Psalter 150

From Psalm 55

O God, give Thou ear to my plea,
And hide not Thyself from my cry;
O hearken and answer Thou me, 
As restless and weary I sigh.

O that I had wings like a dove,
For then I would fly far away
And seek for the rest that I love,
Where trouble no more could dismay.

Nay, soul, call on God all the day;
The Lord for Thy help will appear;
At eve, morn, and noon humbly pray,
And He thy petition will hear.

Thy burden now cast on the Lord, 
And He shall thy weakness sustain;
The righteous who trust in His word
Unmoved shall forever remain.

Lord, I'm longing for Your ways

I've had a rough couple of days.  Our neighbor had a serious accident on Friday right in her yard and it has affected me profoundly.  I'm trying to understand why and I think it's because she is the first person in my life that I see almost daily who is facing death square in the face.  I've had grandparents, relatives, fellow church members pass away, but no one who I've had regular contact with.  It's really made me examine my spiritual and personal life and see where I'm lacking.  I just heard this song and the lyrics really spoke to my heart:
 
"Lord, restore the joy I had
I have wandered, bring me back
In this darkness, lead me through
Until all I see is You."
Third Day

All I want to see is You.  I have failed in so many ways, but I know this: God loves His wandering sheep and welcomes them back with open arms.  It's not too late now to seek forgiveness.  I pray that God uses this tragedy to help me to love others more and to seek closeness with Him.

"Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to You."
Psalm 51:11-13
   

Spurgeon on Christ's continual intercession for His people

I read this portion this morning and it reminded me of the popular picture that a lot of us have seen depicting the Pilgrim's Progress road with the two paths, one leading to destruction and one leading to glory.  The pitfalls are so clearly seen in the picture, yet while we are traveling the road, we have no idea the dangers that we come so close to falling into because Christ is continually at the right hand of God the Father, saving us from utter destruction.

"I have prayed for thee."
Luke 22:32

How encouraging is the thought of the Redeemer's never- ceasing intercession for us. When we pray, he pleads for us; and when we are not praying, he is advocating our cause, and by his supplications shielding us from unseen dangers. Notice the word of comfort addressed to Peter--"Simon, Simon, Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat; but"--what? "But go and pray for yourself." That would be good advice, but it is not so written. Neither does he say, "But I will keep you watchful, and so you shall be preserved." That were a great blessing. No, it is, "But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not." We little know what we owe to our Saviour's prayers. When we reach the hill-tops of heaven, and look back upon all the way whereby the Lord our God hath led us, how we shall praise him who, before the eternal throne, undid the mischief which Satan was doing upon earth. How shall we thank him because he never held his peace, but day and night pointed to the wounds upon his hands, and carried our names upon his breastplate! Even before Satan had begun to tempt, Jesus had forestalled him and entered a plea in heaven. Mercy outruns malice. Mark, he does not say, "Satan hath desired to have you." He checks Satan even in his very desire, and nips it in the bud. He does not say, "But I have desired to pray for you." No, but "I have prayed for you: I have done it already; I have gone to court and entered a counterplea even before an accusation is made." O Jesus, what a comfort it is that thou hast pleaded our cause against our unseen enemies; countermined their mines, and unmasked their ambushes. Here is a matter for joy, gratitude, hope, and confidence.

The Father's Love

I think I've posted this song before, but I heard it again today and am struck every time with these words:

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory.

I think some times that we forget the total depth of Christ's human nature and how He felt things just as we do, but can you imagine Christ crying out in the garden for the cup to pass from Him and the Father turned His face away?  The pain He must have felt!

 

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this
That caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul!

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down
Beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul for my soul,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.

To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb,
Who is the great I AM,
While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing,
While millions join the theme, I will sing.

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on.
And when from death I’m free
I’ll sing His love for me,
And through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
And through eternity I’ll sing on.

Spurgeon

If He could grow weary of me, He would have been tired of me long before now. If He had not loved me with a love as deep as hell, and as strong as death, He would have turned from me long ago.

~Spurgeon, Evening Devotional, February 27

Paul's confidence in Christ

"I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.  I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ-the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.  I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead."

Philippians 3:7-11

New Year, New Start

I love the idea of resolutions.  I even love making the resolutions.  What I don't love and what I don't do well is actually keeping my resolutions.  So last year I skipped the uncomfortable feeling of failing in my resolutions by just not making any.  Except I saw my husband keeping his resolutions and his feeling of accomplishment, so now I want to make some of my own this year, and actually keep them.  That's the tricky part.

I read this article over on Tim Challies' blog and I really liked what Jon Bloom had to say about resolutions.  First, resolutions are Biblical:

That by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith (2 Thessalonians 1:11).

I love how the NIV translates that verse,"your every desire for goodness."  I think that's such a great way to define the word resolution.  The ESV translates it "every resolve for good."

Second, Bloom says, "Resolves are intentions with strategies attached to them."  It's great to make a long list of worthy resolutions, but how likely are you to keep them if you don't plan how you are going to do it. 

But most importantly, Bloom exhorts us not to "pursue selfish ambitions but to pursue love."  Look at I Corinthians 14:1 which says, "Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy."  And then verse 3 says, "But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort."  Our resolutions should be for others' benefit, as well as ourselves.  Read Bloom's whole article here.

I think Paul's words in I Corinthians 9:24-27 speak to resolutions also:

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

So this year I will make resolutions with a plan.  How about you?  Let's keep each other accountable this year as we run the race that God has set before us.

 

He knows!

Dr. Murray preached on Hebrews 2:17 on Sunday morning:

For this reason, He had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people.

When no one else can understand your fears and frustrations, He knows!  He was just like us.  What a comfort to know that when you have no one else to turn to, there is an ever-listening ear that understands every little thing we are going through.

The Lord has done great things for us,

    and we are filled with joy.

Psalm 126:3

Unexpected Blessings

Last night one of the boys got up at 4:30 with a wet bed.  I dragged myself up, changed his jammies and stripped his bed and put him back in.  Unable to go back to sleep, I read on the couch for a bit (read: 2 hours), thinking about everything that had to be done before church in the morning and the family potluck after that.  I knew I was really going to regret those lost 2 hours of sleep.  This was not part of my plan!  

And then when I finally woke up around 8 and went to get Aaron up, I found him laying lethargically in bed, obviously not well.  Usually when he wakes up, he hollers for me to come get him and doesn't really want to sit on my lap, but this morning he just laid himself down on me.  So instead of rushing to get ready for church, I watched Chris and the oldest 3 boys head out the door at 9, put Aaron back to bed, and was able to listen to a sermon while sipping my coffee.  And then, while Chris took the boys to his family potluck, I had a quiet afternoon and even took a nap!

Now, while I would have enjoyed going to church  and the potluck, I did enjoy a holiday that was spent quietly at home instead of rushing here and there.  Am I to think this is coincidence?  No, the Lord knew I needed a quiet day and provided it for me.

I listened to C. H. Spurgeon's sermon, "A New Year's Day Benediction."    I pray that this year I would learn to lean on the promises of God and not on my own strength.  He promises to perfect, strenghthen, establish, and settle us, though we will suffer in the process.  But suffering moves us to the perfection that He will fully give us one day when He takes us home, so we must not begrudge it, but learn to leave all things to Him, even little things, like sick kids, messy houses, etc.  It's not our plan, but it's God plan.  A perfect plan.

Here's Spurgeon's conclusion:

 I would in concluding make this remark. I wish, my brothers and sisters, that during this year you may live nearer to Christ than you have ever done before. Depend upon it, it is when we think much of Christ that we think little of ourselves, little of our troubles, and little of the doubts and fears that surround us. Begin from this day, and may God help you. Never let a single day pass over your head without a visit to the garden of Gethsemane, and the cross on Calvary. And as for some of you who are not saved, and know not the Redeemer, I would to God that this very day you would come to Christ. I dare say you think coming to Christ is some terrible thing: that you need to be prepared before you come; that he is hard and harsh with you. When men have to go to a lawyer they need to tremble; when they have to go to the doctor they may fear; though both those persons, however unwelcome, may be often necessary. But when you come to Christ, you may come boldly. There is no fee required; there is no preparation necessary. You may come just as you are. It was a brave saying of Martin Luther's, when he said, "I would run into Christ's arms even if he had a drawn sword in his hand." Now, he has not a drawn sword, but he has his wounds in his hands. Run into his arms, poor sinner. "Oh," you say, "May I come?" How can you ask the question? you are commanded to come. The great command of the gospel is, "Believe on the Lord Jesus." Those who disobey this command disobey God. It is as much a command of God that man should believe on Christ, as that we should love our neighbor. Now, what is a command I have certainly a right to obey. There can be no question you see; a sinner has liberty to believe in Christ because he is told to do so. God would not have told him to do a thing which he must not do. You are allowed to believe. "Oh," saith one, "that is all I want to know. I do believe that Christ is able to save to the uttermost. May I rest my soul on him, and say, sink or swim, most blessed Jesus, thou art my Lord?" May do it! man? Why you are commanded to do it. Oh that you may be enabled to do it. Remember, this is not a thing which you will do at a risk. The risk is in not doing it. Cast yourself on Christ, sinner. Throw away every other dependence and rest alone on him. "No," says one, "I am not prepared." Prepared! sir? Then you do not understand me. There is no preparation needed; it is, just as you are. "Oh, I do not feel my need enough." I know you do not. What has that to do with it? You are commanded to cast yourself on Christ. Be you never so black or never so bad, trust to him. He that believeth on Christ shall be saved, be his sins never so many, he that believeth not must be damned be his sins never so few. The great command of the gospel is, "Believe." "Oh," but saith one, "am I to say I know that Christ died for me?" Ah, I did not say that, you shall learn that by-and-bye. You have nothing to do with that question now, your business is to believe on Christ and trust him; to cast yourself into his hands. And may God the Spirit now sweetly compel you to do it. Now, sinner, hands off your own righteousness. Drop all idea of becoming better through your own strength. Cast yourself flat on the promise. 

 "But the God of all grace who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you."--1 Peter 5:10.

Sunday Gleanings: Do Not Receive the Grace of the Lord in Vain

II Corinthians 6:1-2

As God's co-workers, we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain.  For He says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you."  I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.  

KJV version here.

This morning our minister made very clear that all who have heard the Word of God in the past year have received the grace of God.  We have received God's grace because of His good pleasure, not because of anything in us.  So the question is, have we received God's grace in vain or not?  If we are still unbelievers, we have misused the grace He has given us and have received it in vain.  And if we are believers and are not growing in godliness and in the likeness of Christ, we have also received it in vain.  Scripture is very clear that today is the day of salvation.  Just as in the days of Israel, God's grace may not always be with us.

I was able to read the bulletin meditation before church this morning and thought it tied in so well with the sermon we heard.  I'll leave you with some quotes from W. S. Plumer.  He is speaking to unbelievers now:

But although your soul is lost, it is not lost beyond recovery.  Blessed be God for that.  "There is mercy with God that He may be feared:" "with him plentiful redemption:"  "As I live, saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways and live; for why will ye die?"  I take up the words and repeat the question, why will you die?  Why will you not be saved?  I trust you will.  I pray you may.  I know that by divine grace you can.  The door of mercy is yet open, open to you.

A Baby Born to Die

"A baby changes everything..."

Today we celebrate that Jesus, mighty Prince of heaven, came as a baby to save sinners.  The birth of Christ shows the amazing creativity of our Lord.  Certainly the Jews waiting for the Messiah weren't expecting their Savior to come as a lowly baby born in a stable.  Indeed, Jesus's first visitors weren't priests and kings, but lowly shepherds, the outcasts of society.  I recently heard a minister speak on how the shepherds were really the dregs of society, not people that anyone wanted to associate with, and maybe the angels even caught them mid-crude joke as they announced the birth of the Savior.  But God chose these shepherds for a reason, maybe to show us that Jesus wasn't born to save kings and rich men (although, He certainly can and does!), but that He came for the lowliest of sinners, the people we look down on.  Jesus certainly didn't spend His time on earth with princes and kings.

And then, who should visit Jesus but wise men from the East.  In a recent advent sermon, I learned that usually these men traveled in large groups with many people in their retinue.  This would have caused quite a commotion in the little town of Bethlehem.  And although they did speak to Herod, they were seeking a child from a poor family, not a prince of royal birth.  Even more amazing is that these men were astrologers, some bordering on the occult in their practices.  Certainly we know that there was much more to their party than 3 men on camels.  And God chose a baby to reveal Himself to them.  

We read that Mary pondered all these things in her heart.  What a privilege to give birth to her Savior, but also what pain she must have felt all through His life, knowing that in order for her to be saved, He must die.  As mothers, it is agony to see our children sick and in pain, but we also see their sin natures and their disobedience (much too often!).  Mary never saw evidence of any sin in the life of Jesus, yet she saw Him suffer and die.  

Jesus means "God saves."  According to Romans 5:8, "...God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  That is why Jesus had to leave His heavenly home.  So that one day we could live with Him there.  He has everything to offer us, and we have nothing to give.  He freely saves us by His blood.  All we have to offer Him are our empty hearts and He will gladly fill them.  

  ⁶ You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.⁷ Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:6-8

Thoughts for Sunday

"Give Me Jesus" by Fernando Ortega
(I have been to a few CCM concerts and Ortega is far and away the most authentic CCM singer I've ever seen. He in no way conforms to the pop music standards of the world.  His love for Jesus shines through in his work.)


"And when I come to die, give me Jesus. You can have all this world, but give me Jesus."

The same sentiments also written by Fanny Crosby over 100 years ago.

Pleasure and Sorrow

I walked a mile with pleasure;
She chattered all the way,
But left me none the wiser
for all she had to say.

I walked a mile with Sorrow;
And ne'er a word said she;
But,oh, the things I learned from her
when sorrows walked with me.

Robert Browning Hamilton "Along the Road"


I found this poem here.  This blog tells the story of Ian and Larissa.  Check out this post to hear their moving story.

"You can't bad-attitude someone into a good attitude."

"It is the kindness of God that leads us to repentance. Notice that it is God’s attitude, His disposition, which motivates us to change. God motivates us with kindness."

From this post.

Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? 

Romans 2:4

Sunday Gleanings

Chris suggested I listen to Dr. Beeke's Family Living class and I listened to the first one today, Building Convictions in Your Children.  This is an excellent class and I highly recommend it to parents, especially those with young children who are just starting out on their parenting journey.

Dr. Beeke laid out the following 6 traits we should stress to our children:
1. Prayer should be foundational.
2. Show them that life is empty without communion with God.
3. Confess known sin.
4. Inform and live out your conscience.
5. Dedication to life's worthwhile activities.
6. Teach the conviction that life is all about God.

Raising our Children to be Gatekeepers is the next class in this series.

Sunday Gleanings: Conclusion to "Respectable Sins"

Confession:  I have a really bad habit.  I read about two thirds of a book and then set it aside/forget about it and start another book, usually only to read two thirds of it and start ANOTHER book.  I started this book almost exactly a year ago and finished it today.  

So today I picked up Respectable Sins and burned through the last 40 pages.  The whole book was convicting, but I think maybe my so-called respectable sins particular resonated in the last few chapters.  Here are some things I gleaned:

Chapter 16~The Weeds of Anger

Bridges used the parable of the unforgiving servant from Matthew 18 to illustrate how our debt to God is "utterly unpayable."  In today's money, the king forgave his servant 6-8 billion dollars and the servant was unable to forgive approximately $15,000.  That's like God forgiving us all of our sins and we can't forgive our fellow brother a sin against us.  "We are to forgive because we have been forgiven so much."  A brother's sin against us is utterly insignificant compared to our sin against God.

Chapter 17~Judgmentalism

Bridges called this one of the most subtle of the respectable sins "because it is often practiced under the guise  of being zealous for what is right."  We have to be careful about our convictions because often we elevate our strong feelings to biblical truth.  According to Bridges, "the seriousness of of the sin of judgmentalism is not so much that I judge my brother as that in so doing I assume the role of God."  Clearly, we need to condemn practices that are blatantly out of line with scripture, but we still need to be careful of our attitude, that we don't judge with a spirit of self-righteousness, harshness, or arrogance.

Bridges also warned against a critical spirit, someone who practices judgmentalism constantly and find fault with everything and everyone.

Chapter 18~Envy, Jealousy, and Related Sins

The last two sentences of the chapter really stood out to me:  "Don't go through life harboring envy or jealousy or always having to win or get your way.  Remember, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" (I Peter 5:5).  Don't place yourself in the position of being opposed by God."

Chapter 19~Sins of the Tongue

If I had to pick one chapter that was "my" respectable sin, it would probably be this one.  I have problems with "outbursts of wrath" (especially with my immediate family) and often wish I could take back things I have said.

The verse Bridges kept going back to was Ephesians 4:29:  "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those that hear."  NO corrupting talk.  This means no gossip, sarcasm, critical speech, harsh words.  "All of these sinful words that tend to tear down another person must be put out of our speech."  

Sins of the tongue include:

Gossip~ "spreading of unfavorable information about someone else, even if that information is true."  How often have we done this??

Slander~"making a false statement or misrepresentation about another person that defames or damages the person's reputation."  Essentially, lying.

Critical speech~"negative comments about someone that may actually be true but doesn't need to be said."

"Jesus said, "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:34)."  So, the tongue isn't the problem, the heart is.

Chapter 20~Worldliness

"The warning, then, [from scripture] is that though we use the legitimate things of the world, we should handle them with care lest they become too important to us."

Bridges: I define worldliness as being attached to, engrossed in, or preoccupied with the things of this temporal life....Worldliness means accepting the values, mores, and practices of the nice, but unbelieving, society around us without discerning whether or not those values, mores, and practices are biblical.  Worldliness is just going along with the culture around us as long as that culture is not obviously sinful.

Chapter 21~Where Do We Go from Here?

Be honest and humble enough to admit that some of these sins apply to you.

"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" (I Peter 5:5)

"The apostle Paul wrote that it is Christ's love for us that constrains us to live for Him (see 2 Corinthians 5:14-15).  Such love for Him that will drive out our love for the world can only be a response to the deep, heartfelt sense of His love for us."

I think the above bold sentence is so key.  "Christ's love for us."  We can't keep from sin on our own no matter how hard we try.  

Summary:

I would highly recommend this book.  I plan on keeping it on my shelf and rereading it every year or so.  It is written in simple language that is easy to understand, and Bridges writes in such a humble way, detailing his own struggles with these sins.  There may not be new information in this book, but he highlights many sins that we tend to think are acceptable, but Bridges always drives the point home that Christ died for each of our sins, even the ones we deem acceptable.  They are not acceptable to Him.

A New Year: 2012

Old year's day is a day to reflect on the year that has passed and remember all the mercies God has bestowed on us.  I listened to Rev. Gerald Lewis from the Pompton Plains FRC last night while I stayed home with Aaron and I would like to pose to all of us the two questions he asked in his sermon (in reverse order):
     1.  Where are you coming from?
     2.  Where are you going?
Other questions to consider:  Have I attributed all the good and perfect things God has given me to His goodness or my own initiative?  Have I let the things of this world run away with my heart?  What investments have I made in the kingdom of God and for eternity?

We are not residents here.  Life seems to last a long time, but really its a fleeting breath.  So difficult for the human mind to comprehend.  But remember, even the good things of this earth are temporary and will fade to dust.  The only things that last are the things of heaven.  So let's remember to spend this year storing up treasures for eternity, not our earthly journey.

A good practice that our family has implemented on New Year's Eve is to make goals or resolutions for the coming year.  We even helped the boys each make one.  Andrew is going to follow along in the Psalter at church without prompting and Noah is going to do his computer reading program every day.  Joel's resolution escapes me at the moment, which brings up a good point.  Write down your resolutions so you can periodically refer to them and evaluate how you are doing.
Here are 4 of my resolutions that I want to share with you:
1.  Listen to one extra sermon during the week while the boys have quiet time (spiritual goal).
2.  Exercise 3 times per week (physical goal).
3.  Read one non-fiction book per fiction book (mental goal).
4.  Train boys to do chores by practicing with them so they learn (mothering goal).

I have a few more and I hope that I haven't been too ambitious.  I've read a lot on blogs lately about making goals and tracking your progress so that you see accomplishment, and the new year is a good time to start this practice.

May the Lord bless each of you abundantly with a love for Christ and a willingness to serve Him above all else in this coming year.

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13-14(NIV)

And another version:

No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.

Philippians 3:13-14(NLT)

Sunday Gleanings

I'm currently reading this book (available at RHB) and came across the term "Christian Perfectionism," a doctrine of John Wesley's and still believed by churches such as the Free Methodists. I found a good explanation here. Christian perfectionism is also referred to as total sanctification, where a Christian is totally sanctified with the ability not to sin. As Calvinists, we believe that Christians still sin in thought, word and in deed and are not totally sanctified until eternal glory. John Wesley responded to this by saying that totally sanctified Christians still had defections that needed the atoning blood of Christ, but these were not sins since he said they were involuntary, and only voluntary actions would be sins. At first glance, this doctrine may seem like a mincing of words. John Wesley is distinguishing between what he calls sins and defects, while we Calvinists call everything sins. However, for Christians with weak assurance, this would be a dangerous thing to believe and would be grounds for great despair. How can one be assured of his salvation while believing in perfectionism while he continues to sin, no matter how hard he tries not to? We do not have the strength in and of ourselves to combat sin, all of our actions are stained with sin. But how wonderful it is to know that we don't need to find the strength within ourselves, He is willing and more than able to give strength and grace to us. John Wesley seems to forget that as long as we live on this earth, our sinful nature still lives with us.

¹⁸ For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. Romans 7:18-20

Sunday Gleanings

Let our default be faith, not doubt; hope, and not despair; holiness, and not sin.

~From Dr. Murray's congregational prayer, July 1, 2011

Disobedience: The eating of the forbidden fruit. Only one sin. Some us see little evil in one sin, or in a hundred sins; here you see one sin cast Adam and all his children out of Paradise. God did not wait until it was repeated. It appeared a small sin. The outward action was small--only stretching out the hand and taking the inviting fruit. Some of you think little of sins that make no great noise; such as breaking the Sabbath--drinking too much ---speaking that which is false--sitting down Christless at the Lord's table. But see here, one small sin brought the whole world under the curse of God. God would rather that the whole world should perish than one sin should go unpunished.

~Robert M. M'Cheyne

Robert Murray M'Cheyne

Scotland, 1813-1843

Divided, The Film

Here's a clip where Paul Washer talks about the grave error many pastors are making in their large churches by catering to carnal people with carnal means instead of ministering to the smaller group that makes up God's true flock.

Divide, The Film (summary)

There is a crisis. Christian youth are rapidly leaving evangelical churches for the world. This well-recognized disaster has been the topic of significant discussion in recent years for both church leaders and modern news media. DIVIDED follows young Christian filmmaker Philip LeClerc on a revealing journey as he seeks answers to what has led his generation away from the church.

Traveling across the country conducting research and interviewing church kids, youth ministry experts, evangelists, statisticians, social commentators, and pastors, Philip discovers the shockingly sinister roots of modern, age-segregated church programs, and equally shocking evidence that the pattern in the Bible for training future generations is at odds with modern church practices.

He also discovers a growing number of churches that are abandoning age-segregated Sunday school and youth ministry to embrace the discipleship model that God prescribes in His Word.

Taken from sermonaudio.com