I will not waste my time in vain questions; I will study the book. It is the word of Moses, the word of Amos, the word of John, the word of Paul; but it is the mind of God and the word of God. We should then deem it a very erroneous statement to say; certain passages in the Bible are from men, and certain others from God. No; every verse, without exception, is from men; and every verse, without exception, is from God; whether he speaks directly in his own name, or whether he employs all the individuality of the sacred writer. . . .

But, thanks be to God . . . [our sacred books] contain no errors, all their writing is inspired of God. . . . none of these words ought to be neglected, and we are called to respect them and to study them even to their least iota and to their least tittle.

Taken from Theopneusty by S.R.L. Gaussen (published in English first in 1842), pp. 36-39 (as quoted in Lewis Sperry Chafer’s Systematic Theology, Vol. VI, pp. 30-31).

“How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity.

The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property, either as a child, a wife, or a concubine, must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men. Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities – but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled, the civilization of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilization of ancient Rome.”

From The River War by Sir Winston Churchill, first edition, Vol. II, pp. 248-50 (London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1899).

REJECTING ALL ELSE

Accepting Christ Means Rejecting All Else

“The notion that we enter the Christian life by an act of acceptance is true, but that is not all the truth. There is much more to it than that. Christianity involves an acceptance and a repudiation, an affirmation and a denial. And this not only at the moment of conversion but continually thereafter day by day in all the battle of life till the great conflict is over and the Christian is home from the wars. To live a life wholly positive is, fortunately, impossible. Were any man able to do such a thing it could be only for a moment. Living positively would be like inhaling continuously without exhaling. Aside from its being impossible, it would be fatal. Exhalation is as necessary to life as inhalation. To accept Christ it is necessary that we reject whatever is contrary to Him. This is a fact often overlooked by eager evangelists bent on getting results. Like the salesman who talks up the good points of his product and conceals its disadvantages, the badly informed soulwinner stresses the positive side of things at the expense of the negative.” ~A.W. Tozer

]]> http://www.greg-and-sue.com/2009/12/23/accepting-christ/feed/ 0 http://www.greg-and-sue.com/2009/02/27/idleness-betrays-the-cause-of-god/ http://www.greg-and-sue.com/2009/02/27/idleness-betrays-the-cause-of-god/#comments Sat, 28 Feb 2009 01:00:53 +0000 greg http://www.greg-and-sue.com/?p=635 A question was posed to John Wesley about why people under his care seemed no better off than those not. He said it was because he and his Preachers were not more knowing and more holy.

When asked why they were not more knowing, he gave this answer:

Because we are idle. We forget our very first rule, “Be diligent. Never be unemployed a moment. Never be triflingly employed. Never while away the time; neither spend any more time at any place than is strictly necessary.”

We must, absolutely must, cure this evil, or betray the cause of God.

Our idleness… our wasting away of time… our time “triflingly employed”… says John Wesley, betrays the cause of God.

One of his suggestions of how to fix this problem among his Preachers was the following:

Read the most useful books, and that regularly and constantly. Steadily spend all the morning in this employ, or, at least, five hours in four-and-twenty.

If you need no book but the Bible, you are got above St. Paul. He wanted others too. “Bring the books,” says he, “but especially the parchments,” those wrote on parchment.

“But, what if I’m not a reader? I’m just not a ‘bookish’ person. I’m more of a hands-on minister.” Well, Wesley had some advice there, too:

“But I have no taste for reading.” Contract a taste for it by use, or return to your trade.

[Taken from pages 314-15 of Volume 8, The Works of John Wesley.]

For the most part, we are a nation of Christians by profession — and a nation of heathens in practice.

There is to be found in the religious world — what may be termed — a pretty, cultured sort of evangelism, which too well combines luxurious ease, and serving of the world, and the flesh — not to say of the devil also. But such kind of religion will not prepare the soul for sickness, death, and eternity. At best, it will leave the soul a prey to the most fearful delusions of false peace. The way that leads to eternal life is much more narrow than many of our modern professors are aware of — the gate is too straight to allow all their trifling, and self-will, and worldliness, and carnal-mindedness, to press through it.

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. [Matthew 7:13-14]

You can find the article in its entiretly at Ligonier Ministries (it’s short, to-the-point). Here is what I found interesting (and I included my own comments in brackets for explanation purposes only… he uses some “religious” language that I do not, so I thought I’d include some definitions, etc. It is not my intention to deviate from the original content, only to explain.):

During the Reformation era, debates raged over what things must be considered crucial to Christian faith and practice, and what could be considered adiaphora (Latin for “things indifferent” [things neither morally mandated nor morally forbidden]). All sides agreed that the doctrines of the Trinity, the atonement, and justification were central. But what about worship issues? What about the elements of worship…?

We regard as axiomatic [self-evident] the principle that worship cannot be entertainment. Worship as entertainment is idolatry. By definition worship must be about God, not my amusement. Here is where disagreement exists: stages, theater-lighting, bands, dancers, dramatists, hand-held microphones, all up front, the service performed on behalf of an audience relaxing in theater-style seating. Is this adiaphora? Normally, issues of seating, lighting, placement of musicians, style of platform might have qualified as things indifferent… but a line has been crossed in our generation. Much of what passes for worship today is nothing more than lightly baptized entertainment, and therefore is idolatrous. It is idolatry from which serious churches must distance themselves. Our principle must be (with apologies to Luther): “Let us, therefore, repudiate everything that smacks of entertainment.”

Has the time come when the sanctuaries of evangelical Protestantism must be cleansed of everything that reflects the world of entertainment? Our Reformed forefathers took axes to the altars, and they whitewashed the walls of medieval churches. If our analysis of worship that entertains is correct, similar iconoclastic fury must be shown, and soon, in our houses of worship lest they become houses of mirth: theater seats pulled out; stages broken up; dancers and actors banished; musicians’ and choirs’ roles redefined as that of simply supporting and enhancing congregational singing; pulpit, table, and font ["table" and "font" used in reference to the two biblical ordinances of the Lord's Supper and Baptism] restored to their proper places; pastors moved back behind pulpits; and simple services of the Word read, preached, sung, prayed, and seen (in the sacraments [ordinances]) reestablished. What was once indifferent can be considered indifferent no more, not if Reformed Protestantism is to continue to practice purity in its worship and avoid idolatry. “Little children,” says the apostle John, “keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21).

I don’t know if I’d throw out the “baby with the bathwater” on how we “do” our Sunday services. I mean, we have a “stage” (an elevated platform) in our services and three people that “lead” singing with microphones. Is that “entertainment” vs. “worship.” I don’t think so… but, pastor Johnson certainly has a point that we should seriously consider, and I most certainly appreciate his zeal on the issue.

Where is our focus during our Sunday “worship” services? Is is solely upon God and His Word? Or is it on entertaining the folks so they’ll come back… making them feel good… “pumping them up” emotionally and giving them a good “Christian experience”? Worship is about God and church is about glorifying God and edifying God’s people. Therefore, the Word (both Living and Written) must be central. The moment we deviate from that norm, we have strayed from “worship” into “entertainment.” And, frankly… I’ve had enough of that road… I’ve made too many of those kinds of mistakes before… and I don’t want to go there again. Let’s remember Josiah and what God thought of him (2Kings 23.25 cf. 22.8-23.14).

If the professed convert distinctly and deliberately declares that he knows the Lord’s will, but does not mean to attend to it, you are not to pamper his presumptions, but it is your duty to assure him that he is not saved. Do not suppose that the Gospel is magnified or God glorified by going to the worldlings and telling them that they may be saved at this moment by simply “accepting Christ” as their Saviour, while they are wedded to their idols, and their hearts are still in love with sin. If I do so, I tell them a lie, pervert the Gospel, insult Christ, and turn the grace of God into lasciviousness.

It is interesting to notice that the Apostles preached the Lordship of Christ. The word “Saviour” occurs only twice in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 5.31; 13.23). On the other hand it is amazing to notice the title “Lord” is mentioned 92 times; “Lord Jesus” 13 times; and “The Lord Jesus Christ” 6 times in the same book.

The Gospel is: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”

We could carry Spurgeon’s statistics a little farther and include all of the New Testament:

• In the entire New Testament, the word “Saviour” is used only 24 times (eight of which refer to God the Father as our Saviour).
• In the same Books, Jesus is referred to as “Lord” 822 times, as “Lord Jesus” 22 times, and as the “Lord Jesus Christ” 81 times.

[This information is from Ernest C. Reisinger's book Today's Evangelism. Even though Mr. Reisinger is a devout Calvinist, his book is well worth the read.]

The stunted professor

(Theodore Cuyler, “Beulah-Land” or, “Words of Cheer for Christian Pilgrims”, 1896)

“The righteous will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green.” Psalm 92:12-14

The first quality of the cedar–is that it GROWS. It is a live tree. Where there is hearty life–there must be growth. It is the lamentable lack of inward godliness, which makes the stunted professor. There is not vitalizing sap enough in his heart-roots to reach up into the boughs of his outward conduct. There is not vigor enough in the trunk of his character, to stand erect. No showers brought down by fervent prayer, cleanse the dust of worldliness from his yellow, sicklied leaves.

There he is–just as he set out in the church a score of years ago–no larger, no broader, no brighter in graces than he was then! The caterpillars of lust have spun their unsightly webs all over his branches. He has not grown an inch–in any one Bible trait. He has not yielded one single fruit of the Spirit. He is a cumberer of the ground–fit only to be cut down. He is all the while drinking up God’s pure air and water–and yet fulfilling Satan’s purpose! Not of such a prayer-neglecting professor, not of such a time-serving, money-loving, fashion-worshiping professor, could we honestly say, “He grows like a cedar in Lebanon.”

I got this quote from Grace Gems this morning.

[A preacher in Ocala, Fla.] told me of a girl in a wheelchair who had cerebral palsy. Her arms and legs jerked so hard that she could not write. So, she had her arms and legs braced and tied to the chair so she could type enough to do two letters a day. Those two daily letters were mailed out for more than ten years to lost people, and dozens of people got saved through reading them. When asked about her “great testimony” and “monumental work” as a “great defender of the faith in this century, etc.,” she said, “I only regret that I can’t do enough for Him.” (Now, don’t you know there are going to be a lot of surprises at the Judgment Seat of Christ!?) ~ Dr. Peter S. Ruckman

If you’re reading this and you don’t know what Dr. Ruckman was referring to when he said “saved,” please visit this site. And if you’re a Christian that doesn’t believe in the “saved, born again” stuff, please visit this site. If you’re a Christian that can “identify” with the above quote, you’ll really like this audio (it’s only about 5 minutes long, and it’s easy to listen to). ~Greg

Preach abroad… It is the cooping yourselves up in rooms that has dampened the work of God, which never was and never will be carried out to any purpose without going into the highways and hedges and compelling men and women to come in. ~Jonathan Edwards

When people used to crowd around George Whitefield and praise him because of his marvelous preaching, he would stop them like this: “The devil told me that just before I came down from the pulpit.” Then he would add, “There are many who can preach the gospel better than I can, but none can preach a better gospel.” It is the message that counts. The servant is really nothing, and the more we realize this and are willing to take the place of nothingness, the more God delights to come in and work through His servants. ~ H.A. Ironside

The fact of the matter is that we will practically worship the men of old through whom God did great things—the Whitefields and everyone else. But we wouldn’t let them preach in our church nor teach some of the things they taught. Never forget this: The worst thing that could ever happen to a preacher, young man, is that he gets civilized. When he gets civilized and elegant and proper and respectable, he’s worthless! And that’s the problems with some of our seminaries. We’re wanting to produce these respectable intellectuals and these great reformed theologians, and all these different things… I do not see reformed theologians turning the world around. I see preachers who are reformed in themselves by the truth turning the world around. ~ Paul Washer (original audio here)

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. [Mat 7.13-14]

Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. [Mar 1.14-15]

Now beginning here with Mark, I think it is quite telling what’s going here, and it’s quite a rebuke to our modern evangelistic methodology. If we were to re-write this based upon what we see in the modern evangelical community, it would be something like this: Jesus saying, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand. Now who would like to ask Me into their heart?”

Do you see the problem? The language that we use today is not used in the New Testament, in any place. “Who would like to repeat this prayer after me? … Oh, I see that hand! … Come forward!” We see none of that. But, in the message of our Lord we see: “Repent and believe!” In the Apostolic invitation we see: “Repent and believe!” In the great confessions of the Church we see: “Repent and believe!” It is only until we come into this modern time that we hear nothing of repentance and faith unless it’s redefined in the context of “receiving Jesus” (which means, “Pray this prayer and ask Jesus to come into your heart. And if you’ve done that sincerely, then you can stand on the fact that you’ve been born again”).

Now that is serious, folks! This is serious! I preach in many churches where they’re absolutely appalled that I do not lead people in prayers; that I simply command, with the authority of Scripture, that men repent of their sins and believe the Gospel, and then sit down with them (at times for hours) explaining to them repentance and faith, and praying with them, hoping that Christ be formed in them! They would rather have me get people to raise their hands, come forward, pray a prayer, and then go out to eat somewhere!

This is the reason for all the noise about personal, one-on-one discipleship. Back in the late 70′s and early 80′s there was just this birth of personal discipleship. And if you talk to many people about the reasons for discipleship (personal discipleship) they would say this: “There are just as many people walking out the back door of our church as are walking in the front door of our church. They’re coming in, they’re not staying, and the reason is that they’re not being discipled personally.”

Well, first of all, I believe that personal discipleship can be of great benefit. But, here’s something I want you to know: The history of the Church knows very little about that sort of thing. Most men were discipled through the preaching of the Word of God. So, maybe we need all this “discipleship” because the pulpit is so weak.

But, I think that they entirely miss the point. Our brother talked about men seeing the problem but giving the wrong answer. The reason there were just as many people (and still are just as many people) going out of the church as coming into the Church is because the Gospel that we’re preaching is not the Gospel. It’s a truncated version of the Gospel. And the invitation we give cannot even be found in the New Testament! Now, does anyone have a problem with that?

The reason why they are leaving… well, “they went out from us because they were not of us.” They were not truly converted.

And sometimes the Lord will send unique individuals to our church as a rebuke. For example, you’ll try to win someone, you’ll try to manipulate someone, you’ll try to get someone to “make a decision,” and then you’ll work very hard at discipleship, calling them on Saturday night to make sure they’re ready for Sunday, going by and picking them up, and following them around like a little puppy trying to make sure that they walk the Christian life. And then one day some drunk, that you don’t even want in your church, walks in, gets saved, and you can’t chase him out! Why? Because God saved him.

Am I against personal discipleship? Absolutely not! But that is not the reason why people, after they are “converted,” continue on in their ungodliness [it's not for lack of personal discipleship]. They continue on in their ungodliness because they are still ungodly… because they weren’t converted. They were not.

Here’s an excerpt:

When I graduated from a Sourthern Baptist seminary I was versed in Karl Barth,…and Jugen Multmann; all the German theology that closed every church in Germany. And it wasn’t until I got in the Bible that I realized that most of what I had learned was worthless. And so you get into God’s Word; you get—you want to learn how to preach? …

Read the whole quote (it’s short) and get the link to the audio at the Apprising Ministries blog.

…corporate worship at church today has become largely obscene and unscriptural; because we no longer believe God, much less obey Him, being totally focused on amassing Results and Relationships rather than preaching, teaching, learning and obeying the Word of God, whatever it costs us personally or the church collectively. -Paul Proctor

http://www.newswithviews.com/PaulProctor/proctor86.htm

What marvel the devil does not love field preaching! Neither do I; I love a commodious room, a soft cushion, a handsome pulpit But where is my zeal, if I do not trample all these underfoot in order to save one more soul? ~John Wesley

And just a side note: Steve is a neat guy and very committed to intentional and constant evangelism. If you have time, check out his blog, especially the first posts (made years ago!). He started out slow, and then God kindled a real fire in heart for evangelism.

After you read Torrey’s essay, you might want to listen to this brief testimony:

• George Street

And, of course, make sure (like Spurgeon said) you get “good, striking tracts” that you like to hand out.

• Living Waters
• Custom Tract Source
• Chick Publications

Here’s a brief outline of the Torrey article you can find out on Steve’s blog:

THE USE OF TRACTS

By R. A. Torrey (1856-1928)

Comparatively few Christians realize the importance of tract work. I had been a Christian a good many years, and a minister of the Gospel several years, before it ever entered my head that tracts were of much value in Christian work. I had somehow grown up with the notion that tracts were all rubbish, and therefore I did not take the trouble to read them, and far less did I take the trouble to circulate them, but I found out that I was entirely wrong. Tract work has some great advantages over other forms of Christian work.

I. Importance and advantages.

1. Any person can do it.
2. A tract always sticks to the point.
3. A tract never loses its temper.
4. Oftentimes people who are too proud to be talked with, will read a tract when no one is looking.
5. A tract stays by one.
6. Tracts lead many to accept Christ.

II. Purposes for which to use a tract.

1. For the conversion of the unsaved.
2. To lead Christians into a deeper and more earnest Christian life.
3. To correct error.
4. To set Christians to work.

III. Who should use tracts.

1. Ministers of the Gospel should use them.
2. Sunday School teachers.
3. Traveling men.
4. Business men.
5. School teachers.6. Housekeepers.

IV. How to use tracts.

1. To begin a conversation.
2. Use a tract to close a conversation.
3. Use tracts where a conversation is impossible.
4. Use tracts to send to people at a distance.

V. Suggestions as to the use of tracts.

1. Always read the tracts yourself before giving them to others.
2. Suit your tract to the person to whom you give it.
3. Carry a selection of tracts with you.
4. Seek the guidance of God.
5. Seek God’s blessing upon the tract after you have given it out.
6. Oftentimes give a man a tract with words and sentences underscored.
7. Never be ashamed of distributing tracts.

Etiquette nowadays often demands of a Christian that he should not intrude his religion on company. Out on such etiquette! It is the etiquette of Hell. True courtesy to my fellow’s soul makes me speak to him, if I believe that soul to be in danger. ~ Charles H. Spurgeon

If we had to preach to thousands year after year, and never rescued but one soul, that one soul would be full reward for all our labor, for a soul is of countless price. ~ Charles H. Spurgeon

Christian Loveless: “Hi, Mrs. Smith. How are you doing? Is Erik in yet?”

Mrs. Smith: “Lunch again, huh? I haven’t seen him come through the lobby today. He came into work last week with a bad hangover. Probably the same thing has happened today. How was church?”

Christian Loveless: “It was really good. We had Brother Don Waterdowns come in and do a series of healing meetings. Hundreds gave their hearts to the Lord. I’m in charge of the follow-up program. Man, I didn’t realize how easy it is to get people saved. Lots were getting healed and people were coming to the altar without even being preached to.”

Mrs. Smith: “What a blessing. We had him at our church too. He advocates ‘friendship evangelism,’ doesn’t he?”

Christian Loveless: “Yes. I like that. It’s what I’ve been using on Erik. We’ve become good buddies over the years.”

Mrs. Smith: “I like that approach. It’s so much better than shoving the gospel down people’s throats.”

Christian Loveless: “True. That can alienate them. I’m waiting for the right time to mention the things of God to Erik; I don’t want to make him feel uncomfortable. Erik came to one of the meetings, and he really seemed to enjoy it. That’s the good thing about non-confrontational evangelism. He didn’t give his heart to the Lord, though. Maybe today he will bring up the subject. I never do, because I don’t want to offend him. I’m just a good friend, and I think that’s the right approach.”

Mrs. Smith: “I agree. I’ll call the Third Floor and speak to his secretary. Perhaps she will know why he’s late.”

Christian Loveless: “Okay.”

Mrs. Smith: “Jeannie, Rose Smith. Is Erik Tuday in yet? Christian Loveless is here to see . . .”

Christian Loveless: “What’s wrong? Your face has gone pale!”

Mrs. Smith: “I’m afraid Erik died during the night. He had an aneurysm in his sleep and was pronounced dead at 8:17 this morning…”

[From the School of Biblical Evangelism, Lesson 3: The Problem with the Modern Gospel; Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron]

I look upon this world as a wrecked vessel. God has given me a lifeboat and said to me, “Moody, save all you can.” ~D.L.Moody

Jesus pitied sinners, pleaded with them, sighed over them, warned them, and wept over them; but He never sought to amuse them!

When many of His disciples turned away, because of the searching nature of His preaching–I do not find there was any attempt to bring them back, by resorting to something more pleasant to the flesh. I do not hear Him saying, “We must keep up the gatherings at any cost! So run after the people, Peter, and tell them we will have a different style of service tomorrow! Something very short and attractive, with little, if any, preaching. Today was a service for God –but tomorrow we will have a pleasant evening for the people! Tell them they will be sure to enjoy it, and have a pleasant time. Be quick, Peter! We must get the people somehow; if not by Gospel–then by entertainment!”

No, this was not how He argued. Gazing in sorrow on those who would not hear the Word–He simply turns to the twelve, and asks, “Will you go away also?”

I’ve tried a lot of different “styles” and “tricks” to “make church work,” and because of that I’ve made a lot of mistakes over the years (hopefully I’ve learned from them; I believe I have). The one thing I keep coming back to is the Bible, because in Scripture God clearly tells us what His desire is for His people. He has clearly defined the Mission, the Message, and the Methods we are to employ to get the Message to those who need it and thereby fulfill the Mission. To stray from that is to stray from God and lean upon what Paul called “the wisdom of men.” I don’t want that in the ministry God has entrusted to me, and I know many of you don’t either. Let’s stay faithful to our Lord! Let’s fix our eyes upon Jesus and do His work His way, period.

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. [Gal 1.10]

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. [1Cor 2.1-5]

I think a good rule of thumb to follow would be to presume the Lord wants you to share the gospel with everyone unless He leads you not to. ~Danny Lehmann

You have nothing to do but save souls. Therefore spend and be spent in this work… It is not your business to preach so many times, and to take care of this or that society; but to save as many souls as you can; to bring as many sinners as you possibly can to repentance. ~John Wesley

Save some, O Christians! By all means, save some. From yonder flames and outter darkness, and the weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth, seek to save some! Let this, as in the case of the apostle, be your great, ruling object in life, that by all means you might save some. ~Charles Spurgeon

Brethren, do something; do something; do something. ~Charles Spurgeon

Christ’s call is to save the lost, not the stiff-necked; He came not to call scoffers but sinners to repentance; not to build and furnish comfortable chapels, churches, and cathedrals at home in which to rock Christian professors to sleep by means of clever essays, stereotyped prayers, and artistic musical performances, but to capture men from the devil’s clutches and the very jaws of Hell. This can be accomplished only by a red-hot, unconventional, unfettered devotion, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to the Lord Jesus Christ.

–C.T. Studd (1860-1931), Missionary to China and Africa (published recently by The Berean Call, http://www.thebereancall.org/)

Of C.T. Studd it is said:

His energy, earnestness, and single-mindedness made him a most difficult person to work with. He was stubborn and inflexible in what he required and demanded of others… he said he “didn’t care a damn” about anything, except to serve Christ and to save souls. He was ruthless in the standards he set for himself and others, and he interpreted leisure and recreation as idleness. To many of his contemporaries, he was a fanatic.

He doesn’t quite fit the mold of the “nice Christian pastor and missionary,” does he? But, still, God used him greatly to fulfill the Mission of preaching Christ to a lost world. Encouraging!

It’s said of Taylor:

In spite of constant poor health, regular bouts with depression, and his self-confessed irritation and impatience, he also could show tremendous flexibility and steadfastness under trial.

For some reason, that little ditty about Hudson Taylor is a great encouragement. He wasn’t some “super-Christian.” He was just a normal guy with normal struggles (especially those struggles that one deals with on the foreign mission field). But, God used him greatly.

I simply argue that the cross be raised again at the center of the market place as well as on the steeple of the church. I am recovering the claim that Jesus was not crucified in a cathedral between two candles, but on a cross between two thieves; on a town garbage heap; at a crossroad of politics so cosmopolitan that they had to write His title in Hebrew and Latin and in Greek… at the kind of place where cynics talk smut, and thieves curse and soldiers gamble. Because that is what He died about. And that is where Christ’s men ought to be, and what church people ought to be about. ~George MacLeod

Jesus is beyond all value; there is no ruby or diamond but the jeweler can set a fair price on it. Christ is more precious that rubies, diamonds, and heaven. True Christians prize Christ as most precious. He’s their chief treasure and delight. This is why millions perish: It is because they do not prize Christ.

If Christ is precious to you, you will desire to spend time in the Word to just know Him, ponder Him, think of Him, and draw closer to Him. If the love of your life sent you letters, and you never opened them up to read them, ponder them, know your love more through them… what would that say about your love for that person?

The ungodly choose things of no value before Christ. If a person chooses an apple before a priceless diamond, he is judged to be a fool. How many such idiots are there that choose the gaudy, empty things of this life before the Prince of glory. Give a baby a rattle, and he will not want gold. Give a worlding his lusts, and he will be content enough without Christ. We value Christ above honor and riches; this Pearl of great price lies nearest in our heart. He who prizes Christ esteems the gleanings of Christ better than the world’s vintage. He counts the worst things of Christ better than the best things of the world. If we are the prizers of Christ, we cannot live without Him. A man may live without music, but not without food. A child of God can lack health and friends, but he cannot lack Christ.

If we are prizers of Christ, then we shall not complain at any pains to get Him. He who prizes gold will dig for it in the mine. My soul follows hard after God. He in whose eye Christ is precious never rests until he has gained Him. If we are prizers of Christ then we take great pleasure in Him. What joy a man takes in that which he counts his treasure. He who prizes Christ makes Him his greatest joy. He can delight in Christ when earthly delights are gone. Though a flower in a man’s garden dies, he can still delight in his money and jewels. He who esteems Christ can solace himself in Christ where there is a dearth of all other comforts.

If we are prizers of Christ, then we will part with our dearest pleasures for Him. He who esteems Christ will pull out that lust which is as precious as his right eye. He who sets a high value on Christ will set his feet on the neck of his sins. How can they be said to prize Christ who will not leave a vanity for Him, or who prefer a damning pleasure before a saving Christ. He is very precious to you who believe.

Do you feel that way toward the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? Is He “precious” to you?

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? [2Cor 13.5]

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [1John 1.9]

Take a look at some of the sins Christians can, could, and should confess…

1. A secrete pride in being successful.
2. Pride in training, appearance, or intelligence.
3. Feeling an important, independent spirit.
4. Feeling bitter over what someone has said about you.
5. Have a sarcastic or unyielding spirit.
6. Have a bitter, sensitive, or “touchy” spirit.
7. Saying and doing things to attract attention to yourself.
8. A desire to attract the attention of the opposite sex.
9. Complaining and griping.
10. A desire to quit trying to do right.
11. Finding flaws and criticizing when set aside and unnoticed.
12. A deceitful and evasive spirit.
13. Unwilling to put out for others unless personal advantage or gain is involved.
14. Unnatural or abusive acts to self or others.
15. Seeking to create false impressions.
16. Lusting and wandering eyes.
17. Shirking from duty.
18. A tendency to retaliate when “crossed.”
19. Permitting things in your life that you would not permit in the lives of other Christians.
20. Being shallow or stingy or unclean in thought.
21. Being a joker or jester.
22. Partiality in dealing with certain persons, denominations, or classes.
23. Thinking of what might have happened if things hadn’t happened the way they did.
24. Being unthankful or unappreciative for the “lot” God gave you in life.
25. Being in constant fear of failure, or taking an unmerciful attitude towards those that fail.
26. Putting on a false or exaggerated humility.
27. An “I don’t care” attitude towards being caught in sin or skipping responsibility.
28. Imagining how others are praising you or speaking well of you.
29. Straining at the truth.
30. Having a feeling of nervousness when you see someone doing something that you think you could do better.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. [Hebrews 4.16]

Think of it this way… It’s like a conversation a fellow had about his dog…

“Is that dog a thoroughbred?”

“Why, yes he is.”

“I see he has some fleas.”

“Well, sure, yeah, but he has just enough fleas to remind him he’s still a dog!”

God doesn’t want you wandering all over creation and getting into trouble, so He will arrange things so that you will have to make “frequent visits” to Hebrews 4.16 and 1John 1.9. It’s good for you, whether you like it or not.

Take from the works of Dr. Peter S. Ruckman

It is a common experience to find souls kneeling at the altar and calling upon God with apparent great anguish of heart, who fail to receive anything. And it is just as common for groups of people to gather together for nights of prayer for a revival and yet never have their prayers answered. What is the trouble? Let the Word of God answer:

But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear. [Isaiah 59.2]

Hence, let us uncover our sin first of all; let us make straight the crooked ways, let us gather out the stones, and then we may ask in faith and expectancy for showers of blessing.

Let us take our sins one by one and deal with each transgression separately. And let us ask ourselves the following questions. It may be we are guilty and God will speak to us:

1. Have we forgiven everyone? Is there any malice, spite, hatred, or enmity in our hearts? Do we cherish grudges; and have we refused to be reconciled?
2. Do we get angry? Are there any uprisings within? Is it true that we still lose our tempers? Does wrath hold us at times in its grip?
3. Is there any feeling of jealousy? When another is preferred before us, does it make us envious and uncomfortable? Do we get jealous of those who can pray, speak, and do things better than we can?
4. Do we get impatient and irritated? Do little things vex and annoy, or are we sweet, calm, and unruffled under all circumstances?
5. Are we offended easily? When people fail to notice us and pass by without speaking, does it hurt? If others are made much of and we are neglected, how do we feel about it?
6. Is there any pride in our hearts? Are we puffed up, do we think a great deal of our own position and attainments?
7. Have we been dishonest? Is our business open and above reproach? Do we give a yard for a yard and a pound for a pound? Are we honest in our statements, or do we exaggerate and convey false impressions?
8. Have we been gossiping about people? Do we slander the character of others? Are we talebearers and busybodies?
9. Do we criticize unlovingly, harshly, severely? Are we always finding fault and looking for the flaws in others?
10. Do we rob God? Have we stolen time that belongs to Him? Has our money been withheld?
11. Are we guilty of the sin of unbelief? In spite of all He has done for us, do we still refuse to believe the promises of His Word?
12. Have we committed the sin of prayerlessness? Are we intercessors? Do we pray? How much time are we spending on our knees? Have we crowded prayer out of our lives?
13. Are we neglecting God’s Word? How many chapters do we read each day? Are we Bible students? Do we draw our source of supply from the Scriptures?
14. Are we burdened for the salvation of souls? Have we a love for the lost? Is there any compassion in our hearts for those who are perishing?
15. Have we failed to confess Christ openly? Are we ashamed of Jesus? Do we keep our mouths closed when we are surrounded by worldly people? Are we witnessing daily?
16. Are our lives filled with lightness and frivolity? Is our conduct unseemly? Would the world by our actions consider us on its side?
17. Have we wronged anyone and failed to make restitution? Or has the spirit of Zacchaeus possessed us? Have we restored the many little things that God has shown us?
18. Are we worried or anxious? Do we fail to trust God for our temporal and spiritual needs? Are we continually crossing bridges before we come to them?
19. Are we guilty of lustful thoughts? Do we allow our minds to harbor impure and unholy imaginations?

Charles Spurgeon said, “I have no confidence at all in polished speech or brilliant literary effort to bring about a revival, but I have all the confidence in the world in the poor saint who would weep her eyes out because people are living in sin.”

“The jealousy of God requires us to be zealous for God. As our right response to God’s love for us is love for Him, so our right response to His jealousy over us is zeal for Him. His concern for us is great; ours for Him must be great, too. What the prohibition of idolatry in the second commandment implies is that God’s people should positively and passionately devoted to His Person, His cause, and His honor. The Bible word for such devotion is zeal, sometimes actually called jealousy for God. God Himself, as we have seen, manifests this zeal, and the godly must manifest it, too.

“The classic description for zeal for God was given by Bishop J.C. Ryle. We quote it at length:

Zeal in religion is a burning desire to please God, to do His will, and to advance His glory in the world in every possible way. It is a desire which no man feels by nature—which the Spirit puts in the heart of every believer when he is converted—but which some believers feel so much more strongly than others that they alone deserve to be called “zealous” men…

 

A zealous man in religion is preeminently a man of one thing. It is not enough to say that he is earnest, hearty, uncompromising, thorough-going, whole-hearted, fervent in spirit. He only sees one thing, he cares for one thing, he lives for one thing, he is swallowed up in one thing; and that one thing is to please God. Whether he lives, or whether he dies—whether he has health, or whether he has sickness—whether he is rich, or whether he is poor—whether he pleases man, or whether he gives offense—whether he is thought wise, or whether he is thought foolish—whether he gets blame, or whether he gets praise—whether he gets honor, or whether he gets shame—for all this the zealous man cares nothing at all. He burns for one thing; and that one thing is to please God, and to advance God’s glory. If he is consumed in the very burning, he cares not for it—he is content. He feels that, like a lamp, he is made to burn; and if consumed in burning, he has but done the work for which God appointed him. Such a one will always find a sphere for his zeal. If he cannot preach, work, and give money, he will cry, and sigh, and pray… If he cannot fight in the valley with Joshua, he will do the work of Moses, Aaron, and Hur on the hill (Exod 17.9-13). If he is cut off from working himself, he will give the Lord no rest till help is raised up from another quarter, and the work is done. This is what I mean when I speak of “zeal” in religion. (Taken from Practical Religion, 1959 ed., page 130).

“Zeal we note is commanded and commended in the Scriptures.”

It’s not that Christians in the West aren’t willing to suffer persecution for Christ–they just don’t want to be inconvenienced!

Spoken by veteran missionary Bill Batham who devoted more than 50 years to missions, serving mainly the persecuted churches in Eastern Europe [cited by Peter Hammond in his book The Greatest Century of Missions, page127].

Our present generation has become selfish, sloppy, soft, spoiled and self-indulgent, unaccustomed to personal sacrifice, unwilling to endure hardship, and unlikely to exhibit loyalty to any mission, devotion to duty or courage in the face of danger.

From The Greatest Century of Missions by Peter Hammond, page127.

Missionary service demands dedication, determination, and discipline–and these qualities are basically rejected by the television generation.

From The Greatest Century of Missions by Peter Hammond, page127.