Self-denial / Obedience – Page 3

Two Ways To Live – Proverbs 9 – Part 3 of 3

12 Jul 2023 Michael A

In this post, the following verse is examined via 3 different Bible commentaries. Proverbs 9:17 “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” My reason for posting on this verse is that it is the type of thinking that keeps one stuck in sin; keeps one blind to sin, desiring sin, etc. The commentaries I chose are free commentaries from the Bible software, E-sword; they can also be found at Bible Hub. Using commentaries is especially necessary for new Bible students, because all verses of scripture have one meaning, that which God intended. It is necessary to discover that meaning. Many, speculate erroneously about the meaning of a verse or passage and never find out for sure what it means….

I’m Stuck in Sexual Sin — Should I Excommunicate Myself? – Ask Pastor John

23 May 2023 Michael A

This post contains 3 videos: the one titled above is second. I clicked on a 1-minute video from my YouTube notification page yesterday, and was busy doing something and the next two videos that played are posted here in that order. They are all related and relevant to the second video titled above. How so? The first video is what one is not able to do if he / she is addicted to sexual sin; the third video is an answer to that problem from the pen of C H Spurgeon. It is about how the Lord sanctifies those whom He has drawn to Himself.

A Catechism on Human Sexuality – Table Talk Magazine Ligonier Ministries

9 May 2023 Michael A

The Western church presently lives in a time of much sexual confusion. Rev. Christopher Gordon has produced a helpful tool to assist Christians in becoming well-grounded in the biblical teaching on human sexuality. The New Reformation Catechism on Human Sexuality uses the time-tested method of catechesis to teach essential truths from God’s Word regarding sexual issues. The editors of Tabletalk interviewed Rev. Gordon shortly after the catechism was produced, as we believe it is a good tool for Christians to use as they endeavor to obey God’s Word.

We Blunder and Stumble in our Holiest Endeavors – J. R. Miller (Christian devotional)

8 Apr 2023 Michael A

This brief devotional will give you some clarity about what God would have you doing with your life. To be more specific, and to summarize Miller’s words: God has placed you in a specific place, amid a specific group of people, with specific needs…; He has given you talents, interests, abilities… that He expects you to use to SERVE those around you…. J R Miller states that message in a pleasing and kind manner. His words will help you to see and act on those little specific things all around you. [After publishing this post I discovered shorts by MacArthur and Baucham that apply to the matter discussed by Miller, these were added under the Miller video]

Galatians 5:17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit….

8 Feb 2023 Michael A

Learning to walk in the Spirit is absolutely essential if you would please God and make it into heaven. I am not satisfied with my own comprehension of such verses found in Paul’s epistles. These verses specifically identify a problem that occurs throughout scripture in that God calls us to repent and obey, and we want to rule our own lives and follow our own inclinations…. Seeing the problem clearly in your own walk is the first step in rectifying it. Exhortations that hold out the solution are found in the epistles and generally in scripture; that would be submitting to the Spirit’s guidance out of a love of God; using God’s appointed means, the armor He has given us with which to fight the fight of faith. But to use God’s appointed means of prayer and scripture reading, e.g., when we are bent on pleasure seeking to fulfill the inclinations/lusts of our heart, is impossible….

God’s Purposes for taking His children through grief, loss, darkness…. Pastor Patrick Hines

1 Jan 2023 Michael A

The video in this post is a podcast of Pastor Patrick Hines wherein he addresses Christian suffering. He used the text of 1 Peter 1:3-9 and after a brief intro, talked about a Christian pastor who committed suicide, and near the end, he discussed a man who was tortured by Vladimir Lenin’s officers and imprisoned for more than a decade. The latter, grew immeasurably from his ordeal and was more used by God…. Much was said about each man and his response / reaction to afflictions sent by our Sovereign God. You can learn something from Pastor Hines teaching to deal with the afflictions God sends into your life. He discusses a couple of useful books in the podcast.

The Apostates’ Doom – A. W. Pink / Studies in the Scriptures / Christian Audio Books

30 Dec 2022 Michael A

A W Pink considers Hebrews 10:26-31 in discussing the apostate’s doom. He discusses how preachers had watered down that [and all] scripture in his day [he died in 1952]. They promised believers that if they had accepted Christ [signed a card; uttered the sinner’s prayer…] that their eternal future was secure…. He discussed a three erroneous takes on this passage by Arminians, over-zealous Calvinists; he called out the dispensationalists for “trifling with God’s word.” He aimed to present a biblical take on the passage and seemed to do so. It is an important message for all Christians in this day of far greater heresy and apostasy than in the 1950s. I recommend reading the preceding post on the impact of Christian Liberalism on the church before this post. Video is 43 minutes with a long list of highlights beforehand

Repent or Perish! – A. W. Pink

27 Dec 2022 Michael A

The following 5-minute devotional says much about repentance and the hindrances to it. The chief obstacle is self, which he addresses in a succinct but thorough manner. [One big problem of the Christian walk is learning to deny self. This culture has made that a huge problem because we are taught from childhood, by TV ads and by observing what the people around us value, that self-gratification is the height of personal freedom.] Sermon highlights precede the 5-minute video

The fight of faith, A W Pink

1 Dec 2022 Michael A

This post contains a 20-minute reading from A W Pink’s writings about fighting the good fight of faith. His description of the fight is very useful because he boils things down such that one can begin fighting. Sermon points precede the video, so those who do not have 20 minutes to spare, can read the points, which are more than just highlights.

Hebrews 13:13 – Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.

20 Nov 2022 Michael A

The following brief commentary is on Hebrews 13:13 – “Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.” Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp – As if we were going forth with him when he was led away to be crucified. He was put to death as a malefactor. He was the object of contempt and scorn. He was held up to derision, and was taunted and reviled on his way to the place of death, and even on the cross. To be identified with him there; to follow him; to sympathize with him; to be regarded as his friend, would have subjected one to similar shame and reproach…. [This intro is most of Barnes’ commentary; John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible is also included in this post. Together, they provide better understanding]

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