Prayer The Time Of Adjustment

Jas 5:16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

There are many ways in our Christian life where we have to get adjusted to the will of the LORD. 

The will of the LORD is not always an easy thing for our flesh; and so very often, we have to have a real battle to get adjusted to the will of the LORD on some particular matter; and prayer is the time in which that adjustment has to be done.

It is just possible that some of us are having a battle over the will of GOD on something. Well, this is the time to get through with that issue.

Our prayer times give us the great opportunity of getting right into line with the will of GOD on all matters....

True prayer is the prayer of confession and humiliation!

True prayer is the time of absolute committal and surrender and submission to the LORD!

True prayer is the time for getting right into line with the will of GOD on all matters!

Now these three things, we could call negative things. Of course they are not negative when we have to face them, they are very positive matters.

But when we come to the fourth thing, we move over a bit to another side; and I am sure that this first time of prayer in the case of Paul was a time of deep worship.

What does worship come out from? What is it that leads us to worship? What is the true nature and spirit of worship?

Is it not a deep unspeakable gratitude for the grace of GOD?

We only worship in the measure in which we appreciate the grace of GOD....

You remember that a favorite way to Paul of opening his letters was with three words: "Grace, mercy, and peace, be unto you."

That was the foundation of everything for Paul.

Wonderful grace, grace that could never be explained; boundless mercy; and peace with GOD.

That was surely the consciousness of this man during his prayer.

It was the prayer of deep worship for the grace of GOD, and that must have a place in all true prayer.

~T. Austin Sparks~

Mixed Among The People

Hos 7:8  Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.

It is a great thing to learn to take GOD first, and then He can afford to give us everything else, without the fear of its hurting us.

As long as you want anything very much, especially more than you want GOD, it is an idol.

But when you become satisfied with GOD, everything else so loses its charm that He can give it to you without harm, and then you can take just as much as you choose, and use it for His glory.

There is no harm whatever in having money, houses, lands, friends and dearest children, if you do not value these things for themselves.

If you have been separated from them in spirit, and become satisfied with GOD Himself, then they will become to you channels to be filled with GOD to bring Him nearer to you.

Then every little lamb around your household will be a tender cord to bind you to the Shepherd's heart. 

Then every affection will be a little golden cup filled with the wine of His love. 

Then every bank, stock and investment will be but a channel through which you can pour out His benevolence and extend His gifts.

~A. B. Simpson~

Thou Hast Disobeyed The Mouth Of The LORD

1Ki 13:21  And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee,
 
1Ki 13:22  But camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which the LORD did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcass shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers.

WE are inclined at first sight to pity this unknown prophet, and to justify his return; but as we look closer into the story, we not only discover the reason for the severe penalty that overtook him, but we are warned lest we make a similar mistake.

When we have received a direct command fresh from the lips of Christ, we must act on it, and not be turned aside by a different suggestion, made to us through the lips of professing Christians. 

GOD does not vacillate or alter in the thing which proceeds from his mouth.

When we know we are in the line of his purpose, we must not allow ourselves to be diverted by any appeal or threat, from whomsoever it may emanate. 

Deal with GOD at first hand.

The rule for determining the true worth of the advice which our friends proffer us, is to ask, first, whether it conflicts with our own deep seated conviction of GOD'S will; and, secondly, whether it tends to the ease and satisfaction of the flesh, as the old prophet's suggestion certainly did. 

Beware of any one who allures you with the bread and water that are to break your fast.

That bait is likely enough to disturb the balance of your judgment.

When a voice says spare thyself, be on the alert; it savors the things that be of man, not of those that be of GOD.
     
Learn to deal with GOD at first hand. Do not run hither and thither to human teachers, or to the Church.

Be still before GOD, and what He says in the depths of thy soul, do.

His Holy Spirit shall guide you into all truth; and when once his way has been revealed to thee, go straight on, listening to no other voice, however much it professes Divine inspiration.

~F. B. Meyer~

Unanswered

Luke 18:6-7  And the LORD said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not GOD avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?  

GOD'S seasons are not at your beck. If the first stroke of the flint doth not bring forth the fire, you must strike again.

GOD will hear prayer, but He may not answer it at the time which we in our minds have appointed; 

He will reveal Himself to our seeking hearts, but not just when and where we have settled in our own expectations.

Hence the need of perseverance and importunity in supplication.

In the days of flint and steel and brimstone matches we had to strike and strike again, dozens of times, before we could get a spark to live in the tinder; and we were thankful enough if we succeeded at last.

Shall we not be as persevering and hopeful as to heavenly things?

We have more certainty of success in this business than we had with our flint and steel, for we have GOD'S promises at our back.

Never let us despair. GOD'S time for mercy will come; yea, it has come, if our time for believing has arrived.

Ask in faith nothing wavering; but never cease from petitioning because the King delays to reply.

Strike the steel again. Make the sparks fly and have your tinder ready; you will get a light before long.

~C. H. Spurgeon~

I do not believe that there is such a thing in the history of GOD'S kingdom as a right prayer offered in a right spirit that is forever left unanswered.

~Theodore L. Cuyler~

The Sabbath Of GOD

Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

Christ is GOD'S Sabbath. Christ is our Sabbath. 

When we enter by faith into Christ's righteousness, we enter into GOD'S rest.

It is a tremendous power....The LORD says, in quite simple language, "If only you will trust Me, and trust My provision, and stop worrying, stop fretting, stop being anxious;

If you will but believe Me, I have the ground upon which I could meet all your need;

I am no longer without ground.

There was a time when I had not the ground upon which to do anything with you, and for you, but now you are on the ground of Christ, the ground which I have provided;

If only you will trust Me, if only you will rest in Me to bring you through, you will be saved from so much of this weakness, and fret, and anxiety!

Worry is a destroying thing. At the back of a lot that we suffer in body, and in mind, there is so often a secret, hidden restlessness, something deep down in our subconscious being of a fret, an anxiety, something that is not rest.

It takes many forms. Sometimes over a concern of the LORD'S we feel that, unless we do it, it will never be done.

We feel that if we are not up and at it, then the whole thing will go to pieces; so much depends upon us.

No one will think that this is the call for passivity, for abandon of concern for the things of the LORD;

But it is possible for us to have the things of the LORD on our hearts and yet not to have faith in GOD about them.

There are hidden secrets to a great deal of our weakness and defeat, and unnecessary suffering.

They are the hidden things of something which is other than just restful faith in GOD.

There are some people who need to take things to heart a little more than they do, but for many the trouble is perhaps of the other kind.

They are thinking that they have to run GOD'S universe for Him; they must look after things or else they will never be looked after!

But to observe the Sabbath, to recognize Christ as GOD'S Rest through righteousness, to observe that, to keep that Sabbath, is Life which conquers death, because it is righteousness which cannot be destroyed.

~T. Austin Sparks~

Beloved Think It Not Strange

I Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

Most persons after a step of faith are looking for sunny skies and unruffled seas, and when they meet a storm and tempest they are filled with astonishment and perplexity.

But this is just what we must expect to meet if we have received anything of the LORD.

The best token of His presence is the adversary's defiance, and the more real our blessing, the more certainly it will be challenged.

It is a good thing to go out looking for the worst, and if it comes we are not surprised; while if our path be smooth and our way be unopposed, it is all the more delightful, because it comes as a glad surprise.

But let us quite understand what we mean by temptation. 

You, especially, who have stepped out with the assurance that you have died to self and sin, may be greatly amazed to find yourself assailed with a tempest of thoughts and feelings that seem to come wholly from within and you will be impelled to say, "Why, I thought I was dead, but I seem to be alive."

This, beloved, is the time to remember that temptation, the instigation, is not sin, but only of the evil one.

~A. B. Simpson~

The LORD Trieth The Hearts

Remember that temptation is not sin unless it be accompanied with the consent of your will. 

There may seem to be even the inclination, and yet the real choice of your spirit is fixed immovably against it, and GOD regards it simply as a solicitation and credits you with an obedience all the more pleasing to Him, because the temptation was so strong.

We little know how evil can find access to a pure nature and seem to incorporate itself with our thoughts and feelings, while at the same time we resist and overcome it, and remain as pure as the sea-fowl that emerges from the water without a single drop remaining upon its burnished wing, or as the harp string, which may be struck by a rude or clumsy hand and gives forth a discordant sound, not from any defect of the harp, but because of the hand that touches it.

But let the Master hand play upon it, and it is a chord of melody and a note of exquisite delight.

In nothing terrified by your adversaries which is to you an evident token of salvation and that of GOD.

~A. B. Simpson~

Rejoice In The LORD!

Php 3:1  Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. 

There is no spiritual value in depression. One bright and thankful look at the cross is worth a thousand morbid, self-condemning reflections.

The longer you look at evil the more it mesmerizes and defiles you into its own likeness.

Lay it down at the cross, accept the cleansing blood, reckon yourself dead to the thing that was wrong, and then rise up and count yourself as if you were another man and no longer the same person; and then, identifying yourself with the Lord Jesus, accept your standing in Him and look in your Father's face as blameless as Jesus.

Then out of your every fault will come some lesson of watchfulness or some secret of victory which will enable you some day to thank Him, even for your painful experience.

But praise is a sacrifice, for "it is acceptable to God." It goes up to heaven sweeter than the songs of angels, "a sweet smelling savor to your Lord and King."

It should be unintermittent--"the sacrifice of praise continually."

One drop of poison will neutralize a whole cup of wine, and make it a cup of death, and one moment of gloom will defile a whole day of sunshine and gladness.

Let us "rejoice evermore."

~A. B. Simpson~

Out Of Any Circumstance

Psa 55:16  As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me. 

Yes, I must and will pray. What else can I do! What better can I do? 

Betrayed, forsaken, grieved, baffled, O my LORD, I will call upon Thee. 

My Ziklag is in ashes, and men speak of stoning me; but I encourage my heart in the LORD, who will bear me through this trial as He has borne me through so many others.

Jehovah shall save me; I am sure He will, and I declare my faith.

The LORD and no one else shall save me. I desire no other helper and would not trust in an arm of flesh even if I could.

I will cry to Him evening, and morning, and noon, and I will cry to no one else, for He is all sufficient.

How He will save me I cannot guess; but He will do it, I know. 

He will do it in the best and surest way, and He will do it in the largest, truest, and fullest sense.

Out of this trouble and all future troubles the great I AM will bring me as surely as He lives; and when death comes and all the mysteries of eternity follow thereon, still will this be true:

The LORD shall save me. This shall be my song all through this autumn day.

Is it not as a ripe apple from the tree of life? I will feed upon it. How sweet it is to my taste!

~Charles Spurgeon~

He Of Tender Conscience

Eze 34:22  Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle.
 
Some are fat and flourishing, and therefore they are unkind to the feeble. This is a grievous sin and causes much sorrow. 

Those thrustings with side and with shoulder, those pushings of the diseased with the horn, are a sad means of offense in the assemblies of professing believers.

The LORD takes note of these proud and unkind deeds, and He is greatly angered by them, for He loves the weak.

Is the reader one of the despised? Is he a mourner in Zion and a marked man because of his tender conscience?

Do his brethren judge him harshly? Let him not resent their conduct; above all let him not push and thrust in return.

Let him leave the matter in the LORD's hands. He is the Judge.

Why should we wish to intrude upon His office? He will decide much more righteously than we can. 

His time for judgment is the best, and we need not be in a hurry to hasten it on. Let the hard-hearted oppressor tremble.

Even though he may ride roughshod over others with impunity for the present, all his proud speeches are noted, and for every one of them account must be given before the bar of the great Judge. 

Patience, my soul! Patience! The LORD knoweth thy grief. Thy Jesus hath pity upon thee!

~Charles Spurgeon~

Who Has The Majority?

2Ki 6:16  And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

Horses and chariots and a great host shut up the prophet in Dothan. His young servant was alarmed. How could they escape from such a body of armed men?

But the prophet had eyes which his servant had not, and he could see a greater host with far superior weapons guarding him from all harm.

Horses of fire are mightier than horses of flesh, and chariots of fire are far preferable to chariots of iron. Even so is it at this hour. 

The adversaries of truth are many, influential, learned, and crafty; and truth fares ill at their hands; and yet the man of GOD has no cause for trepidation.

Agencies, seen and unseen, of the most potent kind, are on the side of righteousness. God has armies in ambush which will reveal themselves in the hour of need.

The forces which are on the side of the good and the true far outweigh the powers of evil.

Therefore, let us keep our spirits up, and walk with the gait of men who possess a cheering secret, which has lifted them above all fear.

We are on the winning side. The battle may be sharp, but we know how it will end.

Faith, having GOD with her, is in a clear majority: "They that be with us are more than they that be with them."

~Charles Spurgeon~

Christ's Fretlessness

John 11:9  Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
 
Then lastly, and in a word or two, our text illuminates Christ's fretlessness.

For never was there a life of such untiring labor that breathed such a spirit of unruffled calm.

We talk about our busy modern city, and many of us are busy in the city, but for a life of interruption and distraction, give me the life of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

Some of us could hardly live without the hills--a day in their solitude is benediction;

But when Jesus retired to that fellowship of lonely places, even there He was pressed and harassed by the crowd.

Every day was thronged with incident or danger. There was no leisure so much as to eat.

Now He was teaching--now He was healing--now He was parrying some cruel attack.

Yet through it all, with all its stir and movement, there is a brooding calm upon the heart of Christ that is only comparable to a waveless sea asleep in the stillness of a summer evening. 

Some men are calm because they do not feel. We call it quiet, and it is callousness.

But Christ being sinless was infinitely sensitive--quick to respond to every touch and token.

Yet He talked without contradiction of His peace--"My peace that the world cannot give or take away"--and down in the depths of that unfathomed peace was the thought of the twelve hours in the day.

Christ knew that if God had given Him a twelve hours' work, God would give Him the twelve hours to do it in.

To every task its time, and to every time its task, that was one great method of the Master.

And no man will ever be calm as Christ was calm who cannot halt in the midst of the stir and say, "My peace"; who cannot stop for a moment in the busiest whirl and say to himself, "My times are in Thy hand."

God never blesses unnecessary labor. That is the labor of the thirteenth hour.

All that God calls us to and all that love demands is fitted with perfect wisdom to the twelve.

Therefore be restful; do not be nervous and fussy; leave a little leisure for smiling and for sleep.

There is no time to squander, but there is time enough--are there not twelve hours in the day?

~George H. Morrision~

The Price Of Freedom

Mark 9:26  And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

Evil never surrenders its hold without a sore fight.

We never pass into any spiritual inheritance through the delightful exercises of a picnic, but always through the grim contentions of the battle field.

It is so in the secret realm of the soul. Every faculty which wins its spiritual freedom does so at the price of blood.

Apollyon is not put to flight by a courteous request; he straddles across the full breadth of the way, and our progress has to be registered in blood and tears.

This we must remember or we shall add to all the other burdens of life the gall of misinterpretation.

We are not "born again" into soft and protected nurseries, but in the open country where we suck strength from the very terror of the tempest. "

We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." 

~Dr. J. H. Jowett~

Faith of our Fathers! living still, In spite of dungeon, fire and sword:

O how our hearts beat high with joy Whene'er we hear that glorious word:

Faith of our Fathers! Holy Faith! We will be true to Thee till death!

Our fathers, chained in prisons dark, Were still in heart and conscience free;

How sweet would be their children's fate, If they, like them, could die for Thee!"

God's "Well Done" Is For The Faithful Man

John the Baptist did no miracle, yet he won the highest praise of Christ. "Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John." 

A man may lead a false and rotten life and yet win the praise of men. 

The acid test of the successful life is this: does it win the praise of Christ?

And the fine thing is that to win that praise one does not need to be wonderful or striking: it is given to those who may do no miracle...

To those who trust Him when everything is dark; to those who keep their faces towards the morning;

To those who, through headache and through heartache, quietly and doggedly do their appointed bit;

To those who "endure" with a smile upon their lips; to those who help a brother by the way;

To those who look for a city which hath foundations.

In this big world there is room for every gift and for every genius who has the power of miracle.

But in this big world there is no room and power and victory for the great multitude who do no miracle.

It is not "Well done, thou good and brilliant servant," else would there be little hope for millions.

It is "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

~George H.Morrison~