Monday, September 15, 2008

He who truly believes in Christ

There is a dead faith as well as a living one. There is a faith of devils as well as a faith of God's elect. There is a faith which is vain and useless, as well as a faith which justifies and saves. How shall a man know whether he has true saving faith? The thing may be found out! The Ethiopian may be known by the color of his skin; and the leopard may be known by his spots. True faith may always be known by certain marks. These marks are laid down unmistakably in Scripture. Reader, let me endeavor to set these marks plainly before you. Look at them carefully—and test your own soul by what I am going to say.

He who truly believes in Christ—has a NEW HEART. It is written, "If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature—old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Cor. 5:17.) A believer has no longer the same nature with which he was born. He is changed, renewed, and transformed after the image of his Lord and Savior. He who minds first, the things of the flesh—has no saving faith. True faith, and spiritual regeneration, are inseparable companions. An unconverted person—is not a genuine believer!

He who truly believes in Christ—is a HOLY person in heart and life. It is written that God "purifies the heart by faith," and that Christians are "sanctified by faith." "Whoever has this hope in him, purifies himself." (Acts 15:9; 26:18; 1 John 3:3.). A believer loves what God loves—and hates what God hates. His heart's desire is to walk in the way of God's commandments, and to abstain from all manner of evil. His wish is to follow after the things which are just, and pure, and honest, and lovely—and to cleanse himself from all filthiness of flesh and spirit. He falls far short of his aim, in many things. He finds his daily life, a constant fight with indwelling corruption. But he fights on—and resolutely refuses to serve sin. Where there is no holiness, we may be sure there is no saving faith! An unholy man is not a genuine believer!

He who truly believes in Christ—works godly WORKS. It is written, that "faith works by love" (Gal. 5:6). True belief will never make a man idle, or allow him to sit still, contented with his own religion. It will stir him to do acts of love, kindness, and charity, according as he sees opportunity. It will constrain him to walk in the steps of his Master, who "went about doing good." In one way or another, it will make him work. The works that he does may attract no notice from the world. They may seem trifling and insignificant to many people. But they are not forgotten by Him who notices a cup of cold water given for His sake. Where there is no working love—there is no faith. A lazy, selfish professing Christian—has no right to regard himself as a genuine believer!

He who truly believes in Christ—overcomes the WORLD. It is written, that "whoever is born of God, overcomes the world—and this is the victory which overcomes the world—even our faith" (1 John 5:4). A true believer is not ruled by the world's standard of right or wrong, of truth or error. He is independent of the world's opinion. He cares little for the world's praise. He is not moved by the world's censure. He does not seek for the world's pleasures. He is not ambitious of the world's rewards. He looks at things unseen—he sees an invisible Savior, a coming judgment, and a crown of glory which never fades away. The sight of these objects, makes him think comparatively little of this present world. Where the world reigns in the heart—there is no genuine faith. A man who is habitually conformed to the world—is not a genuine believer!

He who truly believes in Christ—has the witness of the Holy Spirit. He has hopes, joys, fears, sorrows, consolations, expectations, of which he knew nothing before he believed. He has internal evidences which the world cannot understand. Where there are no inward pious feelings—there is no faith. A man who knows nothing of an inward, spiritual, experimental religion—is not a genuine believer!

He who truly believes in Christ—has a special regard to the person of CHRIST Himself. It is written, "Unto you who believe—Christ is precious" (1 Peter 2:7). That text deserves especial notice. It does not say "Christianity" is precious, or the "Gospel" is precious, or "salvation" is precious—but Christ Himself! A true believer's religion, does not consist in mere intellectual assent to a certain set of propositions and doctrines. It is not a mere cold belief of a certain set of truths and facts concerning Christ. It consists in union, communion, and fellowship with an actual living Person, even Jesus the Son of God.

It is a life of . . .
faith in Jesus,
confidence in Jesus,
leaning on Jesus,
drawing out of the fullness of Jesus,
speaking to Jesus,
working for Jesus,
loving Jesus,
and looking for Jesus to come again.

Such life may sound like enthusiasm to many. But where there is true faith, Christ will always be known and realized, as an actual living personal Friend! He who knows nothing of Christ as his own Priest, Physician, Redeemer, Advocate, Friend, Teacher, and Shepherd—knows nothing yet of genuine believing!

Where these marks of which I have been speaking, are utterly lacking, I dare not tell a man that he is a true believer. He may be called a Christian, and attend a Christian church. But if he knows nothing of these marks—I dare not pronounce him a believer. He is yet dead in trespasses and sins. Except he awakes to newness of life, he will perish everlastingly.

Show me a man who has these marks—and I feel a strong confidence about the state of his soul. He may be poor and needy in this world—but he is rich in the sight of God. He may be despised and sneered at by man—but he is honorable in the sight of the King of kings. He is traveling towards heaven! He has a mansion ready for him in the Father's house. He is cared for by Christ, while on earth. He will be owned by Christ before assembled worlds, in the life which is to come!

J.C.Ryle

Monday, September 01, 2008

Hard Places




This was shared by a contributor at another blog I contribute to, and I wanted to share it here, in hope that it may bless you as it did me:



Genesis 28:10-12 - “Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran. So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. Then he dreamed, and behold a ladder was set up on the earth, and it’s top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.

I am slowly losing my Mom. Sick for several weeks now and hospitalized she gets further away from me daily. Some days are better than others but this situation will more than likely get no better. I watch helplessly as she loses control of her body and mind. My once strong Mom is fading away. I pray daily for God to heal her and help restore her body and mind and I have not given up hope that he can do that, but I am mentally trying to let go of her at the same time and it’s so very hard. Why God chooses to restore life to some yet call others home is a question no one can really answer, but I think there is a greater lesson, a higher calling for those of us willing to ask him.

There has been a huge focus lately on Revival.

Regardless of our opinion, one thing is for sure the the claims of signs, wonders and controversy are happening within the body of Christ and people are talking. To me the most important thing that can come out of this kind of situation is dialog, with each other and with God and that is happening. I think people are so hungry for a move of God in their lives that sometimes anything, regardless of the source is a quick fix. There has been a lot of talk of late about anointing which to me basically means the fullness and blessing of God. People are so desperate to bring or see this anointing manifested they will take planes, and drive thousands of miles for the latest “outpouring” but God’s anointing is already here and available to us.

In John 1:51 Jesus is the divine fulfillment of Jacob’s dream. A few verses earlier Jesus tells of Nathaniel, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”. I don’t think the Lord was just dishing out complements but saying that because Nathaniel had a true, pure heart he “Got it”. Nathaniel had no falsehood, he was real, transparent and open of heart and therefore he could see the vision of Jacob as it really was, that Jesus was God’s provision in the flesh and made available to all who walk with God, bless God, and through that relationship or “dialog” bless others.

Life has sometimes been very hard for me. It’s often been lonely, frustrating and dark but God has been there every step, every stumble with me. Oddly enough when I have been frustrated to the point of giving up, that is where I find him. I think sometimes in our push to just get through life and not ever ‘feel bad” we miss God the most. At one very difficult point in my life my family were not very supportive. I had been laid off from my job and was working two very hard but not too impressive jobs. I was exhausted and when I was laid off I paid all of my bills but food was scarce to say the least. It was sweltering hot and I came home from work to find the air conditioning was not working. I went to my basement only to discover that my breaker box had caught on fire. I tried to call my landlord but found out they were on vacation and had left no contact information. I had no electricity in half of my house for a week. I only had air conditioning in my living room, so I slept on the floor there. The only food I had was a jar of peanut butter and come stale crackers, but I was so grateful to have that.

I remember coming home from work, worn out, hungry and just emotionally spent. I had no family or friends to turn to but I had Jesus and I just sat on the floor crying, eating my crackers and praying.

It’s sort of funny now but at the time it was just the worst feeling. Alone, no one cared. I had many friends but I had recently been saved so they no longer wanted anything to do with me. I was so tired from working two jobs that on top of everything I caught a cold, and that was just the last straw. I remember vividly laying down just bawling like a baby asking God why were things so bad. I guess I just wore myself out feeling sorry for myself and fell asleep but I awoke a few hours later. I distinctly heard a voice in my ear as I was waking say to me “This is a blessing”. I was startled and sat right up but I was so groggy I remember saying “What is a blessing?”. I knew in my heart that God was telling me something, I did not know the answer then but he brought this to my memory this morning while writing this.

My blessing was the intimate time spent with him, developing my relationship with him, in his word, without any distractions.

Every time I have wrestled with God trying to get beyond some pain, some ache, he is always there. I know that voice was an angel, you could never tell me otherwise I just know! There has been so much deception lately concerning Angels but many in the body of Christ have this all wrong. Angels are real and biblical, but they are not in existence solely for our provision. When we try to find cheap imitations of God that is exactly what we will find. Satan is a counterfeit we all know that, but what of us? Do we really need nourishment but grab a bag of Frito’s instead as a quick fix? I read this quote once “God has a greater purpose our eyes cannot see but our hearts can understand”. I always had trouble with the Apostle Paul saying “He was poured out like a drink offering”. To me that sounded painful, just awful. How on earth could a mouse like me ever be that strong? How can people actually live that way, dying for Jesus.

Suffering unimaginable things. I have since learned the provision of God came to Jesus in the Garden, when the suffering started the Angels were there. They gave him strength for his journey, they did not take the journey away. Satan would have liked nothing better than to have stopped it.

There is authentic revival, and I for one want that.

I am tired of the fairy dust, the gold teeth, barking and writhing on the floor. To cheapen the Holy Spirit with such goofery is appalling to me. You will never convince me that Christ hung on a cross in agony, took my sin and the sins of the world into his body for this carnival atmosphere.

I believe in miracles, healing and the gifts of the spirit, but those things bring repentance and authentic transformation based on Christ and Christ only. There is a place for manifestations but I want to be part of something more, the higher calling.

My problems, with his provision have given me purpose and a testimony. I only hope that I can get out of the way so God can use that testimony to help other hurting people. I know that my only purpose is to make much of Jesus, not me and in that serve his sheep. If I had never known fear, hunger, frailty, how could I ever give of myself to anyone? The selfish Christian is never a threat to Satan, he loves it! They have no witness, no testimony and no fruit. Authentic servant-hood comes from authentic relationship with Christ and the study of the word of God, nothing else. The Martyr’s, the Apostles did all things through Christ who strengthened them. It is possible! Authentic compassion, wisdom and power come in the delight of being in the will of God. There is an authentic anointing, the presence and power of God and that will always be Christ centered and Christ focused. Anything less is a cheap imitation.

Have you ever really thought about the fact that in order to come into his Temple in the old Testament, his dwelling place you needed to make a sacrifice?

God can heal, God can perform any miracle that suits him but maybe, just maybe your blessing is in something hard, difficult even. Maybe if we stopped looking for a way out we could finally get into the holy of holies, really see his face and his desire for us.

Oswald Chambers said “Our Lord’s teaching is always anti-self-realization. His purpose is not the development of man, His purpose is to make a man exactly like Himself, and the characteristic of the Son of God is self-expenditure.”

If we believe in Jesus and for just one minute slow down and stop asking what he can do for us, it will not be about what we gain, but what he pours out through us that counts. I am sure we will be blessed beyond measure in the end.

Oh and Jacob? See what God can do with your hard places?

Verse 13-22 “And behold, the Lord stood over and beside him and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Issac; I will give to you and to your descendants the land on which you lie, I will give to you and your descendants. Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south;and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Behold I am with you and will keep you wherever you go and bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.” Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in the place, and I did not know it.” And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of Heaven!”

Friday, July 25, 2008

It Is God Who Worketh All in All


"One day I was talking with a missionary," writes Andrew Murray, "and he said to me, ‘Brother, remember that when God puts a desire into your heart, He will fulfill it.’ That helped me; I thought of it a hundred times. I want to say the same to you who are plunging about and struggling in the quagmire of helplessness and doubt. The desire that God puts into your heart He will fulfill.

"If any are saying that God has not a place for them, let them trust God, and wait, and He will help you and show you what is your place. I have learnt to place myself before God every day, as a vessel to be filled with His Holy Spirit. He has filled me with the blessed assurance that He, as the everlasting God, has guaranteed His work in me. If there is one lesson that I am learning day by day, it is this; that it is God who worketh all in all.

Oh, that I could help any brother or sister to realize this!"

Andrew Murray ~ 1828-1917

Friday, May 16, 2008

God Cares


Sometimes it seems that no one cares about your pain.

David said: “no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life” (Psalm 142:4 NIV). Do you sometimes feel like that? Do you sometimes cry out with Solomon that even the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel? (Proverbs 12:10). Does it seem that no one is listening and that people, who should be concerned, hurt you more, rather than minister to your need?

Sometimes these are just our perceptions but often, they are a reflection of the hard-heartedness and self-absorption of those around us. Yes, even of Christians! But there is One who truly cares – God cares for you.

Sometimes we wonder if God even knows about our existence. I knew a man who was in the same (small) church as me and with whom I spoke every week and who, after many years, still did not know my name. He always called me by a name which is not mine. People often act around as though we don’t even exist. But God not only knows that you exist, He knows your name.

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine” (Isaiah 43:1). “I know you by name” (Exodus 33:17). We are not just numbers in God’s big database, but he knows our names and not only our names, but everything about us. We often find it hard to understand how God can know us by our names when people around us don’t. That’s just the problem. We tend to feel that because people don’t care, God also does not care. But God does care even more than we can imagine.

He keeps track of every bird that dies and of every hair upon our heads (Matthew 10:29-30). If He is concerned about such unimportant details, don’t you think that He is even more concerned and informed about those major issues you are wrestling with? Of course He is. There is no problem in your life that is too big or too small for God to know about and to care about. I have never come across anyone who counts the hairs on their head, yet God does. So if he is concerned about the least of our worries, is He not even more concerned with those major problems, traumas, upsets, fears and frustrations that you face?

Often people say they care yet you know that they remain unaffected by your pain. But God not only knows about your heartache, He feels with you and for you. Have your friends forsaken you, do people misunderstand you, do they turn your kind words into something you did not mean, do they slander you, do they actually try to hurt you (physically and emotionally), do they act as though you do not exist? They did the same to Jesus, and much more, and so He is touched by our struggles. He feels with us, and feels for us when we go through tough times. There is not a single hurt that you feel, that he does not feel as acutely as you do.

Not only does God know about your problems and not only does He feel your pain – He cares for and about you. He has compassion on us. People often respond to our problems by saying that we have brought it on ourselves, and often that is true. But God is not in the blaming business, He loves, cares, is concerned and is merciful on all who are in need.

Sometimes we cannot bear to look upon other’s hurt as it is too much for us to bear. But He never turns His face away, no matter what happens. When those rocks were crushing Stephen’s bones, and his ears were filled with blasphemy, insults and accusations, and his friends fled, Jesus stood at the right hand of the Throne and took every blow together with Stephen. It was just as though Jesus was right next to Stephen on that landfill as they buried him under the rocks and the insults.

People’s insensitivity and hardness to our needs often hurt more than the problems. But God is sensitive, merciful, tender, compassionate, kind and gentle with those who are struggling. The problem is that we are sometimes so concerned with reaching out to people for help that we forget to see that the Almighty God is actually reaching out to touch us in our moment of weakness.

Peter, writing to suffering Christians says: “…casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1Peter 5:7). Yes, He indeed cares for you but you and I need to cast our cares on Him. So often we try to bear them ourselves and often we bemoan the fact that no one else cares to lift a finger to help us with our load when the Lord Jesus is just waiting for us to unload it all on Him. Won’t you come to Him now and place your burdens at His feet. Yes, the problems may not go away, but knowing that He is sharing the load makes it so much lighter and easier to bear.

I cannot put it any better than that great hymn of Joseph Scriven. You probably know it by memory, but look at these words once afresh. Listen here

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer

Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

What Will You Do?

WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH JESUS?


Jesus is standing in Pilate’s hall-
Friendless, forsaken, betrayed by all.
Listen! Here comes the urgent call,
What will you do with Jesus?

Will you evade him as Pilate tried?
Or will you choose him, whate’er betide?
Vainly you struggle from him to hide.
What will you do with Jesus?

What will you do with Jesus?
Neutral you cannot be;
Someday your heart will be asking,
What will he do with me?


WHAT DOES JESUS SAY TO YOU?

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

“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.” Revelation 3:20




Sunday, January 20, 2008

The Spirit Of Truth


By Joseph R. Chambers, Paw Creek Ministries



It's breathtaking to know that the Holy Bible is intimately connected to the Holy Ghost. The Bible is not man's words or man's ideas, nor is it human wisdom or knowledge. The Bible is God-breathed and perfect in the same way that God Himself is perfect. The same Spirit that gave us the Holy Scripture is still part of that Scripture and holds the Word in His hands. The Bible is the Sword of the Spirit and is the only weapon to defeat our enemies. When the Son of God appears in the sky to defeat the Antichrist at the Valley of Megiddo, the authority of the Bible is His weapon.

The vision that Apostle John describes of the triumphant Christ is awesome, "His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God"(Revelation 19:12-15).

He comes as the glorified Christ with all the trappings of His eternal office and His one weapon is a "sharp sword" with which He defeats every enemy.

Holy Scripture will not be any more powerful then than it is right now. Satan cannot cross the line drawn by truth and sealed by Divine blood. The entire prophetic future is already designed and revealed in Scripture. When men devise strange and undocumented schemes for the days ahead, they are guilty of blaspheming the Spirit of Truth. Our Father left us an absolute command not to tamper with His words.

"For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book" (Revelation 22: 18-19).

The Lord even spoke audibly to John as he finished the plain command above. He said, "He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20).

One of the surest ways to blaspheme the Holy Ghost is to change or alter the Word of God. The positive aspect of this truth is that we can live in and by these words of truth everyday.

David, the sweet songwriter and King of Israel, said, "The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide" (Psalm 37:31). He also declared His unashamed faith in Holy Scripture, "The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever" (Psalm 12:6-7). The promise of God was to keep them forever.

"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away" (Matthew 24:35). The Son of God spoke these words. The great revivals of the past were the result of men that dared to believe that truth was infallible. They treated the Bible like a paper pope, but were often condemned as idol worshippers because they believed and obeyed Scripture. One modern blasphemer called the Bible, "a dusty old book." I believe he has already blasphemed the Holy Ghost.

This incredible Divine book is yours to trust and see the supernatural effect of believing faith. Everything of your life is predestined to be complete in believing.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified" (Romans 8:28-30).

If you will dare to believe and trust in none other, He will move swiftly to defend and fulfill His Word. His Words are His absolute will in all things. There is no true Christian outside of the Holy Bible. There is no failure inside the Holy Bible.

Saturday, January 05, 2008