Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc24/v26400

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 7KB | 121 lines

26405
 #27-31 The people of God are reproved for their unbelief and
 distrust of God. Let them remember they took the names Jacob and
 Israel, from one who found God faithful to him in all his
 straits. And they bore these names as a people in covenant with
 Him. Many foolish frets, and foolish fears, would vanish before
 inquiry into the causes. It is bad to have evil thoughts rise in
 our minds, but worse to turn them into evil words. What they had
 known, and had heard, was sufficient to silence all these fears
 and distrusts. Where God had begun the work of grace, he will
 perfect it. He will help those who, in humble dependence on him,
 help themselves. As the day, so shall the strength be. In the
 strength of Divine grace their souls shall ascend above the
 world. They shall run the way of God's commandments cheerfully.
 Let us watch against unbelief, pride, and self-confidence. If we
 go forth in our own strength, we shall faint, and utterly fall;
 but having our hearts and our hopes in heaven, we shall be
 carried above all difficulties, and be enabled to lay hold of
 the prize of our high calling in Christ Jesus.
26410
 * God's care of his people. (1-9) They are encouraged not to
 fear. (10-20) The vanity and folly of idolatry. (21-29)

 #1-9 Can any heathen god raise up one in righteousness, make
 what use of him he pleases, and make him victorious over the
 nations? The Lord did so with Abraham, or rather, he would do so
 with Cyrus. Sinners encourage one another in the ways of sin;
 shall not the servants of the living God stir up one another in
 his service? God's people are the seed of Abraham his friend.
 This is certainly the highest title ever given to a mortal. It
 means that Abraham, by Divine grace, was made like to God, and
 that he was admitted to communion with Him. Happy are the
 servants of the Lord, whom he has called to be his friends, and
 to walk with him in faith and holy obedience. Let not such as
 have thus been favoured yield to fear; for the contest may be
 sharp, but the victory shall be sure.
26419
 #10-20 God speaks with tenderness; Fear thou not, for I am with
 thee: not only within call, but present with thee. Art thou
 weak? I will strengthen thee. Art thou in want of friends? I
 will help thee in the time of need. Art thou ready to fall? I
 will uphold thee with that right hand which is full of
 righteousness, dealing forth rewards and punishments. There are
 those that strive with God's people, that seek their ruin. Let
 not God's people render evil for evil, but wait God's time. It
 is the worm Jacob; so little, so weak, so despised and trampled
 on by every body. God's people are as worms, in humble thoughts
 of themselves, and in their enemies' haughty thoughts of them;
 worms, but not vipers, not of the serpent's seed. Every part of
 God's word is calculated to humble man's pride, and to make him
 appear little in his own eyes. The Lord will help them, for he
 is their Redeemer. The Lord will make Jacob to become a
 threshing instrument. God will make him fit for use, new, and
 having sharp spikes. This has fulfilment in the triumphs of the
 gospel of Christ, and of all faithful followers of Christ, over
 the power of darkness. God has provided comforts to supply all
 their wants, and to answer all their prayers. Our way to heaven
 lies through the wilderness of this world. The soul of man is in
 want, and seeks for satisfaction; but becomes weary of seeking
 that in the world, which is not to be had in it. Yet they shall
 have a constant supply, where one would least expect it. I will
 open rivers of grace, rivers of living water, which Christ spake
 of the Spirit, #Joh 7:38,39|. When God sets up his church in the
 Gentile wilderness, there shall be a great change, as if thorns
 and briers were turned into cedars, and fir-trees, and myrtles.
 These blessings are kept for the poor in spirit, who long for
 Divine enlightening, pardon, and holiness. And God will render
 their barren souls fruitful in the grace of his Spirit, that all
 who behold may consider it.

26430
 #21-29 There needs no more to show the folly of sin, than to
 bring to notice the reasons given in defence of it. There is
 nothing in idols worthy of regard. They are less than nothing,
 and worse than nothing. Let the advocates of other doctrines
 than that of salvation through Christ, bring their arguments.
 Can they tell of a cure for human depravity? Jehovah has power
 which cannot be withstood; this he will make appear. But the
 certain knowledge of the future must be only with Jehovah, who
 fulfils his own plans. All prophecies, except those of the
 Bible, have been uncertain. In the work of redemption the Lord
 showed himself much more than in the release of the Jews from
 Babylon. The good tidings the Lord will send in the gospel, is a
 mystery hid from ages and generations. A Deliverer is raised up
 for us, of nobler name and greater power than the deliverer of
 the captive Jews. May we be numbered among his obedient servants
 and faithful friends.
26439
 * The character and coming of Christ. (1-4) The blessings of his
 kingdom. (5-12) The prevalence of true religion. (13-17)
 Unbelief and blindness reproved. (18-25)

 #1-4 This prophecy was fulfilled in Christ, #Mt 12:17|. Let our
 souls rely on him, and rejoice in him; then, for his sake, the
 Father will be well-pleased with us. The Holy Spirit not only
 came, but rested upon him, and without measure. He patiently
 bore the contradiction of sinners. His kingdom is spiritual; he
 was not to appear with earthly honours. He is tender of those
 oppressed with doubts and fears, as a bruised reed; those who
 are as smoking flax, as the wick of a lamp newly lighted, which
 is ready to go out again. He will not despise them, nor lay upon
 them more work or more suffering than they can bear. By a long
 course of miracles and his resurrection, he fully showed the
 truth of his holy religion. By the power of his gospel and grace
 he fixes principles in the minds of men, which tend to make them
 wise and just. The most distant nations wait for his law, wait
 for his gospel, and shall welcome it. If we would make our
 calling and election sure, and have the Father delight over us
 for good, we must behold, hear, believe in, and obey Christ.

26443
 #5-12 The work of redemption brings back man to the obedience he
 owes to God as his Maker. Christ is the light of the world. And
 by his grace he opens the understandings Satan has blinded, and
 sets at liberty from the bondage of sin. The Lord has supported
 his church. And now he makes new promises, which shall as
 certainly be fulfilled as the old ones were. When the Gentiles
 are brought into the church, he is glorified in them and by
 them. Let us give to God those things which are his, taking heed
 that we do not serve the creature more than the Creator.