"May Your will be done." Matthew 6:10
The great secret of all quietness and contentedness of mind under all circumstances, is in the resignation of our own will to God's will. The moment there arises in the breast the least hostility to what God does, or enjoins, there is unhappiness. The cheerful doing and the patient suffering of our Father's will resolves itself into perfect satisfaction with all that He does. This is . . the daily lesson of life, the secret of our growth in grace, the essence of our personal holiness.
"May Your will be done!" This is the most solemn prayer it is possible for man to breathe. By Octavius Winslow
August 30, 2006
August 28, 2006
He makes us willing by Aitken
taken from Spugeon sermon notes -
I heard a friend of mine, not long ago, relate an incident, which I will venture to repeat, as well as I remember it. He was having an earnest conversation, upon the necessity of full consecration, with a lady who professed to know Christ as her Saviour, but shrank from yielding herself to Him. At last she said, with more outspoken honesty, I am afraid, than many who mean exactly the same thing display, “I don’t want to give myself right over to Christ; for, if I were to do so, who knows what He might do with me? For aught I know, he might send me to China.” Years passed away when my friend received a most deeply interesting letter from this very lady, telling of how her long conflict with God had come to an end, and what happiness and peace she now felt by the grace of God in the complete surrender of herself to her Lord; and referring to her former conversation she said, “And now I am my own no longer, the Lord has made me willingly over to God without reserve, and He is sending me to China!” By W.H.M.H. Aitken
I heard a friend of mine, not long ago, relate an incident, which I will venture to repeat, as well as I remember it. He was having an earnest conversation, upon the necessity of full consecration, with a lady who professed to know Christ as her Saviour, but shrank from yielding herself to Him. At last she said, with more outspoken honesty, I am afraid, than many who mean exactly the same thing display, “I don’t want to give myself right over to Christ; for, if I were to do so, who knows what He might do with me? For aught I know, he might send me to China.” Years passed away when my friend received a most deeply interesting letter from this very lady, telling of how her long conflict with God had come to an end, and what happiness and peace she now felt by the grace of God in the complete surrender of herself to her Lord; and referring to her former conversation she said, “And now I am my own no longer, the Lord has made me willingly over to God without reserve, and He is sending me to China!” By W.H.M.H. Aitken
August 21, 2006
The Trail of Your faith by Joe Terrell
1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
It is a blessing to experience those times when all seems well and faith comes easily, when it seems the very air is filled with the presence of the Lord. Such times are a blessing, but they are no proof of true faith. Faith is proven when it endures the HARD times. When the heart is broken, the mind confused, and the body weak, then is faith put to the test and proven whether it be genuine. When faith survives those times when there is NO FEELING to verify it, NO EVIDENCE to confirm it, and NO FLESHLY ENERGY to sustain it, then and only then can we discover that we have that faith that is "the gift of God." God's gifts are "without repentance," and this is as true of faith as any of His other gifts. We know we have believed when we never repent of our faith, but believe in the very face of all that is opposed to faith. This is the trial and proof of faith. By Joe Terrell, Pastor Grace Community Church Rock Valley, Iowa
It is a blessing to experience those times when all seems well and faith comes easily, when it seems the very air is filled with the presence of the Lord. Such times are a blessing, but they are no proof of true faith. Faith is proven when it endures the HARD times. When the heart is broken, the mind confused, and the body weak, then is faith put to the test and proven whether it be genuine. When faith survives those times when there is NO FEELING to verify it, NO EVIDENCE to confirm it, and NO FLESHLY ENERGY to sustain it, then and only then can we discover that we have that faith that is "the gift of God." God's gifts are "without repentance," and this is as true of faith as any of His other gifts. We know we have believed when we never repent of our faith, but believe in the very face of all that is opposed to faith. This is the trial and proof of faith. By Joe Terrell, Pastor Grace Community Church Rock Valley, Iowa
August 17, 2006
Christ "In All the Scriptures" by Ian Potts
The whole Bible has one central message, one theme, one subject, running right through it, from Genesis to Revelation, like a crimson cord threaded through each and every word – that message regards the person and the work of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The message is clear – it concerns “Christ and Him Crucified”. Wherever we read in the scriptures, Old Testament or New, it is Christ who is being spoken of and it is Christ for whom we should look. To miss Christ – both His person and His work - is to miss the very heart, the very essence of the message of the word of God.
In Acts 8:32-35 we read of the Ethiopian eunuch in his chariot. The eunuch needed the Holy Spirit to open his understanding in the scriptures. But the message which Philip preached unto him from those Old Testament scriptures was clear – they spoke of Jesus. Jesus Himself confirmed this fact to the disciples in Luke 24:27 where we read: “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” Elsewhere we read that the scriptures testify of Christ: “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39).
But not only has God given us the scriptures which testify of Christ, but the Holy Spirit, through the written word of God, testifies of the Living Word – the Lord Jesus Christ - that those chosen out of the darkness might comprehend the Light and believe on His name (John 1:12): “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me” (John 15:26). How we need the Comforter, the Spirit of truth to give us eyes to see and ears to hear what wondrous things the Lord Jesus Christ has done in dying to save sinners. May God be pleased to give grace to see Christ in “all the scriptures”. By Ian Potts
In Acts 8:32-35 we read of the Ethiopian eunuch in his chariot. The eunuch needed the Holy Spirit to open his understanding in the scriptures. But the message which Philip preached unto him from those Old Testament scriptures was clear – they spoke of Jesus. Jesus Himself confirmed this fact to the disciples in Luke 24:27 where we read: “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” Elsewhere we read that the scriptures testify of Christ: “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39).
But not only has God given us the scriptures which testify of Christ, but the Holy Spirit, through the written word of God, testifies of the Living Word – the Lord Jesus Christ - that those chosen out of the darkness might comprehend the Light and believe on His name (John 1:12): “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me” (John 15:26). How we need the Comforter, the Spirit of truth to give us eyes to see and ears to hear what wondrous things the Lord Jesus Christ has done in dying to save sinners. May God be pleased to give grace to see Christ in “all the scriptures”. By Ian Potts
August 14, 2006
God's most stubborn enemy! By Jonathan Edwards
"I hate pride and arrogance!" Proverbs 8:13
Pride is a person having too high an opinion of himself.
Pride is the first sin that ever entered into the universe, and the last sin that is rooted out.
Pride is the worst sin. It is the most secret of all sins. There is no other matter in which the heart is more deceitful and unsearchable. Alas, how much pride the best have in their hearts!
Pride is God's most stubborn enemy! There is no sin so much like the devil as pride. It is a secret and subtle sin, and appears in a great many shapes which are undetected and unsuspected. - Jonathan Edwards
"The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished." Prov. 16:5
Pride is a person having too high an opinion of himself.
Pride is the first sin that ever entered into the universe, and the last sin that is rooted out.
Pride is the worst sin. It is the most secret of all sins. There is no other matter in which the heart is more deceitful and unsearchable. Alas, how much pride the best have in their hearts!
Pride is God's most stubborn enemy! There is no sin so much like the devil as pride. It is a secret and subtle sin, and appears in a great many shapes which are undetected and unsuspected. - Jonathan Edwards
"The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished." Prov. 16:5
August 10, 2006
what is a Sovereign Grace Church
WHAT IS A SOVEREIGN GRACEC CHURCH
While there are many local churches across the country and around the world that fellowship among each other and may associate themselves as Sovereign Grace Churches, they are not a part of any denomination or ecclesiastical association, and do not desire to be. They simply prefer, because of their understanding of the Word of God, to remain and always function as a local, independent congregation. As such, they are actively engaged in adherence to the Word of God alone and are not ruled by or in any way obligated to any creed, or confession of faith of less inspiration and authority than "thus saith the Word of the Lord.". They adhere steadfast to "the apostles’ doctrine." That is to say, without intimidation believe and incessantly preach the doctrine of the Apostles included all those glorious, God honoring, Christ exalting, flesh abasing doctrines commonly referred to as Calvinism, or The Doctrines of Grace. In that they preach, praise, and reverence Christ alone, grace alone, and faith alone. The sum and substance of all they do and believe is Christ and Him crucified. I Cor 2:2 “For I determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified”
Why sovereign grace? You would most likely need to ask the pastor of one of these churches but to me I see know better way to precisely identify the person and message than with those words.
Sovereign – In the simplest terms sovereignty means God is God. Only He, unto Himself, can be exalted above all and is God of very God (Psa 97:9). Not only is there nothing He cannot do, within His nature, but also there is nothing left to chance. For all things, that are made by Him are within His dominion (Prov 16:4). Anything less than that takes glory away from God. Anything that gives any control to any of His creations most limits God, which takes away any and all sovereignty. I believe that God almighty is absolutely sovereign in all things, specifically in predestination, creation, providence, and salvation (Rom. 8:28-30; 11:33-36). I know that everything that comes to pass in time was predestinated by God in eternity and is brought to pass by God in providence for the salvation of his elect (Rom. 8:28-30; Eph. 1:11).
Grace- Every aspect of salvation from the election of men to their glorification is all of God’s grace. There is absolutely NO part of our redemption that has anything to do with what we do for God but what He has done for you. To ascribe any part of salvation to the religious efforts, good works, or man’s will is to deny the scriptures and the grace of God. The Father gave His only begotten Son, The Lord Jesus Christ, who died for and redeemed those elect sinners alone (Heb. 9:12; Rev. 5:9). God the Holy Spirit regenerates and calls every chosen, redeemed sinner to life and faith in Christ by the irresistible power of his grace through the preaching of the gospel (Rom. 1:16-17; 10:13-17; 1 Cor. 1:21-23; James 1:18; 1 Pet. 23-25). Every sinner born again by God’s free, sovereign, irresistible grace is kept in life and faith in Christ by that same grace unto eternal glory, being sealed in Christ by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13-14).
Although they may not all say Sovereign Grace Church on their boards in front of their buildings and many may call themselves Baptist or other more common terms when asked what church I go to it is with humility and praise that I can say a sovereign grace church. For in those words is a glorious message of how a sinner like myself can be accepted by a Holy Sovereign God on the grounds of the Person and the Work of His gift of His Son.
While there are many local churches across the country and around the world that fellowship among each other and may associate themselves as Sovereign Grace Churches, they are not a part of any denomination or ecclesiastical association, and do not desire to be. They simply prefer, because of their understanding of the Word of God, to remain and always function as a local, independent congregation. As such, they are actively engaged in adherence to the Word of God alone and are not ruled by or in any way obligated to any creed, or confession of faith of less inspiration and authority than "thus saith the Word of the Lord.". They adhere steadfast to "the apostles’ doctrine." That is to say, without intimidation believe and incessantly preach the doctrine of the Apostles included all those glorious, God honoring, Christ exalting, flesh abasing doctrines commonly referred to as Calvinism, or The Doctrines of Grace. In that they preach, praise, and reverence Christ alone, grace alone, and faith alone. The sum and substance of all they do and believe is Christ and Him crucified. I Cor 2:2 “For I determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified”
Why sovereign grace? You would most likely need to ask the pastor of one of these churches but to me I see know better way to precisely identify the person and message than with those words.
Sovereign – In the simplest terms sovereignty means God is God. Only He, unto Himself, can be exalted above all and is God of very God (Psa 97:9). Not only is there nothing He cannot do, within His nature, but also there is nothing left to chance. For all things, that are made by Him are within His dominion (Prov 16:4). Anything less than that takes glory away from God. Anything that gives any control to any of His creations most limits God, which takes away any and all sovereignty. I believe that God almighty is absolutely sovereign in all things, specifically in predestination, creation, providence, and salvation (Rom. 8:28-30; 11:33-36). I know that everything that comes to pass in time was predestinated by God in eternity and is brought to pass by God in providence for the salvation of his elect (Rom. 8:28-30; Eph. 1:11).
Grace- Every aspect of salvation from the election of men to their glorification is all of God’s grace. There is absolutely NO part of our redemption that has anything to do with what we do for God but what He has done for you. To ascribe any part of salvation to the religious efforts, good works, or man’s will is to deny the scriptures and the grace of God. The Father gave His only begotten Son, The Lord Jesus Christ, who died for and redeemed those elect sinners alone (Heb. 9:12; Rev. 5:9). God the Holy Spirit regenerates and calls every chosen, redeemed sinner to life and faith in Christ by the irresistible power of his grace through the preaching of the gospel (Rom. 1:16-17; 10:13-17; 1 Cor. 1:21-23; James 1:18; 1 Pet. 23-25). Every sinner born again by God’s free, sovereign, irresistible grace is kept in life and faith in Christ by that same grace unto eternal glory, being sealed in Christ by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13-14).
Although they may not all say Sovereign Grace Church on their boards in front of their buildings and many may call themselves Baptist or other more common terms when asked what church I go to it is with humility and praise that I can say a sovereign grace church. For in those words is a glorious message of how a sinner like myself can be accepted by a Holy Sovereign God on the grounds of the Person and the Work of His gift of His Son.
August 08, 2006
Sovereign Grace Past and Present
ANNOUCEMENT FROM GRACE AND TRUTH ONLINE.
We are pleased to announce the publication of our third title, "Sovereign Grace - Past and Present", a collection of writings from both past and present preachers of God's Gospel of Free and Sovereign Grace through Jesus Christ.
Includes works by William Tiptaft, Tobias Crisp, William Huntington, William Gadsby, Robert Murray M'Cheyne, J.C. Philpot, John Kershaw, James Bourne, Eli Ashdown, Francis Covell, John Vinall, John Warburton, Don Fortner, Henry Mahan, Don Bell, Gary Shepard, Todd Nibert, Tom Harding, Peter Meney and Benjamin A. Ramsbottom.
The book also includes an Introduction on 'Sovereign Grace', background information about each author and a useful appendix containing much information about other works written by or about the authors.
These works are by authors whose lives span several hundred years, yet their message is the same - they proclaim the grace of God which brings salvation - because the One of whom they speak never changes, He is "Jesus Christ, the same yester day, and to day, and for ever".
For more details and/or to order the book online view the book description on Lulu.com or visit our Grace and Truth Publications Publications Booklist
We are pleased to announce the publication of our third title, "Sovereign Grace - Past and Present", a collection of writings from both past and present preachers of God's Gospel of Free and Sovereign Grace through Jesus Christ.
Includes works by William Tiptaft, Tobias Crisp, William Huntington, William Gadsby, Robert Murray M'Cheyne, J.C. Philpot, John Kershaw, James Bourne, Eli Ashdown, Francis Covell, John Vinall, John Warburton, Don Fortner, Henry Mahan, Don Bell, Gary Shepard, Todd Nibert, Tom Harding, Peter Meney and Benjamin A. Ramsbottom.
The book also includes an Introduction on 'Sovereign Grace', background information about each author and a useful appendix containing much information about other works written by or about the authors.
These works are by authors whose lives span several hundred years, yet their message is the same - they proclaim the grace of God which brings salvation - because the One of whom they speak never changes, He is "Jesus Christ, the same yester day, and to day, and for ever".
For more details and/or to order the book online view the book description on Lulu.com or visit our Grace and Truth Publications Publications Booklist
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