Reverence and Awe

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Morning

Restoration is the topic for this morning and praise the Lord of His mercy and grace with His children. As we are studying the book of Judges at Sunday’s service we have seen within the pages of scripture God restoring His people time and time again. Israel kept on backsliding even after the Lord would continually bring them out of tribulation and restore them to a time of peace and close communion with Him. Have any of you found yourself asking why Israel was so foolish and could not learn their lesson? I know I have, but the Lord has also put on my heart to reflect within myself and realize how often I forget the Lord and how often I do not live in a manner that He is most glorified through me. But we also know that the Lord has poured out His mercy store on us. We have been ransomed by the blood of Christ and we have been adopted into His family so that we can be restored daily by the power of the Holy Spirit that lives within us.

Spurgeon urges us to sincerely pray to God that He might renew a right spirit within ourselves and that we “should be much in prayer; live much upon the Word of God; kill the lusts which have driven your Lord from you; be careful to watch over the future uprisings of sin.” Know today Christian, that the Lord is on your side and will restore you unto Himself for His names sake.

I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You – Job 42:2

Evening

I was immediately drawn to Romans 5:8 which says, “But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” He knew each and everyone of us while we were still walking in the wilderness of the world, not at all aware of His grace, love, or mercy. I think this goes quite well with the morning devotional in that we can have absolute confidence even though “my inward experience has often been a wilderness” He is faithful to restore us.

Let us not be ashamed in the saving truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ for “He owned thee, O my soul, in thy poverty and shame” but let us glorify Him daily with continual thanksgiving that He knew us before we knew Him.

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Reading this day's morning and evening devotions, I came to realize that in my own personal life I tend to "thank the LORD" far more often than "praising the LORD." I do thank Him for all that He has provided for us in the way of salvation, indwelling our spirit, making us one with the Father, making the way for us to be adopted as 'sons of God', and of course the temporal things He provides.

But I find myself at a lower rate of frequency praising God for just the pure worship of praise. Praising Him for the essence of His being in all of His attributes. Sunday morning and Wednesday I can get into it, along with the rest of you. So I felt I needed a way to encompass both aspect of these things into my praise life. And the LORD led me to some Scripture to assist me. Here are two verses of Psalms that show me that I can easily combine both my thanksgiving and my praise together. And in the process "Magnify Him!"

I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving. (Psalm 69:30 NKJV)

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. (Psalm 100:4 NKJV)

My Prayer: LORD, the disciple's prayed to you to help their faith. I ask you to help my praise. Please infuse into me a discernment to give praise for the magnificent Being that You are and to give thanksgiving for the merciful, compassionate and gracious things You do for us! I thank You for Who You are, the LORD Creator of the Universe. I thank you that as the LORD Creator of the Universe, you decided to humble Yourself and die on a cross for me. Thanks and Praise to You, my LORD and Savior. I pray that this has magnified and blessed Your Name. Amen.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

Good Morning & Evening
(click to hear this mornings devo)
(click to hear this evenings devo)

Good Morning!

What a refreshing treatment Spurgeon gives us hear of The Lords Prayer but more importantly a sober thought about our own prayer lives.

First I think it's important to acknowledge that in the life of most Christians this is one area where we tend to fall short especially if we are not being intentional about how we approach our prayer life. We are usually quick to tell people we'll be in prayer for them or certain things almost to support a clockwork like, many times a day, preplanned prayer life that would make Martin Luther jealous, but in reality that is almost never the case. If indeed that is what your prayer life is like then praise the Lord and press on brother/sister, but I doubt it!
Most likely your prayer life would reflect that of most Christians. A fighting for time, daily struggle to even acknowledge God rather spending long devoted times of focused prayer for the many things we know should be on our prayer lists.

Spurgeon offers here one remedy for the struggling lukewarm prayer life. He presents The Lords Prayer to us pointing out the process and focus of this prayer lesson Chris gives us here in Matthew. The process and focus is a heart of worship from beginning to end. Growing ever more deeper in the revelation of the majesty of God from his adopting us into his family to his ability in this world and in our lives like the grand crescendo of the philharmonic ending with a triumphant "for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever Amen!"

We serve a God who hears our prayers:

"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. and if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." (1John 5 14-15)

May the majesty of God recapture our hearts this day and lead us to his throne room where he tells us to "boldly come" making our request known to Him.

Good Evening -

I think these two go together quite brilliantly.
This evenings devotion is about Seeing and finding the Lord. It is one thing to seek Him but to find him, to look upon his majesty and be set in awe of his greatness is truly life changing. I say these two go together brilliantly because I think it is in this moment of finding and gazing upon His magnificent beauty that the whole of our Christian lives are set ablaze in every area: serving, worshiping, prayer, studying His word, ministering to others...
Never is there a greater time of devotion and spiritual closeness than when I have come to see and focus on the greatness of God. Everything else in the Christian life just becomes a gift that enhances that closeness.

May we seek and find his pure cleansing majesty this day as we walk in the gardens of scripture and may it quicken our hearts to praise and worship.


God bless!
jeff paisano

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible
MORNING
"When you have soared as high as election, linger on it's twin peak, the covenant of grace." Grace and Election, twin peaks indeed! Sovereign Grace and Electing Love, what a glorious thought and to think that we are the objects of both is overwhelming!

"If Jesus undertook to bring me to glory, and if the Father promised that He would give me to the Son to be a part of the infinite reward of the travail of His soul, then my soul until God Himself shall be unfaithful, until Jesus shall cease to be the truth, I am safe". What more can be said about this wonderful reality? Praise God from Whom all blessings flow, praise Him above the Heavenly Host, Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost, Amen!

EVENING
Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. We love Him because He first loved us! He came to seek and save us. He has redeemed our souls with His blood. He is pleading, even now at the throne of God for us. Altogether lovely! The fairest of ten thousand. The bright and morning star. The rose of sharon. The lamb of God. My Lord and My God! There just aren't enough superlatives to express His Glory and majesty.

As we look in Scripture, we are reminded over and over again that God is faithful to His promises. Spurgeon emphasizes this morning the phrase, "This is a faithful saying." As we read God's Word today, may we be encouraged that everything we read is "worthy of all acceptation." God's promises can be trusted. Paul emphasizes this in four different verses, which ought to encourage us in our salvation, our passion for godliness, as we suffer through trails, and as we serve Christ and others. I want to encourage you today, however, to assume that everything we read in Scripture is prefaced with, "This is a faithful saying," for we serve a faithful God who has preserved His word for us today!

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We enjoy the fruit from the tree and put very little thought into where the source of the nutrients are, the root. Spurgeon draws an analogy and suggests that Jesus is the root from where the fruit of our faith comes from.

If we expound on this even more we realize that the roots are also what provides stability and strength from the winds and the storms. Also consider what happens to the fruit when if falls from the branch. It is quickly overcome by scavengers and lays rotting on the ground. Let us cling tightly to the source of our strength and sustenance who is Christ.

We will not know or understand every aspect of this until the day we stand before Him. But until that glorious day our fruit will be the evidence of our attachment to the Source

Psalm 28: 7 The LORD [is] my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him.

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Morning: "Will ye also go away?" - John 6:67

I had a tough time laying hold of Spurgeon's thoughts this morning - Spurgeon is asking us to reason, as believers, remembering Christ's friendship, comfort, and love, and conclude that there is no good reason to leave Him.

I can think of plenty of reasons to leave Jesus - all bad reasons, and all because of my sin nature: hardness of heart, rebellion, selfishness, etc.

But when I am in sin, those are exactly the times when I am least likely to use reason to stay with the Lord. If my walk depended on my own reasoning ability, I, and all of you dear readers, would fail miserably, and fail often.

What then shall we do? Rejoice! Our walk depends not on confidence in our reasoning, but on the goodness of God, who redeems us and causes us to walk in newness of life as we surrender our lives to Him, with faith only in His merits!

Paul says "walk worthy" in Ephesians 4:1, not by virtue of our reasoning ability, but by virtue of the power of the resurrection of Christ, which put all things under His feet, giving Him to us, His church, to be head over all things. Paul calls this the hope of His calling, in Ephesians 1, and He calls it our inheritance as adopted sons of God.

Paul reminds us in Philippians 3:21 that it is Christ who will transform us, conforming us to Him, by His resurrection power, by which He subdues all things to Himself.

He sudues all things! Hey, I'm one of those "all things". You are one of those "all things". Christ is subduing you, and me. We are being gifted by the Father with obedience to follow Christ, because of His great love for us. It is the love of Christ which compels us. And He, and His love, are faithful, even when I am not! It is not my love of Christ, but His love!

This is my great hope! I've been sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:13), who guarantees my inheritance!

I rejoice in this, and I want to follow Christ and walk worthy, with all my confidence in Him!

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. - [1Jo 3:2-3 NKJV]

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

Why have we decided to start a new series on systematic theology on Wednesday nights? This morning's devotion gives one good reason.

Should we be satisfied to believe in Christ, and to say, "I am safe," without wishing to know in our own experience more of the fullness which is to be found in Him. It should not be so; we should, as good traders in heaven's market, covet to be enriched in the knowledge of Jesus. It is all very well to keep other men's vineyards, but we must not neglect our own spiritual growth and ripening. Why should it always be winter time in our hearts?

Theology is simply the study of God... we desire to know Him more and more as we dive into the Scriptures... because to know Him is to love Him. The more we understand our infinite Creator, the sweeter our worship will be. Theology is not about knowing "facts" about God Almighty... but knowing the God behind those facts. He is the object of our worship and I do pray that our church would grow in our knowledge and love for our Triune God as we systematically study His word.

This evening's devotion is quite an exhortation... "keep not back"! My only thoughts here are to read tonight's devotion and see that your heart is honest before the Lord.

Jesus kept not back, imitate Him by being foremost in self-denials and self-sacrifices. Keep not back from close communion with God, from boldly appropriating covenant blessings, from advancing in the divine life, from prying into the precious mysteries of the love of Christ.

To God be the glory for the great things He has done!

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Morning

A perfect topic of discussion as we begin “Systematic Theology” on Wednesday night and yet we can see Spurgeon bring to light the common things that every child of God has obtained. Going through an in depth study about particular doctrines of God we come to realize how little we know. It is one of those things where the more you read and the more you try to deepen your faith, the more you come to realize how much you are a babe in Christ. Reading through the great writings of so many theologians it makes us seem small and weak in the faith and knowledge of Christ sometimes. But this morning’s devotional assures us we as just as much saved as the scholar. We all have been clothed in His robes of righteousness, been showered by His rain of mercy, been overtaken by His flood of grace and have been washed in the blood of the Lamb. From the wisest to the weakest all who have put their faith in Christ have received the same.

An infant is as truly a child of its parents as is the full-grown man

Strive to learn more and more about the riches of Christ, be disciplined in studying His word, pray for the Lord to give you wisdom and a humbled heart when growing in His knowledge and know that both the one who drinks milk and the one who eats meat have received the same token of inheritance in Him.

Evening

I think a very clear parallel can be drawn between this evening’s devotional and another question which has been pondered by many throughout the ages, and that is why do the wicked prosper while the righteous man of God suffers sometimes? Psalm 73:12 even says “Behold, these are the ungodly, who are always at ease; they increase in riches”. I have personally asked myself this questions and have experienced frustration within the workplace when I witnessed another employee with the same position as me lie about certain documents while I had told the truth and then watched this particular individual get promoted because the company did not look into the requirements any further.

The difficulty is for music to swell forth when no wind is stirring

We must look past are present circumstances and have are sights on heavenly places which will make us praise the Lord no matter what the current trials are. Without Christ we would be blinded by darkness but it is the Lord who shines the light for us so that we may see and walk a straight path. Even in our darkest tribulations it is God our maker and Savior who enables us to sings praises to Him in the night. Thank Him this night for His gift of everlasting life.

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This Evening's Reading deals with one of those subjects that is often misunderstood, in two extremes. I am speaking of obedience under the New Covenant. Some take the commands to obey to the point that your salvation is dependent upon your obedience (we would call this legalism). Others take it to the other extreme that emphasizes that we are under grace not the Law, and therefore we don't need to worry about it (we call this anti-nomianism-from the Greek meaning lawless).

Neither extreme has it right, in my opinion. It it true that we are commanded over and over again in the New Testament to obey the commands of God. For example:

But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?—Luke 6:46 NKJV

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.—Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV

But clearly Scripture also tells us that salvation is by faith and not by works.

...knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.—Galatians 2:16 NKJV

So the LORD does call us as a matter of daily Christian living to follow Him. That includes obeying Him. But the beautiful thing about the New Covenant is that Christ gives to the regenerate believer the Holy Spirit to indwell us, to empower us to live that Christian walk.

Desire to obey God, yes! Choose to obey God, yes! But always call upon the gift of the power of God (through the Holy Spirit) to accomplish these things. How do we do that? Well I think the Morning Reading gives us a good start. Prayer to the LORD and communion with Him! Let our paths be dropping with the fatness of prayer and communion with our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given [us] everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.—2Thessalonians 2:16-17 NKJV

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

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MORNING
We live by faith in the complete work of God's Son and we live in a world bent on denying the only begotten Son of God. We also war not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers, spiritual wickedness in high places. Our arch enemy, the devil goes about like a roaring lion seeking who to devour and doubt is one of the most effective weapons.

The only defense is to daily present our bodies, living sacrifices, holy and acceptable, our reasonable act of worship and not be conformed to the world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. As we lift that shield of faith and declare our total dependence on the completed work of Christ on the Cross can we withstand the fiery darts of the enemy.

He is faithful even when we are not! "What we have known of our faithful God proves that He will keep us to the end. Let us not, then reason contrary to the evidence". "Lord, throw down the Jezebel of our unbelief, and let the dogs devour it".

EVENING
Great Shepherd, lover of my soul, "grant me a heart to love You more truly as I ought!" I love Him because He first loved me and gave His life for me and the life that I now live I live by His complete provision. I love you Lord!

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In this Morning's devotional Spurgeon reminds us of Jesus' humble arrival here on earth; yet, even with that, He drew the attention of the entire world. There were those who professed to be waiting for Him yet denied Him upon arrival. Spurgeon refers to Jesus as a "winnowing fan." This is a process where grain is poured in front of the fan and the unwanted chaff is blown away leaving only the desirable, denser remnants to fall into a bin below where it is collected by the farmer. The religious leaders of the time were exposed to this process during Jesus' physical time here on earth; as a result, many of them were exposed for their hypocrisy as they were “winnowed” by their rejection of the very Messiah who’s coming they had claimed they had been teaching of.

Spurgeon then asks the question, "But what will his second advent be?" In His second coming there will be no mistaking who He is. Revelation 19:15-16 : "Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations.’He will rule them with an iron scepter.' He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh.” In spite of what the world thinks of Him they will see him for who He is and every knee shall bow and every tongue confess who He is.

We are reminded that during His first advent He presented Himself as a lamb, a living sacrifice who stands in our place for our sin. In His second Advent He will appear as the lion of the tribe of Judah, “rending the prey in pieces; and though He breaks not the bruised reed, yet will He break His enemies with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. None of His foes shall bear up before the tempest of His wrath, or hide themselves from the sweeping hail of His indignation”

A terrifying time for some but, as Spurgeon points out, “ His beloved blood washed people look for His appearing with joy, and hope to abide it without fear: to them He sits as a refiner even now, and when He has tried them they shall come forth as gold.”

I am humbled and grateful that these things have been revealed to me through His sovereign will. Let this morning’s devotion serve as much needed exhortation for us to live every day as if it were the day of His second advent.

Today's devotion is a very practical one that we all need to review and live by. I know in my own life, I don't always look at the small sins, as much as I do the big ones. The big ones seem to be easier to see and shy away from, but it is the little sins that nip at us every second, and we may just look them over as if they are not important. Spurgeon writes, "we shall shun it—shun it in everything—not in great things only, but in little things, as men shun little vipers as well as great snakes."

"Godly sorrow worketh repentance." — 2 Corinthians 7:10

It is important to know that no repentance is sustainable without the working of the Holy Spirit. We can not do this by our own power. Have you ever tried to fight some sort of sin on your own? The result for me is always failure. When we fix our eyes upon our Savior who died for all of our sins, it should bring us to a point of great reverence and love for Him for what he has done. His love for us should cause us to not want to disappoint Him and to fall more in love with Him, thus causing us to run from our sins.

I am deeply comforted by knowing what Spurgeon writes that, "Sincere repentance is continual. Believers repent until their dying day." We see this as believers, and find comfort that though we are not perfect, God is. We all fall short of the glory of God, but He sent His son for us, to die for all of our sins and transgressions, past, present and future. My prayer for all of us today is that we continually come to the throne of God to ask for forgiveness and for the strength to overcome our perils. Have a blessed day. Amen.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Morning: "Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens." - Lamentations 3:41

Evening: "Whom He did predestinate, them He also called." - Romans 8:30

The act of prayer teaches us our unworthiness, which is a very salutary lesson for such proud beings as we are.

The most healthy state of a Christian is to be always empty in self and constantly depending upon the Lord for supplies; to be always poor in self and rich in Jesus

Lots of food for thought in Spurgeon today. And yes, prayer can be very humbling. I put the word "can" in italics because it highlights one of my (many) prideful problems. Prayer can be, but often isn't. Sometimes my prayers are humble - I feel unworthy to approach the throne of God, when I'm feeling most miserable about my sinful nature. Yet, where else can I turn, as a miserable sinner, than to the throne of God? This reminds me of Peter's cry to the Lord:

But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. [John 6:68]

In the midst of my sorrow over my sin, I can cry to the Lord - 'to whom shall I go?', and I know there is no where else - only the Lord has the words of eternal life!

And He is good to hear my prayers, because I come to Him, not in my own righteousness, but wrapped in the righteousness of Christ, wearing the banner of Jehovah Nissi over my tattered rags.

And those other times - how often do I approach of throne of God complacent about my walk, comfortable with myself, ready to inquire of the Lord, seemingly satisfied to come to the throne of grace with my own merits, my own cheap wares on display? Sad but true, I sometimes do.

I am so thankful for those humble times, when I feel so unworthy to approach the Lord in prayer, because that is the way I should always come to God in prayer.

It is "an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace."

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

Evening:

Do not, I beseech thee, give up seeking or trusting my Master, because thou hast not yet obtained the conscious joy which thou longest for. Cast thyself on him, and perseveringly depend even where thou canst not rejoicingly hope.


Many times we will not get the response we expect from our Savior; many times when we think we need some kind of feeling, or sign, or just some kind of indication that He is there we'll get silence. Tonight's devotion is comforting for those getting "the silent treatment" from God. And it's a comfort to know that when God is silent that He is doing it for a purpose, and at that time in our spiritual walk it's what our heart needs. I take comfort that when my feelings of peace and comfort aren't present I can rest in the fact that my God is near no matter what, and that those feelings and comforts will come about in His perfect timing.

God bless, and sorry for the late post.

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I am freshly reminded this morning of my utter dependence on Christ. But it's not just I who am dependent on Christ... His Church is dependent on Him as well. As Spurgeon rightly said... "Without Him we can do nothing." But with Christ we can do all things."

When Jesus is lifted up in His Church, His presence is the Church's power—the shout of a king is in the midst of her.

What is the power of the church? Is it the number of people in our congregations? Or maybe it's our particular liturgy or denomination or non-denomination? Maybe it's our "style" or cultural relevance?
I wholeheartedly agree and shout AMEN to the previous quote from Spurgeon. Our power, as His Church, is sourced in Him and Him alone. The ONLY power we have as the Church today is in Christ-centeredness and complete reliance on the Savior!

In this evening's devotion... I was moved by the simple yet profound words of the first paragraph.

Mark the grand characteristic of true prayer—"In the Holy Ghost." The seed of acceptable devotion must come from heaven's storehouse. Only the prayer which comes from God can go to God. We must shoot the Lord's arrows back to Him. That desire which He writes upon our heart will move His heart and bring down a blessing, but the desires of the flesh have no power with Him.

What a great devotion on prayer and praying in the Holy Spirit. But I'm going to meditate tonight particularly on the words, "Only the prayer which comes from God can go to God. We must shoot the Lord's arrows back to Him." I would encourage you to do the same. May we seek His face in the strength of His might! May we come to Him in humility... because the cross has stricken our pride! May we come to Him in faith... trusting that we are wrapped in Christ's robes of righteousness that came to us by His grace!

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Morning

This morning’s devotional falls right in line with what was preached last Sunday and if any of you have not been blessed with the sermon from Judges 3:7-31 you must be sure to pick up a copy of the cd, it will surely strengthen you in the Lord.

Even Moses, one of God’s most faithful servants asked the question “why I am being put through these trials.” After being tasked by the Lord to bring the children of Israel out of bondage and witnessing firsthand the miracles of God, he was having a hard time with the trial he was being faced with. I think we all can relate to Moses and at time wonder “why me”. But there is a blessing with each trial and a cloud of grace that surrounds us for it is God who is glorified through our trials. “The Lord afflicts His servants to glorify Himself, for He is greatly glorified in the graces of His people, which are His own handiwork.” We know that God chastens and disciplines the ones He loves (Hebrews 12:3-11) for if we do not receive any correction from above when we are continuing to live in sin, the question must be asked if we are one of His at all. I have personally experienced severe correction from the Lord which was painful, embarrassing and sorrowful. But without that correction I would have wickedness in my life that would have eventually lead to destruction as all sin does. It is a glorious thing when you come out the other side and you are confident that Christ Jesus holds you firm in His righteous right hand. Are you going through a hard trial now? Pray and ask the Lord for His counsel, seek His face and know that you will He will see you through the fire refined like pure iron.

It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes – Psalms 119:71

Evening

I feel that a very fundamental and crucial point that is brought up for this evening is what type of God we put our trust in, that is if we put any trust in Him at all. If you have put your faith in Christ and Him crucified on the cross than the Christian answer to who we trust must be “I trust in Him”. But we also must expand on what that exactly that means and how it should affect each one of our lives in practical day to day living. “It is a triune God” Spurgeon writes that we must put our trust in. Would any one of you sit down on a stool knowing that it only had two legs when there should be three? Of course not! And this is how it must be with the blessed trinity; we must put our trust equally and fully into the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Father: “You will guide me with Your counsel”– Psalm 73:24a. He has chosen us, corrects us and guides us.

Son: “being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth [as] a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed” Romans 3:24-25. He has taken away all of our sins, saved us from the wrath of God and eternal damnation, makes intercession for us and has justified us.

Holy Spirit: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” – John 14:26. He comforts our despondencies, helps us in our weakness, strengthens us with wisdom and lives within us so that He may be glorified through us.

Dear Christian, know that the word of God is true and pure, cast all of your worries onto Him for He will never fail you.

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I don't know about you when you read this Morning's Reading, but I said "Wow!" This is a perfect example of why they called Spurgeon the "Prince of Preachers." What a beautiful representation of the Spirit-filled, Spirit-led life in Christ. Spurgeon really tests us and causes us to ask, "Am I all-sufficiently filled and fulfilled in Christ. Is Jesus my all-in-all? This was my favorite line in the reading

The true saint is so completely satisfied with the all-sufficiency of Jesus that he thirsts no more—except it be for deeper draughts of the living fountain.

The section of Scripture from which this morning's text is drawn, (John 4) serves to remind us that Jesus is the Refreshment of Life. I am also reminded of the Scripture in Revelation describing the future Heavenly City and the river of water flowing from the throne of Christ.

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. (Rev 22:1-4 NKJV)

Let us be fully satisfied and refreshed today by the person of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! I long for the day I will see you face-to-face!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

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MORNING

Heavenly food and perfect service! What does that mean? I often reflect on the message Solomon gave us at the end of the Book of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 12. After musing about everything under the sun, he comes to the conclusion that "vanity of vanities, all is vanity". He goes on to declare the conclusion of the matter, "fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all".

What are those commandments? Love the Lord your God with all your heart mind and soul and as Jesus teaches in John 15:12 "love one another as I have loved you". On these henge all the law and the prophets. Spurgeon points out that we have a lot to learn concerning the design of our Lord in giving us His grace. "The Lord feeds and refreshes our souls so that we may use our renewed strength in the promotion of His Glory". Jesus teaches in John 15:8, "By this is my Father glorified that you bear much fruit; so you will be my disciples". As Spurgeon points out, "we eat the bread of heaven so that we can expend our strength in the Master's service.

It's about abiding, not works. We receive from Him what we need to glorify Him; that we may give praise and thanksgiving to Him and to each other, love grace and mercy. Ultimately, He is Glorified, which is all that matters.

EVENING

"The secular mind always maps out for itself a way in which self can work and become great, but the Lord's way is quite the reverse." "Believing and being baptized are not matters of merit to be gloried in - they are so simple that boasting is excluded." "To believe is simply to trust, to depend, to rely on Christ Jesus." "To be baptized is to submit to the ordinance that our Lord fulfilled at Jordan ... as an outward sign that portrays our death, burial and resurrection with Jesus."

"Not by works lest anyone should boast, our salvation is the Gift of God". We have no standing with God apart from Christ, our Redeemer.

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Morning:

"Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" — Hebrews 1:14

Angels: A topic that I really don't think much about; I can't really explain why given that it is such a fascinating subject.

This morning take the time to read Hebrews 1 from the beginning. It is an explanation of where angels fit into the hierarchy of God's kingdom and the role that they play. Spurgeon explains that they "bear us up in their hands lest we dash our foot against a stone; they are our unseen attendants watching over us with a deep interest."

Angels are mentioned hundreds of times between the old and new testaments. It is there we can find some of the functions that they are performing:

• Worship and praise -(Isaiah 6:1-3; Revelation 4-5)
• Revealing - (Acts 7:52-53), Daniel, and Revelation
• Guiding - (Matthew 1-2), (Acts 8:26), (Acts 10:1-8)
• Providing - (Genesis 21:17-20), (1 Kings 19:6), (Matthew 4:11)
• Protecting - (Daniel 3 and 6)
• Delivering - (Acts 5, Acts 12)
• Strengthening and encouraging - (Matt 4:11), (Acts 5:19-20), (Acts 27:23-25)
• Caring for believers at the moment of death - (Luke 16:22)

Spurgeon exhorts us to imagine the spiritual action that is occurring outside of the limited vision into this spiritual world that we possess when he says: "If our eyes could be opened, we should see horses of fire and chariots of fire about the servants of the Lord; for we have come to an innumerable company of angels, who are all watchers and protectors of the seed-royal.

It is an awesome thought to see the heavenly resources that are dedicated to each and every believer. Spurgeon asks the question, "How well are we defended since all the twenty-thousand chariots of God are armed for our deliverance!" The answer? We are so protected that nothing can happen to us outside of God's will. It is a testimony of God's love for and interest in the heirs of His Kingdom, that He would take such an army of powerful beings and command them to serve us and watch over us in the capacity in which they do.

As I think back and remember some of the precarious situations that I have gotten myself into over the years (I'll save you the details) it is comforting as I envision the army that has surrounded me in the midst: watching over me, protecting me, not allowing anything outside of His will.

Finally, Spurgeon reminds us that we need to give glory to Jesus for this encampment of Angels that surround us: "To whom do we owe all this? Let the Lord Jesus Christ be forever endeared to us, for through Him we are made to sit in heavenly places far above principalities and powers."

Angels are nothing more than beings that God created for His service. Spurgeon, speaking on the topic of angels, points us right back to Jesus. Angels are not to be worshiped or elevated in any capacity. "He it is whose camp is round about them that fear Him; He is the true Michael whose foot is upon the dragon. All hail, Jesus!" thou Angel of Jehovah's presence, to Thee this family offers its morning vows.

Amen

(Daniel 10:11 NKJV) "And he said to me, "O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you." While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling."

Our position, like that of Daniel, is a "man greatly beloved." What a position! To hear from our Lord that He loves us to such an infinite degree. I am thankful that Spurgeon wrote on such a subject for this evening. It is a wonderful feeling to feel great love from a spouse, or your children, or a friend. But to see perfect love, in a Savior who would even lay down His life for us through the shedding of His blood brings an uncontested understanding of what it is to be "greatly beloved."

As Spurgeon lists several reasons for us to be in awe of Christ's love for us, I pray each one of us would behold such love, and the extent of His love, and love Him back with the greatest love possible for Man. We love Him because He first loved us!

As the devotion closes: "Meditate on the exceeding greatness and faithfulness of divine love this evening, and so go to thy bed in peace."

Think on His love for you and the exceeding greatness and faithfulness of such love. You will be able to go to bed as secure and overflowing with peace as has ever been experienced this side of heaven. What a joy it is to be loved by God!

(Colossians 1:3-6 NKJV) "We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, (4) since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; (5) because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, (6) which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth;"

I pray this morning we would begin with the giving of thanks. As our devotion focuses on this morning, "Our hope is laid up for you in heaven." The reason we know this, is because of the the truth of the gospel. Our hope is eternity with Christ, where perfect love, perfect grace, perfect peace, and perfect security lies for all eternity. Our hope is fixed on a foundation that cannot be moved.

We live at a time when everything around us appears to be unstable. The ecomomy is less stable than it has been for decades. The unemployment rate is expected to hit 10% in the near future. Terrorist seem to be able to infiltrate the United States with ease. And virtually everything we eat, breath in, and even our time in the sun is thought to cause health problems.

At this time, we need to fix ourselves on Christ. Hope in the joy of eternity in heaven. Christ sits at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us. We have an inheritance that is incorruptible, undefiled, and we are guaranteed by the Holy Spirit that it will never fade away. Hope in Christ! Christ calls us to not worry or be filled with anxiety, as those with little faith. Have great faith in a great God and may we have great hope in Him today!