Spurgeon’s words for today offer a hopeful perspective for running the Christian race and insight into where one’s help lies.
Category: Self-denial / Obedience
Morning and Evening by C H Spurgeon for March 29
Spurgeon’s Morning commentary is on the following verse: “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.” — Heb_5:8. His Evening thoughts are about this verse: Song of Solomon 5:6 I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer. [The morning thoughts are in line with the MLJ sermon which will be posted later today.]
Looking Unto Jesus – Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains how putting on the breastplate of righteousness means looking to Jesus and following His example. …A Christian’s job is to follow the example of their Savior, and the breastplate of righteousness is what helps them do this by reminding them that Jesus has imputed and imparted His righteousness to them…. [Something that MLJ mentioned numerous times in his sermon, which is not clearly emphasized in the points is that selfishness is of the Devil. Upon hearing MLJ make comments about selfishness, I thought of Aleister Crowley’s law of Thelema, “Do What Thou Wilt.” I think the babyboomer generation and every generation since, has been dedicated to doing just that. Such a lifestyle is in opposition to the WAY of Christ….]
Citizens of Heaven – Martyn Lloyd-Jones
“There is only one protection against the temptations of Satan. It is the breastplate of righteousness. You’ll never get righteousness without godliness. You can multiply your police force, you can build better prisons, you can staff them with psychiatrists, you can try and uplift people and educate them. It doesn’t touch your problem.” ―Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones …History shows that moral and righteous periods follow religious awakenings while unrighteous periods follow a decline in Christianity. …Deliverance from condemnation protects us from temptation by removing despair and hopelessness.
Loins Girt About with Truth – Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
…sermon on the six pieces of “the armor of God.” First are the “loins girt with truth,” then the breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. This is not an exhaustive list, but a highlighting of vital elements for spiritual warfare. Soldiers braced their clothing together with a girdle in order to move without encumbrance. …The spiritual meaning here is for the mind. Some think “truth” means sincerity or candor, but the foundation of the Christian’s armor cannot be their own sincerity and truthfulness. The girdle, as well as the sword, is the word of God. Christians must be wholly governed by truth, which is revealed in Christ Jesus. …It is a settled conviction, knowing whom and what to believe. The devil tries to create confusion and uncertainty and to repel him, Christians must be “girt about” with truth.
Man’s Greatest Problem – Self – Martyn Lloyd-Jones
…Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out that the devil primarily uses pride to refocus people off the things of the Lord. One of his main methods in this is to take a person’s gift— whether it is singing, speech, knowledge, intellect or even conversion experience — and use it to make its possessor feel self-reliant and that they are above the spiritual state of other believers. …We should see ourselves as members of the body of Christ where every part is important. …We should care about what God thinks of us, not what people think. …Self in all its manifestations dishonors God, his grace and the gospel.
Worry and Anxiety – Martyn Lloyd-Jones
The MLJ sermon of this post is another in his series on the wiles of the Devil. In the process of his teaching herein, he said quite a lot that applies to the word-of-faith, prosperity gospels and the Charismatic church. His words clarified their great claims via biblical passages. The thrust of his message was to show believers yet another way in which the Devil undermines a believer’s walk with the Lord, rendering them ineffective, discouraged…. [A song is attached to the post because in that song, one can hear the kind of process that MLJ discussed, in terms of laying down one’s self-striving and surrendering to Christ; quitting on self-guidance and receiving His.]
Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Thoughts – [Covenant Part 8]
Today’s Morning Thoughts from C H Spurgeon are much more meaningful if you have been following along in our study of covenants. Therein he talks of blessings that derive from being born-again, being ‘in Christ’ and His New Covenant.
Mosaic Covenant Part 2 – R C Sproul – [Covenant Series Part 6B]
In the Mp3 lesson of this post, R C Sproul teaches about the making of the Mosaic covenant, the 10 Commandments and the ceremonial law. He made the topics understandable and interesting. His closing definitions about symbols and types were very interesting, particularly explanations about how the tabernacle symbolized Christ….
Reconciled to God (Remastered) – Martyn Lloyd-Jones
A sermon by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Being Reconciled to God. “There is no human being that has sinned beyond the bounds of redemption and salvation in Christ Jesus. None.” …Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches through the account of the paralyzed man whose greatest need was fixed by Jesus. This man had heard that Jesus could heal him and had faith that Jesus could do it. His faith brought him to have his friends lower him through a roof to get to Jesus; he was a desperate man. Yet Jesus offers something so much more than just the physical healing of the man—Jesus forgives his sins. …To receive forgiveness and healing, we must have faith in Jesus, repent of sins, and obey his commands. We must accept his diagnosis of our need and his method of salvation. Dr. Lloyd-Jones reminds listeners that unless sins have been forgiven, no one is able to live a truly happy life regardless of how “good” their situation may be.