Self-examination / Self-observation

The Free Gift of God’s Grace – Martyn Lloyd-Jones

19 Nov 2024 Michael A

…Many misunderstand the kingdom of God and hold to a false salvation that is rooted in the belief that eternal life is a reward for a good life on earth. But besides offering no hope to a sinful person, it misses the entire glory of the free salvation in Christ — everyone justly deserves hell because they have all broken God’s law, yet Christ was offered as an acceptable substitute in their place in the reception of God’s wrath…. [MLJ explored the themes of this parable sufficiently well as to help listeners see whether they are making such a fatal error.]

Reconciled to God (Remastered) – Martyn Lloyd-Jones

17 Nov 2024 Michael A

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.

What is the enemy within? – Got Questions Ministries

11 Nov 2024 Michael A

The apostle Paul recognized the fact there is an internal battle within each one of us; every believer has an “enemy within” that we must fight. This lifelong battle between the flesh and the Spirit will rage until our death. Romans 7:21–23 addresses the enemy within: “So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.” Paul understood that his fleshly nature would never conform to God’s will. No matter how much he might want to obey God in every way, he was fighting the “evil . . . right there with me,” the enemy within.

Pastoral Perspective on Politics [and Voting] – Jonny Ardavanis

15 Oct 2024 Michael A

There are two videos in this post; the first is 6 minutes, the second, a bit over 60 minutes. The following narrative accompanied the first video at YouTube: Are you a Christian that is wondering how to approach politics and the upcoming election? In this video, Jonny answers questions such as, “should we refrain from voting if we don’t like either candidate?”, “can we vote from the lesser of two evils?” “Do we need to bring about political reform in order that there can be a spiritual revival?” The second video is a discussion panel with Todd Friel and 3 other pastors, title of that video: “Should Christians Vote for Trump? Detailed Breakdown”

An Encounter With God – Martyn Lloyd-Jones

9 Oct 2024 Michael A

This post contains a sermon by Martyn Lloyd-Jones from MLJTrust: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” With this question, the notorious persecutor Saul had a face to face encounter with Jesus. Listen as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones recounts this divine confrontation that transformed an enemy of the cross into a child of God. When culture screams for autonomy from God, the grace of God rips away the mask of cultural Christianity. Now, as one who is forgiven and at peace with our Savior, the Christian learns to be silent, to listen and to submit to Christ’s will. No one is saved as a family or a nation, but only an individual can be spared from the wrath of God by the conviction of sin and the forgiveness of the Savior.

Following the Light of the World – Things Unseen with Sinclair B. Ferguson

17 Sep 2024 Michael A

Until we come to saving faith in Christ, we remain lost in the darkness of sin and condemnation. Today, Sinclair Ferguson reflects on the verses of Scripture that were instrumental in opening his eyes to the light of the world. [Ferguson talks about personal realizations that every born-again Christian experiences during his / her pilgrimage; these are worked in us by the Spirit via the word.]

7 New Age Deceptions infiltrating the Church and deceiving some Christians – Doreen Virtue

6 Aug 2024 Michael A

Doreen had a lot to say about the following 7 New Age deceptions that are infiltrating the church. In particular, her assessment of The Chosen: she showed a very brief clip that conveyed how wrongly this show presents Jesus, it began 2 minutes and 30 seconds in. HER 7 POINTS ARE AS FOLLOWS: Mark and avoid Jesus Calling books; Mark and avoid The Chosen; Mark and avoid all forms of Yoga; Mark and avoid the Enneagram; Mark and avoid contemplative practices; Mark and Avoid Deliverance Ministries and Self-Deliverance; and finally, Mark and Avoid False Prophets.

Deceitfulness of the Heart – Jeremiah 17:9 – Archibald Alexander – Part 3 of 3

21 Jul 2024 Michael A

Parts 1 and 2 of this three-part series treated the deceitful imaginations of the heart; this part consists of the ‘Reflections’ of Alexander as he closed the chapter. The text from his book is directly under the video so that readers might follow along with the video reader if they desire to do so. I think that is a good way to consider the weighty material Alexander covers in his study of Jeremiah 17:9.

I Am Sure I Cannot Endure To The End – John Newton

19 Jul 2024 Michael A

This post contains a 4-minute devotional from the letters of John Newton. Therein, I think that, Newton describes a biblical Christian walk. Newton’s conception of his Christian walk is very different than the conceptions of modern Christians. It seems to me that the major difference is that moderns remain more in their own strength than in the Lord’s.

Deceitfulness of the Heart – Jeremiah 17:9 – Archibald Alexander – Part 2 of 3

17 Jul 2024 Michael A

The topic of this post is part 2 of chapter 12 from Archibald Alexander’s book: Practical Sermons to be read in Families and Social Meetings. His topic derives from, Jermiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I think is it important to understand this foundational biblical concept from Jeremiah’s writings because it is how the whole of scripture speaks of mankind. But you may not realize that if you attend a mainline Christian church, unless, of course, you are a student of the Bible.

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