Memory Verse II Corinthians 5:7

"For we walk by faith, not by sight" (II Cor. 5:7 KJV)

Augustine Quote

"I was interested not in the decoration of the vessel in which his discourse was served up but in the knowledge put before me to eat" (Augustine Confessions Bk. v 73).

Jeremiah Burroughs Quote

"It is enough that you may wrangle together when you are among your equals, but know that, though the man who speaks it may be your equal, the Word of God is above you."

Jeremiah Burroughs Quote

"This disposition of your heart in trembling at God's Word is accepted instead of obedience. Though you cannot obey God's word as you would, yet the Lord will spare you. That soul who finds many weaknesses, and is not able to obey many truths of God that it hears revealed in the Word, yet, if it trembles at it, peace be to that soul. I say, the Lord accepts this trembling disposition instead of obedience and, indeed, rather than obedience. The very act of obedience does not have so much in it as this. For a hypocrite may perform the act of obedience, but he has none of this trembling. A learned man said...'There's more godliness in the trembling of the heart than in the work of the hand.' God accepts it, and therefore you can be comforted in this"(Gospel Fear Pg. 54,55).

Jeremiah Burrroughs Quote

"You must not think ill of a minister who preaches things that seem dreadful to you, whereas he only preaches against such things you should account as your enemies" (Gospel Fear Pg. 40).

John Calvin Quote

"Now this power which is peculiar to Scripture is clear from the fact that of human writings, however artfully polished, there is none capable of affecting us at all comparably. Read Demosthenes or Cicero; read Plato, Aristotle, and others of that tribe. They will, I admit, allure you, delight you, move you, enrapture you in wonderful measure. but betake yourself from them to this sacred reading. Then, in spite of yourself, so deeply will it affect you, so penetrate your heart, so fix itself in your very marrow, that, compared with its deep impression, such vigor as the orators and philosophers have will nearly vanish. Consequently, it is easy to see that the scared Scriptures, which so far surpass all gifts and graces of human endeavor, breath something divine" (John Calvin, Institutes Pg. 82).

John Calvin Quote

"God, the Artificer of the universe, is made manifest to us in Scripture, and that what we ought to think of him is set forth there, lest we seek some uncertain deity by devious paths...For by his word, God rendered faith unambiguous forever, a faith that should be superior to all opinion" (John Calvin, Inst. Vol. I Pg. 71).

Guilt

What does the world of lost sinners do with their guilt? They "let it go" as one prominent talk show host said last night. It is an amazing display of self-deception that convinces one deep down in their soul that guilt can simply be annihilated or abolished from ones life at will. Such a notion finds its warrant from having a healthy self esteem, understanding of self respect, dignity, and proper value of life; all of this being contrary to what God's word has to say on the matter of guilt. This secular notion of letting guilt go is in essence an attack against the conscience, and in turn though more seriously, such a hardening of the heart that it is a sinful display of rebellion from God. That this is such an insult to God we can see in that nature itself condemns man of his guilt, but more so God's word; and the contrast of his holy character to ours unmistakably condemns man for his guilt.
What a terrible day it will be when all the guilt of the sinner is poured out into the soul with all its fury, the conscience not being able to sever itself from the torment of this guilt. This thought in itself ought to be terrible enough to turn one to Christ, but to add the eternal punishment of God to it is a thought most dreadful, an ordeal beyond comprehension!
According to his word God will call into account before us all, on the day of his judgment, deeds done in this life both good and bad. Woe to the ones that have not brought their guilt to be washed in the blood of Christ on that day. If you have not done this now is the time of salvation for you. Christ receives sinners. Guilt that has not been forgiven by Christ will be charged to the sinner, and that without appeal on his part. No objection will be raised in God's court room, and no defense will be launched. The guilty will be charged and he will be without excuse. There will be no exoneration. There will be no denying, rationalizing, explaining away, exceptions given or any such reasoning that will stand before God as leverage for mitigation and the commuting of the sentence of death. To be convinced in ones own mind that he or she is free of guilt and does not deserve to be punished will not be a possibility. God will remove all delusions and possibility for confusion that could lead to reasonable doubt. God will confront the sinner in such a way that it will be self-evident to the mind and soul that he is guilty, all mouths being stopped on the matter, as God is proven true and just, the evidence being irrefutable. This will be a case unlike in the case of a child that does not want to admit his guilt; but would rather have it covered up, over looked, or altogether undiscovered. His attempts to avoid the issue and trying to turn from correction with lies and pleas of exoneration, using justifications such as: "It wasn't me I didn't do it." It wasn't my fault." "You don't understand." "But so and so did the same thing." "What I did wasn't as bad." It's different for me in my case". "He did this or that to me." "Why do I have to anyhow?" "I didn't know." will not be heard. It will not be possible to cloud the facts in that the whole matter is not known or latitude is given as in the instance where a child has been given unlawful liberties, by parents claiming to love their children though with a love that is not of the same sort of love as that of Christian love. Such will not hold up in this court. God's commands and liberties are pure while these are not. This will all be striped of the sinner.
Our worldly contracts that are made for the prevention of confusion are fallible and open for dispute but the infallible word of God will not be up for dispute. The only claim to justification that will be accepted by God is justification that has been freely given by faith in Christ.
There will be no hope apart from this. Worse yet there will be no hope of forgiveness in that the time of repentance will have passed if one delays too long. And consider this, that if the world can "let their guilt go" on the grounds of a lie, how much more ought we who have so graciously been enlightened bring our guilt to Christ, the only place that we might truly and legitimately rid ourselves of guilt, or more precisely be forgiven for it?

Proverbs 19:11

"The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression" (Prov. 19:11 KJV).

Thomas Watson Quote

"Though an adopted heir of heaven cannot obey every precept perfectly, yet he does evangelically. He approves of every command. 'I consent to the law, that it is good.' Rom vII 16. He delights in every command. 'O how love I thy law!' Psalm cxix 97. His desire is to obey every command. 'O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!' Psalm cxix 5. Wherein he comes short, he looks up to Christ's blood to supply his defects. This is evangelical obedience; which, though it be not to satisfaction, it is to acceptation" (Watson, A Body of Divinity Pg. 238.

Thomas Watson Quote

Great was the work of creation; but greater the work of redemption. It cost more to redeem us than to make us. In the one, there was only the speaking a word (Psalm 148:5); in the other, the shedding of blood (Hebrews 9:22)" (Heaven Taken by Storm Pg.43).

Prayer

I am but flesh and you are a most holy God. My sins are ever before me, weighting me down, and causing you to be displeased with me. They retard my spiritual progress. They paralyze me. I am seized with fear because of this condition I am in. My sins prevent me form sweet fellowship with you, and from doing any good to my brethren, as well as to those that are of the lost sheep. My spirit is tormented day and night. My body is as my spirit is, it is as if it is torn to pieces because of my sins. I have felt the heat and flames of this world and of hell upon my body and mind. I bear scares because of this both internally and externally. I shriek back from your presence in horror. Let not this state of mine continue. It would be dreadful for it to be my eternal lot. Such pain is only a small sampling of what is to come for those outside of Christ. Do not hide your face from me any longer. I cannot bear it. I know it will not be for much longer that your presence will be removed from me if you will only remember to look upon me by way of the cross. It is your promise Lord that you will be with me and never utterly forsake me. You will not cast me off forever will you? My anxiety renders me dumbfounded. I am become as Nebuchadnezzar--beside myself. Depression consumes me. Darkness surrounds me.
But I have tasted of your goodness and how sweet it is. Let me now feast upon you. I have learned what it means to be separated from you. And if I must go through all of my life in the valley and not on the mountain, I will gladly do it, as painful as it is, if it brings me into your eternal presence. I will be as Job. Though I am slain yet will I serve you. It would be nice, however, to view things from a high peak again. I bring to memory how good you have been to me in times past, how mighty your hand has been in saving me, in protecting me; how comforting your spirit has been to me, and how you have blessed those closest to me with your presence.
Walk with me closer Lord. Speak to me louder. Teach me. I want to know you. I love you. You love me and gave your life for me. But I am slow in understanding and hard of hearing. Open my eyes to your beauty, love, grace, kindness. Reveal yourself to me in such a way that it would not be possible for me to ever entertain worldliness again, never pursue lusts of the flesh. Turn my attention to you. My mind is easily distracted, my thoughts wonder from you. I must strive to know you. It is my intention to pursue you with more aggression than I have pursued my sins. Give me the strength to do this. Reveal yourself to me. Cause my face to shine like Moses' face shown because I have been in your company. Let others say of me, "he has been with the Lord." Let me see your glory. I am your child. Does a father not wish to spend time with his child? If I ask for bread will you give me a stone or if I ask for a fish will you give me a serpent? Did not you redeem me with your very own blood. I cannot bear these burdens they are too heavy. Lord you will not cast off forever will you? Your mercy does not allow for me to be consumed. who is God like you that pardons iniquity and does not stay angry, but delights in mercy? Turn to me and have compassion on me. Subdue my iniquities. Cast my sins into the depths of the sea.
The world and the flesh promise fullness and satisfaction, but these promises are lies and only lead to bitterness and pain. Every sin that I have committed the devil replays in my mind like a broken record. I have sought life in death and happiness in sorrow. If only I could train my mind to seek you, the spring of eternal life, and mountain top of happiness! If only I would take up your burden for it is lighter than mine. What a fallen degenerate mind I have that prefers pain over true felicity--a form of love to true love. The flesh is a parasite to my soul draining my life's blood out. Substitute this blood with the blood of Christ. Was it not shed on my behalf? Sanctify me Lord with your spirit. I long for the completion of the redemption of my flesh. I would be as Enoch and come into your presence now if you would but make it so. Though Satan would have me do so, I do not worry for my family. I know you would take care of them.
I suffer though Lord under the weight of sin and am despairing unto the point of slighting Christ and his crucifixion. Forgive me. Increase my faith. Have me to mourn my sins but do not let me be consumed under them. You have told me to not be anxious for anything. And so surely this cannot be the lot of one of your redeemed that I can hardly know any peace.
What will you have me do in this world Lord? I have not died an infant or child. I often wonder why? I will have lived thirty seven years next sabbath if it is your will. What shall I do in this life? Do you want me to sell all my worldly possessions for your kingdom? I will gladly do it. They are not many and are truly already yours. I am content with this. Will you have me go to a foreign land? Here am I send me. Will you have me to minister--to preach your word? Give me the knowledge and grace to do so. Shall I continue in manual labor? I will do it. Will you have me write of the things of God. I will. I hope someone will be blessed by reading this prayer. Perhaps they can sympathize with it and you will speak to their heart. There have been many prayers of others that have been of a spiritual help to me. I am glad you allowed them to be preserved. I know we are not to pray proudly and repetitiously for people to see, but Lord I pray in humility and keep a record of this prayer for my own memory and in the case you lead someone to cross paths with it, and be blessed in some way. I don't see how they could though my words become as ash to me. I speak the truth, however. Everything I have said, I said from my heart. This is how I feel.
Lord I desire to be great in your kingdom, but will be happy to be the least. I want to be known, but only that you will be exalted and in knowing me people will know you. But Lord if I am never recognized by anyone in this world I am glad to have been known by you. He that would be greatest must be the least. The one that would be master must be servant of all. What a mystery! Father hear your son's cry for your attention. Holy Spirit sanctify me and bring me into sweet fellowship with you. Lord Jesus take this my burden and the guilt of my sins. Lord hear this prayer of your most humble servant and who is the least of all that is in your kingdom.
And though I see and feel my need to pray further regarding all these things, I cannot find the right words to speak unto you. All of my talk becomes babel in my ears and confusion in mind. So Lord, you speak to me. I will listen.

Jeremiah Burroughs Quote (Gospel Fear)

"If you fear God's word, you need fear nothing else" (Burroughs Pg.21).

Joseph Alleine Quote

"Surley, if the way be so easy as many suppose,that little more is necessary than to be baptized and to cry out, 'Lord have mercy', we need not put ourselves to such seeking, and knocking, and wrestling, as the word requires in order to salvation. Again if this is true, we shall no more say, 'Few there be that find it '; we will rather say, 'Few there be that miss it.' We shall no more say, that of the many that are called only 'few are chosen' (Mat.xxii 14), and that even of the professing Israel but a remnant shall be saved (Rom ix 27). (Joseph Alleiine A sure Guide to Heaven Pg. 20)

Book Review A Sure Guide to Heaven

Joseph Alleine's book A Sure Guide to Heaven is the most powerful call to the Gospel, repentance, and conversion to God that I have ever heard or read. Originally published I think under the title An Alarm to the Unconverted (a title more suitable than the current title), this puritan demonstrates with all clarity the complete corruption of an unsanctified soul, leaving no excuse for impenitence and faith in Christ. If you have not read this book and are a seeker of God, and especially a church leader, you must not wait another minute, but must read it immediately. You will have no doubt of your need of Christ after reading this book. And if your Gospel presentation is a bit cloudy this book will shine so brightly on the understanding that you will never preach the same.

Micah 7:18

"Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger forever, because he delighteth in mercy" Micah 7:18).

Thomas Watson Quote

"When we consider how dearly our sins cost Christ, how should we shed the blood of our sins that shed Christ's blood" (Heaven Taken by Storm Pg.29)?

Book Review (Heaven Taken by Storm)

Heaven Taken by Storm by the puritan Thomas Watson is a must read. This is a new publication by The Northampton Press, the new ministry of Don Kistler. The message of the book is that entering into heaven is no easy matter, but that we must take great pains to see to it that we arrive at last to our final resting place. We must fight the good fight of faith and violently strive to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. This is a foreign concept for the church of our day which for the most part has distorted the true Christian experience making it out to be a state of pacifism when it is not.

"Though we do not have the power to save ourselves, yet we must pursue after salvation because God has made a promise of grace as well as to grace" (Pg.83).

The Bible and the Future (Book Review)

Anthony A. Hoekema's book The Bible and the Future is a text book type description and defence of amillennialism. This book is for the serious student of eschatology. He discusses such topics as the kingdom of God, death, immortality, the intermediate state, the second coming, the signs of the times, the major millennium views, the resurrection of the body, the final judgement, eternal punishment, and the new earth. Eschatology is a complicated topic of theology, and Hoekema sheds much light on the subject. This is a scholarly work and takes quite a bit of effort to read through, but all serious theologians (and laity that are looking for answers) must put this on their list of required reading.