MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU

JOHN CALVIN ON SECOND CORINTHIANS 12:9,10


GRACE: Chapter 12, verse 9--The term grace, here, does not mean here, as it does elsewhere, the favor of God, but by metonymy, the aid of the Holy Spirit, which comes to us from the unmerited favor of God; and it ought to be sufficient for the pious, inasmuch as it is a sure and invincible support against their ever giving way.

WEAK: Chapter 12, verse 10--For when I am weak, that is — “The more deficiency there is in me, so much the more liberally does the Lord, from his strength, supply me with whatever he sees to be needful for me.” For the fortitude of philosophers is nothing else than contumacy, or rather a mad enthusiasm, such as fanatics are accustomed to have. “If a man is desirous to be truly strong, let him not refuse to be at the same time weak Let him,” I say, “be weak in himself that he may be strong in the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:10.)

CLARITY: Should any one object, that Paul speaks here, not of a failure of strength, but of poverty, and other afflictions, I answer, that all these things are exercises for discovering to us our own weakness; for if God had not exercised Paul with such trials, he would never have perceived so clearly his weakness. Hence, he has in view not merely poverty, and hardships of every kind, but also those effects that arise from them, as, for example, a feeling of our own weakness, self-distrust, and humility. (From John Calvin (1509-1564) ; Commentary on 2nd Corinthians; Translated by Calvin Translation Society) emphasis mine, cw

OF THE KIRK (CHURCH)--BY JOHN KNOX

Roman Catholic Mary Queen of Scots is reputed to have said: “I fear the prayers of John Knox more than all the assembled armies of Europe." Many attribute him, under God, for the Reformation in Scotland that changed that country from popery to protestant.

OF THE KIRK AND OF THE NOTES

WHEREBY IT MAY BE DISCERNED

As we believe in one God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, so do we most constantly believe that from the beginning there has been, and now is, and to the end of the world shall be, one Kirk; that it is to say, one company and multitude of men, chosen of God, who rightly worship and embrace Him by true faith in Christ Jesus, Who is the only Head of the same Kirk, His body and spouse; which is catholic, that is, universal, because it con­tains the Elect of all ages, realms, nations, and tongues, be they of the Jews or be they of the Gentiles, who have communion and society with God the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ through Sanctification of His Holy Spirit. This Kirk is invisible, known only to God ... and comprehends the Elect that be departed, commonly called the Kirk Triumphant, and they that yet live and fight against Satan.

Because Satan from the beginning has labored to deck his pestilent synagogue with the title of the "Kirk of God" ... it is a thing most requisite that the true Kirk be discerned from the unclean synagogues, by clear and perfect Notes. The notes, signs, and assured tokens, we affirm, are neither Antiquity, Title usurped, Lineal descent, Place appointed, nor multitude of men approving an error. The Notes therefore of the true Kirk ... we avow to be: — first, the true Preaching of God's Word, in which God has revealed Himself unto us, as the writings of the Prophets and Apostles do declare. Secondly, the right administration of the Sacraments of Christ Jesus, which must be annexed unto the Word and promise of God, to seal and confirm the same in our hearts. Last, Ecclesiastical Discipline uprightly ministered, as God's Word prescribes, whereby vice is repressed, and virtue nourished. Wheresoever then these Notes are seen, and of any time continue (be the number never so few, about two or three), there, without all doubt, is the true Kirk of Christ; Who, accord­ing to His promise, is in the midst of them.

John Knox and colleagues, 1560

EXCERPTS FROM ARTICLES 16, 18. THE SCOTS CONFESSION

PURITAN QUOTES

Many of these men were in the Westminster Assembly which developed the Westminster Confession of Faith; one of the clearest statements of doctrinal truth ever written. The later Baptist confessions such as the London Confessions, and the Philadelphia Confession was based on the Westminster Confession of Faith..

“None have engaged against the saints but have been ruined by the God of saints”--Thomas Brooks (1608-1680).

“We fear men so much, because we fear God so little. When man’s terror scares you, turn your thoughts to the wrath of God”- William Gurnall (1617-1679).

“By the fear of the Lord, men depart from evil: by the fear of man, they run themselves into evil”--John Flavel (1630-1691).

"There are three kinds of lies: a lie told, a lie taught, a lie acted out”--Joseph Caryl (1602-1673).

The Paradox of faith:

“A man cannot have faith without asking; neither can he ask it without faith”--Edward Marbury (about 1590-1658).

All from “A Puritan Golden Treasury”, edited by I.D.E. Thomas; Moody Press,Chicago, 1975; Banner of Truth edition published 1977.

REVIVAL IN OUR TIME- C.H. SPURGEON

( I couldn't help it! Another worthy Spurgeon piece for you).

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)

What God has done should encourage us to pray that he would repeat like signs and wonders among us. Oh, brothers, what would this heart feel if I could but believe that there were some among you who would pray for revival! People whose faith is large enough and their love fiery enough to lead them from this moment to exercise unceasing intercessions that God would appear among us and do wondrous things here as in former generations. Dear friends, we do not know what God may do for us if we would but pray for a blessing.

The stories of revival should also correct any self-dependence which may have crept into our treacherous hearts. Perhaps we have begun to depend on our numbers and so forth. Now let the stories which our fathers have told us remind us that God saves; that it is not in us to do this, but God must do it all. Place no dependence on the instrument. We shall never get a revival here unless we believe that it is the Lord, and the Lord alone, that can do it.

God alone can know what may come of our prayers if he chooses to bless them. The Word of God may flow and run and rush and get to itself an amazing and boundless victory.

Wrestle in prayer. Meet together in your houses. Go to your private room. Be earnest. Be instant in season and out of season. Agonize for souls, and all that you have heard will be forgotten in what you will see! All that others have told you will be as nothing compared with what you will hear with your ears and behold with your eyes! "Blessed are all they that put their trust in him" (Psalm 2:12).

- from C. H. Spurgeon's Revival Year Sermons; Banner of Truth Trust, London, 1959

PULLING DOWN STRONGHOLDS- C.H.SPURGEON

(Mr.Spurgeon said so many good things in his sermons (which are just about all available online, and in print editions). This is from his magazine Sword and Trowel. Please read and heed!)

PAUL TELLS US that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strongholds. He probably had in his mind's eye the corvus, which the Romans employed in destroying fortifications, and certainly it aptly sets forth the work of Christians when attacking the citadels of error. We must sharply grapple the false doctrine, driving the sharp hook of truth between its joints; we must clearly understand the error, and study the Word of God, so as to be able to controvert it. The great corvus of Scripture is a mighty puller down. Then unitedly with earnest tug of prayer and faithful testimony, we must throw down piece by piece the mischievous system of falsehood, be it never so great or high. Stone by stone the wall comes down, it is long and arduous work to destroy error; many hands and hearts must unite, and then with perseverance all must labor and wait. Tracts, sermons, lectures, speeches, prayers, all must be ropes with which to drag the bulwarks down. God's blessing rests on the faithful endeavors of those who overturn the castles of error, and though their work may not speedily succeed, the great result is sure. A Reformation is as much needed now as in Luther's day, and by God's grace we shall have it, if we trust in him and publish his truth. The cry is, "Overturn, overturn, overturn, till He shall come whose right it is."

Reader, are you doing service in the Lord's war, which he is now waging? You know the errors of Rome, are you doing anything to withstand them? You see the Popery and iniquity of the National Establishment, are you in your measure exposing it? Infidelity is still mighty, do you contend for God and for his Word? Sin still reigns over millions, do you seek their salvation? If not, why not? Are you yourself on the Lord's side? Oh may the grace of God lead you to trust in the great bloodshedding of Jesus, by which he has put away sin; and then may his love constrain you to aid in dragging down the ramparts of evil.
(from Sword and Trowel magazine; tract #24, published 1867).

GOD'S PROPS---RICHARD SIBBES

(Let's look at another excellent thought from the Puritan, Richard Sibbes. A saint and a scholar).

As men cherish young plants at first, and fence them about to keep them from hurt, but when they are grown, they remove them, and then leave them to the wind and weather, so God besets His children first with props of inward comforts, but afterwards exposes them to storms and winds, because they are better able to bear it. Therefore let no man think himself the better because he is free from troubles. It is because God sees him not fit to bear greater.
—RICHARD SIBBES

UPS AND DOWNS OF FAITH--RICHARD SIBBES

RICHARD SIBBES--1577-1635

If believers decay in their first love, or in some other grace, yet another grace may grow and increase, such as humility, their brokenheartedness; they sometimes seem not to grow in the branches when they may grow at the root; upon a check grace breaks out more; as we say, after a hard winter there usually follows a glorious spring.

TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS EXPECTED

Joseph Caryl

(Joseph Caryl, faithful Puritan preacher often had nuggets of wisdom, especially in his 12 volume commentary on Job).

The more outward blessings any one doth receive, the more he ought to serve God, and the more service God looks for at his hands Therefore we find still, that when God hath bestowed many outward blessings upon any, either persons or nations, he chargeth an acknowledgment upon them (Hosea 2:8) "She did not know that I gave her corn and wine and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold which she bestowed upon Baal." You having received this, you ought to have served me with it. You see how God upbraideth David, 2 Samuel 12:7-8 "I annointed thee King of Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hands of Saul, and I gave thy master's house and thy master's wives unto thy bosom, and if this been too little, I would more over have given thee such and such things How is it then that thou hast despised the Commandments of the Lord, to do evil in his sight?" As if he should say, the more I bestowed upon thee the more obligations thou shouldest feel thyself under to obey me faithfully.

(Pp. 110, Volume 1 of his massive commentary on Job)

SEPARATION FROM THE WORLD--J.C. RYLE

(A Favorite of mine from J.C. Ryle)

The subject is one that demands the best attention of all who profess and call themselves Christians. In every age of the Church separation from the world has always been one of the grand evidences of a work of grace in the heart. He that has been really born of the Spirit, and made a new creature in Christ Jesus, has always endeavoured to “come out from the world,” and live a separate life. They who have only had the name of Christian without the reality, have always refused to ‘come out and be separate’ from the world.

The subject perhaps was never more important than it is, at the present day. There is a widely-spread desire to make things pleasant in religion—to saw off the corners and edges of the cross, and to avoid, as far as possible, self-denial. On every side we hear professing Christians declaring loudly that we must not be “narrow and exclusive,” and that there is no harm in many things which the holiest saints of old thought bad for their souls. That we may go anywhere, and do anything, and spend our time in anything, and read anything, and keep any company, and plunge into anything, and all the while may be very good Christians—this, this is the maxim of thousands. In a day like this I think it good to raise a warning voice, and invite attention to the teaching of God’s Word. It is written in that Word, ‘Come out, and be separate.

From Practical Religion, page 184; James Clarke, Cambridge, 1977 (original 1878). By J.C Ryle 1816-1900

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST BY PERSONAL REVELATION?

BY W.F. BELL

“He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona:for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 16:15-17).

The most important question you could ever be asked is simply this: Do you in reality know the living Christ? The question is not, Are you religious? — Are you a church member? — Do you read the Bible? You may be very religious, yet not know Christ in the heart. You may be a loyal church member, a regular reader of God's Word, a person who “says” their prayers, or one who loves to study religious books and doctrine. But, these soul-searching questions still remain — Have you ever seen yourself a lost, vile sinner before a holy God? Have you ever been stripped of your self-righteousness and laid low in the dust of humility? Have you ever viewed by faith the glorious person of the Lord Jesus Christ, all because of a direct and personal revelation to you of God the Holy Ghost?

Sinner friend, I plead with you to not be deceived. Do not rest in your religious creeds, your attendance of religious worship, your so-called righteous acts. Rest only in Christ! Look only to him! Be not content with any religion if Christ is not the center and substance of it! Do not be deceived by man-made religion! Seek that which comes by divine revelation, as that which Simon Peter had in the opening Scripture. Simon was blessed to know who Christ was by a personal revelation to him of God the Father! This must also be true of us.

If Christ Jesus is not known to you by the revelation of the Holy Spirit, he is not known as the very wellspring of blessedness to the soul. If you only know Jesus by no more than the world knows, than the learned among men know, you have not the real blessing. If you only know the Lord of glory by what you have found out yourself, in reading or in talking to others, unaided by the Father's drawing power, you are not blessed with true salvation. If you know no more of Christ than what flesh and blood has revealed to you, you are nothing more than a Pharisee or Sadducee — religious, but lost without God — a separatist or a rationalist, but not a recipient of revelation and regeneration. May the eternal Jehovah reveal to you your true and undone condition before him!

Among the vast religious throngs of this earth there is to be found the true people of God. These chosen of the Father are also redeemed by the Son, and quickened by the Spirit. The elect of God know by deep acknowledgment of their sin that they are blind and ignorant by nature. The true children of God have been made humble; they confess their total dependence upon the grace and mercy of Christ, and place their entire confidence and faith in his meritorious righteousness and shed blood. In the Lord Jesus Christ alone do “We have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

Reader, what do you know of this once-crucified, yet now living Christ? Does his name bring gladness to your heart? Do you love the fragrance of his person? Is he more than just a religious leader to you? Beware of misty and cloudy views of King Jesus! Beware that you only have a head knowledge of him! Make sure that Christ is your Surety, your Substitute, your Sacrifice, your Savior. Beware of any religion which belittles him, or that does not exalt him as the only way to God.

Do you believe in Jesus by an inward discernment of him? Do you clearly see him as the Son of man and the Son of God? Is he definitely your Lord and Savior, your propitiation (satisfaction) before God? If you know him thus you have not learned this by the instruction of men. You have had a direct and personal revelation made to you and in you by the Father concerning who Jesus Christ really is (Gal 1:16).

It is only when the Lord himself deals with you, taking you in his powerful hand, that you are truly taught who Christ is. You may have heard about Jesus, but you only know him as “the Son of the living God” when illuminated and quickened by God the Spirit. Jesus came forth from God, and the power to know Christ comes forth from God also. If you have Christ, you have the new birth! If you have Christ, you have eternal life! If you have not Christ, you have nothing but dead, lifeless, counterfeit religion! Said our blessed Master: “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him” (John 6:44). May divine power draw you this day, poor sinner! May you see Christ in all his beauty! May you come to worship and serve only him! Christ is to be seen, but in the light which he himself supplies. May that light shine unto you even now, and to our glorious God be all the glory!

(I know we featured this article once before on one of the blogs. But it says so much that I recently sent it to my email subscribers, and I wanted to place it here as well. You can subscribe to our email letters. Email your request to us at graceman@minister.com)
Published by Charles Woodruff

CONTENT, DISCONTENT---- W.F. BELL

Proverbs 30:12-16; Jeremiah 31:14; Matthew 11:28

The current edition of Free Grace Broadcaster (Fall, 2010) is entirely devoted to the subject of "Contentment." It is filled with excellent, practical help on why we are often discontent, and why we must be content in Christ. This is an important, though much-neglected subject. Note how calmness, contentment, and a holy satisfaction are promised to God's children: "My people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the Lord" (Jeremiah 31:14). "And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of thy children" (Isaiah 54:13). "Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, who has loved us, and has given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and establish you in every good word and work" (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17). These are all positive declarations, with no conditions attached whatever!

But men are depraved in sin and deprived of grace by nature. We grovel in the muck and mire of this world, making us discontent with life and with God. Our hearts are dead and unfruitful, alienated from our Creator, and in rebellion against him. As C. H. Spurgeon has so wisely observed: "Very few of the sons of men are ever satisfied, let their lot be what it may; they have swallowed the horse-leech, and it continually cries, 'Give! give!' (Proverbs 30:15). Only sanctified souls are satisfied souls. God himself must both convert us and content us." No wonder Proverbs 30:16 goes on to tell us of the "four things" that are "never satisfied" -- "the grave, the barren womb, the earth, the fire." These four are "discontent" indeed.

And what of you and I? Do we not sorely need this lesson? Covetousness is rampant in America and across the world. Greed has so gripped us, idolatry has so ensnared us, and lusts have so conquered us, that we seem to be insensible of our true condition. Teach this to people, and they get angry with you immediately. None of us like to be told we are "pure in our own eyes, yet not washed from our filthiness," or that we have "lofty eyes" (Proverbs 30:12-13). This is why our land is filled with cursers, blasphemers, and grumblers. This is the cause of our political and social unrest. This is why so many marriages are on the meltdown, and why there are so many divorces today, even among those who have been married for many years.

There is absolutely no answer to all of this "discontentment with life" but the free grace of God! Only "the precious blood of Christ" can loose us and wash us from our sad "dissatisfaction." Hear the blessed counsel of our Savior: "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). You need go to no other Counselor, for his counsel is always free, and always effectual. His is true rest, true joy, true peace, that "None but Zion's children know."

BEST SAFEGUARD AGAINST FALSE TEACHING--J.C. RYLE

What is the best safe-guard against false teaching? Beyond all doubt the regular study of the word of God, with prayer for the teaching of the Holy Spirit. The Bible was given to be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. (Psalm 119:105.) The man who reads it aright will never be allowed greatly to err. It is neglect of the Bible which makes so many a prey to the first false teacher whom they hear. They would have us believe that "they are not learned, and do not pretend to have decided opinions." The plain truth is that they are lazy and idle about reading the Bible, and do not like the trouble of thinking for themselves. Nothing supplies false prophets with followers so much as spiritual sloth under a cloak of humility.
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Matthew, [Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1986], 68, 69.

A MANY SIDED WORK--ARTHUR W.PINK

"The work unto which the servant of Christ is called is many-sided. Not only is he to preach the Gospel to the unsaved, to feed God's people with knowledge and understanding, and to take up the stumbling stone out of their way, but he is also charged to 'cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression'”

THE MARVELOUS WONDER OF YOUNG SPURGEON

One of the prize books in my library is a little book written in 1857 by a British contemporary of Charles Spurgeon. It was published by Sheldon Blakeman and Co., New York (his authorized USA publisher). The observations of young Mr. Spurgeon (many of which are first hand), gives us a look at him soon after he began ministry which is in many ways unique. Here is a short excerpt from this old book.

We must confess, that for ourselves, the spectacle which is presented by Mr. Spurgeon's preaching to the poor of London, is more affecting than the hearing of the most pathetic strains of his eloquence. No wonder that it cheered the sad heart of John the Baptist, when in prison he was told that Christ was preaching glad tidings to the poor, and that it prepared him joyfully to lay down his neck for his fidelity to the souls of the rich.

See what crowds of artisans are turning away from the halls of the political meetings, of the infidel lectures, and the minor theaters, to gather about Mr. Spurgeon's pulpit. See the weary laborers of Bankside going to hear him. even on the nights of the week days. See twelve thousand of the working people of Bethnal Green, flocking around him in the open field at Hackney. Take a nearer view. Fix your eyes on individuals here and there. See the poor harlot, who was a few minutes ago passing the doors of the New Parkstreet chapel, determined to cast herself off Blackfriars Bridge. She thought she would step in and for the last time hear something that will prepare her to stand before her Maker. She is just in time to hear the text, "Seest thou this woman?" The preacher speaks of Mary Magdalen, her sins, her washing the Saviour's feet with her tears, and wiping them with the hair of her head. There stands the woman, melted with the thoughts of her own past life, as she hears it described, and more melted with the description of the pardoning love of Jesus. Thus is she saved from death, temporal and eternal.

Go and hear him, ye Thackerays, who satirize the lying, the lust, and the vanity of the English aristocracy, without offering any remedy therefor.—There is a man who is offering the remedy to the vices of some even of these.

Go and hear him, ye Dickenses, whose stories of the shame, the loneliness, the misery, and the patience of London's poor, have dissolved many a fine lady in tears, without opening her hand to imploring woe. There is a man of liberal and loving soul, who actually shakes hands with all this dirt and rags, searches for the hearts that are buried beneath it, and holds them up to the light of the cross, where they fledge their wings and soar to the glories of heaven.

Go and hear him, ye who are secretly glorying in the large donations ye have made for the benefit of the poor. There you will find a man who in body, soul, spirit, and grace, is God's own donation to the poor, preaching to them the good old gospel of his grace, in good old English words, and, by the aid of his good Spirit, leading them to the Good Shepherd, "God's unspeakable gift."

From Spurgeon, Life and Ministry; Sheldon, Blakeman and Company, New York,1857. Copied from the original book. I tried to preserve the original wording and punctuation. Only the spacing has been changed. A reprinted modern printing may be available from Amazon. It has been recently printed, and this new printing assigns the authorship to George L Stephenson, 1857 (Charles Woodruff, editor of this excerpt).

FIVE MOST EVIL BIBLE CHARACTERS--CHARLES WOODRUFF

When thinking of more modern evil men, often the name Adolph Hitler, or Joseph Stalin comes to mind. Or possibly Sadam Hussein, Osama Bin Laden or Pol Pot. These are all evil men. Did you know that there are many evil men in the Bible? Also, quite a few evil women. All of us are born in sin. We all have the nature of Adam. Unless God intervenes by His sovereign power, we stay sinful, and lost. All men are sinners, but all are not necessarily as wicked as they could be. Some are more horribly wicked than others. I want to examine briefly those men and women who are the Bible’s five most wicked sinners. Perhaps another time will look at the Bible’s most godly characters. It is my list, and you may have a different one. I am not trying to be exhaustive in the manner of Dr. Herbert Lockyer in his excellent series of books such as All the Women of the Bible, etc… Let me know your vote on “five most evil”. I’d like to know your choices. Also, what is your choice for most righteous, other than Jesus Christ?

1) Judas Iscariot. He has to be at the top of my list. His betrayal of the Lord Jesus Christ earned him that position, in my opinion. He was a conniving man, and a thief. He did not fool Jesus who gave His prophecy straight on who it was that would betray Him.(see Matthew 26:21). I know he was ordained, or chosen to this condemnation (Matthew 26:24; John 6:70; Jude 4). It was his destiny, yet he was guilty, and he was evil.

2) Pontius Pilate. He was an evil man for many reasons. Jesus told him who He was, and yet he refused to believe it, even though he said “I find no fault in this man (Luke 23:4; John 19:4,6). He washed his hands. He will try to wash them for eternity, but he cannot remove the stain of sin. Nothing can, but the blood of the very Man he had crucified. As the creed says, Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate, the only human authority who could have released Him; he wanted to do so, but he was a coward.

3) Jezebel. The first woman on our list. She was an evil woman. She was a follower of false gods. She was a witch (2 Kings 9:22). Her reputation was so scary that Elijah trembled at her promise to kill him (1 Kings 19:2), the very prophet who had stood against the prophets of Baal, and not only had victory at Mount Carmel, but brought rain to parched Israel (1 Kings 18:38, 41).

4) Pharaoh. This particular Pharaoh was ruthless and a very proud man. He refused to let Israel go, in spite of the confrontations with the servants of Jehovah; Moses and Aaron (Exodus 5:1; Exodus 8:8). He would be defeated and rise back up to obstinately oppose Jehovah’s stated purpose again. Finally he lost everything, including his first born child (Exodus 11:5-7), and eventually even his own life (Exodus 14:28; 15:19).

5) Herod. This was Herod the Great, son of Antipater, an Idumean. He was a vicious, selfish ruler who feared giving up his power to the predicted King of Israel. He had all the male children under two years old killed. He was determined to kill Christ, but God’s purpose must be fulfilled. Until then no one could kill Jesus. All the Herod family was wicked, but this one was the worst. He had several of his ten wives killed. He wanted so badly to destroy Christ, yet it is recorded that this Herod died when Jesus was very young (Matthew 2:14-18).