by HARVEYOPP | May 16, 2014 | Scott Henry
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).
The only thing that can satisfy the longing in our soul is the Word of God. So often we are discontent with our possessions and when we obtain more in order to satisfy the longing in our soul we quickly learn that the hunger rages on. Why? Because the longing of man’s soul can only be satisfied by the Word of God; Scripture alone is the food for our soul. That’s why Jesus said in Matthew 4:4: “Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” The Apostle Paul told the elders at Ephesus in Acts 20:32: “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” The Word of God is what the believer lives by; Scripture alone brings joy, comfort, peace, and satisfaction to our soul!
The Word of God brings light to our pathway and illuminates the way before our feet in this dark world (Psalm 119:105). This sinful world is a stumbling block of darkness on the pathway in which we walk. We cannot look to the wisdom of this world to give us guidance because the wisdom of this world is “foolishness, earthly, sensual, and demonic” (1 Corinthians 3:19; James 3:15). Only the Word of God is sufficient and dependable to guide us in this world. This doesn’t mean that we can’t turn to others for advice. The psalmist surely turned to his father, mother, and friends many times for counsel. But only when others give us counsel in accordance with the Word of God will their counsel be reliable, true and worthy to be followed (Psalm 1).
Is your soul discontent? Do you have a longing that’s never satisfied by the things of this world? Do you have troubles in your marriage or with your family? Do you struggle with certain sins in your life? The ONLY solution is to feed on the Word of God. The Word of God is the ONLY reliable and trustworthy guide that can give us the wisdom, strength, comfort and hope we need to withstand the temptations we face in this life (Romans 15:4). That’s why the Psalmist wrote: “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11). And again, “I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation” (Psalm 119:99). And once again, “…and that from childhood you have known the Scriptures which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:15). So the question is, have you had your spiritual nourishment today? “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word that you may grow thereby…” (1 Peter 2:2).
by HARVEYOPP | May 13, 2014 | Scott Henry
“Nor is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name given under heaven among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
As far as earning your place in heaven, your “good” works count for nothing! They are, as Isaiah said, “Filthy rags!” (Isaiah 64:6) However, that doesn’t mean our works are unimportant. Good works must be found in your life if you belong to Jesus Christ (John 15:1-5), and there’s so much confusion regarding the Christian and good works. People either think they’re saved by their good works or they are saved by Christ alone and therefore good works are unimportant. But both of these are unbiblical teachings. The Bible teaches that the believer does good works not to be saved but because they are the saved!! Notice what Scripture teaches concerning the Christian and good works:
- The Apostle Paul said that a widow under 60 years old is not to be financially cared for by the church unless she has been “well reported for good works…” (1 Tim. 5:10).
- Ephesians 2:10 teaches that believers are God’s “workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
- Jesus, in His sermon on the Mount, taught believers to “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
- The Apostle Paul taught that godly women ought to “adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works” (1 Tim. 2:9-10).
- Concerning the rich, the Apostle Paul told Timothy to “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share…” (1 Tim. 6:17-18).
- In the book of Titus, the Apostle Paul teaches that the young men of the church are “…to be a pattern of good works…” (Titus 2:7); that the redeemed of Christ are to be “…zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14); “…that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works” (Titus 3:8); that Christians must “…learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful” (Titus 3:14).
- And the writer to the Hebrews admonishes the saints to “…let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24).
Nevertheless, the Bible also teaches that our “good” works are not the cause of our salvation. The cause of our salvation is always & only the perfect law-fulfilling life and sin-atoning death of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 5:21), and if you’re trusting in anything alongside of or instead of Jesus Christ then you’re not trusting Jesus and you’re on the broad road that leads to Hell! The Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 30, reads: “Do those also believe in the only Savior Jesus, who seek their salvation and welfare from “saints,” themselves, or anywhere else? No; although they make their boast of Him, yet in their deeds they deny the only Savior Jesus; for either Jesus is not a complete Savior, or they who by true faith receive this Savior, must have in Him all that is necessary to their salvation.”
What about you? Are you denying the ONLY Savior Jesus by trusting in something other than Him, or do you, by true faith, look to the Savior Jesus Christ ALONE and have in Him ALL that is necessary to your salvation? “Nor is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name given under heaven among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Look to Jesus today and live!
by HARVEYOPP | May 13, 2014 | JC RYLE
Affliction is one of God’s medicines. By it He often teaches lessons which would be learned in no other way. By it He often draws souls away from sin and the world, which would otherwise have perished everlastingly. Health is a great blessing, but sanctified disease is a greater. Prosperity and worldly comfort are what all naturally desire: but losses and crosses are far better for us, if they lead us to Christ. Thousands at the last day, will testify with David, and the nobleman before us, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted.”
Let us beware of murmuring in the time of trouble. Let us settle it firmly in our minds that there is a meaning, a needs-be, and a message from God, in every sorrow that falls upon us. There are no lessons so useful as those learned in the school of affliction. There is no commentary that opens up the Bible so much as sickness and sorrow. “No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth peaceable fruit” (Heb. 12:11). The resurrection morning will prove that many of the losses of God’s people were in reality eternal gains.
by HARVEYOPP | May 9, 2014 | CH Spurgeon
When Charles Spurgeon skyrocketed to prominence in London as a young preacher in his early twenties, he had many critics. Not a few of his detractors were Christians. One of those was the Rev. James Wells of Surrey Tabernacle, an eminent minister who was then at the apex of his career. Wells wrote an editorial in a Christian publication, expressing doubts about Spurgeon’s conversion. He warned that, though Spurgeon spoke some truth and had a partial moral influence, his hearers were likely to be fatally deluded.
After Spurgeon’s mighty Metropolitan Tabernacle was built several years later, he and Wells were church neighbors. One day they chanced to meet on the street, and Wells asked Spurgeon if he had ever seen the inside of Surrey Tabernacle. The younger minister responded that he had not, but would very much like to someday.
Wells, with seeming goodwill, said that if Spurgeon would come some Monday morning he would show him round his church. But he added insultingly that there would then be time enough to thoroughly ventilate the church premises before the following Lord’s Day!
Spurgeon in turn asked Wells if he had ever been inside the Metropolitan Tabernacle. Wells admitted that he had looked in one Saturday and gave the specific date. “Ah,” replied Spurgeon, “that accounts for the delightful fragrance of the services the following Sabbath!”
On a later occasion Dr. Newman Hall, another prominent pastor in Spurgeon’s day and author of the immensely popular book Come to Jesus, was sharply ridiculed in a volume that was published anonymously. Though he knew who the author was, Hall patiently bore the ridicule for a time. But as the caustic volume began to circulate more widely, Hall wrote a letter of protest which was even more insulting than the book that had attacked him.
Hall took the letter to Spurgeon and asked his opinion of it. Having carefully read the correspondence, Spurgeon handed it back, declared it was excellent, agreed that the book’s author deserved it all, but then added that the letter lacked one thing. Hall, being quite gratified with Spurgeon’s response, was all ears to his further suggestion.
“Underneath the signature, ‘Newman Hall’,” coached Spurgeon, “you ought to put the words, ‘Author of Come to Jesus’.” The two godly men gazed in silence at each other for a moment. Then Hall tore his critical letter in pieces.
by HARVEYOPP | May 9, 2014 | JC RYLE
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:43-48)
We have here our Lord Jesus Christ’s rules for our conduct one towards another. He that would know how he ought to feel and act towards his fellow men, should often study these verses. They deserve to be written in letters of gold. They have extorted praise even from the enemies of Christianity. Let us mark well what they contain.
The Lord Jesus forbids everything like an unforgiving and revengeful spirit. “I say unto you, that ye resist not evil.” A readiness to resent injuries, a quickness in taking offense, a quarrelsome and contentious disposition, a keenness in asserting our rights—all all are contrary to the mind of Christ. The world may see no harm in these habits of mind, but they do not become the character of the Christian. Our Master says, “Resist not evil.”
The Lord Jesus enjoins on us a spirit of universal love and charity. “I say unto you: Love your enemies.” We ought to put away all malice: we ought to return good for evil, and blessing for cursing. Moreover we are not to love in word only, but in deed; we are to deny ourselves, and take trouble, in order to be kind and courteous: “if any man compel thee to go a mile go with him twain.” We are to put up with much and bear much, rather than hurt another, or give offence. In all things we are to be unselfish. Our thought must never be, “How do others behave to me?” but “What would Christ have me to do?”
A standard of conduct like this may seem, at first sight, extravagantly high. But we must never content ourselves with aiming at one lower. We must observe the two weighty arguments which our Lord uses to back up this part of his instruction. They deserve serious attention.
For one thing, if we do not aim at the spirit and temper which are here recommended, we are not yet children of God. What does our “Father which is in heaven” do? He is kind to all: he sends rain on good and on evil alike; he causes “his sun” to shine on all without distinction. A child should be like his father: but where is our likeness to our Father in heaven if we cannot show mercy and kindness to everybody? Where is the evidence that we are new creatures if we lack love? It is altogether wanting. We must yet be “born again” (John 3:7).
For another thing, if we do not aim at the spirit and temper here recommended, we are manifestly of the world. “What do ye more than others?” is our Lord’s solemn question. Even those who have no religion can love those who love them. They can do good and show kindness when affection or interest moves them. But a Christian ought to be influenced by higher principles than these. Do we flinch from the test? Do we find it impossible to do good to our enemies? If that be the case we may be sure we have yet to be converted. As yet we have not “received ˆ the Spirit of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:12)
There is much in all this which calls loudly for solemn reflection. There are few passages of Scripture so calculated to raise in our minds humbling thoughts. We have here a lovely picture of the Christian as he ought to be.
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