tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92156012686682501852024-02-19T20:16:18.985+05:30Set TimeSwarna Jhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01486604478579823826noreply@blogger.comBlogger222125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215601268668250185.post-50950182084695668152022-01-06T12:43:00.001+05:302022-01-06T12:43:25.746+05:30Fire — The Want of The Times (Luke 12:49) — C.H. Spurgeon Sermon<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ny5aaUrOEsc" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Swarna Jhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01486604478579823826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215601268668250185.post-58808154499404607932021-07-08T18:19:00.001+05:302021-07-08T18:19:06.639+05:30 The Point Of Spiritual Honour<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBACNV787emqjFH6JHobqwQpxCh6833vh_9g7qWLlRBkFeRXKb4A91P85F7kc0tWKReUjr_72_SBTViUYicPhTIcZUxzEg-2xVpPqe2nmZet6imc6NEZv2pojiKFRlkXAWP3jsraLRR0w/s271/image.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="271" data-original-width="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBACNV787emqjFH6JHobqwQpxCh6833vh_9g7qWLlRBkFeRXKb4A91P85F7kc0tWKReUjr_72_SBTViUYicPhTIcZUxzEg-2xVpPqe2nmZet6imc6NEZv2pojiKFRlkXAWP3jsraLRR0w/s0/image.png" /></a></div><br /><p></p><span class="arial14" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><b>The Point Of Spiritual Honour</b></span><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12">By <b><a href="http://articles.ochristian.com/preacher484-1.shtml" style="color: blue;">Oswald Chambers</a></b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br clear="all" /> 'I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the barbarians.'<br /> Romans 1:14</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"> Paul was overwhelmed with the sense of his indebtedness to Jesus Christ, and he spent himself to express it. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12">The great inspiration in Paul's life was his view of Jesus Christ as his spiritual creditor. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12">Do I feel that sense of indebtedness to Christ in regard to every unsaved soul? The spiritual honour of my life as a saint is to fulfil my debt to Christ in relation to them. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12">Every bit of my life that is of value I owe to the Redemption of Jesus Christ; am I doing anything to enable Him to bring His Redemption into actual manifestation in other lives? I can only do it as the Spirit of God works in me this sense of indebtedness.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"> I am not to be a superior person amongst men, but a bondslave of the Lord Jesus. "Ye are not your own." Paul sold himself to Jesus Christ. He says - I am a debtor to everyone on the face of the earth because of the Gospel of Jesus; I am free to be an absolute slave only. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12">That is the characteristic of the life when once this point of spiritual honour is realized. Quit praying about yourself and be spent for others as the bondslave of Jesus. That is the meaning of being made broken bread and poured out wine in reality.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br /></span></p><center style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></center>Swarna Jhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01486604478579823826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215601268668250185.post-47942153269742171262021-07-08T18:13:00.002+05:302021-07-08T18:13:51.411+05:30 "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1<p> </p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">J. C. Philpot - Daily Portions</b></p><center style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqofuQt0Z0NW45_e-qm-oD4NPXGzIl6m15Cl2yMupZWoN-pNVS7TyeCXZ_KZmUpltSqOSiPOf9RrYwtob6ZqIIieMqKzjPpdNDm0zF5g39jNiALHcX5Lf5rdKcovgNXauS0Xsb4Fb06ig/s241/images+%252857%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="241" data-original-width="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqofuQt0Z0NW45_e-qm-oD4NPXGzIl6m15Cl2yMupZWoN-pNVS7TyeCXZ_KZmUpltSqOSiPOf9RrYwtob6ZqIIieMqKzjPpdNDm0zF5g39jNiALHcX5Lf5rdKcovgNXauS0Xsb4Fb06ig/s0/images+%252857%2529.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><i style="text-align: left;">"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1</i></p></center><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> <br /> There is not a more blessed declaration than this in the whole word of truth. It is the sweetest note sounded by the gospel trumpet, for it is the very crown of the whole jubilee. Is not condemnation the bitterest drop in the cup of trembling? the most thrilling, piercing note of that terrible trumpet which sounded so long and so loud from Sinai's blazing top that all the people that were in the camp trembled? (Exod. 19:13, 16.) </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Condemnation is the final execution of God's righteous law, and therefore carries with it all that arms death with its sting and the grave with its terror. </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">The apprehension of this; the dread and fear of being banished for ever from the presence of God; of being lost, and that without remedy; of sinking under the blazing indignation of him who is a consuming fire, has filled thousands of hearts with horror. And it must be so as long as the law speaks in its thunders, as long as conscience re-echoes its verdict, and as long as the wrath of God burns to the lowest hell. </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">O the blessedness, then, of that word of grace and truth, worthy to be sounded through heaven and earth by the voice of cherubim and seraphim, "There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus!"</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></p>Swarna Jhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01486604478579823826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215601268668250185.post-17274506065091188112021-07-08T18:08:00.003+05:302021-07-08T18:08:56.769+05:30 Behold, there stood a Man. Jos 5:13<p> <b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="devotionals.ochristian.com ">Our Daily Homily</a></b></p><p><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></b></div><p></p><center style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><p><span class="arial14" style="font-size: 14px;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="arial14" style="font-size: 14px;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rStRxHh41zQP5AKQQcIEYSkcBmfCMRiNOSlx0LLJ8MX36Chkb2fbJMjtqG1_46GzD2-4c51lzaoPbGJj5hlkf9553iIlooScCqdoJK8ZbqzZk2Gz4nS_RYfXJ84TC0_yEg1hHwdSVEA/s165/image.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="165" data-original-width="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rStRxHh41zQP5AKQQcIEYSkcBmfCMRiNOSlx0LLJ8MX36Chkb2fbJMjtqG1_46GzD2-4c51lzaoPbGJj5hlkf9553iIlooScCqdoJK8ZbqzZk2Gz4nS_RYfXJ84TC0_yEg1hHwdSVEA/s0/image.png" /></a></b></span></div><span class="arial14" style="font-size: 14px;"><b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">Behold, there stood a Man. Jos 5:13</i></div></b></span><p></p></center><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> <br /> When Jericho, its fortifications looming dark through the night, must be assailed, then the Divine Man may be looked for. Only let circumcision do its keen work of separation, so that there be nothing of the flesh with its energy and pride to vaunt itself before God; then, as we stand face to face with some imminent peril, God will be revealed as our very present help. </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Not weeks before our need, not before the Jordan has been crossed in faith, not before circumcision has been performed; but when all God's demands have been met, and to-morrow calls for action, then behold there will stand the Man Christ Jesus, not by Himself, but as Captain of the Lord's host, awaiting with mighty legions on the wing for His least word.<br /> <br /> It is sometimes thought that the Divine Warrior had come to supersede Joshua; this is not so. He was Prince of another host than Israel. His host was the celestial armies, which were going forth to war against Canaan. As long as Israel was true to God, these were its allies. </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Look up, Christian soul! Thou thinkest thyself alone; or countest sorrowfully thy poor array; but in very deed the Man of Calvary and of the throne is beside thee. All heaven owns His authority, and will supplement thine efforts. Be reverent, obedient, full of faith and prayer. Keep step with the goings forth of God. Thou shalt have light work to do. Before the impact of His might, thy Jericho shall fall. </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">The battle is not to the strong, nor the race to the swift; but each to those who are living lives separate from the world, and dedicated to God. The vessels which are meet for the Master's use are pure ones. Cleanness, rather than cleverness, is the prime condition of successful service.</p><div><br /></div><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><b></b></p>Swarna Jhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01486604478579823826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215601268668250185.post-58662599892954667642021-07-08T17:56:00.003+05:302021-07-08T17:56:51.697+05:30Rest on a Promise - Charles Spurgeon Devotional: Faith's Checkbook<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KHlbpiqBxAQ" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Swarna Jhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01486604478579823826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215601268668250185.post-64190924436005166222021-07-08T17:52:00.001+05:302021-07-08T17:52:15.138+05:30 Soul Depths: Mental Darkness - Octavius Winslow<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lQI6jq6nX6Y" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Swarna Jhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01486604478579823826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215601268668250185.post-26132347154200654902021-07-08T17:48:00.001+05:302021-07-08T17:48:28.506+05:30 Be filled with the Spirit<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtO0j4rmc06iDj3qWC936YxrAQ7W5fa-6xWYknyT9rKiw-DncEGqViM7DqTaLPkdv2VFBN_yk6-bma5h0Fn3DTPIkGClY9jta2Ad0Um0ttCLjHsxLyTjkyzHAYzhX05XFZAQ3brTV3Pw/s165/image.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="165" data-original-width="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtO0j4rmc06iDj3qWC936YxrAQ7W5fa-6xWYknyT9rKiw-DncEGqViM7DqTaLPkdv2VFBN_yk6-bma5h0Fn3DTPIkGClY9jta2Ad0Um0ttCLjHsxLyTjkyzHAYzhX05XFZAQ3brTV3Pw/s0/image.png" /></a></div><p></p><span class="arial14" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><b>Be filled with the Spirit</b></span><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12">By <b><a href="http://articles.ochristian.com/preacher126-1.shtml" style="color: blue;">A.B. Simpson</a></b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br clear="all" /> Some of the effects of being filled with the Spirit are:</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"> 1. Holiness of heart and life. This is not the perfection of the human nature, but the holiness of the divine nature dwelling within. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12">2. Fullness of joy so that the heart is constantly radiant. This does not depend on circumstances, but fills the spirit with holy laughter in the midst of the most trying surroundings. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12">3. Fullness of wisdom, light and knowledge, causing us to see things as He sees them.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"> 4. An elevation, improvement and quickening of the mind by an ability to receive the fulfillment of the promise, We have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12">5. An equal quickening of the physical life. The body as well as the mind and soul was made for the Holy Spirit. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12">6. An ability to pray the prayer of the Holy Spirit. If He is in us there will be a strange accordance with God's working in the world around us.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br /></span></p>Swarna Jhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01486604478579823826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215601268668250185.post-484582401073653382021-07-07T20:47:00.003+05:302021-07-07T20:47:45.126+05:30 "And the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle" (Ex. xl. 35).<p><a href="devotionals.ochristian.com "><span style="font-family: times;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: times;">A.B. Simpson Devotional - Days of Heaven Upon Earth</span></a></p><div id="content" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #202124; margin: 24px 16px;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxayxlnx9Jw5eOh3nW5pW4iz0sk9D2vNS6jmCJgLgKXjMdGK1gTIcj1tcYd5hChsBfK42WsFK-Z0ADeVz1aLqRKnLmSvshZs-sauUDvz4WL02IiTtNowVlJWIn53tYDNLmcYH7c9vD2MM/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="165" data-original-width="150" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxayxlnx9Jw5eOh3nW5pW4iz0sk9D2vNS6jmCJgLgKXjMdGK1gTIcj1tcYd5hChsBfK42WsFK-Z0ADeVz1aLqRKnLmSvshZs-sauUDvz4WL02IiTtNowVlJWIn53tYDNLmcYH7c9vD2MM/" width="218" /></a></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1.143rem; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box;" /> <i dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box;">"And the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle" (Ex. xl. 35).</i><br dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box;" /> <br dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box;" /> In the last chapter of Exodus we read all the Lord commanded Moses to do, and that as he fulfilled these commands the glory of the Lord descended and filled the tabernacle till there was no room for Moses, and from that time the pillar of cloud overshadowed them, their guide, their protection.<br dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box;" /> <br dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box;" /> And so we have been building as the Lord Himself commanded, and now the temple is to be handed over to Him to be possessed and filled. He will so fill you, if you will let Him that yourself and everything else will be taken out of the way, the glory of the Lord will fill the temple, encompassing, lifting up, guiding, keeping; and from this time your moon shall not withdraw its light, nor your sun go down.<br dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box;" /> <br dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box;" /> Do you want power? You have God for it. Do you want holiness? You have God for it; and so of everything. And God is bending down from His throne to-day to lift you up to your true place in Him. From this time may the cloud of His glory so surround and fill us that we shall be lost sight of forever.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1.143rem; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1.143rem; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"><br /></p></div></div>Swarna Jhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01486604478579823826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215601268668250185.post-87001031886300876942021-07-03T22:15:00.001+05:302021-07-03T22:15:21.080+05:30 The Worker's Ruling Passion<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6CCsNypB27GWsBg2eenjnz8anJI4c_1i4oVVHCsVbbFYcImPyPtr58Vb8mLBPN7I-jK5n2WZUDPrGrmd_WjTbjDa9-ptiN0p4rvjSdU3aeHlvWWggmU-dMlsFrNLXPVQmBgYLLiMKHUw/s78/image.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="78" data-original-width="60" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6CCsNypB27GWsBg2eenjnz8anJI4c_1i4oVVHCsVbbFYcImPyPtr58Vb8mLBPN7I-jK5n2WZUDPrGrmd_WjTbjDa9-ptiN0p4rvjSdU3aeHlvWWggmU-dMlsFrNLXPVQmBgYLLiMKHUw/s0/image.png" /></a></div><p></p><span class="arial14" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><b>The Worker's Ruling Passion</b></span><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12">By <b><a href="http://articles.ochristian.com/preacher484-1.shtml" style="color: blue;">Oswald Chambers</a></b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br clear="all" /> 'Wherefore we labour that . . we may be accepted of Him.'<br /> 2 Corinthians 5:9</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"> "Wherefore we labour...." It is arduous work to keep the master amibition in front. It means holding one's self to the high ideal year in and year out, not being ambitious to win souls or to establish churches or to have revivals, but being ambitious only to be "accepted of Him." It is not lack of spiritual experience that leads to failure, but lack of labouring to keep the ideal right. Once a week at least take stock before God and see whether you are keeping your life up to the standard He wishes. Paul is like a musician who does not heed the approval of the audience if he can catch the look of approval from his Master.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"> Any ambition which is in the tiniest degree away from this central one of being "approved unto God" may end in our being castaways. Learn to discern where the ambition leads, and you will see why it is so necessary to live facing the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul says - "Lest my body should make me take another line, I am constantly watching so that I may bring it into subjection and keep it under." (1 Cor. 9:27.)</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"> I have to learn to relate everything to the master ambition, and to maintain it without any cessation. My worth to God in public is what I am in private. Is my master ambition to please Him and be acceptable to Him, or is it something less, no matter how noble?</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br /></span></p>Swarna Jhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01486604478579823826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215601268668250185.post-32222401630379682552021-07-03T21:27:00.005+05:302021-07-03T21:28:30.975+05:30 Amazing love!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFryyMY-VJ_TONeTUC8sFb7Jn_04dfS4hWq5fqEPR9daxShNT1RNYVeAJxKP3dESdKs56wmuqKCIAJabyKQ2OII21iU6Ihgwhk1lf1ozT_OkXPejf4T1DIVNnUe7thY2T3ThlHSs1ppfw/s640/images+%252860%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFryyMY-VJ_TONeTUC8sFb7Jn_04dfS4hWq5fqEPR9daxShNT1RNYVeAJxKP3dESdKs56wmuqKCIAJabyKQ2OII21iU6Ihgwhk1lf1ozT_OkXPejf4T1DIVNnUe7thY2T3ThlHSs1ppfw/s320/images+%252860%2529.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b style="color: red; font-family: Verdana; text-align: justify;">Amazing love!</b></p><span style="font-family: Verdana; text-align: justify;"><br />(<a href="https://www.gracegems.org/2012/03/quotes.html">Robert Murray McCheyne</a>, 1813-1843)<br /><br />The seed of every sin known to man is in <i>your </i>heart!<br /><br /><span style="color: red;"><b>Amazing love</b></span>, that calls you to the Lamb's wedding feast—and not to Hell!<br /><br />"Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb!" Revelation 19:9<br /><br />Soon we shall see Him as He is!<br /><br />We shall be married to Him, reign with Him, and be entirely like Him!<br /><br />"May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully!" </span><span class="ind" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Ephesians 3:19</span></span><div><span class="ind" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></span></div>Swarna Jhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01486604478579823826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215601268668250185.post-42148446438119942212021-07-03T20:56:00.000+05:302021-07-03T20:56:03.675+05:30What the Human Heart Craves - Bishop J. C. Ryle (Christian devotional)<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/403hJT2ojHY" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Swarna Jhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01486604478579823826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215601268668250185.post-69360544739553009152021-06-19T01:11:00.003+05:302021-06-19T01:11:45.071+05:30The Service of the Lord (1930) by T. Austin-Sparks<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExNJQzk4E2sQAZdDZ3j3yg_qOIV2jevtwAvDFPf-f1sGxU2u_hm3sPIJLQmTWBh8ZA_wWKwtoF9SZ8WOINCDJEtg_TOrZY4iodh4HfYks_z27H6v3aAAmD3CApS1t8lOoftBtvoFFFlM/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="109" data-original-width="138" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExNJQzk4E2sQAZdDZ3j3yg_qOIV2jevtwAvDFPf-f1sGxU2u_hm3sPIJLQmTWBh8ZA_wWKwtoF9SZ8WOINCDJEtg_TOrZY4iodh4HfYks_z27H6v3aAAmD3CApS1t8lOoftBtvoFFFlM/" width="304" /></a></div><br /><p></p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; width: 80%px;"><tbody><tr><td width="100%"><p align="center"><a href="https://www.austin-sparks.net/english/006406.html" style="color: #333333; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><b>The Service of the Lord (1930)</b></span></a><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><em>by T. Austin-Sparks</em></span></p><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><p align="center"><em>First published in January 1930, in AWAT magazine Vol. 8-1. Not marked by TAS.</em></p><p align="center"><strong>Hindrances in Service</strong></p><p>The Lord's work makes progress not only in spite of difficulties but frequently by means of them. Service to God is rendered in a world where the Enemy has power and uses it in untiring and varied aggression against all that is done for God. This ceaseless opposition, directed against the glory of Christ, has beneficial effects. It reminds His servants of their inability to do anything in their own strength and of their dependence on the Lord, and casts them upon Him for His ever-ready help. It thereby proves the means of strengthening them to continue their arduous labour with joy of heart, and to face and go through every difficulty, strong in the Lord and the power of His might, and undeterred by any obstacle however formidable.</p><p align="center"><strong>"But Satan Hindered" (?)</strong></p><p>The way in which God turns to good account the Adversary's opposition to His servants is frequently illustrated in the Scriptures. One of the most striking cases is the result of the hindrance placed by Satan against the return of the Apostle Paul to the church at Thessalonica. He would fain have come to them, he says, once and again, but Satan hindered (1 Thess. 2:18). Whatever the actual hindrance was - not improbably it lay in the fact that pledges against the renewal of trouble had been extracted by the city authorities from Jason and the other converts (Acts 17: 9) - it nevertheless resulted in the Apostle's writing to them instead. Accordingly the effect of the Devil's opposition is that we are in possession of the priceless treasures of the two Epistles to the Thessalonians.</p><p>In a similar manner we might trace the circumstances which produced the later Epistles written during Paul's confinement in Rome. Again, in recording the events connected with the penning of one of these very Epistles, he says that the things which had happened to him there had proved to be for the progress of the gospel; for his bonds had become manifest in Christ "throughout the whole Praetorian Guard, and to all the rest." This suggests that the soldiers of this famous regiment, as well as others, had heard the gospel from his lips. A further result of his difficulties he speaks of as follows: "Most of the brethren in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the Word of God without fear" (Phil. 1:12-14, R.V.).</p><p>Here, then, was a missionary, hampered in his work, restricted in his activity, and circumscribed in the sphere of his service, the object of Satan's ceaseless and varied hostility. To all appearances the efforts of the enemy had resulted in a serious set-back to the spread of the gospel. One is inclined perhaps to conceive that greater advances might have been made, had this servant of God been at liberty to continue his journeys, founding new churches, visiting those already established, and otherwise furthering the cause of Christ. Not so in the thoughts and purposes of the Lord. God is not thwarted by the work of His foes. "None can stay His hand."</p><p>How little we are able to calculate the far-reaching effects of the Apostle's testimony in Rome, or the full extent of the meaning of his inspired statement, "The things which have happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the progress of the gospel"! And after all, was he not following in the steps of His Master whose faithful and devoted servant he was, and whose own claims and authority had seemed to the world absolutely invalidated by the overwhelming degradation and shameful humiliation of the Cross? The Death of Christ was but a seeming defeat. The Enemy who sought to accomplish it met his doom in his apparent success. The secret of the glorious victory over that effort of the Evil One was made known in Eden, at his first attempt to thwart, the Divine will. The bruising of the heel of the Seed of the woman, would mean the bruising of the head of the foe himself. The death of the Son of God was the destruction of His adversary.</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><br /></p><p align="center"><strong>Satan Buffeted</strong></p><p>We similarly see God's wonder-working way in the matter of physical weakness. How many a worker who is tried in health feels that much more effective service could be rendered if only he were free from the malady! Here again the lesson of Paul's life had been recorded for our comfort. Doubtless he felt that his loved ministry was much impeded by his "thorn in the flesh.'' He besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from him. Though his request was not granted, the Lord saw to it, not only that he should be comforted, but that all that was needed by way of explanation should be made known to him. There was both the preventive side of the trouble and the empowering side. Not only did he learn that it was inflicted lest he should be exalted overmuch through the greatness of the revelations he had received, but he also learned gladly to glory in his weaknesses, that the power of Christ might rest upon him.</p><p>Let us note, too, the abiding effort which the gracious word of the Lord had upon him. He records it not as a mere historical incident, but as something the comfort of which he had felt ever since, and was still enjoying. "He <em>hath said </em>(not 'He said') unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for My strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor. 12:9). The consequence was that he could say, "When I am weak, then am I strong." That was the outcome of Satan's buffeting. The hindrance became a help. Satan's messenger became the Lord's minister. Many and many a servant of God has been similarly tried. How blessed the comfort of this record of Paul's experience! And how wonderful will be the revelation, in the coming Day, of God's dealings with us in our service here below!</p><p align="center"><strong>Satan Traduced</strong></p><p>We learn from the Apostle of other ways in which his service was hampered. His heart must have been sorely tried by the constant activity of those who traduced him, imputing things to him of which he was not guilty, and seeking to undo his work by misrepresentation and insinuation. This he particularly mentions in the second Epistle to the Corinthians. The gospel had proved fruitful in Corinth, both among Jew and Gentile. During the initial difficulties the Lord had revealed to him that He had "much people in that city." We are therefore not surprised to find that the opposition of the Adversary was vigorous and varied. The character of his ministry was disparaged by influential opponents. He was accused of changing his opinion and of fickleness (2 Cor. 1:17,18); of walking according to the flesh (10:2); of inferior capacities in his ministry (10:10); of acting toward the saints by guile and taking advantage of them for his own ends (12:16,17). Unfavourable comparisons were made between him and other apostles (11:5,6<em>), </em>and the service he had rendered in such disinterestedness and genuine love was in other ways defamed. All this must have been exceedingly burdensome. Moreover these matters required firm handling, not in the spirit of mere self-defence, but for sake of the Lord's work and the profit of the church. We can understand something of the stress under which this Epistle was written.</p><p>There can be scarcely anything more trying for the servant of the Lord than misrepresentation of his motives and methods, and especially when he might have expected that those who act thus would seek an opportunity of an interview with him, and of becoming acquainted with facts. Sometimes it pleases God thus to test faith. Yet even these obstacles are under His control and become His instruments for the carrying out of His purposes. Difficulties are intended to draw us nearer to the Lord. Thus, learning that all our resources lie in Him, we derive from Him the power to enable us, if our private interests are at stake, to manifest the spirit of Christ towards our detractors. If, on the other hand, the honour of His Name and the blessing of His people require that the matter be taken up in any way, the Lord is ready to impart the wisdom and strength to do so, and from Him alone can we derive it. In each respect the Apostle, who so closely followed the Lord, has set us an example.</p><p align="center"><strong>"God is His Own Interpreter"</strong></p><p>Hindrances in service come from within as well as from without. Against these we ever need to be on the watch. There is always a tendency for our service to become merely mechanical, in other words, void of that spiritual power which must ever be present if we are to be used of God. Only the help of the Holy Spirit is sufficient for the maintenance of that power. It is His gracious ministry to lead us constantly into communion with God, that is to say, into the realisation of fellowship with the Father and with the Son, and this He does through the Word of God. Times of communion, alone with the Lord, undistracted by earthly circumstances, are essential for spiritual vitality in service. We must be first occupied with Christ if we are to be occupied for Him. Indeed, the presentation of our bodies "a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto Him" is described as our reasonable (or intelligent) service (Rom. 12:1). The word in this passage denotes that form of service which is itself an act of worship.</p><p>Then, again, the influence of the world without is apt to find a ready entrance into our inner life. Contact with the world, inevitable in our work for the Lord, tends to deaden our sensitiveness to sin. For the isolated missionary, surrounded continually by the grossness of heathenism, the conditions are acknowledged to be unspeakably testing in this respect; but nowhere can we afford to be negligent in watching against the gradual encroachment of the power of the world upon our spiritual life, and the consequent diminution of spiritual vigour.</p><p>How perfect is the provision made for us, by which the hindrances arising from the flesh within may be counteracted and removed! The unremitting ministry of our Great High Priest, the efficacy of His precious blood, the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, and the rectifying and guiding power of the Word of God, these are our unfailing resources.</p><p align="center"><strong>Rewards of Service</strong></p><p>To the devoted servant of Christ the service He appoints carries its own reward. The love that has liberated him from the bondage of sin has captivated his soul. For one who appreciates, even in a small measure, what his Redeemer has done for him, it suffices that he should be the bondservant of Jesus Christ. Grace it is that provides us with service to render. "I was made a minister (or servant)," the Apostle says, "according to the grace of God which was given me" (Eph. 3:7). The unutterable love of Christ is enough to preclude our looking upon any reward of our service as the motive of that service. Still less as the outcome of merit on the servant's part. He Himself taught His disciples to say, after they had fulfilled their service, "We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which was our duty to do."</p><p>There is, however, another side to this, and the Lord constantly directed the hearts of His followers for their encouragement to the reward which would eventually be theirs. Thus, concerning deeds of kindness He said, "He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward, and whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only, in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you he shall in no wise lose his reward" (Matt. 10:41,42, R.V.).</p><p>Concerning rejection and reproach for His sake, He said, "Blessed are ye when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day and leap for joy: for behold your reward is great in heaven" (Luke 6:22,23).</p><p>Again, concerning self-sacrifice for His sake, "There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting" (Luke 18:29,30).</p><p>Faithful stewardship would result in the reward of authority hereafter (Luke 12:44), and similarly the Lord's explanation of the parable of the nobleman and his servants who were left to trade with his money, was "Unto every one that hath, to him shall be given; but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away from him" (Luke 19:20).</p><p>So elsewhere in the Word of God, the Holy Spirit constantly directs us to have regard to the reward, and warns us of the possibility of losing it. Moses is brought before us as a pattern for our faith in this respect. The reason assigned to his decision to be "evil entreated with the people of God," instead of enjoying pleasures of sin for a season, was that, "accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, he had respect unto the recompense of the reward."</p><p align="center"><strong>Reproach for Christ Was His Present Riches</strong></p><p>The reward would come after. That is ever to be the order. Christ Himself, first; the reward He gives, second. Loyalty to Christ will never fail of present blessing and future recompense. Never did a saint suffer spiritually by accumulated wealth accruing from endurance of reproaches for Christ.</p><p>The manner in which the Apostle Paul had respect unto the recompense of reward is strikingly brought out in his first Epistle to the Corinthians. Speaking of his service in the gospel, he tells of his efforts to gain both Jew and Gentile; he says, "I am become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some. And I do all things for the gospel's sake, that I may be a joint partaker thereof" (1 Cor. 9:22,23, R.V.). How thoroughly the messenger was identified with his message! The blessing wrought by the gospel was his own blessing. There could be no half-heartedness about work carried on like that. He then applies to his service the metaphors of the race-course and the boxing-match, "I therefore so run," he says, "as not uncertainly; so fight I (the Greek word means 'box'; see R.V., margin) as not beating the air: but I buffet mv body and bring it into bondage: lest by any means after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected." There was no false step in the running, no random blow in the buffeting.</p><p>We miss his meaning if we take him to indicate the actual beating of the body in outwardly imposed, ascetic discipline. On the contrary, he kept his natural inclinations and propensities in severe check, in order that his members might be in entire subjection to the will of God for His service. He mortified the deeds of the body. But while he does this for the Lord's sake, as His servant, his eye is on the Judgment Seat. It is possible to be eternally saved by grace as a believer and yet to be disapproved at the time of reward-giving there. In the Olympian games in Greece, a Competitor who had infringed the regulations was pronounced <em>adokimos </em>at the <em>bema. </em>But the matter did not end there. He was required to place at his own expense a bronze image of Jupiter at the entrance of the arena, as the lasting memorial of his disqualification. The intense solemnity of the possibility of disqualification at the Judgment Seat of Christ, led the Apostle to undergo the rigid discipline mentioned above. Stretching forward to the things that are before, he pressed on "toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."</p><p align="center"><strong>The Vital "How" and "What"</strong></p><p>There is a solemn passage in the same Epistle regarding reward, and loss of reward, in connection with gospel work and subsequent service in building up assemblies. First, there is the metaphor drawn from agriculture. One labourer plants and another waters. Both are one, as God's fellow-workers. Their rewards are to differ according to the labour of each. Then there is the metaphor of the builder. "If any man buildeth on the foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble, each man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself shall prove each man's work of what sort it is" (1 Cor. 3:8-13).</p><p>It is possible to engage in service in connection with the gospel according to methods which may appear attractive and successful, but which are not in conformity to the will of God. The Lord gauges our service, not by its success, but by our faithfulness to Him. Apparent success may after all be the outcome of building wood, hay, and stubble on the foundation. "If any man's work shall abide which he hath built thereon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved, but so as by fire." The fire will consume, not purify. Not the man himself is to be burned but his work, work which, figuratively, consists of wood, hay, or stubble, work that has been done in the energy of the natural will, rather than by faithful adherence to the instruction of God's Word under the guidance of the Spirit.</p><p>How important it is to do all things "according to the pattern that has been shown us"! The theme is continued in the next chapter, where Paul speaks of himself and his fellow-workers as "servants of Christ." In this respect we are not to judge one another before the time. When the Lord comes He "will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall each man have his praise from God" (4:1-5). We must not act toward our fellow-servants as if we were on the judgment seat. The Judge Himself, by whom actions are weighed, will in that day bestow upon each one the praise that is due.</p><p>How faithfully the Apostle wrought in building up the saints! How true to the pattern was his work! Consequently he is able to say with confidence to the Thessalonian saints, "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glorying? Are not even ye before our Lord Jesus at His coming?" - lit., "in His Parousia" (1 Thess. 2:19). Similarly the saints at Philippi are his "joy and crown" (Phil. 4:1). Here are rewards open to all, rewards for winning and caring for souls. Then, a special reward is to be given for faithfulness in pastoral work. The under shepherds who have themselves been examples to the flock the while they have shepherded them, will receive from the Chief Shepherd a crown of glory at His appearing (1 Pet. 5:3,4).</p><p>Let all our service be characterised by two things especially. Firstly, let it be rendered "heartily as to the Lord." For "of the Lord we are to receive the reward of the inheritance." Secondly, let our heart's affections be set upon His return. The crown of righteousness is to be given to all them that have loved His appearing. Loving His appearing is something very practical. With the Apostle it meant fighting the good fight, finishing the course, and keeping the faith (2 Tim. 4:7,8). To the day of reward the Lord Himself looks forward, and almost His last word to His servants is, "Behold I come quickly; and My reward is with Me (suggesting His pleasure in bestowing it), to give every man according as his work shall be."</p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><p></p><p></p></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Swarna Jhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01486604478579823826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215601268668250185.post-60523622552630273872021-06-17T01:38:00.001+05:302021-06-17T01:38:22.921+05:30Ministry to the Lord- Watchman Nee <img align="left" border="1" height="78" hspace="6" src="http://articles.ochristian.com/preachers/44.jpg" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" vspace="6" width="60" /><span class="arial14" face="Arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><br /><b>Ministry to the Lord</b></span><br />
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<span class="arial12">By <b><a href="http://articles.ochristian.com/preacher44-1.shtml" style="color: blue;">Watchman Nee</a></b></span></div>
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<span class="arial12"><br clear="all" /> Let us note at the outset that there is little apparent difference between ministry to the House of the Lord and ministry to the Lord Himself. Many of you are doing your utmost to help your brethren, and you are labouring to save sinners and administer the affairs of the church. But let me ask you: Have you been seeking to meet the need around you, or have you been seeking to serve the Lord? Is it your fellow men you have in view, or is it Him?</span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12">Let us be quite frank. Work for the Lord undoubtedly has its attractions for the flesh. You may be thrilled when crowds gather to hear you preach, and when numbers of souls are saved. If you have to stay at home, occupied from morning to night with mundane matters, then you think: How meaningless life as! How grand at would be if I could go out and serve the Lord! If only I were free to go around ministering! But that is not spirituality. That is merely a matter of natural preference. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12">Oh, if only we could see that much of the work done for God is not really ministry at all! He, Himself, has told us chat there was a class of Levites who busily served in the Temple, and yet they were not serving Him; they were merely serving the House. However, service to the Lord and service to the House appear so much alike that it is often difficult to differentiate between the two.</span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12">If an Israelite came along to the Temple and wanted to worship God, those Levites would come to his aid and help him offer his peace offering and his burnt offering. They would help him drag the sacrifice to the altar, and they would slay it. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12">Surely that was a grand work to be engaged in, reclaiming sinners and leading believers closer to the Lord! And God took account of the service of those Levites who helped men bring their peace offerings and their burnt offerings to the altar. Yet He said it was not ministry to Himself.</span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12">Brothers and sisters, there is a heavy burden on my heart that you might realise what God is after. He wants ministers who will minister to Him. "They shall come near to me to minister unto me; and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood. They shall minister unto me" (Ezekiel 44:15).</span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12">The thing I fear most is that many of you will go out and win sinners to the Lord and build up believers, without ministering to the Lord Himself. Much so-called service for Him is simply following our natural inclinations. We have such active dispositions that we cannot bear to stay at home, so we run around for our own relief. We may appear to be serving sinners, or serving believers, but all the while we are serving our own flesh.</span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12">I have a dear friend who is now with the Lord. One day, after we had a time of prayer together, we read this passage in Ezekiel (44:9-26, 28, 31 ). She was very much older than I, and she addressed me like this: "My young brother, it was twenty years ago that I first studied this passage of Scripture."</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> "How did you react to it?" I asked.</span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> She replied: "As soon as I had finished reading it, I closed my Bible, and kneeling down before the Lord, I prayed: 'Lord, make me to be one who shall minister to You, not to the Temple."' Can we also pray that prayer?</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> But what do we really mean when we talk of serving God or serving the Temple? Here is what the Word says:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> But the priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me; and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the LORD God (Ezekiel 44:15).</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> The conditions basic to all ministry that can truly be called ministry to the Lord are drawing near to Him and standing before Him. But how hard we often find it to drag ourselves into His presence! We shrink from the solitude, and even when we do detach ourselves physically, our thoughts still keep wandering outside. Many of us can enjoy working among people, but how many of us can draw near to (God in the Holy of Holies? Yet it is only as we draw near to Him that we can minister to Him.</span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> To come into the presence of God and kneel before Him for an hour demands all the strength we possess. We have to be violent to hold that ground. But everyone who serves the Lord knows the preciousness of such times, the sweetness of waking at midnight and spending an hour in prayer, or waking very early in the morning and getting up for an hour of prayer before the final sleep of the night.</span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12">Unless we really know what it is to draw near to God, we cannot know what it is to serve Him. It is impossible to stand afar off and still minister to Him. We cannot serve Him from a distance. There is only one place where ministry to Him is possible and that is in the Holy Place. In the outer court you approach the people; in the Holy Place you approach the Lord.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> The passage we ' have quoted emphasises not only our need to draw near to God; it also speaks of standing before Him to minister. Today we always want to be moving on; we cannot stand still. There are, so many things claiming our attention that we are perpetually on the go. We cannot stop for a moment.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> But a spiritual person knows how to stand still. He can stand before God till God makes His will known. He can stand and await orders. You who are leaders need to particularly consider this. Can you be persuaded to call a halt and not move for a little while? That is what is referred to here: "stand and minister unto me." Don't you think that a servant should await his master's orders before seeking to serve him? </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12">The Sin of presumption</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> There are only two types of sin before God. One is the sin of refusing to obey when He issues orders. The other is the sin of going ahead when the Lord has not issued orders. The one is rebellion; the other is presumption. The one is not doing what the Lord has required; the other is doing what the Lord has not required. Learning to stand before the Lord deals with the sin of doing what the Lord has not commanded. Brothers and sisters, how much of the work you have done has been based on the clear command of the Lord? How much have you done because of His direct instructions? And how much have you done simply on the ground that the thing you did was a good thing to do? Let me tell you that nothing so damages the Lord's interests as a "good thing." "Good things" are the greatest hindrance to the accomplishment of His will. The moment we are faced with anything wicked or unclean, we immediately recognise it as something a Christian ought to avoid, and for that reason, things which are positively evil are nearly not such a menace to the Lord's purpose as good things.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> You think: This thing would not be wrong, or That thing is the very best that could be done so you go ahead and take action without stopping to inquire if it is the will of God. We who are His children all know that we ought not to do anything evil, but we think that if only our conscience does not forbid a thing, or if a thing commends itself to us as positively good, that is reason enough to go ahead and do it.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> 'That thing you contemplate doing may be very good, but are you standing before the Lord awaiting His command regarding it? "They shall stand before me" involves halting in His presence and refusing to move till He issues His orders. That is what ministry to the Lord means.</span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"> In the outer court it is human need that governs. Just let someone come along to sacrifice an ox or a sheep, and there is work for you to do. But in the Holiest Place </span>there is utter solitude. Not a soul comes in. No brother or sister governs us here, nor does any committee determine our affairs. In the Holiest Place there is one authority only - the authority of the Lord. If He appoints me a task I, do it; if He appoints me no task, I do none.</div>
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<span class="arial12"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12">But something is required of us as we stand before the Lord and minister to Him. We are required to offer Him "the fat and the blood." The blood answers the demands of His holiness and righteousness; the fat meets the requirements of His glory. The blood deals with the question of our sin; the fat deals with the question of His satisfaction. The blood removes all that belongs to the old creation; the fat brings in the new.</span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12">But such ministry is confined to a certain place: "They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table to minister unto me, and they shall keep my charge" (Ezekiel 44:16). Ministry that is "unto me" is in the inner sanctuary, in the hidden place, not in the outer court, exposed to public view. People may think we are doing nothing, but service to God in the Holy Place far transcends service to the people in the outer court. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12">Ministry Without Sweat</span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"> The same passage tells us how they must be clothed who would minister to the Lord:</span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"> They shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, while they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within. They shall have linen bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon their loins (Ezekiel 44:18).</span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"> Those who minister to the Lord may not wear wool. Why not? The reason is given:</span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> "They shall not clothe themselves with anything that causes sweat" (verse 18 NKJV). No work chat produces sweat is acceptable to the Lord. But what does "sweat" signify?</span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12">We all know that the first occasion when sweat is mentioned was when Adam was driven from the Garden of Eden. After Adam sinned, God pronounced this sentence upon him: "Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in toil shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life...in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread" (Genesis 3:19-19). It is clear that sweat is a condition of the curse. Because the curse rested on the ground, it ceased to yield its fruit without man's effort, and such effort produced sweat.</span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12">When the blessing of God is withheld, fleshly effort becomes necessary, and that causes sweat. All work that produces sweat is positively prohibited to those who minister to the Lord. Yet today what an expenditure of energy there is in work for Him! Few Christians can do any work today without sweating over it. Their work involves planning and scheming, exhorting and urging, and very much running around. It cannot be done without a great deal of fleshly zeal.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> Nowadays, if there is no sweat there is no work. Before work for God can be undertaken, there is a great deal of rushing to and fro, making numerous contacts, having consultations and discussions, and finally getting the approval of various people before going ahead. As for waiting quietly in the presence of God and seeking His instructions, that is out of the question.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> Yet in spiritual work, the one factor to be taken into account is God. He is the one</span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> Person to make contact with. That is the preciousness of spiritual work that is truly spiritual-it is related to the Lord Himself In relation to Him there is work to do, but it is work that produces no sweat.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> If we have to advertise our ministry and use great effort to promote it, then it is obvious that it does not spring from prayer in the presence of God. If you really work in God's presence, men will respond when you come into their presence. You will not have to use endless means in order to help them. Spiritual work is God's work, and when God works, man does not need to expend so much effort that he sweats over it.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> Let us in utter honesty examine ourselves before God today. Let us ask Him: "Am I serving You, or am I merely serving the work? Is my ministry truly unto you Lord, or is it only ministry to your House?" If you are pouring with sweat all the time, it is safe to conclude that it is the House you are serving, not the Lord. If all your busyness is related to human need, you may know that you are serving men, not God. I am not despising the work of slaying sacrifices at the altar. It is work for God and someone has to do it-but God wants something beyond that.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"> The Sons of Zadok</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> God cannot secure everyone for service to Himself, for many of His own are reluctant to leave the thrill and excitement of the outer court. They are bent on serving the people. But what about us? Oh that today we might say to the Lord: "I am willing to forsake things, I am willing to forsake the work, I am willing to forsake the outer court and serve You in the inner sanctuary."</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> When God could find no way to bring all the Levites to the place of ministry to Himself, He chose the sons of Zadok from among them for this special service. Why did He select the sons of Zadok? Because when the children of Israel went astray, they recognised that the outer court had been irreparably corrupted, so they did not seek to preserve it. Instead, they made it their business to preserve the sanctity of the Holy Place.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> Brothers and sisters, can you bear to let the external structure go, or must you persist in putting up a scaffolding to preserve it? It is the Holy Place that God is out to preserve-a place utterly set apart for Him. I beseech you before God to hear His call to for sake the outer court and devote yourself to His service in the Holy Place.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> I love to read about the prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch: "As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Ghost said: Separate me Barnabas and Sau1 for the work whereunto I have called them" (Acts 13:2). We see there that the Holy Spirit commissions men to the work as they are ministering to the Lord. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12">Unless ministry to the Lord is the thing that governs us, the work will be in confusion.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> God does not want volunteers for His work; He wants conscripts. He will not have you preaching the gospel just because you want to. The work of the Lord is suffering serious damage today at the hand of volunteers; it lacks those who can say as He did: "He that sent me..."</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> Brothers and sisters, the work of God is God's own work, and not work that you can take up ac your pleasure. Neither churches, nor missionary societies, nor evangelistic bands can send men to work for God. The authority to commission men is not in the hands of men, but solely, in the hands of the Spirit of God.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> Serving the Lord does not mean chat we do not serve people, but it does mean that all service to people has service to the Lord as its basis. It is service Godward that urges us out manward. Luke 17:7-10 tells us clearly what the Lord is after. These are two kinds of work referred to here: ploughing the field and tending the flock. Both are very important occupations, yet the Lord says that when a servant returns from such work, he is expected to provide for his master's satisfaction before sitting down to enjoy his own food.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> When we have returned from our toil in the field, we are apt to muse complacently on the much work we have accomplished. But the Lord will say, "Gird yourself and give me to eat." He requires ministry to Himself. We may have laboured in a wide field and cared for many sheep, but all our toil in the field and among the flock does not exempt us from ministry to the Lord's own personal satisfaction. That is our supreme task.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> What are you really after? Is it only work in the field, preaching the gospel to the unsaved? Is it just tending the flock, caring for the needs of the saved? Or are we seeing to it that the Lord can eat to His full satisfaction and drink till His thirst is quenched? True, it is necessary for us also to eat and drink, but that cannot be till after the Lord is satisfied. We, too, must have our enjoyment, but that can never be until His joy is first made full.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="arial12"> Let us ask ourselves: Does our work minister to our satisfaction or to the Lord's? I fear that when we have worked for the Lord, we are often thoroughly satisfied before He is satisfied. We are often quite happy with our work when He has found no joy in it. Blessed are they who can differentiate between ministry to sinners or saints, and ministry to Him. Such discernment is not easily acquired. Often it is only by much drastic dealing that we learn the difference between ministry to the Lord Himself and ministry to the House.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="widows: 1;"> Let us seek the grace of God that He may reveal to us what it really means to minister to Him!</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="widows: 1;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="widows: 1;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="arial12" face="Arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
Swarna Jhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01486604478579823826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215601268668250185.post-16495554449512368362021-06-17T01:25:00.002+05:302021-06-17T01:25:40.554+05:30 A Clean Heart- Martyn Lloyd-Jones <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uJuY_9lOK9k" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Swarna Jhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01486604478579823826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215601268668250185.post-20865467314985159922021-06-03T23:41:00.001+05:302021-06-03T23:41:30.547+05:30"(Now Joram and all Israel had been defending Ramoth Gilead ... but King Joram had returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds which the Syrians had given him ...)" 2 Kings 9:14-15<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXEdlat8HYOku0PWy5PGlBsNuS-gw26Sx1EmRP8s8GgeD7ScINr9429L1zJw3BWVJzE8GLcYJN3AywFyA-DC7IxeIX-rn091hhk8AgT87UfB4rymSvcWuaP0OuKloF72OyGTU2TU5fhU/s293/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXEdlat8HYOku0PWy5PGlBsNuS-gw26Sx1EmRP8s8GgeD7ScINr9429L1zJw3BWVJzE8GLcYJN3AywFyA-DC7IxeIX-rn091hhk8AgT87UfB4rymSvcWuaP0OuKloF72OyGTU2TU5fhU/s0/image.png" /></a></div><p> <b style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.austin-sparks.net/mags/ttm14-4.html#ibc" target="_blank">OLD TESTAMENT PARENTHESES (16)</a></b></p><center style="background-color: white;"><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><p><br />"(<i>Now Joram and all Israel had been defending Ramoth Gilead<br />... but King Joram had returned to Jezreel to recover from the<br />wounds which the Syrians had given him ...</i>)" 2 Kings 9:14-15<br /></p></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center><p align="left" style="background-color: white;"><br />THIS has a connection with the previous parenthesis, for it concerns Ahab's son, Joram, and the fulfilment of the prophecies which Elijah the Tishbite had made about him.<br /><br />THE purpose of the parenthesis is to explain why Joram was at that time in the family palace at Jezreel. He had gone there for convalescence. When Jehu was commissioned to execute this evil king, he fully expected to do so at Jezreel and for this reason tried to avoid any information reaching the king there (v.15).<br /><br />IT was to Jezreel that Jehu was seen to be driving with such furious determination (v.20) and in fact it was there that Jezebel was killed in fulfilment of Elijah's prophecy (v.36). In a strange way, however, God had other purposes for the appointed judgment on Ahab's son, and Joram helped to fulfil them by his action in going out to meet the aggressor. </p><p align="left" style="background-color: white;">God had determined the actual place where the death was to take place; it was to be in the property which Ahab had so wickedly acquired but which never bore his name, for it was still called "the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite" (v.21).<br /><br />AT first Joram was confident that he could handle the situation with regard to Jehu and went out to challenge him. Whether his action was due to foolhardiness or whether it was genuine courage, the fact remains that he went as far as Naboth's land before realising too late that he had been betrayed.<br /><br />IT was no chance happening that the encounter took place on "the portion of the field of Naboth" and that it was there that Ahab's son met his end. His body was thrown out of the chariot and abandoned in that same field.<br /><br />GOD had announced His condemnation of Naboth's murder by Ahab and Jezebel and affirmed that it would be avenged. Jezebel's end was to be that her body would be devoured by dogs in the city of Jezreel (1 Kings 21:23) and so it was. So far as Ahab's son was concerned, the place of reckoning would be the very place which had been so wrongfully acquired by his parents. After he had made the kill, Jehu remembered the prophecy made at the time (v.26). He little realised how he himself would be used by God to fulfil it.<br /><br />THE fate of both Joram and Jezebel makes gruesome reading, but it pinpoints the accuracy of God's judgments. He had made it clear that Joram's death was to be in Naboth's field, and so it happened.</p><p align="left" style="background-color: white;"> We may take courage from this happening by realising that if the Lord watched over the actual place and circumstances of the deaths of such sinners, He will not be less concerned with the place and manner of the departure of His believing people when the time comes for us to leave the earth. We can trust Him that He has got it all in hand.<br /><br />"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints" (Psalm 116:15).<br /></p><div><br /></div><center style="background-color: white;"><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center>Swarna Jhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01486604478579823826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215601268668250185.post-74887735796724477402021-04-24T00:52:00.000+05:302021-04-24T00:52:35.389+05:30Psalm 37<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoDBNEdLk1EUgXrPR64_QzStFchAQ3VR5UENAFx_O3cBy2WsfOHqWaKE5xRhzjV6iyzY8yxplE6F3zfxNQHoRW5qGyS_fJzkG1pvzTwetYJdr_URVhE0FZjqwAjEnAmr6lkKioRjPm9WQ/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="320" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoDBNEdLk1EUgXrPR64_QzStFchAQ3VR5UENAFx_O3cBy2WsfOHqWaKE5xRhzjV6iyzY8yxplE6F3zfxNQHoRW5qGyS_fJzkG1pvzTwetYJdr_URVhE0FZjqwAjEnAmr6lkKioRjPm9WQ/" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span class="chapternum" style="background-color: white; bottom: -0.1em; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 2.4rem; font-weight: 700; left: 0px; line-height: 0.8em; position: relative;">37 </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-2" id="en-KJV-14453"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">2 </span>For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-3" id="en-KJV-14454"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">3 </span>Trust in the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-4" id="en-KJV-14455"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">4 </span>Delight thyself also in the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-5" id="en-KJV-14456"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">5 </span>Commit thy way unto the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-6" id="en-KJV-14457"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">6 </span>And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-7" id="en-KJV-14458"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">7 </span>Rest in the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-8" id="en-KJV-14459"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">8 </span>Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-9" id="en-KJV-14460"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">9 </span>For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>, they shall inherit the earth.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-10" id="en-KJV-14461"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">10 </span>For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-11" id="en-KJV-14462"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">11 </span>But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-12" id="en-KJV-14463"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">12 </span>The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-13" id="en-KJV-14464"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">13 </span>The <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-14" id="en-KJV-14465"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">14 </span>The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-15" id="en-KJV-14466"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">15 </span>Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-16" id="en-KJV-14467"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">16 </span>A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-17" id="en-KJV-14468"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">17 </span>For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> upholdeth the righteous.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-18" id="en-KJV-14469"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">18 </span>The <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-19" id="en-KJV-14470"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">19 </span>They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-20" id="en-KJV-14471"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">20 </span>But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-21" id="en-KJV-14472"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">21 </span>The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-22" id="en-KJV-14473"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">22 </span>For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-23" id="en-KJV-14474"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">23 </span>The steps of a good man are ordered by the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>: and he delighteth in his way.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-24" id="en-KJV-14475"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">24 </span>Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> upholdeth him with his hand.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-25" id="en-KJV-14476"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">25 </span>I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-26" id="en-KJV-14477"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">26 </span>He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-27" id="en-KJV-14478"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">27 </span>Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-28" id="en-KJV-14479"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">28 </span>For the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-29" id="en-KJV-14480"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">29 </span>The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-30" id="en-KJV-14481"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">30 </span>The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-31" id="en-KJV-14482"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">31 </span>The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-32" id="en-KJV-14483"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">32 </span>The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-33" id="en-KJV-14484"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">33 </span>The <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-34" id="en-KJV-14485"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">34 </span>Wait on the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-35" id="en-KJV-14486"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">35 </span>I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-36" id="en-KJV-14487"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">36 </span>Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-37" id="en-KJV-14488"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">37 </span>Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-38" id="en-KJV-14489"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">38 </span>But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-39" id="en-KJV-14490"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">39 </span>But the salvation of the righteous is of the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>: he is their strength in the time of trouble.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-40" id="en-KJV-14491"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">40 </span>And the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-37-40"><br /></span></p>Swarna Jhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01486604478579823826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215601268668250185.post-25961336479361282102021-04-12T17:58:00.001+05:302021-04-12T17:58:48.391+05:30"(Though even unto that time I had not set up the doors in the gates )" Nehemiah 6:1<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEMcpe_hFyqeUAFL1TFEsO9ZlI65JQZ343v2SkOjBFDc2_zvjoj-l_0kGbfoboxa08sS_dPaqaJImzckOfRiAeYj62yZfiNoTnKXlYo2cvfeGRVTMuiTT7EF7cJT9ffql7IofLEVBK_g/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="220" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEMcpe_hFyqeUAFL1TFEsO9ZlI65JQZ343v2SkOjBFDc2_zvjoj-l_0kGbfoboxa08sS_dPaqaJImzckOfRiAeYj62yZfiNoTnKXlYo2cvfeGRVTMuiTT7EF7cJT9ffql7IofLEVBK_g/" width="180" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b style="background-color: white;">OLD TESTAMENT <a href="https://www.austin-sparks.net/mags/ttm15-1.html#ibc">PARENTHESES</a> (19)</b></p><center style="background-color: white;"><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><center><p><br />"(<i>Though even unto that time I had not set up the doors in the gates</i> )" Nehemiah 6:1<br /></p></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center></center><p align="left" style="background-color: white;"><br />IT is when God is most prospering our labours that Satan's wiliest attacks come against us. In an incredibly short time the whole wall around Jerusalem had been restored; "there was no breach left therein." It was a period when God's servant might have relaxed and it was just at that very time when the subtle enemies of the work of God suggested the advisability of a new 'dialogue' between them and invited Nehemiah to share their hospitality in the plain of Ono for that purpose.<br /><br />IT was a trick. The sole purpose was to lure Nehemiah away from the work of restoration, with the probability that he would never have been able to return to it. I know, to my sorrow, how real that temptation was.</p><p align="left" style="background-color: white;"> Many years ago, at a time of great blessing, several of us were lured into something of this nature. My discerning colleague, dear George Taylor, urged us to get on with the work and refuse to discuss things with our attackers, saying that this would mean, 'going down to the plain of Ono.' I am sorry to say that we ignored his counsel and found later that we had got out of the will of God.<br /><br />NEHEMIAH avoided this trap, and he did so by realising the importance of what remained to be done: "I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down." So he refused to be drawn into idle arguments by concentrating on the work which God had given him to do.<br /><br />OUR parenthesis tells us what constituted that 'great work' which yet remained; there were no doors to make the various gateways effective. It was this that detained him and enabled him to reject their repeated requests for him to come down. </p><p align="left" style="background-color: white;">What was the use of closing gaps and building gates if the doors were not in their place? </p><p align="left" style="background-color: white;">What was the use of closing gaps and building gates if the work was left in this unfinished state? </p><p align="left" style="background-color: white;">The whole city was vulnerable while those entrances were not capable of being closed against intruders.<br /><br />IN Nehemiah's days the doors were needed to guard the city during the hours of darkness (7:3) and to ensure the sanctity of the Sabbath (13:19). </p><p align="left" style="background-color: white;">For us they emphasise the need for excluding from our lives and fellowships all that might dishonour the name of the Lord. Whether in our assemblies, our homes or our private lives, the wall of testimony must be adequately protected from defiling intrusions. </p><p align="left" style="background-color: white;">The doors must be set up in the gates.</p><p align="left" style="background-color: white;"><br /></p>Swarna Jhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01486604478579823826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215601268668250185.post-45267978745119709832021-04-12T14:52:00.000+05:302021-04-12T14:52:16.514+05:30Building For Eternity<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><p><b style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6CCsNypB27GWsBg2eenjnz8anJI4c_1i4oVVHCsVbbFYcImPyPtr58Vb8mLBPN7I-jK5n2WZUDPrGrmd_WjTbjDa9-ptiN0p4rvjSdU3aeHlvWWggmU-dMlsFrNLXPVQmBgYLLiMKHUw/s78/image.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="78" data-original-width="60" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6CCsNypB27GWsBg2eenjnz8anJI4c_1i4oVVHCsVbbFYcImPyPtr58Vb8mLBPN7I-jK5n2WZUDPrGrmd_WjTbjDa9-ptiN0p4rvjSdU3aeHlvWWggmU-dMlsFrNLXPVQmBgYLLiMKHUw/s0/image.png" /></a></div><br />Building For Eternity</b></b></div><p></p></b><p></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12">By <b><a href="http://articles.ochristian.com/preacher484-1.shtml" style="color: blue;">Oswald Chambers</a></b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br clear="all" /> 'For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?'<br /> Luke 14:28</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"> Our Lord refers not to a cost we have to count, but to a cost which He has counted. The cost was those thirty years in Nazareth, those three years of popularity, scandal and hatred, the deep unfathomable agony in Gethsemane, and the onslaught at Calvary - the pivot upon which the whole of Time and Eternity turns. Jesus Christ has counted the cost. Men are not going to laugh at Him at last and say - "This man began to build, and was not able to finish."</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"> The conditions of discipleship laid down by Our Lord in vv. 26, 27 and 33 mean that the men and women He is going to use in His mighty building enterprises are those in whom He has done everything. "If any man come to Me, and hate not...he cannot be My disciple." Our Lord implies that the only men and women He will use in His building enterprises are those who love Him personally, passionately and devotedly beyond any of the closest ties on earth. The conditions are stern, but they are glorious.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"> All that we build is going to be inspected by God. Is God going to detect in His searching fire that we have built on the foundation of Jesus some enterprise of our own? </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12">These are days of tremendous enterprises, days when we are trying to work for God, and therein is the snare. Profoundly speaking, we can never work for God. Jesus takes us over for His enterprises, His building schemes entirely, and no soul has any right to claim where he shall be put.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="arial12"><br /></span></p>Swarna Jhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01486604478579823826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215601268668250185.post-8461665796296210722021-04-12T13:19:00.001+05:302021-04-12T13:19:22.090+05:30Treasury of David: Commentary on Psalm 27 / Charles Spurgeon (audio book)<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jtwTN7jxhsE" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Swarna Jhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01486604478579823826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215601268668250185.post-45327036485818293262020-06-07T08:34:00.000+05:302020-06-07T08:34:56.605+05:30The road by which the Spirit leads God's children!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KSawauJd2JPHoqbgiinNwhc7-vHu4jmRqi653QbW5hIuak6P0TV2NiD5ieLI79c_3IVZf8nu6sbxnZeZmdaDEv4pSsAtY61xlj4WMwDhLISvfjUUZM35c1jC4mmZDMI5OkSQnCQKz_0/s1600/pJYzRr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="760" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KSawauJd2JPHoqbgiinNwhc7-vHu4jmRqi653QbW5hIuak6P0TV2NiD5ieLI79c_3IVZf8nu6sbxnZeZmdaDEv4pSsAtY61xlj4WMwDhLISvfjUUZM35c1jC4mmZDMI5OkSQnCQKz_0/s320/pJYzRr.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The road<i> </i>by which the Spirit leads God's children!</span></b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><br />(<a href="http://gracegems.org/23/ryle_sermons.htm" moz-do-not-send="true">J.C. Ryle</a>, "<a href="http://gracegems.org/Ryle/heirs_of_god.htm" moz-do-not-send="true">Heirs of God</a>" 1878)<br /><br />"As many as are <i>led by the Spirit of God</i>—they are the sons of God." Romans 8:14<br /><br />All true Christians are under the <i>leading</i> and <i>teaching</i> of a power which is Almighty, though unseen—even the power of the Holy Spirit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">They no longer turn to their own way, and walk in the light of their own eyes, and follow their own natural heart's desire. The Spirit <i>leads </i>them. The Spirit <i>guides </i>them. There is a movement in their hearts, lives, and affections, which they feel—though they may not be able to explain; and a movement which is always more or less in the <i>same direction.</i><br /><br />They are all led . . .<br /> away from sin,<br /> away from self-righteousness,<br /> away from the world!<br /><br />This is <span style="color: red;"><b>the road<i> </i>by which the Spirit leads God's children</b></span>.<br />Those whom God adopts as His children—He <i>teaches </i>and <i>trains</i>.<br />He shows them their own hearts.<br />He makes them weary of their own ways.<br /><br />They are all led to <i>Christ</i>.<br />They are all led to the <i>Bible</i>.<br />They are all led to <i>prayer</i>.<br />They are all led to <i>holiness</i>.<br />This is the <i>beaten path</i> along which the Spirit makes them to travel.<br />Those whom God adopts—He always sanctifies.<br />He makes <i>sin </i>very bitter to them.<br />He makes <i>holiness </i>very sweet.<br /><br />When they are taken into the <i>wilderness</i>, and taught to see their own emptiness—it is the leading of the Spirit.<br /><br />It is He who leads them to Mount <i>Sinai</i>, and first shows them the law—that their hearts may be broken.<br /><br />It is He who leads them to Mount <i>Calvary</i>, and shows them the cross—that their hearts may be bound up and healed.<br /><br />It is He who leads them to Mount <i>Pisgah</i>, and gives them distinct views of the promised land—that their hearts may be cheered.<br /><br />Each and all of God's children is the subject of these leadings.<br />Each and all is led by the <i>right </i>way, to bring him to a city of habitation.<br /><br />Settle this down in your heart, and do not let it go: the children of God are a people "led by the Spirit of God," and always led more or less in the same way. Their experience will tally wonderfully when they compare notes in Heaven.<br /><br />"I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths." Proverbs 4:11<br /><br />"In your unfailing love You will <i>lead</i> the people You have redeemed.<br /> In Your strength You will <i>guide</i> them to Your holy dwelling." Exodus 15:13</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br style="background-color: white;" /></span>Swarna Jhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01486604478579823826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215601268668250185.post-86343074671786192712020-06-07T08:28:00.002+05:302020-06-07T08:28:52.195+05:30It would soon oppose us with a deadly hatred!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6zysfxlnZdPSD7enCyHlKPs2ndZmlf7xY7n5vjP66-xeqNTHtGWHIIys3qnJ8Ga2MnWI-Vn48B8ntrJ_P3O7WSqT90iDJmBcoWwKMIyKqZSQ9hceliVaItmUcQr7mt7I-DDohbVPBeE/s1600/animal-3437467__480+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6zysfxlnZdPSD7enCyHlKPs2ndZmlf7xY7n5vjP66-xeqNTHtGWHIIys3qnJ8Ga2MnWI-Vn48B8ntrJ_P3O7WSqT90iDJmBcoWwKMIyKqZSQ9hceliVaItmUcQr7mt7I-DDohbVPBeE/s320/animal-3437467__480+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>It would soon oppose us with a deadly hatred!</b></span><br /><br />(James Smith, "</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="http://gracegems.org/C/Grace%20for%20the%20Humble.htm">Grace for the Humble</a></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana;">" 1859)<br /><br />"All who will live godly in Christ Jesus—shall suffer persecution!" 2 Timothy 3:12<br /><br />The enmity of the world against God is as great as ever. It may be <i>concealed</i>—but it is not <i>destroyed</i>.<br /><br />The world will oppose the godly man.<br />If we were more godlike—it would . . .<br /> hate us more,<br /> oppose us more,<br /> and persecute us more!<br /><br />We have little persecution from the world, because there is so little in us to awaken persecution.<br />Our <i>light </i>is so dim.<br />Our <i>salt </i>has lost so much of its savor.<br />Our approximation to the world is so great.<br />If instead of being conformed to the world—we were transformed by the renewing of our minds; if instead of getting as near to it as we can—we were to stand afar off from its pleasures, amusements, fashions, and spirit; if our lives were a daily testimony against it, and against its works as evil—<span style="color: red;"><b>it would soon oppose us with a deadly hatred!</b></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJnQMHJ2IHD1V75VyR20a7_TLWxlueaS_-jUQStfQRha7SNc1fJzDD8wa50hHeADxWXyIFisizWQddldSgBXFjK1zgLLEebM1IBJmjEGqDdq8CwZuzGcaBP1MvWzbE1MnsFNJLYTrFY4/s1600/images+%252857%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="241" data-original-width="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJnQMHJ2IHD1V75VyR20a7_TLWxlueaS_-jUQStfQRha7SNc1fJzDD8wa50hHeADxWXyIFisizWQddldSgBXFjK1zgLLEebM1IBJmjEGqDdq8CwZuzGcaBP1MvWzbE1MnsFNJLYTrFY4/s1600/images+%252857%2529.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: red;"><b><big>The religionists of the day</big></b></span><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">(J. C. Philpot, "</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana";"><a href="http://www.gracegems.org/Philpot/faiths_standing_ground.htm">Faith's Standing-Ground</a></span><span style="background-color: white;">" 1862)</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white;" />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">"And everyone will hate you because of your</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"> allegiance to Me." Luke 21:17</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: red;"><b><br /></b></span><b style="background-color: white;">Professors of religion</b><span style="background-color: white;"> have always been the </span><span style="background-color: white;">deadliest enemies of the children of God.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white;" />
<span style="background-color: white;">Who were so opposed to the blessed Lord as the </span><span style="background-color: white;">Scribes and Pharisees? It was the religious teachers </span><span style="background-color: white;">and leaders who crucified the Lord of glory!</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white;" />
<span style="background-color: white;">And so in every age </span><span style="background-color: white; color: red;"><b>the religionists of the day</b></span><span style="background-color: white;"></span><big style="background-color: white;"><br /></big><span style="background-color: white;">have been the hottest and bitterest persecutors</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">of the Church of Christ.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white;" />
<span style="background-color: white;">Nor is the case altered now. The more the children</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">of God are firm in the truth, the more they enjoy its</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">power, the more they live under its influence, and</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">the more tenderly and conscientiously they walk in</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">godly fear, the more will the professing generation</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">of the day hate them with a deadly hatred.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white;" />
<span style="background-color: white;">Let us not think that we can disarm it by a godly life;</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">for the more that we walk in the sweet enjoyment of</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">heavenly truth and let our light shine before men as</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">having been with Jesus, the more will this draw down</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">their hatred and contempt.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white;" />
<span style="background-color: white;">"And the world hates them because they do not</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"> belong to the world, just as I do not." John 17:14</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>Swarna Jhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01486604478579823826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215601268668250185.post-20291039873363676982020-06-03T18:56:00.000+05:302020-06-03T18:56:25.161+05:30Troubles, Troubles, Troubles!<div align="center">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsPJtIxOMd54wG1qiyIXRB0Kli0H7CVI3wPiZEO9zPwMsg5UwGa_Bs7irP0DipcrO8W-U0lxNzXhNuFbmVifQpq1RXaZoJEG0edvTpOR3JK17rL3fLhSco6ZY427Gud6P7KyZfJk8SL0Q/s1600/images+%252868%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="751" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsPJtIxOMd54wG1qiyIXRB0Kli0H7CVI3wPiZEO9zPwMsg5UwGa_Bs7irP0DipcrO8W-U0lxNzXhNuFbmVifQpq1RXaZoJEG0edvTpOR3JK17rL3fLhSco6ZY427Gud6P7KyZfJk8SL0Q/s320/images+%252868%2529.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
Troubles, Troubles, Troubles!</div>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://gracegems.org/" target="_blank">James Smith, 1842</a><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b></b></span><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i>"Call upon Me in the day of trouble! I will deliver you — and you shall glorify Me!" </i>Psalm 50:15</span></div>
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Believer, in this portion of the divine word, you will discover:<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"> 1. your present portion — <i>trouble,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> 2. your constant privilege — <i>prayer,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> 3. your future prospect — <i>deliverance.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: green;"><b>1. Your <i>present portion </i>is TROUBLE</b></span>. You must <i>expect </i>trouble, and will certainly be deceived if you expect to escape it. Sin is the <i>parent </i>of trouble — and our sin-cursed earth its fruitful soil. Trouble springs up all around us, and appears in an almost <i>infinite variety</i> of forms.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Every <i>connection </i>we form,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">every <i>character </i>we bear,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">every <i>office </i>we fill, and</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">every <i>relation </i>we sustain —</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">is a fruitful source of trouble!</span></div>
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We shall have . . .<br />
trouble in mind,<br />
trouble in circumstances,<br />
trouble in body;<br />
trouble from almost every quarter!</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">This poor world is not our <i>rest</i> — for it is polluted!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">This poor world is not our <i>home</i> — for we are poor pilgrims!</span></div>
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This poor world is not our <i>country</i> — for we are strangers and aliens!</div>
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<i>Every day</i> has its <i>peculiar troubles</i>. Often when we look for a certain comfort — we only find peculiar distress and vexation! Everything declares,<i> "Happiness is not in me!"</i> </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">You may look on the right hand — but you will find no permanent peace; on the left — and disappointment awaits you. Only in Jesus is . . .</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> solid peace,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> holy satisfaction, and</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> permanent comfort to be found.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">If we could rightly interpret the various voices around us, we would find them all saying, <i>"Go to Jesus! Abide in Jesus! Derive all from Jesus — or be wretched, miserable, and disappointed!"</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">In youth, manhood, and old age — trouble and tribulation is<i> the Christian's lot. </i>Our God feeds us with the heritage of <i>Jacob </i>our father; but if we carefully read his history, we shall find some <i>very bitter herbs </i>grew on it:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> Joseph is lost,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> Rachel dies,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> Simeon is imprisoned,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> Benjamin must go,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> Simeon and Levi slay the Shechemites —</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> <i>and all these things appear against him!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Just so with us, troubles and trials follow each other, at times, almost like <i>Job's messengers</i>, treading on each other's heels, and we are almost overwhelmed! But,</span></div>
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<span style="color: green;"><b></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: green;"><b>2. Your <i>constant privilege</i> is PRAYER</b></span> — to visit the throne of grace, and wait upon our God. He says,<i> "Call upon Me in the day of trouble!" </i>Troubles . . .</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> furnish us with messages to our Father's throne,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> quicken us in our supplications, and</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> oblige us to entreat His favor!</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><div align="justify">
His throne of <i>grace is always </i>accessible, and His <i>ear </i>is always open; but in times of trouble, He especially invites us to draw near. He says:<br />
Call upon Me in trouble, call for whatever you need!<br />
Are you <i>perplexed</i> — then call for wisdom;<br />
are you <i>weak</i> — then call for strength;<br />
are you <i>guilty</i> — then call for pardon;<br />
are you <i>miserable</i> — then call for comfort;<br />
are you in <i>darkness</i> — then call for light;<br />
are you in <i>bondage</i> — then call for freedom and relief.</div>
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Call upon Me, for I am <i>always </i>on the throne of grace!</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Call upon Me, for I am <i>glad </i>to see you!</span></div>
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Call upon Me, for I am <i>ready </i>to help you!</div>
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Call upon Me, for I wait to be gracious unto you!</div>
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Call upon Me — upon Me <i>first</i>, before you run to others!</div>
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Call upon Me — and you will have no occasion to go anywhere else, for I have all that you possibly can need.</div>
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Call upon Me <i>freely</i> — without reserve.</div>
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Call upon Me <i>boldly</i> — without fear.</div>
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Call upon Me <i>importunately</i> — without doubt!</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The promise <i>encourages </i>us,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">the invitation <i>allures </i>us — but</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">trouble <i>impels </i>us to call upon our God!</span></div>
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Our troubles are frequently the <i>instruments </i>the Holy Spirit employs to carry on His sacred work in our hearts. By troubles, He . . .<br />
empties us of self,<br />
weans us from the world, and<br />
endears Jesus and His salvation to us!</div>
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Oh, believer, make use of your <i>privilege </i>in every time of trouble — and fully expect what Your God has promised!</div>
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<span style="color: green;"><b></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: green;"><b>3. Your <i>future prospect</i> is DELIVERANCE.</b></span> The prospect is opened up,<i> "I will deliver you — and you shall glorify Me!"</i> Here God comes under engagement to <i>deliver </i>His calling child. Can we, then, be too confident, or expect deliverance with too much assurance? Surely not! Only let us beware lest we dictate to God as to <i>time</i>, <i>means</i>, or <i>manner </i>of deliverance — and then we cannot be too certain. He will deliver, and in such a way as to . . .</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> put honor on your faith,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> pour confusion on your unbelief, and</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> secure the glory to His blessed self!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">God's <i>delivering mercies </i>are all brought forth on jubilee days — for the deliverances which He affords, proclaim a jubilee in the soul.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">
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<i>"I WILL!" — </i>this promise is . . .<br />
more durable than earth,<br />
more stable as the pillars of Heaven,<br />
and as changeless as the nature of Jehovah.</div>
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<i>"I will DELIVER!"</i> — this is at once . . .<br />
the food, warrant, and plea of faith;<br />
the lattice through which hope directs the eye, and<br />
the prime argument which the soul uses before God.</div>
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<i>"I will deliver YOU!" </i>This is the laying of God's hand on His needy child.</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">My poor brother — are you in trouble? Are you calling upon God? The Lord says, "I will deliver YOU!" You are the person God had in His eye and in His heart — when he caused <i>this precious portion </i>to be penned. Take up the language, and say, <i>"He will deliver ME!"</i> And you, being delivered, proving God to be faithful, realizing the power of prayer, and enjoying delivering mercy — shall, though <i>Satan </i>will try to hinder, and <i>unbelief </i>would gladly shut your mouth — <i>you shall glorify Me!</i></span></div>
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How truly blessed, how pleasant, how satisfactory is this! Every believer must say: "It is just as I would have it! <b>I get all the <i>mercy</i> — and God gets all the <i>glory!</i></b><i>"</i></div>
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Brethren in Jesus . . .<br />
expect your portion — troubles,<br />
prize your privilege — prayer, and<br />
look forward to your prospect — deliverance!</div>
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<br />Swarna Jhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01486604478579823826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215601268668250185.post-89947900584133534412020-06-03T18:41:00.001+05:302020-06-03T18:41:42.313+05:30GOD Works Best Through Broken Vessels Steve Lawson Sermon Jam<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D01sD4FxlH4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Swarna Jhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01486604478579823826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215601268668250185.post-73022804137975912562020-06-03T09:04:00.002+05:302020-06-03T09:04:36.817+05:30The Shepherd Psalm<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMf-OdImuiHBujpz2lCiKPOIeUFID7pNy-lobT_v40ZbNXmtb73qnjyF7srGe3jxDCoTRGLJeP4UljH8HyQBgoe1hIlxpDJ3oCXJbBYaLorcxFO6fMYShN_wAyzWxqBa7mS5Mjo21fDpY/s1600/animal-3437467__480+%25281%2529.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMf-OdImuiHBujpz2lCiKPOIeUFID7pNy-lobT_v40ZbNXmtb73qnjyF7srGe3jxDCoTRGLJeP4UljH8HyQBgoe1hIlxpDJ3oCXJbBYaLorcxFO6fMYShN_wAyzWxqBa7mS5Mjo21fDpY/s320/animal-3437467__480+%25281%2529.jpg" /></a><br />
The Shepherd Psalm<br />
<br />
<a href="http://gracegems.org/" target="_blank">J. R. Miller</a><br />
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"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever!" Psalms 23:1-6<br />
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The Twenty-third Psalm is the most familiar passage in the Bible. It is the children's Psalm, memorized first of all the Scriptures by countless thousands. It is the Psalm of the sick room, dear to the hearts of sufferers, because of the divine tenderness revealed in the words. It is the Psalm of the deathbed.<br />
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Rarely does a Christian pass from earth, without repeating the words, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." It is the Psalm of old age.<br />
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"The Lord is my SHEPHERD." Shepherd seems a homely name for God, yet when we know the story of shepherd life in the East, it is a very fitting name.<br />
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The shepherd lives with his sheep. He guards them by night He defends them when they are in danger. He leads them out to find pasture. He takes the little lambs and the weary ones in his arms—and carries them. He seeks the lost or straying ones. He even gives his life in protecting them. When we know all this about the shepherd, we see how the name interprets God to us.<br />
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"The Lord is MY shepherd." It would not be the same to us if the words ran, "The Lord is a shepherd." He might be a shepherd to a great many people, all that that rich word means, and yet not be anything comforting to me. But if I can say with joy, "The Lord is my shepherd," I can sing the song through to the end.<br />
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"The Lord IS my shepherd." The present tenses of the Bible are rich in their meanings. That is the way the promises and assurances of the Scriptures are written. "The Eternal God is your refuge"—not was. It might, then, have been true a year ago, yesterday—but not to be true now.<br />
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The other day, one was speaking of a person and said: "He used to be my friend. He was a great deal to me, did much for me. I went to him with my perplexities, my trials, my questions. But he is not my friend any more. He passed me yesterday on the street and did not even look at me." That is not the way with God. "The eternal God is my refuge; underneath are" —not were, not will be—that is too indefinite,—"Underneath are the everlasting arms." "The Lord is our refuge." "Lo, I am with you always." "My grace is sufficient for you." "The Lord is my shepherd." There will never come a moment when you cannot say this. "Loved once" is never said of Christ. He loves unto the end.<br />
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"I shall not WANT." The other day a man said, "I have a good portion of money laid up for my old age, enough to keep my wife and me as long as we expect to live." Yes—but that is not a sure portion. Earth's bags all have holes. The writer of this Psalm did not say, "I have plenty of good investments; therefore I shall not want." This is what he said, "The Lord is my Shepherd, and therefore I shall not want." When we have God, there is nothing we may ever need—that He cannot and will not give us. When we do not have God—we are pitifully poor, though we are millionaires. When we can say, "God is mine!" we are rich.<br />
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"He makes me to lie down in GREEN PASTURES." Pastures are for nourishment. In the East the matter of provision was always a serious one. There was but little rain and ofttimes the fields were parched so that pasture could not be found. Then the shepherd would lead his flock away, mile after mile, until they found in some quiet nook, in some shaded valley, green, lush grass.<br />
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But also is implied in these words—"He makes me to LIE DOWN in green pastures." The sheep are fed and satisfied, and then they lie down to rest. We cannot go on forever in strenuous activities, and God is gracious and kind to us, giving us many quiet resting places on the way. Night is one of these places. We leave the toil and struggle of the day and draw aside to rest.<br />
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Sometimes there are enforced rests. "He MAKES me to lie down in green pastures." We do not want to rest. We think our work needs us, that we would be losing time if we stopped even a day. Then the Good Shepherd makes us lie down, because He knows we need the rest to renew our strength.<br />
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Perhaps we are not doing our work well—and the joy is fading out of our heart. One was speaking the other day of a Christian man who was formerly a model of patience, kindliness, and peace. "He is growing irritable and querulous," the friend said. "He has none of his old patience with people. He seems cold and stern."<br />
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He has been living so strenuously, driven by his work, that he has grown nervous and easily vexed. He needs to lie down in the green pastures. Perhaps more of us need to be made to lie down to feed and rest. Perhaps we are doing more work, running to more meetings, giving more money, talking more about religion—yet losing in peace, in sweetness of spirit, which is the real test of spiritual life.<br />
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The shepherd makes his sheep lie down—that they may get rested and grow strong and beautiful in their spirit. That is what the Good Shepherd does with us sometimes, when we fall sick, for instance.<br />
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We think we have not time to rest—and yet He calls us aside and draws the curtains, and shuts us in. Notice, it is in the green pastures that the shepherd makes his sheep lie down—and we find our sick room a bit of pasture. A friend who had been in the hospital several weeks and was convalescing, wrote, "I have found my little white cot here in this quiet room, a bit of God's green pasture."<br />
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He never makes us lie down on the rough hillside, or on the dusty road, or among the rocks; it is always in the soft, rich grass, where we may feed while we rest.<br />
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Be sure you do not miss the blessing of sickness, of sorrow, of trial of any kind. God wants you to grow in sweetness, in patience, in trust, in joy, in peace, in all gentleness and kindness; whenever He makes you lie down in the green pastures.<br />
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"He leads me beside the STILL WATERS." Green pastures suggest provision—the sheep must be fed. The streams of water suggest drink—the flock must have water. So the shepherd leads them to where the brooks flow.<br />
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Often in the Old Testament, we have the picture of the shepherd watering his sheep. Jacob found Rachel watering her father's flocks at the well. Moses found his future wife drawing water for the flocks of Jethro. Our Shepherd leads His sheep to the waters of quietness, that they may drink and be refreshed.<br />
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The Syrian shepherd sometimes led his flock up steep paths, over rough roads, through dark gorges—but it never was to make the way hard for them—it always was to take them to a bit of green pasture or beside still waters, that they might be fed and refreshed. Sometimes we fret and chafe when we have had hard experiences. We are sick, or our work is hard, or we have keen disappointments or sore losses. We wonder why God takes us by such a painful and wearisome way. Have you ever thought that He is leading you along these rough paths—that you may come to green pastures, to streams of water?<br />
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At the end of every steep pinch of road, beyond every day of struggle or pain, a blessing waits for you, something that will enrich you, make you stronger, holier, less selfish, more helpful.<br />
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"He RESTORES my soul." There may be several meanings in these words. A wolf may fly upon the flock and one of them may be torn.<br />
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The shepherd takes the poor hurt sheep into his tender care and nurses it, as if it were a child, until it is well again, its wound healed, and the sheep restored. Or, in the hot sun one of the flock may faint in the road and sink down, unable to go any farther. Does the shepherd leave it there to perish, while he leads the stronger ones on in the way? No, he cares for the fainting one, he takes it up in his arms, lays it in his bosom, and carries it until it is rested and able to walk again. Or, one of the sheep may drop out of the flock and wander away. Does the shepherd let the lost one go, giving it no thought, not even missing it?<br />
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No, one of the most touching stories in the Bible tells of the shepherd leaving the ninety-nine and going away to the mountains to find the one sheep of his that was lost. Then, you remember that exquisite picture, at the end of the story, of the shepherd finding his sheep, laying it on his shoulder, and carrying it back to the fold.<br />
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All these are illustrations of the words, "He restores my soul," and all suggest ways in which our Good Shepherd restores us. We are fallen upon by the prowling wild beasts of temptation; wounded, torn, hurt almost to death. The Shepherd with infinite gentleness and patience heals us, restores us. Or we faint by the way, get discouraged, and sink down.<br />
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The Shepherd comes, bends over us, comforts us, speaks brave words of cheer to us, not giving us up—but getting us on our feet again, with a new hope and courage. Or, we err and go astray, like lost sheep, and the Shepherd follows us to the mountains and seeks us until He finds us, and then restores us.<br />
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If this little clause had been left out of this Psalm, much of its beauty would have been lost. It is because the Shepherd restores my soul, not once—but a thousand times, that I am going to dwell in the house of the Lord forever!<br />
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Very beautiful is that line in Dr. Matheson's hymn, "O Love, that will not let me go." No other love would suffice. If our Shepherd ever wearied of us—we could not be saved. "He restores my soul."<br />
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"He LEADS me in the paths of righteousness." We need guidance. We do not know which way in life to choose. We do not know where this path or that one will lead us—if we follow it. We all need guidance. If we will, we may have it, too, and walk in God's right way. It may not be the easy way—but it will lead us home.<br />
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"Yes, though I walk through the VALLEY of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil—for You are with me."<br />
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This means a peculiarly dark and gloomy valley, a deep gorge, into which the sunlight never pours. We have grown accustomed to applying this verse to death. But there are darker valleys in this world, than the valley of death. There are sorrows worse than bereavements.<br />
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Here are two homes where hearts are bowed. In one there has been no death-crape on the door. None of the neighbors know there is any grief there. Things are going on, to all external appearance, just as usual. But in that household there is a sorrow black and terrible. One life, fair and beautiful heretofore, honored and happy—has been touched by shame, and all the home lives are stricken with a bitterness which no comfort can alleviate.<br />
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The other home has been marked recently with death-crape. People passing felt their hearts grow tender and lowered their voices.<br />
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One day the house was thronged with neighbors and friends who came together to say their farewell. But there was no bitterness in any heart in that household. The sorrow was turned to joy by the Christian hope that filled every heart. Which of these two homes is the real valley of the shadow of death?<br />
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"For YOU are with me." The sheep need never fear any evil—when the shepherd is with them.<br />
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A Christian man tells of an experience of his boyhood which illustrates this. He worked several miles from home. Saturday night he worked late, and then went home to be with his loved ones for the Sunday.<br />
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On the way was one very dark valley, between two hills. No star shone into it, and there was no light from any window. It was called "the valley of shadows," and sometimes men lay in hiding to rob people passing through.<br />
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The boy was at the blackest point of this lonely, dreary way one Saturday night, brave yet trembling, fairly leaping over the road, when he heard—a hundred yards before him—a voice strong, clear, and full of cheer, calling, "Is that you, John?" Instantly he knew the voice. It was his father's. The good man knew that on that black night, that his son would have a hard ordeal in coming home through the valley, and so with a father's love he was there to meet him at the blackest point in the way.<br />
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All fear vanished, when the boy heard the voice and recognized it. Does not this illustrate how God's children are comforted when they enter the valley of shadows? The way seems dark and strange. They have never passed through it before. But as they enter it—they hear a voice calling their name, and then see a Presence of Love. "Fear not!" the voice says, "I am with you!" Then all fear vanishes.<br />
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As human faces fade out, the face of the Good Shepherd will appear, radiant with peace and warm with love, and all dread will vanish. "Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil—for You are with me."<br />
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We need not linger on the remaining words of this Psalm.<br />
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"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies." There are dangers on every side—but the shepherd is not deterred by these from caring for his sheep.<br />
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Our Good Shepherd is Master of the world, stronger than all enemies, Conqueror of all, and is able to provide for His sheep in any place! We remember that Jesus spread a table for His disciples the night of His betrayal, and we know in what peace He fed them—with enemies plotting, scheming, gathering for His arrest. No one could disturb Him or them until the meal was over.<br />
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"You anoint my head with oil." God does not want us to go through this world with sad faces. He wants us to rejoice.<br />
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"My cup runs over." A writer tells of a friend who literally kept a daily book account with the Lord. On one side he put down all he did for God; on the other side he put down what the Lord did for him. If a friend helped or cheered him, he put that down. If he was sick and then was restored, he put it down. All favors and mercies he recorded. After a few weeks of this book-keeping he gave it up.<br />
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"It's no use," he said, "I can never get a balance. I am always hopelessly in debt." That is the story of every life—the divine goodness overflows.<br />
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"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life." All the past has been goodness; all the future will be goodness. Goodness and loving-kindness from God all the days—the dark days and the days of pain, the days of disappointment, the days of sickness, the day when death comes to your home, the day of the funeral—goodness and loving-kindness all the days of my life—then—"I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!"<br />
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All the days of this life, goodness and loving-kindness—but that is not the end; indeed, that is only the beginning. "I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!"<br />
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A mother came a thousand miles to the hospital to see her boy, who was dying. When she reached the office the doctor said the boy was sleeping and must not be disturbed. It might kill him. She must wait until he wakened. The mother begged to be allowed to go in and sit beside his cot—she would not speak to him.<br />
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As she sat there her heart grew hungry and she reached out her hand and laid it gently on his brow. He did not waken—but instead he said, "Mother, you have come." And at once he began to recover.<br />
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Christ lays His hand of love on the heads of suffering ones, weary ones, burdened, sorrowing ones, today. This Psalm is the blessed hand of Christ to you. Do you not feel it!<br />
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<br />Swarna Jhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01486604478579823826noreply@blogger.com0