PATIENCE AMID SORROW AND PAIN-------------JOHN CALVIN

God does not require of us such cheerfulness as to remove all bitterness of pain. Otherwise the patience of the saints would not in the cross unless they were tormented by pain, felt agony, when someone caused them trouble. Likewise, if poverty were not harsh and bitter for them, if they did not endure some torment in the disease, if disgrace did not stab them, if dread did not hang over them, what fortitude or moderation would there be in scorning all these things?
 

But since each of these has bitterness attached that by nature stabs all our hearts, therein is proved the fortitude of a faithful man, if tried by a feeling of such harshness, yet valiantly resisting he strives constantly to resist, surmount and rise above them. In this patience is shown if, pricked by this same feeling, he is at all times restrained by fear of God, as by a bridle, which will not let him break forth in any intemperate act.
 

In this appears his joy and cheerfulness, if being struck by sadness and sorrow, he nonetheless gives himself to God’s spiritual consolation. The combat that the faithful, following patience and moderation, wage against the natural feeling of sorrow is well described by St. Paul: “Tribulation we endure in all things, but are not in distress. Poverty we endure, but are not left destitute. Persecution we endure, but are not deserted. Cast down we are, but perish not.”

PERSONAL INTIMACY WITH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST--J.C. RYLE--(1816-1900)

Regular and habitual communion with the Lord Jesus, is absolutely essential to growth in grace! I mean that daily habit of communion between the believer and his Savior, which can only be carried on by faith, prayer and meditation.

It is a habit, I fear, of which many believers know little. It is possible to have “union” with Christ–and yet to have little “communion” with Him. Communion . . .
between the Bridegroom–and His bride,
between the Head–and His members,
between the Physician–and His patients,
between the Advocate–and His clients,
between the Shepherd–and His sheep,
between the Master–and His scholars.
 
Communion implies a habit of daily application for things needed, and of daily pouring out and unburdening our hearts and minds. It is getting close to Him and laying hold on Him with confidence–as a loving, personal Friend.

Now I believe that no man will ever grow in grace, who does not know something experimentally of the habit of communion. We must seek to have personal intimacy with the Lord Jesus, and to deal with Him as a man deals with a loving friend. We must realize what it is . . .
to turn to Him first in every need,
to talk to Him about every difficulty,
to consult Him about every step,
to spread before Him all our sorrows,
to get Him to share in all our joys,
to do all as in His sight, and
to go through every day leaning on, and looking to Him!

Let us never doubt for a moment, that the preaching of Christ crucified - the old story of His blood, righteousness and substitution - is enough for all the spiritual necessities of all mankind. J.C. Ryle   

GOD ORDAINS ALL THINGS----CHARLES SPURGEON

Oh! We love the sublime doctrine of eternal absolute predestination...Some have doubted whether predestination is consistent with the free agency of man. We believe that man does as he pleases, yet notwithstanding he always does as God decrees....not only is the will of man under the absolute predestination of Jehovah; but all things, great or little, are of him.

There is nothing great or little, that is not from him. The summer dust moves in its orbit, guided by the same hand which rolls the stars along. The dewdrops have their father, and trickle on the rose leaf as God bids them...Yes, the sear leaves of the forest, when hurled along by the tempest, have their allotted position where they shall fall, nor can they go beyond it. In the great, and in the little, there is God working all things according to the counsel of his own will. And though man seeks to go against his Maker, yet he cannot...Everything is ordained by God!

Unto Him who guides the stars and sparrows, who rules planets and yet moves atoms, who speaks thunders and yet whispers zephyrs, unto Him be glory!

Spurgeon- from "The Incarnation and Birth of Christ"

THE PRICE OF SINNING AGAINST GOD'S SON--JOHN FLAVEL (1627-1691)

Ponder this little piece from the great Puritan preacher, John Flavel (1628-1691). Flavel had a great burden for lost sheep, and did much in pointing them to the saviour. Carefully weigh this liitle message, for there is more here than appears.

If Christ be the beloved darling of the Father’s soul, think what a grievous and insufferable thing it is to the heart of God, to see his dear Son despised, slighted, and rejected by sinners: verily, there is no such cut to the heart of God in the whole world. Unbelievers trample upon God’s darling, tread under foot him that eternally lay in his bosom, Heb. 10: 29. Smite the Apple of his eye, and how God will bear this, that parable, Mat. 21: 37, to 40, will inform you, surely he will miserably destroy such wretched sinners.

If you would study to do God the greatest despight, there is none like this. What a dismal word is that; 1 Cor. 16: 22. “If any man love not our Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha,” (i. e.) let the great curse of God lie upon that man till the Lord come. O sinners! you shall one day know the price of this sin; you shall feel what it is to despise a Jesus, that is able to compel love from the hardest heart. O that you would slight him no more! O that this day your hearts might fall in love with him! I tell you, if you would set your love to sale, none bids so fair for it as Christ.

WHERE IS THE TRUE GOD?--A.W. PINK (1886-1952)

Brother Arthur W. Pink had a dedication to telling the truth. Here in two paragraphs he cuts to the truth regarding the true God. He had this gift of expression that has touched so many. It touched many while he lived, but so many more since his death in 1952. I read him often, and would advise you to do the same.

The “god” of this twentieth century no more resembles the Supreme Sovereign of Holy Writ than does the dim flickering of a candle the glory of the midday sun.  The “god” who is now talked about in the average pulpit, spoken of in the ordinary Sunday School, mentioned in much of the religious literature of the day, and preached in most of the so-called Bible Conferences is the figment of human imagination, an invention of maudlin sentimentality.  

The heathen outside the pale of Christendom form “gods” out of wood and stone, while the millions of heathen inside Christendom manufacture a ‘“god” out of their own carnal mind.  In reality, they are but atheists, for there is no other possible alternative between an absolute supreme God, and no God at all.  A “god” whose will is resisted, whose designs are frustrated, whose purpose is checkmated possesses no title to Deity, and so far from being a fit object of worship, merits nought but contempt.
 
From The Attributes of God  by Arthur W. Pink

MORSELS FROM JOHN NEWTON (1725-1807)

(John Newton was a blessed man. A former slave trader and sea captain. When he came to Christ, the transformation was great. Yet, he always saw himself as an undeserving sinner, saved by grace. No wonder his hymns, and his writings grab the heart so much. May his words here that I quote strengthen and bless each of you. Amen!)

                  I SAW ONE HANGING ON A TREE                   
I saw One hanging on a tree, in agonies and blood; who fixed His languid eyes on me as near His cross I stood. Sure, never 'til my latest breath, can I forget that look. It seemed to charge me with His death though not a word He spoke.

My conscience owned and felt the guilt, and plunged me in despair; I saw my sins His blood had shed, and helped to nail Him there. Alas, I knew not what I did, but all my tears were vain; where could my trembling soul be hid, for I the Lord had slain! A second look He gave, that said, I freely all forgive. This blood is for thy ransom paid, I died that thou mayest live. -J. Newton

                   I AM NOT WHAT I OUGHT TO BE
"I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am"
— John Newton

                      TWO THINGS I REMEMBER
"Although my memory's fading, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior."
— John Newton (Amazing Grace)



                                 THIS IS FAITH
"This is faith: a renouncing of everything we are apt to call our own and relying wholly upon the blood, righteousness and intercession of Jesus."
— John Newton

                              HIS LAST WORDS
"I am still in the land of the dying; I shall be in the land of the living soon."
— John Newton

                            HIS GREATEST HYMN
(Finally, I present to you perhaps the greatest of all hymns, also penned by John Newton.)

Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, hut now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believed!


Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.


The LORD has promised good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.


Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.


The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But GOD, who called me here below,
Will be for ever mine.


When we've been there 10,000 years,
Bright shining as the sun;
We've no less days to sing God's praise,
Than when we'd first begun.

Amen!!

TRUE CONSECRATION--ANDREW MURRAY (1828-1917)

That is the great difficulty with many. People say: " I have often been stirred at a meeting, or at a convention, and I have consecrated myself to God, but it has passed away. I know it may last for a week or for a month, but away it fades, and after a time, it is all gone."

But listen!  It is because you do not believe what I am going to tell you and remind you of. When God has begun the work of absolute surrender in you, and when God has accepted your surrender, then God holds Himself bound to care for it and to keep it. Will you believe that?

In this matter of surrender there are two: God and I - I a worm, God the everlasting and omnipotent Jehovah. Worm, will you be afraid to trust yourself to this mighty God now? God is willing. Do you not believe that He can keep you continually, day by day, and moment by moment? Moment by moment I am kept in His love; Moment by moment I've life from above. If God allows the sun to shine upon you moment by moment, without intermission, will not God let His life shine upon you every moment?

And why have you not experienced it? Because you have not trusted God for it, and you do not surrender yourself absolutely to God in that trust. A life of absolute surrender has difficulties. I do not deny that. Yea, it has something far more than difficulties: it is a life that with men is absolutely impossible. But by the grace of God, by the power of God, by the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, it is a life to which we are destined, and a life that is possible for us, praise God! Let us believe that God will maintain it.