Family Prayer

By James Smith

"Pour out your fury upon the heathen that have not known you, and upon the families do not call upon your name!" Jeremiah 10:25

Family prayer is a most important means of grace, and has often proved one of the greatest blessings which a family could enjoy. It is not enough that we pray as private individuals in our closets; we must honor God in our families. Twice in the day if we can, at least once — every family where Jesus is professed, should be called to bow before the Lord together. Parents and children, master and servants, should meet before the Lord their maker. The head of the family should lead the devotions if present; and his wife should lead, should he be absent. Family prayer should never be omitted if there is one of the family at home who can call upon God; even if the language is broken, and the time occupied is very brief. The gift of prayer always grows by use, and smallness of gift is no lawful excuse for omitting family prayer. If we cannot pray eloquently, we may pray earnestly — which is much better; if our language does not flow freely, we need not be long and tedious. Prevailing prayers are often short prayers.

Family devotions should generally be short, especially where there are young children, A short portion of God's holy Word should be read; and it has often been found profitable to read a few striking remarks on some spiritual subject, by an approved author. If those present can sing, a few verses of praise greatly enliven the service; if not, a short prayer, being a direct address to Jehovah, offered with feeling and fervor, under a sense of the divine presence, is very edifying and refreshing. God approves, an enlightened conscience commends, and all are benefited.

Family prayer will prevent much sin, as well as do much good. It keeps up a remembrance of the divine presence, it brings important truths before the mind, it teaches the prayerless what prayer is, it leads children to think, and brings down the blessing of God upon the house. We are to pray with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit; but this we cannot do if family prayer is neglected. We are to pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting; this cannot be observed, if we do not pray in our families. He who would excuse himself from family prayer, should expect to be excused from family blessings.

Reader, have you family prayer in your house? If not, allow me to ask, do you profess to be a Christian? Have you considered the solemn passage at the head of these remarks? If God is to pour out his fury upon the families which call not upon his name, and you have not family prayer, how can your family escape? You ought to own God in your house, and daily should you acknowledge your dependence upon Him, and obligation to Him. All your domestic comforts, all your temporal mercies, and all your spiritual privileges — flow from His love and grace; and will you daily as a family receive, and never as a family praise?

The heathens have their household gods; and will not you have your family altar? Shall they honor idols of wood and stone, and must it be said of you, "The God in whose hands your breath is — you have not glorified?" An old divine says, "A family without prayer is like a house without a roof, opened and exposed to all the storms." Again, "Family prayer bolts the door against danger at night, and opens it for the admission of mercies in the morning." Private prayer was never intended to set aside family prayer, nor should family prayer be made an excuse for the neglect of private. The one is for the person, the other for the household. Both are necessary, and properly conducted both are means of blessing.

The Backslider's Petition

"Restore unto me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with your free spirit." Psalm 51:12

Backsliding not only dishonors God — but it strips the believer of his joy, and leaves him disconsolate and dejected. This was the case with David; he had suffered much, and he feared more; and looking back upon his past experience, he prayed for the return of his joy. He had been happy, for he had known the joyful sound, and walked in the light of the Lord's countenance.

There is happiness in true religion. The gospel is glad tidings of great joy. A knowledge of a saving interest in all its privileges and blessings, causes us to rejoice in God; and its application by the power of the Holy Spirit, produces the most delightful effects:

guilt is purged from the conscience, 
peace flows into the heart, 
acceptance with God is realized, 
access to God with confidence is enjoyed, 
and Heaven appears to be opening to the view.
But sin robs the soul of all comfort — the backslider cannot be happy. There may be a sense of need — but there is no feeding on the bread of life; there may be clear views — but there is no heart-warming appropriation; there may be the form of godliness kept up — but there is little of the power of it known in experience. There is prayer to God, perhaps — but no fellowship with God. 

Christ is honorable in the judgment — but not sensibly precious to the heart. The life and savor of godliness is gone; for these can only exist in connection with . . .
a clear eye, 
a tender conscience, 
an honest heart, 
and a holy walk; 
for unless we walk with God, we shall not savor of God.

In such a state of declension, a backslider may be allowed to remain for some time; but the Lord will look upon him again; and this will produce . . .
painful convictions, 
cutting regrets, 
bitter remorse, and 
deep humbling of soul before God.
Then the man . . .
sees his folly, 
feels his guilt, 
condemns his conduct, 
mourns over his condition, 
and pants for a revival of piety in his soul.

Now the backslider prays, prays in bitterness of soul, prays for a restoration. He cannot comfort himself, he refuses to be comforted by others, and is only willing to be comforted by God. Now he feels that he can sin away his comforts — but that none but God can restore them. This . . .
shows our weakness, 
teaches us our dependence, 
exhibits our folly, and 
corrects us for wandering from God.

The joy of salvation is a gift from God, as well as salvation itself; and though we may be saved by grace, we shall not enjoy our salvation, unless God anoints us with, "the oil of joy." To feel that we are saved, to have the Spirit witnessing with our spirits to the fact, is joy unspeakable; and it was for this the Psalmist prayed, and for this every backslider pleads.

But he seeks not only a restoration of joy — but the upholding of the Spirit of adoption; his past conduct and the present experience taught him the need of the constant presence and power of the Spirit. His prayer now is, "Hold me up — and I shall be safe!" He perceives that . . .
his way is slippery, 
his heart is false, 
his corruptions are strong, 
his foes are watchful, and 
his temptations are powerful
 — and he cries: Let your free Spirit watch me, influence me, guide me, and preserve me from sin and folly!

The Lord, who knows our need, has promised his Holy Spirit, and He warns us against self-confidence. But it is seldom that anything but bitter experience convinces us of our need of His daily supplies.
Reader, are you a backslider? Have you left your first love, and lost your sweet joys? Are you convinced of your folly and your sin? Do not despond — but pray. Yield not to fear — but mourn over your folly. Go to the throne of grace, place yourself before your injured Savior, and encourage that sorrow which is unto repentance. Frankly confess your sin, do not palliate it or attempt to excuse it, for it is inexcusable. 

Appeal to the mercy of your God, 
plead His promises to the backslider, 
hope in His Word, 
wait His time, 
and He, "will restore comfort unto you."

Do not despair, however keen your sense of guilt may be; but like Jonah, "look again;" with Ephraim, "bemoan yourself;" and with David pray, "Cast me not away from your presence, take not your Holy Spirit from me; restore unto me the joy of your salvation; and uphold me with your free Spirit."
Beware of spiritual declension in future; keep a jealous eye over self; be especially careful over yourself in reference to the closet— there backsliding generally begins; but though it begins there, it never ends there.

The Backslider's Resolution

by James Smith


"I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now!" Hosea 2:7
Nothing is more common than backsliding — and yet nothing is more criminal. He who thus backslides — troubles his own heart and mind too.

By the gospel we are espoused to Jesus, by grace we are united to Him; and when we profess religion we say, "I will be for you — and not for another. I will seek my happiness in your love, my supplies from your fullness, and my direction from your Word. I will aim at your honor, devote myself to your cause, and surrender myself to be ruled and guided by you alone!"

For a time after conversion — the love of Jesus charms us, the appointments of Jesus delight us, and the authority of Jesus binds us. We walk with Him in peace and holiness. But listening to Satan, yielding to the working of unbelief in our hearts, or conforming to the present evil world — we gradually backslide from Him:
our private fellowship with Him becomes less fervent and frequent; 
our thoughts of Him less interesting and sweet; 
our concern for His glory decays; 
selfishness increases, and is fostered;
and we leave our first love.

The sin is inexcusable, 
the folly great, and 
the consequences always painful, and sometimes fearful.
But here is one convinced of his folly, sorry for his sin, and determined to return.

"I will go," and humble myself at His feet, and confess my crime. I will seek to be restored to His favor and the enjoyment of His love. I will ask to be again employed in His service. I will beg to be received into His house. I am willing to be a servant, to do the lowest work, to be humbled to the lowest degree — if I may be but allowed to see His face, hear His voice, and once more enjoy His smile. He alone can satisfy me. His pardoning mercy alone can reach my case, and His gracious presence alone afford me comfort. I am wretched without Him. Emptiness and vanity are written upon everything around me! I deserve to be banished from His presence. He would be just if He sent me to Hell. But I must venture before Him, I must plead with Him, I must be again admitted into His favor — or I die!

"I will go," 
though conscience accuses me, 
though His Word condemns me, 
though Satan opposes me, 
though my heart misgives me, 
though saints slight and discourage me.

"I will go and return" — for He was my husband, my joy, my delight, my all. I cannot live without Him, I can but die before Him; but no — no sinner, not even a backsliding sinner, ever perished at His feet.
"I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now!" I remember the days of old, the season of my first love — how sweet, how delightful my experience! Then the presence of God raised me above my trials, and filled me with joy unspeakable. 

Then I had power over sin, and I could crucify the flesh with its affections and lusts. Then I enjoyed freedom from care — casting all my care upon Him, assured that He cared for me. Then I was indulged with discoveries of His love, which made it almost impossible to doubt. Then I found profit and pleasure in all the means of grace and ordinances of His appointment. Then I had joy and peace in believing.

But oh! How different has it been with me since! Instead of the highway of holiness, and the paths of pleasantness and peace — my way has been hedged up with thorns! Instead of holy contentment and inward satisfaction — I have had constant vexation and disappointment. It was indeed better with me once, than now!

But my injured Lord, my longsuffering Savior, my gracious God, is saying, "Return, you backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings!" And my heart says, "Behold, I come unto you, for you are the Lord my God." "O Lord, our God, other lords besides you have ruled over us, but your name alone do we honor." Thus says the Lord, "I will heal your backslidings, I will love you freely, for my anger is turned away from you. I will restore comfort unto you and to your mourners."

"Lord, I bow with deep contrition 
Low before your throne of grace;
Heal me in your kind compassion, 
While I seek your smiling face.
Where — but to a bleeding Savior, 
Should I come for life and peace?

Nothing but your boundless favor 
Can my burdened soul release!
You have witnessed my transgression, 
You have seen my load of guilt;
Witness now my deep confession. 
You whose precious blood was spilt.
Oh, this sin of covenant-breaking!
Can You, will You, Lord, forgive? 

Shall I hear your mercy speaking?
Can you bid me look and live?
Pardon, peace, and consolation,
At your bleeding cross I see; 
There I take my humble station,
There I give my soul to Thee."

A Parent's Duty

by James Smith

"Do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord." Ephesians 6:4
The desire for and love to children, are implanted in our nature by our good and great Creator; and children are given to us to be brought up for the Lord. They are His property; He only lends them to us to enjoy, to train, and prepare for future life. Children involve a great responsibility. They are immortal. They are depraved. They are ignorant. They need the most tender, wise, and constant training. Every parent is accountable to God for the manner in which he educates and brings up his children; and that account must be rendered under the most solemn circumstances.

It is the parent's duty to instruct the child, not only in things natural — but in things spiritual. The great facts of Scripture should be very early placed before the child's mind, by the parents. The child should learn from a mother's lips, that it is immortal; that it is a sinner; that as such it is exposed to the wrath of God; that there is no way to God but by Jesus; that nothing can be accepted by God, but through Him. The person, the work, the character, the offices, and love of Jesus, should especially be pressed on the child's attention. 

The true character of God, as just and yet merciful, as holy and yet love, as true to his Word and yet ready to forgive — should be clearly unfolded to the child's understanding. In a word, the Bible, in its facts, doctrines, promises, prophecies, precepts; and especially the glorious glad tidings of a free salvation for sinners as sinners — should be instilled into the youthful mind. Our children should be made familiar with the Bible, and be impressed with a sense of its value, veracity, and excellence.

It is the parent's duty to pray for and with the child; especially should mothers do this. There is something in the tone of a mother's voice, in the tenderness of a mother's expressions, in the fervency of a mother's pleading — which cannot be imitated. A father has it not, nor can he acquire it. When a mother takes her child aside into a private room, and having spoken to it of God, of Jesus, of sin, of the need of a new heart — she bids it kneel down by her, she takes its little hands into one of hers, she lays the other on its head, and offers up a mother's prayer — full of pathos, of glowing desire, of holy reverence — she does that which the child cannot forget. The tones of her voice, the earnestness of her pleading, the gentle pressure of the hand, will never be forgotten while memory holds her place.

It is the parent's duty to set a proper example before children; knowing that what is seen — makes more impression than what is merely heard. Parents should never tell, or act a lie before their children. They should never trifle with Divine things, or expose the faults of God's people, or speak slightly of the Lord's ministers before their children: but should set the Lord always before their face, and be always aiming at the immediate conversion of every one of their offspring.

They should not only avoid setting a wrong example before them — but also endeavor to keep them as much as they prudently can from others who would do so; remembering the words of the wise man, "He who walks with wise men — shall be wise; but the companion of fools — shall be destroyed." Once more: parents should early lead their children to the house of God, pointing out to them that God requires the worship of the heart, the service of the entire person; and that God is present in an especial manner when His people meet.

How important it must be then for parents to be real Christians, not only for their own account — but for their children's sake. Parents, your situation is most solemn and responsible; remember, very much of your own conduct depends upon how you bring up your children! Remember also, that others will be benefited or injured by your children. And above all, remember that you must meet every one of your children at the judgment-seat of Christ; and how dreadful it would be, if your child should there witness that you were accessory to its damnation!

Surrender

Anyone who is familiar with my post should know today’s Oswald Chambers is thrilling to me simply because in my world, surrender is the name of the game. 

But, what I would like you to pay attention to is all the doctrines that Oswald talked about in this one page. There is so much of the Christian life summarized in one tiny page. There is the surrendered life, the eradication of sin, the oneness with Christ, the claim to self and the view of the true self vis a vis God which is when we discover we are nothing but a worm in His presence. We also have part of the walk in the Spirit that is somewhere in there too. Then, after all that we find that regeneration is ours in the end.

The idea here is not to read it and just fall in love with the beauty of the contents because it’s well said or just because we admire his knowledge but, to seriously consider asking God to impart this life to your soul too. We have to be careful of repeating things out of sentimentality such as a verse like Galatians 2:20. Until God imparts it in our lives all we have is indeed sentimentality which will not take us anywhere. This is why Paul was worrying so much about the Galatians and he felt the pain of childbirth for them, until Christ nature is formed in them. Paul was exhorting them to go forward; he worried about their progress because he knew they were missing out on something. (Galatians 4:19-20)

I know from experience there is at least three years of intense and focus work to get there with God. And this is from living a total surrendered life while you are kept under His thumb with a life that you no longer recognized. I would not be able to tell you how long it takes if God decides to do this work in chunks in your own life, or perhaps if you surrender on a case by case basis. But what I can assure you, without this process we have a passage in the Scriptures that says many are called but few are chosen” care to guess which group you belong to in that verse?

About a month ago I encountered a so called Christian blogger on the internet who had such a long post about Oswald Chambers. While he went on about how he respect his group of friends who loves Oswald’s writings. He went on about how he also likes O C’s writings and possesses actually two of the same devotion books. In the end he concluded that all of his writings were basically wishful thinking, forced salvation and someone trying to force mysticism etc. He also said something like he could not understand why someone with common sense would believe in all that nonsense. (But don’t worry he respects his friends’ views LOL)

This blogger went on to explain how he has been raised in a Christian home for thirty years (by the time he wrote his ridiculous and confusing post he was much older) and share his beliefs. Personally I feel if I were in his shoes,  I would not brag about being raised in a Christian home because it does not say much about your parents Christianity if this is what they taught you. Secondly, his beliefs can be summed up this way: let go and let God, do not lift a finger. Then on top of it all he managed to confuse those followers of him because of the comments I read, some were asking if they can still believe they have received salvation without going through those processes Oswald Chambers kept referring to in his devotion book? And these questions were coming from very educated young men like him. But what none of them understood is that the whole devotion book is dedicated to explaining Salvation. He was sharing with us how when salvation touches us we find the power to press on beyond our common sense. If after thirty years of Christianity you cannot see this basic fact in his devotion book, then you are in trouble.

Today’s devotion of surrender should be considered very closely because you do not want to be this type of Christian like this blogger after thirty years has no spiritual discernment, no idea what salvation means according to God’s version of it and he is not willing to give up pretense, sin and deceit. Lashing out of Oswald’s writings will do you no good. He lived his life in the light of God and now he is with Him. Are you sure you can say you are even living in the light of God?   

The “surrender” devotion we read today is nothing but, salvation working in your life reviving your dead bones. It is Salvation working in your soul. It is what you claimed to have received that is at work in you, building you up, preparing you, sanctifying you, transforming you etc. It is exactly the continuation of the good work in you by the One who started it. It is His grace at work. It is the foundation of the work of personal holiness. We do not surrender like Oswald suggested today because we want to receive salvation, but we do surrender because we have received salvation. We surrender because the salvation we have received has allowed us to see who we are in Him and how much more we need Him.

So, if you feel like lashing out to OC because of what he has written, you are just like an unbeliever finding the gospel offensive. Since you are already in the Word, but in Satan’s claws, may I suggest you get on your knees and start begging God to touch your dull conscience and callous heart? Beside, Paul and Christ are not asking you anything they have not done.

HERE IS OSWALD POST JUST IN CASE YOU HAVE NOT READ IT

The Surrendered Life

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I have been crucified with Christ . . . —Galatians 2:20

To become one with Jesus Christ, a person must be willing not only to give up sin, but also to surrender his whole way of looking at things. Being born again by the Spirit of God means that we must first be willing to let go before we can grasp something else. The first thing we must surrender is all of our pretense or deceit. What our Lord wants us to present to Him is not our goodness, honesty, or our efforts to do better, but real solid sin. Actually, that is all He can take from us. And what He gives us in exchange for our sin is real solid righteousness. But we must surrender all pretense that we are anything, and give up all our claims of even being worthy of God’s consideration.

Once we have done that, the Spirit of God will show us what we need to surrender next. Along each step of this process, we will have to give up our claims to our rights to ourselves. Are we willing to surrender our grasp on all that we possess, our desires, and everything else in our lives? Are we ready to be identified with the death of Jesus Christ?

We will suffer a sharp painful disillusionment before we fully surrender. When people really see themselves as the Lord sees them, it is not the terribly offensive sins of the flesh that shock them, but the awful nature of the pride of their own hearts opposing Jesus Christ. When they see themselves in the light of the Lord, the shame, horror, and desperate conviction hit home for them.

If you are faced with the question of whether or not to surrender, make a determination to go on through the crisis, surrendering all that you have and all that you are to Him. And God will then equip you to do all that He requires of you

Courtesy of: http://utmost.org/

He Asks For Absolute Surrender!

(JR Miller "Daily Bible Readings in the Life of Christ" 1890)

"Follow Me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19

"They immediately left their nets, and followed Him." Matthew 4:20

Their nets were probably all that they owned! It was with these, that they earned their living. Yet at the call of Christ — they gave up all, cut themselves off from their means of support, and in simple obedience and faith, went with Him. 

That is just what we all should do — when Christ calls us. We should obey instantly and without questioning. No matter how much the sacrifice involves — we should make it cheerfully for His sake. Though to obey cuts us off from all our ordinary means of livelihood, and leaves us without provision even for tomorrow — we should not hesitate. Christ takes care of His servants — when they are faithfully doing His will. He asks for absolute surrender to Him. He wants us to trust Him — while we obey Him unquestioningly.

The faith in Christ which the gospel requires — is the utter, unreserved devotement of the whole life to Him, and the unquestioning commitment to Him for time and for eternity — of every interest and hope. The question of what He will do with us or for us, or how He will provide for us — should not be raised for an instant. There must be no 'conditions' — in the following and the consecration. We may not 'bargain' with Jesus for an easy time, for 'smooth and pleasant paths' — but should simply give ourselves to Him absolutely and forever, to follow where and to whatever He may lead us.

The "immediately" is also important. Many people are forever postponing duties. But every call of Christ should be answered immediately. Many people obey so laggardly, so reluctantly, and so long after they are called — that half the value of their obedience is lost! Christ always wants instant obedience. There is no 'tomorrow' with Him. Tomorrow He may not have any need of us, or we may not be here to do the duty which He now asks of us.

How Do We Examine The Self?

Because I have been bedridden the past few days with fever, sore throat and sinus infection which I do not recall ever having it so bad. I had time to think about my life and where I went wrong in my Christian walk. I know I was heavy handed by God. In my Blog I mostly mentioned the good things that came out of my encounter with Him, and all the experiences. But I know if I was to talk about how specifically He led me there, it would be depressive to anyone reading.

I was growing slowly, but I was also drifting in this life mainly because of what I have been taught and because of what was around me. No one ever helped me understand how important it was to examine myself.  I mean by that examining yourself according to the Holy Spirit’s way not your own way. I have to say while they did not find it important to teach us this doctrine but we had the type of mentality where we check our spiritual pulse by checking how well we have the basic Christian behaviour down pat according to those “don’ts” of the Bible. If we could put a check mark for attending Church regularly, we were okay. There was also how much you get engaged in serving in the Church as well as doing evangelism. Another one was how often do we pray and donating the 10% that we ought to.

Well, I passed all these spiritual check marks with flying colors but they did not help me understand where I was hindering God’s work in me. They did not help me walk in the Spirit or live out God’s plan for my life. In these areas I was failing miserably and clueless like everyone in the Church.

But, over time, I learned that examining self goes so much deeper than that, way much deeper. When we examine self, it is more important to examine the depth of our obedience to His Word and our relationship with Him before we even bother asking ourselves the hard personal questions we do not want to touch. We have to make sure we know that we are growing steadily with Him so ask: are you growing spiritually? And if you do not know what it is, here is your answer. Some of us tend to think just because we have accumulated more head knowledge of the Bible, we can discuss more doctrines, we are growing spiritually but that is a big lie of the devil.  

You should also ask yourself questions like: are you aware of the improvement of your relationship with the Holy Spirit? How long has it been since you heard Him talking to your heart? How committed are you to this Christian life? Don’t answer that one just because you fulfill some obligation.  Your commitment should come from love and gratitude for what Christ had done for you. It should be because you have such a burning desire to know Him. You reach the height of your commitment to Him when you can say with everything that you are, take all of me and I will follow you wherever you lead.

You should know if you have been trying to use excuses not to go forward with Him? Are you taking His Word for granted? Are you taking Him for granted? How many times you pray during the day? How many times do you think of Him during the day? Are you living a life focused on Him? If not what are you focusing on? Are you sure you are walking in His will for your life? Don’t be so sure because of what you are doing seem so good in the eyes of others, is pleasing to Him. And don’t think because you are helping others you are probably living out His plan for you. These are just a few examples of the questions you should ask yourself if you are truly looking into learning to examine yourself properly. I am still asking myself those questions all the time, even now. They will never go out of style as long as you are living in this earthly form.

It makes sense, if people in my Church knew how important it was to examine yourself with the Holy Spirit leading they would not have been a Pharisee style type of Church. It is the role of a pastor to teach from the pews and to insist, and reinforce some doctrines that we cannot escape and will not escape no matter how much we want to.  These doctrines matters to God and we better have them down pat by the time we die. Such doctrines like Holiness, the salvation of the soul, surrender, the examination of self etc. I know if I had ever heard sermons from the pew of my Church, I would know how important they were. Since there was never a sermon on them, I assumed they were equally not as important in this Christian life. But, I will never stop saying this “we can only lead others as far as we have been with God for ourselves”

There are some doctrines in the Bible, you can never bluff your way through them and if you have not been there, your sermons sound empty and it   shows what you are doing is repeating what you read. A lot of people can see it’s just a head knowledge. Some go as far as advancing their own opinion from their carnal life, on the doctrine they know nothing of. But to those who possess the real McCoy they will always know it was just that –opinion of the natural mind. You failed to feed God’s sheep.

We ought to examine ourselves even if we start slowly and we are not good at it yet. But we have to keep the habit of going to God with an open heart and ask Him to not only teach us how to examine ourselves in His light but to bring us to a place where we can do it with a willingness to see the hard things we do not want to touch, change or see. I do not believe as Christians we should be caught up with so many self-help books like the unbelievers world. We do not need self help books to teach us how to examine the self. What we need is to learn to obey and consecrate ourselves to Him. Any self help book that does not promote consecration and obedience to God first, and foremost, misses the mark. Through total obedience and true devotion of the heart to Him, everything else falls into play.

What do you know? I found out, it was also the job of the Holy Spirit to teach us how to examine the self, so your relationship with Him is of the utmost importance. Seek the Kingdom of God first. 

He Finds His Elects No Matter Where They Are

If we could only see how beautifully God is building His Church we would stop creating denominations, stop the fight, and stop feeling superior because we are not one of those who got it wrong.

I went to a training there was time allocated for testimonies to help us see how God is working all over the world finding His people even if they are in the bushes. So, a mild manner Indonesian man came forward to share his testimony. His English was not that good. Sure they were paying attention to him but as I looked around the room I realized most people there did not see the beauty and power behind what this man was saying.

Perhaps it would have been the same for me too, had God not taken me apart for a moment, it felt like the room was empty and I was the only audience. I heard a voice whispering to me “can you see behind all these?” But I could see it because He was showing it to me. This man was a monk all his life and he shared while in the monastery, among all those idols God kept appearing to Him in dreams. Through dreams only He taught the man to know Him. He opened his eyes and his heart. Of course I am giving you the gist of it when you consider his testimony lasted about 45. (he was given 15 minutes) While this man never said the sinner prayer, he was saved because he had an encounter with the God of Salvation. He was born again. So, he left the monastery for good to find a church to get baptized.

As I was looking at the man, I could see he was filled with the Holy Spirit. I like the fact that he was so grateful that God found him when he was in a place where no one could touch him. I could see his heart was full of love for Him. When he finished talking, I shivered and I had teary eyes because I realize it does not matter where we are and which bushes we are hiding under. It does not matter the mess we are in right now

God will find those who will make up His Church.

If we could understand what it’s all about, we would chill out and submit to our Master and Savior to accomplish His will through us.

Possessors of the Faith Vs Professors of the Faith

I have been sick with sinus infection for the past two days. So, I am going to keep it short.

When you are a possessor of the faith God’s Word is perfect in your eyes. No need for duplicity, no need to find loopholes and you carefully examine the Scriptures with your heart and the goal is to submit to His Word. Christ becomes more precious to you than everything else and you are guided solely by His Word. You walk in the truth with a spirit of submission because your life is His to do what He wants with. His plan and goal for your life are what matters to you. You also understand His Word from His point of view because you know Him.  Over the years, you keep decreasing as if you are disappearing while He is getting bigger and bigger in your life. Hence I must decrease He must increase. If you want me to make it simple, you are a possessor of the faith and you are living true Christianity when you have taken Christ within.

The best way I can explain what a professor of the faith looks like is to give you an example.

I know a family who has been Christians for decades and decades. We are talking about thirty years and more. After all these years of bible reading, prayers, serving in the Church, going to the mission field etc they are no where close to possess Christ. They all have hard hearts; they lie to each and other people as easily as they breathe. There is a callousness of consciences that is hard to watch. There is a darkness of the soul that comes out in the things they do, that you cannot help wondering how on earth they have not noticed that unbelievers are better human being than them. They are still counting on God’s love to make it to heaven and the fact that they said the sinner’s prayer.

While this is one example of how this family is living a Christless Christianity, for some of us it is more subtle. However, we can recognize where we are if we do not recall at any point that Christ has increased in us while the self has decreased. If we have no recollection of having conquered the evil self chances are it did not happen. We still have bitterness, bad temper, greed, jealousies and all that is associated with the flesh are prevalent in our heart. Your life is self willed, you are uncommitted, and you are living with a spirit of disobedience. You fit the picture of those who are twice dead as mentioned in Jude.

Beloved, we should care whether we are possessors of the faith vs professors because it matters to God. May we learn to examine our hearts and not afraid of asking ourselves the hard questions now, so we can correct the course of our lives. When we die, we not only have to answer for those hard questions we have been avoiding, it will also be too late.

Christian Progress - Part 8 Last Part

It is now 1:00 AM and I have to be up and running in about 4 hours and a half. I decided to put my blog out very early just so that I do not waste time.

As I am reading the questions John James is suggesting that we use to examine ourselves I am covered by a sense of sadness. Why you might say? Because this is the Christianity I have learned at His feet.

I am no better than anyone else, in fact my life is so lousy that I do not want to talk about it. Also, I am truly what you would call an unlearned, yet I have no idea why He chose to teach me in the way He taught me. I have no idea why He chose to reveal so much of Himself to me. I promise you that anyone of you who meets me in heaven, since nothing will be hidden, then you will know how much at one point I begged Him to stop revealing Himself to me because all I wanted was Him. I am telling you the truth, I actually begged Him to take this unlimited grace and pour it on someone that would be more useful to Him like my pastor. I prayed and begged because I felt those experiences would be wasted on me.

Why am I telling you all these things? Because I am trying the only way I can to make you understand how much so many of us misunderstand Christianity.  I can see the danger so many of us are in, at the same time I feel powerless because at the end of the day, the next step belongs to you. You would be wise to consider John's  questions, take them to heart. Take them to God. Don’t lie to yourself because God will be God and you would end up hurting yourself with your lies

When we go to God with our doubts and unbelief, it does not matter Satan knows them, if our hearts are open to God and we are truly seeking Him at any cost and by any roads, then Satan cannot hurt us with the information. The only time he has power to hurt you is when he knows you want God but you have your own agenda that you want Him to take into consideration and you are not willing to budge on them. Open up your heart and trust Him. Please do not make the wrong choice.

I love you all and I leave you with John’s last reading

                                                           John A James, 1853


                                ADDRESS TO THE READER
Reader, this is an unspeakably important chapter for you to ponder. You must not pass from it in haste—but linger, and muse longer and deeper. You must now take up the candle of the Lord, as I have said, and go down into the very depths of the soul, to search its hidden recesses. Nor should you trust to your own inspection and scrutiny. Like David, you should earnestly pray to God to search you, and reveal your real state to you. "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. 

Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life." He knew how prone we are to self-love and self-deception; how sin lies hidden in the folds of the heart's deceit, and therefore he begged the trial and scrutiny of eyes more piercing and less partial than him own. So must you. We are all liable to judge too favorably of our own case. Do, do, consider the fatal, the dreadful, the eternal consequences of a mistake on this subject.

Oh, the idea of imagining we are going on to heaven, when step by step we are advancing to hell! Is this possible? It is! And the very possibility should awaken our alarm. Is it probable? It is! And this should increase our alarm. Is it certain? It is! And this should raise still higher our anxiety. Is it common? It is! And this should carry our solicitude to the highest pitch. What did Christ say on this matter? Read with awe and trembling. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 

Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" Matthew 7:21-23. Read, I say, this passage in which our Lord with his own hand, sounds the alarm through the whole church. Ought you not to examine? Is not there need of it? Is it not all but madness to go on without it? Mistake! What in such a matter as salvation? Mistake! What in a matter in which an error will require, as I have often said, an eternity to understand, and an eternity to deplore it!

Are you quite sure this is not your case? Take up the subject, then, and put the following questions to your soul.

Am tolerably sure that I am truly converted to God? Am tolerably sure that I am a real Christian?

If I am a true Christian, am I really an advancing one—or am I mistaking a declining state for an advancing one?

Am I mistaking a lengthened time of profession—for a genuine growth in grace?
Am I putting an increase of knowledge, and of ability to talk about religion—in place of an increase of holiness?

Does it satisfy me to grow in knowledge and lamentation of my corruptions—without mortifying them?

Am I mistaking sectarianism—for true piety? Am I mistaking attachment to some preacher—with love to the truth? Am I mistaking zeal for some favorite doctrine—with real love for the gospel?

Is my mortification of sin confined to some one corruption, which interest, ease, or reputation may require me to surrender; or is it directed against all sin?
Is my religion a mere excitement of the emotions, and my growth only a greater excitability; or is my will more and more determined for God, my conscience more tender, and my life more holy?

Inquire, I beseech you, into these things. Be determined, by God's grace, to know the real state of your soul, and to be under no mistake. Be this your prayer, "O God of truth, you who search the hearts and examine the thoughts of the children of men, you know I would not for ten thousand worlds be deceived about my spiritual state. 

You know me through and through. Make known to me what I really am in your sight. Painful as it would be to find out that I have been deceiving myself, this would be infinitely better than for me to go on in error until the mistake is past being rectified. I want to know my real state. Even if I am a Christian, and yet mistaking declension for progress, I wish to know this also. Let my spiritual insight be clear, my self-acquaintance be accurate. Do not allow me to deceive myself—as regards my spiritual progress or decline.