Spurgeon. Song of Solomon 1:16. Christ Our Beloved.

What is the Bible? Is it primarily the revelation of God our Creator, the covenants He has made and human sin. What is the main message of every single book? God our Creator, the covenants and human sin. What is the main message of the Song of Solomon? This book reveals to us something of our Creator, the covenant between 1 man and 1 woman: marriage and human sin. In this I want to focus on what we can discover about God using the rest of scripture to help me - since scripture interprets scripture. This is what we see.

From every point of view, our beloved is wonderful. It is a good and right thing for us to constantly gain fresh views of the loveliness of Jesus. How special are our hard times when they carry us to gain clearer views of Jesus. We have seen His radiance while having those mountain top experiences and we have seen His beauty while being in the lions den of valley of the shadow of death. From the pain of the sick bed to the borders of the grave we have turned our yes towards our bride groom and He has lost none of His splendor. Jesus you are indescribable. You are most fair, my beloved. Many of His people have looked upon Him from the gloom of dungeons and fires, yet none had said a bad word against Him, but have died singing His surpassing charms. What a noble and pleasant work we have to gaize upon His beauty and meditate in His temple. When we see Him in all His offices we will see Him as one unmatched. As King and Servant. In the manger and as our Hugh Priest. On the cross and raised to life. As the lamb offered for our sins and ad the lion of the tribe of Judah. In all these and more He is, "altogether lovely" as Song of Solomon goes. Carefully examine every single part of His life and character and you will find Him lovely every single minute. From when He called the little children to His side, to when He rebuked those who abused religion. He is unmatched In glory. Eternity will not uncover a spot in His majesty, but it will reveal His wonder more and more in increasing strength.

Spurgeon. Psalm 107:7. God leads us on the right paths.

Undesirable change often makes a worried believer say, "why is this happening." I looked for light, but darkness is around me. I looked for peace, but trouble came. I looked for God, yet did not find Him. I thought everything would be OK if I follow Jesus. I said in my heart that my foundation is firm, I will not be moved. Lord why do you hide your face from me? I am troubled. Yesterday all things were clear, but today I cannot see properly. All is foggy. Yesterdsy I climbed into of your mountain and saw my sins washed away and the promise of being a child of God, yet today I have no hope. Is this part of God's plan? Is this the path to walk to get to heaven? yes it is. The eclipse of faith, the darkness of mind, the fainting of hope, all these are part of the tool kit to shape us to become more like Jesus our Messiah. These trials are for the strengthening of my faith. they are the waves that wash me further upon the rock that is higher then I. they are the winds that blow my ship speedily to heaven. they are the earthquakes that throw down the man made gods - idols - in my heart. These are how He leads us on the path of sanctification. By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report, by wealth and poverty, by joy and distress, by persecution and by peace. By all these He preserves my life from being corrupted by this filthy world. By these He leads us on the right path - the narrow path. Oh believer, do not think that your sorrows are out of Gods hands. we must, throguh much hardship, enter the Kingdom of heaven. learn the meaning of the words, "count it all joy" when we face trials of various kinds. May my trembling soul be still and wait to see Gods holy will.

Bagster. Hebrews 12:14. being holy

If we are not born again we cannot see the kingdom of God. Only those who have been born again by the Spirit of God will know the kingdom of God because before being born again I am dead, blind to the things of God. But God being so kind makes me alive. I am born again. I am raised to spiritual life and die to my sins. This happens when the Spirit generates me. He breaths on me and makes me alive. When this happens I am made holy and acceptable - without any sport of darkness.

No one who has any spot of darkness, any defilemnrt of sin, can see God. It is impossible. He is perfectly holy. He has no spot of sin and only those who are holy like he is can know Him. The goodnews is that He makes us holy. This happens because of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus our Saviour and Lord who gives the Holy spirit, along with the father, and we are born again - made new and holy with an incorruptible nature made by Him.

Then this comes the rest of our lives, until we die and go straight to be with the Lord, as we learn to be holy as he is holy. We learn to live out our holy status. You must be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy as obedient children, not following after your former lusts, which you followed in ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, by holy.

if you call on God the father, who judges us based on our actions, the fruit of our lives, pass your time here in your temporary home in reverence of God. Work out your salvation with fear and rambling, for the Lord is a jealous and holy God. He judges us not based on color or gender, or age but on our actions. This is not a works based salavtion I am speaking of - the faith that justifies us also produces holy actions. Put off your old person, who is corrupted in sinful lusts and put on your new person who avid created in holiness and righteousness. We have been chosen before the foundation of the world to be holy.

If today you knoe the conviction of the Spirit, conviction which leads to repentance and joy and life, then repent right now of those former ways. Lift up your weak knees, raise your head and look to Jesus the author and perfector of the faith who for the joy set before him endured all hardship, all temptation. Temptation to sin is not sin. When we are tempted let's raise up the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God and with our voices declare the name of the Lord which is a strong tower. Run to the Lord in those hard times and seek the holiness that He requires. Friends I say these things so that you do not sin, but if you do sin we have an advocate with the father, Jesus Christ the righteous who is the propitiatiom for our sins. Confess your sins to him and to a Christian brother or sister and be healed. Bring sin out into the light. Do not shrink away in shame. God will be gracious to you.

Spurgeon. 1 Peter 2:3. Have you tasted that the Lord is good?

The word, "If" implies that not everyone has tasted that the Lord is good. It means that there is a possibility and probability that there are many who have not tasted that the Lord is good. It means that God's grace offered in salvation from sin is not a general blessing but a specific gift of grace. We should all therefore ask ourselves if we have received it, if we have tasted the goodness of the Lord in saving us from sins.

While I must deeply think about whether or not I have tasted of the goodness of God I must never become content on this because there is an, "If." What I am trying to say is that since a fool is blinded by pride I may be acting like a fool, blinded by my pride, when looking at my own life. I may think that since I go to such and such a church or was prayed for by such and such a person that I have tasted of the goodness of the Lord - when actually I have not and I am blinded by my own pride. You get me? A wise person has a healthy distrust of themselves because they know how corrupt the human heart is. Do you know that Jesus never even entrusted himself into the hands of us because he knew what was in our heart. Why would I entrust myself to myself by casually saying that I am saved or that I have tasted that the Lord is good or that I am going to heaven. It is foolishness to do this when I am daily affected by my own sinful self (Romans 7).

Do not rest, do not sleep until you know for certain that you know the living God. There are many false god's that we could be trusting right now, thinking we are trusting the Creator God. Be careful. Do not rest until you have full assurance of salvation, full assurance of being part of  Christ- part of His body. Do not let anything satisfy you until, by the witness of God the Holy spirit, your spirit knows that you are a child of God. Friends, there are many peole who say that they are Christians, but they are not. Be careful that you don't make this same mistake. "If  you have tasted that the Lord is good." Think about the "If". Do not be satisfied with the "perhaps" or "I think so" or "my pastor says so." Do not be content until you know that you know that you know that the Lord is your light and your salvation, that Jesus is your Lord and God. Your all in all. We must build upon eternal truth. We must throw our anchor beyond the veil into the most holy place and trust in the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Get the certain mercies that king David and others recieved, and get them today. Advance beyond the dreary "if's" into the safe and secure place of assurance. Cross the Jordan of distrust, enter the Canaan of peace with God where you will find milk and honey to feed your would. Do this only though His word.

Spurgeon. Hoses 11:4. Out Heavenly Father Often Draws Us To Himself With Love.

Our heavenly Father often draws us with the cords of love, but how often do we run from Him. How slowly do we respond to His gentle impulses. He draws us to use faith in Him, but we have not yet attained to the trust that Abraham had. We do not leave our wordly worries with God, but like Martha we succumb ourselves to much serving. Our small faith makes us skinny, we do not open wide our mouths to eat from the hand of the Lord, even though He promises to fill us with this truth. He is the bread of life. This evening He draws us to trust in Him. Can you hear Him say, "comes my child and trust in Me. The veil has been torn. Enter my presence. Boldly approach My throne of grace. I am worthy of your full confidence. Cast your cares on Me. shake yourself from the dust of worries and put on the beautiful clothes of joy."

But sadly, even though we are called by His love music, we do not go to Him. At another time He draws us to closer commuion with Himself. We are sitting on the doorstep of God's house, and He calls us to walk in and eat with Him, but we decline the offer. We are invited to go deeper in relationship with Him, but we refuse. We are unfaithful lovers of our Lord, not worthy to be His bride, but He remains the same. He has exalted us to be bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh. Married to Him in a glorious marriage covenant. Here is His love. May we respond to His gentle cords of love that she used to pull us closer.

Bagster. John 7:46. The Word Of Jesus.

Jesus, you are much more wonderful then the children of man. Grace has been poured onto your lips. Your tongue is the most lovely thing.

What I find fascination is that when I read the Bible I see that people bare witness about the wonder of His words.  He taught them, not like the scribes and Pharisees, but like one who carried great authority.

May the word of the Messiah live richly in us. His word is the sword of the Spirit: the word of God. The word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper then any two edged sword. His words are the weapons of our war. They are not carnal, but mighty for the pulling down of strongholds. For the casting down of false ideas and every other thing that sets itself up against the knowledge of the truth. The word of God is the power that brings every thought of ours into freedom under the obedience of Christ.

Spurgeon. Psalm 17:7. Marvellous Lovingkindness.

When we give our hearts, with our offerings to the Lord, we do well. But I must be honest and say that I often fail to give my heart to God with my offerings. Not only with God, but also with people. When I do something for someone my heart is ofren not in it. I do it because O feel I must or becsuse the person is nagging me. This should not be. Not so with the Lord our God. His favours are always performed with the great love of His heart. He does not send us to the cold meat found in His fridge, but He allows us to feed from His own dish. He seasons the provisions He gives with His fragrant affections. When He puts the golden coins of His grace into our hands, He does so with the warm pressure of His hands.The way in which He gives us gifts is so wonderful that the way He gives is better then the gift itself. He walks into our lives, not like others who come in to judge us, but He walks in and sits by our side in our weakness and poverty. He walks towards us with His great loving heart. The Good He does for us is done from His heart. His heart always accompanies His actions. It is impossible to doubt the sincerity of His favours towards us, for there is a bleeding heart found upon all his gifts. There is not one hint that we are a burden to Him. There is never a cold look from Him. He rejoices in His mercy and presses us into His warm chest while pouring over us the oil of eternal life. There is a wonderful aroma in His work that only His loving heart could produce. There is a sweetness in His honey comb that would not be there if it were not for this souls affection. May we continually know and taste the warm loving heart of God our Maker.

Spurgeon. 1 Kings 19:4.

It is an interesting thing that the man who would not die, would ask that he die. I find it interesting that Elijah, who was taken to heaven in a first chariot - he never died - would ask that he die. We have here proof that His does n9t alway give usnwjatbwe ask, thigh he always does in some sense. The Lord hmgave Elijah something better then what he asked for and in that sense did answer his prayer. I find it fascinating that the lion-hearted Elijah would be so depressed by jezebels threats that he would ask to die and we can be glad that our Father did not take Elijah when he asked. There is a limit to the doctien of prayer. We must not expect that God will give us everything we ask for. We know that when we ask and do not recieve it is because our asking is missing something. If we ask go that which is not promised we cannot and should not expect to recieve, but if we ask for that which is promised we can expect to receive it. If we run in opposition to the Spirit, if we ask for those things that are in opposing to His will or if we ask with the motive to make our own name great, shutout an eye to His glory, we should not be surprised when God Does Not Nswer the prayer. But if we ask in faith without doubting with the right motives and in line eith His ways and if we do not recieve it, we must know that we will twice something ewylivalnt or the same, we just ha e to be patient, as someone said, "if the Lord does not give us fold he will give us silver, if he does not give us silver he will give us diamonds." If you ask for that which is inline with the Spirit and you do not drive it, know that you will receive something ewualvaleng of better, and on thus thing you will rejoice.

May we then be in prayer right now. May we interceed and ask for that which He has promised.

Bagster. Psalm 103:14. God Does Not Forget That We Are Weak.

The Lord God formed the first man and woman out of the dust of the ground, and breathed into their nostrils the breath of life, and they became0 living people.

I will praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvellous are your works: my souls knows this well. My form was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place - in my mother's womb.

Do we not all have one father? Has not one God created us? In Him we live and move and have our being. Like a father who looks on his children with care, God looks with care on those who fear Him.

God, being filled with great compassion, forgave and forgives and will forgive our sins. He has not destroyed us. Many times He turned His anger Way from us and did not stir up His wrath. He remembers that we are just flesh, dust: a wind that comes and then is gone.

Bagster. Hebrews 13:20. Jesus The Good Shepherd.

Jesus is the great shepherd, our chief shepherd. He says that He is the good shepherd who knows His sheep and His sheep know Him. He says that His sheep hear His voice and follow Him. He says that He gives eternal life to His sheep who follow. He says that His sheep will never die and that no-one or nothing can steel them from His hands.

The Lord is my shepherd, I don't need anything else. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me besides quiet waters. He restories my soul. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, You are there with me. Your rod and Your staff comfort me.

We all like sheep have walked away from the Lord, each of us turning to our own way. But the Father has laid on the Son the sins of us all. The Son says that He is the good shepherd, the great shepherd as I have said, who lays down His own life for this sheep. He laid His own life and He obeyed the Father in laying down His life. God the Spirit was there at work to. He says that He seeks the lost and brings back those who have walked away - which is us all. He brings back the broken and He heals the sick. This is the great shepherd Jesus. We were all running away from the Lord, but He has brought us home to Himself: the bishop of us all, the pastor of us all, the pope of us all, the leader of us all, the priest of us all, the prophet of us all, etc.

Spurgeon. Hebrews 12:11. Afterwards.

How happy are tested Chrsitians, afterwards. There is no calm more deep then that which goes after a storm. Who has not rejoiced in sunlight after days of rain? Victorious banquets are for soldiers who have fought hard. After climbing the hill of difficulty, we sit down on the bench to rest. After making our way throguh the valley of humiliation, after fighting with Apollyon, the shining one appears with the healing branch from the tree of life. It is after the discipline of our good Father that we reap the benefit - salvation for our souls from sin. It is peace, deep peace, which follows the horrible turmoil which once reigned in our tormented, guilty souls. For a believer in Jesus, the best comes after the worse for we will one day be with Him, after living through the troubles of this corrupted world. Difficult ploughing brings about big harvests. We grow rich in character through our losses. We rise by becoming more like Jesus as we fall in sickness or whatever other trouble we may face. We live by dying and become full by becoming empty - empty of the world's ideas. Think about it. If our terrible troubles on earth bring about so much fruit, what will heaven be like? If our dark nights are like the world's days, what will our days be like? If we can sing sweetly while in the prisons of this world, how beautiful will our song be in heaven? If we praise the Lord while in the fire, how will our worship be before His throne? Oh the wonderful, "afterwards." Who would not want to be a Christian? Who would not carry the cross God gives them now for the crown that comes afterwards? In conclusion I say this, rest is not for today nor is the triumph, for today we must patiently endure, the rest and triumph come afterwards. Let patient endurance continue that we may be conformed to the image of the Son. 

Bagster. Philippians 3:20. Waiting For Our Saviour.

The grace of God that brings salvation, has appeared to all people, teaching us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, that we should live sensibly, righteously and godly in this present world, looking for the wonderful hope, and the glorious appearance of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, that He might redeem us from all sin, and purify for Himself a distinctive people, zealous to do good works.

We, according to this promise, look for the new heavens and the new earth, where righteousness is found. Friends, seeing that we look for these things, continue to do so, that we may be found in Him, in peace and without spot and blameless.

Christ was once offered to carry the sins of many, and He will come a second time, not to carry our sin, but to bring salvation for those who are waiting for Him. On this day, it will be said, "this is our God, we have waited for Him, and He will save us."

Spurgeon. Isaiah 41:9. You Are A Chosen Servant Of God.

If I have received the grace of God him my heart, it's practical effect is to make me His servant - the same applies to you. We may be unfaithful servants, we certainly are servants who fail to profit God much, but yet, blessed be His name, we are His servants. We are His servants wearing His royal clothes and feeding at His royal table, doing our best to obey His commands. We who were once servants of sin have been set free and taken into His family and are being conformed into the image of God the Son. We do not serve our Master perfectly, because of our old sinful nature that remains until that day. As we hear the Lord saying to us, "you are my servants" we reply with old king David, "I am your servant because you have set me free."

Notice that God our Creator does not just call His Church His servants, He calls us His chosen servants. He has chosen us. We did not choose Him first, He chose us and then in response we chose Him. The eye of His sovereignty singled you out, and the voice of His unchanging grace declared, "I have loved you with an everlasting love." This may sound crazy, but long before time or space began, God had written the names of His elect people on His heart. This fact could make us become proud, but it shouldn't because we are reminded daily how broken we are and so how desperately we need His mercy. This may also make us question Gods fairness calling God unfair, then we are reminded that the Lord is the infinite Creator and we are small limited creation and so while we must and can question and we will and do find many answers, our understanding is very limited. People who say we will know all or should understand all are arrogant and their fall will come soon. We have been chosen to be conformed to the image of the Son and have been called heirs of all the fullness of His love, His grace and His glory. How amazing is this. He knew how stiff necked we as His servants are and yet He still choose us and is working in us to loosen our necks so that we can serve Him more effectively. What a Saviour He is! He does not look at us for one moment and then cast us asside. He walks into our ugly state and promises to never leave us, making us more and more beautiful as the decades move on. He became our bridegroom and we became His bride from eternity. He remains faithful and we remain grateful as we serve Him as His chosen servants.

Spurgeon. Colossians 2:9-10. Jesus Uses The Fullness Of The Godhead For Our Salvation.

All the attributes of Christ Jesus, as truly God and truly man, are there for us to benefit from. All the fullness of the Godhead are there to make us complete. He cannot give us deity, that is to make us gods, but He has done all that can be done for He has used His divine power and Godhead for our salvation. He has used His all power, His presence that filled this entire universe, His all knowingness, His unchangingness and His truthfulness for our defence. Stand up believer of Christ and see Jesus yoking all of this divine nature to the chariot of salavtion. How wide is His grace, how firm is His faithfulness, how umoving is His unchangability, how never ending is His power and how deep is His knowledge. Jesus used all His Godhead rights to build the pillars of the temple of salvation in which we live. The unlimited love of the Saviours heart is every drop ours. Every muscle is His arm of salvation is ours. Every jewel in His crown He has used and is using and will use to deliver us from sin, Satan, this corrupted wicked world and death. The rod of divine justice is also ours and for our good and His glory. The whole of the Messiah, in His adorable character as God the Son, He has given over to us, not for us to become gods, but for us to become like Him for we were made in His image and it is therefore our goal to reflect Him. His divine wisdom is our direction. His knowledge is our instruction. His power is our protection. His love is our comfort. His mercy is our place of peace. His unchangingness is what we trust. He does not hold back but opens up the mountain of God and calls us to go in a mine it's treasures for they are all ours. The treasures of joy, the true knowledge of God and freedom from sin. The treasure of being conformed into His image. He says to us, "be satisfied with favour and be full of the goodness of the Lord." Oh how sweet is it to see Jesus and call upon Him with the certain confidence that by seeking to know Him, to become like Him, to overcome our sin and Satan and this wicked world, we are seeking that which He has promised and His word is certain.

Spurgeon. Job 22:21. Get To Know And Be At Peace With God.

If we want to get to know and be at peace with the Lord our Maker we do so by how He has revealed Himself, both in the unity of His attributes and in the plurality of His persons. He said, "let us make man in our image." May we not stop until we know something of the "us." Get to know and be at peace with God the Father; bury your head in His warm chest in deep repentance of your sins and confess that you are not worthy to he called His child and recieve the kiss of His love, let the ring which is the sign of His eternal faithfulness be on your finger, sit at His table and let your heart make merry in His grace then press forward to make much of God the Son who is the brightness of His Father's glory and yet in unspeakable humility look on human flesh becoming truly human. Know Him in the singular complexity of His nature: eternal God yet suffering, finite man yet He walked the waters with deity and also sat on the well in the tiredness of humanity. Do not stop until you know and are at peace with Jesus Christ. Know Him as your friend, your brother, your husband, your all. We must not forget the Holy Spirit. Seek to get a clear view of His nature and attributes. Know His works. See God the Spirit who first of all moved upon chaos and brought order,  who now visits the chaos of your soul and creates the order of holiness. See Him as the Lord and giver of spiritual life, the illuminator, the instructor, the comforter and the sanctifier. See Him as, like holy royal anointing, He descended upon Christ Jesus and afterwards rests upon us who are the body of Christ - with Him being the head, the crown. Belief in the doctrine of the trinity is intelligent, biblical and experiential. If you truly know God you will know each person of the trinity for God our Creator is triune and a product of this knowledge is peace. Peace with God.

Bagster. Ephesians 4:30. Do Not Ignore The Voice Of The Holy Spirit.

Apart from a few moments of obedience, if you look at both ancient Israel and Church, we have always ignored the voice of God the Holy Spirit and followed other voices - to our loss.

We live in Him, and He lives in us, because He has given us His Spirit - born again. After we were regenerated we believed, we were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. This I therefore say, walk by the Spirit and you will not satisfy the desires of the flesh. Since the flesh and Spirit work against each other, when we obey His voice we then overcome our sin.

May we be go down in history as Christians who listened to the voice of the Spirit and did what He said.

Bagster. Exodus 28:12. Our High Priest.

Before the coming of the Great High Priest: Jesus our Lord and God, Israel used a human priestly system. This sytem involved many things, including the most holy place where the human high priest would enter, carrying stones that symbomized the people of Israel. In doing this the human high priest represented the people of Israel before the holy throne of the Lord their Maker.

But today we don't have a human high priest in the same way they did. We have God the Son who incarnated into human flesh - Jesus our messiah - who is truly God and truly man and truly our High Priest forever.

Jesus, because He will never die, holds the role of High Priest forever. Therefore He is able to save all those who come to Him because He makes intercession for them into eternity. As our High Priest He is able to stop us from falling and to present us faultless on that day when He returns to judge the living and the death.

Therefore since we have such a great High Priest, who has passed into the heavens, Jesus who is God the Son, let us hold tightly onto the faith we confess. Since we have a High Priest who can identify with our weakness, He was tempted by sin as we are, yet He never sinned, let us boldly come before His throne and find grace in time of need.

Spurgeon. Ephesians 1:3. Spiritual Blessings.

All the goodness of the past, present and future, Christ gives His people. In the mysterious but real events of the past, the man Jesus was God the Father's first elect, and in His election gave us an interest. We partake in the election of Christ the second Adam, for we were chosen in Him before the foundation of the world. Christ had, from all eternity, the rights of the Son as His Fathers only loved and begotten Son and He has in the riches of His grace, by adoption and regeneration elevated us to sonship. We are heirs with an inheritance, or gifts, and these gifts are the spiritual blessings. To us He has given the power to become children of the most High God. The eternal covenant, based upon an oath that God made upon His own name, is ours and is our security. Through the everlasting promises of predestination, wisdom and power, the eye of Jesus is always fixed on us and we can be 100% certain that there is nothing that will ever completely overcome us, His redeemed. We are His bride and He is coming back for the great marriage. Christ to His Church - a holy thing. The wonderful incarnation of God the Son in humility is ours. The blood, sweat, scouring, cross, resurrection are ours forever. Whatever consequences flow from His perfect obedience flow our way: finished atonement, resurrection power, ascension and intercession are ours. On His breatsplate, as the High priest, He is wearing our names and in His authority He pleads for us before the throne. His victory and power over all principalities and powers, and His absolute majesty in heaven, He uses for the good of those who trust Him. He gives us all the blessings that His life, death and resurrection produces.

Spurgeon. 1 John 2:6. Walk As He Walked.

Why should a Christian imitate Christ?

They should do it for their own sake. If you want to live in a healthy condition: escape the sickness of sin, and enjoy the power of growing grace, then Jesus and Jesus alone must be your model. For my own happiness, for me to drink the best wine, well refined, for me to enjoy holy happy communion with Jesus, for me to be lifted high above the cares and troubles of this world, I must walk as Jesus walked. There is nothing else that can assist me to walk towards heaven then wearing the image of Jesus in my heart to rule all my actions. When you are empowered by God the Spirit to walk with God the Son, in His footsteps, you will be most joyful and most known to be a child of the most High God.

For the sake of Christianity, let us strive to be like Jesus. Oh poor Christianity, you have been shot at by cruel foes, but it has been your friends that have wounded you most severely. Who is it who wounds the beautiful face of the Christian religion? It is the pastor, the priest, the church leader, the professor who does so when they use the sword of hypocrisy. The man or woman, who with alterior motives, enters the fold, a wolf in sheep's clothing, they worry the sheep more on the inside, then the lion on the outside. There is no weapon as deadly as Judas kiss. Inconsistent pastors injur the gospel more then the critic or backslider.

For Christ's sake, may we imitate Him. Christian, do you love your Saviour? Is His name precious to you? Is His work close to your heart? Do you want all the kingdoms of the world to become His? Is it your desire that He be glorified? Do you want souls to be won for Him? If so, then imitate Jesus. Be a letter of Christ known and read by others.

Bagster. 1 Corinthians 15:34. Awake And Sin No More.

We are children of the day, children of the light, children of God. Therefore may we not sleep, as others do - those who live in the darkness, but let us watch and be alert.

It is time for us to awake from our sleep, for salvation is near, nearer than when we first believed. The night is over and the day is here, therefore let us throw off the works of darkness and let us put on the armour of light. May I put on the whole armour of God that I will be able to stand on the evil day.

Cast away all your sins and allow your new self to dominate your life. Through His strength, take off the works of the flesh, the works of this wicked age, and put on the clothes of righteousness.

Put asside all filth and recieve with humility the word of God, the word of truth, which is the only power able to save our souls.

We are little children to Him. May we stay in Him so that when He appears in glory on that day in the future, we will have confidence and not be ashamed.

He is righteous, and all those born of Him live righteously.

Spurgeon. John 5:8. Trust Jesus.

Like many others, this man had been waiting for a miracle to happen, and a sign to be given. Tiredly he watched the pool, but no angel came, or did not come for him. Thinking this to be his only chance of healing he waited next to it not knowing that there was One next to him who could heal him in a moment by His word. There are many in a similar position. We wait for a certain feeling, an impression or visitation by angels. We  tiredly wait and nothing comes. Great signs from the Lord are from time to time given, however we are foolish to wait for them because the Lord is near - what more can we want? It is a very sad reflection that thousands, like myself and you, are waiting daily for a miracle through all sorts of ways. Vows, ordinances, resolutions, signs and so on. Waiting in vain. Meanwhile we forget that the Saviour is here calling to us look to Him and be saved. To trust Jesus is the sure way to every blessing. To trust God the Father, God the Son, God the Spirit is the only way to find eternal life. He is worthy of all our confidence, but unbelief makes us look elsewhere, in other places for salvation, Bethesda to the warmth of His love. O that the Lord may turns His eye towards the millions and billions, toward us who wait for a sign. May He forgive our sins. May He call us by His sweet voice to rise from the bed of despair, and in the energy of faith pick up our beds and walk. O Lord, hear our prayer in this dark night so that we may rise up with the coming of the eternal light of your presence. Friend, what from this is for you?

Spurgeon. Matthew 12:15 and Romans 6:17-28. Jesus Heals My Sin.

Jesus must have seen many sicknesses. We do not read that He was disgusted by the the various sickness, but that He waited patiently on every case. What a variety of evils must have fallen at His feet. Many ulcers and many sores. Yet He was ready for every kind of evil and He was victorious over every kind. Any arrow could have flown at Him from any direction and He would have put out its fiery power. The heat of fever or the cold of dropsy. The tiredness of palsy or the fits of madness of the filth of leprosy - all knew the power of His word and ran from His command. In every corner of the field He was triumphant over evil and received the worship of delivered slaves. He came, saw, and conquered wherever He went. It is even so right now. Whatever my own sickness may be, the Great Physician can heal me and whatever the state of others who I remember at this moment in prayer.

While we could talk about His power over physical sicknesses such as fever and cancer, I want us to focus on His power over my sin. My sin, most definitely the most severe form of human sickness. My child, my friend, my loved church, I have hope for you all when I remember the healing touch of my Master who can heal you of your sin. He who walked the earth delivering people from sin, still does so today. Oh His grace, let me go to Him right now. Let me praise Him right now as I remember how He brought His cure over sin. He did so by taking using Himself out sickness of sin. "By this stripes we are healed." Through his scouring and crucifixion, we can receive healing over the power of sin, as Romans 6-7 says. The church on earth and in heaven is filled with souls healed of sin, healed by our loving Physician. Oh my soul, speak aloud the wonders of His grace (Ephesians 2:1-10). May my shout be for the glory of the Lord.

Bagster. Isaiah 53:10. The Son Wiingly Obeyed The Father.

My soul is very troubled, what will I say? Father save Me from this hour, but it was for this reason that I came into the world. Father glorify Your name. Then came a voice from heaven saying, "I have glorified it and will glorify it again."

Father if you are willing remove this cup from Me, however not My will, but Yours be done. Then an angel came from heaven and strengthened Him.

Being truly man, He humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross. My Father loved Me and I lay down my own life and will take it up again. I came down from heaven, not to do My will, but the will of the one who sent me. The cup which My Father has given me, I will drink it!

The Father has not left Me because I always do What pleases Him. My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. My chosen in whom I delight.

Spurgeon. 1 John 4:13. We Live In Him.

Do you want a house for your soul? What is the price for this house? The price for the true house where my soul belongs is much less than my pride wants to pay - it is free, without money, without price. Ah but I still want to pay something. Is this the same for you? You want to be at home with your Maker and yet you feel like you must earn it. You want to win Christ for yourself. Then you cannot have this heavenly house because it is without price. Would I like to have the Masters house on lease for all eternity? Will you take Jesus and live in Him?

This house is filled with all we could ever need and want, it is filled with riches more than I could spend as long as I live. Here I have intimate communion with Christ and I get to feats on His love. Here are tables well stored with food for you to live on forever. In it, when weary, you will find rest for your soul with Jesus and from it you can look out and see heaven. Will you have this house? There is a key. The key is to come to Jesus.  But you say, "I am too dirty for this house." Do not worry, there are new clothes for you inside. If you feel guilty and condemned then go to Jesus and He will make you good enough for thus holy house. He will wash you and you will be able to sing, "we dwell in Him."

Believer, you are very happy to have such a place to live in. You are privileged for you have a strong habitation in which to live all the days of your life. Dwelling in Christ we have not only a strong house but an eternal one. As this world and all its ways melt away like a dream our house will live on and stand more unmoved than marble and granite. Self existing like God Himself for our house is God himself. Dwell in Him.

Bagster. 1 John 3:8. Victory Over Satan And His Demons.

We fight, not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

In the same way that we are flesh and blood, Jesus took on flesh and blood and through His death He destroyed Him who had the power of death - that is Satan.

Having laid to waste the principalities and powers He openly made a show of them, triumphing over them. 

I heard a loud voice saying in heaven,  now salvation has come, now is strength, and the kingdom of God, and the power of Christ. The accuser of Christians has been cast down from his place where he accused them daily before the throne.

They overcame Satan and His demons by the blood of the lamb, and by the word of their testimony. They were willing to die for the name of Jesus because they loved Him more than their own lives.

Spurgeon. Proverbs 16:20. Handling Life Wisely.

Wisdom is our true strength and under its guidance we will finish our tasks in the best possible way. Wisely handling life will give to us the richest enjoyment and will present to us the work that is best to do. We will find a full life when we live under wisdom. Without wisdom we are like a wild donkey running here and there and everywhere wasting strength when our strength could he used for the benefit of all. Wisdom is the compass by which we will best get across the confusing, pathless waste of life. Without wisdom we are a ship being tossed around by the winds, the sport of wild waves. We have to be wise is this world or we will find no real joy and will be lost in the swamps of life. The traveller will get caught in thorn bushes, if he does not chose his steps well. She who is moving through a city filled with gangs must chose her path well or else she may get attacked. If we are trainined by the Great Teacher and follow where He leads, we will find good even in this sick world. There are wonderful fruits to be found this side of Eden.

Where do we find such Wisdom? Many have dreamed of such wisdom but have never found it. Where can we learn this life giving Wisdom? Let us listen go the voice of the Lord because He has given us the secret. He says in this verse that those who trust in the Lord will find joy. In other words, those who trust in the Lord find the wisdom that produces the good end result. The correct way to handle any matter is to trust in God. This is the certain clue to many complicated situations. Whoever trusts in the Lord has a degree in wisdom. Oh Lord, teach me the ways of Your Wisdom.

Bagster. Hebrews 11:1. Where Does The Christian Faith Lead Us?

The Christian faith is the substance of what we hope for, evidence of what we have not yet seen. What is it that we hope for? What is it that we have not yet seen?

It would be terrible if faith in Christ was all we had. But it is not because the Christian faith leads somewhere.

Eye has not seen, ear has not heard... what God has prepared for those who love Him and those who love Him have faith in Him. The Lord has prepared much for us who have faith in Him.

After you believed you were sealed with the Holy Spirit which is God's promise of the redemption of our lives.

Thomas believed in the risen Jesus because he saw Jesus. But blessed are those who believe in Jesus who have not seen Him in the flesh.

The salvation of our souls is the end of our faith. The end of our faith is becoming more like Christ. It is God Himself.

Here is the thing, we walk by faith not by sight. We do not see God in the flesh but we trust Him. Our lives have not been redeemed like they will be when He returns, but we move forward. We continue in sin needing salvation today, but we walk by faith knowing that salvation will come. Do not forget faith in Jesus because it is the pathway to get what we all really need. It will take us where we all really want to go.

Spurgeon. 2 Corinthians 6:16. My People.

What a sweet title: My people. What a joyful revelation. There is so much packed into this phrase. The whole world is God's, the heavens and even the highest heavens are the Lords and He reigns over the whole human race. But over those whom He has chosen, those whom He has bought with His blood, He calls them: My people. In this phrase we see that we are His property. In one way, the Lords portion is His people, Jacob is His inheritance. All the nations on the earth are His, the whole world is in His power, yet His people are His possession since He has done more for us then for others because He has bought us by His blood on the cross. He has reconciled us to Himself. He has set His great heart on us. He loves us with an everlasting love, a love which many waters cannot put out. A love which no hunan revolution can ever end.

Dear friend, do you see yourself in the number of those who belong to the Lord? Can you look up to heaven and say: My Lord and my God. Do you read the Bible and see your salvation? Do you call God your Father? Can I take hold of Christ's clothes and call Him: my Christ. If you can then you are part of the Lord's people. God says of you: My people. He has special favour on you. You are the object of His choice because you have accepted the Son.

Spurgeon. 1 Peter 1:23. Living As Royal People With A Bright Future.

Peter the Apostle sincerely encouraged the scattered saints of the first century church to love one another with a pure heart (pure intentions) not from the Law, not from nature, not from philosophy, not from anything else but the high and divine nature that God our Creator has planted in His people. Just like a teacher of princes would work hard to develop in them kingly behaviour, convincing them from their position of royalty, so does Peter work hard to foster royal behaviour in the lives of his Christian friends by convincing  them from their status of being children of God, heirs of glory, princes of royal blood, descendents of the King of kings Jesus. Peter says, love one another because of your royal birth, because you have been born of indestructible seed - the Word of the Lord, because of your pedigree, because you are descendents of God the Creator and because of your immortal destiny, for you will never pass away because of His eternal Word.

It would be a good thing if we, in humility, could see the true royalty of our regenerate nature and live up to it. What is a Christian? We could say that we are kings and queens, kings and queens and priests - for we believe that we all are priests who can enter the most holy olace by the blood of the lamb and interceed for people.  An earthly king or queen's royalty lies in their crown, but our royalty has been placed deep in our soul. Surely we should carry ourselves, not as people of this low earth, living by the flesh, but as those chosen out of this world by sovereign grace. Surely we can live daily,  not groveling in the dust of sin, following in the ways of dying human civilizations, but in the ways of Jesus our Lord and God, loving one another like He loved us.

May your royal identity and bright future, o believers in Christ, drive you to hold onto holiness and avoid all evil, even the appearance of evil.