"The Church in thy house." --Philemon 2
Is there a Church in this house? Are parents, children, friends, servants, all
members of it? or are some still unconverted? Let us pause here and let the question go
round-- Am I a member of the Church in this house ?
How would father's heart leap for joy, and mother's eyes fill with holy tears if from
the eldest to the youngest all were saved! Let us pray for this great mercy until the
Lord shall grant it to us.
Probably it had been the dearest object of Philemon's desires to have all his
household saved; but it was not at first granted him in its fulness. He had a wicked
servant, Onesimus, who, having wronged him, ran away from his service. His master's
prayers followed him, and at last, as God would have it, Onesimus was led to hear Paul
preach; his heart was touched, and he returned to Philemon, not only to be a faithful
servant, but a brother beloved, adding another member to the Church in Philemon's
house. Is there an unconverted servant or child absent this morning? Make special
supplication that such may, on their return to their home, gladden all hearts with
good news of what grace has done! Is there one present? Let him partake in
the same earnest entreaty.
If there be such a Church in our house, let us order it well, and let all act as in
the sight of God. Let us move in the common affairs of life with studied holiness,
diligence,
kindness, and integrity. More is expected of a Church than of an ordinary household;
family worship must, in such a case, be more devout and hearty; internal love must be
more warm and unbroken, and external conduct must be more sanctified and Christlike.
We need not fear that the smallness of our number will put us out of the list of
Churches, for the Holy Spirit has here enrolled a family-church in the inspired book
of remembrance. As a Church let us now draw nigh to the great head of the one Church
universal, and let us beseech Him to give us grace to shine before men to the glory of
His name.
by CH Spurgeon
========================================
"I will cut off them that worship and that swear by the Lord, and that swear by
Malcham." --Zephaniah 1:5
Such persons thought themselves safe because they were with both parties: they went
with the followers of Jehovah, and bowed at the same time to Malcham. But duplicity is
abominable with God, and hypocrisy His soul hateth. The idolater who distinctly gives
himself to his false god, has one sin less than he who brings his polluted and
detestable sacrifice unto the temple of the Lord, while his heart is with the world
and the sins thereof. To hold with the hare and run with the hounds, is a
dastard's policy. In the common matters of daily life, a double- minded man is
despised, but in religion he is loathsome to the last degree. The penalty pronounced
in the verse before us is terrible, but it is well deserved; for how should divine
justice spare the sinner, who knows the right, approves it, and professes to follow
it, and all the while loves the evil, and gives it dominion in his heart?
My soul, search thyself this morning, and see whether thou art guilty of
double-dealing. Thou professest to be a follower of Jesus--dost thou truly love Him?
Is thy heart right with God?
Art thou of the family of old Father Honest, or art thou a relative of Mr. By-ends? A
name to live is of little value if I be indeed dead in trespasses and sins. To have
one foot on the land of truth, and another on the sea of falsehood, will involve a
terrible fall and a total ruin. Christ will be all or nothing. God fills the whole
universe, and hence there is no room for another god; if, then, He reigns in my heart,
there will be no space for another reigning power. Do I rest alone on Jesus crucified,
and live alone for Him? Is it my desire to do so? Is my heart set upon so doing? If
so, blessed be the mighty grace which has led me to salvation; and if not so, O Lord,
pardon my sad offence, and unite my heart to fear Thy name.
by CH Spurgeon
==========================================
From: Suzianty Herawati
"For my strength is made perfect in weakness." --2 Corinthians 12:9
A primary qualification for serving God with any amount of success, and for doing
God's work well and triumphantly, is a sense of our own weakness. When God's warrior
marches forth to battle, strong in his own might, when he boasts, "I know that I
shall conquer, my own right arm and my conquering sword shall get unto me the
victory," defeat is not far distant. God will not go forth with that man who marches
in his own strength. He who reckoneth on victory thus has reckoned wrongly, for "it is
not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." They who go
forth to fight, boasting of their prowess, shall return with their gay banners trailed
in the dust, and their armour stained with disgrace. Those who serve God must serve
Him in His own way, and in His strength, or He will never accept their service. That
which man doth, unaided by divine strength, God can never own. The mere fruits of the
earth He
casteth away; He will only reap that corn, the seed of which was sown from heaven,
watered by grace, and ripened by the sun of divine love. God will empty out all that
thou hast before He will put His own into thee; He will first clean out thy granaries
before He will fill them with the finest of the wheat.
The river of God is full of water; but not one drop of it flows from earthly springs.
God will have no strength used in His battles but the strength which He Himself
imparts. Are you mourning over your own weakness? Take courage, for there must be a
consciousness of weakness before the Lord will give thee victory. Your emptiness is
but the preparation for your being filled, and your casting down is but the making
ready for your lifting up.
"When I am weak then am I strong,
Grace is my shield and Christ my song."
by CH Spurgeon
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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