To Profit from Classics & Spiritual Giants #3

Robert Murray McCheyne, (1813-1843)

A brief life of thirty years, but his vibrant ministry continued to reap fruit long after his passing. He so often professed: ”Live so as to be missed.” In fact more than six thousand people attended his funeral.

McCheyne’s church flourished growing in membership and spiritual fervor. He stimulate people with Bible studies, service projects to aid the poor, evangelistic outreaches, also the increasing of praise and worship in his services. McCheyne credits his ministry success to his devotional life, prayer, meditation and Bible study.

If you have ever wondered where God wants you,

then consider this Devotional of Robert Murray McCheyne;

“Live for Christ Where You Are”

1 Corinthians 12:18-19 (KJV)

18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?

McCheyne said;

Everyone has his peculiar work assigned him and should not leave it. Learn, dear friends, to keep to your own work. When the Lord has hung up a lamp in one corner, is there no presumption in removing it to another ? Is not the Lord wiser than man ? Each of you has your work to do for Christ where you are.

1 Corinthians 7:20 (KJV)

20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

“Only Live for Christ where you are.”

To Profit from Classics & Spiritual Giants #2

There is always a story behind a classic and the wife of Oswald Chambers has provided us that story.

Oswald Chambers lived from 1874 to 1917 dying at the age of 43 with only three books published.

Oswald’s most famous book “My Utmost for His Highest” was published in 1927 some eighteen years after his death.

Now, for the best of the story; Oswald called his wife “Beloved Disciple” shortened to B.D. resulting in her nickname “Biddy” and for the rest of her life she was “Biddy Chambers”. The significance of that is why more than forty books bearing Oswald Chambers name was published after his death with the initials “B.C.”

Biddy Cambers calling was to give the world Oswald’s words. As Oswald gave daily lectures from 1911 to 1917 Biddy recorded his words verbatim in Pittman’s shorthand.

Let Us Keep To The Point

Philippians 1:20 (KJV)
 According to my earnest expectation and my hope,
that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but
that with all boldness, as always,
so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body,
whether it be by life, or by death.

“My Utmost for His Highest”  “My eager desire and hope being that I never feel ashamed.” We shall all feel very much ashamed if we do not yield to Jesus on the point He asked us to yield to Him.

This book is not the Bible but a treasure of God’s Word and it gives a message to be lived.

Oswald Chambers keeps you to the point;

“The basis of Faith is Jesus Christ”

To Profit from Classics & Spiritual Giants #1

In Deuteronomy 32:35 KJV; The Lord said; 
”To Me belongeth vengeance, and recompence;”

In 1741, at the beginning of “The Great Awakening”
Johnathan Edwards preached his sermon
“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”.
Thus raising the question:
“What shall I do to be saved ?”

Edwards answers, in his sermon, 
”God’s Gift to Every Believer” 

“The prospect of eternal glory in the enjoyment
of God from God’s own promise In Christ.”

“That peace, which results from true faith,
Passes understanding; that joy is unspeakable.”

"Christ gives His Spirit, who calms the mind
like a refreshing breeze of wind.”

 John 16:33 (KJV)
"These things I have spoken unto you,
that in me ye might have peace.
In the world ye shall have tribulation:
but be of good cheer;
I have overcome the world. "

Pray that God will use you to introduce Jesus
to your family and that they will come to
believe in him.

Acts 16:31 (KJV)
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Do not miss that gift of joy

Tozer’s definition; what he believes true worship to be:

“Worship is to feel  in the heart”

Do you have that joy to worship our Lord with feeling?

Ephesians 5:19-20 (KJV)

19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Joy comes from a consistent relationship with Jesus Christ. When our lives are intertwined with his, he will help us walk through adversity without sinking into debilitating lows and manage prosperity without moving into deceptive highs. The joy of living with Jesus Christ daily will keep us levelheaded, no matter how high or low our circumstances. (Life Application Study Bible)

Getting Focused on the Teaching

Acts 10:29b-33

"May I ask why you sent for me?" Cornelius answered: "Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me and said, 'Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.' So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us."

Thoughts for Today:

Peter opens with a really good question: "May I ask why you sent for me?" Sometimes people forget why they come to church. Is it out of habit? Is it to see friends or make your wife happy? It helps every once in a while to stop for a minute and ask yourself that question "Why am I sitting here today? What do I hope to gain? What were the life events that led to me being here?" In our passage today, Peter asks Cornelius, "May I ask why you sent for me?" Cornelius stopped for a minute, and thought about why he was there -- he recounted to everyone present the events that led to Peter's arrival. As a result he made this statement: "Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us."

How different would the Sunday morning sermon be for you if you began with this thought in mind –

 "I am in church today in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded my Pastor to tell me."

Too often we listen passively -- we even have difficulty remembering on Monday what was preached about on Sunday -- so what chance do we have to apply any of the teaching. We have a tendency to look at God's Word spoken through our pastor as simply "feel good" advice for the moment -- rather than God speaking directly to us.

Questions to Ponder:

Can you remember what was preached about this past Sunday morning? Did you take notes? Did you review your notes? Maybe it's time we paid closer attention to what God has commanded our pastor to tell us. Think about the sermon now -- what one thing sticks out in your mind? Could this be your personal message, your personal instructions from God for today, for this week? Make every effort to apply one thing you heard from our pastor this past Sunday?

Pocket Testament League Daily Devotional; #130

Prayer (Daily Bread Devotional)

Lord, I need your help
that I will control my
thoughts and words
today. I want to be a
blessing to others, to
lift them up that they
may see Your goodness,
Amen

Our Daily Bread “Fragile Loads”;

Reading my thoughts ,

How easily I could pass judgments on another,
without knowing all the facts.

How often I could become impatient with another,
when I have no idea of their burdens.

How tempted I am to lose patience with another,
before remembering how patient God has been
with me. 

How wrong I am to be losing patience with another.

Let me say “Thank You Jesus” and give thanks for
reminding me of how much God forgives all of us.

Ephesians 4:31,32 (KJV)

31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and
clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you,
with all malice:

32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's
sake hath forgiven you.

We can bring sorrow to the Holy Spirit by the way we live. Paul warns us against unwholesome language, bitterness, improper use of anger, harsh words, slander, and bad attitudes toward others. Instead of acting that way, we should be forgiving, just as God has forgiven us. Are you bringing sorrow or pleasing God with your attitudes and actions? Act in love toward your brothers and sisters in Christ, just as God acted in love by sending his Son to die for your sins. 

(Life Application Study Bible.)