New Blog - This Blog Not Here Anymore

No new posts will be made to this blog site. They have been moved to and will continue at our new Clear Vision blog page. See you there!

Ashamed of the Gospel

My current read: Ashamed of the Gospel by John McArthur.
In reference to: Charles Spurgeon and the down-grade controversy.

Some quotes (so far): "It [current minstry philosophy] caters to people whose first love is themselves and who care not for God - unless they can have Him without disrupting their selfish lifestyles. Promise such people a religion that will allow them to be comfortable in their materialism and self-love, and they will respond in droves."

2 Timothy 4:2-4 - "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."

"The preaching of the Word must be the very heart of our ministry philosophy."

"Real success is not getting results at any cost. It is not prosperity, power, prominence, popularity, or any of the other worldly notions of success. Real success is doing the will of God regardless of the consequences."

SDG,
Lisa

How Can I Be Sure I'm a Christian

The message yesterday reminded me of a book I read a little over a year ago - How Can I Be Sure I'm a Christian by Don Whitney.



BTW, after listening to the sermon recommended in my last post, go back to Sermon Audio and look up all the sermons by Paul Washer. Be sure to listen to the 2 part, The Beatitudes - Clothed in Christ. Excellent.

SDG,
Lisa

Don't Miss this Message

Don't miss this message - by missionary Paul Washer to about 5000 American youth and adults - So Shocking and Biblical the Preacher was Never Invited Back. You can listen or watch or read, download or online.

Way of the Master heard it and interviewed him. This is a great listen, too.

SDG,
Lisa

Spurgeon quote

Just now, the Lord Jesus is betrayed by not a few of His professed ministers. He is being crucified afresh in the perpetual attacks of scepticism against His blessed gospel; and it may be that things will wax worse and worse. This is not the first occasion when it has been so, for, at various times in the history of the Church of God, His enemies have exulted, and cried out that the gospel of past ages was exploded, and might be reckoned as dead and buried. For one, I mean to sit over against the very sepulchre of truth. I am a disciple of the old-fashioned doctrine as much when it is covered with obloquy and rebuke as when it shall again display its power, as it surely shall. Sceptics may seem to take the truth, and bind it, and scourge it, and crucify it, and say that it is dead; and they may endeavour to bury it in scorn, but the Lord has many a Joseph and a Nicodemus who will see that all due honour is done even to the body of truth, and will wrap the despised creed in sweet spices, and hide it away in their hearts. They may, perhaps, be half afraid that it is really dead, as the wise men assert; yet it is precious to their souls, and they will come forth right gladly to espouse its cause, and to confess that they are its disciples. We will sit down in sorrow, but not in despair; and watch until the stone is rolled away, and Christ in His truth shall live again, arid be openly triumphant. We shall see a Divine interposition, and shall cease to fear; while they who stand armed to prevent the resurrection of the grand old doctrine shall quake and become as dead men, because the gospel's everlasting life has been vindicated, and they are made to quail before the brightness of its glory.—C. H. S., in sermon at the Tabernacle, 1878.

as quoted on spurgeon.org

Meditating on the Word

Greetings from Me and My House,

Most of the time I use the Bible alone for meditation and my daily quiet time with God ("devotions"). I feel no one should get between me and the Spirit of God. I am far more interested in learning from the Spirit and the Word and God working directly in my life, than reading about what others think of a passage.

The above forms the majority of my life in God alone, but I do also learn from great heroes of the faith, and other faithful pilgrims just passing through this world. We learn from teachers, but we are not their followers. We are not with them 24/7 as we are to be with our Lord. They just help point us to Him.

As mentioned in Dec., my dh and I have begun a study of Jesus' commands. We are now 1/4 of the way through. This year long study has given us a weekly passage to meditate upon and daily encouragement and illustrations to read. We are greatly enjoying it, and others have joined in also.

It is through meditation on and observing the Word that we will have "good success" in life (Josh 1:8). And Psalm 1 :1-3 says the one that meditates in God's Word day and night is blessed. It is the one diligent in truly learning God's Word, in His heart and spirit, not just mind - one who truly meditates in God's Word - who is blessed and successful. It is the one who has forsaken the things of this world to learn and follow the ways of the One who made him and all things, that is blessed with the sweet fellowship of his Maker and Redeemer and who grows to be more like Him. Lord, continue to make me that one.

SDG,
Lisa

Salt

A quote from an article by James Nickel on his website,

"In the Bible, salt is connected to the covenantal sacrifices (Leviticus 2:13). Adding salt to sacrifices meant that the sacrifices, in themselves, were unsavory. Salt, as the season of grace (cf. Colossians 4:6) – the unmerited favor of God – makes the sacrifices pleasing and acceptable; i.e., “savory” to God.

Through and by God’s redemptive grace given to the undeserving sinner, God requires the redeemed to present themselves to Him as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2). Salt for the life of the believer is the preservative power of fidelity and purpose of heart to be true to covenant. In this requirement to be faithful, we are kept faithful by the power of God (I Peter 1:5). "

The article is on Salt and the Marriage covenant, but the above quote is worth contemplating on in itself also.

SDG,
Lisa