There are three classes of servants: the slave who serves\nthrough fear, the hireling who serves for wages, and the son who serves for\nlove. \n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Donnie Bell<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“My sheep hear<\/em> My voice, and I know them,\nand they follow<\/em> Me.” John 10:27<\/p>\n\n\n\n Christian, your whole life is to be one continuous following of\nthe Lord. Christian, should your eye ever be withdrawn from the cross, you\nwill be sure to go backwards, to grow cold, and to forget that you were purged\nfrom your old sins (2 Peter 1:9). That cross is life, health, holiness,\nconsolation, strength, joy; let nothing come between it and you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Christian, your life is a book; it may be a volume of larger or\nsmaller size. Conversion is but the title-page or the preface. The book itself\nremains to be written; and your years and weeks and days are its chapters and\npages and lines. It is a book written for eternity; see that it be written\nwell. It is a book for the inspection of enemies as well as friends; be careful\nof every word. It is a book written under the eye of God; let it be done\nreverently; without levity, yet without constraint or terror.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The grace of God is your strength, as it is your joy; and it is\nonly by abiding in it that you can really live the life of the redeemed. Be\nstrong, then, in this grace; draw your joy out of it; and beware how you turn\nto anything else for refreshment, or comfort, or holiness. Though a believing\nman, you are still a sinner; a sinner to the last; and, as such, nothing can\nsuit you but the free love of God. Draw continually on Christ and His fullness\nfor this grace. This abounding grace, rightly understood, will not make you\nsin; it will not relax morality or make inconsistency a trifle. It will magnify\nsin and enhance its evil in your eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Horatius Bonar<\/p>\n\n\n\n ISAIAH bemoaned the fact that “even our\nrighteousnesses are filthy rags.” GEORGE WHITEFIELD said, “A man\nhasn’t truly repented until he can repent even of his best deeds, which are all\nimperfect.” BISHOP BEVERIDGE wrote: “Because of the evil root in our\nhearts, there is evil fruit in our nature. The root poisons even our so-called\nrighteousness. We cannot pray without sin; we do not hear nor preach a sermon\nwithout sin; we do not give alms without sin; we cannot even confess our sins\nbut that our very confession is an aggravation of sin. Our repentance needs to\nbe repented of, and our tears need to be washed in His blood. Not only the\nworst behaviour, but OFTEN THE BEST DUTIES of our lives prove us to be sons of\nAdam. Oh, the exceeding sinfulness of sin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Henry Mahan <\/p>\n\n\n\n BETRAYED WITH KISS<\/p>\n\n\n\n Judas betrayed his master with A\nKISS! He came to the Lord with evil in his heart, the price of compromise in\nhis hand, religious devils at his side, and said, “Hail Master” as he\nplanted A KISS on the Lord’s cheek!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is how most apostates and\ncompromisers operate, they betray the Son of God and the gospel of grace WITH A\nKISS. They talk of love, humility, morality, and sugar and spice while they\nsell out to religious world and betray the sovereign Son of God. And men watch\ntheir pretended affection and hear their words, “Hail Master”, spoken\nso softly, smoothly, humbly, and sweetly, and they say, “can such devout\npeople be ENEMIES of the Lord?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do not be deceived; sometimes the\nmost devout looking, religious people can be the most hypocritical in the\nworld. Do not be deceived by their kisses. LISTEN TO THEIR GOSPEL! Peter\nbearing the sword, had more grace than Judas, who came with a Kiss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Henry Mahan <\/p>\n\n\n\n The road to Heaven This cheating and deluding scene!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n (Henry Law, “The Song of Solomon” 1879)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Song of Solomon 8:5, “Who is this that cometh up from the\nwilderness, leaning on her Beloved<\/strong>?” Here no manna falls, and no refreshing streams trickle by the\nside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Its food is poison. To taste is to imbibe death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What is its produce? Thorns! Thistles! Briers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n It yields no nurture\u2014but disappointment, misery and woe. Lord, I am a poor, blind child!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n By Octavius Winslow As a Captain, He leads us from victory to victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a Shepherd, He leads us into green pastures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a Guide, He leads us along our difficult path\u2014skilfully,\ngently, and safely. Thine eyes shall see\nthe King in His beauty!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n C.H.Spurgeon This most precious and\nsuitable Saviour!<\/strong> seems to rise more and more\n. . . There are three classes of servants: the slave who serves through fear, the hireling who serves for wages, and the son who serves for love. Donnie Bell “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” John 10:27 Christian, your whole life is to be one continuous following of the Lord. You began with […]<\/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-6887","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\/6887","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=6887"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6887\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6888,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6887\/revisions\/6888"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6887"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6887"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6887"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n
\nYou began with turning your back upon the world, and ‘looking to Jesus’; keep\never thus. Looking to Him brought rest to you at first, and healed your soul;\nso, looking to Him daily will maintain your rest and perfect your spiritual\nhealth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n<\/strong>(Horatius Bonar, “The Surety’s Cross”)
\n
\n“Then Jesus said unto His disciples, If any man will
\n come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up
\n his cross, and follow Me<\/em>.” Matthew 16:24
\n
\n“Follow Me,” Jesus says; and we cannot but yield to
\nHis almighty voice. He draws us out of the world<\/em>\u2014and
\nwe follow Him. He leads us in at the strait gate<\/em>\u2014and
\nwe follow Him. He guides us along the narrow way<\/em>\u2014
\nand we follow Him\u2014our cross <\/em>upon our shoulder and
\nthe crown <\/em>before our eye!
\n
\nSmoothness, and brightness, and greenness\u2014are not
\nthe features of the narrow <\/em>way; but rather thorns and
\nbriars, darkness and dust, and ruggedness, all along;
\nfightings without, and fears within.
\n
\nThe road to Heaven<\/strong> is not so pleasant, and comfortable,
\nand easy, and flowery\u2014as many dream. It is not a bright,
\nsunny, flowery path. It is not paved with triumph\u2014though
\nit is to end in victory. The termination <\/em>is glory, honour, and
\nimmortality; but on the way\u2014<\/em>there is the thorn in the flesh,
\nthe sackcloth, and the cross. Recompense <\/em>yonder\u2014but labor<\/em>
\nhere! Rest <\/em>yonder\u2014but weariness <\/em>here! Joy and\nsecurity
\nyonder<\/em>\u2014but here <\/em>endurance and watchfulness, the race,
\nthe battle, the burden, and ofttimes the heavy heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\nA form is seen coming up from the wilderness; but not alone, not unsupported.
\nThere is another form near the first, and on Him all weight is laid.
\nThe truth is clear. We see the Christian deriving support from his Lord.
\nThey proceed together along a path leading up from the wilderness.
\n
\nThe believer is called . . .
\n to leave all for Christ;
\n to come out from a fallen and polluted world;
\n to shun its pleasures;
\n to turn from its smiles;
\n to disregard its frowns;
\n to close its ear to its enticing voice;
\n to reject its fascinating cup;
\n to trample on its principles and maxims;
\n to feel that the world in its every aspect is opposed to Christ.
\nSuch views are the true teachings of the Spirit.
\nThe believer, a pupil in this school, arises and departs.
\n
\nBut there is no profit in what he abandons.
\nThe world, when truly seen, is a waste wilderness. <\/em>
\n
\nIt is no fair garden of Eden, fragrant with beauteous flowers.
\nIt is no vineyard, in which grapes hang down in luxuriant clusters.
\nIt is no peaceful meadow, free from incursions of devouring beasts.
\nIt is no lovely grove, in which the melody of cheerful birds delights the\near.
\nIt is no pleasant path, in which surrounding prospects give enchanting\nviews.
\n
\nIt is a desert\u2014wild, dismal, and unsatisfying!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\nIt is an enemy’s<\/em> land, beset with perils and encompassed with\nmalignant foes.
\n
\nThe believer is called to come up from this cheating and deluding\nscene!<\/strong>
\n
\nBut how can the Christian obey? He is weak and powerless in himself.
\n
\n But a mighty arm is near!<\/em> Jesus says:
\n“Do not fear, for I am with you;
\n do not be afraid, for I am your God.
\n I will strengthen you; I will help you;
\n I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand!”
\nHe extends the arm of His omnipotence and cries, “Come, lean on Me!<\/strong>“
\n
\nAs without Jesus the first step<\/em> cannot be taken, so without\nHim advance<\/em>cannot be made. But He is ever near,\nwilling, and able.
\n
\nThe heavenward path is a steepascent. It requires strong\nlimbs to climb.
\nBut leaning on Jesus, the upward race may be run without loitering.
\n
\nThe path<\/strong> also, through life’s course, is slippery. Our\nfeet are liable to slip.Snares<\/em> and pitfalls<\/em> are before us. Our feet\nare liable to stumble.
\nBut leaning on Him we are upheld, and safely guided.
\n
\nThus let us pass through life leaning on our Beloved.
\n
\nLet us lean on Him as we pass through the valley of the shadow of death.
\nHis rod and staff will surely comfort us.
\n
\nLet us enter Heaven leaning on the same arm.
\n
\n“Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her Beloved<\/strong>?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n“<\/strong>He shall feed his flock like a shepherd:
\nhe shall gather the lambs with his arm,
\nand carry them<\/em> in his bosom,
\nand<\/em> shall gently lead those that are with young.\u201d<\/strong> \nIsaiah 40:11<\/strong>
\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\nenemy’s country\u2014all armed and combined to resist, dispute, and oppose our every\nstep.
\n
\nIt is a road, also, all untraveled and unknown. Over the entrance of every new\npath is written, “You have not passed this way before!”<\/em> A\nnew bend in our life transpires, a new path in our pilgrimage is\npresented\u2014involving new duties and responsibilities, new cares and trials. And\nwith fear and trembling we gird ourselves for the new cloud-veiled pilgrimage\nwhich God in His goodness has appointed us.
\n
\nBut why thesedoubts, these tremblings, these fears? <\/em>Jesus\nis our Leader!
\nHe knows all the way we take\u2014has mapped every road, and has appointed every\npath.
\n
\nAs a Teacher, He leads us into all truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\nHow does Jesus lead us?<\/strong> He leads us graciously. He leads us\nalong all the stages, and through all the exercises of our Christian\nexperience\u2014not leaving us when our frames are low, and our faith is assailed,\nand darkness, often thick darkness, covers our soul.
\n
\nWho could skilfully, patiently, and faithfully lead us along all the mazes<\/em>, intricacies<\/em>,\nand perils<\/em> of our Christian course, safely to glory\u2014but Christ\nour Leader?
\n
\nCommit yourself, O my soul, confidently to the Lord’s leading.
\nThe way may appear all wrong to you, but it is the right way.
\nMystery<\/em> may enshroud it,
\n trials<\/em> may pave it,
\n sorrows<\/em> may darken it,
\n tears<\/em> may bedew it\u2014
\nnevertheless He is leading you by the right<\/em> way home.
\n
\n“<\/strong>And I will bring the blind by a way that<\/em> they\nknew not;
\nI will lead them in paths that<\/em> they have not known:
\nI will make darkness light before them,
\nand crooked things straight.
\nThese things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.<\/strong>”\nIsaiah 42:16<\/strong>
\n
\n“Lord, I am a poor, blind child<\/strong>\u2014not knowing my way. And when I do\nsee it, I am often so burdened that I cannot walk. Take me by the hand,\nand gently, skilfully lead me until traveling days are over, and I am at\nhome with You forever! You have promised gently to lead the burdened and feeble\nwho cannot keep up with the flock. Lord, lead ME!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\nPhilippians 1:23, “Having a desire to depart,\nand to be with Christ; which is far better.”
\n
\nThe life of a believer is a journey through time, toward eternity. Each day\nthat passes, each trial endured, each breath drawn in this fallen world–moves\nthe child of God one step nearer to the full enjoyment of what has been secured\nby sovereign grace–eternal life in the presence of Christ. For the person\nredeemed by the blood of the Lamb–the end is not loss, but gain. The grave<\/em> is\nnot a prison, but a passage. Death<\/em> is not a defeat, but the\ndoor into everlasting joy–when faith gives way to sight, and hope blossoms\ninto eternal delight! The Christian looks forward to this not with fear, but\nwith longing. For to be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord.\nThe anticipation of Heaven is not centred on what <\/strong>will be\nenjoyed there, but Who <\/strong>will be seen there. The glory of Heaven\nis not in its beauty only, but mainly in its King!
\n
\nThe true believer understands that Heaven is glorious, because Christ is there.\nHeaven is not merely rest, but fellowship–the unhindered communion of the\nsaved sinner with his Saviour. That which is begun now by faith, will be\nperfected in that day when we behold His face. The Christian’s joy is not\nultimately in a crown, but in the pierced hand <\/em>that places it\nupon the brow. It is not the throne that satisfies, but the One who sits upon\nit.
\n
\nThe pathway<\/em> to that glory is often darksome. God, in\nHis wisdom and mercy, weaves sorrow and affliction into the lives of His people<\/em>.\nYet even the midnight of suffering<\/em>, is governed by the hand of a\nloving Father–and every moment of pain has a divine purpose. The believer,\nupheld by the Spirit, walks through the valley<\/em> with a steady\ngaze, trusting the One who leads. Every storm, every tear, every hardship–is\npart of the journey toward the city that has foundations, whose Builder and\nMaker is God.
\n
\nThis world will never satisfy the heart that has been awakened to the beauty of\nChrist. Earthly comforts, though sometimes enjoyed, cannot rival the riches of\neternal life. The believer presses on–not because the path is easy, but\nbecause the destination is sure. He is going to a kingdom prepared from the\nfoundation of the world, a place where righteousness dwells, a land where sin\nand sorrow are no more.
\n
\nThe nearer we come to the end of our pilgrimage, the more clearly we see what\ntruly matters. Not reputation. Not possessions. Not pleasure. Not earthly\nsuccess. But Christ. Only Christ. In Him is all our righteousness, all our\nhope, all our joy. In Him we live, and in Him we shall rise. And in Him, we\nshall dwell forever!
\n
\n“The sight of Christ is the very heaven of Heaven. To behold Him is the\nlonging of every sanctified soul.”
\n
\n“Not merely shall we see His glory<\/em>–we shall see Him<\/em>.
\n His person, His face, His smile–that is our portion forever.”
\n
\n“The King in His beauty! No veil, no cloud, no distance–only the unveiled\nsplendour of incarnate Deity!”
\n
\n“A sight of Christ now, is Heaven begun below.
\n A sight of Him above, is Heaven perfected.”
\n
\n“They shall see His face!” Revelation 22:4
\n
\n“Thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty!<\/strong>” Isaiah 33:17<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n(J.C.Philpot)
\n
\n <\/sup><\/strong>\u201dFor we have not an high\npriest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities\u201d.<\/strong> Hebrews\n4:15<\/strong>
\n
\nWhat a mercy it is to have a faithful and gracious
\ncompassionate High Priest who can sympathise with
\nHis poor, tried, tempted family–so that however
\nlow they may sink <\/strong>. . .
\n His pitiful eye <\/strong>can see them in their low estate,
\n His gracious ear <\/strong>hear their cries,
\n His loving heart <\/strong>melt over them, and
\n His strong<\/strong> arm <\/strong>pluck them from their destructions!
\n
\nOh what would we do without such a gracious and
\nmost suitable Saviour as the blessed Jesus! How He<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n in our estimation<\/strong>,
\n in our thoughts<\/strong>,
\n in our desires<\/strong>,
\n in our affections<\/strong>,
\nas we see and feel what a wreck and ruin we are,
\nwhat dreadful havoc sin has made with both body
\nand soul, what miserable outcasts we are by nature.
\n
\nBut oh how needful it is, dear friend, to be brought
\ndown in our soul to be the chief of sinners, viler than
\nthe vilest, and worse than the worst–that we may
\nreally and truly believe in, and cleave unto, this
\nmost precious and suitable Saviour!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"