Those Who Trust In The LORD Are Like Mount Zion

Those who Trust in the LORD are like Mt. Zion, which Cannot Be Shaken but Endures Forever.
 
As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people both now and forevermore.

Mountains? And the Lord like the mountains?
 
What is that?

It is fortification, it is strength, it is protection.

And what is the point of fortification if there is nothing against which to be fortified?

Away back in Old Testament times, when the people came into the land, the remarkable thing is that they occupied the higher places more than the lower.

You will find that their towns, cities and villages are almost all of them upon some high place...

The reason being that their enemies, who had chariots and horses, had their strength on the level, in the plain, but they could do nothing with chariots and horses against mountains.

And therefore the safety, security and fortification of the Lord’s people was by being on high places.

That is a parable.

If the enemy can get you on to his level he has beaten you.

So he must pull you down, he must get you down, he must get you to accept something less than God’s full place and mind for you, and then he will undo you.

That is what he has done with the church, speaking of the church now in very general terms.

He has pulled it down to this world level...

He has reduced it to the level of things here, and he has absolutely disintegrated it, broken it up and divided it and robbed it of its power.

The church which is revealed to us in the New Testament is always on high ground....

In Ephesians, it is “in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus.”

It is a great power to be on high ground, it is a great defensive, protective factor...

The enemy can do little with you if you keep up there and refuse to come down.

Nehemiah found that to be so, when they said, “Come down and let us confer”; and he said, “I am doing a great work so that I cannot come down” (Neh. 6:3).

It is a principle operating.
 
~T. Austin Sparks~

Be Cautious Of Grace Denial

Beloved, mistake not the nature and the evidence of growth in sanctification.

In all your self-denial in this great work, be cautious of grace denial.

You will need much holy wisdom here, lest you overlook the work of the Spirit within you.

You have thought, it may be, of the glory that Christ receives from brilliant genius, and profound talent, and splendid gifts, and glowing zeal, and costly sacrifices, and extensive usefulness.

But have you ever thought of the glory, the far greater, richer glory, that flows to Him from the contrite spirit, the broken heart, the lowly mind, the humble walk, the tear of godly repentance that falls when seen by no human eye...

The sigh of godly sorrow that is breathed when heard by no human ear, the sin abhorrence, the self loathing, the deep sense of vileness, and poverty...

And infirmity that takes you to Jesus with the prayer: Lord, here I am; I have brought to You my rebellious will, my wandering heart, my worldly affections, my peculiar infirmity, my besetting and constantly overpowering sin...

Receive me graciously, put forth the mighty power of Your grace in my soul, and subdue all, and rule all, and subjugate all to Yourself!

Will it not be for Your glory, the glory of Your great name if this strong corruption were subdued by Your grace...

If this powerful sin were nailed to Your cross...

If this temper so volatile, if this heart so impure, if these affections so truant, if this mind so dark, if these desires so earthly, if these pursuits so carnal, if these aims so selfish, were all entirely renewed by Your Spirit, sanctified by Your grace, and made each to reflect Your image?

Yes, Lord, it would be for Your glory, through time and through eternity!’

~Octavius Winslow~

It Is But A Little Sin!

2Co 2:11  Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Ah! says Satan, "It is but a little sin"...a little pride, a little worldliness, a little lust, etc.

You may commit it without any danger to your soul.

It is but a little one; you may commit it, and yet your soul shall live.

Consider, that here is Great Danger, yes, many times Most Danger-in the smallest sins.

A little leaven leavens the whole lump!

1Co 5:6  Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

If the serpent sneaks in his head...he will draw in his whole body after him.

Greater sins sooner startle the soul, and awaken and rouse up the soul to repentance, than lesser sins do.

Little sins often slide into the soul, and breed, and work secretly and in-discernibly in the soul, until they come to be so strong, as to trample upon the soul, and to cut the throat of the soul!

Many are eternally undone by the 'little sins', as they call them, that are nourished in their own bosoms.

A little hole in the ship, sinks it.

A small breach in a dyke, carries away all before it.

A little stab at the heart, kills a man. 

A little sin, without a great deal of mercy, will damn a man! 

~Thomas Brooks~

This Is The Way Walk Ye In It!

Isa 30:21  And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

When we have doubts or are facing difficulties, when others suggest courses of action that are conflicting, when caution dictates one approach but faith another, we should be still.

We should quiet each intruding person, calm ourselves in the sacred stillness of God’s presence, study His Word for guidance, and with true devotion focus our attention on Him.

We should lift our nature into the pure light radiating from His face, having an eagerness to know only what God our Lord will determine for us. 

Soon He will reveal by His secret counsel a distinct and unmistakable sense of His direction.

It is unwise for a new believer to depend on this approach alone. 

He should wait for circumstances to also confirm what God is revealing. 

Yet Christians who have had many experiences in their walk with Him know the great value of secret fellowship with the Lord as a means of discerning His will.

Are you uncertain about which direction you should go?

Take your question to God and receive guidance from either the light of His smile or the cloud of His refusal. 

You must get alone with Him, where the lights and the darknesses of this world cannot interfere and where the opinions of others cannot reach you.

You must also have the courage to wait in silent expectation, even when everyone around you is insisting on an immediate decision or action. 

If you will do these things, the will of God will become clear to you. 

And you will have a deeper concept of who He is, having more insight into His nature and His heart of love.

A Shepherd Secures Them

Zep 3:13  The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

Yesterday we thought of the afflicted and poor people whom the LORD left to be a living seed in a dead world. 

The prophet says of such that they shall not work iniquity nor speak lies. 

So that while they had neither rank nor riches to guard them, they were also quite unable to use those weapons in which the wicked place so much reliance...

They could neither defend themselves by sin nor by subtlety.

What then? 

Would they be destroyed? 

By no means! 

They should both feed and rest and be not merely free from danger but even quiet from fear of evil. 

Sheep are very feeble creatures, and wolves are terrible enemies...

Yet at this hour sheep are more numerous than wolves...

And the cause of the sheep is always winning, while the cause of the wolves is always declining. 

One day flocks of sheep will cover the plains, and not a wolf will be left. 

The fact is that sheep have a Shepherd, and this gives them provender, protection, and peace. 

"None"...which means not one, whether in human or diabolical form "shall make them afraid." 

Who shall terrify the LORD's flock when He is near? 

We lie down in green pastures, for Jesus Himself is food and rest to our souls. 

~Charles Spurgeon~ 

Contentment

Contentment is one of life's greatest blessings.                                                                            

But contentment is not something that can be sent down, nicely wrapped up like a Christmas gift from Heaven. 

It is a state of mind and heart.

It is not dependent upon our situation or our circumstances. 

Many people are contented and happy in circumstances - where others would be thoroughly discontented. 

Some people are discontented under the most favorable circumstances. 

Contentment is a structure we build ourselves. 

It is a state of mind we develop. 

It is an attitude toward things which comes to us through careful cultivation. 

It is something which lives inside us...not something that circumstances and conditions create.

If happiness has not its seat and center in the heart - we may be wise, or rich or great...but never can be blessed.

Contentment is sometimes spoken of as a lazy virtue. 

Perhaps that is because some people are content with things with which they ought not to be content. 

We should never be satisfied to permit things to exist, which ought not to exist. 

We should never be satisfied to be less than our best. 

There are wrongs which need righting. 

There are conditions which need improving. 

There is progress which needs to be made. 

A sort of contentment that can view these things with indifference, ignore responsibility, evade duty - should be called by an entirely different name. 

When we have done our duty, met our responsibility, corrected those things that need correction so far as is possible for us...then we may have real contentment. 

Contentment does not mean surrender to conditions. 

It does mean being satisfied in the circumstances and conditions which exist, for which we are not responsible.

Contentment is a lesson to be learned. 

Paul said, "I have learned in whatever state I am therewith to be content." (Philippians 4:11). 

He goes on to tell some of the things he has learned. "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." (verses 12, 13).

Paul had learned a great secret. 

It was the secret of adapting himself to conditions, and being at rest in those conditions.

He could enjoy to the full, the things that afforded him enjoyment. 

He could suffer patiently, the things that came upon him to suffer. 

But whether rejoicing or suffering - he had that inner contentment of spirit... the calmness and peace of which enriched his soul and made quite tolerable a life that otherwise would have been intolerable.

We, too, need to learn the lesson of contentment. 

The command to Christians is, "Be content with such things as you have" (Hebrews 13:5). 

Speaking further upon this subject Paul says, Godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 

Having food and clothing, let us be therewith content.

A godly life is productive of contentment...but there are many Christians who at least in some respects are discontented.

This discontent produces a constant urge to rebel against things.

It is a singular fact that many of the most contented people are those who live in poverty.

In fact, the working people are the most contented of all people. 

Those who live on the common levels of life, are the truly happy...provided they have the attitude of contentment.

There are many things people desire which can never give them contentment. 

One man says, "If I had a million dollars I would be contented." 

Another thinks if he had political preferment - that would satisfy his ambition and he would be content. 

Another has another thing to attain to make him content. 

These things when attained...do not bring contentment.

As already pointed out contentment is a lesson learned, a state of the heart, an attitude toward things.

Riches do not bring contentment. 

Andrew Carnegie, known to all for his wealth and a man who should have known what he was talking about, said, "Beyond a competence for old age, and that may be very small...wealth lessens rather than increases human happiness. 

Millionaires who laugh are rare!

Many of us would do well to pause here and carefully study this saying of a wise and prudent Scotchman.

Jesus told his disciples not to be anxious about food and clothing and such things and added, "After all these things, the Gentiles seek" (Matthew 6:32).  

Possession of worldly things, is a goal set before them by the unsaved. 

The question asked about a man often is, "How much money does he have?" 

His supposed happiness is usually rated by the size of his bank account. 

No greater error in the choice of a standard for measurement of happiness, could be made. 

The command of the Scriptures is, "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness." 

We should put first things first. 

If we do this...then our needs will be few, and our desires not much greater.

The basis of contentment is simplicity of desire. 

One of the things that is ruining more happiness than anything else, is the desire to excel others. 

We must keep up with the Jones, is an attitude of mind fatal to contentment. 

It has caused more heartaches, destroyed more happiness, ruined more homes, produced more divorces, perhaps than any other one thing!

This strife to excel, often leads people into sin.

The wife would outstrip her neighbors, so she makes large demands upon her husband for money. 

Thus pressed, he sometimes adopts business methods that are highly improper. 

In many cases it has led to shame and disgrace. 

In any event, it leads to unhappiness for both husband and wife and for the whole family.

Through envy, jealousy of others, and coveting what they don't have...many people have been brought to bitterness of soul and utterly to hate life. 

Better contentment in a cottage than discontent in a mansion!

Very often prosperity in temporal things destroys the happiness which has already existed in a less prosperous condition.

Years ago in one of our northern States, a man engaged in the lumbering business in a small way, built a cozy cottage on the shore of a bay into which he brought his bride. 

They both worked, he in his sawmill, and she in her cottage and were both happy. 

The years passed. He prospered in business and became rich. 

Then he built a fine mansion in the city and moved into it. 

After living there for some time and mingling with the society into which his riches gave them entrance...in speaking to a friend one day he said, "We are not as happy as we were in our little cottage on the bay."

A few months ago I heard Charles M. Schwab make an address over the radio. 

In that address he told of his big house in New York City and of another great house which he owned in the country. 

He said, "I don't own them. They own me."

The only satisfaction I have in them, is that I have enough money in the bank to pay the taxes on them.

He has to look to other sources rather than to his possessions, for contentment and happiness.

Contentment is not built of gold or of precious gems. 

It is not constructed of honors or fame or the applause of the multitude. 

It does not come from out shining others. 

These may bring a sort of satisfaction but not contentment. 

Contentment belongs to the meek and lowly in spirit. 

Pride is destructive to it. 

Arrogance annihilates it. 

Covetousness curses it. 

Hatred poisons it. 

Malice thrusts a sword through it. 

Contentment can thrive only with the Christian virtues. 

Faith, hope, and charity abide with it. 

Peace broods over its domicile. 

Blessed forevermore is he who has a contented spirit.

So many nourish discontent. 

They are all the time looking at the things they do not possess and coveting them. 

They are always reaching out, stretching themselves to gain something which they cannot attain. 

They find fault with the things they possess instead of enjoying them. 

They minimize the simple good in things. 

They see all the faults and failures. 

They often feel that their rights are being trespassed upon. 

There is a frown in their hearts and a frown upon their faces.

Who is to blame for all this? 

The individual himself! 

He has adopted a wrong attitude of mind and heart. 

He is facing the wrong way. 

He has the wrong standard. 

He cannot be happy. 

He needs to turn about, face the other way, adopt a different attitude, look at things from a different angle, and set different standards for himself. 

He needs to learn the secret of the simple life simple desires, temperate aspirations, bridled ambitions.

In the valley of contentment is calmness, sweetness of spirit, and rest of soul. 

Through it flow the peaceable waters of quietness. 

In this valley, the song-birds joyfully sing. 

The heart mounts up to God in praise.

In it lies the spring of joy which bubbles up in gladsome song.

The valley of contentment is not a place of inactivity. 

When we have learned to be content with such things as we have, and in our situation in life and in our circumstances...that does not mean that we lose all aspirations or that all effort ceases. 

By no means. 

To be content with today, does not mean to be content with the same thing tomorrow. 

The right sort of contentment demands continual progress in the lines in which progress is possible.

In fact, we cannot be contented not to make proper progress. 

In the valley of contentment, we are not to sit down idly dreaming away our days. 

On the contrary...there is a path which runs through this valley, and we are to walk in this path, ever forward, ever upward.

If we would be truly happy, if we would sing the songs of the joyous life...then we must learn the lesson of contentment. 

We must learn what desires to gratify and what desires to repress. 

We must learn what things can bring contentment and what things destroy it. 

We must avoid the latter, while we seek the former. 

We must cultivate our hearts. 

We must trust in God. 

Then and only then, shall we have that source of contentment and happiness within, which inspires us to sing the song of glad rejoicing!

~Charles Naylor~

FRUITS Of The Worry Tree

Self-preservation is the first law of nature. 

Everything has some method of protection. 

Even the plants have "defense mechanisms."

Animals have shells, teeth, sharp claws, or are swift of foot or wing. Some of them produce noxious odors. 

Some of them are unpleasant to the taste. The octopus secretes an inky fluid with which to color the water. 

Some animals have great skill in hiding themselves. Some have electric defenses. Some are covered with prickles. 

Man has a natural instinct of self-preservation. He will run or fight or hide himself...or use other methods of defense. 

This law of defense is manifest in man's physical contact with nature. This is known too well to need explanation. 

He has also various mental defense mechanisms.

Likewise in spiritual things he seeks to protect himself.

These various defense mechanisms have a powerful effect upon our conduct. 

When we are brought into a trial, threatened by something that will hurt or annoy us, or when we are afraid...our defense mechanisms begin at once to function. 

The first impulse is to run away, to escape from the trouble. 

We shrink from what hurts. 

We try to avoid trials and all hard or unpleasant things.

It is often the part of wisdom to avoid unpleasantness as far as we can, without sacrificing something vital. 

But if we give away too much to this disposition to shrink and run away — then we shall become cowards. 

We lose strength of character, courage, and the qualities that win in life. 

A coward can never feel self-respect; and if we are spiritual cowards, we shall be lacking in manhood and womanhood. 

We cannot respect cowardice, even when it is in ourselves.

This disposition to escape unpleasantness, often leads to an unfair excusing of ourselves in things in which we have been at fault. 

It often leads to our putting a wrong spin on happenings, to exaggeration, to minimizing the facts, or even to plain lying. 

These are the natural fruits of fear and worry, and they undermine spiritual character. 

They take the joy out of life. 

We need to watch our defense mechanisms, and be sure that we use right methods of defense — methods that build up the character, rather than tear it down; methods that increase courage, faith, and determination. 

We should conquer the instinctive cowardice of our natures.

Safety first may be a good slogan...but safety through the faulty measures mentioned, is not real safety. 

It is only exchanging one kind of danger for another.

Another defense mechanism is the tendency to resistance. 

When we adopt proper measures of resistance, the results will probably be good. We are likely to be strengthened, encouraged, and helped. 

It is likely to bring out the best in us. 

But sometimes this instinct of resistance manifests itself in murmuring, complaining against circumstances or against people, blaming others for our plights or our troubles, or shifting responsibility. 

These may become chronic fault-finding and result in such a critical attitude that we are hard to please, contentious, and ill-tempered. 

We may become disposed to impatience, and find it hard to practice self-control. 

We may harbor resentment against others, and become unkind and uncharitable in our attitude.

Not only do non-Christians have such trouble...but many Christians are tempted in this way. 

They worry and fear. 

They become discouraged, and then the bad characteristics mentioned above begin to manifest themselves in them. 

They have to fight to overcome them.

They wonder why they are impatient, why it is hard to be kind, and why they feel resentful.

They need not be surprised, however. 

The impatience and resentment merely indicate an effort to escape from some unpleasant situation. 

So you need not be surprised if you have a conflict within, when you worry and give way to discouragement. 

To get rid of the conflicts...get rid of your worry, your fear, and your discouragement. 

Then these tendencies will naturally disappear.

But if you are given to worry...then do not expect to escape wholly from tenseness and conflict.

Indeed you are likely to have much trouble with them. 

These are not necessarily the result of sin. They are the result of worry and fear. 

They come from a wrong attitude of mind, a wrong outlook on life, and a wrong way of trying to overcome difficulties.

In such a situation, the outlook is negative. 

We need to change to a positive attitude. 

We need to put faith, in the place of doubts. Trust, instead of worry. 

We need to look on the bright side, instead of the dark side.

A negative attitude destroys our faith and robs us of courage, so we can bear little. 

It covers the bright picture of hope, with sackcloth. It banishes peace. 

Instead of soul rest, we have turmoil and trouble. 

It robs us of balance and poise. Confidence fades away. 

It gives place to distrust. We lose our power of initiative.

In fact, worry and fear rob us of all the choice blessings we might possess. 

They prevent us from using our powers...and make us pygmies instead of giants.

The triumphant life results from courageous action...and courageous action is always based on faith. 

It has a hopeful outlook. 

It faces the future with confidence. 

This is the normal attitude of the Christian.

But worry causes heaviness, discouragement, dissatisfaction, despondency, and perhaps despair. 

Long giving way to worry, will change the character. 

The blithe gaiety of childhood, the courageous strength of manhood, the joyful song of victory...will give way to moroseness and gloom.

Clouds will cover the sky and we will forget that the sun shines anywhere. 

We will ruin our influence with others. They feel more like shunning us, rather than being in our society. 

Worry shackles our hands. 

It robs life of what is most worthwhile. 

If we cultivate a worry tree or a number of them...then we must expect that they will bear this sort of fruit.

Worry also has another extremely bad result. It dishonors God. 

We say God is our Father, that he is taking care of us. 

We say we have faith in him. We say we believe God is faithful. 

Then we act in a way altogether contrary to this! 

If God is our God, and if he is taking care of us, if we are safe in his care, if no evil can come to us without his permission...then what are we worrying about? 

If God really is what he says he is, and what we believe he is...then we have no reason to worry. 

Things are bound to come out all right. God will find some way to bring us through to victory. 

He will work for our good, in whatever life may bring. 

If we really believe that God is true and that he is true to us...then there is not a reason under Heaven for us to spend one moment worrying.

Again, worry dishonors God's Word. 

He has made definite promises. These promises are either true or they are not true. 

If they are not true then we may have cause for worry. 

But if they are true then let us act like it.

Do we actually believe God's Word? 

If so, when we are tempted to worry, let us sit down, take that Word, and read its promises. 

Then let us believe them and act as though we believe them. When we do this, there can be no room for worry.

Worry ignores the help God has given us in the past, and the victories he has given us through his grace. 

When we are tempted to worry, we should sit down and look over the past and see how many circumstances came out better than we expected they would. 

We should observe how God has helped us in the past and say with one of old, "Hitherto has the Lord helped us!"

It will do us great good, when we are tempted to worry to recount our past victories; to look back and see that our past worries were all for nothing.

When did worrying help anything for you? 

When did worrying keep anything from coming upon you that otherwise would have come? 

When did worry shield you from any trouble?

Get rid of your worry tree! Get out from under its shadow. 

Get into God's sunshine. 

If you will do this...then it will not be long until the song of victory flows forth from your lips, and peace and courage and hope spring up anew in your heart!

~Charles Naylor~
 

As The Life - So The Fruit

2Pe 1:8  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

If we desire to glorify our LORD by fruitfulness, we must have certain things within us...

For nothing can come out of us which is not first of all within us. 

We must begin with faith, which is the groundwork of all the virtues...

And then diligently add to it virtue, knowledge, temperance, and patience. 

With these we must have godliness and brotherly love. 
All these put together will most assuredly cause us to produce, as our life fruit, the clusters of usefulness...

And we shall not be mere idle knowers but real doers of the Word. 

These holy things must not only be in us, but abound, or we shall be barren. 

Fruit is the overflow of life, and we must be full before we can flow over.

We have noticed men of considerable parts and opportunities who have never succeeded in doing real good in the conversion of souls...

And after close observation we have concluded that they lacked certain graces which are absolutely essential to fruit bearing. 

For real usefulness, graces are better than gifts. 

As the man is, so is his work.

If we would do better, we must be better. 

Let the text be a gentle hint to unfruitful professors and to myself also. 

~Charles Spurgeon~

How Are Your Ear Connections?

A telephone must be properly connected with where the person is to whom we wish to communicate, or it will be of no value to us.

If the connection is broken, or the receiver out of order, it will be useless for us to talk into the transmitter... the person at the other end will hear none of our words.

We may speak just the same as though he were hearing, but nothing will be accomplished.

There must be a proper connection...there must be a responsive receiver at the other end of the wire.

It is just so in spiritual things.

One of the most important things is to have our ears properly connected with our hearts.

We have often heard the expression, "It just went in at one ear and out at the other."

By this is meant that the one who heard, gave no heed.

How often this occurs in regard to the things of God!

When it comes to gossip and idle tales and foolish conversation and things of that sort...we ought to let such go "in at one ear and out at the other";

We should be very careful that they find no lodging-place in our hearts.

That is the only safe way for our souls.

But too often these things are given a place in the heart and mind - there is too good a connection...

And many times there is only too ready a response in the heart for such things.

That is why some people can never keep spiritual, and are always lagging behind others.

People who have such a good connection and responsiveness in their hearts on these lines...usually have very poor connection between their ears and their hearts when it comes to the teachings of the Word of God.

They can hear the Word preached on almost any subject and not seem to think it means them.

They go along in their lives just as they had been doing before.

They feel no particular responsibility to obey.

They can go on just as if they had never heard, and still profess to be Christians.

There were times when Israel had their connection broken.
 
God said to the prophet of old, "They hear your words but they will not do them."

So many times people say, "Wasn't that a good sermon today!"

Why, yes, how they enjoyed it!

But they go their way and give no further heed to what was said.

However, in the popular pulpits of today, the preachers too often hold this attitude, "This is my opinion of things...

You may take it or let it alone, just as you please;

You have a right to your own opinions about it.

And there are a great many people who act upon this idea.
 
They feel that they can take a thing, or let it alone, just as they please...even when the words preached are the judgments of God.

Many hold that attitude not only toward preaching, but toward the Bible also.

They read, or hear read, what it says about worldliness and foolish living;

They read about being patient and holy and blameless...

About not returning evil for evil, and about speaking evil of no man...

Yet they go right on doing the things forbidden, just as though the Book said nothing!

They do not take it to heart.

The trouble is, the connections between their ears and their hearts are broken as far as these things of God are concerned.

The Bible warns us to take heed how we hear.

If we do not treat the preaching of God's Word reverently, and listen with reverent hearts to his messages...it is because we do not reverence him.

It is because in our hearts, we are lifted up against him.
 
That attitude of "I shall take or leave alone, just as I please" is one of the very worst attitudes that can be held.

Not only is it dishonoring to God, but it is exceedingly dangerous.

Sometimes such an attitude of heart is partly, at least, the result of the way the preacher preaches.

If a man has a message from God, he has authority to preach that message as the word of God, and he should so preach it.

Every true gospel preacher should be imbued with the feeling, "I am preaching the truth of God."

It is your duty to hear it...

I expect you to hear it...

And hear it you must!

Let him hold this attitude in his heart and mind, and then let him enforce upon his congregation the truth that he preaches.

If the preacher feels his authority as God's spokesman as he ought to feel it...then the people will be impressed- they cannot help it.

It is true that they may rebel, grow stubborn, or disobey;
 
They may shut his words out from their hearts...

But nevertheless he is clear...

And they only increase their responsibility, of which they must give an account to God.

Paul believed that preaching and teaching should be with "all authority."

This does not imply mere human rule, but divine authority...God speaking through the man.

When the heart does not hear and feel, there is always a reason.

One reason is self-will.

People do not like to be told what to do.

They like to be masters of themselves.

God's government demands complete surrender of self-will, and must of necessity do so.

If we will be his servants, it is not for us to choose what our lives shall be, nor what we shall say, nor what we shall do.

It is his right to command...

It is our part to hear and to obey.

To hear, and then to heed just as we please...is setting up our authority above his.

The two ideas of service and self-will are opposed the one to the other.

Self-will always means rebellion against God's will.
 
Therefore if a person chooses what he will do, and leaves undone what he finds distasteful...then he, and not God, is the master.

This self-willed disposition is very noticeable among nominal professors of religion.

They profess to be God's servants...and yet they set their wills not to do certain things that they ought to do;

Or else to do certain things that they ought not to do.
They have their minds and hearts set in the matter.

When they hear the Word of God preached on matters predetermined by them, it falls on unhearing ears.

There is no response of the heart.

Another reason is love of ease or indolence.

People hear the voice of duty, but they do not respond to it because they do not wish to make the necessary effort.
 
They do not let their hearts be pressed by a sense of duty on that particular point, because to obey, they must arouse themselves from their indolent attitude.

One symptom showing that the heart does not hear, is unbelief.

One reason why the Jews did not believe Christ, was because their hearts were so hard...

And that is one reason why people do not hear the gospel in these days.

This is not confined to non-professing sinners;

It is a very common thing among church-members as well.

Reader, how is it with you?

Are you one of those who have the connection broken between the ears and the heart?

Or have you listening ears and a feeling heart?

When you hear the Word of God preached on certain subjects...can you slight it?

Or does it sink deep into your conscience and take hold there and produce fruit in your life?

Are you ready to live by every word of God?

Or do you want to take only that which suits your views?

If the latter is true in your case...then you are in a dangerous condition.

God has the word preached, not simply to entertain people but that they may obey it.

The soul who delights in God's will, does not have to be compelled to listen, nor does he have to be compelled to obey; he is ready both to hear and to obey.

If there is something wrong with the connection between your ears and your heart, you had better go directly to God and have the connection re-made.

Get your heart taught to feel as it ought to feel, and to respond as it ought to respond.

Be not a hearer only, but be a doer of God's Word!

~Charles Naylor 1920~

No Need To Stint

The book of Proverbs is also a book of promises. 

Promises ought to be proverbs among the people of God. 

This is a very remarkable one.

We are accustomed to think of our good things as in reversion, but here we are told that we shall have them in possession. 

Not all the malice and cunning of our enemies can work our destruction...

They shall fall into the pit which they have digged. 

Our inheritance is so entailed upon us that we shall not be kept out of it, nor so turned out of the way as to miss it. 

But what have we now? 

We have a quiet conscience through the precious blood of Jesus. 

We have the love of God set upon us beyond all change. 

We have power with God in prayer in all time of need. 

We have the providence of God to watch over us...

The angels of God to minister to us...

And, above all, the Spirit of God to dwell in us. 

In fact, all things are ours. "Whether things present or things to come: all are yours." 

Jesus is ours. 

Yea, the divine Trinity in unity is ours. Hallelujah. 

Let us not pine and whine and stint and slave, since we have good things in possession. 

Let us live on our God and rejoice in Him all the day. 

Help us, 0 Holy Ghost! 

~Charles Spurgeon~