What to Concerntrate On

From Oswald Chambers', My Upmost for His Highest

"I came not to send peace, but a sword." - Matthew 10:34.

Never be sympathetic with the soul whose case makes you come to the conclusion that God is hard. God is more tender than we can conceive, and every now and again He gives us the chance of being the rugged one that He may be the tender One. If a man cannot get through to God it is because there is a secret thing he does not intend to give up—‘I will admit I have done wrong, but I no more intend to give up that thing than fly.’ It is impossible to deal sympathetically with a case like that: we have to get right deep down to the root until there is antagonism and resentment against the message. People want the blessing of God, but they will not stand the thing that goes straight to the quick.

If God has had His way with you, your message as His servant is merciless insistence on the one line, cut down to the very root, otherwise there will be no healing. Drive home the message until there is no possible refuge from its application. Begin to get at people where they are until you get them to realize what they lack, and then erect the standard of Jesus Christ for their lives—‘We never can be that!’ Then drive it home: ‘Jesus Christ says you must.’ ‘But how can we be?’ ‘You cannot, unless you have a new Spirit’ (Luke 1 l:13).

There must be a sense of need before your message is of any use. Thousands of people are happy without God in this world. If I was happy and moral till Jesus came, why did He come? Because that kind of happiness and peace is on a wrong level; Jesus Christ came to send a sword through every peace that is not based on a personal relationship to Himself.

Not Just "For" But "Because" of Us!

Isaiah 53

Who has believed our message?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot,
And like a root out of parched ground;
He has no stately form or majesty
That we should look upon Him,
Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.
He was despised and forsaken of men
A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
And like one from whom men hide their face
He was despised and we did not esteem Him.

Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
And our sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten of God, and afflicted.
But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed.
All of us like sheep have gone astray,

Each of us have turned to his own way;
But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all
To fall on Him.

He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He did not open His mouth;
Like a lamb that is led to slaughter,
And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,
So He did not open His mouth.
By oppression and judgment He was taken away;
And as for His generation, who considered
That He was cut off out of the land of the living
For the transgressions of my people,
to whom the stroke was due?
His grave was assigned with wicked men,
Yet He was with a rich man in His death,
Because He had done no violence,
Nor was there any deceit in His mouth.

But the Lord was pleased
To crush Him, putting Him to grief;
If He would render Himself as a guilt offering,
He will see His offspring,
He will prolong His days,
And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand.
As a result of the anguish of His soul,
He will see it and be satisfied;
By His knowledge the Righteous One,
My Servant, will justify the many,
As He will bear their iniquities.
Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great,
And He will divide the booty with the strong;
Because He poured out Himself unto death,
And was numbered with the transgressors;
Yet He Himself bore the sin of many,
And interceded for the transgressors.

Do we reckon the work of Christ as merely something He wanted to do "for" us? To better understand/appreciate the work of Christ we must come to realize that Jesus came to earth in the incarnation, lived a perfect life, was crucified in innocence, and raised up on the third day not just "for" us but "because" of us! If we (all of humanity) had no griefs to bear, sorrows to carry, transgressions to be paid for, and no iniquities to to be crushed then there would not have been a reason for Christ to come. If we were able to keep the Law of God there would have been no need of a sacrifice, but "because" we all fall short of the glory of God, Christ came to take our place on the judgment seat of God. He became the perfect sacrifice that God required. We could never meet God's standard (that is the whole purpose of the Law - Gal. 3:24). Christ had to come not just to hang out with us here on earth and see what the food was like, but because we are fallen and and unable to please God. It is "because" of us that Jesus gave His life as a ransom for many.

"Woe to you, Scribes, Pharisees, and American Churches...?"

"Woe to you, scribes, Pharisees, and American Churches..." No, that is not what Jesus says in Matthew 23, but the more I look at the woes given and the condition of the American church, in general, I cannot help but see many parallels. Jesus says in verse 13, "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people ; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in." The vast majority of so-called Christian churches are guilty of shutting off the kingdom of God by presenting their own way to righteousness through works rather than trusting in the righteousness of Christ. These churches state that partaking of the sacraments (baptism, the Lord's Supper), prayers, good deeds, and tithing contribute to salvation. By presenting anything other than sola fide not only condemns the church presenting it but all others following after it as well. Ephesians 2:8 declares, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God..."

Verse 14 says, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation." Oh how the American church has been guilty of this. This can be seen vividly on most so-called Christian television programs. The evangelist/preacher (pardon me while I scream) preys on the hurting, poor, and elderly by telling them to give money or "sow a seed" to their ministry and sit back and wait for God to bless ten fold. What a scam! What hypocrisy! Not only are these men and women robbing people with lies but they present themselves as people seeking the heart of God through their extravagant prayers and fake healings to make people think that are genuine. Jesus in Matthew 7 speaks directly to these people, saying "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles ?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'

The next woe in verse 15 is, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte ; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves." This woe stands out amongst the others because of its implications. This is a very devastating problem facing American Christianity in the present days. The church in general has abandoned preaching repentance and faith as a means of salvation and began making the gospel a way to wealth, health and happiness. When churches teach this or its followers go out into all the world and declare this false gospel the converts of it become "twice as much a son of hell" than before. What that means is that if you were to run into this person in church or on the streets and try to witness to them it would be useless because they think that they are already saved by walking the aisle, signing a card, raising their hand, saying a pray, or getting wet. Now they are not just lost but are convinced that they are saved while the whole time being condemned in the eyes of God. Without repentance, no one will see God. Mark 1:15 says, "Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." Repentance and faith is the message that Christ preached and none other. We are not saved so that we can be wealthy, healthy and happy, but so that we can "die to ourselves, take up our cross and follow after Him." In that only is all joy and peace!!

The last two woes that can be paralleled to the American church are found in verses 25-28. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. "You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. "So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. One of the foremost reasons the lost want nothing to do with Christianity is the hypocrisy in the church. Yes it is true that Christians are not perfect therefore no church will be perfect, but the state of the American church reveals a picture far from perfect. It appears that we have more concern for buildings, programs and externals than the spiritual health and holiness of the church. We spend millions of dollars building new buildings that are beautiful but are filled with people who are anything but a imitator of Christ. We seek to make the church building and name appear spotless before the world while the members are filthy. This is all done for the sake of attraction so that more people will come. It is better to have a spiritually growing fellowship than a numerically growing church. Furthermore, it is not the building that is to attract people to God, but His mercy and grace that was shown to us through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord. One way that the world sees the effects of salvation is through the body of Christ walking in a manner worthy of Christ.

The solution for the problems facing the American church is repentance and humility. We must repent (turn from mentally and physically) from our self-centeredness. Then we must humbly seek God's face and Word to find out what the TRUE church is to be and what we are supposed to be doing. We are the "bride of Christ", it is about time we start acting like it and being faithful to Him.

It Is Okay to Hate - Somethings!

"Abhor (hate) what is evil; cling to what is good." - Romans 12:9

"But examine everything carefully; hold fast to what is good; abstain
from every form of evil." - 2 Thessalonians 5:21-22

Biblically, believers are commanded to hate. Unfortunately the command to hate is taken up to quickly by so many and directed at people rather than the intend object. We are commanded to hate evil and the greatest evil in our lives is SIN. Therefore we are to hate sin. This does not mean that we are to sit back and watch the T.V.: seeing the sins of the world and spew hatred toward those involved. Nor does it mean that we look at those around us to find fault in them while condemning them and thinking that we are hating biblically. This kind of hatred is to be directed at the very sin that plagues our own life. We are to "examine ourselves" (2 Corinthians 13:5) and in doing so, seek to purge our lives of the very thing that Christ died to set us free from. Whenever we see sin in our lives we are to strike at it as if it were the most deadly cancer known to man. Just like a physician dealing with cancer, we are to strike with the first detection and with deadening precision, leaving no hint or trace of the sin. This is a hard task that requires discipline, reliance on God's wisdom and strength, and the guidance of the Word of God. Richard Baxter, a 17th century Puritan, left us a list of directions to hating and ridding yourself of sin.

"1. Labour to know God, and to be affected with His attributes, and always to live as in His sight.
2. Consider well the office, the bloodshed, and the holy life of Christ. Love Christ and you will hate that which caused His death.
3. Know and consider the wonderful love and mercy of God, and think what He has done for you; and you will hate sin, and be ashamed of it.
4. Think what the soul of man is made for, and should be used to, even to love, obey, and glorify our Maker; and then you will see what sin is, which disables and perverts it.
5. Look always on sin as one that is ready to die, and consider how all men judge of it at the last.
6. Look now but upon sickness, poverty, shame, despair, death, and rottenness in the grave, and it may a little help you know what sin is."

Once you have come to hate your sin and desire to begin to deal with it, Baxter continues by giving directions to destroying sin.

"1. See that you take no part with sin, and wrangle not, or strive not against your Physician, or any that would do you good.
2. Keep as far away as you can from those temptations which feed and strengthen the sins which you would overcome.
3. Live in the exercise of those graces and duties which are contrary to the sins which you are in danger of.
4. Account the world and all its pleasures, wealth, and honours, so better than indeed they are, and then Satan will find no bait to catch you.
5. Take heed of the first approaches of sin.
6. Make God's word your only rule and labour diligently to understand it.
7. Wait patiently on Christ till He has finished the cure, which will not be till this life be finished."

For Baxter's complete work, see: http://www.puritansermons.com/baxter/baxter16.htm

"You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin." - 1 John 3:5

Saved From Hell = Life of Gratitude: At least it should!

What is so terrible about Hell anyways?
Three times in Mark 9, Jesus describes the torments of Hell as a place "where their worm does NOT die, and the fire is NOT quenched." What a horrific thought! The thought we entertain for the majority of our lives is the eternality of heaven and what a wondrous thought! But oh, if we would consider just for a moment what awaits those who do not repent and trust Christ for salvation. They do not have any hope for heaven or any comfort to anticipate. Their only promise is found in an eternity of torment in Hell, where pain and anguish (physically, mentally and spiritually) will never cease to exist. That is all that awaits an unbeliever. The next time you begin to think about what joy a Christian has to look for eternally in heaven; first consider what would have been your home for eternity, if it had not been for the shedding of Christ's blood. It would have been Hell, forever. When we come to see not just what we have been freed for but all that we have been rescued from, our lives will become springboards of gratitude toward God. We will seek to be transformed into the image of Christ and we will be earnestly seeking to share what a great salvation we have been given to those who are destined for eternal torment. To better grasp the terror and eternality of Hell, John Bunyan wrote,

"In Hell thou shalt have none but a company of damned souls with an innumerable company of devils to keep company with thee. While thou art in this world the very thought of the devils appearing to thee makes thy flesh to tremble and thy hair stand upright on thy head. But O what wilt thou do when not only the supposition of the devils appearing but the real society of all the devils of Hell will be with thee; howling, roaring and screeching in such a hideous manner that thou will be even at thy wits end and ready to run stark mad again for anguish and torment. If after 10,000 years an end should come, there would be comfort. But here is thy misery; here thou must be forever. When thou seest what an innumerable company of howling devils thou art amongst, thou shalt think this again; this is my portion forever. When thou hast been in Hell so many thousand of years as there are stars in the firmament or drops in the sea or sands on the seashore, yet thou has to lie there forever. Oh this one word 'ever' how will it torment thy soul. A many are in the net moving toward that furnace of fire."

Think about these things. Mourn for those whose eternity lies in Hell, but do not mourn only. Praise God for the wondrous salvation He provided and declare to the world that "Jesus is the way the truth and the life."

Lord, Change Me!

Lord, Thou art Beautiful,

Yet my eyes wander far from Thee.
Lord, Thou art Truth,
Yet my ears listen not to Thee.
Lord, Thou art Almighty,
Yet my trust is not given to Thee.
Lord, Thou art Faithful,
Yet my heart wanders from Thee.
Lord, Thou art Sufficient,
Yet my desires seek Thee not.
Lord, Thou art Worthy,
Yet my actions dishonor Thee.

Lord, set my eyes on Thee,
That I may gaze upon thy beauty.
Lord, open my ears to Thee,
That I may know Thy unshakable truths.
Lord, help my trust to be given to Thee,
That I may declare Thy might.
Lord, call my heart back to Thee,
That I may serve Thee faithfully.
Lord, let my desires be filled by Thee,
That I may live as You are all I need.
Lord, empower my actions to honor Thee,
That I may proclaim that Thou art Worthy.

Change me, make me more like You
That all glory and praise may be given that is due.

A.F.

From Death to Life to Living

Titus 3:3-8 "...But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared..."

The life I once lived

Was filled with much sin.

Slavery and bondage

Controlled me from within.

My spirit was dead.

My eyes were blind.

Death was my future,

With separation from the Divine.

Then God pierced my heart

By showing me His Son.

The pure life He lived

With the victory He won.

Victory over sin and death

Was offered by Christ to me.

By grace, through faith in Jesus

I repented and was set free.

The price that Christ had paid

No one can fathom the cost.

The life I now live through Him

All worldly things are counted as loss.

He was beaten and crucified

So that I could be without blame.

To crucify my sin and flesh

So that His cross would not be in vain.

Temptation will come and go

But in Christ I have all strength.

To follow Him in all my ways

No matter what the length.

For I once was dead in sin.

Condemned and destined for hell.

My Savior and Lord rescued me

Of whom, the world, I want to tell.

A.F.