Learning Christ

It may startle you if I say that we can only know the sufficiency of our Lord Jesus Christ if we are willing to go into the wilderness.

Now, the wilderness has always been the best place for spiritual education.

You may think that there is not much to be learnt in a wilderness.

Nevertheless it is so; it is the best place to learn heavenly things.

It was so with Abraham; it was so in the case of Moses; it was true with Israel.

The wilderness had also a definite place in the life of Paul.

Whether we take it in a literal or a spiritual way, the fact is that God’s people were, again and again, sent into the wilderness.

Many of us know what such a ‘wilderness’ means.

When God puts His hand upon a people, He always cuts them off from everything which is not of Himself;

That is, He cuts them off from the whole realm of their natural life, and puts them, so to speak, outside of the world of nature.

We see this in the case of the people of Israel.

Pharaoh was allowing them to go into the desert; he wanted them to serve God in a half-hearted way: partly in Egypt and partly in the land.

But that could never serve God.

God’s irreducible minimum was: not a hoof was to be left behind.

God’s people should be absolutely separated from Egypt.

Therefore the Red Sea came between His people and the Egyptians.

God saw to it that they remained in the wilderness until they had learnt their lesson.

God had some great lessons to teach them there.

Israel’s sojourn in the wilderness had to serve coming generations as an example.

The dispensation of the church yet far away in the future was to derive its instruction from them.

In the wilderness God laid down eternal principles.

The things which happened to Israel “were our examples”.

God cuts His people off from the whole realm of nature.

You know how little the natural man prevails in the wilderness.

It doesn’t matter how intellectual, how mighty the natural resources are.

It is not of much use in a wilderness.

You may be an excellent student, a splendid businessman or organizer, yet all this is not much good in a wilderness.

For a man who is planted down alone in the middle of a wilderness, his own cleverness is not of much avail, his natural capacities will not bring him very far.

So you see what matters.

When God gets us into His hand, He takes us right out of the realm of what we are by nature.

That is the meaning of the wilderness.

God’s object is to make Christ everything.

So long as we can do things, so long as we have resources in ourselves, we cannot know Jesus Christ.

Christ will remain an unexplored realm for us.

~T. Austin Sparks~

Fly Into The Bosom Of Christ For Refuge And Safety!

Matthew 18:4  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

It is very sweet just to nestle down in the bosom of Christ-to be as a little child with Him.

Those who come otherwise do not get near to Him but the child-like always find a close place in His heart.

So the more like children we can be in our trust and in the simplicity of our faith, in humbleness of disposition, in willingness to do His will and to learn of Him-the nearer to Him shall we get, and the more shall we enjoy of His love.

Some years ago, as I was passing along one of our streets one afternoon, I heard a fluttering of birds over my head and, looking up, saw a little bird flying wildly about in circles, chased by a hawk!

The bird flew down lower and lower, and then darted into my bosom, under my coat.

I cannot quite express to you, the feeling which filled my heart at that moment...

That a little bird, chased by an enemy, had come to me for refuge, trusting me in time of danger.

I laid my hand over the bird, which nestled as quietly and confidently under my coat, as a baby would in a mother's bosom.

I carried the little thing along for several blocks until I thought the way was clear of danger, and then let it out.

It flew away into the air again, but showed no fear of me.

Ever since that experience, I have understood better what it is to fly into the bosom of Christ for refuge and safety in time of danger, or in time of distress.

All this helps me to understand better what it means to Jesus when we, hunted and chased by enemies, or suffering from weakness or pain fly to Him and hide ourselves in His love.

That is all we need to do...just to creep into the bosom of Christ, and lie down there, with no fear, no anxiety, but with simple trust.

The lines of Wesley's old hymn have meant more ever since:  

Jesus, lover of my soul, Let me to Thy bosom fly, While the nearer waters roll, While the tempest still is high.
 
Hide me, O my Savior, hide, Till the storm of life is past; Safe into the haven guide; Oh, receive my soul at last.
 
Other refuge have I none, Hangs my helpless soul on Thee; Leave, ah! leave me not alone, Still support and comfort me.
 
All my trust on Thee is stayed, All my help from Thee I bring; Cover my defenseless head With the shadow of Thy wing.

~J. R. Miller-1914~

The Quickest Way To Conquer An Enemy

Luke 6:27  But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
 
Luke 6:28  Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
 
Luke 6:29  And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.
 
We are too apt to resent insults and retaliate, when others say or do evil things to us.

The Christian way is either not to speak at all, or to give the soft answer that turns away wrath.

Not only is this the Christian way, it is also the way of wisdom.
 
The quickest way to conquer an enemy is to treat him with kindness in return for his unkindness. 

Stopping to resent every insult keeps one continually fretful; whereas ignoring slights and going on quietly with our own duty is the way to get the better of them.

The best answer to sneers and scoffs and abuse is a sweet, quiet, beautiful life of patience and gentleness.
 
The lesson our Master teaches us, is...to bear wrong patiently, to forgive injury, to return kindness for unkindness, to return good for evil, to return love for hate.
 
It is a fatal injury to his life when one allows himself to grow bitter, to cherish resentment, to let envy or any hurt feeling rankle in his heart. At last love is utterly driven out, and dark and malignant passions take full possession.

~J. R.Miller~

Acquiring Perseverance

Deu 7:22  And the LORD thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little: thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee.

We are not to expect to win victories for the LORD Jesus by a single blow.

Evil principles and practices die hard.

In some places it takes years of labor to drive out even one of the many vices which defile the inhabitants.

We must carry on the war with all our might, even when favored with little manifest success.

Our business in this world is to conquer it for Jesus. We are not to make compromises but to exterminate evils.

We are not to seek popularity but to wage unceasing war with iniquity.

Infidelity, popery, drink, impurity, oppression, worldliness, error; these are all to be "put out."

The LORD our God can alone accomplish this.

He works by His faithful servants, and blessed be His name. He promises that He will so work.

Jehovah thy God will put out those nations before thee.

This He will do by degrees that we may learn perseverance, may increase in faith, may earnestly watch, and may avoid carnal security.

Let us thank God for a little success and pray for more.

Let us never sheathe the sword till the whole land is won for Jesus.

Courage, my heart! Go on little by little, for many littles will make a great whole.

~Charles Spurgeon~

He Led Them Forth

He led them forth. Forth out of the world-forth out of sin-forth out of a profession-forth out of a name to live-forth out of everything hateful to his holy and pure eyes.

To go to a city of habitation.

They had no city to dwell in here below; but they were journeying to a city of habitation above, whose walls and bulwarks are salvation, and whose gates are praise...

Where there are eternal realities to be enjoyed by the soul; where there is something stable and eternal; something to satisfy all the wants of a capacious and immortal spirit...

And give it that rest which it never could find while wandering here below. 

If we have a city here, we want no city above; and if we have a city above, we want no city here.

This then must be our state and case; either to be pilgrims, journeying onwards, through troubles, to things above...

Or taking up our abode below; seeking heaven here, or heaven hereafter; resting upon the world, or resting upon the Lord...

Panting after the things of time, or panting after the things of eternity...

Satisfied in self, or satisfied only in Christ.

One of the two must be our state and case.

The Lord decide it clearly in the hearts of his people that they are on his side...

And give us to know and feel that our very restlessness and inability to find food and shelter in the things of time and sense, are leading us more earnestly and believingly to seek after the things that have reality in them; 

That finding no city to dwell in here below, we may press forward to be manifestly enjoying testimonies of being citizens of that city which is above, "which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God!"

~J. C. Philpot~

Duplicity Is Abominable With GOD!

 

Such persons thought themselves safe because they were with both parties: they went with the followers of Jehovah, and bowed at the same time to Malcham.

But duplicity is abominable with God, and hypocrisy his soul hateth.

The idolater who distinctly gives himself to his false god, has one sin less than he who brings his polluted and detestable sacrifice unto the temple of the Lord, while his heart is with the world and the sins thereof.

To hold with the hare and run with the hounds, is a dastard’s policy.

In the common matters of daily life, a double - minded man is despised, but in religion he is loathsome to the last degree.

The penalty pronounced in the verse before us is terrible, but it is well deserved; for how should divine justice spare the sinner, who knows the right, approves it, and professes to follow it, and all the while loves the evil, and gives it dominion in his heart?
 
My soul, search thyself this morning, and see whether thou art guilty of double-dealing.
 
Thou professeth to be a follower of Jesus...dost thou truly love him?

Is thy heart right with God? Art thou of the family of old Father Honest, or art thou a relative of Mr. By-ends?

A name to live is of little value if I be indeed dead in trespasses and sins. 

To have one foot on the land of truth, and another on the sea of falsehood, will involve a terrible fall and a total ruin.

Christ will be all or nothing.

God fills the whole universe, and hence there is no room for another god; if, then, he reigns in my heart, there will be no space for another reigning power.

Do I rest alone on Jesus crucified, and live alone for him?

Is it my desire to do so?
 
Is my heart set upon so doing?

If so, blessed be the mighty grace which has led me to salvation; and if not so, O Lord, pardon my sad offense, and unite my heart to fear thy name.

~Charles Spurgeon~

Sanctified Souls Are Satisfied

Jeremiah 31:14  And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the LORD.

Note the "My" which comes twice: "My people shall be satisfied with My goodness."

The kind of people who are satisfied with God are marked out as God's own.

He is pleased with them, for they are pleased with Him.

They call Him their God, and He calls them His people; He is satisfied to take them for a portion, and they are satisfied with Him for their portion. 

There is a mutual communion of delight between God's Israel and Israel's God.

These people are satisfied. This is a grand thing.

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!"

Only sanctified souls are satisfied souls. 

God Himself must both convert us and content us.

It is no wonder that the LORD's people should be satisfied with the goodness of their LORD.

Here is goodness without mixture, bounty without stint, mercy without chiding, love without change, favor without reserve.

If God's goodness does not satisfy us, what will? What! are we still groaning? 

Surely there is a wrong desire within if it be one which God's goodness does not satisfy.

LORD, I am satisfied. Blessed be Thy name. 

~Charles Spurgeon~

There Is An Old Legend That Tells Of Hercules Encountering A Strange Animal On A Narrow Road!

Rom 1:29  Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

There is an old legend that tells of Hercules encountering a strange animal on a narrow road.   

He struck it with his club and passed along.

Soon the animal overtook him-now three times as large as before.

Hercules struck it fast and furiously, but the more he clubbed the beast, the larger it grew!

Then Pallas appeared to Hercules and warned him to stop.

The monster's name is Strife, he said. "Let it alone and it will soon become as little as at first."

James 3:16  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 

Col 3:12  Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
 

Col 3:13  Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
 

Col 3:14  And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

~J. R. Miller~ 

  

The Magnitude Of Grace

2Co 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Our weakness should be prized as making room for divine strength.

We might never have known the power of grace if we had not felt the weakness of nature.

Blessed be the LORD for the thorn in the flesh, and the messenger of Satan, when they drive us to the strength of God.

This is a precious word from our LORD's own lip. It has made the writer laugh for joy.

God's grace enough for me! I should think it is. 

Is not the sky enough for the bird and the ocean enough for the fish? 

The All-Sufficient is sufficient for my largest want.

He who is sufficient for earth and heaven is certainly able to meet the case of one poor worm like me. 

Let us, then, fall back upon our God and His grace.

If He does not remove our grief, He will enable us to bear it.

His strength shall be poured into us till the worm shall thresh the mountains, and a nothing shall be victor over all the high and mighty ones. 

It is better for us to have God's strength than our own;

For if we were a thousand times as strong as we are, it would amount to nothing in the face of the enemy; 

And if we could be weaker than we are, which is scarcely possible, yet we could do all things through Christ.

~Charles Spurgeon~

The Secret Of Strength To Every Christian

Faithful, sincere, believing prayer is the secret of strength to every Christian.

It is the channel by which he receives daily help, wisdom, grace, and consolation from above.

A worldly spirit must be avoided if prayer is to be true and effectual.

If the harp is out of tune, if the strings are loose or broken then how can it give forth a delightful strain of pleasant melody?

Just so, if you come to the throne of grace with a mind preoccupied with a thousand eager, feverish worldly desires then how can you offer such hearty spiritual worship as will be music in the ear of our Father in Heaven?

If you would pray and praise aright then watch continually that you are not conformed to the world.

If worldly thoughts are allowed to lodge in the heart if you set up an idol of money or pleasure or human praise or anything else, in the sanctuary which belongs to God - if you indulge yourself in that which is your own besetting snare...be sure that you will lose all comfort in prayer.

Either prayer will conquer sin or sin will take away all power in prayer.

Mere lip-service in prayer is another deadly foe to effectual prayer. It is the shell without the kernel. It is the husk without the wheat. It is the body without the soul. It is the form without the power or reality.
 

You may repeat the most beautiful words by rote, you may utter the Lord's Prayer hundreds of times over but if there is no earnest desire for the things you ask, then what does it profit you?

God looks at the heart, and He sees the emptiness and worthlessness of all such seeming devotion.

Beware of it as one of the greatest perils.

It is in vain that you worship God and draw near to Him with your lips while your heart is far from Him. He will never accept it at your hands. "In Spirit and in truth" is the one great requisite.

A sigh, a groan, a look, an inward longing of the soul has in it more of real, true prayer, than any number of words merely repeated from the memory, or read from a book, without the deep feeling of an humble, believing heart.

Hebrews 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

~George Everard-1880~

"Behold He Prayeth"

Act 9:11  And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

Prayers are instantly noticed in heaven. The moment Saul began to pray the Lord heard him. 

Here is comfort for the distressed but praying soul.

Oftentimes a poor broken-hearted one bends his knee, but can only utter his wailing in the language of sighs and tears; 

Yet that groan has made all the harps of heaven thrill with music; 

That tear has been caught by God and treasured in the lachrymatory of heaven. 

Thou puttest my tears into thy bottle, implies that they are caught as they flow.

The suppliant, whose fears prevent his words, will be well understood by the Most High.

He may only look up with misty eye; but “prayer is the falling of a tear. 

Tears are the diamonds of heaven; sighs are a part of the music of Jehovah’s court, and are numbered with “the sublimest strains that reach the majesty on high.” 

Think not that your prayer, however weak or trembling, will be unregarded.

Jacob’s ladder is lofty, but our prayers shall lean upon the Angel of the covenant and so climb its starry rounds.

Our God not only hears prayer but also loves to hear it.

He forgetteth not the cry of the humble.
 
True, He regards not high looks and lofty words; He cares not for the pomp and pageantry of kings; 

He listens not to the swell of martial music; He regards not the triumph and pride of man;

But wherever there is a heart big with sorrow, or a lip quivering with agony, or a deep groan, or a penitential sigh, the heart of Jehovah is open;

He marks it down in the registry of His memory;

He puts our prayers, like rose leaves, between the pages of His book of remembrance, and when the volume is opened at last, there shall be a precious fragrance springing up therefrom.

Faith asks no signal from the skies, To show that prayers accepted rise, Our Priest is in His holy place, And answers from the throne of grace.”

~Charles Spurgeon~

Immortal Till Work Done

A fair assurance this! It was no doubt based upon a promise, inwardly whispered in the psalmist's heart, which he seized upon and enjoyed.

Is my case like that of David?

Am I depressed because the enemy affronts me?

Are there multitudes against me and few on my side?

Does unbelief bid me lie down and die in despair-a defeated, dishonored man? 

Do my enemies begin to dig my grave?

What then?

Shall I yield to the whisper of fear, and give up the battle, and with it give up all hope?

Far from it. There is life in me yet: "I shall not die."

Vigor will return and remove my weakness: "I shall live."

The LORD lives, and I shall live also. My mouth shall again be opened: "I shall declare the works of Jehovah."

Yes, and I shall speak of the present trouble as another instance of the wonder-working faithfulness and love of the LORD my God.

Those who would gladly measure me for my coffin had better wait a bit, for "the LORD hath chastened me sore, but he hath not given me over unto death."

Glory be to His name forever!

I am immortal till my work is done.

Till the LORD wills it, no vault can close upon me. 

~Charles Spurgeon~

Not Whom He May Bite - But Devour!

We read in Scripture of Satan's snares and darts; he hurts more by his snares than by his darts!

Satan opposes us both by open violence, and secret  treachery.

1. Satan opposes by open violence -- so he is called the Red Dragon. He labors to storm the castle of the heart; he stirs up passion, lust, and revenge.

Eph 6:16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

These are called "fiery darts," because they often set the soul on fire.

Satan in regard to his fierceness, is called a lion, "Be self-controlled and alert.

Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour!" 

1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:  

Not Whom He May Bite - But Devour! 

Yes, there is "a lion in the way," but we must resolve upon fighting. 

2. Satan opposes by secret treachery--so he is called the Old Serpent. What he cannot do by force, he will endeavor to do by fraud.

Satan has several subtle devices in tempting:

Satan suits his temptations to the temper of the individual...

Satan studies our dispositions, and lays suitable baits.

He knew Achan's s covetous heart,and tempted him with a wedge of gold. He tempts the youthful man with lust.

Satan tempts to sin gradually...

He steals into the heart by degrees. He is at first, more modest. 

He did not say to Eve at first, "Eat the apple!" No! but he goes more subtly to work.

He puts forth a question, "Has God said?

Surely Eve, you are mistaken; the bountiful God never intended to debar one of the best trees of the garden.

Has God said?

Surely, either God did not say it; or if He did, He never really intended it." Thus by degrees he wrought her to distrust God, and then she took of the fruit and ate. 

Oh, take heed of Satan's first motions to sin, which seem more modest.
 
He is first a fox, and then a lion.

Satan tempts to evil in lawful things...

It was lawful for Noah to eat the fruit of the grape; but he took too much, and so sinned. Excess turns that which is good into evil.

Eating and drinking may turn to intemperance.

Industry in one's calling, when excessive, becomes covetousness.

Satan draws men to an immoderate love of the creature, and then makes them sin in that which they love...as Agrippina poisoned her husband Claudius, in that food which he loved most.

Satan puts men upon doing good out of evil ends...
 
If he cannot hurt them by scandalous actions he will by virtuous actions.

Thus he tempts some to espouse religion out of ulterior motives.

He tempts others to give to charity, for applause, that others may see their good works.

Eph 6:16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

We must resist the devil by faith. Faith is a wise, intelligent grace.

Faith can see a hook under the bait! Faith keeps the castle of the heart, so that it does not yield. 

Faith beats back the temptation. Faith holds the promise in one hand, and Christ in the other. 

The promise encourages faith, and Christ strengthens it; so faith beats the enemy out of the field!

We overcome Satan upon our knees!

A Christian by prayer fetches in auxiliary forces from Heaven. 

In all temptations, go to God by prayer.

Lord, teach me to use every piece of the spiritual armor - how to hold the shield, how to wear the helmet, how to use the sword of the Spirit.

Lord, strengthen me in the battle; let me rather die a conqueror than be taken prisoner, and led captive by Satan!"

Remember that Christ has given Satan his death-wound upon the cross. 

He has bruised the head of the old Serpent!

He is a chained enemy, and a conquered enemy; therefore do not fear him.

James 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Romans 16:20  And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

~Thomas Watson~

Is There Anything Too Hard For Me?

Cyrus, the King, was compelled to fulfil the vision of Jeremiah, by making a decree, the instant the prophecy had foretold, declaring that Jehovah had bidden him rebuild Jerusalem and invite her captives to return to their native home.

So Jeremiah's faith was vindicated and Jehovah's prophecy gloriously fulfilled, as faith ever will be honored.

Oh, for the faith, that in the dark present and the darker future, shall dare to subscribe the evidences and seal up the documents if need be, for the time of waiting, and then begin to testify to the certainty of its hope like the prophet of Anathoth!

The word Anathoth has a beautiful meaning, "echoes."

So faith is the "echo" of God and God always gives the "echo" to faith, as He answers it back in glorious fulfilment.

Oh, let our faith echo also the brave claim of the ancient prophet and take our full inheritance, with his glorious shout, "Oh, Lord, Thou art the God of all flesh, is there anything too hard for the Lord?"

And back like an echo will come the heavenly answer to our heart, "I am the God of all flesh, is there anything too hard for Me?"

~A. B. Simpson~