tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19536824818023214472024-03-13T23:20:03.959-07:00Faithful Men Of GodA blog where excellent, Biblical articles from the King James Bible can be found, written by sound men of the faith. 2 Timothy 2:2Jerry Boueyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11939572388745111915noreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953682481802321447.post-54476909315981206212024-03-13T16:35:00.000-07:002024-03-13T16:38:30.771-07:00Under His Shadow<div style="text-align: center;"><script src="https://av1611.com/verseclick/verseclick.js" type="text/javascript"></script><div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong style="text-align: -webkit-center;">Till He Come<br />Communion Meditations And Addresses<br />By C. H. Spurgeon</strong><br style="text-align: -webkit-center;" /><em style="text-align: -webkit-center;">(Not published in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit.)</em><br style="text-align: -webkit-center;" /><span style="text-align: -webkit-center;">First Published 1896.</span><br style="text-align: -webkit-center;" /><br style="text-align: -webkit-center;" /><strong style="text-align: -webkit-center;">Chapter 2.<br />Under His Shadow.</strong><br style="text-align: -webkit-center;" /><br style="text-align: -webkit-center;" /><i>A BRIEF SACRAMENTAL DISCOURSE DELIVERED AT MENTONE</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>TO ABOUT A SCORE BRETHREN.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”</i> Psalm 91:1.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I MUST confess of my short discourse, as the man did of the axe which fell into the stream, that it is borrowed. The outline of it is taken from one who will never complain of me, for to the great loss of the Church she has left these lower choirs to sing above. Miss Havergal, last and loveliest of our modern poets, when her tones were most mellow, and her language most sublime, has been caught up to swell the music of heaven. Her last poems are published with the title, “Under His Shadow,” and the preface gives the reason for the name. She said, “I should like the title to be, ‘Under His Shadow.’ I seem to see four pictures suggested by that: under the shadow of a rock, in a weary plain; under the shadow of a tree; closer still, under the shadow of His wing; nearest and closest, in the shadow of His hand. Surely that hand must be the pierced hand, that may oftentimes press us sorely, and yet evermore encircling, upholding, and shadowing.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Under His Shadow,” is our afternoon subject, and we will in a few words enlarge on the Scriptural plan which Miss Havergal has bequeathed to us. Our text is, <i>“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide <b>under the shadow</b> of the Almighty.”</i> The shadow of God is not the occasional resort, but the constant abiding-place, of the saint. Here we find not only our consolation, but our habitation. We ought never to be out of the shadow of God. It is to dwellers, not to visitors, that the Lord promises His protection. <i>“He that <b>dwelleth </b>in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty:”</i> and that shadow shall preserve him from nightly terror and ghostly ill, from the arrows of war and of pestilence, from death and from destruction. Guarded by Omnipotence, the chosen of the Lord are always safe; for as they dwell in the holy place, hard by the mercy-seat, where the blood was sprinkled of old, the pillar of fire by night, the pillar of cloud by day, which ever hangs over the sanctuary, covers them also. Is it not written, <i>“In the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion, in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me”</i>? What better security can we desire? As the people of God, we are always under the protection of the Most High. Wherever we go, whatever we suffer, whatever may be our difficulties, temptations, trials, or perplexities, we are always <i>“under the shadow of the Almighty.”</i> Over all who maintain their fellowship with God the most tender guardian care is extended. Their heavenly Father Himself interposes between them and their adversaries. The experience of the saints, albeit they are all under the shadow, yet differs as to the form in which that protection has been enjoyed by them, hence the value of the four figures which will now engage our attention.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I. We will begin with the first picture which Miss Havergal mentions, namely, the rock sheltering the weary traveller:</b> <i>“The shadow of a great rock in a weary land”</i> (Isaiah 32:2).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now, I take it that this is where we begin to know our Lord’s shadow. He was at the first to us <i>a refuge in time of trouble</i>. Weary was the way, and great was the heat; our lips were parched, and our souls were fainting; we sought for shelter, and we found none; for we were in the wilderness of sin and condemnation, and who could bring us deliverance, or even hope? Then we cried unto the Lord in our trouble, and He led us to the Rock of ages, which of old was cleft for us. We saw our interposing Mediator coming between us and the fierce heat of justice, and we hailed the blessed screen. The Lord Jesus was unto us a covering for sin, and so a covert from wrath. The sense of divine displeasure, which had beaten upon our conscience, was removed by the removal of the sin itself, which we saw to be laid on Jesus, who in our place and stead endured its penalty.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The shadow of a rock is remarkably cooling, and so was the Lord Jesus eminently comforting to us. The shadow of a rock is more dense, more complete, and more cool than any other shade; and so the peace which Jesus gives passeth all understanding, there is none like it. No chance beam darts through the rock-shade, nor can the heat penetrate as it will do in a measure through the foliage of a forest. Jesus is a complete shelter, and blessed are they who are <i>“under His shadow.”</i> Let them take care that they abide there, and never venture forth to answer for themselves, or to brave the accusations of Satan.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As with sin, so with sorrow of every sort: the Lord is the Rock of our refuge. No sun shall smite us, nor, any heat, because we are never out of Christ. The saints know where to fly, and they use their privilege.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">“When troubles, like a burning sun,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Beat heavy on their head,</div><div style="text-align: center;">To Christ their mighty Rock they run,</div><div style="text-align: center;">And find a pleasing shade.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There is, however, something of awe about this great shadow. A rock is often so high as to be terrible, and we tremble in presence of its greatness. The idea of littleness hiding behind massive greatness is well set forth; but there is no tender thought of fellowship, or gentleness: even so, at the first, we view the Lord Jesus as our shelter from the consuming heat of well-deserved punishment, and we know little more. It is most pleasant to remember that this is only one panel of the four-fold picture. Inexpressibly dear to my soul is the deep cool rock-shade of my blessed Lord, as I stand in Him a sinner saved; yet is there more.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>II. Our second picture, that of the tree, is to be found in the Song of Solomon 2:3:</b> <i>“As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my Beloved among the sons. I sat down under His shadow with great delight, and His fruit was sweet to my taste.”</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here we have not so much refuge from trouble as special <i>rest in times of joy</i>. The spouse is happily wandering through a wood, glancing at many trees, and rejoicing in the music of the birds. One tree specially charms her: the citron with its golden fruit wins her admiration, and she sits under its shadow with great delight; such was her Beloved to her, the best among the good, the fairest of the fair, the joy of her joy, the light of her delight. Such is Jesus to the believing soul.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The sweet influences of Christ are intended to give us a happy rest, and we ought to avail ourselves of them; <i>“I sat down under His shadow.”</i> This was Mary’s better part, which Martha well-nigh missed by being cumbered. That is the good old way wherein we are to walk, the way in which we find rest unto our souls. Papists and papistical persons, whose religion is all ceremonies, or all working, or all groaning, or all feeling, have never come to an end. We may say of their religion as of the law, that it made nothing perfect; but under the gospel there is something finished, and that something is the sum and substance of our salvation, and therefore there is rest for us, and we ought to sing, <i>“I sat down.”</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Dear friends, is Christ to each one of us a place of sitting down? I do not mean a rest of idleness and self-content, - God deliver us from that; but there is rest in a conscious grasp of Christ, a rest of contentment with Him as our all in all. God give us to know more of this! This shadow is also meant to yield perpetual solace, for the spouse did not merely come under it, but there she sat down as one who meant to stay. Continuance of repose and joy is purchased for us by our Lord’s perfected work. Under the shadow she found food; she had no need to leave it to find a single needful thing, for the tree which shaded also yielded fruit; nor did she need even to rise from her rest, but sitting still she feasted on the delicious fruit. You who know the Lord Jesus know also what this meaneth.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The spouse never wished to go beyond her Lord. She knew no higher life than that of sitting under the Well-beloved’s shadow. She passed the cedar, and oak, and every other goodly tree, but the apple-tree held her, and there she sat down. “Many there be that say, who will show us any good? But as for us, O Lord, our heart is fixed, our heart is fixed, resting on Thee. We will go no further, for Thou art our dwelling-place, we feel at home with Thee, and sit down beneath Thy shadow.” Some Christians cultivate reverence at the expense of childlike love; they kneel down, but they dare not sit down. Our Divine Friend and Lover wills not that it should be so; He would not have us stand on ceremony with Him, but come boldly unto Him.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">“Let us be simple with Him, then,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Not backward, stiff or cold,</div><div style="text-align: center;">As though our Bethlehem could be</div><div style="text-align: center;">What Sinai was of old.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Let us use His sacred name as a common word, as a household word, and run to Him as to a dear familiar friend. Under His shadow we are to feel that we are at home, and then He will make Himself at home to us by becoming food unto our souls, and giving spiritual refreshment to us while we rest. The spouse does not here say that she reached up to the tree to gather its fruit, but she sat down on the ground in intense delight, and the fruit came to her where she sat. It is wonderful how Christ will come down to souls that sit beneath His shadow; if we can but be at home with Christ, He will sweetly commune with us. Has He not said,<i> “Delight thyself also in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart”?</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In this second form of the sacred shadow, the sense of awe gives place to that of restful delight in Christ. Have you ever figured in such a scene as the sitter beneath the grateful shade of the fruitful tree? Have you not only possessed security, but experienced delight in Christ? Have you sung,</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">“I sat down under His shadow,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sat down with great delight;</div><div style="text-align: center;">His fruit was sweet unto my taste,</div><div style="text-align: center;">And pleasant to my sight”?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is as necessary an experience as it is joyful: necessary for many uses. The joy of the Lord is our strength, and it is when we delight ourselves in the Lord that we have assurance of power in prayer. Here faith develops, and hope grows bright, while love sheds abroad all the fragrance of her sweet spices. Oh! get you to the apple-tree, and find out who is the fairest among the fair. Make the Light of heaven the delight of your heart, and then be filled with heart’s-ease, and revel in complete content.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>III. The third view of the one subject is, - the shadow of his wings, - a precious word.</b> I think the best specimen of it, for it occurs several times, is in that blessed Psalm, the sixty-third, verse seven: <i>“Because Thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice.”</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Does not this set forth our Lord as <i>our trust in hours of depression</i>? In the Psalm now open before us, David was banished from the means of grace to a dry and thirsty land, where no water was. What is much worse, he was in a measure away from all conscious enjoyment of God. He says, <i>“Early will I seek Thee. My soul thirsteth for Thee.”</i> He sings rather of memories than of present communion with God. We also have come into this condition, and have been unable to find any present comfort. <i>“Thou hast been my help,”</i> has been the highest note we could strike, and we have been glad to reach to that. At such times, the light of God’s face has been withdrawn, but our faith has taught us to rejoice under the shadow of His wings. Light there was none; we were altogether in the shade, but it was a warm shade. We felt that God who had been near must be near us still, and therefore we were quieted. Our God cannot change, and therefore as He was our help He must still be our help, our help even though He casts a shadow over us, for it must be the shadow of His own eternal wings. The metaphor is, of course, derived from the nestling of little birds under the shadow of their mother’s wings, and the picture is singularly touching and comforting. The little bird is not yet able to take care of itself, so it cowers down under the mother, and is there happy and safe. Disturb a hen for a moment, and you will see all the little chickens huddling together, and by their chirps making a kind of song. Then they push their heads into her feathers, and seem happy beyond measure in their warm abode. When we are very sick and sore depressed, when we are worried with the care of pining children, and the troubles of a needy household, and the temptations of Satan, how comforting it is to run to our God, - like the little chicks run to the hen, - and hide away near His heart, beneath His Wings. Oh, tried ones, press closely to the loving heart of your Lord, hide yourselves entirely beneath His wings! Here awe has disappeared, and rest itself is enhanced by the idea of loving trust. The little birds are safe in their mother’s love, and we, too, are beyond measure secure and happy in the loving favour of the Lord.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>IV. The last form of the shadow is that of the hand, and this, it seems to me, points to power and position in service</b>. Turn to Isaiah 49:2: <i>“And He hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of His hand hath He hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in His quiver hath He hid me.”</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This undoubtedly refers to the Saviour, for the passage proceeds: - <i>“And said unto Me, Thou art My servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified. Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent My strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely My judgment is with the Lord, and My work with My God. And now, saith the Lord that formed Me from the womb to be His servant, to bring Jacob again to Him, though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and My God shall be My strength. And He said, It is a light thing that Thou shouldest be My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give Thee for a light to the Gentiles, that Thou mayest be My salvation unto the end of the earth.”</i> Our Lord Jesus Christ was hidden away in the hand of Jehovah, to be used by Him as a polished shaft for the overthrow of His enemies, and the victory of His people. Yet, inasmuch as it is Christ, it is also all Christ’s servants, since as He is so are we also in this world; and to make quite sure of it, we have the same expression in the sixteenth verse of the fifty-first chapter, where, speaking of His people, He says, <i>“I have covered thee in the shadow of Mine hand.”</i> Is not this an excellent minister’s text? Every one of you who will speak a word for Jesus shall have a share in it. This is where those who are workers for Christ should long to be, - “in the shadow of His hand,” to achieve His eternal purpose. What are any of God’s servants without their Lord but weapons out of the warrior’s hand, having no power to do anything? We ought to be as the arrows of the Lord which He shoots at His enemies; and so great is His hand of power, and so little are we as His instruments, that He hides us away in the hollow of His hand, unseen until He darts us forth. As workers, we are to be hidden away in the hand of God, or to quote the other figure, <i>“in His quiver hath He hid me:”</i> we are to be unseen till He uses us. It is impossible for us not to be known somewhat if the Lord uses us, but we may not aim at being noticed, but, on the contrary, if we be as much used as the very chief of the apostles, we must truthfully add, “though I be nothing.” Our desire should be that Christ should be glorified, and that self should be concealed. Alas! there is a way of always showing self in what we do, and we are all too ready to fall into it. You can visit the poor in such a way that they will feel that his lordship or her ladyship has condescended to call upon poor Betsy; but there is another way of doing the same thing so that the tried child of God shall know that a brother beloved or a dear sister in Christ has shown a fellow-feeling for her, and has talked to her heart. There is a way of preaching, in which a great divine has evidently displayed his vast learning and talent; and there is another way of preaching, in which a faithful servant of Jesus Christ, depending upon his Lord, has spoken in his Master’s name, and left a rich unction behind. Within the hand of God is the place of acceptance, and safety; and for service it is the place of power, as well as of concealment. God only works with those who are in His hand; and the more we lie hidden there, the more surely will He use us ere long. May the Lord do unto us according to His word, “I have put My words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of My hand.” In this case we shall feel all the former emotions combined: awe that the Lord should condescend to take us into His hand, rest and delight that He should deign to use us, trust that out of weakness we shall now be made strong, and to this will be added an absolute assurance that the end of our being must be answered, for that which is urged onward by the Almighty hand cannot miss its mark.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">These are mere surface thoughts. The subject deserves a series of discourses. Your best course, my beloved friends, will be to enlarge upon these hints by a long personal experience of abiding under the shadow of the Almighty. May God the Holy Ghost lead you into it, and keep you there, for Jesus’ sake!</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div align="center">For more chapters of this wonderful book:</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Chapter Three - Under The Apple Tree</div><div align="center"><b><br /><a href="http://faithfulmenofgod.blogspot.com/2007/12/till-he-come.html" target="_blank">Till He Come - by Charles Spurgeon</a></b></div></div></div>Jerry Boueyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11939572388745111915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953682481802321447.post-13796122684235846432023-11-21T12:35:00.000-08:002023-11-21T12:35:31.922-08:00A Freed Servant Choosing To Remain With His Master - McGee<p style="text-align: justify;">The following is from two different passages in J. Vernon McGee's <i>Thru The Bible Commentary</i>, and portrays how the laws concerning a freed servant choosing to stay with his master out of love and devotion for him and for his bride is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ choosing to go to the cross for us, out of love to us, His bride.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>A Freed Servant Choosing To Remain With His Master - by J. Vernon McGee</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Law Concerning Master and Servant Relationships (Exodus 21:1-6)</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">In Exodus 21 we come to social legislation. This part of the Law is an important issue at this time because the Israelites had been slaves in Egypt.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them.</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing</i> [Exod. 21:1–2].</p><p style="text-align: justify;">These two verses clearly state that the Israelites could never permanently make one of their own brethren a slave.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him.</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master’s, and he shall go out by himself.</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him for ever</i> [Exod. 21:3–6].</p><p style="text-align: justify;">This remarkable law states that if a man is a slave, after seven years he can go free. If he was married when he became a slave, he can take his wife with him. If he married while a slave, that is, if he married a woman who was already a slave of his master, at the end of seven years he could go free, but his wife would still belong to the master. He would be free but his wife would not. He could, however, if he loved his wife and master, decide to stay of his own free will. If he decides to stay, his master is to bore his ear lobe through with an awl signifying that he will serve his master forever.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">This is a beautiful picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. He came to this earth and took upon Himself our humanity. And we were all slaves of sin. He could have gone out free. He could have returned to heaven, to His position in the Godhead, without going through the doorway of death. He did not have to die upon the cross. But He willingly came down to earth and took upon Himself our humanity. <i>“And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross”</i> (Phil. 2:8).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Psalm 40:6–8 goes on to say, <i>“Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.”</i> This passage refers to Christ, because Hebrews 10:5–9 tells us that it does. It was fulfilled when our Lord came to this earth. <i>“Wherefore when he cometh into the world</i> [speaking of Christ], <i>he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me</i> [it was not only his ear that was “digged,” or bored through with an awl, but God gave Him a body which He will have throughout eternity]: <i>in burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.”</i> Christ was <i>“made like unto His brethren.”</i> He chose not to go out free without us. He could have left this earth without dying, but He said, “I love My Bride. I love the sinner.” So He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross so that He could redeem us from the slavery of sin. What a picture this is of Christ — placed right here after the giving of the Ten Commandments.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Theme: A Messianic Psalm Predicting The Crucifixion Of Christ (Psalm 40:6-9)</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Now the following is quoted in the Epistle to the Hebrews:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest</i> [Ps. 40:6–9].</p><p style="text-align: justify;">This is a marvelous psalm that follows the preceding one which reveals the frailty of man.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>“Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened.”</i> Now notice how this is quoted in Hebrew. 10:5, <i>“Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me.”</i> Now, wait a minute. Is this misquoted? Critics of the Bible say, “Oh, here is an error, a contradiction in the Bible. In Psalm 40:6 it says, <i>‘… mine ears hast thou opened …’</i>; and in Hebrews it says, <i>‘… a body hast thou prepared me.’</i> ”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The Holy Spirit is the author of the Bible. He wrote the Old Testament and the New Testament. He wrote both Psalms and Hebrews, and He has a perfect right to change His own writing. When He does, there is always a good reason.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Now let’s consider the background. In Exodus 21 there is a law concerning servants and masters. If a man became a slave to another man, at the end of a certain period of time he could go free. Suppose during that period he met another slave, a woman, they fell in love and married and had children. When it was time for the man to go free, he could leave, but his wife and children could not go with him because she was a slave. What could this man do? He could decide that because he loved his master and his wife he would not leave. <i>“Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him for ever”</i> (Exod. 21:6).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The psalmist is referring to this custom when he says, <i>“mine ears hast thou opened.”</i> When the Lord Jesus came to this earth, did He have His ear thrust through with an awl? No, He was given a body. He took upon Himself our humanity. He identified Himself with us and He became a servant. And He became a sacrifice. <i>“Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire”</i> — God did not delight in all the animal offerings in the Old Testament, but they pointed to the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Now notice what Isaiah says on this subject. <i>“The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back”</i> (Isa. 50:5). This verse is prophesying the humiliation of the Servant (Christ) who would come to earth. When the Lord Jesus came down to this earth and went to the cross, His ear wasn’t <i>“opened”</i> or “digged”; He was given a body, and that body was <i>nailed </i>to a cross. My friend, He has taken a glorified body with nail prints in it back to heaven, and He will bear those nail prints and scars throughout eternity that you and I might be presented without spot or blemish before Him. You see, He did more than have His ear bored through with an awl; He gave His body to be crucified because He loved us and would not return to heaven without us.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">My friend, this is a marvelous messianic psalm that reveals the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ because He loved us.</p>Jerry Boueyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11939572388745111915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953682481802321447.post-69967865613216823382023-11-14T14:42:00.000-08:002023-11-14T14:50:05.765-08:00In The Interpreter's House<p style="text-align: center;"><script src="https://av1611.com/verseclick/verseclick.js" type="text/javascript"></script><strong><span style="font-size: 20.8px;">A Dreamer And His Wonderful Dream<br /><br /><em>The Story of John Bunyan and The Pilgrim's Progress</em></span><br /><br />by Alfred P. Gibbs<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 20.8px;">Chapter Five - In The Interpreter's House</span></strong><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;">After Graceless had recounted his experiences to Goodwill, he was taken a little way along the road in order that the true path might be pointed out to him. When they came to a certain place Goodwill said, "Look before you. Do you see this narrow way? This is the way you must go. It was builded by the patriarchs, prophets, Christ and His apostles, and it is as straight as a rule can make it." Graceless replied, "Are there no turnings, no windings, by which a stranger may lose his way?" To this Goodwill answered, "Yes, there are many ways that butt down upon it, but they are crooked and wide, whereas the true path may always be distinguished by the fact that it is straight and narrow." Then Graceless inquired whether Goodwill would help him off with his burden but Goodwill told him that he must be content to bear it until he should come to a place where it would fall off without any effort on his part. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">As Graceless prepared to continue his journey, Goodwill further informed him that a short distance along the road he would come to a house owned by a person called the Interpreter. He was to knock at the door and tell him who had sent him. He would then be admitted, and shown many excellent things that would teach him things which would stand him in good stead for the remainder of his journey. Thus advised, Graceless made his way along the straight and narrow path, until he came in sight of the Interpreter's house at which he knocked. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>WHO IS THE INTERPRETER? </b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Soon someone came to the door and inquired who was there. Graceless replied as Goodwill had directed him and asked for the Master of the house. When at length the Interpreter came, Graceless was welcomed with these words, "Come in; I will show thee that which will be profitable to thee." It may be well before entering with Graceless into the Interpreter's house to explain of whom his is a picture. The Interpreter is a picture of the Holy Spirit, the third Person in the Godhead, whose sole work and delight it is to reveal Christ to the pilgrim. The Lord Jesus, just before He ascended to the right hand of the Father, said to His disciples, "<b>It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment... He shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you"</b> (John 16:7-14). Ten days after the ascension of Christ this promise was fulfilled, and on the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit came down, and from that time has been in this world to do what Christ said He would do. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The Holy Spirit's first work with the unsaved sinner is to convince him of his sins, and of his helpless and hopeless state in that condition. He it is that causes the sinner to realize his fearful burden of sin and guilt. If any of my readers are beginning to see their real deep need of the Saviour, it is because the Spirit of God is using the Word of God to produce this conviction of sin. Next, He presents through the Scripture, God's way of salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus and His work of reconciliation. He opens the eyes of the soul to see that, "all that was needed to do and to pay, Jesus has done in His own blessed way;" when the sinner realizes the glorious truth that all his sins were laid by God on Jesus when He hung on Calvary's tree, and that Christ's death has eternally satisfied God on account of his sins; when, as a lost sinner, he receives the Lord Jesus as his own Saviour; that very moment the Holy Spirit enters into him, indwells him, and seals him as God's own child (Ephesians 1:13-14). This is the new birth. This is what is involved in becoming a new creature in Christ Jesus: <b>"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new"</b> (2 Corinthians 5:17). Thus the believer is said to be the temple of God because the Spirit of God dwells in him (1 Corinthians 3:16). It has been well put in this way: </p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;">"Soon as my all I ventured on the atoning blood,</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Holy Spirit entered and I was born of God."</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The Holy Spirit's work with the believer is to take the Word of God, and through it, lead the child of God into all truth, and especially to glorify the Lord Jesus in all things. How much the Christian needs His divine guidance, His leading and controlling hand! As one has beautifully expressed it, </p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;">"Every virtue we possess, and every conquest won;</div><div style="text-align: center;">And every thought of holiness are His alone."</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The Holy Spirit, though unseen to our eyes, is nevertheless just as much a Person as is the Lord Jesus. He is not a mere influence, but a distinct Person who can be grieved, quenched, and resisted (Ephesians 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; Acts 7:51). Let us see to it that we do not reject or resist His strivings. May it be ours, as we go through the Interpreter's house, to pay good heed to all we see and hear, and take good care that we neither resist nor quench the Holy Spirit as He seeks to impress our hearts with the lessons He would have us learn! </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>A CANDLE LIT</b> </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The first act of the Interpreter after Graceless had entered, was to have a candle lighted, and then He asked Graceless to follow Him. "<b>Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path"</b> (Psalm 119:105). It is very important to remember that the Spirit of God only interprets to the child of God what He has already caused to be inspired in the Word of God. These are the days of new religions and false cults, all claiming to be revelations from God by the Spirit. How are we to test them? By the light of the inspired Scriptures. The Bible is the complete revelation from God. Nothing can be added to it or taken away from it, and God Himself declares: <b>"To the law and the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them"</b> (Isaiah 8:20). </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>THE PORTRAIT OF A TRUE BELIEVER</b> </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The first scene to which Graceless was conducted was the framed picture of a man with a grave countenance. His eyes were lifted up to heaven; the best of books was in his hand; the word of truth was written upon his lips; the world was behind his back; he stood as though he pleaded with men, and a crown of gold was over his head. When Graceless inquired what this picture represented, the Interpreter told him that it was a description of a real Christian who could be recognized by the characteristics seen in this picture. What a searching lesson is this for all who profess to be believers on the Lord Jesus! It is one thing to profess to be a Christian, but another thing to prove by the life lived, the reality of having been regenerated by the Spirit of God. Christ said: <b>"By their fruits ye shall know them,"</b> and this applies to Christians as to everyone else. Let us look at the picture a little closer, and test ourselves by it and see whether we are real, or merely imitation Christians. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">You will notice that this man's face was turned heavenward. This teaches us that a true believer in the Lord Jesus will be a heavenly minded person, because he has been born from above (John 3:3), and is going to dwell eternally above. In the meantime, while living in this world, his citizenship, and all he holds dear, is in heaven. Thus the Christian is more interested in heavenly things than in earthly things: <b>"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself"</b> (Philippians 3:20-21), and, <b>"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth"</b> (Colossians 3:1-2). </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Next notice that the best of books, the Bible, was in his hand. The true child of God will love, revere and study the Word of God and will say like David,<b> "The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver"</b> (Psalm 119:72). And again, <b>"Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee"</b> (Psalm 119:11). And once more, <b>"O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day"</b> (Psalm 119:97). We next see that the law of truth was upon his lips, thus indicating that not only did he study God's Word, but that he also sought to tell it to others. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The world was behind his back. The Christian should be recognized by the fact that though he is in this world, he is not of it; and that he is obedient to the Word which says, <b>"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father but of the world"</b> (1 John 2:15-16). He should be able to say like Paul, <b>"God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world"</b> (Galatians 6:14). The Christian thus turns his back upon all the vanities of the world and its lusts. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Next, see what he is doing. He is pleading with men. The really born again person counts it the greatest privilege of his life to present the Person and work of Christ to others. He gladly confesses Christ as his Lord and loves to show forth to sinners far and near the praises and virtues of Him who has brought him out of darkness into His marvelous light. In other words, he obeys the command of his Saviour who said, <b>"Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature"</b> (Mark 16:15). </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Last, but by no means least, the crown of gold over his head signifies that the fearful Christian is looking forward to the glad day, when, at the coming of his Lord and Saviour, he <b>shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away</b>. It will be ample compensation for all the trials and difficulties of life's path to hear Christ's <b>"Well done thou good and faithful servant! ...Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord!"</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>DOES THIS PORTRAIT MIRROR YOUR LIFE?</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Would it not be well for each professing Christian to examine himself in the light of this picture, and ask himself the questions, "Am I really what I profess to be? Do unsaved people see by my life that I am a citizen of heaven? Do I really love His Word? Is His Word of truth upon my lips? Have I turned my back upon the world that crucified and rejected my Redeemer, or am I so mixed up with its pleasures and vanities that no one sees any difference in me? Do I desire and love to speak to others of the Saviour, and seek to lead them to Him? Am I looking forward to the coming of the Lord, when at His judgment seat, all my life with its motives and works shall be revealed and rewarded; or shall I be ashamed at His coming?"</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The world has no time for half and half Christians, but it does respect the one who backs up by a godly consistent life what he professes by his lips to be. Make sure that you are really a Christian, and then seek to live for Him so that the world will see Jesus in you. Someone has put it thus: </p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;">"You are living a Gospel, a chapter each day; </div><div style="text-align: center;">By the deeds that you do, by the words that you say. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Men read what you are, whether faithless or true. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Say -- what is the Gospel according to -- you?"</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>THE ROOM FULL OF DUST</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The Interpreter next took Graceless by the hand and led him into a large room that was full of dust, for it had never been swept from the day it was built. After they had looked at it awhile, the Interpreter called to a man to come and sweep it clean, so the man began to sweep violently; but all his sweeping did was to cause the dust that was lying thick on the floor to rise in clouds and fill the room, caused Graceless to be almost choked by it. When Graceless had witnessed the uselessness of such means to clean the room, the Interpreter asked a maid that stood by to sprinkle water on the dust; which, when she had so done, the room was then cleaned with pleasure. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Graceless asked the Interpreter what was the meaning of all this. He was told that the room was an illustration of the heart of man by nature. The dirt, dust and filth was a picture of the sins that had defiled the whole of man with its corruption. The person with the broom was an illustration of the vain attempt to cleanse the heart by the deeds of the law; but the maid with the water was a symbol of the Gospel with its sweet and precious influences, which, when received into the heart by faith, caused the defilement to be put away, and the heart to become a habitation for the King of Glory. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>LAW VERSUS GRACE</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">How briefly and well has John Bunyan illustrated this great truth of the difference between law and grace. The Law, which utterly condemns the best; and Grace, which fully and freely saves the worst! Let us examine this scene a little closer. What a graphic description this is of the human heart by nature! It may not be a pleasing picture, but it is true; God has declared that <b>"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, who can know it?"</b> (Jeremiah 17:9) and the Lord Jesus has given to us His analysis of the heart in these words, <b>"For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and defile the man"</b> (Mark 7:21-23). This is the heart of each one by nature as seen by God. The heart, of course means that part of our being that is the origin of our thoughts, words and actions. The Scriptures declare that as a man "<b>thinketh in his heart, so is he</b>."</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The man with the broom illustrates the effect of God's holy and righteous law upon the heart. When the sinner reads the ten commandments, and sees therein the righteous requirements of God's holiness; there is immediately aroused within him a sense of the sinfulness of his heart. Thus the reading of God's law causes sin to appear exceedingly sinful, and shows him how vile and bad he really is. At the same time it does not, and cannot, cleanse him from his sins. God's Word speaks of this in Romans 7, where Paul says, <b>"I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence . . . when the commandment came, sin revived . . . that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful."</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">We repeat again that the law was given to show the sinner his need of Christ. The law is thus like a mirror that reveals the defilement, but does not cleanse it. It is like a plumbline that shows the crookedness, but does not, and cannot straighten. It is like a measuring rod or rule by which we may see how far we have come short of God's standard, but it cannot bring us up to this divine requirement. It is like a weight in the balances of God's scales of righteousness, but it only serves to show that we have all been weighed in the balances and found wanting. The law though holy and just and good, cannot justify the sinner before God, but can only condemn him because he has broken it. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The maid with the water is a splendid picture of the Gospel or the good news concerning the work accomplished through the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for poor, guilty and unclean sinners. His death on the Cross has forever satisfied all the righteous demands of the law against us. His resurrection was God's seal of complete approval of His finished work of reconciliation. The Lord Jesus now ever lives to save all who will open their hearts to the Gospel message; and, ceasing from all self-effort, will trust themselves implicitly to Him as their own personal Saviour. When the Saviour has been thus received, He cleanses the heart from sin and takes up His abode there. Listen to His own word, <b>"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me"</b> (Revelation 3:20). Seek no longer to cleanse your own heart by attempting the utterly impossible task of keeping the law, but </p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;">"Just now, your doubtings give o'er;</div><div style="text-align: center;">Just now reject Him no more;</div><div style="text-align: center;">Just now, throw open the door --</div><div style="text-align: center;">Let JESUS come into your heart!"</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">He will then do what the law cannot do; <b>"for the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ"</b> (John 1:17). </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>PASSION AND PATIENCE</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The next scene to which Graceless was conducted was a very strange one. He was taken into a room where two boys were seated. One was named Passion and the other, Patience. Passion was very restless and discontented, while Patience sat quiet and content. When Graceless inquired why Passion was so discontented, he was informed that the Governor of the house had promised each of the boys the best things at the beginning of next year. Passion did not want to wait until the good pleasure of the Governor, but desired all his good things now, and that was why he was grumbling so much. While Graceless looked on, he saw a man with a great bag of treasure approach Passion and pour at his feet the rich and rare treasures he was carrying. This bag contained gold, silver, precious stones, worldly pleasures and all those things which the natural man imagines will give him satisfaction. When Passion saw this wondrous display at his feet he was greatly delighted and began to play with them. Every now and then he would laugh Patience to scorn for preferring to wait until the next year, but as Graceless watched, a very peculiar thing happened. In a moment, without any warning, all the treasure with which Passion was so gleefully occupying himself, turned into a heap of worthless rags and dust and ashes, so that he had nothing left of all his riches. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">At this Graceless asked the Interpreter to explain the meaning of this scene. He was told that the two boys were figures or pictures of two classes of people in the world. Passion was an illustration of the person who lives for this world alone and for its so-called treasures, pleasures, popularity, pride, and lust. Such a person has no time for God or for Christ; neither does he give any thought to his sinful condition or the judgment that awaits the one who dies in his sins. All he lives for is what he can get out of this present life. He spends all his time, talents, wealth, health, character, and his soul in trying to satisfy himself with the things of the world. Inasmuch as all his treasure turned to worthless rags and ashes, so death will usher the worldly person into an awful eternity, and he will have to leave behind all those things that occupied his heart on earth. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Patience, however, in contrast to Passion, was a picture of a child of God, a Christian, who having been born from above, and having his citizenship in heaven, was content to wait with paience for that time when the true riches and pleasures that last for ever shall be his eternal portion in the life that is to come. In that glorious Celestial City where the moth and the rust doth not corrupt and where the thief does not break through and steal, the believer will enjoy to the full those eternal riches and pleasures that are the heritage of every born again person. The Bible assures us that <b>"the things which are seen are temporal</b> [or passing away]; <b>but the things which are not seen are eternal"</b> (2 Corinthians 4:18) </p><p style="text-align: justify;">This is a needed lesson for all to learn, for these two classes are still in the world today, and you, my reader, belong to one or the other. If, up to this time, you have been making plans for this life only, you are like Passion. Though you may possess considerable treasure and enjoy the pleasures, popularity, and the fashions of this world; yet remember that the Bible declares that <b>"The world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever"</b> (1 John 2:17). </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>WHERE ARE OUR TREASURES?</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">A fool has been well defined as one whose plans all end in this life. Does the plan of your life end with the grave, or does it go beyond and provide for your eternal blessedness? Will the stroke of death take from you all you have, or will death usher you into that glorious place where in His presence there is fulness of joy, and at His right hand pleasures for evermore? Be wise while you have your health, strength and soundness of mind and, <b>"Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things</b> [that is, the necessary things of life] <b>shall be added unto you"</b> (Matthew 6:33). Remember that <b>"godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come"</b> (1 Timothy 4:8). The question that the Lord Jesus asked needs to be carefully pondered: <b>"What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"</b> (Mark 8:36). </p><p style="text-align: justify;">How much better off was Patience, who, through he had little of this world's goods, was rich towards God and had great treasure in heaven! How much better it is to know one's sins are all forgiven; to enjoy peace with God; to be satisfied with His fellowship; to be filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory, and to look forward with eagar expectation to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ who shall take all who love Him into His presence! In heaven there shall be no more sorrow, no more pain, no more sickness, and no more death; but unspeakable joy, eternal health and endless glory! </p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you are not yet a Christian, you may become one while you read this. Take your place as a lost sinner and believe the good news of the Gospel, that Christ died for your sins. Accept Him as your own Saviour and confess Him as your Lord. Then like Patience, you will have the peace of God on earth for time, and the glories of heaven for all eternity. Those who live only for this world will have the rags and ashes of a Christless life, the sadness of a Christless death, and the fearfulness of a Christless eternity. </p><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Chapter Six - More Of The Interpreter's House<br /></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><br /></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://faithfulmenofgod.blogspot.com/2008/11/dreamer-and-his-wonderful-dream.html" target="_blank"><b>TOC For <em>A Dreamer And His Wonderful Dream</em></b></a></div></div>Jerry Boueyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11939572388745111915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953682481802321447.post-16911641785836916222023-11-14T12:17:00.000-08:002023-11-14T12:17:16.260-08:00The Generations Of Adam And Jesus - Quote by Arthur Pink<p><span style="text-align: justify;">The following quote is from a book by Arthur Pink entitled</span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="https://ccel.org/ccel/pink/gospels/gospels." style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">The Four Gospels</a><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify;">which I am currently reading. It seems fairly good overall. In it, the author shows the differences between the four Gospels - how each one is unique and presents Jesus in light of the purpose of that particular Gospel: Matthew presents Jesus as the King of Kings, King of the Jews; Mark as the Servant of the Lord; Luke as the Perfect Man, the Son of Man; and John as God, the Son of God. If you want to dig in deeper on this theme, please click on the title of the book above to download it for free. Otherwise, enjoy this interesting excerpt from the chapter on Matthew.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Generations Of Adam And Jesus</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The first thing which arrests our attention is the opening verse. God, in His tender grace, has hung the key right over the entrance. The opening verse is that which unlocks the contents of this Gospel — “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.” The first five English words here are but two in the Greek — “Biblos geneseos.” These two words indicate the peculiarly <i>Jewish </i>character of the earlier portions of this Gospel, for it is an Old Testament expression. It is noteworthy that this expression which commences the New Testament is found almost at the beginning of the first book in the Old Testament, for in Gen. 5:1 we read, “This is the book of the generations of Adam.” We need hardly say that this word “generation” signifies <i>the history of</i>.” These two “books” — the book of the generation of Adam, and the book of the generation of Jesus Christ — might well be termed the Book of Death and the Book of Life. Not only does the whole Bible center around these two books, but the sum of human destiny also. How strikingly this expression, found at the beginning of Genesis and the beginning of Matthew, brings out the Unity of the two Testaments!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In the book of Genesis we have eleven different “generations” or histories enumerated, beginning with the “generations of the heavens and the earth,” and closing with the “generations of Jacob” — see 2:4; 5:1; 6:9; 10:1; 11:10; 11:27; 25:12; 25:19; 36:1; 36:9; 37:2 — thus dividing the first book of the Bible into twelve sections, twelve being the number of Divine government, which is what is before us in Genesis — God in sovereign government. From Exodus to Daniel we find government entrusted, instrumentally, to Israel, and from Daniel onwards it is in the hands of the Gentiles; but in Genesis we antedate the Jewish theocracy, and there government is found directly in the hands of God, <i>hence its twelvefold division</i>. Twice more, namely, in Num. 3:1 and Ruth 4:18, do we get this expression “the generation of,” making in the Old Testament thirteen in all, which is the number of apostasy, for that is all the Law revealed! But, as we have seen, this expression occurs once more (and there for the last time in Holy Writ) in the opening verse of the New Testament, thus making fourteen in all, and the fourteenth is “the book of the generation of <i>Jesus Christ</i>.” How profoundly significant and suggestive this is! Fourteen is 2 x 7, and two signifies (among its other meanings) contrast or difference, and seven is the number of perfection and completeness — and what a complete difference the Coming of Jesus Christ made!</p>Jerry Boueyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11939572388745111915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953682481802321447.post-6253025406459549322023-11-04T09:32:00.005-07:002023-11-04T09:32:57.565-07:00Some Quotes By Oliver B. Greene<p><b style="color: #050505; font-family: times; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Some Quotes By Oliver B. Greene</b></p><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bcke9-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: times; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bcke9-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: times; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I like this statement by Oliver B. Greene on John 3:15:</span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bcke9-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: times; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bcke9-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: times; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Jesus on the cross was heaven's best for earth's worst.”</span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bcke9-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: times; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bcke9-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: times; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">A few pages later in his commentary on the Gospel of John, he has this paragraph:</span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bcke9-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: times; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bcke9-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: times; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Notice that God told Moses exactly what to do, and Moses obeyed. God also told the Israelites what to do: they were simply to ‘Look, and live.’ The only way a dying Israelite could be healed and have life was to look to the brazen serpent. He was not to touch it nor speak to it; he was simply to LOOK upon it. The only way the unbeliever can benefit from Christ’s death on Calvary is to look to Him in faith. No matter how near death an Israelite was, if he had strength enough to open his eyes and look upon the serpent of brass he was instantly healed. In the same manner, regardless of how weak one’s faith may be, any poor sinner who will look to Jesus and sincerely believe and trust will be saved. Sincere faith brings salvation.”</span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bcke9-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: times; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bcke9-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: times; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">A little bit later:</span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bcke9-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: times; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bcke9-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: times; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">"The invitation to the sinner is to 'whosoever' - no one is excluded. No matter how feeble the faith may be - (it is not the quantity of faith, but in WHOM we believe); no matter how sinful and wretched the person may be, if he believes he has everlasting life."</span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bcke9-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: times; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bcke9-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: times; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i>My comments:</i></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bcke9-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: times; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bcke9-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: times; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Like a grain of mustard seed - even a little bit of true faith is noticed by our Saviour. Like several of the characters in Pilgrim's Progress, they still made it to the Celestial City, even if they were lame or afraid (example, Master Ready-to-Halt and Master Feeble-mind).</span></span></div>Jerry Boueyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11939572388745111915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953682481802321447.post-20318832304090399242023-10-24T13:01:00.000-07:002023-10-24T13:01:11.163-07:00Some Great Quotes By Spurgeon<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Some Great Quotes By Spurgeon:</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">“True saints have a religion that has entered into their very blood, changing their nature, and permeating their being, so that it is part and parcel of themselves. Practical Christianity is the only real Christianity. If your religion can be laid aside I would advise you to get rid of it; for a real Christian could no more lay aside his godliness than he could unscrew his head.”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">“Suppose that 20 troubles should come to us in a day and that we should flee to God 20 times with them? I think that we might almost pray to God to send 20 more troubles, so that we might flee to Him 40 times a day! Any reason for going to God must be a blessing to us, for going to God is going to bliss! So we may even turn our troubles into blessings by making them drive us to Him.”</p>Jerry Boueyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11939572388745111915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953682481802321447.post-70675062095354739722023-10-24T12:51:00.004-07:002023-10-24T13:02:04.425-07:00Some Good Quotes By Matthew Henry<p><b>Some Good Quotes By Matthew Henry</b></p><p><span style="text-align: justify;">This is a neat quote by Matthew Henry about God answering prayer:</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Psalms 10:17<br /><i>LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble:<br />thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;">In what method God hears prayer. He first prepares the heart of his people and then gives them an answer of peace; nor may we expect his gracious answer, but in this way; so that Godʾs working upon us is the best earnest of his working for us. He prepares the heart for prayer by kindling holy desires, and strengthening our most holy faith, fixing the thoughts and raising the affections, and then he graciously accepts the prayer; he prepares the heart for the mercy itself that is wanting and prayed for, makes us fit to receive it and use it well, and then gives it in to us. The preparation of the heart is from the Lord, and we must seek unto him for it (Prov. 16:1) and take that as a leading favour.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Here is another encouraging quote by Matthew Henry about God’s covenant with His people:</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Hosea 2:19-20<br /><i>And I will <b>betroth </b>thee unto me for ever;<br />yea, I will <b>betroth </b>thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment,<br />and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.<br />I will even <b>betroth </b>thee unto me in faithfulness:<br />and thou shalt know the LORD.</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The nature of this covenant; it is a <i>marriage-covenant</i>, founded in choice and love, and founding the nearest relation: <i>I will betroth thee unto me</i>; and again, and a third time, <i>I will betroth thee</i>. Note, All that are sincerely devoted to God are betrothed to him; God gives them the most sacred and inviolable security imaginable that he will love them, protect them, and provide for them, that he will do the part of a husband to them, and that he will incline their hearts to join themselves to him and will graciously accept of them in so doing. Believing souls are espoused to Christ, 2 Co. 11:2. The gospel-church is <i>the bride, the Lambʾs wife</i>; and they would never come into that relation to him if he did not by the power of his grace betroth them to himself. The separation begins on our side; we alienate ourselves from God. The coalition begins on his side; he betroths us to himself.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Quote by Matthew Henry on Hebrews 10:34 (contrasting with verse 1):</p><p style="text-align: justify;">What it was that enabled them thus to bear up under their sufferings. They knew in themselves that they had in heaven a better and a more enduring substance. Observe, [1.] The happiness of the saints in heaven is substance, something of real weight and worth. All things here are but shadows. [2.] It is a better substance than any thing they can have or lose here. [3.] It is an enduring substance, it will out-live time and run parallel with eternity; they can never spend it; their enemies can never take it from them, as they did their earthly goods. [4.] This will make a rich amends for all they can lose and suffer here. In heaven they shall have a better life, a better estate, better liberty, better society, better hearts, better work, every thing better. [5.] Christians should know this in themselves, they should get the assurance of it in themselves (the Spirit of God witnessing with their spirits), for the assured knowledge of this will help them to endure any fight of afflictions they may be encountered with in this world.</p>Jerry Boueyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11939572388745111915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953682481802321447.post-13588043088098558082023-10-16T12:00:00.002-07:002023-10-16T12:00:29.039-07:00Fifty Reasons Why A Saved Person Can NEVER Be Lost<p style="text-align: center;"><b><script src="https://av1611.com/verseclick/verseclick.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Fifty Reasons Why A Saved Person Can NEVER Be Lost</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">By: Timothy S. Morton</p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>(Used With Permission)</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">1. ETERNAL LIFE IS ETERNAL! John 3:15; 10:28; Romans 6:23; 1 John 2:25; 5:11; 5:13; etc. By definition eternal means never ending. Once a believer has eternal life it can never be taken away. If it could be it would not be eternal!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">2. EVERLASTING LIFE IS EVERLASTING! Daniel 12:2; John 3:16; 3:36; 5:24; 6:40; 6:47. Romans 6:22; etc.; Likewise, everlasting life can never end. It is everlasting regardless of the believer's behavior.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">3. IT IS GOD'S WILL! John 6:39. It is Gods will that Christ lose none of those who come to Him.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">4. HEAVEN IS RESERVED FOR HIM! 1 Peter 1:4. An inheritance in Heaven is reserved for the believer.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">5. SALVATION (INHERITANCE) IS INCORRUPTIBLE! 1 Peter 1:4. No one can corrupt something God has made incorruptible.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">6. SALVATION (INHERITANCE) CANNOT BE DEFILED! 1 Peter 1:4. No one can defile something which God says cannot be defiled.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">7. HE IS SEALED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT! Ephesians 1:13. No power in Heaven or earth can break God's seal.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">8. HE IS SEALED UNTO THE DAY OF REDEMPTION! Ephesians 4:30. The believer is sealed until the day God redeems his body.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">9. HOLY SPIRIT WILL ABIDE FOREVER! John 14:16-17. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is permanent.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">10. HE IS PRESERVED FOREVER! Psalm 37:28. God preserves the saint forever.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">11. HE IS BORN OF GOD! John 1:12-13. The believer actually becomes God's child and cannot be "unborn."</p><p style="text-align: justify;">12. HE IS A NEW CREATURE! 2 Corinthians 5:17. God has made the believer a new creature and no one can "uncreate" him.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">13. HE IS CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS! Ephesians 2:10. The saint was created in his Saviour.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">14. HE IS PRESERVED UNTO THE HEAVENLY KINGDOM! 2 Timothy 4:18. The believer is preserved like Paul since God is no respecter of persons.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">15. HE IS KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD! 1 Peter 1:5. Since God is keeping him, the believer cannot fall from salvation.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">16. CHRIST HAS PRAYED FOR HIM! John 17:11. Jesus prayed that God would keep all who He had given Him.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">17. WORKS CANNOT AFFECT HIS SALVATION! Romans 11:6. Salvation is not gained by works, so it cannot be lost by works.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">18. HIS FAITH IS COUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS! Romans 4:5. It is faith which brings salvation to a believer.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">19. NOTHING CAN SEPARATE HIM FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST! Romans 8:38-39. Nothing material, immaterial, past, present, or future can separate a believer from Christ's love.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">20. SALVATION IS OF THE LORD! Jonah 2:9. Salvation is all God's work. He bought it and provided it.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">21. GOD IS ABLE TO KEEP HIM! 2 Timothy 1:12. The believer's salvation rests on God's omnipotent ability to keep him.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">22. HE IS PROMISED NOT TO COME INTO CONDEMNATION! John 5:24. This promise would be broken if even one believer fell into eternal condemnation.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">23. HE IS PROMISED TO NEVER PERISH! John 10:27-28. Every saint has an unconditional promise to never perish.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">24. HE WILL NEVER BE CAST OUT! John 6:37. Under no condition will any believer be cast out from Christ or Heaven.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">25. ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO HIM! Romans 8:28. It would not be good for one to lose his salvation.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">26. HE IS IN CHRIST'S HAND! John 10:28. The believer is in his Saviour's hand.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">27. HE IS IN THE FATHER'S HAND! John 10:29-30. The saint is in his heavenly Father's hand.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">28. HE IS, AND ALWAYS WILL BE, A SHEEP! John 10:27-28. A sheep represents a saved person and cannot change from being one.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">29. GOD'S MERCY NEVER ENDS! Titus 3:5. The believer is saved by God's mercy and it endures forever (Psalm 136).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">30. GOD CANNOT LIE! Titus 1:2. Once God has saved a believer, He cannot go back on His word.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">31. HIS SINS ARE GONE FOREVER! Psalm 103:12; Micah 7:19; Isaiah 38:17; 44:22; Hebrews 10:17. The saint's sins are gone.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">32. HE SHALL BE LIKE CHRIST! 1 John 3:2. It is a certainty that the believer will be like Christ.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">33. GOD SEES HIM AS ALREADY GLORIFIED! Romans 8:30. The saint is as good as glorified in God's sight.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">34. HE IS BORN OF INCORRUPTIBLE SEED! 1 Peter 1:23. The Christian's new birth was from incorruptible seed.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">35. HE WILL APPEAR WITH CHRIST IN GLORY! Colossians 3:4. The saint is promised to appear with Christ when He returns.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">36. HE IS HIDDEN IN CHRIST! Colossians 3:3. The believer is dead to the world and alive in Christ.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">37. HE IS DEAD TO AND FREED FROM SIN! Romans 6:2-7. Sin can no longer affect the saint's destiny. He is freed from it.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">38. THE LORD IS NOW PRAYING FOR HIM! Hebrews 7:25. The Lord is presently interceding in the believer's behalf.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">39. GOD WILL FINISH WHAT HE STARTED! Philippians 1:6. God began the work of salvation and will finish it.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">40. HE HAS ETERNAL REDEMPTION! Hebrews 9:12. Every believer has been eternally redeemed from his sins.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">41. HIS LIFE IS CHRIST S LIFE! Colossians 3:4. The saint's life is Christ's very own life, so how could it be lost?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">42. HE HAS AN EVERLASTING COVENANT WITH GOD! Hebrews 13:20. God made a covenant to give the saint everlasting life.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">43. HE IS KEPT FROM FALLING BY CHRIST! Jude 24. A Christian cannot fall from grace because Christ is keeping him.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">44. SALVATION IS A FREE GIFT! Romans 6:23. A free gift is given with no conditions.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">45. HE HAS IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS! Romans 4:6-7. The righteousness the saint has is Christ's perfect righteousness.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">46. HE IS A PART OF CHRIST! Ephesians 5:30. Every believer is a part of Christ's body. Bone of His bone.... </p><p style="text-align: justify;">47. CHRIST IS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF HIS SALVATION! Hebrews 12:2. Christ began and will finish his salvation.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">48. HE HAS BEEN PREDESTINATED TO BE CONFORMED TO CHRIST S IMAGE! Romans 8:29. After salvation the believer is predestinated.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">49. CHRIST'S BLOOD HAS MADE PEACE FOR HIM! Colossians 1:20. The saint has peace with God through the blood.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">50. THE BIBLE WAS WRITTEN SO HE COULD BELIEVE AND KNOW! 1 John 5:13. The saint can know he HAS ETERNAL SALVATION!</p><span></span><span><a name='more'></a></span><p style="text-align: justify;">Note: While I believe this study is sound and well worth passing on, I cannot endorse all this particular author teaches - especially in regards to his hyper-dispensationalism. He is sound in regards to salvation during this age of grace, but he believes that salvation is different in different dispensations. I believe that clearly contradicts the plain teachings of the Scriptures. Two excellent articles on this theme are:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/salvationot.htm" target="_blank">SALVATION IS THE SAME IN THE OLD TESTAMENT AND THE NEW</a></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/salvationot2.htm" target="_blank">Follow Up Article</a></p>Jerry Boueyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11939572388745111915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953682481802321447.post-68453558879273338162023-10-13T23:10:00.008-07:002023-10-14T00:15:14.398-07:00Union And Communion - Chapter Three<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>I have taken the liberty to change all Scripture references to the King James Bible, instead of the Revised Version which this book quoted.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>UNION AND COMMUNION</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>THOUGHTS ON THE SONG OF SOLOMON</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Chapter Three</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>The Joy Of Unbroken Communion</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Song of Solomon 3:6-5:1</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;">O Jesus, King most wonderful,<br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">Thou Conqueror renown'd.<br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">Thou sweetness most ineffable,<br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">In whom all joys are found!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;">Thee, Jesus, may our voices bless;<br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">Thee may we love alone;<br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">And ever in our lives express<br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">The image of Thine own.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;">We have been mainly occupied in Sections I and II with the words and the experiences of the bride; in marked contrast to this, in this section our attention is first called to the Bridegroom, and then it is from Himself that we hear of the bride, as the object of His love, and the delight of His heart. The daughters of Jerusalem are the first speakers.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke,<br />perfumed with myrrh and frankincense,<br />with all powders of the merchant?</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;">They themselves give the reply:-</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>King Solomon made Himself a chariot of the wood of Lebanon.<br />He made the pillars thereof of silver,<br />the bottom thereof of gold,<br />the covering of it of purple,<br />the midst thereof being paved with love (love-gifts),<br />for the daughters of Jerusalem.<br />Behold His bed, which is Solomon's;<br />threescore valiant men are about it,<br />of the valiant of Israel.<br />They all hold swords, being expert in war:<br />every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night.</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;">In these verses the bride is not mentioned; she is eclipsed in the grandeur and the state of her royal Bridegroom; nevertheless, she is both enjoying and sharing it. The very air is perfumed by the smoke of the incense that ascends pillar-like to the clouds; and all that safeguards the position of the Bridegroom Himself, and shows forth His dignity, safeguards also the accompanying bride, the sharer of His glory. The car of state in which they sit is built of fragrant cedar from Lebanon, and the finest of the gold and silver have been lavished in its construction. The fragrant wood typifies the beauty of sanctified humanity, while the gold reminds us of the divine glory of our Lord, and the silver of the purity and preciousness of His redeemed and peerless Church. The imperial purple with which it is lined tells us of the Gentiles - the daughter of Tyre has been there with her gift; while the love-gifts of the daughters of Jerusalem accord with the prophecy, <i>"Even the rich among the people shall entreat thy favour."</i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;">These are the things that attract the attention of the daughters of Jerusalem, but the bride is occupied with the King Himself, and she exclaims:--</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon<br />with the crown wherewith His mother crowned Him<br />in the day of His espousals,<br /><span style="background-color: white;">and in the day of the gladness of His heart. </span></i></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;">The crowned KING is everything to her, and she would have Him to be so to the daughters of Zion likewise. She dwells with delight on the gladness of His heart in the day of His espousals, for now she is not occupied with Him for her </span><i>own</i><span style="background-color: white;"> sake, but rejoices in </span><i>His</i><span style="background-color: white;"> joy in finding in her His satisfaction. Do we sufficiently cultivate this unselfish desire to be all for JESUS, and to do all for His pleasure? Or are we conscious that we principally go to Him for our own sakes, or at best for the sake of our fellow-creatures? How much of prayer there is that begins and ends with the creature, forgetful of the privilege of giving joy to the Creator! Yet it is only when He sees in our unselfish love and devotion to Him the reflection of His own that His heart can feel full satisfaction, and pour itself forth in precious utterances of love such as those which we find in the following words:--</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Behold, thou art fair, My love; behold, thou art fair;<br />thou hast doves' eyes within thy locks:<br />thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead.<br />Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing;<br />whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them.<br />Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely, etc.</i> (See verses 3-5).</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;">We have already found the explanation of the bride in her reflecting like a mirror the beauty of the Bridegroom. Well may He with satisfaction describe her beauty while she is thus occupied with Himself! The lips that speak only of Him are like a thread of scarlet; the mouth or speech which has no word of self, or for self, is comely in His sight.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;">How sweet His words of appreciation and commendation were to the bride we can well imagine; but her joy was too deep for expression; she was silent in her love. She would not <i>now</i> think of sending Him away until the day be cool and the shadows flee away.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;">Still less does the Bridegroom think of finding His joy apart from His bride. He says:--</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Until the day break, and the shadows flee away,<br />I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense<span style="background-color: white;">.</span></i></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;">Separation never comes from His side. He is always ready for communion with a prepared heart, and in this happy communion the bride becomes ever fairer, and more like to her LORD. She is being progressively changed into His image, from one degree of glory to another, through the wondrous working of the HOLY SPIRIT, until the Bridegroom can declare:--</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Thou art all fair, My love; there is no spot in thee.</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;">And now she is </span><i>fit for service</i><span style="background-color: white;">, and to it the Bridegroom woos her; she will not now misrepresent Him:--</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Come with Me from Lebanon, My spouse, with Me from Lebanon:<br />look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon,<br />from the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards.</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>"Come with Me."</i> It is always so. If our SAVIOUR says, <i>"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,"</i> He precedes it by, <i>"All power is given unto Me,"</i> and follows it by, <i>"Lo, I am with you alway."</i> Or if, as here, He calls His bride to come, it is still <i>"with Me,"</i> and it is </span><i>in connection with this loving invitation</i><span style="background-color: white;"> that for the first time He changes the word <i>"My love,"</i> for the still more endearing one, <i>"My spouse."</i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;">What are lions' dens when the Lion of the tribe of Judah is with us; or mountains of leopards, when He is at our side! <i>"I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me."</i> On the other hand, it is while thus facing dangers, and toiling with Him in service, that He says:--</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Thou hast ravished My heart, My sister, My spouse;<br />thou hast ravished My heart with one of thine eyes,<br />with one chain of thy neck.</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;">Is it not wonderful how the heart of our Beloved can be thus ravished with the love of one who is prepared to accept His invitation, and go forth with Him seeking to rescue the perishing! The marginal reading of the Revised Version is very significant: "Thou hast ravished My heart," or "Thou hast given me courage." If the Bridegroom's heart may be encouraged by the fidelity and loving companionship of his bride, it is not surprising that we may cheer and encourage one another in our mutual service. St. Paul had a steep mountain of difficulty to climb when he was being led as a captive to Rome, not knowing the things that awaited him there; but when the brethren met him at the Appii Forum he thanked God and took courage. May we ever thus strengthen one another's hands in God!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;">But to resume. The Bridegroom cheers the toilsome agents, and the steep pathways of danger, with sweet communications of His love:--</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>How fair is thy love, My sister, My spouse!<br />how much better is thy love than wine!<br />and the smell of thine ointments than all spices!<br />Thy lips, O My spouse, drop as the honeycomb:<br />honey and milk are under thy tongue;<br />and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.<br />A garden inclosed is My sister, My spouse;<br />a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.<br />Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits;<br />camphire, with spikenard,<br />Spikenard and saffron;<br />calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense;<br />myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:<br />A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters,<br />and streams from Lebanon.</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;">Engaged with the Bridegroom in seeking to rescue the perishing, the utterances of her lips are to Him as honey and the honeycomb; and figure is piled upon figure to express His satisfaction and joy. She is a garden full of precious fruits and delightful perfumes, but a garden enclosed; the fruit she bears may bring blessing to many, but the garden is for Himself alone; she is a fountain, but a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. And yet again she is a fountain of gardens, a well of living waters and flowing streams from Lebanon: she carries fertility and imparts refreshment wherever she goes; and yet it is all of Him and for Him.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;">The bride now speaks for the second time in this section. As her first utterance was of Him, so now her second is for Him; self is found in neither.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south;<br />blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out.<br />Let my Beloved come into His garden,<br />and eat His pleasant fruits.</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;">She is ready for any experience: the north wind and the south may blow upon her garden, if only the spices thereof may flow out to regale her Lord by their fragrance. He has called her His garden, a paradise of pomegranates and precious fruits; let Him come into it and eat His precious fruits.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;">To this the Bridegroom replies:--</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>I am come into My garden, My sister, My spouse:<br />I have gathered My myrrh with My spice;<br />I have eaten My honeycomb with My honey;<br />I have drunk My wine with My milk:</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;">Now, when she calls, He answers at once. When she is only for her LORD, He assures her that He finds all His satisfaction in her.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;">The section closes by the bride's invitation to His friends and her, as well as to Himself:--</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O Beloved.</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;">The consecration of all to our MASTER, far from lessening our power to impart, increases both our power and our joy in ministration. The five loaves and two fishes of the disciples, first given up to and blessed by the LORD, were abundant supply for the needy multitudes, and grew, in the act of distribution, into a store of which twelve hampers full of fragments remained when all were fully satisfied.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;">We have, then, in this beautiful section, as we have seen, a picture of unbroken communion and its delightful issues. May our lives correspond! First, one with the KING, then speaking of the KING; the joy of communion leading to fellowship in service, to a being all for JESUS, ready for any experience that will fit for further service, surrendering all to Him, and willing to minister all for Him. There is no room for love of the world here, for union with CHRIST has filled the heart; there is nothing for the gratification of the world, for all has been sealed and is kept for the MASTER'S use.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;">Jesus, my life is Thine!<br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">And evermore shall be<br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">Hidden in Thee.<br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">For nothing can untwine<br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">Thy life from mine.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Union And Communion - Chapter Four</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><a href="http://faithfulmenofgod.blogspot.com/2009/10/union-and-communion-song-of-solomon-by.html" target="_blank">Back to Union And Communion - Introduction</a></b></span></p>Jerry Boueyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11939572388745111915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953682481802321447.post-14221587358893285312023-10-05T11:20:00.000-07:002023-10-05T11:20:01.492-07:00Without A Wrinkle - by Charles Spurgeon<p> <b style="text-align: justify;">Without A Wrinkle</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">These are taken from Spurgeon's <i>Morning And Evening Devotional</i>.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Note:</b> Here, Spurgeon refers to <i>perfection </i>in the sense of being sinless (which we will be made once we are glorified and our old nature is completely removed. In the Lord's eyes, we are accepted in the Beloved, for Christ's blood has washed all our sin away and we have been clothed with His righteousness. The Father sees us sinless through the blood of His Son. The <u>usual Bible sense</u> of being <i>perfect </i>(ie. being mature as believers) is not in view in these two devotionals, but they are still very much worth reading.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Highlighted emphasis by me.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Ephesians 5:25-27 <i>Husbands, love your wives, even as <b>Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.</b></i></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Morning, January 28</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>"Perfect in Christ Jesus."</i> Colossians 1:28</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Do you not feel in your own soul that perfection is not in you? Does not every day teach you that? Every tear which trickles from your eye, weeps "imperfection"; every harsh word which proceeds from your lip, mutters "imperfection." You have too frequently had a view of your own heart to dream for a moment of any perfection <i>in yourself</i>. But amidst this sad consciousness of imperfection, here is comfort for you - you are "perfect <i>in Christ Jesus</i>." In God's sight, you are "complete in Him;" even now you are "accepted in the Beloved." But there is a second perfection, yet to be realized, which is sure to all the seed. Is it not delightful to look forward to the time when every stain of sin shall be removed from the believer, and he shall be presented faultless before the throne, without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing? The Church of Christ then will be so pure, that not even the eye of Omniscience will see a spot or blemish in her; so holy and so glorious, that Hart did not go beyond the truth when he said:</p><p style="text-align: justify;">"With my Saviour's garments on,<br />Holy as the Holy One."</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Then shall we know, and taste, and feel the happiness of this vast but short sentence, "Complete in Christ." Not till then shall we fully comprehend the heights and depths of the salvation of Jesus. Doth not thy heart leap for joy at the thought of it? Black as thou art, thou shalt be white one day; filthy as thou art, thou shalt be clean. Oh, it is a marvellous salvation this! Christ takes a worm and transforms it into an angel; Christ takes a black and deformed thing and makes it clean and matchless in His glory, peerless in His beauty, and fit to be the companion of seraphs. O my soul, stand and admire this blessed truth of perfection in Christ.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Morning, April 16</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>"The precious blood of Christ."</i> 1 Peter 1:19</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Standing at the foot of the cross, we see hands, and feet, and side, all distilling crimson streams of precious blood. It is "precious" because of its <i>redeeming </i>and <i>atoning efficacy</i>. By it the sins of Christ's people are atoned for; they are redeemed from under the law; they are reconciled to God, made one with Him. <b>Christ's blood is also "precious" in its <i>cleansing power</i>"; it "cleanseth from all sin." "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." Through Jesus' blood there is not a spot left upon any believer, no wrinkle nor any such thing remains. O precious blood, which makes us clean, removing the stains of abundant iniquity, and permitting us to stand accepted in the Beloved, notwithstanding the many ways in which we have rebelled against our God. The blood of Christ is likewise "precious" in its <i>preserving power</i>. We are safe from the destroying angel under the sprinkled blood. Remember it is <i>God's seeing</i> the blood which is the true reason for our being spared. Here is comfort for us when the eye of faith is dim, for God's eye is still the same. </b>The blood of Christ is "precious" also in its <i>sanctifying influence</i>. The same blood which justifies by taking away sin, does in its after-action, quicken the new nature and lead it onward to subdue sin and to follow out the commands of God. There is no motive for holiness so great as that which streams from the veins of Jesus. And "precious," unspeakably precious, is this blood, because it has an <i>overcoming power</i>. It is written, "They overcame through the blood of the Lamb." How could they do otherwise? He who fights with the precious blood of Jesus, fights with a weapon which cannot know defeat. The blood of Jesus! sin dies at its presence, death ceases to be death: heaven's gates are opened. The blood of Jesus! we shall march on, conquering and to conquer, so long as we can trust its power!</p>Jerry Boueyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11939572388745111915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953682481802321447.post-49652605391334509322023-09-27T16:19:00.002-07:002023-11-21T12:36:51.978-08:00Comparisons Between Psalms 22, 23, And 24<p style="text-align: justify;"><script type="text/javascript" src="https://av1611.com/verseclick/verseclick.js"></script><b>Comparisons Between Psalms 22, 23, And 24</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">It is interesting to note the following seven-fold comparison between Psalms 22, 23, and 24 and their New Testament parallels. (Adapted from J. Vernon McGee's comments from <i>Thru The Bible</i> on Psalm 23, where he lists six comparisons between what is often referred to as "The Shepherd Psalms." I am unsure where the seventh point came from.)</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Psalm 22:</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">1) The Good Shepherd (John 10:11)</p><p style="text-align: justify;">2) The Saviour</p><p style="text-align: justify;">3) The Foundation</p><p style="text-align: justify;">4) Christ Dying</p><p style="text-align: justify;">5) The Cross</p><p style="text-align: justify;">6) He Gives His Life</p><p style="text-align: justify;">7) Grace</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Psalm 23:</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">1) The Great Shepherd (Hebrews 13:20)</p><p style="text-align: justify;">2) The Satisfier</p><p style="text-align: justify;">3) The Manifestation</p><p style="text-align: justify;">4) Christ Living</p><p style="text-align: justify;">5) The Comforter</p><p style="text-align: justify;">6) He Gives His Love</p><p style="text-align: justify;">7) Guidance</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Psalm 24:</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">1) The Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4)</p><p style="text-align: justify;">2) The Sovereign</p><p style="text-align: justify;">3) The Expectation</p><p style="text-align: justify;">4) Christ Coming</p><p style="text-align: justify;">5) The Crown</p><p style="text-align: justify;">6) He Gives His Light</p><p style="text-align: justify;">7) Glory</p>Jerry Boueyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11939572388745111915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953682481802321447.post-12596508546836421592023-09-26T14:00:00.002-07:002023-11-11T12:24:17.250-08:00All My Blogs<p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">I wanted to try something new, so I created two new blogs.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">One new blog, called <a href="https://stories-of-christian-faith.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b>The Substance Of Things Hoped For (Faith-based Stories and Illustration)</b></a>, was created for a place for me to be able to quickly repost all the stories and illustrations that Angela Trenholm (my webpartner) had on her family site (Trenholms Of Kelowna). <a href="http://earnestlycontending.com">EarnestlyContending.com</a> (our domain and the central hub for all our personal sites) got repeatedly hacked a little over two years ago and we lost all the content and had to rebuild from scratch. It is a lot of work trying to repost articles, stories, songs, etc. that were posted from approximately 21 years ago onwards, but I am making a valiant effort. Doing it in a blog format also gives me the opportunity to easily add new content.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">The second blog is for posting Daily Devotionals once again - devotionals and poems. I had done that for several years back in 2004 onwards, but eventually it became too much work to keep doing that project and work full time, developing new messages to preach at the Kelowna Gospel Mission. I had turned many of those outlines into full length studies and stored the rest in various boxes to hopefully develop more fully someday. That time did not come till now (of course, now I need to sort through all those boxes!!). This new devotional blog is called <a href="https://just-a-closer-walk-with-you.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #ff9900; text-align: left;"><b>Just A Closer Walk With You (Daily Devotionals And Poems)</b></a>.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">For those who may be new to Buy The Truth or my blogs in general, or perhaps had not visited for quite a while, I also wanted to list all the other blogs here for you as well, so you can easily check them out and bookmark them if you so desire.</span></p><p></p><ul style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1.25em;"><li><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://buy-the-truth.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Buy The Truth (KJB IFB Bible Studies)</a></span></li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://faithfulmenofgod.blogspot.com/" style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration-line: none;"><b><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Faithful Men Of God (Solid Christian Articles)</span></b></a></li></ul><ul style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1.25em;"><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://shadowoutlines.blogspot.com/" style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration-line: none;"><b><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">A Shadow Of Things To Come (Outlines and Short Devotionals)</span></b></a></li></ul><ul style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1.25em;"><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://songs-in-the-night.blogspot.com/" style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration-line: none;"><b><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Songs In The Night (Christian Poetry and Songs)</span></b></a></li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://psalms-of-david.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b>The Psalms Of David In Metre (By Isaac Watts And The Church Of Scotland)</b></a></li></ul><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: times;"><div style="text-align: justify;">My original websites (before I started any blogs) are:</div></span></span><p></p><p></p><ul style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1.25em;"><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://ewministries.earnestlycontending.com/" target="_blank">Eagle's Wings Ministries (<em>My Bible Study Site</em>)</a></b></span></li></ul><ul style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1.25em;"><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Bookmark this page: <a href="https://ewministries.earnestlycontending.com/table-of-contents/" target="_blank"><b>EWM Table Of Contents</b></a></span></li></ul><ul style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1.25em;"><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://realmccoy.earnestlycontending.com/" style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Home Of The Real McCoy (<em>My Christian Poetry Site</em></a>)</b></span></li></ul><ul style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1.25em;"><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Bookmark this page: <a href="https://realmccoy.earnestlycontending.com/table-of-contents/" target="_blank"><b>HOTRM Table Of Contents</b></a></span></li></ul><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: times;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Most of the content on Home of the Real McCoy are my own poems, plus some poems that I have included in several books of poetry I have put together; whereas Songs In The Night contain both my poems and any poems, songs or hymns by others I wanted to pass on to others. I have added pages for various poems that I presented in church in 2021 or 2022 (as I cannot seem to add the audio files to my blogs). Just look for those poems within Songs In The Night or Home Of The Real McCoy Table Of Contents. I do have them marked on there. Still a few more to put up with the audio files, but I will indicate those ones too when they are made. I have also decided to duplicate my personal poems on Home of the Real McCoy and Songs In The Night, in case we are ever hacked again. Building all those pages from scratch was more work than I ever expected.</div></span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: times;">I hope all these blogs and pages are a blessing to you.</span></span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: times; font-size: medium;">In Jesus' precious name,</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: times;">Jerry Bouey</span></div></span>Jerry Boueyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11939572388745111915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953682481802321447.post-25406641771015217342023-08-19T16:49:00.002-07:002023-08-19T17:01:13.726-07:00Giant Despair, Doubting Castle, And The Key Of Promise<p style="text-align: center;"> <b>Giant Despair, Doubting Castle, And The Key Of Promise</b></p><p><i>The following extended excerpt is taken from Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan. In the story, two believers - Christian and Hopeful - are tempted to go out of the way, but then they soon find it is not quite so easy to get back onto the right path again.</i></p><p>Now I beheld in my dream, that they had not journeyed far, but the river and the way for a time parted, at which they were not a little sorry; yet they durst not go out of the way. Now the way from the river was rough, and their feet tender by reason of their travels; so the souls of the pilgrims were much discouraged because of the way. Num. 21:4. Wherefore, still as they went on, they wished for a better way. Now, a little before them, there was on the left hand of the road a meadow, and a stile to go over into it, and that meadow is called By-path meadow. Then said Christian to his fellow, If this meadow lieth along by our wayside, let’s go over into it. Then he went to the stile to see, and behold a path lay along by the way on the other side of the fence. It is according to my wish, said Christian; here is the easiest going; come, good Hopeful, and let us go over.</p><p><b>HOPEFUL:</b> But how if this path should lead us out of the way?</p><p><b>CHRISTIAN:</b> That is not likely, said the other. Look, doth it not go along by the wayside? So Hopeful, being persuaded by his fellow, went after him over the stile. When they were gone over, and were got into the path, they found it very easy for their feet; and withal, they, looking before them, espied a man walking as they did, and his name was Vain-Confidence: so they called after him, and asked him whither that way led. He said, To the Celestial Gate. Look, said Christian, did not I tell you so? by this you may see we are right. So they followed, and he went before them. But behold the night came on, and it grew very dark; so that they that went behind lost the sight of him that went before.</p><p>He therefore that went before, (Vain-Confidence by name,) not seeing the way before him, fell into a deep pit, which was on purpose there made, by the prince of those grounds, to catch vain-glorious fools withal, and was dashed in pieces with his fall. Isa. 9:16.</p><p>Now, Christian and his fellow heard him fall. So they called to know the matter, but there was none to answer, only they heard a groaning. Then said Hopeful, Where are we now? Then was his fellow silent, as mistrusting that he had led him out of the way; and now it began to rain, and thunder, and lighten in a most dreadful manner, and the water rose amain.</p><p>But by this time the waters were greatly risen, by reason of which the way of going back was very dangerous. (Then I thought that it is easier going out of the way when we are in, than going in when we are out.) Yet they adventured to go back; but it was so dark, and the flood was so high, that in their going back they had like to have been drowned nine or ten times…</p><p>Neither could they, with all the skill they had, get again to the stile that night. Wherefore at last, lighting under a little shelter, they sat down there till the day brake; but being weary, they fell asleep. Now there was, not far from the place where they lay, a castle, called Doubting Castle, the owner whereof was Giant Despair, and it was in his grounds they now were sleeping: wherefore he, getting up in the morning early, and walking up and down in his fields, caught Christian and Hopeful asleep in his grounds. Then with a grim and surly voice, he bid them awake, and asked them whence they were, and what they did in his grounds. They told him they were pilgrims, and that they had lost their way. Then said the giant, You have this night trespassed on me by trampling in and lying on my grounds, and therefore you must go along with me. So they were forced to go, because he was stronger than they. They also had but little to say, for they knew themselves in a fault. The giant, therefore, drove them before him, and put them into his castle, into a very dark dungeon, nasty and stinking to the spirits of these two men. Here, then, they lay from Wednesday morning till Saturday night, without one bit of bread, or drop of drink, or light, or any to ask how they did; they were, therefore, here in evil case, and were far from friends and acquaintance. Psa. 88:18. Now in this place Christian had double sorrow, because it was through his unadvised counsel that they were brought into this distress.</p><p>Now Giant Despair had a wife, and her name was Diffidence: so when he was gone to bed he told his wife what he had done, to wit, that he had taken a couple of prisoners, and cast them into his dungeon for trespassing on his grounds. Then he asked her also what he had best do further to them. So she asked him what they were, whence they came, and whither they were bound, and he told her. Then she counseled him, that when he arose in the morning he should beat them without mercy. So when he arose, he getteth him a grievous crab-tree cudgel, and goes down into the dungeon to them, and there first falls to rating of them as if they were dogs, although they gave him never a word of distaste. Then he falls upon them, and beats them fearfully, in such sort that they were not able to help themselves, or to turn them upon the floor. This done, he withdraws and leaves them there to condole their misery, and to mourn under their distress: so all that day they spent the time in nothing but sighs and bitter lamentations. The next night, she, talking with her husband further about them, and understanding that they were yet alive, did advise him to counsel them to make away with themselves. So when morning was come, he goes to them in a surly manner, as before, and perceiving them to be very sore with the stripes that he had given them the day before, he told them, that since they were never like to come out of that place, their only way would be forthwith to make an end of themselves, either with knife, halter, or poison; for why, said he, should you choose to live, seeing it is attended with so much bitterness? But they desired him to let them go. With that he looked ugly upon them, and rushing to them, had doubtless made an end of them himself, but that he fell into one of his fits, (for he sometimes in sunshiny weather fell into fits,) and lost for a time the use of his hands; wherefore he withdrew, and left them as before to consider what to do. Then did the prisoners consult between themselves whether it was best to take his counsel or no; and thus they began to discourse:</p><p><b>CHRISTIAN:</b> Brother, said Christian, what shall we do? The life that we now live is miserable. For my part, I know not whether it is best to live thus, or to die out of hand. My soul chooseth strangling rather than life, and the grave is more easy for me than this dungeon. Job. 7:15. Shall we be ruled by the giant?</p><p><b>HOPEFUL:</b> Indeed our present condition is dreadful, and death would be far more welcome to me than thus for ever to abide; but yet, let us consider, the Lord of the country to which we are going hath said, “Thou shalt do no murder,” no, not to another man’s person; much more, then, are we forbidden to take his counsel to kill ourselves. Besides, he that kills another, can but commit murder upon his body; but for one to kill himself, is to kill body and soul at once. And moreover, my brother, thou talkest of ease in the grave; but hast thou forgotten the hell whither for certain the murderers go? for “no murderer hath eternal life,” etc. And let us consider again, that all the law is not in the hand of Giant Despair: others, so far as I can understand, have been taken by him as well as we, and yet have escaped out of his hands. Who knows but that God, who made the world, may cause that Giant Despair may die; or that, at some time or other, he may forget to lock us in; or that he may, in a short time, have another of his fits before us, and may lose the use of his limbs? And if ever that should come to pass again, for my part, I am resolved to pluck up the heart of a man, and to try my utmost to get from under his hand. I was a fool that I did not try to do it before. But, however, my brother, let us be patient, and endure a while: the time may come that may give us a happy release; but let us not be our own murderers. With these words Hopeful at present did moderate the mind of his brother; so they continued together in the dark that day, in their sad and doleful condition.</p><p>Well, towards evening the giant goes down into the dungeon again, to see if his prisoners had taken his counsel. But when he came there he found them alive; and truly, alive was all; for now, what for want of bread and water, and by reason of the wounds they received when he beat them, they could do little but breathe. But I say, he found them alive; at which he fell into a grievous rage, and told them, that seeing they had disobeyed his counsel, it should be worse with them than if they had never been born.</p><p>At this they trembled greatly, and I think that Christian fell into a swoon; but coming a little to himself again, they renewed their discourse about the giant’s counsel, and whether yet they had best take it or no. Now Christian again seemed for doing it; but Hopeful made his second reply as followeth:</p><p><b>HOPEFUL:</b> My brother, said he, rememberest thou not how valiant thou hast been heretofore? Apollyon could not crush thee, nor could all that thou didst hear, or see, or feel, in the Valley of the Shadow of Death. What hardship, terror, and amazement hast thou already gone through; and art thou now nothing but fears! Thou seest that I am in the dungeon with thee, a far weaker man by nature than thou art. Also this giant hath wounded me as well as thee, and hath also cut off the bread and water from my mouth, and with thee I mourn without the light. But let us exercise a little more patience. Remember how thou playedst the man at Vanity Fair, and wast neither afraid of the chain nor cage, nor yet of bloody death: wherefore let us (at least to avoid the shame that it becomes not a Christian to be found in) bear up with patience as well as we can.</p><p>Now night being come again, and the giant and his wife being in bed, she asked him concerning the prisoners, and if they had taken his counsel: to which he replied, They are sturdy rogues; they choose rather to bear all hardships than to make away with themselves. Then said she, Take them into the castle-yard to-morrow, and show them the bones and skulls of those that thou hast already dispatched, and make them believe, ere a week comes to an end, thou wilt tear them in pieces, as thou hast done their fellows before them.</p><p>So when the morning was come, the giant goes to them again, and takes them into the castle-yard, and shows them as his wife had bidden him. These, said he, were pilgrims, as you are, once, and they trespassed on my grounds, as you have done; and when I thought fit I tore them in pieces; and so within ten days I will do you: get you down to your den again. And with that he beat them all the way thither. They lay, therefore, all day on Saturday in a lamentable case, as before. Now, when night was come, and when Mrs. Diffidence and her husband the giant was got to bed, they began to renew their discourse of their prisoners; and withal, the old giant wondered that he could neither by his blows nor counsel bring them to an end. And with that his wife replied, I fear, said she, that they live in hopes that some will come to relieve them; or that they have picklocks about them, by the means of which they hope to escape. And sayest thou so, my dear? said the giant; I will therefore search them in the morning.</p><p>Well, on Saturday, about midnight they began to pray, and continued in prayer till almost break of day.</p><p>Now, a little before it was day, good Christian, as one half amazed, brake out into this passionate speech: What a fool, quoth he, am I, thus to lie in a stinking dungeon, when I may as well walk at liberty! I have a key in my bosom, called Promise, that will, I am persuaded, open any lock in Doubting Castle. Then said Hopeful, That is good news; good brother, pluck it out of thy bosom, and try.</p><p>Then Christian pulled it out of his bosom, and began to try at the dungeon-door, whose bolt, as he turned the key, gave back, and the door flew open with ease, and Christian and Hopeful both came out. Then he went to the outward door that leads into the castle-yard, and with his key opened that door also. After he went to the iron gate, for that must be opened too; but that lock went desperately hard, yet the key did open it. They then thrust open the gate to make their escape with speed; but that gate, as it opened, made such a creaking, that it waked Giant Despair, who hastily rising to pursue his prisoners, felt his limbs to fail, for his fits took him again, so that he could by no means go after them. Then they went on, and came to the King’s highway, and so were safe, because they were out of his jurisdiction.</p><p>Now, when they were gone over the stile, they began to contrive with themselves what they should do at that stile, to prevent those that shall come after from falling into the hands of Giant Despair. So they consented to erect there a pillar, and to engrave upon the side thereof this sentence: “Over this stile is the way to Doubting Castle, which is kept by Giant Despair, who despiseth the King of the Celestial country, and seeks to destroy his holy pilgrims.” Many, therefore, that followed after, read what was written, and escaped the danger. This done, they sang as follows:</p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">“Out of the way we went, and then we found</div><div style="text-align: center;">What twas to tread upon forbidden ground:</div><div style="text-align: center;">And let them that come after have a care,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Lest heedlessness makes them as we to fare;</div><div style="text-align: center;">Lest they, for trespassing, his prisoners are,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Whose castle’s Doubting, and whose name’s Despair.”</div><p></p>Jerry Boueyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11939572388745111915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953682481802321447.post-43255758839257515892022-11-24T18:36:00.002-08:002023-11-14T12:28:44.764-08:00The Steward Of God's House - John<p style="text-align: center;"><script src="https://av1611.com/verseclick/verseclick.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Companion of the Way</span></b></p><p align="center"><b>by </b>
</p><p align="center"><b>H.C. Hewlett </b>
</p><p align="center">1962
</p><p align="center">Moody Press
</p><p align="center">Chicago, Illinois
</p><p align="center"><i>~ Out of print and in the public domain ~</i>
</p><p align="center">
</p><div align="center">
<hr />
</div>
<p align="center"><b>The Steward Of God's House - John</b>
</p><p align="center"><b>(Revelation 1)</b> </p>
<p align="justify"><br /><b>I. THE SETTING -- THE LORD AND HIS CHURCHES</b>
<br /><br />When the aged Apostle John was permitted to suffer banishment to the
dreary isle of Patmos, he might well have mused upon the inscrutable dealings of
the providence of God. Must he who had known the wonder of being pillowed on the
bosom of Christ come to rest his head on that rugged shore? This, indeed, was
fellowship with the Lord Jesus, who dwelt of eternal right in the bosom of the
Father but said of the days of His ministry in this world, "<b>the Son of man
hath not where to lay his head</b>." Yet more than this was embraced in God's
will for John, for the time had come for giving through him the book which would
complete the canon of Scripture. Seeing that the theme of all of God's Word is
God's Christ, it was most fitting that its final part should record the last
glimpse of the glorified Saviour given to men in this life ere His coming again.
Beyond this glimpse was the unfolding of things to come, and the triumph of the
Lamb, but to us in this church age was given the final message from the ascended
Lord for our service and testimony. What then would be the nature of this word
to the church, and in what character would the Lord manifest Himself to His
servant? <br /><br />John was the sole survivor of the apostolic band. The direct
voice of inspiration would soon cease. The church era was well started, and the
lips of Paul and of others who had taught the great doctrines of the Church and
the churches had long been silent. Local churches had been established in many
lands and in their development had already shown the strengths and the
weaknesses that would characterize the witness for Christ throughout this
present age. In these circumstances it pleased God to reveal His Son once more
to John, that through the apostle might be sent to the churches the Lord's mind
concerning their progress. Seven churches in proconsular Asia were made
recipients of messages that might be termed <i>interim reports</i>, for not only
did they unfold that which the Lord saw required approval or censure, but they
anticipated the final declaration of His mind at His judgment seat. In the light
of these seven letters the churches of Asia, and all others since, would have
opportunity to adjust their ways and so live that the day of Christ would
involve for them not shame but only rejoicing. <br /><br />The vision of the Lord
Jesus Christ given to John was entirely suited to the purpose of the seven
letters. To grasp its meaning more readily, we must remember that the symbolism
of the Revelation has its key in the preceding parts of the Scripture. Were our
understanding of the Word more spiritual and more penetrative, we would surely
find in Scripture itself the solution to the problems of Scripture's last book.
The Word of God is a matchless harmony; it is complete; nothing is lacking. Like
the sun, it is to be studied in its own light. However welcome may be the help
afforded by the research of the historian, the true knowledge of the Revelation
belongs to the believer who reads it with a mind saturated with the words and
teachings of Holy Writ and with a heart responsive with the obedience of faith.
<br /><br />The language of Revelation 1 to 3 makes obvious allusion to the message
regarding Shebna and Eliakim in Isaiah 22:15-25. Shebna was the treasurer of
David's house, but because of his pride he was to be replaced by Eliakim. His
office placed him over the house and gave him a threefold duty touching the
servants of the king. In the morning of each day's toil it was his duty to allot
to every man his work and to equip him for it. During the busy hours that
followed he would inspect and superintend the labour, and in the evening of the
day he would pay the wages of each. For this office Eliakim was called, clothed,
and commissioned. <br /><br />As to his call, he was honored by the Word of the Lord
with the title <b>"My servant,"</b> which indicated his character in God's sight
and pointed to the greater Servant so richly portrayed in Isaiah's prophecies.
Eliakim was the son of Hilkiah (i.e., the Lord's portion, the root of Hilkiah
being used in the sense of "<b>portion</b>" in Deut. 32:9 -- "<b>the LORD's
portion is his people</b>") and foreshadowed the One who was uniquely the Lord's
portion, and who where all others failed gave Him all He craved. The name
Eliakim (i.e., God sets up) reminds of the prophecy of the Risen One --
"<b>He... set my feet upon a rock</b>." (The word Eliakim includes the root of
the verb "<b>set</b>" in this passage in Psalm 40:2). Touching his clothing we
read, "<b>I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy
girdle</b>" (Isa. 22:21). Now the robe and the girdle remind of the garments in
which the Lord Jesus is arrayed in Revelation. <br /><br />As to Eliakim's
commission, God said, "<b>I will commit thy government into his hand: . . . And
the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open and
none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open</b>" (Isa. 22:21-22).
But upon a stronger shoulder and into a stronger hand God has placed all
authority, for "<b>the government shall be upon his shoulder</b>" (Isa. 9:6),
and the Father has "<b>given all things into his hands</b>" (John 13:3). The
words concerning Eliakim are quoted in the letter to Philadelphia in Revelation
3:7. It is Christ who has the key of David and who opens and shuts at His
sovereign pleasure. He has also the keys of Hell and of death; He has supreme
control over the destinies of all men. <br /><br />The presentation of Christ in the
first three chapters of the Revelation as the treasurer of the letters to the
churches. In them we see the steward <i>going on circuit</i> around the churches
and giving to each a report on its welfare. The letters all begin with a glimpse
of His Person and authority, for all toil and testimony must spring from His
bidding and His equipping. To each church He speaks,<b> "I know,"</b> and to
five of the seven, <b>"I know thy works."</b> He examines the condition of each,
comforts or rebukes as is necessary, and makes recommendations for the future.
Finally, He promises rewards to the overcomer. Here, then, are exemplified the
three phases of the steward's task. It is Christ who appoints to us our work as
servants of God and who prepares us for that work. Christ is the Overseer of our
toil, and from His hands shall be received such rewards as He shall be pleased
to give at the judgment seat. </p>
<p align="justify"><br /><b>II. THE REVELATION -- THE HEAVENLY MINISTER
</b><br /><br />To the Patmos vision we turn to behold the glory of God's steward,
and we listen to the words wherewith John recounts his experience of the
unveiled presence of the Lord. <strong>"I John . . . was in the isle that is
called Patmos . . . I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day"</strong> (Rev.
1:9-10). It was a compensating vision which was given him. It has been truly
said that "the world gave us Patmos, but God gives us the Spirit." So often has
it been demonstrated that amid trial and affliction the believer is made to
overcome by the Spirit's ministry of Christ. John heard a great voice, the voice
of the First and the Last, bidding him write what he saw to the seven churches,
each of which was named by the speaker. So John proceeds. <br /><br /><strong>"And I
turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden
candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son
of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a
golden girdle"</strong> (Rev. 1:12-13). Each candlestick represented a church,
as the Lord stated, and each was golden, because set up by God Himself. How it
must have cheered John's heart as he thought of those churches so dear to him,
the first of which he had long lived with, to see the value God put upon them!
In spite of all their failure they were <strong>"of him, and through him, and to
him."</strong> In their midst was none other than the Lord Jesus. His presence
was <i>the secret of their continuance</i>, even as with the churches of every
century and of today. But for that faithful presence and His untiring ministry,
none could maintain testimony in this dark scene. <br /><br /><strong>"One like unto
the Son of man."</strong> Often had John heard the Lord speak of Himself by this
title of His true humanity, which proclaimed Him to be the One in whom every
noble and precious trait proper to manhood found full and harmonious expression.
Because of His humanity He was the appointed judge, even as He spoke,
<strong>"The Father . . . hath given him authority to execute judgment also,
because he is the Son of man"</strong> (John 5:26-27). In John's vision title
stresses particularly the experience in manhood of the One whom he beheld in
such majesty. Having served the will of God in the conditions normal to human
life, sin apart, and being made <strong>"perfect through sufferings,"</strong>
He is an assessor who has known every circumstance of trial which a holy being
could experience. Perfect in His understanding of His people's path, of their
service, and of their needs. He is still the Son of man. His eyes are as a flame
of fire, but they are human eyes; His voice is as the sound of many waters, but
it is a human voice; His feet are like unto fine brass, but they are human feet.
<br /><br />The garment and the girdle tell of the <i>great glory of person</i>
which the Lord Jesus brings to His office as steward. It is noteworthy that John
should see them and write of them, for he it was who described in John 13 the
scene where the Lord had exchanged His outer garments for the girdle in order
that He might wash the disciple's feet. The grace and humility of the upper room
pictured most suggestively the facts of the Lord's stoop from heaven. Then He
had laid aside His vestments of majesty, the splendor which had always
surrounded Him, and condescended to take the servant's form that He might carry
out the lowly ministry linked with the girdle. But in Patmos John beheld the
Lord wearing both garment and girdle together. Once more He was clothed in
majesty, having been glorified with the glory which He had with the Father
before the world was, but He nevertheless remained the gracious minister to the
needs of men. Moreover the position of the girdle claims attention. It might be
worn around the loins, as befitting toil in the harvest fields of earth, or
around the heart, as suited to the service of the sanctuary. It was the latter
which John saw, for though the Lord retained the servant's form, His toil on
earth in weariness and suffering was completed, and in its place was the
tranquil ministry of His glorified state. <br /><br />The sublime description of
Christ in Revelation 1:14-16 comprises seven distinct glimpses of His person,
which are given in two groups of three and four respectively. That the feet
should be mentioned immediately after the eyes, and before the voice and the
right hand, indicates a purposive arrangement of John's subject matter. The
first group tells of the holiness which ever pertains to Christ's dealings with
His people in the witness for Him, for never for a moment can one act on His
part be at variance with His essential, eternal purity. He is not only holy, but
holiness itself. Hence all that is contrary to His nature is unholy. Because He
changes not, there can be neither variation of His character, nor relaxing of
His standards for His people. In both Testaments the word is <strong>"be ye
holy; for I am holy,"</strong> and this whether as in Israel's case, surrounded
by the excesses of heathendom, or, as in our case, amid the disdain of God and
the consequent decline of morals so painfully obvious in this present day. The
second group tells of Christ's complete sufficiency to supply everything His
people require for their life and witness. The unveiling of His person is always
God's answer to our need. For every fresh realization of our own inadequacy God
has a fresh revealing of the inexhaustible fullness of Christ.
<br /><br /><strong>"His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow;
and his eyes were as a flame of fire; and his feet like unto fine brass, as if
they burned in a furnace"</strong> (Rev. 1:14-15). In the snow-white head we see
<i>holiness ruling</i>, in the flaming eyes <i>holiness searching</i>, and in
the burning feet <i>holiness moving</i>. His head is white, for His rule is
marked by perfect purity. We are His bondmen, over whom He has right of complete
dominion, but the basic principle of His government is holiness, even as Isaiah
learned when he saw His glory and heard the adoration of the seraphim. If we
would see His power put forth in blessing in our lives, then must we yield to
His holy will the unreserved submission which is prepared for entire adjustment
to the claims of His character. Holiness is imperative to blessing. Is it a
vision of Himself which we crave? Then the Word speaks: <strong>"Follow . . .
holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord"</strong> (Heb. 12:14). Is it
service in which we would glorify Him? Then the Word speaks: <strong>"Be ye
clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord"</strong> (Isa. 52:11). Is it prayer in
which we fail? Again the Word speaks: <strong>"I will . . . that men pray every
where, lifting up holy hands"</strong> (I Tim. 2:8). <br /><br /><strong>"His eyes
were as a flame of fire."</strong> We cannot escape <i>their penetrating
gaze</i>. The depths of the heart lie bare to the solemn inspection. No motive
is missed, and no secret thing is overlooked. To Thyatira the Lord sent the
message: <strong>"These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto
a flame of fire . . . I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts"</strong>
(Rev. 2:18, 23). Those eyes are still upon us today, as they shall be at His
judgment seat.</p>
<p align="center">Then, then, I feel that He, <br />(Remembered or forgot), <br />The
Lord is never far from me, <br />Though I perceive it not. <br /><br />In darkness as
in light, <br />Hidden alike from view, <br />I sleep, I wake, as in His sight,
<br />Who looks all nature through. <br /><br />From the dim hour of birth,
<br />Through every changing state, <br />Of mortal pilgrimage on earth, <br />Till
its appointed date, <br /><br />All that I am, have been, <br />All that I yet may be,
<br />He sees at once, as He hath seen, <br />And shall for ever see. <br /><br />How
shall I meet His eyes? <br />Mine on the Cross I cast, <br />And own my life a
Saviour's prize, <br />Mercy from first to last. </p>
<p align="justify">What things does He see in us -- the unclean thought, the eye
not turned away, the secret grudge, the jealousy of another's blessing, the
unwarranted suspicious of another's motives, the greed for mammon, the proud
ambition? These, and much else hidden from men under the guise of an outward
rectitude, must be judged before the gaze of Christ if we are to know "<b>years
of the right hand of the most High</b>." <br /><br />"<b>His feet are like fine
brass</b>." Brass is the symbol of judgment, as it is so often in Scripture.
When He moves in the midst of His churches to carry out His discipline, His
steps are holy. He has not one standard for His foes and another for His
friends. It is the same holiness which tests all and judges all. To Ephesus He
said, "<b>These things saith he... who walketh in the midst of the seven golden
candlesticks . . . Repent . . . or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will
remove thy candlestick out of his place</b>" (Rev. 2:1, 5). Yet even in these
activities, His love and patience are fully manifested, and those glowing feet
<i>pause in their stately tread</i> that He may stand at the door of a heart and
plead for the fellowship which has been denied Him. "<b>Behold, I stand at the
door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to
him, and will sup with him, and he with me</b>" (Rev. 3:20). <br /><br />"<b>And his
voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and
out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun
shineth in his strength</b>" (Rev. 1:15-16). Nowhere in Patmos would John be far
from the surges of the Agean Sea, but they were all hushed by this glorious
voice. Its sound is compared in Scripture to the pealing of thunder: "<b>The
voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth</b>" (Psa.
29:3) (see Job 37:5), and to the voice of a multitude (Dan. 10:6). But when it
speaks peace to the soul it is as heavenly music. </p>
<p align="center">Thy voice, like great waters -- how calmly our soul <br />Shall
hear in the glory its deep waters roll! </p>
<p align="justify">But here and now it sounds above the restless waves of this
world's commotion and stills the heart to rest. <br /><br />It is in this voice that
first we find in this passage the sufficiency of Christ, for embraced within its
flow is every stream of truth that comes from the heart of God. The voices of
lawgiver, of psalmist, and of prophet, all gave precious words from the one
eternal fount, but all their message, and far more, is conveyed by the voice of
the Lord Himself. Even so are we taught in the opening verses of the Epistle to
the Hebrews that the days of partial revelation are ended, in that God has
spoken to us by His Son. He is the ultimate Messenger of God, even as He is all
the Message. We listen in all our variety of need to the voice of Christ and
find therein no lack of supply, but rather that which is given directly for our
own heart. As the many waters <i>blend in perfect harmony</i> of sound, so the
streams of truth in the Person and work of Him who is the Way, the Truth, and
the life. <br /><br />"<b>And he had in his right hand seven stars</b>." The right
hand speaks of power. As Moses and the children of Israel by the shore of the
Red Sea sang to their God, "<b>Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in
power,</b>" so with even deeper meaning we acclaim the triumph of Christ's
journey through the sea of death to the shore of resurrection and "<b>the saving
strength of his right hand</b>." The seven stars were the angels (the
messengers) of the seven churches. In the world's darkness each church was a
candlestick; each person who was given responsibility within a church was a
star. As the star has its shining, so the servant of Christ and of the church
has his ministry. Each star was held in the Lord's right hand. Each servant,
whatever his service, was <i>safe in His care</i>, safe within a clasp both
possessive and protective, which was at once omnipotent in its strength and
exquisite in its gentleness. <br /><br />"<b>And out of his mouth went a sharp
twoedged sword</b>." It is the Word of God which is so described as proceeded
from the mouth of its Author -- the Word in all its penetrating and
discriminating power and in all its finality of authority (cf. Heb. 4:12). To
Pergamos the Lord said, "<b>These things saith he which hath the sharp sword
with two edges; . . . I . . . will fight against them with the sword of my
mouth</b>" (Rev. 2:12, 16). With the sharp sword He will smite the nations at
His coming in glory (Rev. 19:15), but first it must deal with evil among His own
people. John saw the sword proceeding out of His mouth. It was not that it left
the lips of Christ to lie inert, as it were, upon the ground, but that it
streamed ceaselessly from Him. Thus was pictured one of Scripture's most
profound facts, i.e., that the Word of God, while complete and given once for
all, is presented as being ever <i>freshly spoken from the heart of God</i> to
the heart of man. It is the living Word, which has been aptly described as being
"contemporaneous with every generation of believers." The words of men partake
of the frailty of their authors and pass away as they do, but the Word of God is
instinct with His timeless life. <br /><br />"<b>And his countenance was as the sun
shineth in his strength</b>." In these words <i>the all-sufficiency of
Christ</i> blazes out in full vigor. As the sun in the sky to the physical
creation, so is the face of Christ to His redeemed ones. As this earth derives
all its light, its heat and its energy from the sun, so in the spiritual realm
we derive all from the exalted Saviour. On the holy mount His face shone as the
sun; in the Day of the Lord, to those who fear His name, He shall arise as
"<b>the sun of righteousness... with healing in his wings</b>" (Mal. 4:2). He is
our Sun, and we may well pray -- </p>
<p align="center">Oh, may no earth-born cloud arise, <br />To hide Thee from Thy
servant's eyes! </p>
<p align="justify">In John's vision there was no cloud. The glory of God poured
forth its full radiance from that blessed face. The churches were candlesticks,
and their messengers were stars -- all for the world's night, but the Lord was
the Sun whose gladdening light shone upon "<b>the children of light, and the
children of the day</b>" (I Thess. 5:5). </p>
<p align="justify"><br /><b>III. THE BLESSING -- THE ACCOLADE OF THE PIERCED
HAND</b> <br /><br />"<b>And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid
his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not</b>" (Rev. 1:17). The glory was
more than John could bear. He was not yet in the resurrection body, in which he
would be at home in presence of such majesty. Overwhelmed by the vision, he fell
at Christ's feet as if dead. Then there touched him the right hand that sways
the destinies of the universe, and he felt it resting upon him in all its
comforting grace and sustaining strength. Yet it was a human hand, one that long
before in weakness had rested in a mother's tender embrace, one that had known
the lowly toil of a carpenter's shop and had provided for others the necessities
of life. It, too, had known the mystery of pain; through its palm a nail had
bound Him to the tree. Upon the scars in His hands the wondering gaze of John
had rested in that days when, risen from the dead, the Lord had said, "<b>Behold
my hands and my feet, that it is I myself</b>." </p>
<p align="justify">The touch of His hand brought great cheer to the aged apostle.
It was not only that the Lord should bend in grace over His prostrate servant
and raise him in life and strength. Others had felt His touch in the days of His
humiliation and even after His resurrection, but none had known it in the
exercise of its heavenly rule. Thus did John receive the accolade of the Lord of
all. Upon their faithful followers, the kings of this world bestow knighthood
with the touch of the naked sword, the symbol of warfare, but the Sovereign of
the eternal throne gives His honor with the touch of His pierced hand, the
symbol of <i>victory already won</i>. Then through the apostle's heart there
swept the music of the many waters as Christ spoke His words of peace. John need
not fear. It was for the culmination of his life's service that the Lord had
appeared unto him, and that He might equip and commission him for the task that
awaited. "<b>Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are,
and the things which shall be hereafter</b>." <br /><br />"<b>I am the first and the
last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore.
Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death</b>" (Rev. 1:17-18). <br /><br />The
Lord Jesus is the first and the last, the eternal One whose being precedes all
creature existence, and whose glory is all its goal. <br /><br />He is the One who
has "<b>life in Himself</b>," not derived but His eternally. <br /><br />He is the
inexhaustible fount of life for His people in all their frailty. <br /><br />He is
the One who became dead. <br /><br />As John heard those words and recalled his
memories of Calvary, the spear, and the wounded side, he must have marveled that
the Living One could ever taste death. But that death was past, and the
crucified One was alive for evermore, and John was bidden to look up and see the
triumph of the resurrection in the person of his Lord. <br /><br />Thus for John
also was there the realization of the perpetual presence. John was the last to
whom Christ revealed Himself in such fashion, but the fact of the presence is
unchanged. For us as we serve here until the Lord comes, there is neither a
vision of His glory to these eyes, nor His touch upon these bodies of
humiliation. Nevertheless to faith there must ever be visible that wonderful
face, and by faith there must ever be heard that voice whose matchless harmonies
enthrall the soul, and whose words of cheer hush the sighing of the heart and
awaken the song of praise. And faith must feel in every Patmos the invigorating
touch of that hand, so gentle and yet so strong, the hand adorned with its
nailprint, and in whose care we and all our service are safe. So shall we in our
day, amid all the claims of life "<b>be strong in the grace that is in Christ
Jesus</b>." </p>
<p align="center"><br /><strong><a href="https://faithfulmenofgod.blogspot.com/2008/10/companion-of-way.html" target="_blank">Back to The Companion Of The Way TOC</a></strong></p>Jerry Boueyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11939572388745111915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953682481802321447.post-84912310604459869252022-11-21T22:44:00.006-08:002022-11-21T22:44:34.185-08:00The God Of Soldiers<h2 style="text-align: center;"><b>The God Of Soldiers</b></h2><div align="justify"><span style="text-align: left;">On a cool, quiet January morning, Corporal Rick Garrett was shaving in the shower trailer at Camp Victory, Iraq. Wrapped in a towel and enjoying the energy he felt from a good night's sleep, he began thinking about the months he had left overseas.</span></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Many questions filled his mind: Would the war get even bloodier? Would any of his buddies be killed? Would he do his duty well? In fact, would he even survive?
Then another question - it was a prayer, really - formed itself in his mind: "God, are you able to protect me over here?"</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">The words had just become a conscious thought when Corporal Garrett heard a deafening crash. It was the sound of the trailer door shattering. An RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) had pierced the door and was now flying through the middle of the trailer. In an instant, the projectile flew past Corporal Garrett, lightly creasing his stomach en route, and embedded itself in the trailer wall opposite the door. </div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">For a moment, Garrett was frozen in shock, expecting the RPG to explode. But it did not. Realizing he might have a moment to escape, the corporal ran to the gaping hole where the door had been and hurled himself through it to the ground several feet below. Jumping up as quickly as he could, he sprinted from the trailer while shouting a warning to those in the nearby trailers. Dozens of soldiers braced themselves for an explosion.
Yet nothing happened. The RPG never exploded. It was a dud.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Garrett picked himself up from the ground and began laughing with relief. As a crowd gathered and began congratulating him for his luck, he remembered the question he had been asking God: "Can you protect me over here?" It seemed that God had answered.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">In case the message hadn't been clear enough, though, there was something more. When the ordinance specialists examined the unexploded RPG, they found a message had been scratched onto it. This was not uncommon. Insurgents often painted or scratched some message on the missiles they fired as an added insult to their American enemy.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">But the message on this particular missile had a special meaning to Corporal Garrett.
It read simply, "From the God of the American Soldiers."
Apparently, an insurgent had intended the message as a cruel insult. Corporal Garrett knew better. Whatever the insurgents meant to say, he knew that his God was saying in dramatic terms, "Yes, I can protect you over here. For I am indeed, 'the God of the American Soldiers.'"</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">(Taken from <em>'American Heroes'</em> by Stephen Mansfield.)</div><div align="justify"><strong><br /></strong></div><div align="justify"><strong>Jerry's Notes:</strong> I used this story for a devotion on January 23rd/08 at the Mission. The verses I used to show that God is no respecter of persons and will look out for His people, wherever we may be, were:</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><b>God watched over Abram, even though he did not know where God was leading him:</b></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Genesis 12:1 <em>Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:</em></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><b>Promise to protect and provide for Abram:</b></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Genesis 15:1 <em>After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.</em></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><b>Promise to protect and safely keep Jacob:</b></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Genesis 28:15 <em>And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.</em></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><b>Promises to Joshua and the nation of Israel:</b></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Deuteronomy 31:6 <em>Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.</em></div><div align="justify"><em><br /></em></div><div align="justify">Joshua 1:1-2 <em>Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.</em></div><div align="justify"><em><br /></em></div><div align="justify">Joshua 1:5 <em>There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.</em></div><div align="justify"><em><br /></em></div><div align="justify">Joshua 1:9 <em>Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.</em></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">And we find the promise to Joshua quoted in the New Testament to all of God's people today:</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Hebrews 13:5-6 <em>Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.</em></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Praise the Lord for His loving care of His children!</div>Jerry Boueyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11939572388745111915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953682481802321447.post-44578728658270883052022-11-21T22:32:00.004-08:002023-11-14T12:28:31.216-08:00The Strength Of The Toiler - Paul<p style="text-align: center;"><script src="https://av1611.com/verseclick/verseclick.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <strong><span style="font-size: medium;">The Companion of the Way</span></strong></p><p align="center"><strong>by </strong>
</p><p align="center"><strong>H.C. Hewlett</strong>
</p><p align="center">1962
</p><p align="center">Moody Press
</p><p align="center">Chicago, Illinois
</p><p align="center"><i>~ Out of print and in the public domain ~</i>
</p><p>
</p><hr />
<p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">The Strength Of The Toiler -
Paul</span></strong></p>
<p align="center"><strong>(Acts 26)</strong></p><strong></strong>
<p align="justify"><br />The path of testimony which Paul trod for so many years
began with the experience wherewith that of Stephen ended, with the revelation
of the Lord Jesus Christ in Heaven. Not only was the Lord pleased to answer the
martyr's prayer by the conversion of one implicated in his death, but He raised
up this very man to carry on and to amplify, both by his preaching and by his
writings, the witness to Christ in glory. While Paul spent his days in the
proclamation of this grand theme, there was given to him on a number of
occasions such a special realization of the Lord's nearness that, in this also,
he was Stephen's spiritual heir. Taken in sequence, these present a rich
unfolding of the great truths of the unchanging presence. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />The SATISFYING Presence (Acts 26)</span>
<br /><br />"<span style="font-weight: bold;">At midday, O king, I saw in the way a
light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and
them which journeyed with me. And when we were fallen to the earth, I heard a
voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why
persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said,
Who art thou Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise, and
stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make
thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of
those things in the which I will appear unto thee; . . . Whereupon, O king
Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision</span>" (Acts 26:13-19).
<br /><br />Three times in the Acts the record of Paul's conversion is given, two of
these being in his own words. The last account is quoted because of the express
words of the Lord Jesus, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">I have appeared unto
thee</span>." Few men have ever hated the name of Jesus and the disciples of
Jesus so fiercely as did the brilliant young Pharisee of Tarsus. His own
confession is that he was "<span style="font-weight: bold;">exceedingly mad
against them</span>." Intent on persecution, he was journeying to Damascus, when
he was arrested by the shining of a light from heaven surpassing the brightness
of the noonday sun. He has told us little of what he saw in that moment when the
rays of glory from Christ's face shone upon him. He did not speak of it: "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Am I not an apostle? . . . have I not seen Jesus
Christ our Lord?</span>" (I Cor. 9:1). However the record is given largely in
the impact of the vision upon his subsequent life. <br /><br />While Paul lay
prostrate, a voice from the intense light asked him, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?</span>" Then the
voice compared him to the ox that kicks back against the goad that would urge it
forward. Had Paul been fighting inwardly against the accusings of conscience,
and had the radiant face of Stephen and the grace of his dying words been often
in his memory, challenging him to search out these things? Gazing upward, and
realizing at once that he beheld the God of his fathers, for none else could
bear such sublime majesty, he addressed Him as Lord. Trembling at the charge of
persecuting Him, he asked, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Who art thou,
Lord?</span>" Was it the sight of manhood, even in that glory, that also drew
from him the question? Then there came the words that shattered all his pride
and obstinacy, words whose implications surely searched him hour after hour
during the three long, sightless days that followed (Acts 9:9): "<span style="font-weight: bold;">I am Jesus whom thou persecutest</span>." The hated
Nazarene was the Lord of glory; the despised Jesus was the long-awaited Christ;
the hunted sufferers were the saints of God. <br /><br />From that moment Paul was
the willing captive of the Saviour's love. His further words, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">What shall I do, Lord?</span>" (Acts 22:10) became the
keynote of his life. He gave himself to be Christ's bondslave, utterly and
forever. He had set out that morning with gifts of persons likely to make him an
idol of his people, and with the garlands of earth's glory thick upon him. In
that <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">heavenly sunshine</span>
<br /><br />these poor things withered and died, and henceforth nothing was of value
to him in comparison with that face which he had seen, bright with the majesty
of the Godhead and beautiful with eternal love. In later years he wrote of it to
the Philippians: "<span style="font-weight: bold;">What things were gain to me,
those I counted loss for Christ</span>." And if we venture to ask: "Were you not
precipitate in your renunciation, brother Paul? Was it not just your impetuosity
of eager youth?" he replies, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">I count</span>
(i.e., I still count, after all these years of toil and privation) <span style="font-weight: bold;">all things but loss for the excellency of the
knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord</span>" (Phil. 3:7-8). His soul was satisfied
indeed. </p>
<p align="center">Marvel not that Christ in glory <br />All my inmost heart hath
won, <br />Not a star to cheer my darkness <br />But a Light beyond the sun.</p>
<p align="justify"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />The SOVEREIGN Presence
(Acts 22)</span> <br /><br />"<span style="font-weight: bold;">And it came to pass,
that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I
was in a trance; and saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly
out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. And I
said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that
believed on thee: And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was
standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that
slew him. And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the
Gentiles</span>" (Acts 22:17-21). <br /><br />It was Paul's first visit to Jerusalem
after his conversion, and the Lord appeared unto him in a trance to direct him
away from the city and send him to the Gentiles. Paul pleaded that he should be
permitted to stay, and advanced the most laudable reasons for this. He had been
a leader in the persecution of the believers. Was it not then most fitting that
he should take his place publicly as a disciple where once he had "<span style="font-weight: bold;">made havock of the church?</span>" Again, there was
his share in the death of Stephen, whose memory was so sadly dear to him. Ought
he not by his testimony to make what amends might be possible for that grievous
wrong? Ought he not to honor the Lord Jesus by confessing His name in the city
where He had been crucified? Not only so, but there burned in his heart that
love to his erring people of Israel which was later to find expression in the
words, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">I could wish that myself were accursed
from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh</span>" (Rom.
9:3). <br /><br />These were in themselves entirely worthy motives, but the will of
Christ must take <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">precedence over the
noblest choices</span> <br /><br />of the soul. Christ's presence will not be the
constant realization of the heart unless His sovereignty be recognized and
unless He be owned as Lord of the life and all its relationships. His will makes
no mistakes but decrees all with unfailing love and unerring wisdom. He sees the
end from the beginning and knows the purpose of every step in the path of His
servant which may seem perplexing to human eyes. <br /><br />It was thus with the
service of Paul. He had been told at his conversion that he was to be a witness
to all men, and to the Gentiles, but little could he have foreseen either then
or in the visit to the Gentiles. Ahead lay the mighty ministry of his missionary
journeys, wherein, for example, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">all they which
dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks</span>"
(Acts 19:10). Ahead lay the planting of those lines of churches in Asia and
Greece. Ahead lay the writing of those letters in which the doctrines of the
Gospel and of the Church should be embodied, even to such amazing revelations as
those to the saints at Ephesus. Beyond all these, but the result of them, was
the impact which Paul was to make on the centuries to come. Today we owe an
incalculable debt to him and to the Lord's dealing in his life.</p>
<p align="justify"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />The SUSTAINING Presence
(Acts 18)</span> <br /><br />"<span style="font-weight: bold;">Then spake the Lord to
Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:
for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much
people in this city</span>" (Acts 18:9-10). At Corinth the apostle met with much
opposition and distress. There was the pain of the break with the Jews. To his
witness to them that Jesus was the Christ they had responded with blasphemy, and
he had left the synagogue. Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue believed,
and all his house with him, but there was no abating of the relentless hostility
of the Jews. Again, there was the constant problem of the Corinthian character,
which led finally to the heartache of the apostle in his letters to the fickle
and loose-living believers in that city. Just how he felt as he gave himself to
win the Corinthians for Christ is seen in his words, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much
trembling</span>" (I Cor. 2:3). From a natural viewpoint there was much to
discourage, and he might well fear that the hatred of the Jews would lead to
some outrage like the stoning in Lystra. <br /><br />In a night vision the Lord drew
near to His tried servant and spoke those words of cheer which so often came
from His lips, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Be not afraid</span>." These
words had been addressed to Jairus in the depth of his sorrow and to the
terrified disciples when He walked across the sea to their help. These words
were to be heavenly music to John in his exile in Patmos. To Paul they came as
<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">rich encouragement to continue</span>
<br /><br />his witness to the Corinthians. The secret of the Lord's message to him
lay in the accompanying assurance of the perpetual presence, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">I am with thee</span>." The Lord's interest in Corinth
lay not in its vast commercial empire and in its wealth, but in the believers,
and especially in the despised man named Paul. This man might indeed be weak in
bodily presence, and in speech of no account to Grecian reckoning but he was the
vessel chosen of Christ to bring salvation to that place. <br /><br />No hurt should
come to him from any man. No hand would be permitted to hurl a stone at him; no
rod would be uplifted to leave its scar upon his back. The omnipotent presence
would be his bodyguard to protect him from every ill. His fears were dispelled.
Christ was his shield and his salvation. Later there was an uproar in the city,
for the Jews took Paul before the tribunal of Gallio, the Roman governor, but
Gallio indignantly dismissed both of them and their complaint, and the Greeks
took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and thrashed him there and
then. Through all of this Paul was preserved unscathed, and he remained a good
while in Corinth, until the time came for him to leave Greece. The Lord had much
people in that city. Populous in itself, Corinth was strategically placed, with
access to the Aegean and Adriatic seas. Through Corinth there flowed a constant
stream of trade. The testimony for Christ was thus calculated to be carried far
and wide by those who would come to Corinth, hear the message, and take it to
their homes.</p>
<p align="justify"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />The SUCCOURING Presence
(Acts 23)</span> <br /><br />"<span style="font-weight: bold;">And when there arose a
great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled
in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force
from among them, and to bring him into the castle. And the night following the
Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified
of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome</span>" (Acts
23:10-11). It was an occasion of peculiar difficulty for Paul. He had come to
Jerusalem -- though warned as to this (Acts 20:23; 21:4, 11), bringing to the
believers the bounty of the Gentile churches, and with it that deep burden of
love for his nation which ever characterized him. Nevertheless, nothing seemed
to go as he might have wished. Though unto the Jews he became a Jew, that he
might gain the Jews, and to them that were under the law, that he might gain
those that were under the law (see I Cor. 9:20), he met with grave trouble.
Rescued from imminent death by the intervention of the Roman garrison, he
appeared before the Jewish council, but was removed by the soldiers lest he
should have been killed in the strife between Pharisees and Sadducees. He had
gone far to meet the clamor against him, even reasserting for the moment his old
life with the Pharisees, but to no avail. <br /><br />In the darkness of the night
following, a sad and weary man lay in the castle. From the Lord's words to him,
"<span style="font-weight: bold;">Be of good cheer</span>," it seems that he was
disconsolate and disappointed. Perhaps with his sensitive heart, he was also
reproaching himself for the scenes which had taken place. Which of us has not
known at least a little of the sting of self-reproach when we have searched
ourselves, seeking reason for circumstances of difficulty and discouragement?
<br /><br />It was then that the Lord stood by him, the Lord who knew all the
devotedness of Paul's heart, and prized dearly his life of service and
suffering. With words reminiscent of scenes in His earthly path in which He had
spoken in like fashion to other needy hearts <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">ministered His comfort</span> <br /><br />afresh. The
paralytic lying helplessly at the feet of Jesus, the woman who touched the hem
of His garment, the disciples on the lake, and again on the way to Gethsemane,
had all heard those gracious words (Matt. 9:2, 22; 14:27; John 16:33). They had
all known the peace given by that voice, for "<span style="font-weight: bold;">when he giveth quietness, who then can make
trouble?</span>" (Job 34:29). <br /><br />"<span style="font-weight: bold;">Thou hast
testified of me in Jerusalem</span>." It was the Master's own appraisal of what
lay deepest in the longing of His servant. Amidst all the strange events of
Paul's visit to Jerusalem had run the golden thread of his witness to the Lord
Jesus. None who heard him could doubt his wholehearted allegiance to his Saviour
and his conviction of the greatness of His Person and of His work. But Paul's
service was not yet finished. His desire to go to Rome (see Acts 19:21) was to
be granted, even though the manner of its fulfillment was hidden from his sight.
In the seat of earth's power, and even before the proud Caesar, the ambassador
of the enthroned Christ must bear his witness to the One before whom even kings
must bow, and whom earthly monarchs need as Saviour as truly as do other men.
There "<span style="font-weight: bold;">the prisoner of Jesus Christ</span>"
would stand, and there would he proclaim the blessed name. The conspiracy of the
Jews at Jerusalem, the lonely years at Caesarea, and the shipwreck on Malta,
were all alike in the permissive will of God, but were not allowed to frustrate
the promise. The Lord brought Paul to Rome by ways which he knew not. To human
eyes the path must have seemed mysterious, but all along the way the sacred
presence went also.</p>
<p align="justify"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />The SOLITARY Presence (II
Tim. 4)</span> <br /><br />"<span style="font-weight: bold;">At my first answer no
man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to
their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that
by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear:
and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord shall deliver me
from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be
glory for ever and ever. Amen</span>" (II Tim. 4:16-18). The apostle was in
prison for the last time. His course was finished, and the time of his departure
was at hand. Very soon he was to be "<span style="font-weight: bold;">with
Christ; which is far better</span>." Already he had stood before Nero and in the
words quoted above, he described that first trial. Greatly he felt the
loneliness of that scene. Asian brethren were turned away from him (II Tim.
1:15) and that Demas had forsaken him, having loved this present world (II Tim.
4:10), but that all forsook him. Not one friend could be found to stand beside
the man who had experienced so much in suffering for the sake of his brethren.
He wrote, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Only Luke is with me</span>" -- Luke,
the dear companion of his journeys, who was content in a self-effacing ministry
of attendance on the apostle. Yet in Paul's loneliness there was no bitterness,
only love. As the Lord had prayed for those who nailed Him to the Cross, and as
Stephen in like manner prayed for his murderers, so Paul prayed for those who
had deserted him. <br /><br />We look back wonderingly to that trial, and try to
picture in our thoughts the meeting of Paul and Nero. There they faced each
other -- earth's best and earth's worst, the saint of blameless life and the
monster of foulest sin. Even Nero was one for whom Christ died, and to whom the
exceeding goodness of God willed to present the message of salvation. How great
must be the guilt of that man with his load of fearful vice, with his hounding
to death of the Christians, and with his rejection of the Christ of the Gospel!
<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Alone, and yet not alone!</span>
<br /><br />"<span style="font-weight: bold;">Notwithstanding</span>," said Paul,
"<span style="font-weight: bold;">the Lord stood with me</span>." It was a
solitary presence, but it was all-compensating. Christ had been with him through
all his years, and He did not fail His servant in his last weariness. Indeed,
all the characteristics of His nearness to Paul in earlier days were gathered up
in this final scene. It was a <span style="font-style: italic;">sustaining</span>
presence, for the Apostle said, "[<span style="font-weight: bold;">He]
strengthened me, that by me the preaching might be fully known</span>." It was a
<span style="font-style: italic;">succouring</span> presence, for he said: "<span style="font-weight: bold;">I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion</span>."
It was a <span style="font-style: italic;">sovereign</span> presence, for his
heart was at rest in this certainty: "<span style="font-weight: bold;">The Lord
shall deliver me . . . and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom</span>."
Then it was a <span style="font-style: italic;">satisfying</span> presence, for
he concluded his narrative with the last doxology of his writings, the glad
tribute of a worshiping heart -- "<span style="font-weight: bold;">To whom be
glory for ever and ever. Amen</span>" <br /><br />Once more Paul's voice was heard.
The closing greetings were to be added to his letter to the son in the faith who
was so dear to him. What better thing could he wish than that which he, Paul,
had known and proved so long? So he gave his last message, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be
with you. Amen</span>." Christ had been sufficient for Paul. He would be so for
Timothy. He is so for us today. </p>
<p align="center"><strong><br /><a href="https://faithfulmenofgod.blogspot.com/2022/11/the-steward-of-gods-house-john.html" target="_blank">Chapter
12 - THE STEWARD OF GOD'S HOUSE - Revelation 1 - John</a></strong></p>
<p align="center"><strong><a href="https://faithfulmenofgod.blogspot.com/2008/10/companion-of-way.html" target="_blank">Back to The Companion Of The Way TOC</a></strong></p>Jerry Boueyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11939572388745111915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953682481802321447.post-48041072564008541672022-11-21T20:19:00.003-08:002023-11-14T12:28:14.137-08:00The Face That Welcomed - Stephen<p style="text-align: center;"><script src="https://av1611.com/verseclick/verseclick.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Companion of the Way</span></b></p><p align="center"><b>by </b>
</p><p align="center"><b>H.C. Hewlett </b>
</p><p align="center">1962
</p><p align="center">
</p><p align="center">Moody Press
</p><p align="center">Chicago, Illinois
</p><p align="center"><em>~ Out of print and in the public domain ~</em>
</p><p align="center">
</p><hr />
<p></p>
<p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">The Face That Welcomed -
Stephen</span></strong></p>
<p align="center"><strong>(Acts 7)</strong></p><strong></strong>
<p align="justify"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I. THE SETTING -- THE
FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERING</span> </p>
<p align="justify">The triumph of Stephen was the first great crisis in the
history of the Church. For Israel, too, it was a crisis, for in the death of the
first Christian martyr the nation's probation ceased. Even after the cry of
apostasy, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">We have no king but Caesar</span>,"
and that bitter taunt, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">He trusted in God; let
him deliver him now, if he will have him</span>," the Divine patience waited
long. The Messiah had been scorned in the days of His flesh. When He was by the
witness of the Spirit presented to the nation as the ascended One, who had been
made both Lord and Christ, whom God had exalted with His right hand to be a
Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel and remission of sins,
the witness of the Spirit was likewise scorned. The man who spoke to the Jewish
council with "<span style="font-weight: bold;">face as it had been the face of an
angel</span>" was hurried to death by men convicted but unrepentant. Then God
began to display His secret purpose to bring Gentiles along with Jews into the
Church. The Gospel was carried far and wide -- to Samaria, to Antioch, and to
the ends of the earth, and the guilty nation was given over to the judgment that
resulted in the destruction of the city and the temple in A.D. 70. <br /><br />But
the martyrdom of Stephen was a crisis for the Church, for the heavenly
outcalling acquired a deeper fellowship with Christ. In the stoning of Stephen,
the Church tasted of the cup of its Lord's suffering unto death, and was
despised and rejected of men as He had been. The Lord Jesus suffered "<span style="font-weight: bold;">without the gate</span>," in the place of reproach and
dishonor; Stephen was "<span style="font-weight: bold;">cast... out of the
city</span>," and stoned. Thus began <span style="font-style: italic;">the long
procession of witnesses</span> that has continued unto this day. Some of its
faces are in a measure familiar to us. We know of Stephen and Paul, of Polycarp,
or Perpetua and Felicitas, of Tyndale, of Ridley and Latimer, of Huss, of John
and Betty Stam, and of others whose sufferings and death have been inscribed in
the annals of men. But for the most part the witnesses are unknown to us. Yet
every life laid down for Christ's sake was precious in the eyes of the Lord, and
every name is written with honor in the Book of Life. By and by we shall meet
these dear brethren and sisters in the family of God, and with them we shall
extol the grace that was sufficient for all. The Lord who succored Stephen was
their Lord, too. Not one of them was forsaken of Him, but His presence was with
them all, where the stones fell, or the sword descended, or the fire burned, or
in the Colosseum, or amid Alpine snows, or in Siberian wastes. <br /><br />We can
scarcely read the account of Stephen's experience before the council without
seeing afresh the Lord Jesus Himself standing before that same tribunal. The
martyr was accused by false witnesses of violent words against the holy place.
"<span style="font-weight: bold;">We have heard him say, that this Jesus of
Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses
delivered us</span>" (Acts 6:14). The Lord was charged by lying lips, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of
God, and to build it in three days</span>" (Matt. 26:61). To this charge the
Lord answered nothing, even as the prophet had predicted: "<span style="font-weight: bold;">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</span>" (Isa. 53:7). But to
the words of the high priest, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">I adjure thee by
the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of
God</span>," He gave answer, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Thou hast said:
nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on
the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven</span>." <br /><br />In
Stephen's case there was reply at considerable length to the question of the
high priest, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Are these things so?</span>" (Acts
7:1), for it was his task finally to arraign Israel's leaders with their crime
in the murder of the Messiah. When their rage exceeded all restraint, he
likewise bore testimony to the glory of the Son of man. To the Lord's answer the
high priest gave the terrible response, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">He hath
spoken blasphemy</span>," and the council said, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">He is guilty of death</span>." The fatal decision was
made; they would listen to no further word from His lips. At Stephen's
proclamation concerning the Son of man, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">they...
stopped their ears</span>." Cut to the heart by his defense, they could not bear
to hear that which reminded them of the solemn declaration by the Lord Jesus.
<br /><br />Strange it was that the council should be concerned about the reports
that Stephen had said that "<span style="font-weight: bold;">this Jesus of
Nazareth shall destroy this place</span>," if He were, as they claimed, still in
death. The very words of the charge betrayed the uneasiness of the Jews touching
the preaching by the followers of Jesus that He was alive from the dead. The
chief priests knew full well the report of the guards who had fled from the
tomb. They knew also that the explanation that the guards had slept was a lie.
Unable to account for the empty tomb and the courage of the disciples, they
silenced their doubts by renewed action against the preachers of the Gospel.</p>
<p align="justify"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />II. THE REVELATION -- THE
HEAVENLY VISION</span> <br /><br />"<span style="font-weight: bold;">When they heard
these things, they were cut to their heart, and they gnashed on him with their
teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven,
and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said,
Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand
of God</span>" (Acts 7:54-56). Then, as always when He dwells ungrieved in the
believer, the Holy Spirit so ministered the compensations of God to Stephen that
he, too, was more than conqueror. The fury of earth was met by the opening of
Heaven, and the loneliness of his position by vision of his Lord. To Stephen, as
to Paul and to John, it was given to see the glorified Lord with mortal eyes. To
all others it has been given to see Him only by faith, but such is the Spirit's
delight to reveal Christ to His people that though they are at times in
heaviness through manifold temptations, yet they love the One whom they have not
seen and, believing in Him, they rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.
<br /><br />In that hour Stephen's gaze was turned upward to Heaven and home, and
was not disappointed. Since the ascension of the Lord Jesus, Heaven had been
more than ever home to the people of God. In all ages they had desired "<span style="font-weight: bold;">a better country, that is, an heavenly</span>," but
now the One who had lived on earth those thirty-three years of purity and grace,
had endured for their sakes the shameful Cross, and had risen again from the
dead, had passed "<span style="font-weight: bold;">within the veil</span>." In
its love He dwelt, and He had taken their hearts with Him. His home was forever
theirs. Before He died, He had assured them, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">I
will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be
also</span>." They looked for Him, and could be satisfied only with Him. Even if
they were called to pass through death, it was only "<span style="font-weight: bold;">to be with Christ; which is far better</span>."
<br /><br />And now <span style="font-style: italic;">the heavens were opened</span>,
as they had been to the Lord Jesus at His baptism at Jordan. The realms of light
disclosed their approval of that which met their gaze on earth, first (for His
is ever the pre-eminence) of the Beloved Son and then of the servant who
confessed Him so faithfully. Only in Him and in His people can Heaven delight,
but its delight is real, pure, and unashamed. <br /><br />Looking stedfastly into
those bright scenes, Stephen saw the glory of God. He had commenced his defense
before the council by reminding his hearers that the God of glory had appeared
to their father Abraham. This was the true meaning of their history, and it was
this that made them a separate people on earth. The gods of the nations were
vanity; the God of Abraham was the God of glory. Whenever the children of
Abraham had been true to their calling and their heritage, they had rejoiced in
His majesty. None of them knew Him better than did Moses. He had seen His glory
in the burning bush, in the deliverance from Egypt, and upon Sinai, but still
his prayer rose up: "<span style="font-weight: bold;">I beseech thee, shew me thy
glory</span>" (Exo. 33:18). David spoke of the God of glory (Psa. 29:3) and
looked to the day when the everlasting doors should be lifted up that the King
of glory might enter in (Psa. 24:7). Moses had come down from the mount with
rays of that glory lingering on his face, and even Stephen's judges saw his face
as it had been the face of an angel. Gazing into the source of the light that
lit his face, Stephen saw the glory that Abraham had seen and, moreover, <span style="font-style: italic;">in the heart of its radiance</span> at the right hand
of God he saw "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Jesus standing</span>."
<br /><br />Ere the Lord had gone to the throne, He had spoken His sure word of
promise, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the
end of the world</span>" (Matt. 28:20). "<strong>Alway</strong>," i.e., "though
all the days" -- what could more clearly set forth the perpetual presence? But
Stephen was given even more than the token of the presence. He learned its
climax, that the One who companied with His saints and with Him would bring
their path to its triumphant goal with a vision of His face and a welcome to His
side. Upon the martyr the vision was bestowed before his eyes closed on scenes
here, that he might tell us what waits the gaze of all who die in faith. Surely
<span style="font-style: italic;">that face of light</span> was bent down upon
him and poured its love upon him, for it was to the Lord Jesus that he addressed
his dying words and, confident in Him, he fell asleep. <br /><br />"<span style="font-weight: bold;">Jesus standing</span>." That is not to be read as
contradiction of the statement that "<span style="font-weight: bold;">He . . .
sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high</span>" (Heb. 1:3). Both
positions picture profound truths, and both give aspects of His ascension life
which exist concurrently. In relation to His finished work on earth and to the
exercise of His sovereignty, He is viewed as seated. In relation to His
unfinished work in Heaven, that gracious ministry which He undertakes for us
now, He is viewed as standing. He remained "<span style="font-weight: bold;">this
same Jesus</span>." The glory of the throne had not changed His heart toward His
own. As He had ever been to them -- tender, compassionate, understanding, and
true, so He was still. As in love He had toiled for them on earth, so in Heaven
would He minister to their need in the same love. <br /><br />With his eyes fixed on
Jesus, Stephen bore testimony to that which he saw and named his Lord by that
title which Christ's own lips had so often used. "<span style="font-weight: bold;">I see... the Son of man standing on the right hand of
God</span>." The reference was obviously Messianic, for, as we have noted, it
was in accord with the Lord's own words, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">the
Son of man sitting on the right hand of power</span>." It testified that the
despised Jesus was actually the Son of Man of Daniel's vision, who would come
with the clouds of heaven (Dan. 7:13), that He had reached the height of
absolute power, and that nought could hinder the fulfillment of his prediction
to the council. Stephen's own need was fully met in that he saw Jesus at God's
right hand, even as today by faith "<span style="font-weight: bold;">we see Jesus
. . . crowned with glory and honour</span>." The doom of the leaders of Israel,
the guiltiest of the guilty, was sealed in that the martyr saw the Son of Man in
that place of power.</p>
<p align="justify"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />III. THE BLESSING --
CHRIST'S FRUIT IN HIS MEMBERS</span> <br /><br />"<span style="font-weight: bold;">Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped
their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, and cast him out of the city, and
stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet,
whose name was Saul</span>" (Acts 7:57-58). Their fury knew no bounds. Driven on
by their hatred of the name of Jesus and by the knowledge that they were
impotent to mar His glory or frustrate His will, they undertook summary judgment
on His confessor. With frenzied cry and utter refusal to hear another word, they
laid violent hands on Stephen and cast him out to his death. Denying him even
the pretense of justice and of trial, they cut off his life with the cruel
stones. It was the death which was decreed by the law of Moses for the
blasphemer, it was meted out to one of the <span style="font-style: italic;">noblest of the long line of faith</span>. According
to the law, as given in Deuteronomy 17:7, the witnesses were required to be
foremost in the execution of the death penalty. They had brought the evidence;
they must be first to cast the stones. Not content with falsehood, Stephen's
accusers added to their infamy by sustaining their witness in the place of
stoning. In those solemn moments wherein they stained their lives with innocent
blood, they left their garments in the care of a young man called Saul. It is
the first time that we hear of this man, who figures so much on the page of
Scripture, but whose story is forever woven with that of Stephen. <br /><br />"<span style="font-weight: bold;">And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying,
Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice,
Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell
asleep. And Saul was consenting unto his death</span>" (Acts 7:59-8:1). In this
passage the word "<span style="font-style: italic;">God</span>" is in italics.
There is no object stated for the very "<span style="font-weight: bold;">calling
upon</span>," and the reference is most naturally to the following words. As
Paul showed in his greeting to Corinth -- "<span style="font-weight: bold;">with
all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs
and ours</span>" (I Cor. 1:2). -- calling upon the name of the Lord Jesus was
the mark of the New Testament Christian. His name was honored, as the name of
Jehovah in the Old Testament was honored. "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord</span>
[Jehovah] <span style="font-weight: bold;">shall be saved</span>" (Acts 2:21;
Rom. 10:13; Joel 2:32). The conviction of the early church was unmistakable, and
attested by Stephen, that in the naming of the Lord Jesus they owned Him as
Jehovah. That Pharisees, such as Saul, brought up in the strictest monotheism,
should come to adore a once-crucified man as being eternally in the Godhead is
evidence that to them His credentials of deity were beyond dispute.
<br /><br />Stephen's words recall those spoken last by the Lord upon the Cross. In
unshaken trust, the Lord had commended His spirit to the Father; so did the
martyr commit his spirit to the Lord. This again was witness to the deity of
Jesus. Then kneeling, Stephen "<span style="font-weight: bold;">cried with a loud
voice</span>." (This expression, in which the energy of the speaker is gathered
up, is used of the Lord Jesus in Matt. 27:50.) The Lord had prayed for those
that crucified Him: "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Father, forgive them; for
they know not what they do</span>" (Luke 23:34). Imbued with the same spirit of
forgiveness that revealed how truly he was in the mind of Christ, Stephen
likewise prayed for his murderers. How precious must this have been to the Lord
Jesus, and what <span style="font-style: italic;">fruitage for Him</span> in the
life of His saint! Thus with eyes and heart alike occupied with his Lord,
Stephen "<span style="font-weight: bold;">fell asleep</span>." It was not death,
but victory. The Lord Jesus had said, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Verily,
verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see
death</span>" (John 8:51), and so it was with the martyr. So it is with all who
trust Him. <br /><br />In his vision of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the fragrance of
his character, and in his suffering for His sake, Stephen became <span style="font-style: italic;">the pattern believer</span> of this age. His name
(Stephan, i.e., crown [stephanos], or garland of victory) pointed to the
heavenly destiny held out to all his brethren, including to the measure of their
devotion to Him, the crown of glory and honor. Stephen's interpreter was the man
whose conversion was the firstfruits of the divine response to his dying prayer.
What was concentrated in the last moments of the one was spread out in the years
of experience of the other, so that the latter wrote, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord
Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body</span>";
and again, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">So then death worketh in us, but
life in you</span>"; and again, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">We look not at
the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things
which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are
eternal</span>" (II Cor. 4:10, 12, 18). <br /><br />What shall meet our gaze as we
thus look to the things "<span style="font-weight: bold;">not seen</span>?"
First, and supremely, we shall behold the glory of our Lord, His unfading
triumphs, His exaltation in manhood at God's right hand, His infinite depths of
holiness and of love, and the unutterable wonder of His blessed face. We shall
see our Father's home, with its many mansions -- all forever open to the
children of His love; we shall see the "<span style="font-weight: bold;">far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory</span>" wrought for us by the "<span style="font-weight: bold;">light affliction</span>" of this present time. Again,
we shall behold "<span style="font-weight: bold;">the inheritance incorruptible,
and undefiled, and that fadeth not away</span>." Then there is the reward which
hands once pierced by cruel nails shall bestow upon lonely toilers from the
harvest fields of earth. Moreover, we shall feast our gaze upon the joy of
unclouded fellowship with Christ and with the redeemed of the ages. Then there
is the occupation of the blest, the holy service wherewith "<span style="font-weight: bold;">his servants shall serve him</span>." <br /><br />To see
the face which Stephen saw is to be enabled to live a heavenly life amid earthly
care. It is ours with him and with Paul to behold "<span style="font-weight: bold;">the glory of God in the face of Christ</span>," and
soon the joy of faith shall be swallowed up in the joy of seeing Him as He is.
</p>
<p align="center">Present with Thee, oh, Lord Jesus, <br />Some day this rapture
I'll know; <br />Sweeter than aught of earth's visions, <br />Passing all bliss here
below. <br /><br />Present with Thee, in Thy glory, <br />Days of my pilgrimage past;
<br />Down at Thy feet I shall worship, <br />Prostate before Thee at last.
<br /><br />Present with Thee, my Redeemer, <br />Because my load Thou didst bear;
<br />I shall adoring behold Thee <br />Glory ineffable wear. <br /><br />Present with
Thee, in Thy likeness, <br />Clothed in Thy fitness, not mine; <br />Gladly Thy
loveliness telling, <br />Owning Thy glory divine. <br /><br />Present with Thee --
not a shadow <br />Casting its gloom o'er my heart -- <br />Calmly I'll dwell in
love's sunshine, <br />Nor from Thee ever shall part. <br /><br />Present with Thee,
my Beloved, <br />This Thy desire toward me, <br />Even that ever and ever <br />I
should be present with Thee. <br /><br />--H. C. H.-- </p>
<p align="center"><strong><a href="https://faithfulmenofgod.blogspot.com/2022/11/the-strength-of-toiler-paul.html" target="_blank"><br />Chapter
11 - THE STRENGTH OF THE TOILER - Acts 26 - Paul </a></strong></p>
<p align="center"><strong><a href="https://faithfulmenofgod.blogspot.com/2008/10/companion-of-way.html" target="_blank">Back to The Companion Of The Way TOC</a></strong></p>Jerry Boueyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11939572388745111915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953682481802321447.post-23882871121121784612022-11-21T18:43:00.004-08:002023-11-14T12:28:01.067-08:00The Light Of Evening - Daniel<p style="text-align: center;"><script src="https://av1611.com/verseclick/verseclick.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"> </span><strong style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Companion of the Way</span></strong></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
<p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">by </span></strong></p>
<p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">H.C. Hewlett </span></strong></p>
<p align="center">1962 </p>
<p align="center">Moody Press </p>
<p align="center">Chicago, Illinois </p>
<p align="center"><em>~ Out of print and in the public domain ~</em> </p>
<p align="center">
</p><hr />
</span></span></span>
<p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">The Light Of Evening -
Daniel</span></strong></p>
<p align="center"><strong>(Daniel 10)</strong></p><strong></strong>
<p align="justify"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I. THE SETTING -- THE
UNBLEMISHED YEARS</span> <br /><br />The story of Daniel is given to us in Scripture
in a series of character studies exquisitely drawn. These begin with a youth
standing with three companions, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, at the
crossroads of life, and making choice of the path of the will of God
irrespective of earthly loss (chap. 1). The next three scenes show us the
interpreter of dreams and of hard sentences standing before the monarchs of
Babylon (chaps. 2, 4-5). Whether as a young man before Nebuchadnezzar, unfolding
to him "<span style="font-weight: bold;">what shall be in the latter
days</span>," or in the vigor of settled manhood, telling him of that which will
humble his pride, or as an old man pronouncing Belshazzar's doom, Daniel
exemplifies the words of the psalmist that "<span style="font-weight: bold;">the
secret of the LORD is with them that fear him</span>" (Psa. 25:14). <br /><br />The
closing glimpses of Daniel remind us that the righteous "<span style="font-weight: bold;">bring forth fruit in old age</span>" (Psa. 92:14). In
his early years, he will have no compromise with idolatry; in the ripeness of
age he fears not to kneel and make his prayer to the living God alone. In the
royal palace Darius the king spends a miserable and sleepless night; in the
lion's den Daniel the Hebrew is at rest in the protecting care of God (Chap. 6).
Again, he appears as the intercessor, who with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes
confesses the sins of his people, seeks the mercies of God for them, and is
answered "<span style="font-weight: bold;">about the time of the evening
oblation</span>" with the visit of Gabriel and the greeting, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Thou art greatly beloved</span>" (chap. 9). Finally,
his yearnings for his people are rewarded by the vision which crowns his days,
wherein his eyes beheld the glory of the Lord. <br /><br />Daniel, like Joseph, the
earlier revealer of secrets, exhibited a blameless life. Like him, also, he knew
the desolation of being torn in youth from the ties of home and of being a
prisoner in a strange land. Both men stood scatheless in temptation and attained
to high office in a foreign court. They knew the testing of hatred and the
subtler testing of high honor, but neither could be reproached with any sin.
Nothing was able to turn them from the stedfastness of their ways or rob them of
their insight into the purposes of God for the ultimate blessing of their
people. Thus they came to the end of the journey, full of days, and full of
honor. <br /><br />As the sun of his life began to set, a greater Sun rose before
Daniel's sight. Throughout the events that crowded his memory there had been
manifested the power and faithfulness of God. He had walked <span style="font-style: italic;">alone and yet not alone</span>. Behind the varied
scenes of his path the Lord had stood, leading His servant on from strength to
strength and ever appreciating the constancy and fidelity of his testimony. As
the Lord had promised in Isaiah's day, so He was to Daniel. "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant
of the house of Israel, . . . even to your old age I am he; and... even I will
carry, and will deliver you</span>" (Isa. 46:3-4). Far from failing His aged
servant, He drew even closer to him, till His presence was revealed in
surpassing splendor. He had given to Daniel many unfoldings of things to come,
but to the last of these He added that which excelled them all, the unveiling of
His own majesty.</p>
<p align="justify"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />II. THE REVELATION --
SURPASSING GLORY</span> <br /><br />"<span style="font-weight: bold;">In the third
year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was
called Belteshazzar; . . . In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.
I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I
anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled</span>" (Dan.
10:1-3). Daniel had lived till the decree of Cyrus had enabled Zerubbabel and
his company to return from Babylon to Jerusalem. God had kept His word by the
mouth of Jeremiah; He had stirred up the spirit of Cyrus to make the necessary
decree and had stirred the returning exiles to lay the foundation of His house
at Jerusalem. But Daniel had been shown that beyond the commandment for the
rebuilding of the city there would be troublous times, that Messiah the Prince
would come and be cut off, and that the utmost desolation would befall the city.
His exercise concerning Israel deepened till he spent three whole weeks in
mourning and fasting. He saw the path of sorrow that lay ahead of Israel, and
for their sakes he chastened himself before God. <br /><br />"<span style="font-weight: bold;">And in the four and twentieth day of the first month,
as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel; then I lifted up
mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins
were girded with fine gold of Uphaz: his body also was like the beryl, and his
face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms
and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like
the voice of a multitude</span>" (Dan. 10:4-6). In its details the vision bears
close likeness to that given to John in Patmos. The golden girdle, the radiant
face, the blazing eyes, the feet like unto gleaming brass, and the voice of
incomparable fullness tell of the same glorious person in both scenes. In either
case, the sight presented was one of <span style="font-style: italic;">surpassing
grandeur</span>. That the Lord's presentation of Himself to Daniel in appearance
as a man, though in excelling brightness, should remind so much of that to John
after His ascension and glorification in actual manhood, shows the underlying
unity of all His unveilings of Himself. While some of His appearings in the Old
Testament anticipated the lowly grace of the days of His flesh, the appearance
vouchsafed to Daniel pointed forward to His revelation to earth in the glory of
His kingdom. <br /><br />The linen garment, in accordance with the frequent usage of
Scripture, indicated the purity of all His ways. He is "<span style="font-weight: bold;">the Holy One and the Just</span>" (Acts 3:14). The
girt loins proclaimed His ministry as the mighty One, the omnipotent Toiler,
whose activities are beautiful with the excellence of Deity, even as the girdle
with its fine gold. The body like to the beryl, with its amber light, the face
with its intense brilliance, and the eyes as lamps of fire, all told of One who
is the brightness of God's glory. "<span style="font-weight: bold;">God is light,
and in him is no darkness at all</span>" (I John 1:5); and that pure light
streams forth unchanged and undiminished in the person of the Son. In the
presence of that light nothing is hidden; from the gaze of those all-seeing eyes
nothing can be concealed. "<span style="font-weight: bold;">O LORD</span>," said
the psalmist, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">thou hast searched me, and known
me . . . If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be
light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as
the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee</span>" (Psa. 139:1,
11-12). Deep as was the perplexity of Daniel as he considered his people's
welfare, all their way was understood by the Lord. No bewilderment lay upon that
omniscient mind. The end was sure. In spite of Israel's failure, their conflict
would end in peace, and the night of sorrow, in cloudless day. <br /><br />"<span style="font-weight: bold;">And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that
were with me saw not the vision: but a great quaking fell upon them, so that
they fled to hide themselves. Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great
vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me
into corruption, and I retained no strength</span>" (Dan. 10:7-8). Upon the
prophet's companions there came such a sense of fear that they trembled and
fled. God was in the place, though they knew it not. There had been a day when
"<span style="font-weight: bold;">the earth shook . . . at the presence of
God</span>"; how much more should puny men tremble in such a circumstance? But
to Daniel the presence was revealed, and he sank to the ground in utter
weakness. All his strength was gone. Nothing was left of the personal vigour,
the nobility of manhood, which had characterized him. There was only the
corruption, the ruin of our poor race. <br /><br />"<span style="font-weight: bold;">Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard
the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face
toward the ground</span>" (Dan. 10:9). So overpowered was he by the vision, and
by the voice of the Lord, that he lay prostrate, unable to act and unable to
think until strength was ministered to him by the touch of an angel's hand. That
voice was more than mortal frame could bear, and Daniel lay insensible on the
ground. Nor yet could he know the bliss of eternity and exult in the voice like
the voice of a multitude -- the voice of Him in whose majestic utterance would
be blended the countless expressions of His heart toward each of His
redeemed.</p>
<p align="justify"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />III. THE BLESSING -- THE
BELOVED</span> <br /><br />The love with which the Lord looked on His servant by the
river Hiddekel was not less than that with which He would look on him in the
better country -- the hungry. So the angel was sent to rouse him from his sleep,
and to speak of that true love. To his aroused consciousness there came the
words of tender greeting, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Daniel, a man greatly
beloved." </span>Such was the mind of heaven; such was <span style="font-style: italic;">the Lord's appraisal</span> of His aged servant. All
his path had been watched with unremitting care, all his exercise had been
valued with unerring wisdom, and all his years had been compassed with unceasing
love. Dear to the Lord was that long life of purity and honor, of witness and
devotion. Some time before, in the first year of Darius, Daniel had been saluted
as the "<span style="font-weight: bold;">greatly beloved</span>" (Dan. 9:23), but
now his life must be crowned by this token of divine approval. <br /><br />Roused by
this greeting, Daniel stood trembling, to be told that from the first day of his
mourning his words had been heard. They had been words which drew forth the
succor of Heaven's throne, and the messenger had been sent to him to answer his
heart's longing. When Daniel spoke to the angel of the effect of the vision upon
him, he was further strengthened, and the message was repeated and amplified.
"<span style="font-weight: bold;">O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto
thee, be strong, yea, be strong</span>" (Dan. 10:19). As in the case of John in
Patmos, the sight of the glory was followed by the words of comfort, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">fear not</span>." There was no cloud between the Lord
and His faithful servant. For long years they had walked together, and the
vision, so overwhelming in itself, was granted, not because of shortcoming on
Daniel's part, but because the unseen Friend of the way would give <span style="font-style: italic;">full answer</span> to the desire of Daniel's heart
for the welfare of his people. The purposes of God would not fail. The ministry
of intercession is in the current of the mind of God, and the prophet's
unselfish prayer for the sinful nation brought the approval manifested in the
vision. With such an almighty One overruling in the affairs of men, nought would
hinder the fulfillment of every promise concerning Israel. <br /><br />Once more the
"<span style="font-weight: bold;">man clothed in linen</span>" is before us in
this scene by Hiddekel. "<span style="font-weight: bold;">And I heard the man
clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his
right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever
that it shall be for a time, times and an half; and when he shall have
accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be
finished</span>" (Dan. 12:7). The portrait of the Lord in this passage is
paralleled by that in Revelation 10, when He appears as a mighty angel, yet in
such majesty as only the occupant of the heavenly throne could bear. In both
passages is declared His solemn oath that to all the sorrow of those dread days
of Jacob's trouble there shall be an end. Dark will be the night, but the coming
in glory of the King of Israel, the King of Kings, the King in His beauty, will
bring the longed-for day. <br /><br />Daniel's prayer was answered, his work was
done, and his path was complete. The record ceases, but without mention of the
withdrawing of the presence. Daniel is last seen in the wonder of its
revelation. Long since he has left the scenes of his toil, and now he is at home
with the Lord. Soon, not in mortal weakness, but robed in the dignity and power
of the resurrection body, he shall walk with the Lord and rejoice evermore in
communion face to face. The experience vouchsafed to him in his last years shall
be his perpetual portion. Forever beloved, he shall gaze without fear on that
transcendent face, and listen to the music of that excelling voice. </p>
<p align="center"><strong><br /><a href="https://faithfulmenofgod.blogspot.com/2022/11/the-face-that-welcomed-stephen.html" target="_blank">Chapter 10 - THE FACE THAT WELCOMED - Acts 7 - Stephen</a></strong></p>
<p align="center"><strong><a href="https://faithfulmenofgod.blogspot.com/2008/10/companion-of-way.html" target="_blank">Back to The Companion Of The Way TOC</a></strong></p>Jerry Boueyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11939572388745111915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953682481802321447.post-49301700011526614152022-11-21T16:39:00.004-08:002023-11-14T12:27:48.886-08:00The Companion In The Fire - Three Hebrews<p style="text-align: center;"><script src="https://av1611.com/verseclick/verseclick.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"> </span><strong style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Companion of the Way</span></strong></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
<p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">by </span></strong></p>
<p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">H.C. Hewlett </span></strong></p>
<p align="center">1962 </p>
<p align="center">Moody Press </p>
<p align="center">Chicago, Illinois </p>
<p align="center"><em>~ Out of print and in the public domain ~</em> </p>
<p align="center">
</p><hr />
</span></span></span>
<p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">The Companion In The Fire - Three
Hebrews</span></strong></p>
<p align="center"><strong>(Daniel 3)</strong></p><strong></strong>
<p align="justify"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I. THE SETTING -- THE
DAUNTLESS THREE</span> <br /><br />Among the captives taken from Judah to Babylon in
the days of Jeconiah were a number of youths of noble birth. The names of four
of these are recorded in Scripture with special honor. Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah left for all who should follow in the path of faith the
lesson that there are <span style="font-style: italic;">no days when it is too
dark for God</span> to work and no circumstances in which He cannot sustain
those who trust in Him. Life must have been desolate indeed when the gates of
Babylon closed upon the weary captives. Involved in the tragedy that had
befallen their nation for its sins, yet themselves of blameless character, these
Hebrew youths found themselves attached to a court marked by pride, cruelty, and
all the defiling influences of idolatry. Even their names were changed, and
there were imposed on them new names associated with the worship of the false
gods of Babylon. The tide ran swiftly against their spiritual life. Every factor
of their environment was calculated to dim the memories of their upbringing and
to efface from their hearts their earliest loyalties. <br /><br />Challenged by the
insidious temptation to partake of the king's meat and thus to acquiesce in
offering to idols, they did not falter in their allegiance to the God of their
fathers, to the One who had said, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Thou shalt
have no other gods before me . . . Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor
serve them</span>" (Exo. 20:3, 5). Preferring loss to defilement, and counting
the fear of the Lord more precious than life itself, they resisted the
temptation and were at last vindicated in their stand by the overruling care of
God. Centuries earlier, He had said to His people, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Them that honour me I will honour</span>" (I Sam.
2:30). The truth of this faithful word was clearly evidenced in the story of
these young men. God gave them such knowledge and skill in all learning and
wisdom that they won the approval of the king. After the unfolding of the dream
of the great image, Daniel was made ruler over the whole province of Babylon.
His three friends, now known as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, were set over
the affairs of the province. They were among the few who could be trusted by God
with high positions in the affairs of earth. Proud Babylon is no more, and the
scenes of its glory have long since been a desolate waste, but the four exiles
who showed such fidelity have honorable place among the great cloud of witnesses
by which we are compassed about in the heavenward way. <br /><br />More than twenty
years passed, and the proud yet fertile mind of Nebuchadnezzar conceived a
scheme for the unifying of his great empire. Its far-flung provinces lay secure
in his dominion, but he sought control not only over the bodies but also over
the souls of men. He built an image of gold, set this colossus in the plain of
Dura, and ordered all who were prominent in rule throughout his territories to
attend the dedication of the image and bow before it in worship (Dan. 3:1-7). Of
all forms of tyranny none are more cruel or relentless than those which are
found in the religious sphere. <br /><br />Nebuchadnezzar attempted to enforce the
spiritual despotism of a state religion, and allowed no alternatives to
obedience save a terrifying death. If all the dignitaries of state prostrated
themselves before the image of gold, itself the visible representation of the
power and wealth of the kingdom over which he ruled as absolute monarch, then
they and all their people would be subject to him in every domain of life --
physical, intellectual, and spiritual. The human personality would be <span style="font-style: italic;">enslaved to the impersonal state</span>, and, worst
of all, it would be denied the exercise of that homage of the creature for the
Creator which is at once the necessary law of its being and yet the noblest
freedom. <br /><br />Faced with such a situation, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego
manifested the same courage which had marked them in earlier days. To them,
compromise was impossible. There could be nothing in common between the worship
of the living God and the worship of an idol. As in a day still to come, when
earth shall know the sway of its last and most awful tyrant, and when the choice
will be clear-cut between the worship of God, with the threat of physical death
on the one hand, and the worship of the beast and his image (cf. Rev. 14:6-11),
so it was for the three Hebrews. The law of God was still true for them. They
could not bow to any image. Better to them was a cruel death than such dishonor
to their faith, and disloyalty to their God. <br /><br />Watched relentlessly as the
result of the envy of certain Chaldeans, they were accused to Nebuchadnezzar of
flouting his decree. To the king's pride it was so incredible that anyone should
disobey him that in rage and fury he sent for the fearless three and demanded of
them, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury
commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men
before the king</span>" (Dan. 3:13). Then, having renewed his threat of the
fiery furnace, he flaunted his impiety in the words, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Who is that God that shall deliver you out of my
hands?</span>" (Dan. 3:15). <br /><br />Similar words had been spoken by another
monarch. In the days of Hezekiah, Sennacherib the Assyrian had said, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">No god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver
his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less
shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?</span>" (II Chron. 32:15). God had
heard the prayer of Hezekiah and of Isaiah the prophet, and He had saved His
people from their peril. "<span style="font-weight: bold;">The angel of the LORD
went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five
thousand</span>" (II Kings 19:35). <br /><br />Not by such judgment upon the king,
but nevertheless by the intervention of the same One, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">the angel of the LORD</span>," did God deliver His
servants from the fiery death. First, however, their testimony was given to His
power to save, and their faith was tested to the utmost. <br /><br />"<span style="font-weight: bold;">O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in
this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the
burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king, But if
not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship
the golden image which thou hast set up</span>" (Dan. 3:16-18). Full well they
knew that it was not a case that might be made the subject of petition; they
knew the man before whom they stood and that without hesitation he would mete
out the threatened doom. They knew that they could do nought but refuse his
command. Their path had been clear to them throughout the events leading up to
that moment of crisis. But they knew also that though Nebuchadnezzar was king of
kings (see Dan. 2:37), it was only by the sovereign will of the God of Heaven
that he had received the kingdom. The king was powerful, but God was
all-powerful. <br /><br />Their hearts were at rest with a calm which this world
could not give. On the one hand, God was certainly able to deliver them; on the
other, if He were pleased to call them through death from the toil of earth,
they would submit to His perfect will. He had promised, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">When thou passest through the waters, I will be with
thee; . . . when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned;
neither shall the flame kindle upon thee</span>" (Isa. 43:2). No malice of man
could hinder the fulfillment of the promise of their God. Upon His presence they
relied; He would not fail them, nor forsake them, whether in life or in death.
With this confidence, therefore, they said to the king, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">He will deliver us out of thine hand</span>."
<br /><br />Filled with fury, till his very face was distorted, Nebuchadnezzar gave
vent to his anger by the utterly needless order that the furnace be heated seven
times more than usual, an act whose only result was to bring about the
destruction of the mighty men who carried out his sentence on the three Hebrews.
There is no rage like that which is <span style="font-style: italic;">baffled by
the serene constancy</span> of its intended victims. Goaded by his frenzy, the
king hastened the matter, and his men paid the price for his folly. The three
confessors were bound in their full attire and cast into the midst of the
furnace. Every circumstance attendant on their ordeal was made to minister to
the exhibition of the power of God; even their garments bore their part in the
triumphant witness. Doubtless the instigators of the matter were full of
satisfaction at the apparent removal of the Hebrews from their high office, but
their joy was short-lived.</p>
<p align="justify"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />II. THE REVELATION -- MORE
THAN CONQUERORS</span> <br /><br />"<span style="font-weight: bold;">And these three
men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the
burning fiery furnace</span>" (Dan. 3:23). They were now past all mortal aid.
God had permitted this extremity to show that their deliverance was from Him --
and Him alone. Before they were cast into the furnace, it was in
Nebuchadnezzar's power to do what he pleased, whether to send them to the fire
or to withhold them from it. But once they had passed within the furnace, the
proud king could do nothing. He could watch, but was powerless to intervene. He
could not even save his own mighty men from the fierceness of the flame. He must
learn that the end of human prowess marks but the beginning of divine strength.
God is not bound by the limitations of His creatures; their puny resources are
as nothing to His infinite greatness. <br /><br />"<span style="font-weight: bold;">Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up
in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men
bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O
king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of
the fire, and they have no hurt; and <span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">the form of the fourth</span> is like the Son
of God</span>" (Dan. 3:24-25). Never had the king been so amazed. No wonder of
his career, whether of brilliant conquest or of royal achievement, could stir
his heart with the emotion which he now betrayed. The fire to which he had
condemned the three who had dared to defy him had but destroyed their bonds.
They walked at liberty in the flame, as though at home in its embrace. Its
terrors had gone, and its blaze enwrapped them as with an atmosphere of glory.
<br /><br />Moreover, they were not alone. With them there walked One whom the
startled king described as like in form to the Son of God. Clearly the presence
of this One was the secret of their deliverance. The king beheld the
transcendent form and the majestic mien which proclaimed Him to be no mortal but
a being from Heaven. We would not expect the king to imply by his words such an
appreciation of the person of this wondrous visitant as they convey to us. He
was but a heathen and acknowledged many supposed deities, even as later in life
he spoke to Daniel of <strong>"the holy gods"</strong> (Dan. 4:9). Not till the
restoration of his reason (Daniel 4:34) did he seem to attain to the knowledge
of the one most high God. While his words spoken as he gazed into the furnace
would be capable on heathen lips of the sense, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">the son of God</span>," it is nevertheless possible
that in the strong emotion of the moment, as was certainly the case immediately
after when he addressed the three Hebrews as "<span style="font-weight: bold;">servants of the most high God</span>," he spoke only
of their God. But whatever his degrees of perception of these things, his words
were overruled to express, in the speech of those who know the one true God, the
most sublime fact. It was indeed the Son of God who walked with the three in the
fire. <br /><br />It is entirely in accordance with the promise, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">I will be with thee</span>" (Isa. 43:2), and the
consistent teaching of Scripture touching the theophanies to recognize in the
One who appeared in the fire the very Son of God, the Deliverer of His people.
The circumstances of His appearance with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego,
illustrate delightfully the lesson of Romans 8:37. "<span style="font-weight: bold;">In all these things we are more than conquerors
through him that loved us</span>." Had the three been miraculously preserved in
the furnace, yet without any sign of the divine presence, they would certainly
have been conquerors. But the surpassing wonder of their experience was not
their deliverance, viewed in itself, but rather <span style="font-style: italic;">the companionship of their Lord</span> in the
furnace. In the added marvel of this sacred fellowship they were "<span style="font-weight: bold;">more than conquerors</span>." So was it in Paul's day.
So has it been with all who have known amidst their trials the joy of walking
with the Son of God. <br /><br />What was new in the path of the three was not the
fact of the Lord's presence, but rather its manifestation. He had walked with
them unseen throughout their years of testimony, and it was this which was the
secret of their courage in the face of such dire peril. He had ever been with
them to guard and to strengthen. All that the fire could do was to make visible,
even to the sight of a heathen king, the presence that was already with them.
How often in history have persecutors been compelled to own that their victims
had a resource which they could not take from them, an unseen spring of cheer
that defied all their hatred and their cruelties! <br /><br />With the vast majority
of the people of God, the Friend and Guide of the long road of life has been
real only to the vision of faith. With the mortal eye that have braved every
danger, and trusted God in the last breath. Some indeed "<span style="font-weight: bold;">quenched the violence of fire</span>," but "<span style="font-weight: bold;">others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that
they might obtain a better resurrection</span>" (Heb. 11:34-35). Stephen saw his
Lord before he was dragged to the place of death and, serene in that heavenly
vision, fell asleep under the weight of the cruel stones: others have borne like
suffering and have seen the glorious face only when their eyes had closed to
this scene. Never, however, has the fact of the divine presence ceased; it has
been constant through every vicissitude of life.</p>
<p align="justify"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />III. THE BLESSING -- THE
TRIUMPHANT TESTIMONY</span> <br /><br />"<span style="font-weight: bold;">Then
Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake,
and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God,
come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego came forth of
the midst of the fire. And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's
counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire
had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats
changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them</span>" (Dan. 3:26-27). So
complete was the vindication of the stand of the Hebrews that they were saluted
of the king before they left the furnace by the title "<span style="font-weight: bold;">servants of the most high God</span>." Theirs was a
service and a nobility surpassing that of the courtiers who thronged around the
king. His prince and governors bowed at his word; the three owned a higher
allegiance than that belonging to any earthly potentate. Around them gathered
all the great men of Babylon, who marveled to see that the fire had no power
either on the persons of the three Hebrews or on their garments. There was not
even the smell of fire about them to tell of their ordeal. How often must these
same dignitaries have recounted to their associates and to their families in the
years that followed <span style="font-style: italic;">the story of this amazing
scene</span>, of the three who worshipped a God whom they themselves had not
known, and of the mighty power of that great God! Thus the fame of the God of
Israel would spread far and wide in a testimony with consequences which cannot
be estimated. <br /><br />"<span style="font-weight: bold;">They have no
hurt</span>," said Nebuchadnezzar, and his princes saw that not a hair of their
head was singed. "<span style="font-weight: bold;">I give unto you power . . .
over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt
you</span>," said the Son of God to His disciples (Luke 10:19). How true it is
that in the path of the will of God there is nought that can hurt His people!
Amid the trials and sorrows of life they walk unscathed, and from their
experience in trial and from the companionship of the Lord Jesus they receive
eternal good. Only sin can hurt them, marring their fellowship with their Lord,
vitiating their capacities for service, and wounding their own souls. However
deep the sufferings of His martyrs, not they but their persecutors are hurt. Not
for nought does the Lord speak to His tried ones, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second
death</span>" (Rev. 2:11). <br /><br />"<span style="font-weight: bold;">Then
Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in
him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might
not serve nor worship any god, except their own God . . . there is no other God
that can deliver after this sort</span>" (Dan. 3:28-29). Could Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abed-nego have foreseen as they made their choice to be true to
their God whatever the cost that its sequel would be a doxology from the lips of
the greatest of all Gentile monarchs? Could they have known, in those moments
when they stood alone in the plain of Dura and all others were bowed in idol
worship, that ere many hours were passed it should be an offence, binding upon
all people in the empire of Babylon, to speak anything amiss against their God,
the God of deliverance? <span style="font-style: italic;">What a tribute it
was</span> to their faithful witness and to Him who maketh the wrath of man to
praise Him! (Psa. 76:10). <br /><br />When the records of the sustaining grace of
the centuries are all complete, then lonely road and fiery trial shall yield
their part to that great song of praise the gladness of which shall never cease.
The road will be ended, and the trial long past, but the Lord who walked with
His own will company with them forever, and they shall walk with Him not in the
flame of trial but <span style="font-style: italic;">in the blaze of His
glory</span>.</p>
<p align="center"><strong><br /><a href="https://faithfulmenofgod.blogspot.com/2022/11/the-light-of-evening-daniel.html" target="_blank">Chapter 9 - THE LIGHT OF EVENING - Daniel 10 - Daniel</a></strong></p>
<p align="center"><strong><a href="https://faithfulmenofgod.blogspot.com/2008/10/companion-of-way.html" target="_blank">Back to The Companion Of The Way TOC</a></strong></p>Jerry Boueyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11939572388745111915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953682481802321447.post-14261418556956224512022-11-21T15:45:00.007-08:002023-11-14T12:27:35.436-08:00The Sanctuary Of The Exile - Ezekiel<p style="text-align: center;"><script src="https://av1611.com/verseclick/verseclick.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"> </span><strong style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Companion of the Way</span></strong></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
<p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">by </span></strong></p>
<p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">H.C. Hewlett </span></strong></p>
<p align="center">1962 </p>
<p align="center">Moody Press </p>
<p align="center">Chicago, Illinois </p>
<p align="center"><em>~ Out of print and in the public domain ~</em> </p>
<p align="center">
</p><hr />
</span></span></span>
<p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">The Sanctuary Of The Exile -
Ezekiel</span></strong></p>
<p align="center"><strong>(Ezekiel 1)</strong></p><strong></strong>
<p align="justify"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I. THE SETTING -- THE
DIVINE COMPENSATION</span> <br /><br />Nowhere in the records of the divine presence
is the kindness and faithfulness of God more evident than in those that relate
the story of the exile of the people of Judah and of Jerusalem. On account of
the evils wrought by King Manasseh wherewith he polluted the house of the Lord
in Jerusalem and filled the city from end to end with innocent blood, God
delivered the king and later the nation into captivity in Babylon. There in his
affliction Manasseh humbled himself before God, who brought him again to his
kingdom in Judah (II Chron. 33:13). The nation entered in its turn into
captivity in three stages in the reigns of Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah,
all of whom came under the power of Nebuchadnezzar. <br /><br />Among the captives
taken with Jehoiachin was Ezekiel the priest, whose narrative begins with his
place among his fellow-exiles by the river Chebar in the land of the Chaldeans.
In the providence of God, he was raised up to minister to the people of the
captivity in order that they might understand the justice of God in removing
them from their homeland and from the temple around which their national life
had centered, and that even amid the sorrows that had befallen them they might
be stirred to seek God anew and be sustained and cheered in their witness for
Him among the nations. Some there were who clung to the promises of God and
sought still to honor Him and to keep His law. To all these, even as to the
apathetic, the embittered, and the rebellious, Ezekiel bore the message of the
future regathering of Israel to their land. Two views were blended in his
prophecies, the near and the far. The one took place when the kings of Babylon
had been replaced by the kings of Persia, and the other shall be when Israel's
Lord and King returns in power and glory to earth and to His ancient city.
<br /><br />God did not forget His people. Away from their land and from their
sanctuary, they seemed <span style="font-style: italic;">remote from all the
blessings</span> of their fathers, but the great Blesser Himself drew near and
revealed His glory to Ezekiel the priest, the representative of the godly. In
Jerusalem, God's dwelling place had been in the Holy of Holies, between the
Cherubim, and thither in days of care and of stress those who loved His name
directed their thoughts, and thence they sought His favor. When the threatening
letter from Sennacherib was received by Hezekiah he "<span style="font-weight: bold;">prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of
Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone,
of all the kingdoms of the earth . . . Save thou us out of his hand</span>" (II
Kings 19:15, 19). In the people's distress the psalmist besought God's
intervention, and prayed, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Give ear, O Shepherd
of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the
cherubims, shine forth</span>" (Psa. 80:1). Another psalm tells exultingly the
glory of His kingdom: "<span style="font-weight: bold;">The Lord reigneth; let
the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be
moved</span>" (Psa. 99:1) <br /><br />What then should His people do in the land of
captivity, and whither should they turn when the temple should be no more? The
answer of God to their need was to manifest Himself, enthroned, not amid the
cherubim of gold or of olive wood, but above the living creatures, the cherubim
of Heaven. In the vision of Isaiah (Isa. 6), God had displayed His majesty and
the service of the seraphim in the temple, but in Ezekiel's lifetime the temple
would be destroyed, and the prophet would abide an exile in a strange country.
It was in such circumstances that Ezekiel was given the visions of God described
in the chapters that open and close his book. Though earthly symbols passed
away, the heavenly realities were unchanged, and <span style="font-style: italic;">the heavens were opened</span> that glories which no
king of Babylon could ever defile should be set before the exile's gaze. Ere the
earlier visions ceased, and ere the tidings came that Jerusalem was smitten
(Ezek. 33:21), God gave the promise which was the very meaning of the visions.
"<span style="font-weight: bold;">Therefore say, Thus saith the LORD God;
Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have
scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary
in the countries where they shall come</span>" (Ezek. 11:16). From the guilty
city of Jerusalem and from the doomed temple on Mount Moriah the presence of the
Lord would be withdrawn, but He would be with His people, a sanctuary for a
little time (i.e., till the captivity should be over), a temple to which they
might constantly repair to give thanks to Him, to inquire of His will and to
receive His blessing. So true is His perpetual presence.</p>
<p align="justify"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />II. THE BLESSING -- THE
DIVINE EMPOWERING</span> <br /><br />The visions of glory were vouchsafed to Ezekiel
at four separate times, in four distinct settings, and with four different
messages. <br /><br />1. In the fifth day of the fourth month in the fifth year of
Jehoiachin's captivity. By the river Chebar. Giving him a commission to be a
watchman to the people. Chapters 1:1 to 3:21. <br /><br />2. Seven days later, in
the plain. Making him a sign, and his actions signs, of the certainty and the
details of the judgments about to fall upon Jerusalem. Chapters 3:22 to 7:27.
<br /><br />3. In the fifth day of the sixth month of the following year. In his
house. Showing the departure of the glory of God from the temple and the city.
Chapters 8:1 to 11:25. <br /><br />4. In the tenth day of the first month in the
twenty-fifth year of captivity. Location in Chaldea unnamed. Showing the future
dignity of the city, and the coming of the glory of God to the house of God,
never to depart. Chapters 40:1 to 48:35. <br /><br />In each case the narrative
begins with like words. <br /><br />1. <strong>"The hand of the LORD was there upon
him"</strong> (Ezekiel 1:3). <br />2. <strong>"The hand of the LORD was there upon
me"</strong> (Ezekiel 3:22). <br />3. <strong>"The hand of the LORD God fell there
upon me"</strong> (Ezekiel 8:1). <br />4. <strong>"The hand of the LORD was upon
me"</strong> (Ezekiel 40:1). <br /><br />Three more times in Ezekiel we read of the
hand of the Lord in relation to the prophet. In his first experience of <span style="font-style: italic;">the controlling power</span> of God in the visions,
he said, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">The spirit lifted me up, and look me
away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat</span> (Heb., hot anger) <span style="font-weight: bold;">of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon
me</span>" (Ezekiel 3:14). Writing concerning the eve of the coming of the
tidings that Jerusalem was smitten, he said, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Now the hand of the LORD was upon me in the evening,
afore he that was escaped came; and had opened my mouth</span>" (Ezekiel 33:22).
Then, when he was shown the final regathering of Israel, under the figure of a
national resurrection, he said, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">The hand of the
Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down
in the midst of the valley which was full of bones</span>" (Ezekiel 37:1). In
these seven references to the hand of the Lord there is seen the putting forth
of the divine power by which Ezekiel was enabled to behold the visions. That
power cast its shelter around him, strengthened him for the revelations and for
the service they claimed, and impelled him to carry out his ministry in spite of
its burden of judgment and the resentment of his hearers. Truly "<span style="font-weight: bold;">The prophecy came not in old time by the will of man:
but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost</span>" (II Pet.
1:21). <br /><br />Another expression recurring in these passages is that which
tells of his prostration in the Lord's presence. <br /><br />1. "<span style="font-weight: bold;">And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a
voice of one that spake</span>" (Ezekiel 1:28).<br />2. "<span style="font-weight: bold;">And I fell on my face</span>" (Ezekiel 3:23).<br />3.
"<span style="font-weight: bold;">And I fell upon my face</span>" (Ezekiel
43:3).<br /><br />Remarkably, in the third vision there is no mention of his falling
upon his face before such glory, but twice Ezekiel is seen in like attitude,
pleading for the sinful nation, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">I fell upon my
face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord God! wilt thou destroy all the residue of
Israel</span>" (Ezekiel 9:8). "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Then fell I down
upon my face, and cried with a loud voice, and said, Ah Lord God! wilt thou make
a full end of the remnant of Israel?</span>" (Ezekiel 11:13). In answer to the
first petition God gave reply that He would not spare those guilty of the crimes
that defiled Jerusalem, but to the second He gave promise that to those
scattered among the heathen. He would be a sanctuary. In this way we are shown
two things that should ever bow us low before God, worship and intercession. The
heart that knows most of prostration in reverent awe in the secret of that
wondrous presence is that which will be most active in beseeching His mercy upon
the sons of men.</p>
<p align="justify"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />III. THE REVELATION -- THE
DIVINE MAJESTY</span> <br /><br />"<span style="font-weight: bold;">And I looked, and
behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding
itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the
colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire</span>" (Ezek. 1:4). In connection
with an earlier theophany, there is mentioned a whirlwind from which God spoke,
which likewise came out of the north. In the latter part of Job 36, and chapter
37, there is given a most graphic picture of the approaching storm. At the
beginning of chapter 37 Elihu speaks, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">At this
also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place</span>" and toward its
end, he says, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Fair weather cometh out of the
north: with God is terrible majesty</span>" (Job 37:1, 22). It is this majesty
which is more fully described in Ezekiel. "<span style="font-weight: bold;">The
LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust
of his feet</span>" (Nah. 1:3). The stormy wind (whirlwind) fulfills His word
(Psa. 148:8). By a whirlwind He was pleased to take up Elijah into Heaven (II
Kings 2:1), and in the splendor that flamed out of a whirlwind to manifest
Himself to Ezekiel. <br /><br />The cloud and the fire were inseparably associated
with Israel's history, especially with their deliverance from Egypt and journey
through the desert to the promised land. Carried captive from that land because
their sins had exceeded those of the nations driven out before them, they could
little expect to see again those manifestations of power and glory with which
God had blessed them in those brighter days. Yet, being God and not man, He
acted toward them with such faithfulness that even in the land of captivity He
displayed the tokens of His majesty. <br /><br />"<span style="font-weight: bold;">Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of
four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a
man</span>" (Ezekiel 1:5). <br /><br />"<span style="font-weight: bold;">As for the
likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a
lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side;
they four also had the face of an eagle</span>" (Ezekiel 1:10).<br /><br />"<span style="font-weight: bold;">And their whole body, and their backs, and their
hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, even the
wheels that they four had</span>" (Ezekiel 10:12). <br /><br />"<span style="font-weight: bold;">I knew that they were the cherubims</span>" (Ezekiel
10:20). <br /><br />The profound themes portrayed in <span style="font-style: italic;">the living creatures</span>, the cherubim, call not
for speculation or curiosity, but for awe and praise. The cherubim are found
always in association with the throne of God and have a threefold function in
relation to its government. First, they "cover" the throne, i.e., to them is
committed the guarding of the divine honor. Secondly, they share the
administration of the throne in that they are its close attendants and execute
its decrees. Thirdly, they manifest the character of God in His government of
all that He has made. <br /><br />"<span style="font-weight: bold;">Therefore the
LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence
he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden
of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way
of the tree of life</span>" (Gen. 3:23-24). <br /><br />"<span style="font-weight: bold;">And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten
work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat. And make one
cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy
seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof. And the cherubims
shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their
wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall
the faces of the cherubims be. And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the
ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. And
there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy
seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of
all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel . .
. And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined
linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made</span>" (Exo. 25:18-22;
26:31). <br /><br />"<span style="font-weight: bold;">And within the oracle he made
two cherubims of olive tree, each ten cubits high. And five cubits was the one
wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: from the
uttermost part of the one wing unto the uttermost part of the other were ten
cubits. And the other cherub was ten cubits: both the cherubims were of one
measure and one size. The height of the one cherub was ten cubits, and so was it
of the other cherub. And he set the cherubims within the inner house: and they
stretched forth the wings of the cherubims, so that the wing of the one touched
the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their
wings touched one another in the midst of the house. And he overlaid the
cherubims with gold . . . And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of
the LORD unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place,
even under the wings of the cherubims</span>" (I Kings 6:23-28; 8:6).
<br /><br />"<span style="font-weight: bold;">And before the throne there was a sea
of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the
throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was
like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as
a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And the four beasts had
each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they
rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was,
and is, and is to come . . . And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and
four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them
harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And
they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the
seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out
of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our
God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth</span>" (Rev. 4:6-8;
5:8-10). <br /><br />This character is fourfold. <br /><br />1) The Ruler of the
universe is always majestic; nought that is petty or base is ever known among
His ways. <br />2) He is a ministering God, who ceaselessly attends to the needs
of His own creation. Apart from His care it could not be maintained. <br />3)
<strong>"His understanding is infinite."</strong> He appreciates all the
requirements and all the frailty of His creatures, and seeks to bestow on them
His fellowship, according to their measure of capacity for it. <br />4) He
possesses boundless adequacy for the carrying out of His purposes and the
supplying of every need of His creation. He Himself knows no limitation.
<br /><br />These four traits are exquisitely expressed in the four faces of the
cherubim. The lion speaks of majesty, the ox of ministry, the man of
understanding, and the eagle of that which is far above the limits of earth. The
appearance under which the living creatures are presented, with variation of
detail from book to book of Scripture, and yet with an underlying harmony
throughout, may be compared with the livery worn by the attendants of an earthly
throne. The livery may be worn by different persons in different circumstances,
yet is it still the same in style and meaning. Whether those who are concerned
with the administration of the throne of God be always the same beings or not,
yet the cherubic likeness is consistent throughout. <br /><br />In the Old Testament
the cherubim are sometimes figurative, as in the structure and the holy vessels
of the tabernacle of Moses and the temple of Solomon. Sometimes the cherubim are
living beings, as at the gate of Eden and in the visions of Ezekiel. The living
creatures of the Old Testament thus appear to be of the angelic order. Ezekiel
himself speaks of the downfall of one who is called "<span style="font-weight: bold;">the anointed cherub that covereth</span>" (Eze.
28:14), whose greatness far exceeded that of the literal king of Tyre. Created
to high service in relation to the throne of God, he coveted that which he
should have covered. <br /><br />"<span style="font-weight: bold;">How art thou
fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the
ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I
will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will
sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will
ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High</span>"
(Isa. 14:12-14). <br /><br />When that cherub, so great and high, failed in his
trust, God revealed One "<span style="font-weight: bold;">who was made a little
lower than the angels</span>," and who ever-vindicated the character and
maintained the honor of the throne. In His lowly manhood the beloved Son
manifested the fourfold nature of God's ways, as is seen in the distinctive
portraits of Him in the four Gospels. Matthew displays His kingly majesty; Mark,
His perfect service; Luke, His holy manhood; John, His eternal deity. <br /><br />In
His glorified manhood, exalted "<span style="font-weight: bold;">far above all
principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is
named</span>," the Son will ever administer <span style="font-style: italic;">every function of the throne</span>, but associated
with Him in that sphere of honor will be His redeemed ones from earth, all of
them partakers of the heavenly calling, destined to share His glory. Brought
nearer to Him than angels have ever been, and enjoying therefore a greater
nearness to the throne, they will be linked with Him in functions hitherto
entrusted to the angels. Accordingly, in Revelation 5 angels are "<span style="font-weight: bold;">round about the throne and the beasts and the
elders</span>." The living creatures themselves are "<span style="font-weight: bold;">in the midst of the throne, and round about the
throne</span>" and are joined with the elders in one song of praise. Therefore
it would seem that the living creatures and the elders set forth the redeemed in
two capacities different in themselves, but borne by the same persons. As
elders, they have complete maturity and priestly access; as living creatures
they are associated with the Lamb in His government. This is confirmed by the
undoubted fact that the functions of the cherubim are all attributed, in
statements not symbolic but express, to the glorified saints. They will judge
the world, and judge angels; they will serve for ever and ever; they will be
marked by wisdom and spiritual understanding; they will have spiritual bodies
conditioned to the environment and life of Heaven, and thus free from earthly
limitations. It is fitting, therefore, in view of their character and
occupation, that they should be pictured wearing the livery of the throne, i.e.,
the cherubic likeness. <br /><br />"<span style="font-weight: bold;">And above the
firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the
appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the
likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it. And I saw as the colour of
amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of
his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw
as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. As the
appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the
appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the
likeness of the glory of the LORD</span>" (Ezek. 1:26-28). <br /><br />The climax of
the vision was the revelation of the throne and of its occupant, One who
appeared as a man, and yet with a splendor not of earth. He who covers Himself
with light as with a garment (Psa. 104:2) deigned to appear to Ezekiel in form
which he could comprehend (the appearance of a man), and yet with such <span style="font-style: italic;">incomprehensible majesty</span> that Ezekiel bowed to
the earth upon his face. As in the scene which the Apostle John beheld in
Heaven, there was a rainbow round about the throne (Rev. 4:3), so the brightness
about the Man whom Ezekiel saw was likewise as the appearance of the bow. As the
rainbow was given to Noah as the token of God's covenant, as the pledge of His
abiding promise, so the very brightness which invested this Man witnessed by its
appearance to the faithfulness of the covenant-keeping God of Israel. <br /><br />It
was the glory of Jehovah which Ezekiel beheld. Though the location and other
circumstances of its manifestation had changed, the glory itself endured forever
(Ps. 104:31). It was not so with the gods of the heathen, the vain deities whose
fame ceased with the destruction of their worshipers. These gods were powerless
to protect those whose downfall they wrought. The eyes of the prophet and of
those who heeded his words were lifted from the helplessness of the nation to
their abiding resources in God. In the third vision, Ezekiel witnessed the
departure of the glory from the temple and the city, yet earlier than that, in
the first vision, he saw the glory in the land of exile. Thus did the goodness
of God strengthen him for the sadness of the ruin which should befall Jerusalem.
The sins of the temple brought desolation to their country, and the judgments of
God stripped from them their national independence, but He Himself was still the
refuge of all who trusted Him. In all His glory, in all His power, in all His
<span style="font-style: italic;">sovereign overruling</span> in the affairs of
men, He was with His saints. It has ever been so in the annals of our poor race.
From age to age God has remained the same. Nothing could more suitably have
shown this to Ezekiel than the vision of the Lord enthroned above the living
creatures, the Lord whose will is supreme throughout the universe! <br /><br />In
his final vision, Ezekiel saw the return of the glory to the royal city. The day
of the vision's fulfillment has not yet dawned, and night's darkest hour must
yet cast its pall of anguish upon the nation of Israel. Nevertheless, when the
prophet had long since passed from the scenes of his labors, the glory of the
Lord appeared in the land which Ezekiel loved and shone round about the
shepherds keeping watch over their flock by night, as to them were given the
glad tidings of the birth of "<span style="font-weight: bold;">a Saviour, . . .
Christ the Lord</span>." He will yet come as the King of glory, and His city
shall be known as <span style="font-style: italic;">Jehovah-shammah</span> (the
LORD is there) (Ezek. 48:35). Then all the prophet's longings for his people
will be satisfied. The presence that cheered him in exile will be the constant
joy of restored Israel. This is his last word, the consummation of all his hopes
and the fulfillment of all his visions -- <strong>THE LORD IS THERE</strong>.
</p>
<p align="center"><strong><br /><a href="https://faithfulmenofgod.blogspot.com/2022/11/the-companion-in-fire-three-hebrews.html" target="_blank">Chapter 8 - THE COMPANION IN THE FIRE - Daniel 3 - Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah</a></strong></p>
<p align="center"><strong><a href="https://faithfulmenofgod.blogspot.com/2008/10/companion-of-way.html" target="_blank">Back to The Companion Of The Way TOC</a></strong></p>Jerry Boueyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11939572388745111915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953682481802321447.post-13931708631754698732012-06-19T22:05:00.001-07:002012-06-19T22:09:33.997-07:00The Ark Of Salvation As Related By Spurgeon<div><p align=justify><b>The Ark Of Salvation As Related By Spurgeon</b></p>
<p align=justify>The following is Charles Spurgeon's telling of what his search for salvation was like, using a very neat and encouraging illustration to get his point across. Have you found your rest in the Ark of Salvation, the Lord Jesus Christ?</p>
<p align=justify>"I could not believe that it was possible that <i>my</i> sins could be forgiven. I do not know why, but I seemed to be the odd person in the world. When the catalogue was made out, it appeared to me that, for some reason, I must have been left out. If God had saved me, and not the world, I should have wondered indeed; but if He had saved all the world except me, that would have seemed to me to be but right. And now, being saved by grace, I cannot help saying, 'I am indeed a brand plucked out of the fire!' I believe that some of us who were kept by God a long while before we found Him, love Him better perhaps than we should have done if we had received Him directly; and we can preach better to others, we can speak more of His lovingkindness and tender mercy. John Bunyan could not have written as he did if he had not been dragged about by the devil for many years. I love that picture of dear old Christian. I know, when I first read <i>The Pilgrim's Progress</i>, and saw in it the woodcut of Christian carrying the burden on his back, I felt so interested in the poor fellow, that I thought I should jump with joy when, after he had carried his heavy load so long, he at last got rid of it; and that was how I felt when the burden of guilt, which I had borne so long, was for ever rolled away from my shoulders and my heart."</p>
<p align=justify>"I can recollect when, like the poor dove sent out by Noah from his hand, I flew over the wide expanse of waters, and hoped to find some place where I might rest my wearied wing. Up towards the North I flew; and my eye looked keenly through the mist and darkness, if perhaps it might find some floating substance on which my soul might rest its foot, but it found nothing. Again it turned its wing, and flapped it, but not so rapidly as before, across that deep water that knew no shore; but still there was no rest. The raven had found its resting-place upon a floating body, and was feeding itself upon the carrion of some drowned man's carcass; but my poor soul found no rest. I flew on; I fancied I saw a ship sailing out at sea; it was the ship of the law; and I thought I would put my feet on its canvas, or rest myself on its cordage for a time, and find some refuge. But, ah! it was an airy phantom, on which I could not rest; for my foot had no right to rest on the law; I had not kept it, and the soul that keepeth it not, must die. At last I saw the barque <i>Christ Jesus</i>, - that happy ark; and I thought I would fly thither; but my poor wing was weary, I could fly no further, and down I sank; but, as providence would have it, when my wings were flagging, and I was falling into the flood to be drowned, just below me was the roof of the ark, and I saw a hand put out from it, and One took hold of me, and said, 'I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore I have not delivered the soul of My turtle-dove unto the multitude of the wicked; come in, come in!' Then I found that I had in my mouth an olive leaf of peace with God, and peace with man, plucked off by Jesus' mighty power."</p>
<p align=justify>From <i>C.H. Spurgeon's Autobiography, Volume One</i>, pages 103-104.</p></div>Jerry Boueyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11939572388745111915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953682481802321447.post-40178194100241126022010-04-28T18:31:00.000-07:002010-04-28T21:19:43.121-07:00The Difference Between Character and Integrity<div align="justify">For the Love of the Family Ministries<br />Pastor Terry L. Coomer, General Director<br />Missionaries to America's Forgotten Field, The Family<br />Ministry of Hope Baptist Church<br />P.O. Box 94985<br />North Little Rock, Arkansas 72190<br />(501) 515-3296<br />TLCOOMER@juno.com<br /><a href="http://www.fortheloveofthefamily.com/" target="_blank"><b>For the Love of the Family Ministries</b></a><br /><br />These articles may be copied in their entirety to help families to live for the Savior. They are not to be changed in any manner or sold. This header must be on all copies. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the author.<br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">"The Difference Between Character and Integrity"</span></strong><br /><br />There has been a lot of talk about character recently in our country. Character has not been taught for a couple of generations. I recently happened to be in a public school and there were signs up all over the building saying “Character Counts.” There were also several other signs referring to different aspects of character.<br /><br />One of my great concerns has been, why do so many children who grow up in independent-fundamental Baptist homes not end up serving God? The statistics are staggering and the grief, pain, and agony is great for the parents, children, pastors, churches, and others. Many pastors’ children do not end up living for God. Many leaders reluctantly say, “They chose not to live for God” with the look of pain and confusion. Folks, it goes a lot deeper than “they just chose not to live for God.” In the work that Kim and I have done through For the Love of the Family, I have stated one of the big reasons children choose not to live for the Lord is ungodly anger in the Christian home, Ephesians 4:31, <i>“Let <u>all</u> bitterness, and <u>wrath</u>, and <u>anger</u>, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.”</i> Many Christians discipline their children in anger and expect God’s work to be done in their heart. The Bible is plain, that this will fail. <u><i>“He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.”</i> Proverbs 22:8. Where does ungodly anger come from? Pride. <i>“Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.”</i> Proverbs 21:24.</u><br /><br />There is another aspect which greatly affects our lives and our children’s lives. That is the matter of integrity and character. These two words are used pretty much interchangeably in the Bible. However, there is a difference. Character is the foundation of trust. Character has been defined as one’s total personality. The Bible gives us several character traits. I have identified several different character traits the Bible teaches. The difference between integrity and character is that <u>integrity is character in the heart</u>. Folks that is one of the reasons that many children which grow up in a Christian home fail to live for the Lord.<br /><br />The devil, <i>“walks about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour,”</i> I Peter 5:8. The devil is neither omniscient nor omnipresent, but he is a good judge of character. He will look at the character weaknesses in our lives to see where he can do his work, which is to <i>“steal, kill, and destroy”,</i> John 10:9-10. Folks, our character and integrity are our destiny. Every spiritual issue is a heart issue, we must <i>“do the will of God from the heart”,</i> Ephesians 6:6.<br /><br />Many children grow up in a Christian home and they are taught to dress a certain way, act a certain way, say “yes sir” and “no sir”, etc. Those things are all well and good, but this outward show is in no way a guarantee that the child will grow up to live for and serve the Savior. The things mentioned above are areas of character, but we can train in character and the child still not live for God. <u>The key is integrity.</u> Many parents, who desperately want their children to live for God, have gone to great lengths to train in character. In the end the parents are greatly disappointed and disillusioned because their child has not lived for God after they have worked to try to get them to do so. Remember, <u>integrity is character in the heart</u>. Integrity must be held in the heart. Job 2:3, …<i>”and still <u>he holdeth</u> fast his integrity.”</i> Job 27:5-6, <i>“God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me. My righteousness <u>I hold</u> (did you notice who holds it) and will not let go: My <u>heart</u> shall not reproach me so long as I live.”</i> Proverbs 11:3, <i>“The <u>integrity of the upright shall guide them</u>: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.”</i> Psalm 26:1 <i>“Judge me, O Lord; for <u>I have walked in mine integrity</u>.”</i> Psalm 7:8, Psalm 41:12, Proverbs 19:1.<br /><br />Folks, integrity is not just what people see, integrity is what you are. How can a person hold on to integrity? Only in the heart. If it is not in the heart, then your child will bend in any direction. Many good parents and leaders have missed the point. They believe that we must teach character, but there is a lack of understanding of what integrity is. I realize we have homes that are at different levels. You have homes where there is no character being taught. You also have homes where people are trying to teach some basic character and lastly you have homes that are strictly adhering to trying to teach character. Listen carefully; if character is not in the heart, it is always up for grabs! The devil knows this and is deceptive. Many of God’s people have missed the point. Notice that there is a promise from God on this matter of integrity. Proverbs 20:7, <i>“<u>The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him</u>.”</i> So, the blessing of our children is tied to our integrity.<br /><br />Our testimony is affected by our character and our integrity. What is the ultimate goal of our life Biblically? To glorify God, I Corinthians 6:19-20. If integrity is not in the heart we will never glorify God. God wants to change our life to glorify Him. When we get saved, we become a new creature in Christ, II Corinthians 5:17. Most of us, when we get saved, have come from a habit lifestyle that has been dictated by our old nature. <i>“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to deceitful lusts. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”</i> Did you notice the put off and put on? Who is responsible to do that? We are. The big question is how do we do that? As a Christian, I am to find out from God’s word what He says about that area of character. <u>I am to seek Biblical change in my life from the principles of God’s word. I am then to ask God to put that in my heart as a matter of character and integrity. I then ask God to keep this matter in my heart as a matter of godliness, character, and integrity. Remember, character is integrity in the heart.</u><br /><br />Folks, we need to be putting on new habits that would accurately demonstrate the character and nature of God so He would be glorified. All of us have come from a habit life style built around flesh gratification and senses orientation. Behavior has to be changed God’s way, as a matter of the heart through the Holy Spirit’s work through God’s word. So, why do many children grow up in a Christian home and do not end up serving God? One of the reasons is a lack of integrity or a lack of teaching character and integrity by the parents. We fail to understand it is a matter of the heart. Many Christian parents desire for their children to live for the Savior. However, many of us are ill equipped to do the Biblical child training God has described in His word. Much of what our children will be is what we are. Who knows more about us than anyone else? Our husband, wives, and children. So many parents are so disappointed when they find out that their lack of putting off the old man has determined the destiny of their children. Remember character and integrity is our destiny. How many young ladies and been sorely disappointed and had their lives ruined because they marry a person who professes to be saved but has not integrity. Ten years down the road he takes off and she is left with a destroyed life. I have taught my daughters to be looking for certain aspects of character and integrity. Otherwise, get as far away from him or her as you possibly can.<br /><br />We can tell people what we are, but what we are will always show up in the lives of our children. II Corinthians 7:1-3, Proverbs 22:6, Ephesians 6:4, Deuteronomy 6:5-7, 17.<br /><br />What happens to children who grow up in a home with parents who lack in character and integrity or character and integrity were not taught in the home? Maybe parents tried to teach character, but failed to understand that character is integrity in the heart. The Bible tells us six things will happen in their lives. They are grievous things. As a pastor for many years, I have seen it many times. Also, in each instance it is very important to notice their sins will be against their parents! I do not know how many times I have heard, “I just do not understand why this child does what they do. We sent them to a Christian school, we home schooled them, we took them to church, we had family devotions, we prayed with them. I just do not understand.” Watch what the Bible says about them and what they will be:<br /><br />1. <u>Stubborn and rebellious</u>, Deuteronomy 21:18-21, <i>“If a man have a <u>stubborn and rebellious son</u>, which will not obey the voice of his mother, and that when they have chastened him will not hearken unto them: Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; An they shall say unto he elders of his city, <u>This our son is stubborn and rebellious</u>, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard, And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear and fear.”</i><br /><br />2. <u>Scorner</u>, Proverbs 30:17, <i>“The eye that <u>mocketh</u> at his father, and <u>despiseth</u> to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.”</i><br /><br />3. <u>Robbers</u>, Proverbs 28:24-26, <i>“Whoso <u>robbeth</u> his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer. He that is proud of heart stirreth up strife; but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat. He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool; but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.”</i> Let me point out there are many ways for a child to rob his or her parents. Did you notice in the verse the child has no conscience about it? In our lives today, many children rob their parents by manipulation. They are only interested in what they want and did you notice here it is a matter of the heart? The devil is the destroyer and the child is his companion.<br /><br />4. <u>Smiters</u>, Exodus 21:15, <i>“And he that <u>smiteth</u> his father or his mother, shall surely be put to death.”</i><br /><br />5. <u>Cursers</u>, Exodus 21:17, <i>“And he that <u>curseth</u> his father, or his mother shall surely be put to death.”</i> You may also see Leviticus 20:9.<br /><br />6. <u>Fornicator and Adulterer</u>, I Corinthians 5:1, <i>"It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.”</i> You may also see I Corinthians 5:9, 11-13, 6:9-10, 18-20.<br /><br />Integrity and character must be taught in the home and the Christian school. The failure to do so will create disastrous results. Again, it is important to point out these sins were against their parents, and God takes the matter extremely seriously. The grief that comes to a parent’s life because they have failed to teach their children character and integrity comes back through their children sinning grievously against the parents. The sadness is the parents rarely understand why the children are like they are.<br /><br />The purpose of this article is to help those who are rearing their children right now. I have had many parents tell me after reading an article on For the Love of the Family, “I never knew that. I am so glad I heard that now, so I will not do more damage than I have already done.”<br /><br />When we teach character, we have to understand that children and many adults outwardly conform. They have failed to understand that true character is called integrity and the place you hold it is in the heart. As a parent, are you asking “heart” questions of your children? As a husband, are you asking “heart” questions of your wife? As a wife, are you asking “heart” questions of your husband? The only way to deal with what is in the heart is to draw it out by asking questions. Start asking early because it can become a lot more serious issue to deal with later.<br /><br />Many Christians go to church faithfully, hoping that that will be enough. When the home is not a place where true character and integrity are taught, the marriage and the children are headed to a disaster. Most Christians are going through the motions of their every day hectic busy life. They spend time working at the church or doing other religious good things, but fail in the issues of the heart (disaster).<br /><br />Any Christian, who fails in the issues of the heart, is capable of doing all the sins of Galatians 5:19-21. The end result is <u>deception and disaster</u>, Galatians 6:7-8, <i>“Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. <u>For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption</u>; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”</i><br /><br />You see folks, integrity and character are a matter of the heart. Integrity is character in the heart, Ephesians 6:6. Let me encourage you to go through your Bible and look for character traits that God wants you to develop in your life and the lives of your children. As an example, truthfulness, Ephesians 4:25, obedience, II Corinthians 10:5, self control, Galatians 5:24-25, discretion, Proverbs 22:3, dependability, Psalm 15:4, flexibility, Colossians 3:23 and endurance, Galatians 6:9 would be some examples. Remember, these not only have to be developed in your life, but put in your heart. Character and integrity are our destiny and the destiny of our children.<br /><br />Terry L. Coomer is the Pastor of Elwood Bible Baptist Church, and the Director of For the Love of the Family Ministries. He has also served as the Publisher of the nation’s fastest growing daily newspaper. Pastor Coomer holds Family Conferences in the local church. To have a meeting at your church or other needs he may be contacted at (765) 552-1973, tlcoomer@juno.com, <a href="http://www.fortheloveofthefamily.com/" target="_blank"><b>For the Love of the Family Ministries</b></a></div>Jerry Boueyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11939572388745111915noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953682481802321447.post-91209647642745392422010-03-07T08:42:00.000-08:002023-10-05T11:56:46.089-07:00"Whosoever" Of John 3:16<div align="justify"><script type="text/javascript" src="https://av1611.com/verseclick/verseclick.js"></script>The following is taken from Address Nine (pages 106-110) in <i>Addresses On The Gospel Of John</i> - by H.A. Ironside:<br /><br />You remember the story of the little girl in Martin Luther's day, when the first edition of the Bible came out. She had a terrible fear of God. God had been presented in such a way that it filled her heart with dread when she thought of Him. She brooded over the awfulness of the character of God and of some day having to meet this angry Judge. But one day she came running to her mother, holding a scrap of paper in her hand. She cried out, "Mother! mother! I am not afraid of God any more." Her mother said, "Why are you not?" "Why, look, mother," she said, "this bit of paper I found in the print shop, and it is torn out of the Bible." It was so torn as to be almost illegible except about two lines. On the one line it said, <i>"God so loved,"</i> and on the other line it said, <i>"that He gave."</i> "See, mother," she said, "that makes it all right." Her mother read it and said, "God so loved that He gave." "But," she said, "it does not say what He gave." "Oh, mother," exclaimed the child, "if He loved us enough to give anything, it is all right." Then the mother said, "But, let me tell you what He gave." She read, <i>"God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."</i> Then she told how we can have peace and eternal life through trusting Him.<br /><br />Am I speaking to anyone today who dreads the thought of meeting God? Do you think of your sins and say with David of old, <i>"I remembered God, and was troubled"</i>? Let me call your attention to this word: The love of God has been manifest in Christ. If you will but come as a needy sinner He will wash your sins away. "But," you say, "how can I be sure that it is for me? I can understand how He can invite certain ones to trust Him. Their lives have been so much better than mine, but I cannot believe that this salvation is for me." Well, what else can you make from that word, <i>"whosoever"</i>? <i>"God so loved... that He gave... that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."</i> He could not find another more all-embracing word than that. It takes you in. It takes me in. You have many another <i>"whosoever"</i> in the Bible. There is a <i>"whosoever"</i> of judgment: <i>"Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." "Whosoever"</i> there includes all who did not come to God while He waited, in grace, to save. If they had recognized that they were included in the <i>"Whosoever"</i> of John 3:16, they would not be found in that of Rev. 20:15.<br /><br />Somebody wrote me the other day and said, "A man has come to our community who is preaching a limited atonement. He says it is a wonderful truth that has been only recently revealed to him." Well, I could only write back that the term "limited atonement" has an uncanny sound to me. I do not read anything like that in my Bible. I read that <i>"He... [tasted] death for every man."</i> I read that <i>"He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."</i> I read that <i>"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."</i> And here I read that <i>"Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."</i> I say to you, as I said to the writer of that letter, that there is enough value in the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ to save every member of the human race, if they would but repent and turn to God; and then if they were all saved, there still remains value enough to save the members of a million worlds like this, if they are lost in sin and needing a Saviour. Yes, the sacrifice of Christ is an infinite sacrifice. Do not let the enemy of your soul tell you there is no hope for you. Do not let him tell you you have sinned away your day of grace; that you have gone so far that God is no longer merciful. There is life abundant for you if you will but look up into the face of the One who died on Calvary's cross and trust Him for yourself. Let me repeat it again, <i>"Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."</i><br /><br /><i>"Whosoever believeth."</i> What is it to believe? It is to trust in Him; to confide in Him; to commit yourself and your affairs to Him. He is saying to you, poor needy sinner, "You cannot save yourself. All your efforts to redeem yourself can only end in failure, but I have given My Son to die for you. Trust in Him. Confide in Him!" <i>"Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish."</i><br /><br />...To believe in Jesus [is] to commit [yourself] unto Jesus. Have you done that? Have you said,<br /><br />"Jesus, I will trust Thee, trust Thee with my soul,<br />Weary, worn and helpless, Thou canst make me whole.<br />There is none in heaven, or on earth like Thee;<br />Thou hast died for sinners; therefore, Lord, for me."</div>Jerry Boueyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11939572388745111915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953682481802321447.post-75925332692600305932010-03-07T08:26:00.000-08:002010-03-07T08:31:07.624-08:00New Translations and the Authorised Version<div align="justify">I suppose that the most popular of all the proposals at the present moment is to have a new translation of the Bible... The argument is that people are not reading the Bible any longer because they do not understand its language - particularly the archaic terms - what does your modern man... know about justification, sanctification, and all the Biblical terms? And so we are told the one thing that is necessary is to have a translation that Tom, Dick, and Harry will understand. I began to feel about six months ago that we had almost reached the stage in which the Authorised Version was being dismissed, to be thrown into the limbo of things forgotten, no longer of any value. Need I apologise for saying a word in favour of the Authorised Version in this gathering?...<br /><br />It is a basic proposition laid down by the Protestant Reformers, that we must have a Bible "understanded by the people." That is common sense... We must never be obscurantists. We must never approach the Bible in a mere antiquarian spirit... but it does seem to me that there is a very grave danger incipient in so much of the argument that is being presented today for these new translations. There is a danger, I say, of our surrendering something that is vital and essential...<br /><br />Take this argument that the modern man does not understand such terms as justification, sanctification, and so on. I want to ask you a question. When did an ordinary man ever understand those terms?... Did the colliers to whom John Wesley and George Whitfield preached in the 18th century understand? They had not even been to day school... they could not read, they could not write. Yet these were the terms that were used. This was the version that was used - the Authorised Version. The common people have never understood these terms... We are concerned here with something that is spiritual; something that does not belong to this world at all; which, as the apostle Paul reminds us, the princes of this world do not know. Human wisdom is of no value here - it is a spiritual truth. This is truth about God primarily, and because of that it is a mystery.<br /><br />Yet we are told - it must be put in such simple terms and language that anybody taking it up and reading it is going to understand all about it. My friends, this is sheer nonsense. What we must do is to educate the masses of the people up to the Bible, not bring the Bible down to their level. One of the greatest troubles today is that everything is being brought down to the same level; everything is cheapened. The common man is made the standard of authority; he decides everything, and everything has to be brought down to him...<br /><br />Are we to do that with the Word of God? I say No! What has happened in the past has been this. Ignorant, illiterate people, in this country and in foreign countries, coming into salvation have been educated up to the Book and have begun to understand it, to glory in it, and to praise God for it, and I say that we need to do the same in this present time. What we need is therefore, not to replace the Authorised Version... we need rather to reach and train people up to the standard and the language, the dignity and the glory of the old Authorised Version.<br /><br />Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones - 1961</div>Jerry Boueyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11939572388745111915noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953682481802321447.post-1848608138148760532010-03-07T05:56:00.000-08:002010-03-07T06:10:47.633-08:00Wanted: Faithful Men<div align="justify">There is an incredible famine of faithfulness in these days. Many churches could take Proverbs 20:6 as their theme verse: <i>Most men will proclaim every man his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?</i> Thank God that the Apostle Paul found one in Timothy. To that young preacher Paul issued the following command from the Holy Ghost: <i>And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also</i> (2 Timothy 2:2). <br /><br />Every God-called, Spirit-led pastor desires to commit the truth to <i>faithful</i> men. But, the sad fact is that there are few that qualify for the training! Many that profess Christ are unfaithful men - unfaithful to the Word, the work, the war, the worship of God, and some are even unfaithful to their wives. Here's a challenge, sir - BE A FAITHFUL MAN! <br /><br />A faithful man is one who has first been REGENERATED. He has been born again of the Holy Spirit. What about you - was there a time when the Holy Ghost of God REPROVED you of your sinfulness, REBUKED you of your ungodliness, and you RESPONDED by REPENTING and RECEIVING the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour? Only the saved man can qualify for this holy designation of <i>faithful men</i>.<br /><br />He is also one who RECEIVES the Word of God. Too many are REJECTING, REWRITING, REARRANGING, RECONSTRUCTING, and REINVENTING the Word of God. But, <i>faithful men</i> will not go that route! The faithful man doesn'€™t get mad at the truth-telling preacher either. Like the Berean Christians of Acts 17:10,11 he RECEIVES the Word of God as it is preached, RESEARCHES the message with the Scriptures, and then REACHES a conclusion about what God's man has declared. <br /><br />The faithful man allows his pastor to <i>commit</i> the truth to him! He is humble and takes time to be taught the Word and treasures it in his heart. He is not <i>carried about by every wind of doctrine</i> because he RETAINS the truth. In other words, he sticks with, stands for, and strives about the truth. <br /><br />That last part of 2 Timothy 2:2 is where it really gets good. When a man is REGENERATED, RECEIVES the Word of God, and RETAINS it, he is at the place where he can be used of God to REPEAT it to others. He is <i>able to teach others also</i>. The work of God goes forward mightily as men develop into <i>faithful men</i>. Sinners are sought, the seed is sown, souls are saved, and saints are settled as faithful men continue the wonderful process of preaching the Word of God in the power of the Holy Ghost.<br /><br />Sir, don't allow the famine of faithfulness to famish your family and assembly. Before God Almighty, and for His glory and honour, commit by His grace to be a faithful man from this day forward. <br /><br />By Pastor Bobby Mitchell<br /><a href="http://www.midcoastbaptistchurch.com" target="_blank">Mid-Coast Baptist Church</a><br />Brunswick, Maine<br /><i>(Used With Permission)</i></div>Jerry Boueyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11939572388745111915noreply@blogger.com1