If God promises something, then faith must fight a long and bitter fight, for reason or the flesh judges that God's promises are impossible. Therefore faith must battle against reason and its doubts. The Devil, too, approaches us with promises, and indeed such as seem very plausible. It certainly requires at times a keen mind rightly to distinguish between God's true and the Devil's false promises. The promises of the Devil are seemingly very pleasant and acceptable.
Faith is something that is busy, powerful and creative, though properly speaking, it is essentially an enduring than a doing. It changes the mind and heart. While reason holds to what is present, faith apprehends the things that are not seen. Contrary to reason, faith regards the invisible things as already materialized. This explains why faith, unlike hearing is not found in many, for only few believe, while the great majority cling to the things that are present and can be felt and handled rather than to the Word.
This, then, is the mark of the true divine promises, that they are contrary to reason so that it refuses to believe them. The promises of the Devil, on the contrary, are in full agreement with reason and are readily and uncritically accepted. God's promises which are true and faithful, lead to the cross, and by the cross to His eternal blessing. Therefore reason is offended at them in two ways. It regards as nothing what is invisible and far away in the future, and it detests the cross as a calamity that is everlasting and without end. That is the reason why despite the riches of the divine promises, few believe them. These are such whose hearts are led by the Holy Spirit so that, as Abraham, they defy all foes and cling to the Word of God who calls them.
Before Abraham came to Canaan he was blessed in many ways, but in the land of promise, he, despite his strong faith was forced to go into another country to escape the fury of the famine. God does this purposely to try the faith of His saints. However after a short time, He restores to them not only earthly prosperity, as Abraham became very wealthy, but He also gives them a greater faith and a deeper experience of His divine grace and mercy. For this reason Paul says in Romans 5:3 that though God's saints sigh under their cross, yet they glory in their tribulations when they discover how wonderfully God directs their life.
God thus proves Himself the Protector of all that put their trust in Him. He tries their faith by chastisements, but never forsakes them. Finally, He gloriously delivers them and at the same time benefits others with them.
March 06, 2004
March 02, 2004
"Whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD..." by John Calvin
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.–Joel 2:32
God declares that the invocation of his name in a despairing condition is a sure port of safety. What the prophet had said was certainly dreadful — that the whole order of nature would be so changed that no spark of life would appear, and that all places would be filled the darkness. What, therefore, he says now is the same as though he declared, that if men called the name of God life would be found in the grave. Since then God invites here the lost and the dead, there is no reason why even the heaviest distresses should preclude an access for us or for our prayers. If there is promised salvation and deliverance to all who shall call on the name of the Lord, it follows, as Paul reasons, that the doctrine of the gospel belongs to the gentiles also. I would have been a great presumption in us to present ourselves before God, except he had given us confidence and promised to hear us. We learn from this place that however much God may afflict his Church, it will yet be perpetuated in the world; for it can no more be destroyed than the very truth of God, which is eternal and immutable.
God declares that the invocation of his name in a despairing condition is a sure port of safety. What the prophet had said was certainly dreadful — that the whole order of nature would be so changed that no spark of life would appear, and that all places would be filled the darkness. What, therefore, he says now is the same as though he declared, that if men called the name of God life would be found in the grave. Since then God invites here the lost and the dead, there is no reason why even the heaviest distresses should preclude an access for us or for our prayers. If there is promised salvation and deliverance to all who shall call on the name of the Lord, it follows, as Paul reasons, that the doctrine of the gospel belongs to the gentiles also. I would have been a great presumption in us to present ourselves before God, except he had given us confidence and promised to hear us. We learn from this place that however much God may afflict his Church, it will yet be perpetuated in the world; for it can no more be destroyed than the very truth of God, which is eternal and immutable.
March 01, 2004
Unconditional Pardon by John Bunyan
There was a certain man that had committed treason against his king; but for as much as the king had compassion on him, he sent him, by the hand of a faithful messenger, a pardon under his own hand and seal. But in the country where this poor man dwelt there were also many that sought to trouble him, by often putting him in mind of his treason, and the law that was to be executed on the offender. Now, which way should this man so honor his king, as by believing his handwriting, which was the pardon? Certainly he would honor him more by so doing, than to regard all the clamors of his enemies continually against him.
"Just thus it is here. Thou having committed treason against the King of heaven, he, through compassion for Christ's sake, hath sent thee a pardon. But the devil, the law, and thy conscience, do continually seek to disturb thee, by bringing thy sin afresh into thy remembrance. But now, wouldst thou honor thy King? Why then, He that believeth the record that God hath given of his Son, hath set to his seal that God is true. "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son" (1 John 5: 11, 12). And therefore, my brethren, seeing God our Father hath sent to us, damnable traitors, a pardon from heaven, (even all the promises of the gospel) and also hath sealed the certainty of it with the heart-blood of his dear Son, let us not be daunted, though our enemies with terrible voices do bring our former life never so often into our remembrance."
"Just thus it is here. Thou having committed treason against the King of heaven, he, through compassion for Christ's sake, hath sent thee a pardon. But the devil, the law, and thy conscience, do continually seek to disturb thee, by bringing thy sin afresh into thy remembrance. But now, wouldst thou honor thy King? Why then, He that believeth the record that God hath given of his Son, hath set to his seal that God is true. "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son" (1 John 5: 11, 12). And therefore, my brethren, seeing God our Father hath sent to us, damnable traitors, a pardon from heaven, (even all the promises of the gospel) and also hath sealed the certainty of it with the heart-blood of his dear Son, let us not be daunted, though our enemies with terrible voices do bring our former life never so often into our remembrance."
September 06, 2003
Wedding Vows by E. Wilson
Marriage is a devine institution given to us before the fall of man. It's primary purpose is to signify and represent God's relationship with His elect. And in love for each other and servitude to His word that J. Eric Wilson & Lydia Irene Lepisto faithfully submit, one to the other, in reverence to the Lord, joining themselves together in Holy Matrimony and become one flesh, in a bond that cannot be broken
May it please God to give thanks through His Son for their love and that He may be glorified through the vows that they shared and the continuing gift of their union
I Lydia, by the grace of God and for His glory, do love you as you love me, and submit myself unto you my husband as unto the lord, and to render due benevolence. Being all of one mind, having compassion on the other, to have and to hold, to love, being sympathetic, being thoughtful . Eph 5:22; I Cr 7:3; I Pet 3:8 Lydia whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning of the hair, and of wearing of gold, or putting on apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after the manner in old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves being in subjection unto their own husbands. I Pet 3:3-5
I Eric, by the grace of God and for His glory, give myself to you as your servant, and love you my wife unconditionally even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it, and to render due benevolence. Being all of one mind, having compassion on the other, to have and to hold, to love, being sympathetic, being thoughtful. Eph 5:25; I Cr 7:3; I Pet 3:8
Eric may your love sanctify her so as the church is cleansed by the Word. That you may present her to yourself, having no spots, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be without spot or blemish. Dwell with her according to knowledge, give honor unto the wife as unto a weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of grace of life that your prayers be not hindered. Eph 5:26-27; I Pet 3:7
Let you Eric so love Lydia even as yourself, and you Lydia see that you reverence Eric. Wherefore you are no more twain but one flesh what therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. Eph 5:33; Mat 19:6
May it please God to give thanks through His Son for their love and that He may be glorified through the vows that they shared and the continuing gift of their union
I Lydia, by the grace of God and for His glory, do love you as you love me, and submit myself unto you my husband as unto the lord, and to render due benevolence. Being all of one mind, having compassion on the other, to have and to hold, to love, being sympathetic, being thoughtful . Eph 5:22; I Cr 7:3; I Pet 3:8 Lydia whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning of the hair, and of wearing of gold, or putting on apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after the manner in old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves being in subjection unto their own husbands. I Pet 3:3-5
I Eric, by the grace of God and for His glory, give myself to you as your servant, and love you my wife unconditionally even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it, and to render due benevolence. Being all of one mind, having compassion on the other, to have and to hold, to love, being sympathetic, being thoughtful. Eph 5:25; I Cr 7:3; I Pet 3:8
Eric may your love sanctify her so as the church is cleansed by the Word. That you may present her to yourself, having no spots, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be without spot or blemish. Dwell with her according to knowledge, give honor unto the wife as unto a weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of grace of life that your prayers be not hindered. Eph 5:26-27; I Pet 3:7
Let you Eric so love Lydia even as yourself, and you Lydia see that you reverence Eric. Wherefore you are no more twain but one flesh what therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. Eph 5:33; Mat 19:6
August 10, 2002
7000 left to meet by E. wilson
1Ki 19:14 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 1Ki 19:18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
It may be quite naive of me to think to compare myself with Elijah, but nonetheless I many times find myself meditating on these verses and thinking of the similarities we see today. I realize it petty to lament on my personal issues of fellowship when I know past, present, and I am ensured future have and will endure much more than I could image and withstand to be able to worship. That said I constantly find myself jealous for the Lord and agonizing over where I am. In America with the freedoms we have with religion and the culture, especially in the Mid-West, every small town is filled with churches of every denomination and theology (I Cr 14:26). Sorrowfully I must drive by these churches and many small towns to find one church that we can attend (Rom 16:17). With most likely 100 churches in my county alone, my family and I travel over an hour one-way through 3 counties every Sunday (I Tim 1:4-7). It is not that I do not desire a local church, for I do with all my heart. I fervently seek fellowship in many of these buildings, but without hope (Hbr 3:13). All I find is feel good messages that promote man and diminishes the sovereignty of God. These social organizations promote a family and knowing or unknowingly place man under the bondage of the law. For this I weep for them. As many try to shelter themselves from what they believe are worldly influences they hide in the resting place of the devil. Giving a false since of eternal security to those laboring in the flesh (1 Tim 4:1-3). But there are still 7000 of His elect out there that I have not met. And for that I am thankful that a remnant of His church will always remain (Rom 11:5). That there are those among the goats that are His sheep and have yet to hear the voice of their master’s call. Those that I may one day break bread with and exhort. Thankful also that I do have a place to go to study His word, to hear Christ alone, based on scripture alone, through grace alone (1 Tim 1:11).
It may be quite naive of me to think to compare myself with Elijah, but nonetheless I many times find myself meditating on these verses and thinking of the similarities we see today. I realize it petty to lament on my personal issues of fellowship when I know past, present, and I am ensured future have and will endure much more than I could image and withstand to be able to worship. That said I constantly find myself jealous for the Lord and agonizing over where I am. In America with the freedoms we have with religion and the culture, especially in the Mid-West, every small town is filled with churches of every denomination and theology (I Cr 14:26). Sorrowfully I must drive by these churches and many small towns to find one church that we can attend (Rom 16:17). With most likely 100 churches in my county alone, my family and I travel over an hour one-way through 3 counties every Sunday (I Tim 1:4-7). It is not that I do not desire a local church, for I do with all my heart. I fervently seek fellowship in many of these buildings, but without hope (Hbr 3:13). All I find is feel good messages that promote man and diminishes the sovereignty of God. These social organizations promote a family and knowing or unknowingly place man under the bondage of the law. For this I weep for them. As many try to shelter themselves from what they believe are worldly influences they hide in the resting place of the devil. Giving a false since of eternal security to those laboring in the flesh (1 Tim 4:1-3). But there are still 7000 of His elect out there that I have not met. And for that I am thankful that a remnant of His church will always remain (Rom 11:5). That there are those among the goats that are His sheep and have yet to hear the voice of their master’s call. Those that I may one day break bread with and exhort. Thankful also that I do have a place to go to study His word, to hear Christ alone, based on scripture alone, through grace alone (1 Tim 1:11).
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