamond, and what could be more admirable? The Master of the\nHouse unlocked His own doors, conducted the guests to His table, and placed His\nown dainties upon it! He who hid the treasure<\/em> in the field \u2014\nHimself guided the searchers to it. Our Lord would naturally discourse upon the\nsweetest of topics<\/em> \u2014 and He could find none sweeter than His\nown person and work.
\n
\nWith an eye to these things \u2014 we should always search the Word.\nO for grace to study the Bible with Jesus as both\nour teacher <\/em>and our lesson!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nThe Work of God the Holy Spirit<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/strong>
\nby Spurgeon-
\n<\/em>
\nYou may read the Bible continuously and yet never learn
\nanything by it, unless it is illuminated<\/strong> by\nthe Spirit.
\n
\nThen the words shine forth like stars. Then the book seems
\nmade of gold leaf; every single letter glitters like a diamond.
\n
\nOh! it is a blessed thing to read an “illuminated Bible”
\nlit up by the radiance of the Holy Spirit.
\n
\nHave you read the Bible, and yet have your eyes been
\nunenlightened? Go and say, “O Lord, illuminate it; shine upon
\nit; for I cannot read it to profit, unless You enlighten me.”
\n
\nBlind men may read the Bible with their fingers,
\nbut blind souls cannot.
\n
\nWe need a light to read the Bible by;
\nthere is no reading it in the dark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\nNor will anyone sincerely and spiritually cry for mercy, until\nsin is spiritually felt and known . . .
\n in its misery,
\n in its dominion,
\n in its guilt,
\n in its entanglements,
\n in its wiles and allurements,
\n in its filth and pollution, and
\n in its condemnation.
\n
\nWhere the Holy Spirit works<\/em>, He kindles . . .
\n sighs,
\n groans,
\n supplications,
\n wrestlings, and
\n pleadings
\nto know Christ<\/em>, feel His love, taste the efficacy of\nHis atoning blood, and embrace Him as all our salvation and all our desire.
\n
\nAnd though there may, and doubtless will be, much barrenness,\nhardness, deadness, and apparent carelessness often felt; still that heavenly Teacher<\/strong> will revive His\nwork, though often by painful methods; nor will He let the quickened soul rest\nshort of a personal and experimental enjoyment of Christ and His glorious\nsalvation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/strong>
\nby Toplady<\/em>
\n
\nTo unconverted persons, a great part of the Bible
\nresembles a letter written in ciphers.
\n
\nThe blessed Spirit’s office is to act as God’s decipherer<\/strong>,
\nby letting His people into the secret of celestial
\nexperience, as the key and clew to those sweet
\nmysteries of grace which were before as a garden
\nshut up, or as a fountain sealed, or as a book
\nwritten in an unknown character.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nIt is the work of the blessed Spirit to take of the things of\nChrist, and to show them to the soul; to reveal to us the precious benefits of\nredemption, and the riches of Divine grace-and to present them to us in such a\ntransforming, and convincing, and penetrating form, as that they shall not only\nbecome sources of abiding comfort to the heart-but active, operating, influential principles of the life!<\/strong>
\n
\nIt is the work of the blessed Spirit to be the Comforter<\/em>of\nthe children of God. Yes . . .
\n wherever a believer is afflicted;
\n wherever he sheds a sorrowful tear;
\n wherever he is pained by some heart-rending grief;
\n wherever he is bowed beneath some oppressive burden-
\nthere is the Comforter to cheer<\/em>, to solace<\/em>,\nto sustain<\/em>; pointing him . . .
\n from the wound<\/em>-to its balm,
\n from the grief<\/em>-to its ultimate cure,
\n from present suffering<\/em>-to eternal rest at\nGod’s right hand!
\n
\nThe Holy Spirit is not a traveler to sojourn for a season, but\nHe is a Friend to abide and dwell with you-a spiritual mentor to be always\nnear<\/em>. . .
\n to guide<\/em> you-in all seasons of\nperplexity,
\n to strengthen<\/em> you-in all times of\nweakness,
\n when you are discouraged-to uphold<\/em> you,
\n when you are wandering-to lead<\/em> you back,
\n when you are nearly overcome in your spiritual\nconflict-to bring you more of His divine strength and grace.
\n
\n“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities.”\nRomans 8:26<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/strong>
\nby Spurgeon<\/em>
\n
\nThe best way to get your faith strengthened
\nis to have communion with Christ.
\nIf you commune with Christ you cannot be unbelieving.
\nWhen His left hand is under my head,
\nand His right hand embraces me, I cannot doubt.
\n
\nWhen my Beloved sits at His table, and He brings me into
\nHis banqueting-house, and His banner over me is Love,
\nthen, indeed, I do believe. When I feast with Him,
\nmy unbelief is abashed and hides its head.
\n
\nSpeak, you that have been led in the green pastures
\nand have been made to lie down by the still waters;
\nyou who have seen His rod and His staff and hope to see
\nthem even when you walk through the valley of the
\nshadow of death.
\n
\nSpeak, you that have sat at His feet with Mary or laid
\nyour head upon His bosom with the well-beloved John–
\nHave you not found when you have been near to Christ
\nyour faith has grown strong, and when you have been far
\naway from Him, your faith has become weak?
\n
\nIt is impossible to look Christ in the face and then doubt
\nHim. When you cannot see Him, then you doubt Him.
\nBut you must believe when your Beloved speaks to you,
\nand says, “Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come
\naway.” There is no hesitation then; you must arise from
\nthe lowlands of your doubt up to the hills of assurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/strong>
\nThere are moments when the eyes glisten with joy: and we
\ncan say, “we are persuaded, confident, certain.” I don’t wish
\nto distress any one who is under doubt. Often gloomy doubts
\nwill prevail; there are seasons when you fear you have not
\nbeen called, when you doubt your interest in Christ.
\n
\nAh! what a mercy it is that it is not your hold on Christ that
\nsaves you, but His hold on you! What a sweet fact that it is
\nnot how you grasp His hand, but <\/strong>His\ngrasp<\/strong> of yours,
\nthat saves you.<\/strong>
\n
\nSpurgeon.
\n<\/em>
\nNevertheless I am<\/em> continually with thee:<\/strong>
\n<\/strong>thou hast holden me<\/em> by\nmy right hand.<\/strong>
\nPsalm 73:23<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\nIt is true, I have suffered sad relapses <\/em>since\nI have been under His care. Yet I confess that the fault has not been His, but\nmy own! I am a perverse and unruly\npatient!<\/strong> I have too often neglected His prescriptions, and broken\nthe regimen He appoints me to observe. This perverseness<\/em>, joined to\nthe exceeding<\/em> obstinacy of my disorders<\/em>, would have\ncaused me to be turned out as an incurable <\/em><\/strong>long ago-had\nI been under any other hand but His! Indeed, there is none like Him! When I\nhave brought myself <\/em>very low, He has still helped me. Blessed\nbe His name, I am yet kept alive only by means of His perfect care.
\n
\nThough His medicines are all beneficial<\/em>, they are\nnot all pleasant<\/em>. Now and then He gives me a pleasant <\/em>cordial;\nbut I have many severe disorders, in which there is a needs-be<\/em> for\nmy frequently taking His bitter <\/em>and unpalatable <\/em>medicines!
\n
\nWe sometimes see published in the newspapers, acknowledgments\nof cures received<\/em>. Methinks, if I were to publish my own case, that it\nwould run something like this:
\n“I, John Newton, have long laboured under a multitude of\ngrievous disorders:
\n a fever of ungoverned passions,
\n a cancer of pride,
\n a frenzy of wild imaginations,
\n a severe lethargy, and
\n a deadly stroke!
\nIn this deplorable situation, I suffered many things from many\nphysicians, spent every penny I had-yet only grew worse and worse!
\nIn this condition, Jesus, the Physician of souls, found me when\nI sought Him not. He undertook my recovery freely<\/em>, without money\nand without price-these are His terms <\/em>with all His patients!\nMy fever <\/em>is now abated, my senses are <\/em>restored,\nmy faculties <\/em>are enlivened! In a word, I am a new man!<\/em> And\nfrom His ability, His promise, and the experience of what He has already done-I\nhave the fullest assurance that He will infallibly and perfectly heal me; and\nthat I shall live forever as a monument of His power and grace!”<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"