Nov 24
26
The religionists of the day
J.C.Philpot
“And ye shall be hated of all men for My name sake.” Luke 21:17
Professors of religion have always been the deadliest enemies of the true children of God.
Who were so opposed to the blessed Lord as the Scribes and Pharisees?
It was the religious teachers and leaders who crucified the Lord of glory!
And so in every age the religionists of the day have been the hottest and bitterest persecutors of the Church of Christ.
Nor is the case altered now.
The more the children of God are firm in the truth,
the more they enjoy its power,
the more they live under its influence, and
the more tenderly and conscientiously they walk in godly fear—
the more will the professing generation of the day hate them with a deadly hatred.
Let us not think that we can disarm it by a godly life; for the more that we walk in the sweet enjoyment of heavenly truth and let our light shine before men as having been with Jesus, the more will this draw down their hatred and contempt.
“The world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” John 17:14
“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” John 15:18-19
A Gospel to Believe
The Gospel of God’s grace in Christ Jesus is not a thing to be proved, but a Truth to be believed. It is not submitted to our reasoning powers as a subject for critical examination. The Gospel is a MESSAGE FROM GOD, addressed to the conscience, feelings, and affections. For this reason, men fond of argument and proving everything by strictly logical deduction generally make very poor preachers. In the Scriptures, God does not argue. He proclaims!
~J.C. Philpot
“David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.” (1 Samuel 30:6)
Every child of God needs to learn to encourage himself in the LORD his God. This is true because every child of God will at some time as he goes through this sin cursed world meet with discouragement. David was discouraged because he felt responsible for the loss of not only his family but the families of all of his men. He had led his army away from their camp, leaving them left to be prey for the Amalekites. His men who were loyal to him were so grieved for the loss of their families that they spoke of stoning him.
What does he do in such a sad situation, when he and his men were so discouraged? He turned to the LORD his God to encourage himself. None of us will ever be discouraged because of the things that discouraged David, but there are many other causes which may discourage us. We all face sickness, disappointment, loneliness, being misunderstood by family and friends, and a host of other troubles.
How did he encourage himself in “the LORD his God?”
Did he remind himself of “the tender mercies” of the LORD his God?
Did he remind himself of God’s everlasting covenant of grace?
Did he remind himself of the truth: “the LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not want?”
Did he remind himself that nothing is impossible for “the LORD his God?
Did he remind himself that “the LORD his God” is able to bring good out of evil, which He soon did?
We soon read: “David recovered all”.
We are not told how David “encouraged himself in the LORD his God”, but we do know that there is never a lack of truths in the LORD our God with which we may encourage ourselves.
David Pledger
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. (Hab. 3:18).
Faith in Jesus prepares us for every event. Though he put forth his hand and seem to threaten our dearest comforts, yet when we remember that it is HIS hand, when we consider that it is HIS design, HIS love, HIS wisdom, and HIS power, we cannot
refuse to trust him. The reluctance we feel is against our judgment; for we are sure that what he chooses for us must be best. Then again, to think how much less our sufferings are than our sins have deserved; how many mercies we still enjoy on every hand; how much heavier burdens are the portion of many around us; to compare the present momentary affliction with the exceeding weight of glory which shall be revealed; to recollect that the time is short, the hour is swiftly approaching when the Lord shall wipe away all tears, and constrain us with wonder and joy to sing, ‘He hath done all things well.’ Such considerations as these, together with the remembrance of what he suffered for us, are always at hand to compose our souls under troubles, and will be effectual according to the degree of faith. Our faith also is strengthened by affliction; we learn more of our own insufficiency and the vanity of all things about us; and we discover more of the power, faithfulness and nearness of a prayer-hearing God. Upon this ground, Habakkuk could sit down and rejoice under the loss of all. He could look at the blasted fig-tree and the withered vine, see the herds and flocks cut off, and every creature-comfort fail; YET, says he, ‘I will rejoice in the Lord, and joy in the God of my salvation.’ Oh, the name of Jesus, when we can speak of him as ours; this is the balm for every wound, cordial for every care; it is as ointment poured forth, diffusing a fragrancy through the whole soul, and driving away the hurtful fumes and fogs of distrust and discontent!
John Newton
Weak and singular and odd!
John Newton
A consistent Christian, whose integrity, humility, and philanthropy, mark his character and adorn his profession – will in time command respect.
But his attachment to the unfashionable truths of the Gospel, and his separation from the maxims and pursuits of the world – will render him weak and singular and odd in their eyes.
“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” John 15:18-19
REMINISCING & REJOICING
As I sit here in my study this 5th day of September, 2000,
I recall when God first put me into the ministry. I soon found
that the admonition of Jude, “Earnestly contend for that faith
which was once delivered unto the saints” (vs. 3), to be a
real, vital and perpetual necessity. I found that in holding to
“that faith,” I was opposed on every hand by numerous and
varied “doctrines of devils.”
In the zeal and ignorance of youth, I studied night and
day, determined to have an answer to every opposer of the
truth of my God. I read book, after book, after book! I studied
Lapsarianism, Eschatology, Antitrinitarianism, Arminianism,
Antinomianism, etc.; and every theory of Christ’s Atonement
I could get my hands on (Christ’s atonement being the very
heart of “that faith which was once delivered unto the
saints.”).
Sitting here today, 61 years of age, with great joy and
peace of heart, I declare unto you by the Spirit and grace of
God that the answer to every question raised against “that
faith which was once delivered unto the saints” is found in
“Jesus Christ and him crucified.” So I say unto you, Study
the Gospel! Study Jesus Christ and him crucified! Study
God’s eternal purpose of grace in Christ Jesus! In doing so,
dear believer, by the Spirit and grace of God you may deliver
your soul from every false way, innumerable hours of
misguided study, and much anxiety.
“Grow in grace, and in
the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To HIM
be glory both now and forever. Amen.” (II Pet. 3:18).
“Grace
and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of
God, and of Jesus our Lord” (II Pet. 1:2).
Maurice Montgomery
“And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge,
that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”
Ephesians 3:19
| Two seeds? Spurgeon, “In the Garden with Him.” #2106. And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 15 and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Genesis 3:14-15 There are two seeds in the world- the seed of the woman, and the seed of the serpent. And if the seed of the serpent never hisses at you, you may be afraid that you do not belong to the seed of the woman. God has put an enmity between the serpent and the woman; between the serpent’s seed and the woman’s seed. And so it must be till the end of time. Take any opposition that you get from worldlings as a token for good, a sign that you are of a different race from those who despise you, a testimonial to your character from those whose homage to goodness embodies itself in persecution. That is the way in which they compliment us. |
| The highest honor? Spurgeon, “INDEPENDENCE OF CHRISTIANITY” To be pampered, flattered, and applauded by men, is a poor, base thing, that is not worth having. To be despised, to be spit upon, to be caricatured, and to be jeered, is the highest honor that a Christian can have. |
What is this babbler trying to say?
John Newton
“What is this babbler trying to say?” Acts 17:18
The Apostles were accounted as foolish babblers. We are no better than the Apostles; nor have we reason to expect much better treatment—so far as we walk in their steps.
On the other hand, there is a way of speaking of God, and goodness, and benevolence, and morality—which the world will bear well enough. But if we preach Christ as the only way of salvation, lay open the horrid evils of the human heart, tell our hearers that they are dead in trespasses and sins, and have no better ground of hope in themselves than the vilest malefactors; if we tell the virtuous and moral, as well as the profligate—that unless they are born again, and made partakers of living faith, and count all things loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ—that they cannot be saved—this is the message they cannot bear!
We shall be called knaves or fools, uncharitable bigots, and twenty harsh names! If you have met with no treatment like this—you should suspect whether you have yet received the gospel; for, depend upon it—the offence of the cross is not ceased!
“And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.” Acts 26:24
| His children began to hiss! (Excerpts from the letters of William Tiptaft) Dear brother, Since I last wrote, I have preached in Abingdon Great Church, on Christmas evening. I preached the truth, I trust, to a very crowded congregation, supposed to be (sitting and standing, who were able to get in) about 5,000 people. I pleased the believers; but very much displeased the carnally-minded, who were never before so puzzled and confounded in all their lives! I spoke the truth faithfully, and so as all could hear; but I had no idea that the gospel would have given so much offence! It is the truth that offends and disturbs Satan’s kingdom! The neighboring clergymen, who are in darkness, say of me, “Away with such a fellow from the earth; it is not fit that he should live!” My mind is not moved by the persecution. I believe if God has a work for me to do, I shall do it, in spite of the devil and all his children! Nature is not changed, the gospel is not changed, and Christ is not changed. What reason is there why they should not hate the truth now, as much as in the time of the apostles? I never saw any fruits of my labors until I roused and disturbed the ‘roaring lion’. When, through the grace of God, I began to disturb his kingdom, I soon found that his children began to hiss! The world and Satan hate believers. The Pharisees hate me the most. I cut off all their rotten props, and all their fleshly devotion! It is not coming near to the truth, it is not the ‘mere letter’ of the gospel, that will convert men; but the Holy Spirit. Make the Word of God your study. Pin your faith to no man’s views! I scarcely read any other book. Beware of those who want to exalt man in any manner. Yours very affectionately, William Tiptaft, Jan. 30th, 1830 |