I have become intensely intentional about partnering closely with Today's Body of Christ -- thus spending much less time with my dead, Puritan friends (see this post On Time-Traveling: http://affectionsfixedabove.blogspot.com/2007/01/on-time-traveling.html). After moving this blog to WordPress for the past year, I shut it down for good in February, 2008. I hope to one day blog with a team of men with whom I am fiercely ministering daily working to increasingly make the Invisible Kingdom, Visible.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Friday, May 25, 2007
There is no one I desire except You
In a letter to a friend while feeling ill, John Owen states:
“I pray to God with all my heart that I may be weary of everything except converse and communion with Him"
Communion: a noun
Close relationship, closeness, communing, concord, contact, converse, affinity, accord, agreement, association, fellowship, harmony, intercommunication, interaction, intimacy, participation, rapport, sympathy, togetherness, unity.
“I pray to God with all my heart that I may be weary of everything except converse and communion with Him"
Communion: a noun
Close relationship, closeness, communing, concord, contact, converse, affinity, accord, agreement, association, fellowship, harmony, intercommunication, interaction, intimacy, participation, rapport, sympathy, togetherness, unity.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
The Living and Active Word of God
Excerpted from ABOVE ALL EARTHLY POWERS by David Wells.
"For it is certainly the case that the Word of God, read or preached, has the power to enter the innermost crevices of a person's being, to shine light in unwanted places, to explode the myths and deceits by which fallen life sustains itself, and to bring that person face to face with the eternal God. It is this biblical Word which God uses to bring repentance, to excite faith, to give new life, to sustain that life once given, to correct, nurture, and guide the Church.”
"For it is certainly the case that the Word of God, read or preached, has the power to enter the innermost crevices of a person's being, to shine light in unwanted places, to explode the myths and deceits by which fallen life sustains itself, and to bring that person face to face with the eternal God. It is this biblical Word which God uses to bring repentance, to excite faith, to give new life, to sustain that life once given, to correct, nurture, and guide the Church.”
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Blaise Pascal On Writing
In what I am writing, let no one think I am saying anything new. It is only the arrangement of my material that may be new. For it is like a game of tennis, where we both play with the same ball, but one of us uses it to better advantage. So I would like it to be said that I am simply using well-worn words in a new framework. For when familiar thoughts are rearranged, they simply present a different way of communicating the truth. [So too, we can rearrange our words to edify the Body of Christ].
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Spurgeon on the Puritans
"When we take down a volume of Puritan theology, we find in a solitary page more thinking and more learning, more Scripture, more real teaching, than in whole folios of the effusions of modern thought. The modern man would be RICH if he possessed even the crumbs that fall from the table of the Puritans."
Thursday, April 26, 2007
C.S. Lewis on the clean sea breeze of old books
The only palliative is to keep the clean sea breeze of the centuries blowing through our minds, and this can be done only by reading old books. Not, of course, that there is any magic about the past. People were no cleverer then than they are now; they made as many mistakes as we. But not the same mistakes. They will not flatter us in the errors we are already committing; and their own errors, being now open and palpable, will not endanger us. Two heads are better than one, not because either is infallible, but because they are unlikely to go wrong in the same direction. To be sure, the books of the future would be just as good a corrective as the books of the past, but unfortunately we cannot get at them.
Friday, April 06, 2007
Glad Resurrection Day
Hebrews 9:26b-28
But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him!
Christ, our Endless Fountain of Affection
Excerpt from the Sermon, The Preciousness of Christ by Octavius Winslow (1808-1878)
Reflect on Christ’s perfect humanity that went to the Cross for the Glory of His Father and the redemption of men - a humanity free from sin, and therefore capable of dying for the ungodly, -a humanity laden with sorrow, and therefore capable of sympathizing with us when we are burdened.
Precious to our hearts as God- precious as Man- precious as both united in One- inconceivably and eternally precious. His name is "Wonderful," to us who believe. When other human friendships fade, and other human love is chilled, and other human sympathy is exhausted, you may look to the Finisher of your faith, and find in Him an evergreen, a permanent stream, an endless, pure fountain of unchanged affection, tenderness, and sympathy, meeting and satisfying, to their utmost capacity, your heart's deep pantings.
Reflect on Christ’s perfect humanity that went to the Cross for the Glory of His Father and the redemption of men - a humanity free from sin, and therefore capable of dying for the ungodly, -a humanity laden with sorrow, and therefore capable of sympathizing with us when we are burdened.
Precious to our hearts as God- precious as Man- precious as both united in One- inconceivably and eternally precious. His name is "Wonderful," to us who believe. When other human friendships fade, and other human love is chilled, and other human sympathy is exhausted, you may look to the Finisher of your faith, and find in Him an evergreen, a permanent stream, an endless, pure fountain of unchanged affection, tenderness, and sympathy, meeting and satisfying, to their utmost capacity, your heart's deep pantings.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Always a need for Forbearance, right sweetie!?
Except from Mutual Forbearance by J.R. Miller (1840-1912)
We need to guard against A CRITICAL SPIRIT. It is very easy to find fault with people. It is possible, even with ordinary glasses, to see many things in one another that are not what they ought to be. Then some people carry microscopes with which they can find countless blemishes in the character and conduct even of the most saintly dwellers on the earth. There are some who are always watching for slights and grievances. They are suspicious of the motives and intentions of others. This habit is directly at variance with the law of love, which thinks no evil.
We turn to our Pattern of Conduct, Jesus Christ. Does He look upon us sharply, critically, suspiciously? He sees every infirmity in us, but it is as though He did not see it. His love overlooks it. He throws a veil over our faults. He continues to pour His own love into us in spite of all our blemishes and our ill-treatment of Him. The duty of Christian forbearance requires the same in us. We must not keep our selfish suspicions ever on the watch-tower or at the windows, looking out for neglects, discourtesies, wrongs, or grievances of any kind. We must not be hasty to think evil of others. We had better be blind, not perceiving at all the seeming rudeness or insult. It is well not to hear all that is said, or, if we do hear we would do well to ignore it.
Many bitter quarrels have grown out of IMAGINED slights or misunderstandings. If a few moments had been taken to determine the truth, there wouldn’t have been any need for ill-feeling.
We should also seek to understand the MOTIVE which prompts the apparent grievance. In many cases, the cause of our grievance is utterly unintentional, chargeable to nothing worse than thoughtlessness—possibly meant even for kindness. It is never fair to judge men by every word they speak or everything they do amid the irritations of busy daily life. Many a gruff man carries a good heart and a sincere friendship under his coarse manner. The best does not always come to the surface. We should never, therefore, hastily imagine evil intention in others. Nor should we allow ourselves to be easily persuaded that our companions or friends meant to treat us unkindly. A disposition to look favorably upon the conduct of our fellow-men is a wonderful absorber of the frictions of life.
We need to guard against A CRITICAL SPIRIT. It is very easy to find fault with people. It is possible, even with ordinary glasses, to see many things in one another that are not what they ought to be. Then some people carry microscopes with which they can find countless blemishes in the character and conduct even of the most saintly dwellers on the earth. There are some who are always watching for slights and grievances. They are suspicious of the motives and intentions of others. This habit is directly at variance with the law of love, which thinks no evil.
We turn to our Pattern of Conduct, Jesus Christ. Does He look upon us sharply, critically, suspiciously? He sees every infirmity in us, but it is as though He did not see it. His love overlooks it. He throws a veil over our faults. He continues to pour His own love into us in spite of all our blemishes and our ill-treatment of Him. The duty of Christian forbearance requires the same in us. We must not keep our selfish suspicions ever on the watch-tower or at the windows, looking out for neglects, discourtesies, wrongs, or grievances of any kind. We must not be hasty to think evil of others. We had better be blind, not perceiving at all the seeming rudeness or insult. It is well not to hear all that is said, or, if we do hear we would do well to ignore it.
Many bitter quarrels have grown out of IMAGINED slights or misunderstandings. If a few moments had been taken to determine the truth, there wouldn’t have been any need for ill-feeling.
We should also seek to understand the MOTIVE which prompts the apparent grievance. In many cases, the cause of our grievance is utterly unintentional, chargeable to nothing worse than thoughtlessness—possibly meant even for kindness. It is never fair to judge men by every word they speak or everything they do amid the irritations of busy daily life. Many a gruff man carries a good heart and a sincere friendship under his coarse manner. The best does not always come to the surface. We should never, therefore, hastily imagine evil intention in others. Nor should we allow ourselves to be easily persuaded that our companions or friends meant to treat us unkindly. A disposition to look favorably upon the conduct of our fellow-men is a wonderful absorber of the frictions of life.
Friday, March 23, 2007
The Blessing of Waiting long on the Lord
Excerpted from Waiting on God by Andrew Murray (1828–1917)
You say, I have waited for Him a very long time, yet He does not give the help I seek. There is a double answer. The one is this. God is a wise husbandman, who "waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience in waiting for it (James 5:7). He cannot gather the fruit until it is ripe. He knows when we are spiritually ready to receive the blessing to our profit and His glory. Waiting in the sunshine of His love is what will ripen the soul for His blessing. Waiting under the cloud of trial, that breaks in showers of blessing, is as necessary. Be assured that if God waits longer than you would wish, it is only to make the blessing doubly precious. God waited four thousand years, until the fullness of time, before He sent His Son. Our times are in His hands.
You say, I have waited for Him a very long time, yet He does not give the help I seek. There is a double answer. The one is this. God is a wise husbandman, who "waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience in waiting for it (James 5:7). He cannot gather the fruit until it is ripe. He knows when we are spiritually ready to receive the blessing to our profit and His glory. Waiting in the sunshine of His love is what will ripen the soul for His blessing. Waiting under the cloud of trial, that breaks in showers of blessing, is as necessary. Be assured that if God waits longer than you would wish, it is only to make the blessing doubly precious. God waited four thousand years, until the fullness of time, before He sent His Son. Our times are in His hands.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Giving Christ the Highest Place in our hearts
Excerpted from the Compleat Body of Divinity, Sermon 2, Man is to Glorify God, by Samuel Willard.
Samuel Willard (1640-1707) was pastor of the Old South Church in Boston, President of Harvard College, and some refer to him as the "Last of the Puritans." Next Sunday, if you like, you can attend the venerable Old South Church in Boston and take part in the oh-so-friendly and inclusive Old South Church Gay and Lesbian Christian Fellowship. Satan knows history, even if we don't, and gleefully attacks former Christian strongholds .
Samuel Willard (1640-1707) was pastor of the Old South Church in Boston, President of Harvard College, and some refer to him as the "Last of the Puritans." Next Sunday, if you like, you can attend the venerable Old South Church in Boston and take part in the oh-so-friendly and inclusive Old South Church Gay and Lesbian Christian Fellowship. Satan knows history, even if we don't, and gleefully attacks former Christian strongholds .
We are to glorify and magnify God in our hearts. We do this by entertaining esteemed thoughts about Him and fixing compelling ideas of His Being in our minds. When we employ our minds in developing attractive apprehensions of God, we honor Him in our hearts. And our love for Him causes us to give Him the highest place in our hearts.
We exalt Him by our vigorous adoration of the Goodness we have discovered in Him. We also greatly fear Him because we have grasped His relative Greatness and Power compared to all of Creation.
We glorify and magnify Him by learning to rest the whole weight of our souls on Him. We trust nothing else. The more fully, calmly, and resolvedly we can place our confidence in Him alone, the more we honor and thereby glorify Him.
Friday, March 09, 2007
He Pours out His Spirit on the Least of These
Excerpted from A Time of Refreshing by Robert Murray Mc’Cheyne (1813-1843)
GOD IS THE AUTHOR OF ALL WORKS OF GRACE? “I will pour,” He says.
It is God who begins a work of anxiety in dead souls. So it is in Zechariah 12:10: “I will pour out the Spirit of grace and supplications, and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and mourn.” And so the promise is in John 16:8,9: “When He is come, He will convince the world of sin, because they believe not on me.” If any of you have been awakened, it is God, and God alone, that has done it. It is God who originates the work in individuals and it is He who furthers and sustains the work.
It is God who empowers and enlarges His people for work in this world. [There is no need to wring our hands at the state of the 21st Century Church – when the Holy Spirit of God wills a powerful, unified, invisible Church, it will be so.] If ever we are to see the children of God, greatly enlarged, hearts filled with joy, lips filled with praises, if ever we are to see God's children thriving like willows beside broad streams, filled with all the fulness of God—God must pour down his Spirit. He must fulfil His Word for he is the Author and Finisher of all works of grace: “I will pour.”
Let us learn to look beyond our able pastors and preachers for powerful works of grace. God has given much honour to his ministers, but not the exclusive pouring out of the Spirit. This pouring is for all: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, God says, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.”
“It is not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”
GOD IS THE AUTHOR OF ALL WORKS OF GRACE? “I will pour,” He says.
It is God who begins a work of anxiety in dead souls. So it is in Zechariah 12:10: “I will pour out the Spirit of grace and supplications, and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and mourn.” And so the promise is in John 16:8,9: “When He is come, He will convince the world of sin, because they believe not on me.” If any of you have been awakened, it is God, and God alone, that has done it. It is God who originates the work in individuals and it is He who furthers and sustains the work.
It is God who empowers and enlarges His people for work in this world. [There is no need to wring our hands at the state of the 21st Century Church – when the Holy Spirit of God wills a powerful, unified, invisible Church, it will be so.] If ever we are to see the children of God, greatly enlarged, hearts filled with joy, lips filled with praises, if ever we are to see God's children thriving like willows beside broad streams, filled with all the fulness of God—God must pour down his Spirit. He must fulfil His Word for he is the Author and Finisher of all works of grace: “I will pour.”
Let us learn to look beyond our able pastors and preachers for powerful works of grace. God has given much honour to his ministers, but not the exclusive pouring out of the Spirit. This pouring is for all: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, God says, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.”
“It is not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”
Friday, March 02, 2007
The Natural man and the Spiritual man
Excerpted from Jonathan Edward’s Miscellaneous Observations on Important Theological Subjects
The Bible calls men without saving grace and the Holy Spirit, natural men. We are instructed that these natural men cannot discern, or receive spiritual things (1COR. 2:14). The spiritual man is, in essence, the converted man, mysteriosly placed in union with Christ, who has the Spirit of Christ living inside him. [all of these modern people who declare that they are “spiritual,” but not religious are not spiritual at all unless they have the Spirit of Christ living inside them]. Although the natural man concerns himself with many difficulties inside himself and from outside himself, he does not even perceive a fundamental tragedy about himself: without the Spirit of Christ, even the words to describe the Glory or God or the joys of our riches in Christ are without meaning. Words and ideas from the Scripture are as colors to a blind man.
The godly man having the planting of the Holy Spirit to enliven him, can perceive spiritual reality and even relish it. Often, we who have been given this magnificent gift of the Spirit of Christ living inside us, should thank God profoundly.
The Bible calls men without saving grace and the Holy Spirit, natural men. We are instructed that these natural men cannot discern, or receive spiritual things (1COR. 2:14). The spiritual man is, in essence, the converted man, mysteriosly placed in union with Christ, who has the Spirit of Christ living inside him. [all of these modern people who declare that they are “spiritual,” but not religious are not spiritual at all unless they have the Spirit of Christ living inside them]. Although the natural man concerns himself with many difficulties inside himself and from outside himself, he does not even perceive a fundamental tragedy about himself: without the Spirit of Christ, even the words to describe the Glory or God or the joys of our riches in Christ are without meaning. Words and ideas from the Scripture are as colors to a blind man.
The godly man having the planting of the Holy Spirit to enliven him, can perceive spiritual reality and even relish it. Often, we who have been given this magnificent gift of the Spirit of Christ living inside us, should thank God profoundly.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
If we had been consulted
Excerpted from the sermon, God’s Ways above Mens’ by Edward Payson (published 1831)
One way in which God’s ways and His thoughts are shown to be far, far above ours is the way God has permitted the introduction of natural and moral evil and permits it to continue. Although He could have certainly established reality differently, and forbid the fall of angels first, and then men, His superior ways have allowed the rebellion of angels and men and the attendant suffering of both. Not only did He permit the introduction of natural and moral evil, He allows it to go on longer than many good men can bear. If we had been consulted, many would counsel Him not to allow the variable of sin to even enter the world, or if it must, then certainly it should be banished more quickly. [God’s Glory is best exalted by what is, and thank God, He consults no mere man or angel. His Son is glorified and exalted above everything and is all in all].
One way in which God’s ways and His thoughts are shown to be far, far above ours is the way God has permitted the introduction of natural and moral evil and permits it to continue. Although He could have certainly established reality differently, and forbid the fall of angels first, and then men, His superior ways have allowed the rebellion of angels and men and the attendant suffering of both. Not only did He permit the introduction of natural and moral evil, He allows it to go on longer than many good men can bear. If we had been consulted, many would counsel Him not to allow the variable of sin to even enter the world, or if it must, then certainly it should be banished more quickly. [God’s Glory is best exalted by what is, and thank God, He consults no mere man or angel. His Son is glorified and exalted above everything and is all in all].
Monday, February 19, 2007
The blessed art of Killing your SELF
My meditation on Jesus' Demand to Deny our SELF
As far as you are concerned, you yourself are God's greatest rival.
It is astonishing when you realize how much SELF — self-seeking, self-admiration, self-dependence, yourself insisting on it's own way, self-comfort, security of the self, fun for the self —enters into almost every thought and intention of your day. Even setting dreadful self-righteousness aside, our natural man is there always in the way, jumping up & down, between us and the Glory of God.
Our hearts deceive us as we seek SELF's praise in what we supposedly do for God or for other men & women in the Body of Christ. How keen we are, especially those standing in front of the crowd, for the admiration and applause of other people. Did you feel SELF swell last Sunday when the people lined up to congratulate your sermon? How eager is SELF to be pre-eminent, to be seen as exalted above our peers.
How intensely do men work if they see some advantage over another or the possibility for SELF to be seen as "rightly" more important than another man. How fiercely and with cunning will a man seek a position in which other men will defer to his opinions. How many sought-after career promotions are unvarnished attempts to appear more valuable than the others? How many Mothers groom and discipline their little ones so that they appear "rightly" superior to the other children? How many youths are driven to study not to serve or glorify God, but rather to surpass others so that SELF is exalted as it deserves and the coveted entrance to that University is realized, which will almost certainly seal their doom. How deceitful is this self-esteem trumpet blasting in our elementary schools.
Count the ways that your SELF draws you away from the very heart of God!
The work of yourself is stealthy and devious and its influence and power are extensive. The spirit of a man knows the man and armed with this knowledge the corrupt heart deceives the man and draws him from seeing his moment-by-moment need of Christ's Throne of Grace, and worse, draws him from loving God with his whole heart — to loving and serving SELF moment-by moment with his whole corrupt heart.
Only by persistent death and denial of the SELF (the blessed art of mortifying our sin natures, that is so hard to learn) can we keep this rival from perverting our motives, lowering our aspirations, and corrupting our affections that are to be turned away from SELF to Things Above.
O, Christians, declare relentless war on this enemy, SELF who obscures and robs God of his rightful, thorough Glory.
I learned this because this is my heart. Dearest Savior, rescue me from my SELF!
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
More love to you on this Valentine's Day
Excerpt from Of Communion with God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost by John Owen (1657)
The Holy Spirit pours the love of God into our hearts (Rom. 5:5).
This refers to the love of God to us and not our love to God. It encompasses God’s love in accomplishing His purposes to do us good and His gracious love of acceptance and approval. Both these are called the love of God in Scripture. Now, how can these be poured into our hearts? By giving us a spiritual understanding of them. God pours the Holy Spirit abundantly on us who persuades us that God loves us so that our souls become filled with joy and comfort. This is His work and He does it effectively. To persuade a poor, sinful soul that God in Jesus Christ loves him, delights in him, is well pleased with him and only has thoughts of kindness towards him is an inexpressible mercy. [To persuade a man further that this delight continues forever is a consolation beyond belief].
This is the special work of the Holy Spirit and by this special work we have communion with the Father in His love, which is poured into our hearts. So not only do we rejoice in and glorify the Holy Spirit who does this work, but in the Father also, whose love it is. It is the same in respect of the Son, as the loving Holy Spirit takes the things of Christ and reveals them to us. What we have of heaven in this world lies in this work of the Holy Spirit who loves us. Happy Valentine’s Day.
The Holy Spirit pours the love of God into our hearts (Rom. 5:5).
This refers to the love of God to us and not our love to God. It encompasses God’s love in accomplishing His purposes to do us good and His gracious love of acceptance and approval. Both these are called the love of God in Scripture. Now, how can these be poured into our hearts? By giving us a spiritual understanding of them. God pours the Holy Spirit abundantly on us who persuades us that God loves us so that our souls become filled with joy and comfort. This is His work and He does it effectively. To persuade a poor, sinful soul that God in Jesus Christ loves him, delights in him, is well pleased with him and only has thoughts of kindness towards him is an inexpressible mercy. [To persuade a man further that this delight continues forever is a consolation beyond belief].
This is the special work of the Holy Spirit and by this special work we have communion with the Father in His love, which is poured into our hearts. So not only do we rejoice in and glorify the Holy Spirit who does this work, but in the Father also, whose love it is. It is the same in respect of the Son, as the loving Holy Spirit takes the things of Christ and reveals them to us. What we have of heaven in this world lies in this work of the Holy Spirit who loves us. Happy Valentine’s Day.
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