The Cup of Blessing That We Have Received

I was reading something this morning that was written by a friend, and it sparked some thoughts. Please bare with me as I seek to unravel some of these thoughts.

As I read, I was reminded of an account of King David. At the time, David was surrounded by the host of Saul, and if you remember, the Scriptures tells us that David was thirsty. So, without command, three of David's mighty men broke through the gate of the city of Bethlehem to get him a drink. They fought their way through the enemy, they sacrificed their lives, they put everything on the line for their captain. When the men returned with the cup of water, David took it and poured it on the ground. To us reading this account, it seems like a great waste especially after such sacrifice, but David would not drink the water because he saw it as the blood of these men. Brethren, the Lord Jesus Christ gave up his kingdom, humbled himself, endured great agony, was obedient even to the death of the cross and now ever liveth to make intercession for us. He did and does all this to bring us a cup of living water that if we drink we shall never thirst again. He has showered us with his blood, he has given us unimaginable riches, he has freely given us grace and mercy. Brethren, every good and perfect gift cometh from above. Our hearts are full, our cup runneth over [Psalm 23]. Let us pour out our cups of thanksgiving to the Lord. Let us honor the sacrifice he has made, the gifts he has given, the love he has bestowed on us his people. The mercy of the Lord does indeed endure forever.

I hope you all have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving. God is very good. Praise Him. Also, by way of reminder, as we enjoy our feast today and give God thanks, please remember to pray for our countless brethren in many different countries that are either in prison for the gospel or seeking to worship God without being arrested. The Lord be with you.

Liberty Through Sacrifice

I was working the graveyard shift last summer at my local hospital, and had the privilege of taking care of a World War II veteran. As I was talking to him, he informed me that he would have gone and fought on the coast of Normandy during the D-day invasion if it had not been for an injury he had sustained previously. He was fighting with Patton and a mortar shell exploded near him. A piece of shrapnel hit him in the lower jaw preventing him from fighting further. As I listened, I realized that these young men with their whole lives ahead of them, with wives, with children, with dreams, gave it all up for future generations. I then communicated this thought to him by saying, "You gave up your life in order for us to have a life." His response was somewhat shocking. He did not dismiss it. He did not lessen it. He said, "That's right! We did." In other words, he wasn't going to be a hero. He was sacrificing his life to give future generations hope for the future. Through this account, we need to realize that countless people have given their lives for the liberty we now enjoy. We can't ignore their sacrifice. I would like to thank the brave Americans for laying down their lives, for giving up comfort, for sacrificing everything for their country. Thank you.

Now, as Christians we have liberation and freedom through the sacrifice of one, the man, Christ Jesus. Through his sacrifice, we enjoy eternal liberty. Christ commands that in order for us to be able to stand in the evil day, to be ready when he comes, we need to watch and pray that we enter not into temptation. Thomas Jefferson said, "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty." This is no more true than for a Christian. We must be vigilant against sin, against the rising injustice in our land, against Satan's devices. This watching should produce action as well. We cannot stand idly by as brave Americans are giving their lives in wars foreign and domestic. We have to make good on their sacrifice. We cannot waste the freedom we have received. Freedom is not free. It cost the sinless Saviour's blood. It required millions of people to die. Believers, I am pleading with you. It is time to stand up and say to the proud waves of injustice sweeping our land, "Hitherto and no further, and here shall your proud waves be stayed." You may not be fighting a battle in some dessert or invading some coast with little chance of survival, but you do live in a country that hates God, murders children, and calls good, evil and evil, good. It is time to rise up. It is high time to awake out of sleep and apathy. 

By way of warning, you should never ever fear men. You should only fear God. So, "let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Men, many of you would like to join the military or would like to do something heroic. There is nothing more heroic than a man that stands up for truth and does not compromise. There is nothing more exciting than to fight for the liberty of generations yet unborn. So, while many people have laid down their lives in various different wars, whose sacrifice we honor, we need men and woman that are willing to fight the battles on the home front. We need homes that are committed to living according to the Word of God, we need churches to preach the gospel, and we need fathers that are willing to die for the liberties of their children. You have been given example. Now, go, make good on the liberty you have received. Give God whole hearted devotion, and fight. It is a time of war. The battle wages. Will you join the fight?

Ask in Faith, Believing

"Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war yet ye have not, because ye ask not." 
[James 4:2]

I. A heart of Prayer

   A. Pray without ceasing.

        - "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give 
          thanks." [1 Thess. 5:16-18]

        - Nehemiah uttered ejaculatory prayers when he went before 
          the king that the Lord would go with him.

        - "On Thy law do I meditate both day and night." [Psalm 1:2]

   B. Evangelical prayer

        a. As a weeper: "I am weary with my groaning; all the night 
           make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears." 
           [Psalm 6:6]

        b. As a believer: "But let him ask in faith, nothing 
            wavering...For let not that man think that he shall receive 
            anything of the Lord." [James 1:6a and 7] 

   C. Watching while praying to keep oneself from temptation:

        - "Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation: for the 
          spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." 
          [Matthew 26:41] 

   D. A broken and contrite heart:

        - "A broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." 
          [Psalm 51:17]

        - "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity,
          whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with 
          him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the 
          spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite 
          ones." [Isaiah 57:15]

II. What ought we to ask for:

   A. Wisdom 

        - "If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God." [James 1:5]

        - Solomon asked for wisdom, and God gave it to him as well 
          as riches and honor. 

   B. For Forgiveness 

        - The Lord's prayer: "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our 
          debtors." [Matthew 6:12]

   C. For strength and blessing for ones self and for others. 

        - The High Priestly prayer in John 17: Christ prayed for his 
          people. 

   D. For Everything

        - "Be careful for nothing, but in everything with prayer and 
          supplication with thanksgiving let your request be make 
          known unto God." [Philippians 4:6]

III. Objection: I do not feel adequate to pray. I am such a sinner. 
      Not to mention, when I try to pray, I feel cold and dead.  

   A. Wrestle with God: Labor all night in prayer. 

        - "And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with 
          him until the breaking of the day. And he said, Let me go, for
          the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except 
          thou bless me. " [Genesis 32: 24 and 26]

   B. Even though you feel cold, pray until an angel flies from 
       Heaven taking a coal from off the alter to ignite your heart. 
       Pray until you feel the warmth of prayer. God will not quench
       the smoking flax. 

   C. You don't know what to say: God would rather the groanings 
        of your heart more that your abundant words. God teaches us 
        how to pray. If you want to learn, learn at Christ's school.

        - The Spirit groans for you with groanings too deep for words.
          Do not fret about what to say. Go to God in humility, and 
          God will put into your heart and into your mind what to pray.

IV. Give God the first fruits: 

   - Remember the incense on God's alter are the prayers of the 
     saints. So, pour out your prayers in the morning just as they 
     poured out the new wine upon the alter in the morning. Do not
     wait to pray. Pray in the morning. 

Notes: God in Christ knows your weaknesses and intercedes on your behalf. Christ is praying for you. Cannot you pray to Christ and God? Christ lives to intercede. Will you not get down on your knees even for just one hour? Our prayers are made sweet through Christ. 

We must pray: God demands it of His children. Christ delights in the prayers of his saints and he delighteth to give good gifts to His children. Ask in faith, believing. 

Your prayers will not land on deaf ears. As long as you are obedient to God's law, God will hear and will give you the desires of your heart. 

By way of warning: "Behold the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." [Isaiah 59:1-2]

"He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination."

[Proverbs 28:9] 

But to those that keep God's law or have a heart of obedience, pray, ask, trust. The Father will hear you. Your hungering and thirsting will be rewarded.

Soli Deo Gloria

The Lord of Rest

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light." 
[Matthew 11: 28-30]

Unconditional Love

"Who, when he was reviled, he reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously." [1 Peter 2:25]


"Surely he hat borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken." [Isaiah 53: 4-9]


Jesus Christ loved his people with unconditional love. It did not matter how much he was rejected, he was spat upon, he was buffeted, he was beaten. When he hung on the cross, he said: "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." "Greater love hath no man than this, that he should lay down his life for his friend, but while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Christ loved us while we were yet enemies. It would be easy for us to say, "I would be willing to die for anyone on this earth." But as my sister pointed out, it may be easy to die for someone, but you would find it very hard to give your life for someone that had personally injured you. However, Christ, gave his life for those that had rejected Him, that had forsaken Him, that had hurled insults at him (the thief on the cross), that had smitten him and beaten him. Christ died for the ungodly. Christ died for his enemies. His love was unconditional. There was nothing we could do. There was nothing we had to offer. There was no good in us. We were dead in our trespasses in sin, and Christ died to make us righteous. "What wondrous love is this?" 


Brethren, pray to have this kind of love. All that you experience on this earth, all the heart ache, all the pain, pales in comparison to what Jesus Christ went through. May the Lord make you more and more like Christ as you run the race. The Lord be with you.

Soli Deo Gloria

Friendship

"A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." [Proverbs 17:17]


"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up." [Ecclesiastes 4:9]


"It is not good for man to be alone." [Genesis 2:18]


God gives us brothers, friends, and family to walk beside us and to help us. We cannot stand alone. We will be unable to stand unless we have a friend to hold us up. Brothers, "a cord of three strands is not easily broken." If one falls, there are two people ready to pick up their fallen brother. God's economy is wonderful and perfectly ordained. He understands how weak we are. He understands how easy it is to fall away. Thus, he gives us friends to help us, brothers to defend us, families to love us. God speaks very highly of friendship. It is the essence of the gospel. Christ died for us while we were yet enemies. He is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. 


To those that despise this friendship, this accountability, "beware to them that fall when there is no one to pick them up." You are denying the essence of the gospel. God holds us up as a friend. When we turn back to the world, he pulls on us and brings us back to His sheep fold. Without God, we cannot stand. Without his hand to guide, his love to save, his arm to lead, we will fall. Likewise, without brothers to help us, we will not stand. We will fall and will not be able to get back up. Don't despise the care and concern your friends and brothers exhibit. "A brother is born for adversity." "A friend loveth at all times." No matter what happens, your friend will love you. This is the definition given of true friendship. It is the friendship that Christ exhibited on the cross. Praise the Lord for his love and concern for us. Praise the Lord for giving us an example in His son. May the Lord cause us to be full of the love of God toward our brothers. May the Lord teach us this kind of friendship. The Lord be with you.


As an example, this past week, I worked the 11:00p.m. to 7:30a.m. shift at the hospital. Usually, these kinds of shifts really wipe me out physically, and I often find it hard to stay awake during the drive home. Well, out of the blue, one of my friends, called me the morning after the shift to make sure I had made it home safely. This may seem like a really small example or insignificant, but I can't tell you how much it meant to me.    

Soli Deo Gloria

Isaiah 61

This passage of Scripture is very dear to me. God is so kind and gracious. He loves His people. Listen to these tones of love, written with the finger of God. 


"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that hey might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.


"And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generation. And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.


"For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them. For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burn offering; and that I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed. I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are son in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD  will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations."

Soli Deo Gloria

As We Look At this Slain Lamb

Brethren, the following is a daily devotional from Grace Gems. I stole the post and the title from the email that was sent out. I receive devotional from Grace Gems once a day. This one was very good, and I would like to share it with you...


"Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne!" Revelation 5:6 

As we look at this slain Lamb--let us mark the direful malignity of sin! It was sin which . . .
  drew Christ from His throne in glory;
  humbled Him to the condition of humanity;
  made Him "a man of sorrows" all His days;
  hunted His life from infancy, and
  finally nailed Him to "the accursed tree!"

Had not man sinned--Jesus would never have become incarnate! Hence, every pang and woe which He endured in body and soul, from His miraculous birth to His ignominious death--were inflicted by sin!

Christians! wearers of Christ's name! professors of Christ's religion! Will you love sin? Will you be in league with and cherish that in your heart--which slew the Lamb of God? O, if you love sin; if you are resolved not to forsake it; if you do not hate it as the enemy of Christ, and your own soul--you are hugging that to your heart, which drove the nails into the hands, and thrust the spear into the side, of the Lamb of God!

"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" Revelation 5:12 

"Let the Words of My Mouth"

"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my hear, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." [Psalms 19:4]


"Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer ever man." [Colossians 4:6]


Beloved, many errors have made there way into the church. Many of the doctrines that are characteristic of the godly have been chiseled away at, and because of this, because our doctrines are no more sacred, we have stopped practicing piety. We have stopped practicing godliness. 


Brethren, I would like to ask..."Why is it, that your speech is so much like the world?" I guarantee you, if you were standing behind a curtain, and some ungodly person was listening to you speak, they nor anyone else would think you a Christian. The speech that so graces the lips of the ungodly has become norm in our churches. I would like to lay out for you why this is such a problem:


1. By calling yourself a Christian and speaking with such disgusting words, you are attributing everyone of those words to Jesus Christ as if he would use them.
2. "By their fruits shall ye know them." What fruits are you bearing? 
3. You lack the sobriety to keep a bridal over your mouth. 


Beloved, if anyone can bridal the tongue, the same is a perfect man, but is it really that hard to refrain from using profanity? Do you really need to use expletives just like the world? You are using words that mean nothing for spiritual nourishment, they don't communicate things that are pleasant, nice, kind, lovely and of good report. They are words that are used by the world. So, what are you doing? I know, I am not being very loving by bringing this up. I just need to forbear and let all of you do what you want. Actually, let's look at life through different glasses. Because I love the Lord, I am jealous for His name, and you should be as well. You are to put off the former man. You are to forsake the evil and cleave to that which is good. Why is your speech so full of rottenness? Why do you find it necessary to speak so profanely?


I would like to give you a few examples of people that cared deeply about what they said and how they spoke. 


Samuel:


"And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground." 
[1 Samuel 3:19]


Samuel cared about what he said. Each one of his words was said with purpose. 


David:


"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my hear, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." [Psalms 19:4]


David cared deeply about how he lived. It is interesting that he speaks about the meditations of the heart. In Mark's gospel, it says, "Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, words...etc"


Daniel Webster:


Daniel Webster was one of the greatest orators America has ever known. Read his speeches. You may argue that we no longer live in the 19th century, but actually, we live in a century where rules no longer apply, children are expected to remain so until age thirty, and education has been destroyed. We no longer teach our children how to speak or what to say and what not to say. 


So, our speech is no longer spoken with grace and eloquence. We can no longer rebuke someone without using horrible profanity. Yes, even professing Christians cannot refrain from using terrible, God blaspheming language. Who are you identifying yourself with? Why are you continually speaking with such filth? I plead with you to learn from Jesus Christ, and his servants. Learn from David and Samuel. Practice piety, and please stop using profanity. 


May the Lord bless you as we unite in the fight against the Evil One. The Lord be with you.

Soli Deo Gloria 

Clouds Without Water

Dearly Beloved, my heart has been very heavy of late. As I continually look at my heart and my life, I see so much hypocrisy, so much luke warmness, so much filth. I can speak of the Scriptures and cary on conversations about godly matters, but my inward being is wicked. My heart is deceitful. This post came directly out of my utter disgust for the depravity of my own soul. Hypocrisy is in us all. Please examine yourself as you read this. 


"What good will it do you when you are in hell that others think you have gone to heaven?" [Thomas Watson] Brethren, "Counterfeit piety is double iniquity." As a side note, for all those people that own The Godly Man's Picture, you should read the third chapter on this Lord's Day. It is very painful as it strips away at our religious show and leaves our true self naked and open, but it is also very helpful. Remember, "God resisteth the proud but giveth grace to the humble."


Brethren, God declares in His Word: "I would that you were either cold or hot, but since you are luke warm, I will spue you out of my mouth." You see, we are on the brink, we sit on the fence, we are almost Christians. With one voice we speak of God, with the other, we are caught up with the cares and concerns of this world. We have one foot in this world and one foot in Heaven. We want both. I declare to you, "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways."[James 1:8] "You are either for God or you are against God." There is no neutrality. 


Brethren, do you go to church, do you believe in God, do you fast and pray? You know, "the devils believe and tremble." The Devil never eats. Are you making a show of religion? Is your piety just a facade? Do people think much of your Christianity, when you know full well that you do not love God? Are you the same man in private as you are in public? Yes, there is a degree of hypocrisy in us all, but to what level does your filth extend? Are you content to live a godly life just as long as it is not too demanding? Are you ready to forsake all for Christ? Do you die daily? Do you take up your cross and follow after God? I do not. I am a hypocrite. O Lord, take my hypocrisy from me. Make me to be on fire for Thee and Thy kingdom work. May I love Thee with my entire being. 


Where is your heart? You cannot serve two masters. James compares such people as clouds without water. They promise rain, but they have none. "Thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead." [Revelations 3:1] Please do not say, "Well, this is not referring to me. I am not all that bad. I love the Lord. I serve God. I pray and read my Bible. I even go to church." So what? Where is your heart? You may go to church, but where are your thoughts while you are in church? What makes you happy? What gets you excited? Does talking about God get you excited? Can you say, "O Lord, it has been my delight to speak and think on your name"? Are you more concerned about what is going to happen tomorrow or next week or next year than about meditating on the things of God? What do you do with your time? Where do you invest your money? If you have no time for God, he will have nothing to do with you. 


What are you investing in? "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." [Matthew 6:21]


Here is another application. Are you doing things your way and not taking head to the Word of God? Are you living for yourself and what you like? Oh, so often we do things because they are fun for us. We do things because we want to do them, when they have nothing to do with Christianity. We despise the man that works hard, provides for his family, is content and quiet at home, and that loves the Lord in simplicity. We want more. We want to be "doing things" with our life. We want to see the world. Where is your heart? If your heart is right, than go see the world, but make your heart right before God first, and take the world captive for Jesus Christ.


Furthermore, we look for the approval of man. We want to be noticed of others. We say our long prayers, we do "good deeds." All of it is to be seen of man. Examine your heart. Yes, there are small glimpses of true piety in us. There is small glimpses of true religion, by the grace of God. Thank God for this, but please do not take comfort in this. You must scrub the garment until it is clean. You must put off the former deeds and press forward to what lies ahead. Lay hold on eternal life. No hypocrite will enter the kingdom of Heaven. 


Brethren, take heart. If you show signs of hypocrisy, this does not mean you are a hypocrite; however, you should continually seek to purge all hypocrisy from you and press on. You need to examine yourself. I don't really know how to wake you up. You are so comfortable. Please take head. I pray that you will take head to these words. I am pleading with you. "It is high time to awake out of sleep."[Romans 13:11] Put aside your counterfeit piety, your ridiculous mask. Live uprightly. Live according to the Scriptures. Live Coram Deo.


The Godly Man's Picture:


Question: But why do persons content themselves with a show of godliness?


Answer: This helps to keep up there fame: "honor me now before the people" (1 Sam. 15:30). Men are ambitious of credit, and wish to gain repute in the world, therefore they will dress themselves in the garb and mode of religion, so that others may write them down for saints. But alas, what is one the better for having others commend him, and his conscience condemn him? What good will it do a man when he is in hell that others think he has gone to heaven? Oh, beware of this! Counterfeit piety is double iniquity.

Soli Deo Gloria

The House of Mourning

"It is better to go the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth." [Ecclesiastes 7:2-4]


I had the privilege of attending a funeral yesterday. Yes, it was a privilege. As the funeral progressed, I found myself reflecting on the verse above. Going to the house of mourning is extremely helpful. It reminds us what our end is. It helps us with our walk. God gave us these ceremonies, funerals, as a gift to strengthen us and remind us of eternity. The wise man's heart is constantly reflecting on and living for eternity. 


Today, we see a lot of gayety, always trying to find out how we can have fun. We are always looking forward to the next fun time, but Solomon is communicating something different. He is not saying that having a good time is wrong. He is not saying that you should not be joyful; however, if one is to be preferred above the other, we should much prefer the house of mourning than to the house of feasting. 


Also, Solomon says something very interesting here. He says, "Sorrow is better than laugther: for by the sadness of the countenance, the heart is made better." Wow. When one is sorrowful, they are often very contemplative and thoughtful. In Titus 2, Paul exhort Titus to sobriety. There is a certain sobriety that comes with sadness.


There is another portion of Scripture that helps us understand this statement by Solomon. Second  Corinthians says, "We are sorrowful, but always rejoicing." So, though we sorrow, we have great hope. Though we are sad, we have great joy. God is completely sovereign and ordains all things for our good, even funerals. 


One other point...the funeral yesterday was for a young man that was a wonderful Christian. He lived His life for God. Some may ask, "why did God take this thirteen year old boy?" Well, while we don't know the exact reason why God decided to take him, we do know that God sometimes takes the strongest of the believers, to give the church an example, to wake them up, to make them step up to the plate. To ask questions like, "What am I doing with my life?" "What will people remember me by? "What will be written on my grave stone?" The person of whose funeral I was attending prepared a message that was to be played during this occasion. During the short video message, he asked, "What are you investing your life in? Are you investing in the things of Heaven or the things of earth?" You can imagine watching this young boy that can't even smile because of the cancer, ask you that. It really makes you think. He was trying to communicate the need to redeem the time. A few years back, Michael Moede, was listening to a very good speaker talk about the need for redeeming the time. After Michael heard this message, he purposed to give up video games, which he had played one hour a week. He gave them up for two years. Now, imagine a person that you know is dead and that died at thirteen, telling you to redeem the time because life is very short. I can't communicate what it means to have that testimony before me. Praise the Lord for giving us such an example.


May the Lord richly bless you.

Soli Deo Gloria

Love

Brethren, we must understand love. It is the character of a Christian. It is the life of and breath of the believer. The gospel is love to us. The Bible, the Word of God, is God's letter of love to His people. What wondrous love is this? 


Friends, while I believe the emphasis of love is very good, I fear we don't really understand love. We don't actually comprehend what it means to love. Let me ask you...Have you ever considered what love actually costs? Do you know what love truly is? 


I would like to ask you a few questions: What does freedom cost? Freedom is not free. Countless individuals have laid down their lives to give you the freedom which you now enjoy. 


Have you ever considered what God thinks of sin or what God think of the breaking of His law? Let me tell you what God thinks of sin...He sent His only begotten son to die, He forsook Him, He completely emptied the cup of wrath upon Him. He caused Him to experience the entirety of man's punishment for sin. Jesus Christ died because no one can keep the law perfectly. If we could have kept the law without error, we wouldn't need Jesus Christ. We wouldn't need a Savior. But because we are completely unable to keep God's law and entirely deficient, because there is nothing good in us, The Only Begotten of the Father died to make us acceptable in God's sight. This is what God thinks of the breaking of His Law. His son died. 


So, to those that say, "we no longer have to keep the Law. We are free. God has set me free from the bondage of the Law." You are dead wrong. Yes, the Law can't save you. Yes, those that trust the Law for life and salvation are in a miserable state. But, brethren, the truth of the matter is, we are no longer under the bondage of sin. Sin no longer can have the mastery over us because we belong to another, and because our hearts are full of gratitude and love for our redeemer, we desire to obey Him. Picture this: a young child, wanting to bring his dad a cookie, runs to his dad with all excitement to bring this small gift of love. Right before he makes it to his waiting dad, he trips and falls and the cookie lands in the mud. What does the dad do, but take the cookie, brush off the mud, thank their loving child, and take a bite out of the cookie. Now, do we love the child for the filthy cookie that they just brought us? No, we love them because they are our child. So, the deeds which we do, the keeping of the Law does not make God love us. He loves us because we are His children. But, that doesn't mean we stop bringing our filthy cookies or "good" deeds to the Lord. In fact, we were saved by grace being enabled to keep the Law through Christ. [Ephesians 2:8-10] Praise the Lord. 


God thinks much of sin, even to the point of giving His son. Don't sweep it under the rug. Yes, little "white lies" are very important. Christ went to the cross for that little lie. Don't make sin less then it is. Hell burns for sinners. Hell burned for you, but Christ chose to save you by His grace. 


Now, to those that are so eager to abolish the Law so that we no longer have to keep it or so that we don't have to be worried about keeping it, I ask you one simple question: why are you so eager to get rid of God's Law? Why are you so desirous to abolish God's Word? Why don't you want to keep God's law? It seems that you want to have God be God to you, but you don't want Him to demand too much of you.  Do you actually think God would get rid of His law? If you have a child and you love Him a lot, are you going to take away all rules out of His life? Are you going to say, "You know, you don't have to obey my words." That is not love. That is not grace. God wants our life, "taking into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." 


So, what does love cost? It cost the Blood of Jesus Christ. 


What is love? God is love. God's name of love has never been done away with. When he was commanding the murder of men, women, and children in the Old Testament, he was just as much love as he is in the New Testament. There is only one God. Don't be deceived. By love, we think of tolerance. We think of letting people do whatever they want. Our favorite phrase is: "Whatever floats your boat." Excuse me!!! That is strictly against the Scriptures. The Lord gave us a standard by which we must live. God gave us a Letter of Love to direct us how to know Him and enjoy Him. Love is not letting people continue in sin. Love died to take you out of sin. Now, he writes His Law on our hearts. What law? "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and your neighbor as yourself." [Deuteronomy 6:5] How? Keep His commandment. "If you love me, you will keep my commandment." [John 14:15]


Brethren, I wrote this in love. I am deeply concerned that we trample under foot the blood of Jesus Christ by our misunderstanding of love. If you doubt what I am saying, read the Bible. It says the same thing. "Love never fails." So, let us stop failing to keep God's Law. Jesus Christ, Love, delighted to do the will of His Father. He delighted to obey God's commands, and the man that was after God's own heart, said: "His delight is in the Law of the Lord." Psalm 1 


Friends, love one another. Encourage each other in good deeds. Strengthen one another in the keeping of God's law, and rely upon God's strength, which we have through Jesus Christ.


The Lord be with you.

Soli Deo Gloria

I would like to clarify why I wrote this post. I am deeply concerned; however, this post came completely out of my own meditation. I was driving home and I was meditating on the Love of God. My thought is, if we meditate on the Love of God, we will become more loving. 

A Hallmark of Courage

Dearly Beloved, please bare with me as I tell you a story of courage...


Today, I and many others were given an incredible example of courage. There was no knight in shining armor, no soldier with the medal of honor around his neck, no earthly foe that had been vanquished. There weren't thousands of people waiting to welcome home a hero. The President was not waiting to congratulate a veteran. No, the courage I have seen today is altogether different. No earthly battle had been fought, no earthly victory had been won. Rather, it was a spiritual battle that was fought, and it was an eternal victory that was won.


Now, whereas there was no multitude of people, no welcoming parade, there was an innumerable number of angels welcoming home a conquering warrior. There was a tender father ushering His servant into His rest. 


Today, a young man scarcely thirteen years of age, went home to be with the Lord. Over the past year, I have witnessed this young man look at death in the face and stand immovable. He could boldly look at death and proclaim, "Oh death where is your sting; oh grave, where is your victory." He could lift his eyes to Heaven and utter, "I know that if this earthly tabernacle be destroyed, I have a building not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens." He could proudly proclaim, "I know in whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day." This young man met death, he crossed the Jordan, he took His final journey and now He sits whole in the presence of the Lord. This is courage.


This young man died of a very progressive form of brain cancer. At the time of diagnosis, he was given six months to live. However, He lived approximately four months beyond the deadline. He brought cheer and happiness to all who knew him. And whereas he lost most bodily function before death due to the cancer, this young man is now whole, complete, and perfect in the presence of his Lord.


Take heed, brethren. Take heed. We all fade as the grass. It is appointed for everyone to die. We have been given an example of courage today. Let this serve as a wake up call to redeem the time we have been given.


Furthermore, I want to ask you: Are you living life for God or for you? Will you hear the words: "Well done good and faithful servant?" Are you living courageously? Are you fighting the fight? Brethren, "Lay aside the sin that doth so easily besets you and run with patience the race that is set before you."


This young man, fought and won. He ran and finished his course. He courageously met death. He followed after the Lord Jesus Christ that conquered death for us. Take heart. Take heart! He has now joined the cloud of witnesses pointing you to Heaven. Run the race.

Michael Moede 

Passed Away at thirteen years of age,

 January 26, 

In the year of our Lord,

2012

What is courage my dear lad

But having the strength to stand

What is courage but to have 

An unwavering hand.

Courage proudly looks at death

And does not affright

Courage gladly gives up breath

And does not take flight.

Soli Deo Gloria

A Good Name

"A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold." [Proverbs 22:1]


This verse is very convicting. 


First, gold and silver, great riches are very easy to gain in comparison with a good name. Once a good name is lost, it is extremely hard to regain it. Whereas, if you lose your possessions, your riches, you can gain them again by hard work and ingenuity. This is not true of a good name. It is extremely hard to regain trust among your brethren. Therefore, a good name is better than great riches. 


Second, this passage has a double meaning for me. The one above is excellent; however, I apply it to my relationship with God. By professing the name of Jesus Christ, we attribute what we say, what we do, what we think, to our Lord. It is as if we are saying, "What I just said, what I just did, what I just thought, all of it, is what Christ would have said, thought, and done." That is very scary. We are representing the name of Jesus Christ. 


I feel that so often I dishonor God's good name with my much speaking, with my great pride, with my heart of idolatry. I continually attribute my life of sin to the God of glory by professing His name. I tarnish God's reputation among the heathen that know not God by my great wickedness. I give great occasion for the Lord's name to be trampled under foot by Satan and all his children. 


We need to beware. We will some day give an account for every idle word that proceedeth out of our mouths. We often speak out of what fills our heart. In the gospel of Mark, it says, "Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts." "Watch over your heart with all diligence for out of it flow the issues of life." We need to guard our lips, our heart, our mind. Proverbs, in another place, tells us to put a knife to our throat when we stand before a king. Beloved, we are standing before the awesome presence of our Lord continually. He is everywhere present. Read Psalm 139. 


So, beloved, we need to guard with all diligence our heart so our Lord's name is not dishonored. We need to be jealous for our Lord's name. Let us resolve together to honor God's name in thought, word, and deed. Let us resolve to live Coram Deo, before the face of God. Let us resolve to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. 


Let us implore the Lord's help and protect the good name of the Lord that we profess. 


The Lord be with all of you.

Soli Deo Gloria

The Lord Is Our Sustainer

Brethren, we can take heart. Our God is mighty to save. He is strong and mighty and will hold us up. Praise the Lord. 


When we are sad and downcast, God will pick us up. When we are lonely and separated from friends and family, God is there as a friend to comfort us. In the thickest battles, the hardest trials, God is there. The Lord is our sustainer. If the burden is too heavy to bare, Christ says, "Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest." [Matthew 11:28]


The Lord is our shepherd to lead, our strength to defend, our friend to aid. He continually watches over us and guides us. Though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we can fear no evil, for God is with us. His rod and staff, they comfort us. [Psalm 23]


The Lord gives kingdoms for us. "For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee."[Isaiah 43:3] He moves Heaven and earth for His people. He ever liveth to make intercession for us. [Hebrews 7:25] The Lord is our sustainer. In Him do we live, move, and have our being. [Acts 17:28]


The Lord declares His love for us:


Jeremiah 31:3
"The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."


The Lord declares His care for us:


Isaiah 41:10

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." 

Psalm 91:4

"He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust; his truth shall be thy shield and buckler."

The Lord declares His protection for us:

Proverbs 18:10

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it and is safe."

Psalm 32:7

"Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance."

Psalm 91:11

"For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways."

The Lord declares His sympathy for us:

Hebrews 4:15

"For we have not an high priest than cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet with out sin."

The Lord gives us life:

Isaiah 53:4-5

"Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed."

John 10:28

"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."

The Lord declares that He will bring back His wayward sheep:

Luke 15:4

"What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?"

THE LORD IS OUR SUSTAINER:

Isaiah 49:15

"Can a women forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me."

The Lord is indeed our sustainer. The whole of Scripture is God's letter of love to His people. Everything that happens, everything that takes place on this earth is for the strengthening of God's people and to bring God glory. Deuteronomy 13:3 : "For the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul."

Stand fast brethren. Seek the Lord. Follow after God. If you see friends and family forsake you, be of good cheer, God is with you. If grievous trials vex your soul, God will not give you more that you can bare. He is there and will lift you up. Take heart, dearly beloved. Take heart. God will never leave you nor forsake you. Praise the Lord. 

Soli Deo Gloria

Encouragement From The Word of God

When I was very young, I had many fears and troubles. Everything scared me. However, by the grace of God, during one of my daily devotions, I came upon the following verse. When I am troubled, frightened, or down, I quote it. God used His Word in my life. I hope and pray that he will use it in yours...


"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Isaiah 41:10

Soli Deo Gloria

Oh my Lord, You Search and You Know Me

This is the lyrics to one of my favorite songs. It is extremely encouraging and comforting. Our High Priest, our infinite God is everywhere, watching over us. He know our ways and he directs them. If we feel alone, our God is with us. If we run from our God, he is the Great Shepherd that leaves the other sheep and finds us. Though we may feel alone, though the world is against us, though we may be in some remote place, God is there. God directs, God beholds, God guards His people. So, take heart dear brother and sister. Take heart, your God is there to hold you up. 

Oh my Lord, You search and You know me

You know when I sit, You know when I rise 

You know what I think, You know where I'm going

Nothing oh Lord, can hide from your eyes

You close me in, behind and before me

You shield me with Your mighty hand 

Such knowledge is to wonderful for me 

Too much for me to understand

Where can I go to flee from Your Spirit?

And from Your presence where can I hide?

Behold up in heaven You're there beside me

In the depths of the darkness You're by my side

And if I rise on the wings of the morning

Or settle on the far side of the sea

Even there Your hand will guide me

For Your right hand is holding me

And if I say the darkness will hide me

The night will shine is bright as day

So search me Lord and lovingly lead me 

In you everlasting Way

Soli Deo Gloria