Spurgeon - Morning and Evening (December 1)

Morning



Evening

An Ignorant, Profane, Soul-flattering Clergy

A Puritan Audio Devotional by Thomas Brooks
[gracegems.org]

Quotes about the Bible (Part 6)

"Whatever view of the Bible you take, if you are to be in any way obedient to the Bible you cannot make the Bible itself the centre or focus of your attention. It points away from itself. From the Christian point of view, the centre of attention can never be merely the Bible; it must always be Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus the Messiah, Jesus the Lord of the World."
Tom Wright
Bishop of Durham and Vice-President of The Bible Society

"God's Word, which is all about Jesus Christ, can do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. We are sinful and unable to remedy our condition, but from God comes the incredible, limitless power that can transform our lives."
John MacArthur
Truth for Today, 2001

ACLU

Recently, I read an article about the American Civil Liberties Union a.k.a. ACLU regarding its disregard for the moral fabric woven by America's forefathers. It's obviously not an ACLU publication, written with a Christian slant, so I decided to check out ACLU's website and see for myself. I found their position on freedom of expression on this page: http://www.aclu.org/freespeech/gen/11178pub19970102.html

You may read it yourself but if you don't have the time, I've highlighted a few things that may be telling (my commentary found in parentheses)...

• Finally, in 1969, in Brandenberg v. Ohio, the Supreme Court struck down the conviction of a Ku Klux Klan member, and established a new standard: Speech can be suppressed only if it is intended, and likely to produce, "imminent lawless action." (is it possible that this may be too late?) Otherwise, even speech that advocates violence is protected. The Brandenberg standard prevails today.
  

• The ACLU has often been at the center of controversy for defending the free speech rights of groups that spew hate, such as the Ku Klux Klan and the Nazis. But if only popular ideas were protected, we wouldn't need a First Amendment. History teaches that the first target of government repression is never the last. If we do not come to the defense of the free speech rights of the most unpopular among us, even if their views are antithetical to the very freedom the First Amendment stands for, then no one's liberty will be secure. In that sense, all First Amendment rights are "indivisible." (Is it just me, or does it sound like ACLU is ok with hate speech?) Censoring so-called hate speech also runs counter to the long-term interests of the most frequent victims of hate: racial, ethnic, religious and sexual minorities. We should not give the government the power to decide which opinions are hateful, for history has taught us that government is more apt to use this power to prosecute minorities than to protect them. As one federal judge has put it, tolerating hateful speech is "the best protection we have against any Nazi-type regime in this country." (please explain this reasoning to me, because I thought it was the toleration of hateful speech that led to the Holocaust.)
  

• Legally "obscene" material has historically been excluded from First Amendment protection. Unfortunately, the relatively narrow obscenity exception, described below, has been abused by government authorities and private pressure groups...the fact is, the obscenity exception to the First Amendment is highly subjective and practically invites government abuse. (instead of allowing government to ban questionable obscene material, ACLU would rather allow it all.)

The third bullet point leads to this letter written by ACLU to two judges regarding the Child Obscenity and Pornography Prevention Act of 2002:
http://www.aclu.org/privacy/speech/14793leg20020508.html

This is the conclusion of the letter:

• Government can and should outlaw the abuse of children. However, it cannot ban speech simply because that speech may encourage unlawful acts...The right to think is the beginning of freedom, and speech must be protected from the government because speech is the beginning of thought.

Again, the spirit of ACLU is to allow anything, good or bad, until someone gets provably hurt. Isn't child pornography, real or virtual or in whatever form, just plain wrong? Is this questionable morality? One reason for their fight for freedom seem to stem from a distrust of government, which is understandable and even admirable. We need to check and hold the "powers that be" accountable. Yet, in ACLU's fight for freedom for the people, they have ironically taken away the rights and freedom of those who hold certain moral convictions. They have taken away the right and freedom to enjoy a safe, decent, righteous, virtuous, pure, and moral society. They have, in effect, become a "power that be", defining what is good and right for all people, allowing all sorts of misbehavior and immorality for the sake of certain "freedoms".

ACLU's intentions may be good, but their ideology is fatally misguided. The result of a nation that neither honors God nor cherish His commandments, which are intended for our good, is destruction. Whether it comes by slow moral decay or quick severe judgment, God's blessing and protection on this land will be removed, unless we, as a nation repent of our disobedience to His Word. Repent and turn to Christ while there is still time, while His hand of mercy is still upon you.

Quotes about the Bible (Part 5)

"All that I am I owe to Jesus Christ, revealed to me in His divine book."
David Livingstone (1813-1873)
Scottish Doctor, Missionary and Explorer of Africa

"God the Father is the giver of Holy Scripture; God the Son is the theme of Holy Scripture; and God the Spirit is the author, authenticator, and interpreter of Holy Scripture."
James I. Packer
British Evangelical Theologian and Writer

Perspective

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Sunday, Nov. 23, 2008 - A post from my co-worker and sister in Christ, Freda Tao:
"Miss you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ... with tears in my eyes, I have to share a sad news.. Bentley has earned his wings tonight at 7:45pm with Chris & Austin, Dan and I . .. and also grandpa & grandma (my parents).... by his side. I believed he's now having fun again in heaven...

Bentley will be forever missed... but it's a great comfort to know that he's now in a much better place with Jesus. During his 3 months & 22 days of battle, I kept thinking about why.... All I have thought about is he must have a very important job from God. I always told Chris & Austin that Bentley is Jesus' 'spykid'. He has a mission for Jesus... and I think his mission is to show daddy how much God is in control and it's good to believe & trust in God. After all these years... Dan finally accepted Jesus into his heart last night... in front of family and pastor ... & Bentley.

"Good job! Bentley!"... I'm just so proud of you...
Thank you everyone for your support & cheers...
More information about the viewing & service will be announce soon..."

http://www.icouldbeyourchild.org/liftedup.htm
(Bentley's picture is at the very bottom...)

I followed Freda and her family's struggle and hardship through her posts on Xanga since August. This is an excerpt from August 3: "Bentley is trying to calm himself down & try to deal with his weakness & fear.... But he knows Jesus loves him. Pray for Bentley... my very special boy... Just found out he had a tumor in his brain." Through this difficulty, it's natural for us to doubt that God is in control. We often ask why bad things happen to good people. But through these struggles, God willing, we see that there exists something greater, greater than we can wrap our minds around. He has granted Freda to see the situation from a greater perspective. Instead of cursing God, she blesses Him because a greater good arose from a tragic situation.

Our loving Father will have His way at the end of it all. That is why we benefit from surrendering to Him. At the end of it all, it is God who will receive all the glory, honor, and praise. It's to this end that we live and breathe. It's to this end that God inspired Paul to write in 1 Corinthians 10, "Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

Be encouraged, brothers and sisters, that we who are in Christ are merely passing through this present world, for our citizenship is in Heaven. Our trials and hardships are temporary, as is the desires of this world, so keep your minds on things above, not on things below. With the limited time that we have here, let's do all to the glory of God, blessing others and leading them to the living Christ, knowing that His name will be praised forever and ever.

Paul Washer Project

S.M. Lockridge - That's My King!

Quotes about the Bible (Part 4)

"The Scriptures were not given to increase our knowledge but to change our lives."
Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899)
American Evangelist and Founder of Bible Institute

"An honest man with an open Bible and a pad and pencil is sure to find out what is wrong with him very quickly."
A.W. Tozer (Aiden Wilson Tozer) (1897-1963)
American Pastor and Writer

allforthegloryofChrist.blogspot.com

My Testimony

Welcome to my blog site, "All for the Glory of Christ". This blog is dedicated to the One who saved my soul from eternal damnation and who has given me a new heart, causing me to be born again to see the glorious realities of God and of heavenly things. Jesus Christ alone is worthy to be called the King of kings and Lord of lords for He is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to God, the Father, except through Him.

I have lived a life of rebellion against God, seeking my own pleasures and selfish desires instead of His. It was at the turn of the millennium that God penetrated my heart and caused me to see the depravity and wretchedness of my soul. I stood condemned before the Holy, Righteous, and Almighty God. Guilty I stood, and I could only plead for mercy. I needed a Savior. I pleaded my case and called out into the chambers of eternity, "Son of God, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who has come to take away the sins of the world, save my wretched soul!" And God, in his enduring mercy, accepted my plea, forgave, redeemed, and justified me by the infinitely precious blood of Jesus Christ.

12 years later, He still faithfully sustains me, purifying my soul daily, causing me to see and understand all things in the light of truth and love. Praise the Lord! My life and likewise this blog, is an expression of the deep gratitude and awe that I have of my Savior, my King, my God.

I started allforthegloryofChrist.blogspot.com February 2008. I post anything that is meaningful to me, from personal journal entries and devotionals by C.H. Spurgeon to photos and videos that speak of the glorious gospel of Christ to everything else in between.

What You'll Find on AllforthegloryofChrist.blogspot.com

• If you look at the right side of the screen, you'll see Blog Archive. Click on the months to access archived posts.
  
• Right below that is my profile which lists my email address, personal info, and interests.
  
• Below that are my recommended websites. There are many valuable resources in each one.
• Below that are the blogs that I regularly read.
  
• Below that is the verse of the day, in English and in Spanish
• Below that are two Bible searches. Type in a keyword or passage in the Bible and the results from Logos or Bible Gateway will appear in a new window.
  
• Below that are labels, categorized from all the posts on the blog.
• At the bottom of the page, you'll find a collection of files that can be downloaded. They range from PowerPoint Bible Studies that I created to articles, books, sermons, mp3s, and posters that tell of the gospel of Christ.
• Below the files are streaming Sermon Jams. Play each one to hear a Christ-exalting message.
  
• If you want to search for something specific, there's a search box on the top left corner of the page.
  

Grace and peace to all who love and serve Him -- continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven. AMEN.

Dream and Revelation

Recently, my uncle Ed, executive director of Asian Ministries Connection, emailed me and asked if I wanted to serve as editor of AMC's newsletter. Last year, I helped my uncle by creating a flyer for one of their annual conferences. I don't know what this job entails but pray that God will direct me. Anyway, Uncle Ed reminded me of a letter titled "Dream and Revelation" that I sent to him on December 31, 2007. I found it stashed away in one of my folders and reread it. I will post it here in hope that it may edify you, reminding you that God is still speaking and working in the lives of His children. I know that I needed that reminder, as it seems at times that God is silent regarding spiritual things. I must not lean on my own timing and understanding, but on God's alone.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Friends and Family,

I know I haven't contacted some of you for months and even years, but I wanted to share this email that I sent out to my home church. As this is the last day of 2007, I believe that the Day of the Lord is even closer at hand, and for those who are in Christ, who have been born of the Spirit, stay strong and faithful in and to the Lord. Pray that the Spirit move mightily as He wills to bring about a regenerating work in the hearts of those who do not believe...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

I had a terrible dream last night. I was the target of an adversary whose life purpose was to pursue and torture me. In one episode, he was in the distance in an abandoned warehouse. He threw a knife, not at me, but at the floor or the nearby wall. I watched as the knife ricocheted off the floor, walls, ceiling, boxes, and all this time, I knew it was going to hit me. I ran anyway. There may be a chance to dodge the knife if I sharply cut to the left, then to the right. A few moments later, I was hit. This was only one form of torture. In the dream, no matter my ingenuity to escape the adversary, I failed to overcome. He always got me. I don't remember if it was in my dream, or the moments of my awakening, but I was finally aware of the hopeless situation. Suddenly I cried out to the Lord Jesus Christ for help and protection. "The Lord rebuke you Satan! By the blood of the Lamb, flee from me! You have been conquered and the Lord is victorious over you!" Could this be a glimpse of the picture John painted for us in Revelation 12?

"And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short! (Revelation 12:10-12 ESV)"

After that, there was a peace that transcended all understanding, and then I spent the entire morning seeking God and His guidance for me in this new year. I closed my eyes and prayed about so many things -- church, career, friends, marriage and singleness, issues of morality, and so on. I sought the will of God in all these things. "What does God want for me? What does God want me to do?" At one point, I shot up in bed and opened my eyes, and I heard the small still voice of God say, "You're missing the point. In all these things I will provide, but I want you to know and understand Me." It dawned on me. Could I be missing out on the most important thing in the midst of what seems like such a God-pleasing honorable prayer? What can be wrong about seeking God's will? Answer: The prayer was self-centered. It's as if God's giving me of commands to execute was more important than deep fellowship with Him. It is God who is the source of our peace, joy, and strength. One of my friends asked me this weekend, "What's the point of praying if God already knows all your thoughts and concerns?" Perhaps the prayer of all my concerns was only beneficial to me. Perhaps it will help me in the future when I see God answering those prayers. But I believe the real power of prayer is communing with Him, knowing Him, and understanding who He is. Psalm 84 is a beautiful reflection of this truth, that dwelling in the presence of the Lord is precious above all earthly things. Even if we spent our entire lives pursuing God to know Him and understand Him, we would only know <0.00000000000000001%>

And to top off these dreams and revelations, I checked my inbox today and received one new email. It's a subscription to Christ Notes - Weekly Wisdom, found here: http://www.christnotes.org/ww.php?d=2007-12-31

What precise correlation to the occurrences this morning! I'm amazed but not surprised that God ties everything together. I hope that some of you are inspired and that all of you will have the same heart and mind for God as we enter into this new year. Prepare to meet God in amazing new ways and let this testimony be a preview of things to come. May God bless and keep all of you who are in Christ.

Michael

Sing to the Lord, All the Earth!

Sing to the LORD, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and he is to be held in awe above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place.

Ascribe to the LORD, O clans of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him! Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth; yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, and let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!" Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth.

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! Say also: "Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather and deliver us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise. Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting!" Then all the people said, "Amen!" and praised the LORD.
(1 Chronicles 16:23-36 ESV)

Today, God filled my heart with songs of praise. I thank God for bringing me back to Calvary Chapel Pacific Coast. I thank God for men like Chris and Pastor Ron for encouraging me in the faith and praying that I would one day find my home church. God is faithful! "Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!" I leave you with three songs that played in my heart all day long.

True Love by Phil Wickham
Befriended by Matt Redman
Mighty to Save by Hillsong

The Gospel of John

most frequently occurring words in the Gospel of John
[generated by http://www.wordle.net]

John Piper on the Prosperity Gospel