The Church and the World walked far apart
On the changing shores of time,
The World was singing a giddy song,
And the Church a hymn sublime.
"Come, give me your hand," said the merry World
"And walk with me this way!"
But the good Church hid her snowy hands
And solemnly answered "Nay,
I will not give you my hand at all,
And I will not walk with you;
Your way is the way that leads to death;
Your words are all untrue."
"Nay, walk with me but a little space,"
Said the World with a kindly air;
"The road I walk is a pleasant road,
And the sun shines always there;
Your path is thorny and rough and rude
But mine is broad and plain;
My way is paved with flowers and dew
And yours with tears and pain;
The sky to me is always blue,
No want, no toil I know;
The sky above you is always dark,
Your lot is a lot of woe;
There's room enough for you and me
To travel side by side."
Half shyly the Church approached the World
And gave him her hand of snow;
And the old World grasped it and walked along,
Saying, in accents low,
"Your dress is too simple to please my taste;
I will give you pearls to wear,
Rich velvets and silks for your graceful form,
And diamonds to deck your hair."
The Church looked down at her plain white robes,
And then at the dazzling World,
And blushed as she saw his handsome lip
With a smile contemptuous curled.
"I will change my dress for a costlier one,"
Said the Church, with a smile of grace;
Then her pure white garments drifted away,
And the World gave, in their place,
Beautiful satins and shining silks,
Roses and gems and costly pearls;
While over her forehead her bright hair fell
Crimped in a thousand curls.
"Your house is too plain," said the proud old World,
"I'll build you one like mine;
With walls of marble and towers of gold,
And furniture ever so fine."
So he built her a costly and beautiful house;
Most splendid it was to behold;
Her sons and her beautiful daughters dwelt there
Gleaming in purple and gold;
Rich fairs and shows in the halls were held,
And the World and his children were there.
Laughter and music and feasts were heard
In the place that was meant for prayer.
There were cushioned seats for the rich and the gay,
To sit in their pomp and pride;
But the poor who were clad in shabby array,
Sat meekly down outside.
"You give too much to the poor," said the World.
"Far more than you ought to do;
If they are in need of shelter and food,
Why need it trouble you?
Go, take your money and buy rich robes,
Buy horses and carriages fine;
Buy pearls and jewels and dainty food,
Buy the rarest and costliest wine;
My children, they dote on all these things,
And if you their love would win
You must do as they do, and walk in the ways
That they are walking in."
So the poor were turned from her door in scorn,
And she heard not the orphan's cry;
But she drew her beautiful robes aside,
As the widows went weeping by.
Then the sons of the World and the Sons of the Church
Walked closely hand and heart,
And only the Master, who knoweth all,
Could tell the two apart.
Then the Church sat down at her ease, and said,
"I am rich and my goods increase;
I have need of nothing, or aught to do,
But to laugh, and dance, and feast.
"The sly World heard, and he laughed in his sleeve,
And mockingly said, aside
"The Church is fallen, the beautiful Church;
And her shame is her boast and her pride."
The angel drew near to the mercy seat,
And whispered in sighs her name;
Then the loud anthems of rapture were hushed
And heads were covered with shame;
And a voice was heard at last by the Church
From Him who sat on the throne,
"I know thy works, and how thou hast said,
`I am rich, and hast not known
That thou art naked, poor and blind,
And wretched before my face;'
Therefore from my presence cast I thee out,
And blot thy name from its place."
-- MATILDA C. EDWARDS
Friday, May 29, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Antidote for Anxiety
A look at today's headlines can produce anxiety -- fear and uncertainty as to the future. Recession, depression, socialism, atheism, nuclear development, terrorism, the list goes on...
How should a child of God react? How to cope with all these depressing and anxiety-producing statistics?
Isaiah 25 tells us: "Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee. For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall." (vs. 3-4)
This is the Lord our God. When we are needy and in distress, when terrible ones and terrible nations come against us in a blast -- He is our strength.
Isaiah 26:3 prescribes for us the antidote for anxiety: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."
Yes, we can have perfect peace in the midst of all the turmoil in this world, IF we STAY our minds on HIM. If we trust only in HIM.
How should a child of God react? How to cope with all these depressing and anxiety-producing statistics?
Isaiah 25 tells us: "Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee. For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall." (vs. 3-4)
This is the Lord our God. When we are needy and in distress, when terrible ones and terrible nations come against us in a blast -- He is our strength.
Isaiah 26:3 prescribes for us the antidote for anxiety: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."
Yes, we can have perfect peace in the midst of all the turmoil in this world, IF we STAY our minds on HIM. If we trust only in HIM.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Doctrinal Unity
“To argue that the Bible is authoritative, but to be unable to come to anything like agreement on what it says even with those who share an evangelical commitment is self-defeating. After about so much acceptance of doctrinal disunity and all kinds of interpretations, doesn’t even common sense tell us that it becomes a fallacy to stand and wave our hands on the inerrancy of the Scripture when we can’t even come close to agreeing on what it says? Brethren, we can’t give up! We cannot put aside the Scriptural requirement of doctrinal unity. Because the next step is doubts about the Word.”
--Sermon Excerpt: Elder Bro. N.S.
--Sermon Excerpt: Elder Bro. N.S.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
The Cross is not Greater than His Grace
The cross that He gave may be heavy,
But it ne’er outweighs His grace;
The storm that I feared may surround me,
But it ne’er excludes His face.
The thorns in my path are not sharper
Than composed His crown for me;
The cup that I drink not more bitter
Than He drank in Gethsemane.
The light of His love shineth brighter,
As it falls on paths of woe;
The toil of my work groweth lighter,
As I stoop to raise the low.
His will have I joy in fulfilling,
As I’m walking in His sight;
My all to the blood I am bringing,
It alone can keep me right.
Refrain:
The cross is not greater than His grace,
The storm cannot hide His blessed face;
I am satisfied to know
That with Jesus here below,
I can conquer every foe.
Tabernacle Hymns
--Ballington Booth
But it ne’er outweighs His grace;
The storm that I feared may surround me,
But it ne’er excludes His face.
The thorns in my path are not sharper
Than composed His crown for me;
The cup that I drink not more bitter
Than He drank in Gethsemane.
The light of His love shineth brighter,
As it falls on paths of woe;
The toil of my work groweth lighter,
As I stoop to raise the low.
His will have I joy in fulfilling,
As I’m walking in His sight;
My all to the blood I am bringing,
It alone can keep me right.
Refrain:
The cross is not greater than His grace,
The storm cannot hide His blessed face;
I am satisfied to know
That with Jesus here below,
I can conquer every foe.
Tabernacle Hymns
--Ballington Booth
Monday, May 25, 2009
Cross-Bearing
It says, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Sometimes we think of a cross as maybe the death of a loved one or a health problem. That’s not the cross He is speaking about here. The cross He is speaking about here is a daily cross of denying our self. It is something that for us to nail self to.
There’s three things that Paul said needs to be nailed to that cross. I’d like to just elaborate for a moment on this cross bearing. Because again, this is another message that is getting lost today. Paul said in Romans 6:6, that, first of all, we have to nail sin to the cross. In Galatians 2:20, Paul said we have to put self on the cross. In Galatians 6:14, he said we have to crucify the world on the cross. Sin, self and the world.
Why? It’s because Jesus wants the focus to be on Him and not on sin, self or the world. When we put sin, self and the world on the cross, we are an open vessel for Him to work and to express Himself, for He is our life. He is a part of our life.
How do we do that? Through faith, through prayer, through a close relationship with Christ, we focus on Him and ask Him, could Thou please put self on the cross and nail him solid? Could Thou please put this part of the world that wants to be a part of my life, nail it to the cross?
Is the cross that we carry heavy enough? Today there’s materials that are light and easy to carry – like Styrofoam. It looks good. It looks like we are walking the right way. But you try to nail something to it and it just falls off. So it has to be the cross of Christ. It is something that is heavy. We have to recognize there is self-denial. That there is a cost associated with following Christ. It is putting aside sin, self and the world on a daily basis. But Christ will help us. It is a beautiful thing when He’s in control. That’s when the peace comes. That’s the cross that we come to when we repent.
--Sermon Excerpt: Elder Bro. J.S.
There’s three things that Paul said needs to be nailed to that cross. I’d like to just elaborate for a moment on this cross bearing. Because again, this is another message that is getting lost today. Paul said in Romans 6:6, that, first of all, we have to nail sin to the cross. In Galatians 2:20, Paul said we have to put self on the cross. In Galatians 6:14, he said we have to crucify the world on the cross. Sin, self and the world.
Why? It’s because Jesus wants the focus to be on Him and not on sin, self or the world. When we put sin, self and the world on the cross, we are an open vessel for Him to work and to express Himself, for He is our life. He is a part of our life.
How do we do that? Through faith, through prayer, through a close relationship with Christ, we focus on Him and ask Him, could Thou please put self on the cross and nail him solid? Could Thou please put this part of the world that wants to be a part of my life, nail it to the cross?
Is the cross that we carry heavy enough? Today there’s materials that are light and easy to carry – like Styrofoam. It looks good. It looks like we are walking the right way. But you try to nail something to it and it just falls off. So it has to be the cross of Christ. It is something that is heavy. We have to recognize there is self-denial. That there is a cost associated with following Christ. It is putting aside sin, self and the world on a daily basis. But Christ will help us. It is a beautiful thing when He’s in control. That’s when the peace comes. That’s the cross that we come to when we repent.
--Sermon Excerpt: Elder Bro. J.S.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Even If Alone We Stand
Arm us with Thy true discernment
As Elijah, in these days
When men, led by superstition,
To false idols altars raise.
Let us shun the mere profession
Common in our days and land,
Witnessing a good profession
Even if alone we stand.
--Zion's Harp #175 vs. 6
As Elijah, in these days
When men, led by superstition,
To false idols altars raise.
Let us shun the mere profession
Common in our days and land,
Witnessing a good profession
Even if alone we stand.
--Zion's Harp #175 vs. 6
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Traits of the Self-life
Traits of the Self-life
The following are some of the features and manifestations of the self-life. The Holy Spirit alone can interpret and apply these to your individual case.
As you read, examine yourself in the very presence of God. Are you demonstrating the self-life? It shows itself as:
#1. A spirit of pride. Do you have an exalted feeling because of your success or position, because of your good training or your appearance, or because of your natural gifts and abilities? Do you show an important, independent spirit?
#2. Love of praise. Do you have a secret fondness to be noticed, a love of supremacy? Do you draw attention to yourself in conversation? Does your self swell out when you have had a time to speak or pray in the presence of others?
#3. Stirrings of anger. Are you irritable, and do you cover it over by calling it nervousness or holy indignation? Do you have a touchy spirit, a disposition to resent and retaliate when disapproved of or contradicted? Do you throw sharp words at others?
#4. Self-will. Do you show a stubborn, unteachable spirit? Do you argue? Are you harsh, sarcastic, driving, or demanding? Do you come through as unyielding or headstrong? Do you have a disposition to criticize and pick flaws when you are ignored or decisions don't go your way? Do you have a peevish spirit that loves to be coaxed and humored?
#5. Carnal fear. Are you controlled by a man-fearing spirit, that causes you to shrink from duty? Do you reason around your cross? Are you afraid your commitment to righteousness will cause some prominent person to think less of you? Do you compromise principle to please others?
#6. Jealousy. Do you hide a spirit of envy in your heart? Do you harbor an unpleasant sensation in view of the prosperity and success of another? When someone is more talented or appreciated than you, are you disposed to speak of his faults rather than his virtues?
#7. Dishonesty. Do you evade or cover the truth? Do you hide or minimize your real faults and attempt to leave a better impression of yourself than is strictly true? Do you show false humility? Do you exaggerate, straining the truth? Do you show one face to one person and quite the opposite to another?
#8. Unbelief. Do you demonstrate a spirit of discouragement in times of pressure and opposition? In your heart, is there a lack of quietness and confidence in God, a lack of settled trust? Do you have a disposition to worry and complain in the midst of pain, poverty, or trials that God allows? Are you overanxious about whether situations will turn out all right?
#9. Religious formality. Are you complacent about the lost? Is your relationship with God characterized by dryness and indifference? Does your life lack spiritual power? Do you regularly meet God?
#10. Selfishness. Are you drawn to a love of ease, a catering to your appetites, a repeated hankering for short-lived pleasure? Do your joys and sorrows fluctuate around personal interests? Is there a yearning for money and earthly possessions?
These are some of the traits that generally indicate a carnal heart. By prayer, hold your heart open to the searchlight of God until nothing is hidden. "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139:23, 24).
The Holy Spirit will enable you, by confession and faith, to bring this self-life to the death. Do not patch over, but be thorough. Nothing else will avail.
Oh, to be saved from my self, dear Lord,
Oh, to be lost in Thee;
Oh, that it might be no more I,
But Christ that lives in me.
"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10).
--E. E. Shelhamer, adapted
© Copyright, Christian Light Publications
The following are some of the features and manifestations of the self-life. The Holy Spirit alone can interpret and apply these to your individual case.
As you read, examine yourself in the very presence of God. Are you demonstrating the self-life? It shows itself as:
#1. A spirit of pride. Do you have an exalted feeling because of your success or position, because of your good training or your appearance, or because of your natural gifts and abilities? Do you show an important, independent spirit?
#2. Love of praise. Do you have a secret fondness to be noticed, a love of supremacy? Do you draw attention to yourself in conversation? Does your self swell out when you have had a time to speak or pray in the presence of others?
#3. Stirrings of anger. Are you irritable, and do you cover it over by calling it nervousness or holy indignation? Do you have a touchy spirit, a disposition to resent and retaliate when disapproved of or contradicted? Do you throw sharp words at others?
#4. Self-will. Do you show a stubborn, unteachable spirit? Do you argue? Are you harsh, sarcastic, driving, or demanding? Do you come through as unyielding or headstrong? Do you have a disposition to criticize and pick flaws when you are ignored or decisions don't go your way? Do you have a peevish spirit that loves to be coaxed and humored?
#5. Carnal fear. Are you controlled by a man-fearing spirit, that causes you to shrink from duty? Do you reason around your cross? Are you afraid your commitment to righteousness will cause some prominent person to think less of you? Do you compromise principle to please others?
#6. Jealousy. Do you hide a spirit of envy in your heart? Do you harbor an unpleasant sensation in view of the prosperity and success of another? When someone is more talented or appreciated than you, are you disposed to speak of his faults rather than his virtues?
#7. Dishonesty. Do you evade or cover the truth? Do you hide or minimize your real faults and attempt to leave a better impression of yourself than is strictly true? Do you show false humility? Do you exaggerate, straining the truth? Do you show one face to one person and quite the opposite to another?
#8. Unbelief. Do you demonstrate a spirit of discouragement in times of pressure and opposition? In your heart, is there a lack of quietness and confidence in God, a lack of settled trust? Do you have a disposition to worry and complain in the midst of pain, poverty, or trials that God allows? Are you overanxious about whether situations will turn out all right?
#9. Religious formality. Are you complacent about the lost? Is your relationship with God characterized by dryness and indifference? Does your life lack spiritual power? Do you regularly meet God?
#10. Selfishness. Are you drawn to a love of ease, a catering to your appetites, a repeated hankering for short-lived pleasure? Do your joys and sorrows fluctuate around personal interests? Is there a yearning for money and earthly possessions?
These are some of the traits that generally indicate a carnal heart. By prayer, hold your heart open to the searchlight of God until nothing is hidden. "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139:23, 24).
The Holy Spirit will enable you, by confession and faith, to bring this self-life to the death. Do not patch over, but be thorough. Nothing else will avail.
Oh, to be saved from my self, dear Lord,
Oh, to be lost in Thee;
Oh, that it might be no more I,
But Christ that lives in me.
"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10).
--E. E. Shelhamer, adapted
© Copyright, Christian Light Publications
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Why Do I Drift on a Storm-Tossed Sea?
Why do I drift on a storm-tossed sea,
With neither compass, nor star, nor chart,
When, as I drift, God’s own plan for me
Waits at the door of my slow-trusting heart?
Down from the heavens it drops like a scroll,
Each day a bit will the Master unroll.
Each day a mite of the veil will He lift.
Why do I falter? Why wander and drift?
Drifting, while God’s at the helm to steer;
Groping, when God lays the course so clear;
Swerving, though straight into port I might sail;
Wrecking, when heaven lies just within hail.
Help me, O God, in the plan to believe;
Help me my fragment each day to receive.
Oh, that my will may with Thine have no strife!
God-yielded wills find the God-planned life.
--James McConkey
With neither compass, nor star, nor chart,
When, as I drift, God’s own plan for me
Waits at the door of my slow-trusting heart?
Down from the heavens it drops like a scroll,
Each day a bit will the Master unroll.
Each day a mite of the veil will He lift.
Why do I falter? Why wander and drift?
Drifting, while God’s at the helm to steer;
Groping, when God lays the course so clear;
Swerving, though straight into port I might sail;
Wrecking, when heaven lies just within hail.
Help me, O God, in the plan to believe;
Help me my fragment each day to receive.
Oh, that my will may with Thine have no strife!
God-yielded wills find the God-planned life.
--James McConkey
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Global Warming
Global Warming is one of the most popular topics in today's current events.
We may question the scientific "evidence" which is being advanced, claiming that humans have so much power that they are able to effect change in the earth's atmosphere.
But the interesting truth is that, according to the Scripture, there will be "global warming" some day, by means quite unexpected to most scientists and journalists.
"But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same Word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
"Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat..."
–II Peter 3:7, 10, 12
Peter then asks us the very pertinent question: "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?" (vs. 11)
And the question is answered very clearly in the remainder of the chapter: "Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
"Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." (vs. 14, 17-18).
We may question the scientific "evidence" which is being advanced, claiming that humans have so much power that they are able to effect change in the earth's atmosphere.
But the interesting truth is that, according to the Scripture, there will be "global warming" some day, by means quite unexpected to most scientists and journalists.
"But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same Word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
"Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat..."
–II Peter 3:7, 10, 12
Peter then asks us the very pertinent question: "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?" (vs. 11)
And the question is answered very clearly in the remainder of the chapter: "Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
"Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." (vs. 14, 17-18).
True Christians or Anti-Christians
Now as is the seed of the Word, so also the fruit that comes forth of it, and the fruit declares the seed. If men are ungodly, it is proof that they have a falsified gospel, have heard an anti-Christian teacher and accordingly are deceived. But if holy and godly and just and conform to the example and likeness of Jesus Christ Who came for that purpose, it is proof that they have heard and believed the true gospel.
We have now to look upon and take into consideration not the populace or most people, for they are always on the broad way to destruction and only few are on the narrow way to life everlasting. So today, all around us, the world is full of anti-Christians. True Christians who conform to Christ and who follow Him in mind and life as children of God reborn of the seed of His word are indeed scarce and they are afraid to accept anything new, i.e. anything that the spirit of anti-Christ (the lie) has taught and propagated in the world since the apostles' time.
Even in his time, by saying that "many deceivers are entered into the world," John meant neither the Jews nor the Greeks (for they confess not as and for themselves Jesus Christ come in the flesh). John came to know in the church of Christ itself the nature or character of false teachers who practised deception with the gospel.
--S.H. Froehlich
Excerpt: Epistles of John Volume IV
We have now to look upon and take into consideration not the populace or most people, for they are always on the broad way to destruction and only few are on the narrow way to life everlasting. So today, all around us, the world is full of anti-Christians. True Christians who conform to Christ and who follow Him in mind and life as children of God reborn of the seed of His word are indeed scarce and they are afraid to accept anything new, i.e. anything that the spirit of anti-Christ (the lie) has taught and propagated in the world since the apostles' time.
Even in his time, by saying that "many deceivers are entered into the world," John meant neither the Jews nor the Greeks (for they confess not as and for themselves Jesus Christ come in the flesh). John came to know in the church of Christ itself the nature or character of false teachers who practised deception with the gospel.
--S.H. Froehlich
Excerpt: Epistles of John Volume IV
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