by HARVEYOPP | Jan 2, 2016 | CH Spurgeon
“Continue In Prayer” (Col. 4:2).
“It is interesting to remark how large a portion of Sacred Writ is occupied with the subject of prayer, either in furnishing examples, enforcing precepts, or pronouncing promises. We scarcely open the Bible before we read, “Then began men to call upon the name of the Lord;” and just as we are about to close the volume, the “Amen” of an earnest supplication meets our ear. Instances are plentiful. Here we find a wrestling Jacob – there a Daniel who prayed three times a day – and a David who with all his heart called upon his God. On the mountain we see Elias; in the dungeon Paul and Silas. We have multitudes of commands, and myriads of promises. What does this teach us, but the sacred importance and necessity of prayer? We may be certain that whatever God has made prominent in his Word, he intended to be conspicuous in our lives. If he has said much about prayer, it is because he knows we have much need of it. So deep are our necessities, that until we are in heaven we must not cease to pray. Dost thou want nothing? Then, I fear thou dost not know thy poverty. Hast thou no mercy to ask of God? Then, may the Lord’s mercy show thee thy misery! A prayerless soul is a Christless soul. Prayer is the lisping of the believing infant, the shout of the fighting believer, the requiem of the dying saint falling asleep in Jesus. It is the breath, the watchword, the comfort, the strength, the honour of a Christian. If thou be a child of God, thou wilt seek thy Father’s face, and live in thy Father’s love. Pray that this year thou mayst be holy, humble, zealous, and patient; have closer communion with Christ, and enter oftener into the banqueting-house of his love. Pray that thou mayst be an example and a blessing unto others, and that thou mayst live more to the glory of thy Master. The motto for this year must be, “Continue in prayer.”
by HARVEYOPP | Jan 2, 2016 | Scott Henry
“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse…” (Romans 1:20).
The world was created by the Word of God (Gen. 1:3; John 1:3; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:2), and thereby reflects the mind and character of God (Rom. 1:20). Man was created as the image of God (Gen. 1:16-27) and therefore cannot escape the face of God — “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever” (Rom. 11:36). Therefore, all the facts of this universe, every human being, all the creepy crawlies, all the birds of the air, all the beasts of the field, all the fish of the sea, all the trees of the forest, all the flowers of the meadow, all the grains of sand on the seashore, all the stars in the heavens, all the tiny molecules in the atmosphere, every last thing that God created declares the invisible attributes of the true and living God!! (Romans 1:20-21).
There is, therefore, no environment, no dark little corner, no small hiding place in this world where man can flee to escape the revelation of God (Psalm 139:8; Heb. 4:13). “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world…” (Psalm 19:1-4). God’s natural revelation goes out to the ends of the earth and all people in every tribe, tongue, nation, and language of this world see His glory (Psalm 97:6).
Therefore, even when living in open, idolatrous, rebellion against the true and living God, all men are in the condition of knowing the true and living God and not merely “a god” (Romans 1:21), albeit in judgment as covenant breakers. Therefore, the Apostle Paul says that all men are without excuse for their rebellion (Rom. 1:20), and even their conscience accuses them of their rebellion against the true and living God (Rom. 2:14-16). As the Apostle John wrote, Jesus is “the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world” (John 1:9).
Therefore, don’t believe the “agnostic” when he says, “I don’t know if God exists.” The God who “upholds all things by the Word of His power” (Heb. 1:3), and “who gives life to all things” (1 Tim. 6:13) “…did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness” (Acts 17:14). When people say, “I don’t know if God exists,” they are simply suppressing information they already know to be true (Rom. 1:18). Therefore, believe God’s Word and not fallen, unregenerate, rebellious men who are liars and more vain than vanity itself. For Jesus said, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your Word is truth” (John 17:17).
by HARVEYOPP | Jan 2, 2016 | John Hendryx
There are some things that are non-negotiable, and by that I mean those things that make Christianity what it truly is. When Christians make a common confession assenting to the essentials of the Christian faith there is no room for negotiation. Christianity is particularly Trinitarian, particularly exclusive, and particularly redemptive through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. There is no room for negotiation. Either God exists eternally in three persons, and either Jesus is the only way to God, and either Jesus provides the only access to God, and either Jesus rose from the dead, or Christianity is a lie. This is the sum and substance of the creedal Christianity that has existed for almost two millennia.* This is the faith that Christians have believed and that Christians do believe. It will do no good to embrace a faith that has no substance, and to hold close that which bothers to carry no theological and biblical conviction. Christianity is substantive. Christianity is authoritative. Words mean things and ideas have consequences. We didn’t get here all by ourselves. What this means is that to truly be Christian we align ourselves with those that have gone before us. This is the faith once and for all delivered to us. We are not the beginning and neither are we the end. This is the faith for which men and women have died. This is not cheap easy-believe-ism. This is the faith that transforms. This is the faith for which martyrs have died. This is the faith which may cost you your life. We may come and we may go, but this is the faith that will endure. The temptation is to negotiate. The temptation is to acquiesce. Resist the spirit of the age. Resist the enticement to compromise. Believe. Believe this:
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic* church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
– The Apostles Creed, 390 AD
*that is, the true Christian church of all times and all places
by HARVEYOPP | Nov 17, 2015 | Scott Henry
“…giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20).
The Word of God teaches that it’s the duty of every believer to always give thanks to God. Thanksgiving should not be limited to special occasions or certain days on the calendar because giving thanks to God refers to the attitude of the believer’s heart. The Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 86, reads as follows: “Since, then, we are redeemed from our misery by grace through Christ, without any merit of ours, why must we do good works? Because Christ, having redeemed us by His blood, also renews us by His Holy Spirit after His own image, that with our whole life we show ourselves thankful to God for His blessing…” For the Christian, thanksgiving is every moment of everyday, and it continues throughout eternity. “So we, Your people and sheep of Your pasture, will give You thanks forever; we will show forth Your praise to all generations” (Psalm 79:13). As the redeemed of Christ, we must give thanks to the Lord at all times, without exception. “Stand up and bless the LORD your God forever and ever! Blessed be Your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise!” (Nehemiah 9:5)
Scripture also teaches that we must give thanks for everything; not only for the pleasant things that God gives to richly enjoy, but also for the unpleasant things. Job said, “Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept evil? The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21). We also read in 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “In everything give thanks.” We are to be thankful always and for all things.
Something else the Word of God teaches us is that at the heart of all true thanksgiving must be praise to God for His grace, mercy, and love shown to us through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 9:15: “Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift,” and Christ is the gift the Apostle Paul is referring to. Just think of the well-known verse: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Christ is the unspeakable gift, the only begotten Son, given to redeem sinners from the guilt and consequences of their sins. True thanksgiving is not rooted simply in the material things we receive from God. True thanksgiving is rooted in God who sends everything — good and bad — for His glory and the salvation of all those He has given to His Son, Jesus Christ (John 6:37). As we read in Lamentations 3:37-38: “Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both good and ill go forth?”
Nevertheless, God uses all these things, at every moment of every day, for the eternal, spiritual good of all those who trust in Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:28). Therefore, as redeemed sinners, we can and must give thanks to God at all times and in every situation because we know that in Christ, God is working all things together for our salvation and with this we must be content. Are there times and situations when your thanksgiving is not heard in heaven? If the darkest providence you could imagine came upon you today would you say, “Yet, I will rejoice in the Lord, I will give thanks to the God of my salvation”? Take time today to give thanks to God for all He has done for you in Christ Jesus, and begin cultivating a thankful life to the glory and praise of God!
by HARVEYOPP | Nov 3, 2015 | Scott Henry
“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7).
The word “casting” in our text is used of throwing a covering on something. An example would be a blanket thrown on a bed. In the same way, Peter says, “Cast your cares upon the Lord.” All our discontent, discouragement, despair, questioning, pain, suffering, and sorrow must be given to the Lord, and we must trust the One who truly cares for the sheep of His pasture. Our text is a call for faithful prayer. Philippians 4:6-7 tells us to “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” 2 Kings 19 is an excellent example of trust and humble dependence upon God. King Hezekiah received a letter from Sennacherib, King of Assyria, which said, “The other nation’s gods could not stop me, neither can Israel’s God.” Hezekiah was completely dependent upon God to save him and his people from the King of Assyria, and Hezekiah demonstrated complete dependence by bowing before the Lord in prayer. And the Lord said, “Because you have prayed to Me … I have heard.” God fought the battle for Hezekiah because he humbled himself in the sight of God and gave his burden to the Lord.
The Lord cares for His people. Jesus said in Matthew 6:30, “Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” The Apostle Paul wrote, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). And David wrote in Psalm 55:22, “Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” And by knowing, believing, trusting, and meditating on these precious truths the Holy Spirit will produce in every believer a Christ-like attitude of humility, trust, and dependence upon our God and Father, which is demonstrated by our faithful submission under God’s mighty hand. Take time today and relieve the burden of your heart by “Casting all your care upon the Lord” remembering the precious truth that “He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
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