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From: Suzianty
Herawati
"Fight the Lord's battles." --1 Samuel 18:17 The sacramental host of God's elect is warring still on earth, Jesus Christ being the Captain of their salvation. He has said, "Lo! I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Hark to the shouts of war! Now let the people of God stand fast in their ranks, and let no man's heart fail him. It is true that just now in England the battle is turned against us, and unless the Lord Jesus shall lift His sword, we know not what may become of the church of God in this land; but let us be of good courage, and play the man. There never was a day when Protestantism seemed to
tremble more in the scales than now that a fierce effort is making to restore
the Romish antichrist to his ancient seat. We greatly want a bold voice and a
strong hand to preach and publish the old gospel for which martyrs bled and
confessors died. The Saviour is, by His Spirit, still on earth; let this cheer
us. He is ever in the midst of the fight, and therefore the battle is not
doubtful. And as the conflict rages, what a sweet satisfaction it is to know
that the Lord Jesus, in His office as our great Intercessor, is prevalently
pleading for His people! O anxious gazer, look not so much at the battle below,
for there thou shalt be enshrouded in smoke, and amazed with garments rolled in
blood; but lift thine eyes yonder where the Saviour lives and pleads, for while
He intercedes, the cause of God is safe. Let us fight as if it all depended upon
us, but let us look up and know that all depends upon Him.
Now, by the lilies of Christian purity, and by the roses of the Saviour's atonement, by the roes and by the hinds of the field, we charge you who are lovers of Jesus, to do valiantly in the Holy War, for truth and righteousness, for the kingdom and crown jewels of your Master. Onward! "for the battle is not yours but God's." SDG, CH Spurgeon ==============================================
From: Suzianty Herawati
"The Amen." --Revelation 3:14 The word AMEN solemnly confirms that which went before; and Jesus is the great Confirmer; immutable, for ever is "the Amen" in all His promises. Sinner, I would comfort thee with this reflection. Jesus Christ said, "Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." If you come to Him, He will say "Amen" in your soul; His promise shall be true to you. He said in the days of His flesh, "The bruised reed I will not break." O thou poor, broken, bruised heart, if thou comest to Him, He will say "Amen" to thee, and that shall be true in thy soul as in hundreds of cases in bygone years. Christian, is not this very comforting to thee also, that there is not a word which has gone out of the Saviour's lips which He has ever retracted? The words of Jesus shall stand when heaven and earth shall pass away. If thou gettest a hold of but half a promise, thou shalt find it true. Beware of him who is called "Clip-promise," who will destroy much of the comfort of God's word. Jesus is Yea and Amen in all His offices. He was a Priest to pardon and cleanse once, He is Amen as Priest still. He was a King to rule and reign for His people, and to defend them with His mighty arm, He is an Amen King, the same still. He was a Prophet of old, to foretell good things to come, His lips are most sweet, and drop with honey still--He is an Amen Prophet. He is Amen as to the merit of His blood; He is Amen as to His righteousness. That sacred robe shall remain most fair and glorious when nature shall decay. He is Amen in every single title which He bears; your Husband, never seeking a divorce; your Friend, sticking closer than a brother; your Shepherd, with you in death's dark vale; your Help and your Deliverer; your Castle and your High Tower; the Horn of your strength, your confidence, your joy, your all in all, and your Yea and Amen in all. SDG, CH Spurgeon ===============================================
From: Bayo
Afolaranmi
WHEN GOD SAYS
NO
Dear Beloved, I am bitter as I am sending my weekly devotional message to you this week. The reason is that God had said no to me again last week in one of my most desired goals in life. I am still trying to console myself and praise God for His goodness over my life in spite of the denial of my desire. This will make me resend this abridged text of one of my sermons to you. People that have been in my mailing lists for the past three years will remember the sermon. It came to my mind again as I was reflecting on the incidence. Here is it: WHEN GOD SAYS NO (2 Samuel 7: 1-28) "If Jesus says yes, nobody can say no." Undoubtedly, the saying is correct. No one can negate what God approves. However, what if God negate an idea, a plea, or a request ? Can anybody change it? Someone has said that God answers our prayers in any of the three ways, vis, yes, no, or wait. When God says NO, what would be your reaction to it? Let us look at a situation in the Bible where God said NO. King David was a unique man - a man after Gods heart (Acts 13:22). He was a man that served as a good model for the subsequent kings after him because of his right standing before God. He was such a king that would not do anything without first enquired from God. God in turn made him successful in his entire endeavor, but only in one that God said NO. David had had rest from his entire struggle to stabilize his kingdom, and he was living peacefully in his mansion-palace. The desire of his heart was to build a befitting house for the Lord. As usual, he enquired from the Lord by informing the Prophet Nathan - the man of God of his time. Prophet Nathan approved this plan to build a house for the Lord, but God said NO. One may wonder why God said no to such a good heart desire of David. Let us consider the comprehensive answer of God in 2 Samuel 7:5-16, "Go and tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you... He is the one who will build a house for my Name.'" God did say NO to Davids aspiration. However, the NO answer was with a promise (see verses 11b-16). When God says NO to our request, He has something better for us. The reason is, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55: 8-9), and "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29: 11-12). How would you react to such an answer from God? Would you be like that pastor that told his congregation that, "When God says NO, say YES"? How did David react? He reacted by praising God in counting his blessings (see verses 18-29). The "NO" answer made him to praise God! It made him to draw closer to God. It made him to claim Gods promises (vv. 28-29). It should be noted that David did not question God when God said NO to his heart desire. God did not tell him either. Nonetheless, David knew the reason later. In 1 Chronicles 22: 7-8, we have a clue. God has a reason for saying no to most of our prayers. We may not understand now, but sooner we will. David accepted the NO answer of God to his desire, and God fulfilled His plan for him. Solomon - his son - eventually built the temple to Davids credit (see 2 Kings 8). Hezekiah was a different man. God told him that he would die (2 Kings 20:1). Instead of him to accept the will of God for him, he prayed against it. God, in His permissive will, added fifteen years to his life. Unfortunately, those added years were the dismay of his life (see 2 Kings 20: 12ff). Jesus Christ accepted NO when He prayed that God should take the cup of the cross from Him (Luke 22: 44). He even cried on the cross to demonstrate the agony of the "negative" answer He received from God (Mark 15: 34). However, the NO answer of God to Jesus, and His (i.e. Jesus) acceptance of it gave Him a name above every other name (Philippians 2: 10-11). This singular action of Jesus Christ has also given every Christian the hope that is beyond any other hope that if we die today, we are going to reign with Him. What is your attitude when God says NO to your prayer? Are you the type that will not take NO for an answer? Are you ready to accept Gods "negative" response to your heart desire? When God says NO to your prayer, He wants you to reflect on His goodness to you, and praise Him for His blessings. God will not always say yes to our prayers. When He says NO, let us accept it in good faith that it is for our own good. Remember, " God causes ALL things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28, NASB). In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Mailing List Jesus-Net Ministry Indonesia - JNM - Daftar : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Keluar : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Posting: [email protected] If you have any comment or suggestion about this mailing list, to : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Bagi Saudara yang berdomisili di Amerika, saudara dapat bergabung dengan mailing list Keluarga Kristen USA (KK-USA) dengan mengirimkan email kosong ke [EMAIL PROTECTED] dan ikuti instruksi yang ada. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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