Walking Alone With GOD

John 16:32  Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

It need not be said that to carry out conviction into action is a costly sacrifice. 

It may make necessary renunciations and separations which leave one to feel a strange sense both of deprivation and loneliness. 

But he who will fly, as an eagle does, into the higher levels where cloudless day abides, and live in the sunshine of God, must be content to live a comparatively lonely life.

No bird is so solitary as the eagle. 

Eagles never fly in flocks; one, or at most two, ever being seen at once. 

But the life that is lived unto God, however it forfeits human companionships, knows Divine fellowship.

God seeks eagle-men. 

No man ever comes into a realization of the best things of God, who does not, upon the Godward side of his life, learn to walk alone with God. 

We find Abraham alone in Horeb upon the heights, but Lot, dwelling in Sodom. 

Moses, skilled in all the wisdom of Egypt must go forty years into the desert alone with God. 

Paul, who was filled with Greek learning and had also sat at the feet of Gamaliel, must go into Arabia and learn the desert life with God. 

Let God isolate us. 

I do not mean the isolation of a monastery. 

In this isolating experience He develops an independence of faith and life so that the soul needs no longer the constant help, prayer, faith or attention of his neighbor. 

Such assistance and inspiration from the other members are necessary and have their place in the Christian’s development, but there comes a time when they act as a direct hindrance to the individual’s faith and welfare. 

God knows how to change the circumstances in order to give us an isolating experience. 

We yield to God and He takes us through something, and when it is over, those about us, who are no less loved than before, are no longer depended upon. 

We realize that He has wrought some things in us, and that the wings of our souls have learned to beat the upper air.

Wholly Taken Up With Contriving Methods Of Amusing Themselves!

Concerning the performing of 'Handel's Messiah' John Newton wrote: 

How shall we view the people of our times? 

I see the great mass of people involved in one common charge of high treason against the omnipotent God!  

They are already in a state of guilt-but have not yet been brought to their trial. 

The evidence against them is so plain, strong and pointed, that there is not the least doubt of their guilt being fully proved-and that nothing but a free pardon from God can preserve them from their deserved eternal punishment!

In this situation, it would seem in their best interest to avail themselves of every expedient in their power for obtaining God's mercy. 

But they are entirely heedless of their imminent danger, and are wholly taken up with contriving methods of amusing themselves-that they may pass away their short time on earth with as much levity as possible!

Among other resources, they call in the assistance of music-and they are particularly pleased with the performing of 'Handel's Messiah'. 

They choose to make...the solemnities of their impending judgment, the character of their Judge, the methods of His procedure, and the dreadful punishment to which they are exposed, the themes of their musical entertainment!

And, as if they were quite unconcerned in their upcoming judgment-their attention is chiefly fixed upon the skill of the composer, in adapting the style of his music to the very solemn subjects with which they are trifling!

The offended King, however, unasked by them, and out of His great mercy and compassion towards those who have no pity for themselves-sends them a gracious message. 

He assures them that He is unwilling that they should eternally perish; and that He requires-yes, He entreats them to submit to Him! 

He points out a way in which He offers them a free and a full pardon!

But, instead of taking a single step towards a compliance with His undeserved and gracious offer-they set His message to music! 

And this, together with a description of their present hopeless state, and of the fearful doom awaiting them if they continue obstinate-is sung for their entertainment, and accompanied with every kind of music!

Surely, if such a case as I have supposed could be found in real life, though I might admire the musical taste of these people-I would certainly pity their stupidity and hardness of heart!

~John Newton

The Trial Of Your Faith

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: 

Trials and temptations are the means which God employs to manifest to the soul the reality and strength of the faith which he bestows upon it...

For there is in every trial and temptation opposition made to the faith that is in the heart; and every trial and temptation, so to speak, threaten the life of faith. 

And they threaten it in this way.... 

Under the trial God for the most part hides himself. 

He puts forth, indeed, a secret power whereby the soul is held up, or otherwise it would sink into utter despair, and be overcome and swallowed up by the power of unbelief. 

Hence comes the conflict between the trial that fights against the faith and the faith which fights against or rather under the trial. 

Now, when in this trial, in this sharp conflict, in this hot furnace, faith does not give way, is not burned up, is not destroyed...

But keeps its firm hold upon the promise and the faithfulness of him who has given it...

This trial of faith becomes very precious. 

It is precious to the soul when God again smiles upon it, and becomes thus manifest as genuine. 

It is precious in the sight of God's people, who see it and derive strength and comfort from what they witness in the experience of a saint thus tried and blessed...

And it is precious also in the sight of God himself, who crowns it with his own manifest approbation, and puts upon it the attesting seal of his own approving smile. 

But above all things, it will be found precious at the appearing of Jesus Christ...

And that not only in his various appearings in grace, but in his final appearance in glory...

For of that the Apostle mainly speaks when he says that "it may be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ."

~J. C. Philpot