Leaving Anxiety Behind

Let us leave anxiety behind. We have no use of it as God's children. Surely, it will interrupt our lives but let us ponder on Pink's godly advice:

“Be anxious for nothing”— Philippians 4:6
Worrying is as definitely forbidden as theft. This needs to be carefully pondered and definitely realized by us, so that we do not excuse it as an innocent “infirmity.” The more we are convicted of the sinfulness of anxiety, the sooner are we likely to perceive that it is most dishonoring to God, and “strive against” it (Hebrews 12:4). But how are we to “strive against” it? ....

The best antidote for anxiety is frequent meditation upon God's goodness, power and sufficiency. When the saint can confidently realize “The Lord is My Shepherd,” he must draw the conclusion, “I shall not want!” Immediately following our exhortation is, “but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known unto God.” Nothing is too big and nothing is too little to spread before and cast upon the Lord. The “with thanksgiving” is most important, yet it is the point at which we most fail. It means that before we receive God's answer, we thank Him for the same: it is the confidence of the child expecting his Father to be gracious.

“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought (anxious concern) for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?” “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:25, 33) - From The Arthur Pink Anthology.

Self Examination II

Men compare themselves with men, and readily with the worst, and flatter themselves with that comparative betterness. This is not the way to see spots, to look into the muddy streams of profane men’s lives; but look into the clear fountain of the Word, and there we may both discern and wash them; and consider the infinite holiness of God, and this will humble us to the dust. - Robert Leighton

Self Examination I

Make up your spiritual accounts daily; see how matters stand between God and your souls (Psalm 77:6). Often reckonings keep God and conscience friends. Do with your hearts as you do with your watches, wind them up every morning by prayer, and at night examine whether your hearts have gone true all that day, whether the wheels of your affections have moved swiftly toward heaven. - Thomas Watson

Confession of Sin

With Christmas coming this week I believe the corporate confession of sin below very appropriate. May we all take some time to truly consider where our comfort and pleasure comes from. If it is from anything beside our Lord and Master we need to repent and be grateful to our God and King, the One who most assuredly gives true comfort.

Father, we confess that we have often sought comfort in the things of this world rather than the consolation of Israel. We have delighted in the gifts more than the Giver of them all. We have enjoyed the celebration more than the One whom we celebrate. We have taken pleasure in earthly friendships more than in heavenly fellowship with you. Frequently our hearts have grown indifferent to the mystery and marvel of our Lord's Incarnation. Please forgive our sins for Jesus' sake, and help us trust in Him alone.

Daily Fellowship with God Parts 10 & 11

Andrew Murray concludes his Daily Fellowship with God this way:

10. As you meditate on this wondrous salvation and seek full fellowship with the great and holy God, and wait on Him to reveal Christ in you, you will feel how needful the giving up of all is to receive Him. Seek grace to know what it means to live as wholly for God as Christ did. Only the Holy Spirit Himself can teach you what an entire yielding of the whole life to God can mean. Wait on God to show you in this what you do not know. Let every approach to God, and every request for fellowship with Him be accompanied by a new, very definite, and entire surrender to Him to work in you.

11. “By faith” must here, as through all Scripture, and all the spiritual life, be the keynote. As you tarry before God, let it be in a deep quiet faith in Him, the Invisible One, who is so near, so holy, so mighty, so loving. In a deep, restful faith too, that all the blessings and powers of the heavenly life are around you, and in you. Just yield yourself in the faith of a perfect trust to the Ever Blessed Holy Trinity to work out all God’s purpose in you. Begin each day thus in fellowship with God, and God will be all in all to you. - Taken from The Deeper Christian Life by Andrew Murray.

Daily Fellowship with God Parts 8&9

Continuing on...

8. The likeness to Christ consists chiefly in two things—the likeness of His death and resurrection, (Romans 6:5 ). The death of Christ was the consummation of His humility and obedience, the entire giving up of His life to God. In Him we are dead to sin. As we sink down in humility and dependence and entire surrender to God, the power of His death works in us, and we are made conformable to His death. And so we know Him in the power of His resurrection, in the victory over sin, and all the joy and power of the risen life. Therefore every morning, “present yourselves unto God as those that are alive from the dead.” He will maintain the life He gave, and bestow the grace to live as risen ones.

9. All this can only be in the power of the Holy Spirit, who dwells in you. Count upon Him to glorify Christ in you. Count upon Christ to increase in you the inflowing of His Spirit. As you wait before God to realize His presence, remember that the Spirit is in you to reveal the things of God. Seek in God’s presence to have the anointing of the Spirit of Christ so truly that your whole life may every moment be spiritual. - Taken from The Deeper Christian Life by Andrew Murray.

Daily Fellowship with God Part 7

Number 7 of Andrew Murray's reminders on daily fellowship with God.

7. We have not only Christ’s life in us as a power, and His presence with us as a person, but we have His likeness to be wrought into us. He is to be formed in us, so that His form or figure, His likeness, can be seen in us. Bow before God until you get some sense of the greatness and blessedness of the work to be carried on by God in you this day. Say to God, “Father, here am I for Thee to give as much in me of Christ’s likeness as I can receive.” And wait to hear Him say, “My child, I give thee as much of Christ as thy heart is open to receive.” The God who revealed Jesus in the flesh and perfected Him, will reveal Him in thee and perfect thee in Him. The Father loves the Son, and delights to work out His image and likeness in thee. Count upon it that this blessed work will be done in thee as thou waitest on thy God, and holdest fellowship with Him. - Taken from The Deeper Christian Life by Andrew Murray.

Daily Fellowship with God Part 6

Let's return to Andrew Murray's reminders on fellowship with God.

6. This Christ is a living Person. He loves you with a personal love, and He looks every day for the personal response of your love. Look into His face with trust, till His love really shines into your heart. Make His heart glad by telling Him that you do love Him. He offers Himself to you as a personal Saviour and Keeper from the power of sin. Do not ask, can I be kept from sinning, if I keep close to Him? but ask, can I be kept from sinning, if He always keeps close to me? and you see at once how safe it is to trust Him. - Taken from The Deeper Christian Life by Andrew Murray.

Daily Fellowship with God Part 5

Let us look at number 5 of Andrew Murray's instructions on daily fellowship with God.

5. Then accept and value your place in Christ Jesus. God delights in nothing but His beloved Son, and can be satisfied with nothing else in those who draw nigh to Him. Enter deep into God’s holy presence in the boldness which the blood gives, and in the assurance that in Christ you are most well-pleasing. In Christ you are within the veil. You have access into the very heart and love of the Father. This is the great object of fellowship with God, that I may have more of God in my life, and that God may see Christ formed in me. Be silent before God and let Him bless you. - Taken from The Deeper Christian Life by Andrew Murray.

More to follow...

Daily Fellowship with God Part 4

Andrew Murray has so many good things to say on regular, daily fellowship with God. Here is number 4:

4. When you have given God His place of honor, glory, and power, take your place of deepest lowliness, and seek to be filled with the Spirit of humility. As a creature it is your blessedness to be nothing, that God may be all in you. As a sinner you are not worthy to look up to God; bow in self abasement. As a saint, let God’s love overwhelm you, and bow you still lower down. Sink down before Him in humility, meekness, patience, and surrender to His goodness and mercy. He will exalt you. Oh! take time, to get very low before God. - Taken from The Deeper Christian Life by Andrew Murray.

Daily Fellowship with God Part 3

More from Andrew Murray on daily fellowship with God.

3. To this end, let your first act in your devotion be a setting yourself still before God. In prayer, or worship, everything depends upon God taking the chief place. I must bow quietly before Him in humble faith and adoration, speaking thus within my heart: “God is. God is near. God is love, longing to communicate Himself to me. God the Almighty One, Who worketh all in all, is even now waiting to work in me, and make Himself known. “Take time, till you know God is very near". - Taken from the The Deeper Christian Life by Andrew Murray.

Still more to come...

Daily Fellowship With God Parts 1&2

It is often so easy for us to forget our need for the Lord and to spend time with him daily. The following are good reminders taken from The Deeper Christian Life by Andrew Murray.

1. The first and chief need of our Christian life is, Fellowship with God.

2. The Divine life within us comes from God, and is entirely dependent upon Him. As I need every moment afresh the air to breathe, as the s sun every moment afresh sends down its light, so it is only in direct living communication with God that my soul can be strong. The manna of one day was corrupt when the next day came. I must every day have fresh grace from heaven, and I obtain it only in direct waiting upon God Himself. Begin each day by tarrying before God, and letting Him touch you. Take time to meet God. - Andrew Murray

More to come....

Our Speech

As we start our week let us be cautious in our speech. We have the power to build up or tear down. Let's take time to think before we speak.

Proverbs 18:21
The tongue has the power of life and death,

and those who love it will eat its fruit. (NIV)

Rutherford on Prayer

Words are but the body, the garment, the outside of prayer; sighs are nearer the heart work. A dumb beggar getteth an alms at Christ’s gates, even by making signs, when his tongue cannot plead for him; and the rather, because he is dumb. . . . Tears have a tongue, and grammar, and language, that our Father knoweth. Babes have no prayer for the breast, but weeping: the mother can read hunger in weeping. -SAMUEL RUTHERFORD

A Thanksgiving Thought

This Thanksgiving let us not only thank the Lord for those things we like and enjoy but also for those things we don't. Much of our lives are spent attempting to circumvent situations and circumstances that God has planned for us. John Piper explains that, Untold numbers of professing Christians waste their lives trying to escape the cost of love. They do not see that it is always worth it. There is more of God's glory to be seen and savored through suffering than through self-serving escape. Paul puts in like this: "Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison" (2 Corinthians 4:16-17). "Momentary" refers to a lifetime in comparison with eternity. "Slight" refers to suffering and death compared to the weight of everlasting joy in the presence of God. This is what we gain if we hold fast to Christ. This is what we waste if we don't. God designs that tribulations intensify our hope for the glory of God" (From Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper, page 73).

So as we pray tomorrow thanking Him for all the wonderful Providences we have received in the last year, let us also recall the unpleasant Providences remembering that they, too, draw us nearer to Christ and "our hope for the glory of God."

Union with Christ - Sinclair Ferguson

More on Meditative Prayer

More on meditative prayer can be found here from the Resurgence. Enjoy and be blessed.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:2

O how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. Psalm 119:97

An Escape From...

An escape from suffering would be an escape from the power to sympathise, and that were to be deprecated beyond all things. -C.H. Spurgeon

How very true. How can we know and help and pray for others without knowing the deep hurt that they experience? Let us embrace our suffering knowing that our kind and gracious Lord has more for us than the pains of this life. Embrace it and be enabled to help those in turmoil around you. For as believers we have a hope in this regard:

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21:1-4

Hold Fast

I urge you by our common faith, by my true and simple love for you. Hold fast to your glory with courage, perseverance, and strength, having over come the enemy. We are still in the world. We are still placed in the battlefield. We fight daily for our lives. Take care in order to profit from these battles and to finish what you have begun to be. It is a small thing to attain something, but it is more important to keep what you have attained. Faith and saving birth makes alive, not by being received, but by being preserved. It isn't actually attainment, but the perfecting, that keeps a man for God. The Lord taught this when He said, "Behold, thou art made whole; sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee." Imagine Him as saying this to one who confesses Him, "Lo, thou art made a confessor' sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee." Solomon, Saul, and many others were able to keep the grace given to them as long as they walked in the Lord's ways. But when they abandoned the Lord, grace abandoned them. - Cyprian (c.200-258).

Packer on Meditation

We have some idea, perhaps, what prayer is, but what is meditation? Well we may ask; for meditation is a lost art today, and Christian people suffer grievously for their ignorance of the practice. Meditation is the activity of calling to mind, and thinking over, and dwelling on, and applying to oneself, the various things that one knows about the works and ways and purposes and promises of God. It is an activity of holy thought, consciously performed in the presence of God, under the eye of God, by the help of God, as a means of communion with God. Its purpose is to clear one's mental health and spiritual vision of God, and to let His truth make its full and proper impact on one's mind and heart. It is a matter of talking to oneself about God and oneself; it is, indeed, often a matter of arguing with oneself, reasoning oneself out of moods of doubt and unbelief into a clear apprehension of God's power and grace. Its effect is ever to humble us, as we contemplate God's greatness and glory, and our own littleness and sinfulness, and to encourage and reassure us - 'comfort' us, in the old strong, Bible sense of the word - as we contemplate the unsearchable riches of divine mercy displayed in the Lord Jesus Christ. - (Taken from Knowing God by J.I. Packer, pgs. 18-19, emphasis mine.)

Thy Word is a Lamp Unto My Feet, and a Light Unto My Path

Thy Word is a Lamp Unto My Feet, and a Light Unto My Path.

When Israel knew not where to go
God made the fiery pillar glow;
By night, by day, above the camp
It led the way—their guiding lamp:
Such is Thy holy Word to me
In day of dark perplexity.
When devious paths before me spread,
And all invite my foot to tread,
I hear Thy voice behind me say—
“Believing soul, this is the way;
Walk thou in it.” O gentle Dove,
How much thy holy law I love!
My lamp and light
In the dark night.

When Paul amid the seas seemed lost,
By Adrian billows wildly tossed,
When neither sun nor star appeared,
And every wave its white head reared
Above the ship, beside his bed
An angel stood, and “Fear not” said.
Such is Thy holy Word to me
When tossed upon affliction’s sea:
When floods come in unto my soul
And the deep waters o’er me roll,
With angel voice Thy Word draws near
And says, “Tis I” why shouldst thou fear?
Through troubles great my saints must go
Into their rest, where neither woe
Nor sin can come; where every tear
From off the cheek shall disappear,
Wiped by God’s hand. “O gentle Dove”
Thy holy law how much I love?
My lamp and light
In the dark night.

When holy Stephen dauntless stood
Before the Jews, who sought his blood,
With angel face he looked on high,
And wondering through the parted sky
Saw Jesus risen from His throne
To claim the martyr as His own.
Angelic peace that sight bestowed,
With holy joy his bosom glowed;
And while the murderous stones they hurled,
His heaven–wrapt soul sought yonder world
Of rest. “My spirit, Saviour, keep,”
He cried, he kneeled, he fell asleep.
Such be Thy holy Word to me
In hour of life’s extremity!
Although no more the murdering hand
Is raised within our peaceful land—
The church has rest, and I may ne’er
Be called the martyr’s crown to wear:
Yet still, in whatsoever form
Death comes to me—in midnight storm
Whelming my bark, or in my nest
Gently dismissing me to rest—
O grant me in thy Word to see
A risen Saviour beckoning me.
No evil then my heart shall fear
In the dark valley. Thou art near!
My trembling soul and Thou, my God
Alone are there; Thy staff and rod
Shall comfort me. O gentle Dove.
How much Thy holy law I love!
My lamp and light
In the dark night.

By Robert Murray McCheyne
May 1838

Confession of Sin

As we approach this coming Lord's Day it is incumbent upon us to begin preparing ourselves for it. Below is the corporate confession of sin that was confessed at my church last Lord's Day that I found valuable and I have been ruminating on it all this week.

Our father, we have sinned against you by not being content with our lot in life. You have proven yourself faithful over and over again, yet we have had little confidence in your fatherly care. We have not believed in you. We have failed to trust you. We have not leaned on your promise. Indeed, we have been unhappy and discontent with your gifts. We have envied the prosperity of our neighbors. We have coveted that which belongs to others. Father, for these and all our sins, please forgive us for Jesus' sake.

You Must Suffer

"We [must] break free of the Disneyland of America and begin to live lifestyles of missionary sacrifice that looks to the world like our treasure is in heaven and not on the earth."

Welcome Jesus

Whether God come to his children with a rod or a crown, if he come himself with it, it is well. Welcome, welcome Jesus, what may soever thou come, if we can get a sight of thee: and sure I am, it is better to be sick, providing Christ come to the bedside and draw the curtains, and say, Courage, I am thy salvation, than to enjoy health, being lusty and strong and never need to be visited of God. - Taken from The Lovliness of Christ by Samuel Rutherford, pg. 21.

Psalm 107:23-32

Psalm 107:23-32

23 Others went out on the sea in ships;

they were merchants on the mighty waters.
24 They saw the works of the LORD,

his wonderful deeds in the deep.
25 For he spoke and stirred up a tempest

that lifted high the waves.
26 They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;

in their peril their courage melted away.
27 They reeled and staggered like drunken men;

they were at their wits' end.
28 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,

and he brought them out of their distress.
29 He stilled the storm to a whisper;

the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 They were glad when it grew calm,

and he guided them to their desired haven.
31 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love

and his wonderful deeds for men.
32 Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people

and praise him in the council of the elders.

Let us all be glad that we serve such a merciful and loving God that guides us through the worst of storms and settles our hearts.

Tentatio (Trial)

Lastly, we come to part three of Luther's instruction to study theology: Third, there is the tentatio, the trial. This is the touchstone. It teaches you not only to know and understand, but also to experience how right, how true, how sweet, how lovely, how mighty, how comforting God's Word is: it is wisdom supreme. This is why you observe that, in the psalm indicated, David so often complains of all sorts of enemies...For as soon as God's Word becomes known through you, the devil will afflict you, will make a real [theologian] of you (from What Luther Says: An Anthology compiled by Ewald M. Plass).

Psalm 119

67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.

71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

Calvin on Psalm 32 part 4

Psalm 32:8-11
I will instruct thee, and teach thee in the way that thou mayest walk: I will counsel thee with
mine eye. Be not like the horse or mule, which have no understanding: thou shalt bind his
jaw with bit and bridle, lest they kick against [or become obstreperous against or obstinately
disobey] thee. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but the man who hopeth in Jehovah, mercy shall surround him. Be glad in Jehovah, and rejoice, ye righteous: sing all ye that are upright in heart.

"I will instruct thee, and teach thee." That his exhortation may have the greater force, the divine speaker directs his discourse to every man individually; for the doctrine which is spoken penetrates the mind more readily, when every man applies it particularlyto himself. When the way of salvation is here shown to the children of God, the greatest care must be taken that no man depart from it in the slightest degree. We may also learn from this place, that we are reconciled to God upon condition that every man endeavor to make his brethren partakers of the same benefit. David, the more strongly to mark his care about them, describes it by the sight of the eye. By the way it should be observed, that those who are solicitous about our welfare are appointed by the Lord as guides of our way, from which it appears how great is the paternal solicitude which he has about us.

"Be not like the horse or mule." David now briefly explains the amount of the counsel which he formerly said he would give. He exhorts all to learn with quietness, to lay aside stubbornness, and to put on the spirit of meekness. There is much wisdom, too, in the advice which he gives to the godly to correct their hardihood; for if we were as attentive to God’s corrections as we ought, every one would eagerly hasten to seek his favor. Whence is so much slowness to be found in all, but that we are either stupid or refractory? By likening the refractory, therefore, to brute beasts, David puts them to shame, and at the same time declares that it will avail them nothing to “kick against the pricks.” Men, says he, know how to tame the fierceness of horses by bridles and bits; what then do they think God will do when he finds them intractable?

..."Be glad in Jehovah." After teaching how ready and accessible true happiness is to all the godly, David, with much reason, exhorts them to gladness. He commands them to rejoice in the Lord, as if he had said, There is nothing to prevent them from assuring themselves of God’s favor, seeing he so liberally and so kindly offers to be reconciled to them. In the meantime, we may observe that this is the incomparable fruit of faith which Paul likewise commends, namely, when the consciences of the godly being quiet and cheerful, enjoy peace and spiritual joy. Wherever faith is lively, this holy rejoicing will follow. But since the world’s own impiety prevents it from participating in this joy, David, therefore, addresses the righteous alone, whom he denominates the upright in heart, to teach us that the external appearance of righteousness which pleases men is of no avail in the sight of God. But how does he call those righteous, whose whole happiness consists in the free mercy of God not imputing their sins to them? I answer, that none others are received into favor but those who are dissatisfied with themselves for their sins, and repent with their whole heart; not that this repentance merits pardon, but because faith can never be separated from the spirit of regeneration. When they have begun to devote themselves to God, he accepts the upright disposition of their hearts equally as if it were pure and perfect; for faith not only reconciles a man to God, but also sanctifies whatever is imperfect in him, so that by the free grace of God, he becomes righteous who could never have obtained so great a blessing by any merit of his own.

Meditatio (Meditation)

Continuing from our last post, Luther discusses meditation in his three-fold method to study theology: Second, you should meditate. This means not only in your heart but also extrnally you should constantly handle and compare, read and reread the Word as preached and the very words as writtenin Scripture, diligently noting and meditationg on what the Holy Spirit means. ...Therefore, you observe how in this psalm David always says that he will speak, think, talk, hear, read, day and night and constantly - but about nothing else than God's Word and Commandments. For God wants top give you His Spirit only through the external Word (from What Luther Says: An Anthology compiled by Ewald M. Plass).

Psalm 119

11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart,

that I might not sin against thee.

15 I will meditate in thy precepts,

and have respect unto thy ways.

48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments,

which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.

24 Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.

47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments,

which I have loved.

93 I will never forget thy precepts:

for with them thou hast quickened me.

97 O how love I thy law!

it is my meditation all the day.

Keep Me Ever Desiring Thee...

Lord, give me more of thy likeness;

Enlarge my soul to contain fullness of holiness;

Engage me to live more for thee.

Help me to be less pleased with my spiritual experiences,

and when I feel at ease after sweet communings,

teach me it is far too little I know and do.

...Wrap my life in divine love,

and keep me ever desiring thee,

always humble and resigned to thy will,

more fixed on thyself,

that I may be more fitted for doing and suffering.

-The Valley of Vision, page 231

Oratio (Prayer)

Perhaps, reader, you've been considering the origin of title of this blog. It comes from Martin Luther's instruction: I want you to know how to study theology in the right way. I have practiced this method myself...The method of which I am speaking is the one which the holy king David teaches in Psalm 119. ...Here you will find three rules. They are frequently proposed throughout the Psalm and run thus: Oratio, meditatio, tentatio [prayer, meditation, trial] (from What Luther Says: An Anthology compiled by Ewald M. Plass).

Let's dig a bit deeper today and look specifically at what Luther says about prayer in this context: ...Kneel down in your little private room and with sincere humility and earnestness pray God through His dear Son, graciously to grant you His Holy Spirit to enlighten and guide you and give you understanding.

Psalm 119:18, 33-37

Open thou mine eyes,

that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes;

and I shall keep it unto the end.
Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law;

yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
Make me to go in the path of thy commandments;

for therein do I delight.
Incline my heart unto thy testimonies,

and not to covetousness.
Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity;

and quicken thou me in thy way.
Stablish thy word unto thy servant,

who is devoted to thy fear.
Turn away my reproach which I fear:

for thy judgments are good.
Behold, I have longed after thy precepts:

quicken me in thy righteousness.

....Although he knew the text of Moses well and that of the other books besides, and heard and read them daily. Yet he desires to have the real Master of Scripture in order by all means to make sure that he does not plunge into it with his reason and become his own master.

May we all do likewise.

S.D.G.

Spritual Recovery

Sometimes our guilt hurts so much that we madly want to do something extraordinary to make the pain stop. But what does God require of us for our spiritual recovery? Simple: renewed obedience in his means of killing the flesh. His means are those outlined throughout his Word and they're familiar: constantly reading his Word, hearing it preached, and reflecting on it; fervent prayer; careful watching against temptation; and fixing the mind always on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. - Kris Lundgaard, Through the Looking Glass.

Calvin on Psalm 32 part 3

Psalm 32:5-7
5. I have acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess
against myself to Jehovah my wickedness; and thou didst remit the guilt of my sin. Selah. 6.
Therefore shall every one that is meek pray unto thee in the time of finding thee; so that in a flood of many waters, they shall not come nigh unto him. 7. Thou art my hiding-place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

I have acknowledged my sin unto thee. The prophet now describes the issue of his misery,
in order to show to all the ready way of obtaining the happiness of which he makes mention. When his feeling of divine wrath sorely vexed and tormented him, his only relief was unfeignedly to condemn himself before God, and humbly to flee to him to crave his forgiveness. ...

The phrase, "upon myself," or "against myself," intimates that David put away from him all the excuses and pretences by which men are accustomed to unburden themselves, transferring their fault, or tracing it to other people. David, therefore, determined to submit himself entirely to God’s judgment, and to make known his own guilt, that being self-condemned, he might as a suppliant obtain pardon.

"And thou didst remit the guilt of my sin." This clause is set in opposition to the grievous and
direful agitations by which he says he was harassed before he approached by faith the grace of God. But the words also teach, that as often as the sinner presents himself at the throne of mercy, with ingenuous confession, he will find reconciliation with God awaiting him. ...

In the flood of many waters. This expression agrees with that prophecy of Joel, “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord, shall be delivered.” (Joel 2:32) The meaning is, that although the deep whirlpools of death may compass us round on every side, we ought not to fear that they shall swallow us up; but rather believe that we shall be safe and unhurt, if we only betake ourselves to the mercy of God. We are thus emphatically taught that the godly shall have certain salvation even in death, provided they betake themselves to the sanctuary
of God’s grace. Under the term flood are denoted all those dangers from which there appears no means of escape.

At last the Psalmist gives himself to thanksgiving, and although he uses but few words to
celebrate the divine favor, there is, notwithstanding, much force in his brevity. In the first place, he denies that there is any other haven of safety but in God himself. Secondly, he assures himself that God will be his faithful keeper hereafter; for I willingly retain the future tense of the verb, though some, without any reason, translate it into the past. He is not, however, to be understood as meaning that he conceived himself safe from future tribulations, but he sets God’s guardianship over against them. Lastly, whatever adversity may befall him, he is persuaded that God will be his deliverer. By the word compass, he means manifold and various kinds of deliverance; as if he had said, that he should be under obligation to God in innumerable ways, and that he should, on every side, have most abundant matter for praising him. We may observe in the meantime, how he offers his service of gratitude to God, according to his usual method, putting songs of deliverance instead of help.

Calvin's summing up here is simply great as he explicates the Psalmist situation. Do we also recognize God's guardianship over future trials and embrace the fact that He is our Deliverer?
Let us pause today as we start our week in this sinful world to remember these gracious promises.

Calvin on Psalm 32 part 2

Calvin's commentary on Psalm 32 is most thoughtful and refreshing. Below is another encouraging portion:

Psalm 32:3-4
3. When I kept silence, my bones wasted away, and when I cried out all the day. 4. For day
and night thy hand was heavy upon me; and my greenness was turned into the drought of summer.

"When I kept silence, my bones wasted away." Here David confirms, by his own experience,
the doctrine which he had laid down; namely, that when humbled under the hand of God, he felt that nothing was so miserable as to be deprived of his favor: by which he intimates, that this truth cannot be rightly understood until God has tried us with a feeling of his anger. Nor does he speak of a mere ordinary trial, but declares that he was entirely subdued with the extremest rigour. And certainly, the sluggishness of our flesh, in this matter, is no less wonderful than its hardihood. If we are not drawn by forcible means, we will never hasten to seek reconciliation to God so earnestly as we ought. In fine, the inspired writer teaches us by his own example, that we never perceive how great a happiness it is to enjoy the favor of God, until we have thoroughly felt from grievous conflicts with inward temptations, how terrible the anger of God is. ...

"For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me." In this verse he explains more fully whence
such heavy grief arose; namely, because he felt the hand of God to be sore against him. The greatest of all afflictions is to be so heavily pressed with the hand of God, that the sinner feels he has to do with a Judge whose indignation and severity involve in them many deaths, besides eternal death....

The Psalmist, moreover, tells us, that it was no common chastisement by which he had been
taught truly to fear the divine wrath; for the hand of the Lord ceased not to be heavy upon him both day and night. From a child, indeed, he had been inspired with the fear of God, by the secret influence of the Holy Spirit, and had been taught in true religion and godliness by sound doctrine and instruction. And yet so insufficient was this instruction for his attainment of this wisdom, that he had to be taught again like a new beginner in the very midst of his course. Yea, although he had now been long accustomed to mourn over his sins, he was every day anew reduced to this exercise, which teaches us, how long it is ere men recover themselves when once they have fallen; and also how slow they are to obey until God, from time to time, redouble their stripes, and increase them from day to day. Should any one ask concerning David, whether he had become callous under the stripes which he well knew were inflicted on him by the hand of God, the context furnishes the answer; namely, that he was kept down and fettered by perplexing griefs, and distracted with lingering torments, until he was well subdued and made meek, which is the first sign of seeking a remedy. And this again teaches us, that it is not without cause that the chastisements by which God seems to deal cruelly with us are repeated, and his hand made heavy against us, until our fierce pride, which we know to be un-tameable, unless subdued with the heaviest stripes, is humbled.

For those of us who struggle with the humbleness that Calvin speaks of here, we should take note. God works in us to bring about the person, who though mired in sin, that He wants us to be. May our Lord be praised that He does not leave us in our awful condition but rather, has supplied the means for our salvation.

Calvin on Psalm 32

John Calvin's exposition on the Psalms cannot be outclassed. One must read and absorb as he brings out the truths in the writings. One enlightening portion is his commentary on Psalm 32. Below is an excerpt:

Psalm 32:1-2
1. Blessed are they whose iniquity is forgiven, and whose transgression is covered. 2. Blessed
is the man to whom Jehovah imputeth no sin, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

Blessed are they whose iniquity is forgiven. This exclamation springs from the fervent affection of the Psalmist’s heart as well as from serious consideration. Since almost the whole world turning away their thoughts from God’s judgment, bring upon themselves a fatal forgetfulness, and intoxicate themselves with deceitful pleasures; David, as if he had been stricken with the fear of God’s wrath, that he might betake himself to Divine mercy, awakens others also to the same exercise, by declaring distinctly and loudly that those only are blessed to whom God is reconciled, so as to acknowledge those for his children whom he might justly treat as his enemies. Some are so blinded with hypocrisy and pride, and some with such gross contempt of God, that they are not at all anxious in seeking forgiveness, but all acknowledge that they need forgiveness; nor is there a man in existence whose conscience does not accuse him at God’s judgment-seat, and gall him with many stings. This confession, accordingly, that all need forgiveness, because no man is perfect, and that then only is it well with us when God pardons our sins, nature herself extorts even from wicked men. ...

It is now proper to weigh the particular force of the expressions here employed. Certainly the remission which is here treated of does not agree with satisfactions. God, in lifting off or taking away sins, and likewise in covering and not imputing them, freely pardons them. On this account the Papists, by thrusting in their satisfactions and works of supererogation as they call them, bereave themselves of this blessedness. Besides, David applies these words to complete forgiveness. The distinction, therefore, which the Papists here make between the remission of the punishment and of the fault, by which they make only half a pardon, is not at all to the purpose. Now, it is necessary to consider to whom this happiness belongs, which may be easily gathered from the circumstance of the time. When David was taught that he was blessed through the mercy of God alone, he was not an alien from the church of God; on the contrary, he had profited above many in the fear and service of God, and in holiness of life, and had exercised himself in all the duties of godliness. And even after making these advances in religion, God so exercised him, that he placed the alpha and omega of his salvation in his gratuitous reconciliation to God. Nor is it without reason that Zacharias, in his song, represents “the knowledge of salvation” as consisting in knowing “the remission of sins,” (Luke 1:77.) The more eminently that any one excels in holiness, the farther he feels himself from perfect righteousness, and the more clearly he perceives that he can trust in nothing but the mercy of God alone. Hence it appears, that those are grossly mistaken who conceive that the pardon of sin is necessary only to the beginning of righteousness. As believers are every day involved in many faults, it will profit them nothing that they have once entered the way of righteousness, unless the same grace which brought them into it accompany them to the last step of their life. Does any one object, that they are elsewhere said to be blessed “who fear the Lord,” “who walk in his ways,” “who are upright in heart,” etc., the answer is easy, namely, that as the perfect fear of the Lord, the perfect observance of his law, and perfect uprightness of heart, are nowhere to be found, all that the Scripture anywhere says, concerning blessedness, is founded upon the free favor of God, by which he reconciles us to himself.

The Five Solas part 5

Today we conclude our mini study of the fives solas of the Reformation which are still very applicable to the church in the 21st century. We have looked at sola fide, sola gratia, solus Christus and sola scriptura. But each of these has its culmination in soli Deo gloria: glory to God alone.

Purity of worship was a major theme for the Reformers and rightfully so. If we agree that salvation must be by faith alone (sola fide) and by grace alone (sola gratia) and on account of Christ's finished work alone (solus Christus) then we must render to God alone the glory due him. God's glory is displayed through all time by defeating his enemies and saving his people (Isaiah 43:6-7). The Reformers, as it should be no less today, took this very seriously and had a high view of God for we read in Romans 1:18-32:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Sinful men can make an idol out of anything. Idols made of wood and depictions carved in stone are very foolish and dismissed today as such. But some idols are put on a pedestal and men bow their knee to them every day. Idols such as human reason, prosperity and government are routinely worshiped in the hearts of men. But anytime we substitute something else for the God of the Bible, we attempt to have him share his glory with another. For anytime we deny one of his attributes, we conceive of him as less than the sovereign Lord of all (Tabletalk, August 2009, pg. 50).

The Five Solas part 4

The issue of authority was the other great controversy during the Reformation. Besides justification by faith, the authority of Scripture came to the forefront and rightfully so. Today this is known as sola scriptura, one of the five solas.

This issue became so prominent for Martin Luther and others as the traditions of the Roman Catholic church at the time (and now) for justification were rooted in penance and merit and works. Scripture teaches none of the methods as a way to salvation, only justification by faith. Rome set these traditions as equal to Scriptural authority.

Mark 7:9 tells us that we are not to observe the traditions of men should they make us disobey Scripture. And so, Protestantism, the Reformed, holds to sola scriptura. Yes, we embrace creeds and confessions but the bible will always take precedence in any conflict especially in conflicts with traditions of men. Scripture is and always will be our highest authority.

An outstanding explication of sola scriptura can be found in the video below by Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle.

The Five Solas part 3

Moving into our third study of the "solas" we come to solus Christus. If justification comes to us by faith alone and from God’s grace alone it cannot be forgotten that it is all through the work of Christ alone. Here we see it all come together through the finished work of Christ on the cross. It is the gospel story, plain and simple.

Adam, being the first man was required to keep the law but he did not and fell into sin. He and all of his descendants came under the curse of God’s wrath (Genesis 2:15-17; Romans 5:12-21). God intervened with a covenant of grace with the people of his choosing. God reckons these as righteous based on the work of Christ who came and lived a perfect, sinless life, died on the cross and rose again in three days and ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of God. God made him to be sin who knew no sin (Corinthians 5:21). His righteousness is imputed to his children and they are reckoned as sinless. God did not, of course have to provide this covenant and yet he did so because of his great love for his people.

In the closing of his sermon, The Sufficiency of Christ Alone, John MacArthur stated, You come to Christ, you receive the forgiveness of sins. You come to Christ, you receive a new nature, a new disposition, a new heart that loves righteousness. You come to Christ and you die to the past and you rise to new life. You come to Christ and you’re delivered from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His dear Son. You come to Christ and you literally come to the truth that transcends, the truth you’ll never find anywhere except in the Word of God and even this truth you’ll never understand until the Spirit of God takes up residence and becomes your teacher, and then you know the deep things of God. It’s all in Christ. All truth, all wisdom, all knowledge, all understanding, all peace, all joy, all value, all fulfillment, all satisfaction, all purpose, all deliverance, all strength, all comfort, and all eternal hope is in Christ. To have Him is to have everything. Not to have Him is to have nothing. What a powerful proclamation. Read the whole sermon here.

"The Sower" Sermon on Mark 4:1-20

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In the Care of the Good Shephard

I'm always on the lookout for good, Reformed, devotional material and so I was happy to see that Iain Campbell has just publishhed his latest work, In the Care of the Good Shephard.

Learn more about it here.

Piper on God's Sovereignty

As we ready ourselves for worship tomorrow, let us meditate on God's sovereignty described by John Piper in this post:

The doctrine of God’s sovereignty is an anchor for the troubled soul, a hope for the praying heart, a stability for fragile faith, a confidence in pursuing the lost, a guarantee of Christ’s atonement, a high mystery to keep us humble, and a solid ground for all praise. And oh so much more. O Lord, turn this truth for the triumph of your saving and sanctifying grace.

The Five Solas part 2

As we move into our study of the next sola, "sola gratia" (grace alone), we should first take note that grace is initiated by God, not by ourselves. It is God who changes the believer’s heart and gives him the ability to believe or have faith. We have nothing to do with it and yet we want to. The Reformed faith holds fast to the fact that our salvation, every step of the way, is and can only be attributed to God. As man is dead in his sins, it is God who must work in him to bring him to saving faith. We know this from the book of Ephesians where we read in verse one, "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins" and in verses 8-9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." So we see that salvation cannot be achieved by anything that we do, it is a gift from God.

It is a common misconception that if a man takes the first step in faith, so to speak, and prays a prayer of some kind that he is saved and a new life has begun. This is sometimes called "percentage theology’ or "percentage salvation" meaning that, even though very small, man has a part in his salvation. But this passage in Ephesians makes it clear that that is just impossible. God initiates it – it is a gift. And, left to himself in his sin, man would never choose God. Verse one above states that man is dead - dead men cannot make decisions. Hence, it is the work of God, regeneration precedes faith.

Moreover, we see how just how special and the great import of this doctrine. God chose his people before the foundations of the earth (Eph. 1:4). We should not take this lightly.

The Sacrifice Has Been Accepted

If the Lord were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have showed us all these thing. (Judges 13:23)

This is a sort of promise deduced by logic. It is an inference fairly drawn from ascertained facts. It was not likely that the Lord had revealed to Manoah and his wife that a son would be born to them and yet had it in His heart to destroy them. The wife reasoned well, and we shall do well if we follow her line of argument.

The Father has accepted the great sacrifice of Calvary and has declared Himself well pleased therewith; how can He now be pleased to kill us! Why a substitute if the sinner must still perish? The accepted sacrifice of Jesus puts an end to fear.

The Lord has shown us our election, our adoption, our union to Christ, our marriage to the Well-beloved: how can He now destroy us? The promises are loaded with blessings, which necessitate our being preserved unto eternal life. It is not possible for the Lord to cast us away and yet fulfill His covenant. The past assures us, and the future reassures us. We shall not die but live, for we have seen Jesus, and in Him we have seen the Father by the illumination of the Holy Ghost. Because of this life-giving sight we must live forever. - From Faith's Checkbook by C.H. Spurgeon

The Five Solas part 1

The Reformed faith can be defined by the well known acronym T.U.L.I.P. However, another way it can be defined is by the five "solas" which are Soli Fide, Soli Gratia, Solus Christus, Soli Scriptura and Soli Deo Gloria. Perhaps these are familiar and then again perhaps they are not. These may also be more commonly known as "by Faith Alone", "by Grace alone", "Christ alone", Scripture alone" and "Glory to God alone." These phrases were born of the Protestant Reformation and were used to define the Reformers basic beliefs. The Latin sola means "only" or "alone". Each bears its name as a testimony to the heart of the true Reformed faith and each is worth at least a brief examination.

First, a look at Sola Fide which is often called "The Heart of the Gospel" because it answers the basic question of all mankind which is, how can sinful man be justified before a perfect and righteous God? This teaching comes to us through the book of Galatians and particularly, chapter 2, verse 16, which states, "... yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law because by works of the law no one will be justified."

Contrary to others, the Protestants (Reformed) add the word alone. There is nothing we can add to attain our salvation for our works are nothing but "filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). "Only the merit of Christ can set us right with God and we access this merit by trusting in Christ alone" (Tabletalk, August 2009, pg. 46). We should also note that we are justified first, the Lord does not wait for us to be righteous first or we would never be justified.
As each sola is tied to one another, a brief study of each is required. Next time: Sola gratia, by Grace alone.

Want more? Here’s a short video from R.C. Sproul of Ligonier Ministries on "Faith alone."

Spurgeon's Words of Cheer - Are You Troubled?

Just one more portion of Spurgeon's Word's of Cheer. A small portion that can turn large profits for your soul:

Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.—Psalm 50:15

Of all things in the world to be dreaded, despair is the chief. Let a man be abandoned to despair, and he is ready for all sorts of sins. When fear unnerves him, action is dangerous; but when despair has loosed his joints and paralyzed his conscience, the vultures hover around him waiting for their prey. As long as a man has hope for himself, you may have hope for him. But Satan's object is to drive out the last idea of hope from men, that then they may give themselves up to be his slaves forever.
Let me just say to those who are in trouble, which I hope every faithful Christian will repeat again and again: There is hope. There is hope about your financial difficulties, your sickness, your present affliction. God can help you through it. Do not sit down with your elbows on your knees and cry all day. That will not get you through it. Call upon God who sent the trouble. He has a great design in it. It may be that He has sent it as a shepherd sends his black dog to fetch the wandering sheep to him. It may be He has a design in making you lose temporal things so that you may gain eternal things. Many a mother's soul would not been saved if it had not been for that dear infant which was taken from her bosom. Not until it was taken to the skies did God give the attracting influence which drew her heart to pursue the path to heaven. Do not say there is no hope. Others have been in as terrible a set of circumstances as you are. Even if it seems as if it has come to a crisis of bread, yet still there is hope. Go and try again on Monday morning. God's providence has a thousand ways of helping us if we have but the heart to pray.
...“Ah,” says one, “but you do not know my case.” No, my dear friend, and I do not particularly desire to know it, because this sweeping truth can meet it, whatever it is. “All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men” (Matthew 12:31). “The blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7). Noah's ark was not made to hold just a few mites, but the elephant, the lion, and the largest beasts of prey all entered and found room. So my Master, who is the great ark of salvation, did not come into this world to save a few who are little sinners, but “He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him” (Hebrews 7:25). See Him over there, see Him on the cross in extreme agony, bearing griefs and torments numberless and sweating in agony, all for love of you who were His enemies. Trust him. Trust Him, for there is hope and lifting up. However bowed down you may be, there is hope even for you in the Gospel.
...Still, nothing will avail unless there is much prayer. We need to pray that God may give efficacy to the counsels he has given us, and reward our obedience to them with abundant fruit. Oh, brethren, prayer is the grand thing after all for us who have no might of ourselves. It is wonderful what prayer can do for any of us. A dear friend said the other day, “Look at Jacob. In the early part of his life there was much that was unseemly in his character, and very much that was unhappy in his circumstances. Crafty himself, he was often the victim of craft, reaping the fruit of his own ways. But one night in prayer—what a change it made in him! Why, it raised him from the deep poverty of a cunning supplanter to the noble peerage of a prince in Israel!” Bethel itself is hardly more memorable in Jacob's history than Peniel.
And what might one night spent in prayer do for some of us? Supposing we were to try it instead of the soft bed. We need not go to the brook. It is enough that, like Jacob, we were left alone in some place where sighs and cries would be heard by none but God. One night spent thus in solitary prayer might put the spurs on some of you and make you spiritual knights in God's army, able to do great exploits. Oh, yes! May all other gracious exercises be started in prayer, crowned with prayer, and perfected by much prayer.

Let us praise God for these men who have gone before us and left us a written legacy from their lives and from their preaching and teaching on how we today may attain a greater love for our Lord.

Is Your Heart Aching?

It is to our great benefit that Charles Spurgeon has left a wealth of written material for us. One such work is his Words of Cheer and within its pages we find a Cure for Heartache. Its well worth a read. Here is a portion that is perhaps most instructive and insightful:

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.—John 14:27

It is the easiest thing in the world in times of difficulty to let the heart be troubled. It is very natural for us to give up and drift with the stream, to feel that it is of no use “taking arms against [such] a sea of trouble,” but that it is better to lie passively and to say, “If one must be ruined, so let it be.” Despairing idleness is easy enough, especially to evil, rebellious spirits who are willing to get into further mischief that they may have the wherewithal to blame God more, against whose providence they have quarreled. Our Lord will not have us be rebellious. He bids us to pluck up heart and be of good courage in the worst conditions.
Here is the wisdom of His advice, namely, that a troubled heart will not help us in our difficulties or out of them. It has never been perceived in time of drought that lamentations have brought showers of rain. Doubtings, fears, and discouragements have never been observed to produce a thaw in seasons of frost. We have never heard of a man with a declining business who managed to multiply the number of his customers by unbelief in God. I do not remember reading of a person whose wife or child was sick, who discovered any miraculous healing power in rebellion against the Most High.
...A troubled heart makes that which is bad worse. It magnifies, aggravates, caricatures, and misrepresents. If but an ordinary foe is in your way, a troubled heart makes him swell into a giant. “We were in their sight but as grasshoppers,” said the ten spies who gave the evil report, “and we were as grasshoppers in our own sight when we saw them” (See Numbers 13:33.) But it was not so. No doubt the men were very tall, but they were not so big after all as to make an ordinary six-foot man look like a grasshopper. Their fears made them grasshoppers by first making them fools. If they had possessed but ordinary courage, they would have been men, but being cowardly, they subsided into grasshoppers. After all, what is an extra three, four, or five feet of flesh to a man? Is not the bravest soul the tallest? If he is of shorter stature, but nimble and courageous, he will have the best of it. Little David made short work of great Goliath. Yet so it is. Unbelief makes our difficulties seem to be gigantic. Then it leads us to suppose that no soul had such difficulties before, and so we egotistically cry, “I am the man that hath seen affliction” (Lamentations 3:1). We claim to be peers in the realm of misery, if not the emperors of the kingdom of grief.
...Yet it is not so. Why? What ails you? The headache is excruciating! It is bad enough, but what would you say if you had seven such aches at once, with cold and nakedness to back them! Twitches of rheumatism are horrible! Well can I endorse that statement! But what then? Why, there have been men who have lived with such tortures all their lives, like Baxter, who could tell all his bones because each one had made itself heard by its own peculiar pang. What is our complaint compared with the diseases of Calvin, the man who preached every daybreak to the students in the cathedral and worked on till long past midnight, all the while a mass of disease with a complicated agony? You are poor? Ah, yes! But you have your own room, scanty as it is, and there are hundreds in the workhouse who find sorry comfort there. It is true you have to work hard! Yes, but think of the Huguenot galley slave in the old times, who for the love of Christ was bound with chains to the oar and scarcely knew rest day nor night. Think of the sufferings of the martyrs of Smithfield, or of the saints who rotted in their prisons.
...Be of good cheer, soldier, the battle must soon end. That blood-stained banner, when it will wave so high; that shout of triumph, when it shall thrill from so many thousand lips; that grand assembly of heroes, all of them made more than conquerors; the sight of the King in His beauty, riding in the chariot of His triumph on streets paved with love for the daughters of Jerusalem; the acclamations of spirits glorified; and the shouts and songs of cherubims and seraphims—all these shall make up for all the fightings of today:
“And they who, with their Master,
Have conquered in the fight,
For ever and for ever
Are clad in robes of light.”

Pink on Anxiety

As we watch the current events around us, the economic crisis, the military excursions of our country, rampant unemployment, rising costs for everything, home foreclosures and more, it is very easy for us to become anxious. And who would blame us? Yet we are God's children and therefore under his constant watchful care. From the Arthur Pink Anthology let's read what he says on anxiety and put ourselves to the test:

“Be anxious for nothing”—Philipians 4:6
Worrying is as definitely forbidden as theft. This needs to be carefully pondered and definitely realized by us, so that we do not excuse it as an innocent “infirmity.” The more we are convicted of the sinfulness of anxiety, the sooner are we likely to perceive that it is most dishonoring to God, and “strive against” it (Heb. 12:4). But how are we to “strive against” it?

First, by begging the Holy Spirit to grant us a deeper conviction of its enormity. Second, by making it a subject of special and earnest prayer, that we may be delivered from this evil. Third, by watching its beginning, and as soon as we are conscious of harassment of mind, as soon as we detect the unbelieving thought, lift up our heart to God and ask Him for deliverance from it.

The best antidote for anxiety is frequent meditation upon God's goodness, power and sufficiency. When the saint can confidently realize “The Lord is My Shepherd,” he must draw the conclusion, “I shall not want!” Immediately following our exhortation is, “but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known unto God.” Nothing is too big and nothing is too little to spread before and cast upon the Lord. The “with thanksgiving” is most important, yet it is the point at which we most fail. It means that before we receive God's answer, we thank Him for the same: it is the confidence of the child expecting his Father to be gracious.

“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought (anxious concern) for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?” “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:25, 33)

Evening Devotion

Evening devotion from Spurgeon:

Are they Israelites? so am I.” - 2 Corinthians 11:22

We have here A PERSONAL CLAIM, and one that needs proof. The apostle knew that his claim was indisputable, but there are many persons who have no right to the title who yet claim to belong to the Israel of God. If we are with confidence declaring, “So am I also an Israelite,” let us only say it after having searched our heart as in the presence of God. But if we can give proof that we are following Jesus, if we can from the heart say, “I trust him wholly, trust him only, trust him simply, trust him now, and trust him ever,” then the position which the saints of God hold belongs to us-all their enjoyments are our possessions; we may be the very least in Israel, “less than the least of all saints,” yet since the mercies of God belong to the saints AS SAINTS, and not as advanced saints, or well-taught saints, we may put in our plea, and say, “Are they Israelites? so am I; therefore the promises are mine, grace is mine, glory will be mine.” The claim, rightfully made, is one which will yield untold comfort. When God’s people are rejoicing that they are his, what a happiness if they can say, “SO AM I!” When they speak of being pardoned, and justified, and accepted in the Beloved, how joyful to respond, “Through the grace of God, SO AM I.” But this claim not only has its enjoyments and privileges, but also its conditions and duties. We must share with God’s people in cloud as well as in sunshine. When we hear them spoken of with contempt and ridicule for being Christians, we must come boldly forward and say, “So am I.” When we see them working for Christ, giving their time, their talent, their whole heart to Jesus, we must be able to say, “So do I.” O let us prove our gratitude by our devotion, and live as those who, having claimed a privilege, are willing to take the responsibility connected with it.

Spurgeon on Prayer

In God’s word we are over and over again commanded to pray. God’s institutions are not folly. Can I believe that the infinitely wise God has ordained for me an exercise which is ineffectual, and is no more than child’s play? - Charles Spurgeon

And we shouldn't believe it either. We are go to the Lord repeatededly, spend our day in prayer. We fall short of this command all our lives but that does not erase the command. Spend time in prayer today.

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

Soldiers of Christ, In Truth Arrayed

The following hymn has been sung at the commencement excercises at Southern Baptist Seminary since its inception and when we read the lyrics we see that it has been for good reason. Let's meditate on these lyrics and ask ourselves what we are doing for the cause of Christ.

Soldiers In Christ, In Truth Arrayed

Soldiers of Christ, in truth arrayed,
A world in ruins needs your aid:
A world by sin destroyed and dead;
A world for which the Savior bled.

His Gospel to the lost proclaim,
Good news for all in Jesus’ Name;
Let light upon the darkness break
That sinners from their death may wake.

Morning and evening sow the seed,
God’s grace the effort shall succeed.
Seedtimes of tears have oft been found
With sheaves of joy and plenty crowned.

We meet to part, but part to meet
When earthly labors are complete,
To join in yet more blest employ,
In an eternal world of joy.

-Lyrics by Basil Manly Jr.

Calvin on Prayer V

Let's journey one more time into Calvin's thoughts on prayer:

One of the requisites of legitimate prayer is repentance. Hence the common declaration of Scripture, that God does not listen to the wicked; that their prayers, as well as their sacrifices, are an abomination to him. For it is right that those who seal up their hearts should find the ears of God closed against them, that those who, by their hardheartedness, provoke his severity should find him inflexible. In Isaiah he thus threatens: "When ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood" (Isaiah 1:15). In like manner, in Jeremiah, "Though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them" (Jer. 11:7, 8, 11Jer. 11:7, 8, 11); because he regards it as the highest insult for the wicked to boast of his covenant while profaning his sacred name by their whole lives. Hence he complains in Isaiah: "This people draw near to me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me; but have removed their heart far from men" (Isaiah 29:13). Indeed, he does not confine this to prayers alone, but declares that he abominates pretense in every part of his service. Hence the words of James, "Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts" (James 4:3). It is true, indeed (as we shall again see in a little), that the pious, in the prayers which they utter, trust not to their own worth; still the admonition of John is not superfluous: "Whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments" (1 John 3:22); an evil conscience shuts the door against us. Hence it follows, that none but the sincere worshippers of God pray aright, or are listened to. Let every one, therefore, who prepares to pray feel dissatisfied with what is wrong in his condition, and assume, which he cannot do without repentance, the character and feelings of a poor suppliant. (From Of Prayer--A Perpetual Exercise of Faith. The Daily Benefits Derived from It by John Calvin.)

Calvin on Prayer IV

Let's return again to Calvin on prayer:

Another rule of prayer is, that in asking we must always truly feel our wants, and seriously considering that we need all the things which we ask, accompany the prayer with a sincere, nay, ardent desire of obtaining them. Many repeat prayers in a perfunctory manner from a set form, as if they were performing a task to God, and though they confess that this is a necessary remedy for the evils of their condition, because it were fatal to be left without the divine aid which they implore, it still appears that they perform the duty from custom, because their minds are meanwhile cold, and they ponder not what they ask. A general and confused feeling of their necessity leads them to pray, but it does not make them solicitous as in a matter of present consequence, that they may obtain the supply of their need...Believers ought to be specially on their guard never to appear in the presence of God with the intention of presenting a request unless they are under some serious impression, and are, at the same time, desirous to obtain it. Nay, although in these things which we ask only for the glory of God, we seem not at first sight to consult for our necessity, yet we ought not to ask with less fervour and vehemency of desire. For instance, when we pray that his name be hallowed -- that hallowing must, so to speak, be earnestly hungered and thirsted after. (From Of Prayer--A Perpetual Exercise of Faith. The Daily Benefits Derived from It by John Calvin.)

Calvin on Prayer III

Let's have a mid-week look at what Calvin has for us on prayer. The following to taken from Of Prayer--A Perpetual Exercise of Faith. The Daily Benefits Derived from It:

...[L]et every one in professing to pray turn thither all his thoughts and feelings, and be not (as is usual) distracted by wandering thoughts; because nothing is more contrary to the reverence due to God than that levity which bespeaks a mind too much given to license and devoid of fear. In this matter we ought to labour the more earnestly the more difficult we experience it to be; for no man is so intent on prayer as not to feel many thoughts creeping in, and either breaking off the tenor of his prayer, or retarding it by some turning or digression. Here let us consider how unbecoming it is when God admits us to familiar intercourse to abuse his great condescension by mingling things sacred and profane, reverence for him not keeping our minds under restraint; but just as if in prayer we were conversing with one like ourselves forgetting him, and allowing our thoughts to run to and fro. Let us know, then, that none duly prepare themselves for prayer but those who are so impressed with the majesty of God that they engage in it free from all earthly cares and affections. The ceremony of lifting up our hands in prayer is designed to remind us that we are far removed from God, unless our thoughts rise upward: as it is said in the psalm, "Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul" (Psalm 25:1Psalm 25:1). And Scripture repeatedly uses the expression to raise our prayers meaning that those who would be heard by God must not grovel in the mire. The sum is, that the more liberally God deals with us, condescendingly inviting us to disburden our cares into his bosom, the less excusable we are if this admirable and incomparable blessing does not in our estimation outweigh all other things, and win our affection, that prayer may seriously engage our every thought and feeling. This cannot be unless our mind, strenuously exerting itself against all impediments, rise upward.

Calvin on Prayer II

As we start our week today, let us be mindful of the importance of prayer. Let's look to Calvin again for more insight:

Let the first rule of right prayer then be, to have our heart and mind framed as becomes those who are entering into converse with God. This we shall accomplish in regard to the mind, if, laying aside carnal thoughts and cares which might interfere with the direct and pure contemplation of God, it not only be wholly intent on prayer, but also, as far as possible, be borne and raised above itself. I do not here insist on a mind so disengaged as to feel none of the gnawings of anxiety; on the contrary, it is by much anxiety that the fervour of prayer is inflamed. Thus we see that the holy servants of God betray great anguish, not to say solicitude, when they cause the voice of complaint to ascend to the Lord from the deep abyss and the jaws of death. What I say is, that all foreign and extraneous cares must be dispelled by which the mind might be driven to and fro in vague suspense, be drawn down from heaven, and kept grovelling on the earth. When I say it must be raised above itself, I mean that it must not bring into the presence of God any of those things which our blind and stupid reason is wont to devise, nor keep itself confined within the little measure of its own vanity, but rise to a purity worthy of God. (From Of Prayer--A Perpetual Exercise of Faith. The Daily Benefits Derived from It by John Calvin.

A.W. Pink on Prayer part III

Pink offers us so much wisdom in the area of prayer. Let's look again at some thoughts on prayer from chapter 3 of his A Guide to Fervent Prayer:

Herein, indeed, is a humbling truth, yet a fact it is that Christians are, in themselves, incapable of discharging their duty. Though the love of God has been shed abroad in their hearts and a principle of holiness (or new nature) communicated to them, yet they are unable to perform the good they ardently desire to do. Not only are they still very ignorant of many of the requirements of God's revealed will, but indwelling sin ever opposes and seeks to incline their hearts in a contrary direction. Thus it is imperative that they daily seek from God fresh supplies of grace. Though assured that God shall surely complete His good work in us (Phil. 1:6), that does not render needless our crying to Him “that performeth all things for me [us]” (Ps. 57:2, brackets mine). Nor does the privilege of prayer release us from the obligation of obedience. Rather, in prayer we are to beg Him to quicken us to the performance of those duties He requires. The blessing of access to God is not designed to discharge us from the regular and diligent use of all the means God has appointed for our practical sanctification, but is meant to provide for our seeking of the Divine blessing on our use of all the means of grace. Our duty is this: to ask God to work in us “both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13); to avoid quenching His Spirit by slothfulness and disobedience, especially after we have prayed for His sweet influences (I Thess. 5:19); and to use the grace He has already given us.

A.W. Pink on Prayer part II

From chapter three of Pink's A Guide to Fervent Prayer we are blessed to find the following:

A Prayer for Holiness and Fruitfulness
Prayer, for holiness“The God of peace make you perfect in every good work to do his will.” Substantially, this request is for the practical sanctification and fructification of God's people. While the everlasting covenant has been suitably denominated “the covenant of redemption,” we must carefully bear in mind that it was designed to secure the holiness of its beneficiaries. We do well to reflect upon the prophetic, Spirit-filled cry of Zecharias, that “the Lord God of Israel [should] remember his holy covenant; That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our [spiritual] enemies might serve him without [servile] fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life” (Luke 1:68-75 brackets mine). And while it has also been appropriately designated “the covenant of grace,” yet we must also remember that the Apostle Paul said, “For the grace of God-that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men [Gentiles as well as Jews], Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope” (Titus 2:11-13, brackets mine).

The grand purpose of the everlasting covenant, as of all the Divine works, was the glory of God and the good of His people. It was designed not only as a display of the Divine munificence, but also for securing and promoting the claims of Divine holiness. God did not enter into that compact with Christ in order to set aside human accountability, nor did the Son fulfill its terms so as to render unnecessary for His redeemed a life of obedience.

Christ agreed not only to propitiate God, but to regenerate His elect. Christ undertook not only to meet all the requirements of the Law in their stead, but also to write it on their hearts and to enthrone it in their affections. Christ engaged not only to take away sin from before God, but to make it hateful and heinous to His saints. Before the world began, Christ undertook not only to satisfy the claims of Divine justice, but to sanctify His seed by sending forth His Spirit into their souls to conform them to His image and to incline them to follow the example that He would leave them. It has been far too little insisted on, in recent times, by those who have written or preached upon the Covenant of Grace, that Christ engaged not only for the debt of His people, but for their duty, too: that He should make a purchase of grace for them, including a full provision to give them a new heart and a new spirit, to bring them to know the Lord, to put His fear into their hearts, and to make them obedient to His will. He also engaged for their safety: that if they should forsake His Law and walk not in His judgments, He would visit their transgressions with the rod (Ps. 89:30-36); that if they should backslide and stray from Him, He would assuredly recover them.

A.W. Pink on Prayer part1

From the Introduction to A. W. Pink's A Guide to Fervent Prayer we read:

Prayer, a Universal Duty Among Believers
But let it not be thought that this marked emphasis of the Epistles indicates a duty for preachers only. Far from it. These Epistles are addressed to God's children at large, and everything in them is both needed for, and suited to, their Christian walk. Believers, too, should pray much not only for themselves, but for all their brothers and sisters in Christ. We should pray deliberately according to these apostolic models, petitioning for the particular blessings they specify. I have long been convinced there is no better way—no more practical, valuable, and effective way—of expressing solicitude and affection for our fellow saints than by bearing them up before God by prayer in the arms of our faith and love. By studying these prayers in the Epistles and pondering them clause by clause, we may learn more clearly what blessings we should desire for ourselves and for others, that is, the spiritual gifts and graces for which we have great need to be solicitous. The fact that these prayers, inspired by the Holy Spirit, have been placed on permanent record in the Sacred Volume declares that the particular favors sought herein are those which God has given us warrant to seek and to obtain from Himself (Rom.8:26-27; 1 John 5:14-15).

How to Profit From Sickness Direct. VI

Direct. VI Also you have now a special help to raise your estimation of the happiness of the saints in heaven, and of the necessity and excellency of a holy life, and of the wisdom of the saints on earth; and to know who maketh the wiseth choice (Luke 10:42, Philippians 1:19 & 23). Now you may see that it is nothing but it is heaven that is worth our seeking, and that is finally to be trusted to, and will not fail us in the hour of our distress; wicked; between those that serve God and those that serve him not, Malachi 3:17-18. Now judge whether a loose and worldly life, or a holy, heavenly life be better? And resolve accordingly. (Taken from Richard Baxter's A Christian Directory.)