tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86194471980167353852024-03-16T18:52:43.169+00:00Ulster ChristiansBrent Riggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17724993024634310186noreply@blogger.comBlogger479125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619447198016735385.post-85214928772048373042024-03-14T11:23:00.017+00:002024-03-14T11:29:41.615+00:00Omnipotent – Yet Prudent! Mark 3:9-12<p><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Text:
</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">“Come unto Me, all ye that labour and
are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in
heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”</span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Matthew 11:28-30.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Behold (look, and fully understand),
My servant shall deal prudently, He shall be exalted and extolled, and be very
high.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Isaiah 52:13. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">Good morning, prudent Christian!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">You, like the author, when Spirit-empowered and used of the Lord God to do some service to King Jesus Christ – have learned the lesson well, that it is most prudent to give God the glory, and to acknowledge at all times, His power at work.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">Praise God for prudent Christians who have served the Lord God without seeking to steal His glory for doing so!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“I
am the Vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same
bringeth forth much fruit: for (a conclusion) <b><i>without Me ye can do
nothing</i></b>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(John 15:5)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">In
today’s selected verses of our </span><b style="font-size: 14pt;">Marching In Mark</b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> series, we find the Lord
Jesus exercising Divine prudence instructing His disciples to procure a “…small
ship…”, for them to escape from the multitude, “…lest they should thong
Him.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">For He had healed many; insomuch
that they pressed upon Him for to touch Him as many as had plagues.”</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">(V.9-10)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The
Lord God is never the author of confusion, and instructs you and I and all His
‘church’ to perform our duties to Him in a manner that is at all times done,
“…decently and in order…”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“For
God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the
saints.”</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">(1 Corinthians 14:33)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“Let
all things be done decently (properly) and in order.”</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">(1 Corinthians 14:40)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Dictionary
Definition: Prudent – </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">(adjective)
cautious and wise in conduct; discreet; characterised by, behaving with,
showing, having or dictated by forethought… (The Chambers Dictionary, page
1326)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Using
what I have referred to as our ‘sanctified imagination’, we can paint a picture
of what was taking place at that time.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Great crowds from Galilee, Judaea; from Jerusalem and Idumaea; beyond
Jordan; and even from Tyre and Sidon had heard that Christ was come and was
performing wondrous miracles of healing; and delivering many from demon
possession.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Is it any wonder that these
multitudes had sought to bring their sick, diseased, and demon-tormented family
members and friends to Jesus to be healed?</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“For
He had healed many (not all!); insomuch that they pressed upon Him for to touch
Him, as many as had plagues.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">And unclean
spirits, when they saw Him, fell down before Him, and cried, saying, Thou art
the Son of God.”</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">(V.10-11)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The
Lord was, no doubt, swamped by this great thong of needy people, imagine the
scene, people pleading, crying, screaming out to be healed; screaming out for
the Lord to heal their loved ones and friends; even the very demons of Hell
were falling down before the Lord of all life, for all Hell knew that Jesus was
the Christ of God; God the Son, the Creator Lord of all things!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">All had to yield before the Almighty Lord of
all life.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Hallelujah!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Glory to the Lamb!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The scene was a scene of pure mayhem and uproar,
and amazement!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Therefore, the Lord Jesus
sent His disciples to procure a vessel to take Him and his group out of the
immediate area of confusion, and even charged the demons that they should not
make Him known.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“And
He straitly charged them (the unclean demons) that they should not make Him
known.” (V.12)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The
Lord Jesus, throughout His earthly ministry, never sought fame, or publicity, He
always acted with great Divine dignity, prudence; and humility.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What a Saviour/Lord!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Look
also at the enemies of Christ, what they were doing while observing all this
miraculous activity; all this Divine healing and putting souls at peace by the
Lord Jesus.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">For in doing so, we who seek
to follow and serve the risen Lord today shall be forewarned of similar danger,
hindrance, and ill-will.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">J.C.
Ryle Comments:</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“It is good for all
Christians to keep this before their minds. Wherever we go, and whatever we do,
let us remember that, like our Master, we are “watched.” The thought should
make us exercise a holy jealousy over all our conduct, that we may do nothing to
cause the enemy to blaspheme. It should make us diligent to avoid even the
“appearance of evil.” Above all, it should make us pray much, to be kept in our
tempers, tongues, and daily public demeanour. That Saviour who was “watched”
Himself, knows how to sympathize with His people, and to supply grace to help
in time of need.” <a name="_Hlk66195775"><b>(J.C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on
the Gospels 1816-1900)<o:p></o:p></b></a></span></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk66195775;"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">With all this
opposition, Spiritual warfare, in mind therefore, we 21</span><sup>st</sup><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Century
Christians – Bible-believing and born again – should be mightily encouraged by
the fact that even the “…unclean spirits…” knew exactly who the Lord Jesus
Christ was at that time.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Not only did
they know that Jesus was “…the Son of God…”; but because He was also God the
Son, with a Name that is above all names; they had to also “…fall down before
Him…” (V.11)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“Wherefore God also
hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a Name which is above every name.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">That at the Name of Jesus every knee should
bow, of things in Heaven…earth…things under the earth…to the glory of God the Father.”</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">(Phil. 2:9-11)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Thought: Jesus Christ: Omnipotent, yet remaining
prudent, Lord God Almighty.</span></b></p>Kenny McClintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475966979330652117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619447198016735385.post-22507660388033829282024-03-07T10:32:00.002+00:002024-03-07T10:40:08.431+00:00Good Or Evil? Mark 3:1-8<p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Text: “</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">And He (Jesus) saith unto them, ‘Is it lawful to do
good on the Sabbath days, or to do evil...?'”</span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Mark 3:4.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Good
morning, Spirit-led Christian!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Being
made free from the letter of the law by Christ Jesus, you walk at perfect
liberty in the paths of the Holy Spirit - happy indeed are you!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Your own personal, Spiritually regenerated,
conscience determines your actions, not some rigid list of dos and don’ts - and
that’s how the Lord God always intended it to be.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Amen! </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">(2 Corinthians 3:3-6)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The
letter of the Mosaic Law killeth, but the Spirit giveth life.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">But what exactly does such a Scripture verse
mean?</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">More precisely, what does it mean
for your Christian life and for mine? </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What
understanding of God’s Way does such a statement impart?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Our
Bible-reading for today furnishes us with the answer - learn the lesson and
live at liberty in God the Holy Spirit.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">(Romans 8:1-14) Amen.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“For
the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">(Romans 8:2)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">God
gave the Law to Moses for one profound reason - to show His called-out people
that they, by their own efforts, could not keep God’s Commandments; to reveal
unto their rebellious hearts how short humankind has fallen, and will always
fall, of God’s perfectly righteous standard, as manifested, exclusively, in the
Person of His Son Jesus Christ.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Since
Adam and Eve sinned through disobedience in Eden - all born in their fallen
image have fallen short of God’s glory; fallen short of the original glory God
gave His perfect human creation on the sixth day.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“...There
is none righteous, no not one...there is no difference; for all have sinned and
come short of the glory of God...”</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">(Romans 3:10;22-23) (Psalm 51:5) (Job 14:1-4)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">If
mankind were capable of keeping the Law of God, Christ would not have had to
suffer for us on Calvary’s Cross.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">It’s
as profoundly simple as that.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">(2
Corinthians 5:21) (John 3:16)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Once
regenerated, or born again of God above, in Christ Jesus, and through faith in
His Atonement at the Cross, we are <b><i>indwelt</i></b> by God the Holy Spirit, and He
guides us into all truth.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">(John 14:26)
(John 16:7-15)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Therefore,
we are no longer under bondage of the Law of Moses, we are led rather by the
Spirit of God, to do what pleases God, in Christ, according to His Word revealed
to us in our Bibles.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">(Romans 6:6-18)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“For
sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under
grace.” (Romans 6:14)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">By
faith we enter into co-Crucifixion with Christ on the Cross, that is, our old
sinful natures are nailed to Christ’s Cross by faith, and we seek to live in
newness of life by the power of God’s Spirit contained in the new nature God
gives us when we are saved.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">(John
14:16-17)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">This
does not mean we never sin again.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">But
WHEN we do sin, we immediately discern the weight of sin’s conviction and turn
from it to repentance and progressive sanctification.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Thus, we are indeed FREE!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Hallelujah!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">We now know the Truth (Christ Jesus) and the Truth makes us free.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What a Saviour!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What grace indeed!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">(John 8:32)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Our
anti-Christian enemies will always seek to find fault in us, and there are
plenty of faults to find in each of us.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">But there is no fault to be found in Christ Jesus, our Saviour/Lord.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">J.C.
Ryle Comments:</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.7pt; mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“These
verses show us our Lord again working a miracle. He heals a man in the
synagogue, “which had a withered hand.” Always about His Father’s business,
—always doing good, —doing it in the sight of enemies as well as of friends,
—such was the daily tenor of our Lord’s earthly ministry. And He “left us an
example that we should follow His steps.” (1 Peter 2: 21.) Blessed indeed are
those Christians who strive, however feebly, to imitate their Master!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.7pt; mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“Let us
observe in these verses, </span><b style="font-size: 14pt;"><i>how our Lord Jesus Christ was watched by His enemies.</i></b><i style="font-size: 14pt;">
</i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">We read that “they watched Him, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath
Day, that they might accuse Him.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0.15pt; mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“What a
melancholy proof we have here of the wickedness of human nature! It was the
Sabbath Day, when these things happened. It was in the synagogue, where men
were assembled to hear the word and worship God. Yet even on the day of God,
and at the time of worshipping God, these wretched formalists were plotting
mischief against our Lord. The very men who pretended to such strictness and
sanctity in little things, were full of malicious and angry thoughts in the
midst of the congregation. (Proverbs 5:14)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0.05pt; mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“Christ’s people must
not expect to fare better than their master. They are always watched by an
ill-natured and spiteful world. Their conduct is scanned with a keen and
jealous eye. Their ways are noted and diligently observed. They are marked men.
They can do nothing without the world noticing it. Their dress, their
expenditure, their employment of time, their conduct in all the relations of
life, are all rigidly and closely remarked. Their adversaries wait for their
halting, and if at any time they fall into an error, the ungodly rejoice.”</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><a name="_Hlk66112514" style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>(J.C. Ryle’s
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels 1816-1900)</b></a></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk66112514;"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Go to, then, Spirit-led
Christian.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">As the Lord leads, seek
always to do good and not evil.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Thought:
For Spirit-led believers – in a sense, there is no Law! (1 Timothy 1:9-11)</span></b></p>Kenny McClintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475966979330652117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619447198016735385.post-87449691689425145972024-02-29T11:02:00.003+00:002024-02-29T11:04:30.487+00:00Christ’s View of ‘Legalism’ Mark 2:18-28<p><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Text: </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">“…Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees
fast, but Thy disciples fast not?”</span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Mark 2:18.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“And the Pharisees said unto Him, Behold, why do they on
the sabbath day that which is not lawful?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Mark 2:24.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">Good morning, sinner
saved by God’s Grace!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">Unlike the
legalists, concerned more with the do’s and don’ts of humanistic religion than
being ‘born again’ of the Spirit of God, you have been made Eternally FREE
from all mere efforts of fallen flesh to obtain Eternal Salvation.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Yours is a Gospel of
DONE, rather than a list of rites that must be strictly performed before
Salvation is humanly achieved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
actually believe the cry of triumph from the Cross of Christ – “It is
FINISHED!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hallelujah!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All necessary for the Salvation of sinner’s
souls was once-for-all-time FINISHED, COMPLETED, by Christ at Calvary’s
Cross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hallelujah!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a Saviour!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“Not by works of
righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by
the washing of regeneration (being born again), and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
which He shed abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified
by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of Eternal
life.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Titus 3:5-7)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Sinners – you and I –
are saved by God’s Sovereign grace, or we are not saved at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fact!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We cannot convince ourselves of our own sin, for we are born naturally
selfish, proud, and self-righteous in sin; nor can we obtain, seek, or possess
the faith and repentance from sin necessary, in order to even think of
ourselves as sinners against God, or needing His Eternal Salvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The Salvation of
sinners like we, Spiritually dead in sin and trespasses, comes to us
exclusively by God’s working in us, ‘His people’, granting us His gifts of
faith and repentance, and calling us with His effectual calling to Salvation in
Christ alone.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“Which things also we
speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost
teacheth; comparing Spiritual things with Spiritual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>BUT the natural man (unsaved) receiveth not
the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can
he know them, because they are Spiritually discerned.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(1 Corinthians 2:13-14)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Faith in Christ and
repentance from sin are both gifts of God – given only to those whom He has
elected to save, from before the foundation of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we are not blessed with those two gifts
from our Sovereign Lord God – we can never be saved by humanistic works.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“For by grace (unmerited
favour from our Sovereign Lord God) are ye saved though faith; and that not of
yourselves (we cannot earn it, work towards it, our inherit it by human will):
it is the gift of God: not of works (human deeds, human will), lest any man
should boast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For we are His
workmanship, CREATED in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before
ordained (preordained) that we should walk in them.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Ephesians 2:8-10)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Legalism Defined: “</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Legalism: strict adherence to law; the doctrine that
Salvation depends on strict adherence to the law, as distinguished from the
doctrine of Salvation by grace (theology); the tendency to observe letter or
form rather than spirit, or to regard things from the point of view of law.
Legalist (noun): someone inclined to legalism; someone knowledgeable about the
law.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(The Chambers Dictionary, page
919)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><a name="_Hlk66194045"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The
late Free Presbyterian Pastor, Alan Cairns, defines </span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;">legalism as: “The dogma of Salvation by works, the
heresy that man must earn a place in Heaven by his personal righteousness…Neonomianism:
the theory that woks of obedience are a constituent part of saving faith,
rather than its natural fruit…As is often popularly expressed, ‘God has done
His part, now it is up to you to do your part.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the scheme of the Neonomian, ‘…this doing is the condition of
Salvation; it is not the fruit of the free gift of saving faith, Sovereignly
imparted by God to His elect.’” (Dictionary of Theological Terms, by Alan
Cairns, page 211)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">From verse 18, through
to verse 28 of our selected Scripture from Mark’s Gospel, the Scribes and
Pharisees revealed their total reliance on such legalism as strict conditions
for Salvation: Fasting, Do and Don’t Works; Sabbath Observance – are all set forth
in faithless opposition to the freedom of God’s grace being offered sinners by
the Lord Jesus Christ.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">J.C. Ryle Comments:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“How was it with the
Galatian Church? It is recorded in St. Paul’s epistle. Men wished in that
Church to reconcile Judaism with Christianity, and to circumcise as well as
baptize. They endeavoured to keep alive the law of ceremonies and ordinances,
and to place it side by side with the Gospel of Christ. In fact, they would
fain have put the “new wine into old bottles.” And in so doing they greatly
erred.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“How was it with the
early Christian Church, after the apostles were dead? We have it recorded in
the pages of Church history. Some tried to make the Gospel more acceptable by
mingling it with Platonic philosophy. Some laboured to recommend it to the heathen
by borrowing forms, processions, and vestments from the temples of heathen
gods. In short, they “sewed the new patch on the old garment.” And in so doing
they scattered and broadcast the seeds of enormous evil. They paved the way for
the whole Romish apostasy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“How is it with many
professing Christians in the present day? We have only to look around us and
see. There are thousands who are trying to reconcile the service of Christ and
the service of the world, to have the name of Christian and yet live the life
of the ungodly, —to keep in with the servants of pleasure and sin, and yet be
the followers of the crucified Jesus at the same time. In a word, they are
trying to enjoy the “new wine,” and yet to cling to the “old bottles.” They
will find one day that they have attempted that which cannot be done.” <a name="_Hlk66106883"><b>(J.C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the Gospels
1816-1900)</b></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Thought:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christ came to set us free from sin by His
free grace – let us not seek to drink His new wine from the old bottles of
humanistic legalism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Truth has set
us free!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Kenny McClintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475966979330652117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619447198016735385.post-19349532416647446392024-02-27T20:02:00.001+00:002024-02-27T20:02:29.171+00:00Please Note: Change in Delivery of Bible Lessons: Future Weekly Bible Lessons will be On Website/Blog Only.<p> <b>27/2/24</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Dear Christian Recipients</b> of my weekly Bible Lesson for over the past almost 30 years - from this date, I find I am no longer able <b>technologically</b>, and I must confess, <b>mentally</b>, to send the weekly Bible Expositions in bulk emails straight into your inboxes via email. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I know many of you have been faithful recipients of my weekly Scriptural messages from God's Word, and have enjoyed having me deliver them to you over the years as members of the <b>Ulster Christians Ministry</b> international fellowship; but I know you shall remain faithful in your studies of God's Word, by simply going on my website and reading the weekly Bible Lessons I continue to put on there, as the Lord wills and allows.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I implore you to do so, "studying to prove yourselves workmen/workwomen that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15)</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">May the Lord God Whom we love and seek to serve in mature fellowship together, grant each of you, worldwide, a continued desire, a hunger, for the 'meat' of God's Word, as well as the vital 'milk' found on my website/Blog <b>www.ulsterchristians.org </b>.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Pray for me, beloved in Christ, and be assured my dear wife and I shall be praying for each of you. Onward and upward, born again, Bible-believing saints of Christ Jesus. All glory to His Holy Name! (1 John 4:7-8) We have the Victory in Christ. Amen.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Calvary love and great grace,</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dr C.K. McClinton</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ulster Christians</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">www.ulsterchristians.org </span></p>Kenny McClintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475966979330652117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619447198016735385.post-7208902165027110482024-02-22T10:34:00.006+00:002024-02-22T10:34:46.726+00:00Important SCAM notice<p> <span style="font-size: medium;">22/2/24</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><span style="font-family: times;"><b>WARNING TO ALL RECIPIENTS OF THE WEEKLY BIBLE LESSON:</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Dear Recipient of my weekly Bible Lesson - Please ignore any bogus messages purporting to come from my accounts asking you to send money, or buy Apple Cards, or any other nonsense. </span> </p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><span style="font-family: times;">I will NEVER ask any recipient for money for any reason. I have nothing for sale on my sites. </span> </p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><span style="font-family: times;">I have within the past two days been in some manner 'hacked' by a Scammer with the email address <b>hiamrod@gmail.com, </b>asking Recipients to buy Apple Gift Cards (whatever they are!) for someone with cancer. Please report any such internet activity to the authorities concerned with such 'hacking scams', and block the sender from your computer/telephones.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Sorry for any inconvenience or annoyance, I am placing this incident in the hands of the police.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Thank you. The Lord is not mocked by such anti-Christian criminality. Praise His Name!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Dr C.K. McClinton</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Ulster Christians</span></p></blockquote><p> www.ulsterchristians.org </p>Kenny McClintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475966979330652117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619447198016735385.post-41058896361598794822024-02-21T14:33:00.003+00:002024-02-21T14:37:00.018+00:00Jesus Only Saves Sinners! Mark 2:13-17<p><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Text:
</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">“…They that are whole have no need of
the physician, but they that are sick: <i><b>I came not to call the righteous, but
sinners to repentance."</b></i></span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">Mark 2:17.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">Good
morning, redeemed sinner!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">Every true and
genuine Christian has a shared experience absolutely necessary to ever being
graciously saved by the Lord Jesus Christ – we must ALL first confess that we
have been, are, and shall always be Hell-deserving SINNERS. Fact!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“…For
there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God
(the absolute righteous Holiness of Christ Himself!).”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Romans 3:22-23)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Our
selected passage for <b>Marching In Mark’s Gospel</b> today, centres primarily on what
we might refer to as ‘the calling to discipleship of the tax-collector, Levi’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(V.14)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Tradition
has it that Levi’s name was changed later, probably by the Lord Jesus Himself,
to Matthew, the writer of Matthews Gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, one thing we know for absolute certain is that, the one
necessary prior requirement for Levi’s calling, was the fact that he was a
sinner, called to full repentance from his sin; repentance that was immediately
followed by a ministry of discipleship in the close fellowship of the Lord
Jesus Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Genuine
repentance is a two-way process: in Christian repentance, we turn a full 180%
away from following hard after selfish-sin; to a full committed following of
the Lord Jesus Christ and His Holiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The old life ends, the new life in Christ commences, and never ends.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“Therefore,
if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed (or are
continually passing) away; behold (look, and fully understand), all things are
become (or are continually becoming) new.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And all things are of God, Who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus
Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God
was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their
trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the Word of
reconciliation.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(2 Corinthians 5:17-19)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Levi,
the one-time vile and despised Tax-Collector, was called to follow Christ;
given a new name; filled with God the Spirit; and immediately started to serve
his Master and Lord in the ‘ministry of reconciliation’ – reconciling sinful
men and women to a thrice Holy Lord God, though man’s one Mediator, Jesus
Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Preaching/teaching
the Gospel of Christ and Him Crucified for sinners is the ONLY ‘ministry of
reconciliation’ – an Eternal reconciliation between sinful mankind and a Holy
Lord God, through the Atonement Sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Praise His Holy Name!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“Now
then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we
pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For He (God the Father) hath made Him (God
the Son) to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we (sinners) might be made the
righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:20-21)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">J.C.
Ryle Comments: <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“The person who is
called Levi, at the beginning of this passage, is the same person who is called
Matthew in the first of the four Gospels. Let us not forget this. It is no less
than an apostle and an evangelist, whose early history is now before our eyes.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">“</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">We learn from these verses, <b><i>the power of Christ
to call men out from the world, and make them His disciples.</i></b><i> </i>We
read that he said to Levi, when “sitting at the receipt of custom, Follow me.”
And at once “he arose and followed him.” From a publican he became an apostle,
and a writer of the first book in that New Testament, which is now known all
over the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“This is a truth of
deep importance. Without a divine call no one can be saved. We are all so sunk
in sin, and so wedded to the world, that we should never turn to God and seek
salvation, unless He first called us by His grace. God must speak to our hearts
by His Spirit, before we shall ever speak to Him. Those who are sons of God,
says the 17th Article, are “called according to God’s purpose by His Spirit
working in due season.” Now how blessed is the thought that this calling of
sinners is committed to so gracious a Saviour as Christ!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“When the Lord Jesus
calls a sinner to be His servant, He acts as a Sovereign; but He acts with
infinite mercy. He often chooses those who seem most unlikely to do His will,
and furthest off from His kingdom. He draws them to Himself with almighty
power, breaks the chains of old habits and customs, and makes them new
creatures. As the loadstone attracts the iron, and the Southwind softens the
frozen ground, so does Christ’s calling draw sinners out from the world, and
melt the hardest heart. “The voice of the Lord is mighty in operation.” Blessed
are they, who, when they hear it, harden not their hearts!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“We ought never to
despair entirely of anyone’s salvation, when we read this passage of
Scripture. He who called Levi, still lives and still works. The age of miracles
is not yet past.” <a name="_Hlk66014291"><b>(J.C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on
the Gospels 1816-1900)</b></a><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“Know ye not that the
unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor
idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate (homosexual), nor abusers of
themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor
revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the Kingdom of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And such were some of you: but ye are washed,
but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and
by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">By this verse from
Paul’s writing to the Corinthian church, we see that, like the reviled
Tax-collector, Levi, you and I were also reviled sinners, living far from our
Holy Lord God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the grace of God
in Christ called us out of our darkness and sin, and gloriously redeemed us by
Christ’s precious and sinless Blood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thank God He saves sinners like we!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Thought: The only
way to become Holy saints, is by admitting that we are vile sinners.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Kenny McClintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475966979330652117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619447198016735385.post-33676412789673996312024-02-15T11:01:00.000+00:002024-02-15T11:01:32.419+00:00God’s Forgiveness Mark 2:1-12<p><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Text:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> “But there were certain of the scribes sitting there,
and reasoning in their hearts...who can forgive sins but God only?”</span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Mark 2:7.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Good
morning, forgiven Christian!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being
justified by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and in His Atonement for us at the
Cross, we have perfect peace with God; that peace emanates from having one’s
sins forgiven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hallelujah!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peace with God Almighty!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Therefore,
being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ...”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Romans 5:1) (Isaiah
43:25-26)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Of
all sicknesses, infirmities, and diseases - sin against God is by far the most
deadly and dangerous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For God hates even “...the garment spotted by
the flesh...” of man/womankind’s sinful nature. (Jude 23) (James 1:27) (Joshua
24:14-22) (Zechariah 3:1-4)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">God’s
eyes are so infinitely pure and Holy that He cannot look upon sin, in any of
its vile manifestations, without punishing the sinner for his/her
iniquities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Habakkuk 1:12-13) (Psalm
119:102-104)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Our
filthy, daily, failings and sins took the pure and priceless Jesus to
Golgotha’s Hill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus, to remain a Holy
Lord God, God is bound by His own Holiness to punish every sin committed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands
of the Living God with sin on one’s heart and hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, we who hear the Gospel message are not
without hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Praise God!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is gracious indeed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Hebrews 10:30-31) (Ephesians 2:11-19)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Today’s
Bible reading reveals three main principles of Christian faith and practice:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b>(a)</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus loves faith;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b>(b)</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus hates sin;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b>(c)</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus heals sinners.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Jesus
Loves Faith:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> (V.5) Jesus loves to see
faith in us - for it is His gift to us, and without faith it is impossible to
please God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Ephesians 2:8-9) (Hebrews
11:1;6)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Jesus
saw their faith in practical action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>True faith always inspires worthy actions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Even
so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(James 2:17)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Jesus
Hates Sin:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> (V.5) Christ, confronted
by five faithful men, immediately saw their plight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, ‘...man looketh on the outward
appearance, and God looketh on the heart.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(1
Samuel 16:7)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Jesus
hated the man’s disease, but He hated his sin all the more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The man’s disease would kill his body, but
his sin would damn his soul to an Eternity of separation from God’s Presence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus hates sin, and immediately forgave the
man his trespasses and sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
creature can only sin, in the primary sense, against his/her Creator God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore, only God can forgive sins!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s ironic, but even the otherwise
unbelieving Pharisees/Scribes knew this much truth!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(John 8:32)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Jesus
Heals Sinners: (</span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Vs.10-12) Disease,
thorns, and sweat are the fruit of God’s Curse against sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know this from our reading of Genesis
3:16-19.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Therefore,
as our passage reveals, once Christ forgave the man’s sins - revealing He was,
is, and always shall be God - He loved the man enough to also heal his disease
because it was His own sovereign will to do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Ephesians 1:11)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">J.C.
Ryle Comments:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“We see, in the last
place, in these verses, <b><i>the priestly power of forgiving sins, which is
possessed by our Lord Jesus Christ.<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“We read that our Lord
said to the sick of the palsy, “Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.” He said these
words with a meaning. He knew the hearts of the Scribes by whom He was
surrounded. He intended to show them that He laid claim to be the true High
Priest, and to have the power of absolving sinners, though at present the claim
was seldom put forward. But that He had the power He told them expressly. He
says, “The Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins.” In saying “thy sins
be forgiven thee,” He had only exercised His rightful office.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Let us consider how
great must be the authority of Him, who has the power to forgive sins! This is
the thing that none can do but God. No angel in heaven, no man upon earth, no
church in council, no minister of any denomination, can take away from the sinner’s
conscience the load of guilt, and give him<u> </u>peace with God. They may
point to the fountain open for all sin. They may declare with authority whose
sins God is willing to forgive. But they cannot absolve by their own authority.
They cannot put away transgressions. This is the peculiar prerogative of God,
and a prerogative which He has put in the hands of His Son Jesus Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Let us think for a
moment how great a blessing it is, that Jesus is our great High Priest, and
that we know where to go for absolution! We must have a Priest and a sacrifice
between ourselves and God. Conscience demands an atonement for our many sins.
God’s holiness makes it absolutely needful. Without an atoning Priest there can
be no peace of soul. Jesus Christ is the very Priest that we need, mighty to
forgive and pardon, tender-hearted and willing to save.”<b> (J.C. Ryle’s
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels 1816-1900)<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">It
is not always God’s will to immediately heal folk who suffer from disease, yet
all who are saved have been healed from the infinitely more fatal disease of
sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christ heals sinner’s souls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hallelujah!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What a Saviour!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Thought:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When one sins against God, God ALONE can
forgive that sin.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Kenny McClintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475966979330652117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619447198016735385.post-46279711788092397722024-02-07T12:26:00.000+00:002024-02-07T12:26:21.185+00:00The Power of Almighty Jesus! Mark 1:40-45<p><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Text: “</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All
power is given unto Me in Heaven and in earth.”</span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 2.0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Matthew 28:18.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 2.0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 2.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Good morning, weak, sickly,
bereaved, and despairing Christian!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
any of these words describe you and I today – there is good news in this
morning’s </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Marching In Mark’s Gospel</span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Read
on, and receive extra faith and grace to continue in the service of Christ
Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 2.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 2.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The Healing of the Leper: (Vs.40-45) Leprosy</span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> was one of the most feared
diseases to contract in Gospel times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
one caught this deadly illness, one could neither hope to live, or live-in
community with other people – the leper was a complete outcast, contagious with
disease, and condemned as ‘religiously and socially UNCLEAN’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the man that came to King Jesus
Christ to ‘worship’ Him, saying, “Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me
clean.” (V.40)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 2.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 2.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Use your ‘sanctified
imagination’ for a moment, beloved Reader – SEE the scene set before us here;
FEEL the hopelessness of this wretched man; EXPERIENCE to some degree, the
impossibility of his pathetic request of the Lord God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 2.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 2.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Now, SEE, FEEL, and
EXPERIENCE the power and ecstatic joy of the Master’s response and answer to
the leper’s plea: “And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth His hand, and
touched him (unthinkable action!), and saith unto him, I will: be thou clean.”
(V.41) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 2.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 2.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“And as soon as He had
spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.” (V.42)
Hallelujah!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The power of Almighty Jesus!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 2.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 2.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">J.C. Ryle Comments:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: .2pt; mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Let us
try to realize, in the first place, <b><i>the dreadful nature of the disease
which Jesus cured.<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Leprosy is a complaint
of which we know little or nothing in our northern climate. In Bible lands it
is far more common. It is a disease which is utterly incurable. It is no mere
skin affection, as some ignorantly suppose. It is a radical disease of the whole
man. It attacks, not merely the skin, but the blood, the flesh, and the bones,
until the unhappy patient begins to lose his extremities, and to rot by inches.
—Let us remember beside this, that, amongst the Jews, the leper was reckoned
unclean, and was cut off from the congregation of Israel and the ordinances of
religion. He was obliged to dwell in a separate house. None might touch him or
minister to him. Let us remember all this, and then we may have some idea of
the remarkable wretchedness of a leprous person. To use the words of Aaron,
when he interceded for Miriam, she was “as one dead, of whom the flesh is half
consumed.” (Numbers 12:12)<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><a name="_Hlk64990533"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">(J.C.
Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the Gospels 1816-1900)<o:p></o:p></span></b></a></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk64990533;"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 1.0pt; mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The
Leper’s Approach:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let us note first the attitude of worship,
and the sincere words of this poor leper, for they are vital to his receiving
any healing or compassion from the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>First of all, we clearly see the leper’s attitude of reverence and
worship, as, beseeching Christ, he came, “…kneeling down to Him, and saying
unto Him, If Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.” (V.40)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 1.0pt; mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 1.0pt; mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The
Leper’s Faith:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His reverence to Christ Jesus, evidenced in
his humbled attitude, was mixed with that powerful ingredient of FAITH, the
free gift of God’s grace to ‘His people’; a gift without which no one can be
saved; and no one can ever hope to have anything of miraculous content from the
Living Lord God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of
things not seen…But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that
cometh to God must believe that He is (exists!), and that He is a rewarder of
them that diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:1; 6)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should
boast.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Ephesians 2:8-9)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">J.C. Ryle Comments:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Let us learn, in the
second place, from these verses, <b><i>the wondrous and almighty power of the
Lord Jesus Christ.</i></b></span><b><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: .25pt; mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: .25pt; mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“We are
told that the unhappy leper came to our Lord, “beseeching Him, and kneeling
down,” and saying, “If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.” We are told that
Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand and touched him, and said to
him, “I will, be thou clean.” At once the cure was affected. That very instant
the deadly plague departed from the poor sufferer, and he was healed. It is but
a word, and a touch, and there stands before our Lord, not a leper, but a sound
and healthy man.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Who can conceive the
greatness of the change in the feelings of this leper, when he found himself
healed? The morning sun rose upon him, a miserable being, more dead than alive,
his whole frame a mass of sores and corruption, his very existence a burden.
The evening sun saw him full of hope and joy, free from pain, and fit for the
society of his fellow-men. Surely the change must have been like life from the
dead.” <a name="_Hlk64993035"><b>(J.C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the
Gospels 1816-1900)<o:p></o:p></b></a></span></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk64993035;"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Following
this Divine manifestation of the Almighty power of Christ Jesus, we find what,
in my humble and personal opinion, was a task given the cleansed leper that I
personally would find impossible to obey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Lord Jesus said unto him: “See that thou say nothing to any man…”,
concerning the miracle performed upon him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Can you imagine it, Reader?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Trying for a moment to keep quiet about such a life-changing event?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you and I level blame at this poor healed
man for immediately, “…blazing abroad the matter…”? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Thought:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>If men and
women getting saved by Christ today would only be as instant in, “…publishing
it much…” to the greater glory of our beloved Saviour, Jesus Christ.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>Kenny McClintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475966979330652117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619447198016735385.post-78720357381606243132024-02-01T12:40:00.000+00:002024-02-01T12:40:52.906+00:00God Does Not Heal Everybody! Mark 1:32-39<p><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Text: </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">“And He healed <b>many</b> that were sick of divers
diseases, and cast out <b>many</b> devils; and suffered not the devils to
speak, because they knew Him.”</span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Mark 1:34.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“And they were offended in Him. But Jesus said unto them, A
prophet is not without honour, save in His own country, and in His own
house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And He did not <b>many</b> mighty
works there because of their unbelief.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Matthew
13:57-58.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Good morning, dear ill
Christian!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So often you have heard of
the risen Jesus Christ Who is endowed, as the Son of God, with all power and
all authority, over all things – and furthermore, you and I fully believe this
truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, your illness does not
receive healing, and neither does mine, no matter how much you and I, and the
church group have prayed for such a healing – and this fact has sometimes been
permitted to detract from our most Holy faith in the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Please do not let this
situation cause us to doubt, or turn away from the One Who has saved our
never-dying souls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s will is a
Sovereign will, and His will shall be done at all times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">It is not taught in
Scriptures, or recorded in the historical evidence of church history – that the
Lord God heals, or delivers, everybody.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">We who are not healed,
must still trust in God’s will, for when God’s Sovereign will is done – you and
I, and every other unhealed Christian believer, are fully assured of the very
best Eternal outcome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hallelujah!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Though He slay me, yet
will I trust in Him: but I will maintain my own ways before Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also shall be my Salvation: for an
hypocrite shall not stand before Him.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Job 13:15-16)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Verse thirty-two of our
selected Bible passage for today, informs us of the fact that, “…they brought
unto Him ALL that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, Scripture does NOT record the fact
that Christ Jesus actually healed them all!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God, the Holy Spirit, the Divine inspiration of all sixty-six canonical
(accepted as legitimate, orthodox Scripture) books of our KJV Bible, inspires
precise truth to be written by chosen writers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thus, while God inspires His writers to inform us that the people
brought ALL needing healing before Christ – He is also most precise to reveal
unto us that the Lord Jesus, of all that were brought before him for healing,
only actually healed “…many…” from among them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“And at even when the
sun did set, they brought unto Him <b>all</b> that were diseased, and them that
were possessed with devils.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(V.32)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Yet, we see what
happened when all this group of sick and possessed people came to Christ – some
were healed; some were delivered from demon possession – but not ALL!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“And He healed <b>MANY</b>
that were sick of divers (various) diseases, and cast out <b>MANY</b> devils;
and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew Him.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(V.34)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The Sovereign Lord
Jesus in this Gospel account of Mark, is clearly seen exercising His Sovereign
will towards the people that came to Him in Galilee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some went home ill; some went home still
possessed of devils – God’s Sovereign will was clearly done then, and shall
always be done, or the Lord God will cease to be a truly Sovereign Lord God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“What shall we say
then?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is there unrighteousness with
God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God forbid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For He saith unto Moses, I will have mercy on
whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have
compassion. So, then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth,
but of God that sheweth mercy.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Romans
9:14-16) God’s Sovereign will is always done.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The greatest
healing, we can receive from Christ Jesus is His perfect healing from all our
sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The greatest deliverance we can
receive is Christ’s deliverance from Hell.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">J.C. Ryle Comments:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“We may see in this
case a lively emblem of Christ’s dealing with sin-sick souls. That blessed
Saviour not only gives mercy and forgiveness; —He gives renewing grace besides.
To as many as receive Him as their Physician, He gives power to become the sons
of God. He cleanses them by His Spirit, when He washes them in His precious Blood. Those whom He justifies, He also sanctifies. When He bestows an
absolution, He also bestows a new heart. When He grants free forgiveness for
the past, He also grants strength to “minister” to Him for the time to come.
The sin-sick soul is not merely cured, and then left to itself. It is also
supplied with a new heart and a right spirit, and enabled so to live as to
please God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a name="_Hlk64989133"><b>(J.C.
Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the Gospels 1816-1900)<o:p></o:p></b></a></span></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk64989133;"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Let us look with a
Divinely revealed logic on this issue of being healed, or not being healed;
being delivered from sin, and not being delivered from our sin:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think for a moment on this subject with the
eye of Eternity, and let us ask ourselves this question: What would be the
point of God healing a body, mind, etc. if that person wanted none of His
Salvation from sin?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why, the Lord would
be merely making souls comfortable that were on their way to a
Christ-rejecter’s Hell of Eternal torment!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A complete waste of His Divine and Holy time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Salvation is a gift of
God given only to those souls whom He has elected (chosen) from before the
foundation of the world to give to His Son, Jesus, who will save us in His
time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“All that the Father
hath given Me shall come to Me; and him/her that cometh to Me I will in no wise
cast out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For I came down from Heaven,
not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me.” (John 6:37-38)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Thought: One day, we
who are healed by Christ from sin - shall be Eternally free from all our
illness, and live forever in glorified bodies that shall never be ill
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glory…<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Kenny McClintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475966979330652117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619447198016735385.post-56807904063871270242024-01-25T11:37:00.001+00:002024-01-27T13:01:08.432+00:00Simon Peter’s Wife’s Mother? Mark 1:29-31<p><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Text: </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">“So God created man in His own image (tripartite
beings, three-parts), in the image of God created He him: male and female
created He them. And God blessed them,
and God said unto them, Be <a name="_Hlk64817691">fruitful and multiply, and
replenish the earth</a>, and subdue it: and have dominion…over every living
thing that moveth upon the earth.”</span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Genesis
1:27-28.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Good morning, fruitful
Christian!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the grace of the Lord God,
and according to His instruction in the first Book of the Bible, you and I have
been blessed with an inherent physical desire for the opposite sex; a God-given
libido that is, with due moderation, properly focused on continued pro-creation
of God’s created species on the earth He has formed for His own Eternal
pleasure and purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Praise God it is
so, dear friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All things should be
done in the order that God has purposed in His inspired (God-breathed)
Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“In Whom (Christ Jesus)
also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the
purpose of <b><i>Him Who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will</i></b>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Ephesians 1:11)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Even the great apostle
Peter was faithful to the Genesis command of God to. “…be fruitful and
multiply, and replenish the earth…” – thus, in the well-recorded Jewish
traditions, Peter obediently took himself a wife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was never ordained to be a sexually
celibate man!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">J.C. Ryle Comments:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“These verses begin the
long list of miracles which St. Mark’s Gospel contains. They tell us how our
Lord cast out devils in Capernaum, and healed Peter’s wife’s mother of a fever.”<b>
(J.C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the Gospels 1816-1900)<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“And He came and took
her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she
ministered unto them.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Mark 1:31)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">As
the Lord Jesus and his disciples travelled, “…throughout all the region of
Galilee…” (V.28), we are taught a most important doctrine concerning prayer and
supplication for those that are sick and diseased: pray to Jesus first, then use
all other means later!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Ryle Comments:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">“</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">We learn, in the second place, <b><i>to what remedy a
Christian ought to resort first, in time of trouble.</i></b><i> </i>He ought
to follow the example of the friends of Simon’s wife’s mother. We read that
when she “lay sick of a fever,” they “told Jesus of her.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“There is no remedy
like this. Means are to be used diligently, without question, in any time of
need. Doctors are to be sent for, in sickness. Lawyers are to be consulted,
when property or character needs defence. The help of friends is to be sought.
But still after all, the first thing to be done, is to cry to the Lord Jesus
Christ for help. None can relieve us so effectually as He can. None is so compassionate,
and so willing to relieve.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>(J.C.
Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the Gospels 1816-1900)</b></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Peter’s Mother-in-law:
– Ryle Further Comments:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 3.6pt; mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“Let us
not fail to observe here, that Peter, one of our Lord’s principal apostles had
a wife. Yet he was called to be a disciple, and afterwards chosen to be an
apostle. More than this, we find St. Paul speaking of him as a married man, in
his Epistle to the Corinthians, many years after this. (1 Corinthians 9:5)”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 3.6pt; mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“How this fact can be
reconciled with the compulsory celibacy of the clergy, which the Church of Rome
enforces and requires, it is for the friends and advocates of the Roman
Catholic Church to explain. To a plain reader, it seems a plain proof that it
is not wrong for ministers to be married men. And when we add to this striking
fact, that St. Paul, when writing to Timothy, says, that “a bishop should be
the husband of one wife,” (1 Timothy 3:2) it is clear that the whole Romish
doctrine of clerical celibacy is utterly opposed to holy Scripture.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a name="_Hlk64986364"></a><a name="_Hlk64817301"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk64986364;"><b>(J.C. Ryle’s
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels 1816-1900)</b></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk64986364;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk64986364;"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Further Teaching:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">In verse thirty-one of
our selected passage from Mark’s Gospel today, we find even further
enlightenment teaching; teaching, of which, every sincere Christ-loving
Christian should take good heed: we are not saved merely to escape from Hell’s
torments, or to be freed from our vile sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are saved to serve the risen Christ Jesus, with all our hearts, and
all our souls, and all our strength.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
soon as Peter’s Mother-in-law was Divinely healed, “…the fever left her, and
she ministered unto them.” (V.31)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The moment that 21<sup>st</sup>
Century sinners are Divinely healed from our vile sins – we too are called by
God to get involved in serving Christ, and in reaching out with the Gospel
message to other precious souls trapped and dying in sin!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“So then faith <b><i>cometh</i></b>
(continuous verb: comes, and continues to come) by hearing, and hearing by the
Word of God.” (Romans 10:17)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“Preach the Word; be
instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
longsuffering and doctrine.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(2 Timothy
4:2)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; color: #111111; font-size: 14pt;">“The great missionary statesman, D.T. Niles, coined a phrase
that sums up what it means to witness for Christ. He said <strong>evangelism</strong> is
“one beggar telling another beggar where to find food.” What an accurate
definition of witnessing. First of all, it admits the fact that we are all
beggars, at least in the Spiritual sense.”</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #444444; font-size: 15pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> (</span><a href="https://avhughes.com/one-beggar-to-another/#:~:text=The%20great%20missionary%20statesman%2C%20D.T.%20Niles%2C%20coined%20a,all%20beggars%2C%20at%20least%20in%20the%20spiritual%20sense." target="_blank"><span color="windowtext" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-underline: none;">Al Hughes Ministries</span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">, online)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Thought: Like Peter’s Mum-in-law, let us be fruitful and multiply in
Christ’s service.</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Kenny McClintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475966979330652117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619447198016735385.post-40227844052502839132024-01-18T17:22:00.000+00:002024-01-18T17:22:15.616+00:00Christ’s Power Over Evil Spirits! Mark 1:23-28<p><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Text:
</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">“And Jesus rebuked him (the unclean
spirit) saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and
cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.”</span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Mark 1:25-26.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Good
morning, cleansed Christian!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like the
author, once you wallowed in the pits of sin and depravity of sin; lost, and
with nowhere to go for Spiritual healing; dwelling on the ever-growing human-rubbish
dump of sin-discarded souls, all on our way to a Christ-rejector’s Eternal
Hell.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">If
this stark description depicts the state your soul was in prior to being
redeemed by Christ’s sinless Blood – it most certainly describes mine!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(See ‘<b>About Kenny’</b> on
www.ulsterchristians.org) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">However,
our gracious and Sovereign Lord God Almighty was not content to leave us
abandoned and discarded on that heap of ruined and Hell-bound souls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Praise God no!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He shone the light of His glorious Gospel of
Salvation into our very hearts and minds, and called us to receive His everlasting
love and forgiveness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christ exercised
His Divine power over all evil in our hearts and souls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glory to the Lamb Who is worthy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hallelujah! Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“And
such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified
in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(1 Corinthians 6:11)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">J.C.
Ryle Comments:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“We learn, in the first
place, from these verses, the </span><b style="font-size: 14pt;"><i>uselessness of a mere intellectual
knowledge of religion.</i></b><i style="font-size: 14pt;"> </i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Twice we are specially told that the
unclean spirits knew our Lord. In one place it says, “they knew Him.” In
another, the devil cries out, “I know thee who thou art, the Holy one of God.”
They knew Christ, when Scribes were ignorant of Him, and Pharisees would not
acknowledge Him. And yet their knowledge was not unto salvation!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 1.2pt; mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 1.2pt; mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">“</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The mere belief of the facts and
doctrines of Christianity will never save our souls. Such belief is no better
than the belief of devils. They all believe and know that Jesus is the Christ.
They believe that He will one day judge the world, and cast them down to
endless torment in hell. It is a solemn and sorrowful thought, that on these
points some professing Christians have even less faith than the devil. There
are some who doubt the reality of hell and the eternity of punishment. Such
doubts as these find no place except in the hearts of self-willed men and
women. There is no infidelity among devils. “They believe and tremble.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(James 2:19)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 1.2pt; mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Let us take heed that
our faith be a faith of the heart as well as of the head. Let us see that our
knowledge has a sanctifying influence on our affections and our lives. Let us
not only know Christ but love Him, from a sense of actual benefit received from
Him. Let us not only believe that He is the Son of God and the Saviour of the
world, but rejoice in Him, and cleave to Him with purpose of heart.” <a name="_Hlk64817092"><b>(J.C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the Gospels
1816-1900)<o:p></o:p></b></a></span></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk64817092;"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">There is an old saying
here in Ulster (Northern Ireland, UK) which goes: ‘The proof of the pudding is
in the eating.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meaning, if it is a
good, tasty, well-baked, pudding – it will be eaten up, enjoyed, and recognised
as evidence of a ‘good, well-baked, pudding’.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Genuine Christian
belief should be placed in one Person only – the Person of the Lord Jesus
Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must first acknowledge Him as
God the Son, and believe in His Holy attributes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must repent of our sin, be Spiritually
regenerated; then seek diligently and earnestly to emulate His life – in all we
say, do, think, and believe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">There can be no
power in a Christian profession, without the evidence of Christ in the person
making the Christian profession.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Let your light so
shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father
which is in Heaven.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Matthew 5:16) ‘The
proof of the pudding is in the eating.’<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In our selected Bible
reading for today, we find a man suffering from demon-possession; “…a man with
an unclean spirit…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such a negative
position to be found in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(V.23)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">However, the Lord God
Almighty is a gracious and merciful Lord God, and, in the Person of Christ
Jesus, saw fit to exercise His Absolute and Sovereign power over the powers of
Satan and evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christ commanded the evil
demon to, “Hold thy peace, and come out of him.” (V.25)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">It is indeed truly
amazing that, today, in this increasingly apostate and ungodly 21<sup>st</sup>
Century, demons from Hell immediately recognise and obey the Lord Jesus Christ,
while unregenerate, disobedient humankind use His Holy Name as a swear word.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“…Let us alone; what
have we to do with Thee, Thou Jesus of Nazareth?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Art Thou come to destroy us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know Thee Who Thou art, the Holy One of
God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(V.24)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Praise God, even the
evil powers of Hell must obey the Word of the Living Lord God, in Christ Jesus:
“And when the unclean spirit had torn him (the demon-possessed man), and cried
with a loud voice, he came out of him.” (V.26)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Amazement was the
result within those that clearly witnessed this Divine deliverance from evil,
for they saw with their own eyes Divine authority being commanded: “…with
authority commandeth He even the unclean spirits, and they do obey Him” (V.27)
Hallelujah!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Thought: At the Name
of Jesus every knee must bow! Let us bow now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Phil. 2:9-11)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>Kenny McClintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475966979330652117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619447198016735385.post-22156978386762288602024-01-11T14:53:00.014+00:002024-01-11T15:03:26.834+00:00All Things New! Mark 1:16-22<p><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Text:
“</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">And He that sat upon the throne
said, Behold, I make all things new. And
He said unto me, ‘Write, for these things are true and faithful...” </span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Revelation 21:5.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Good
morning, renewed Christian!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">For you and
for me, the Lord Jesus Christ has made all things new.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Praise God!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What a Saviour!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What a Lord!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Amen.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">A
New Invitation:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> (V.17) Verse
seventeen of our selected Bible passage contains a new invitation to all elect
mankind who will, by God’s grace, respond to it. The verse contains a <b>new invitation</b>; a
<b>new obligation</b>; a <b>new contemplation</b>; and praise God, a whole <b>new
occupation.</b> These wondrous ‘new
things’ are all commenced by the Lord’s exhortation to “Come...”.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The
One who makes all things new invites sinners to come to Him and receive His
Eternal blessings.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“Come
unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me, for I
am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">(Matthew 11:28-29)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">A
New Obligation:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> (V.17) The absolute
grace shown by Christ in His invitation to partake of Salvation, the terrible
cost of which was His infinite sufferings and death at Calvary, brings with its
acceptance a new obligation from the person thus saved. This new obligation is to come ‘...after...’
Christ, or to follow Him; walking in His ways; obeying His teachings;
witnessing to His Holiness and truth.
This is merely the reasonable obligation of every born again Christian
who accepts Christ’s new invitation to come and be saved.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The
One who makes all things new commands a new obligation.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">(Ephesians 5:8-20)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“I
beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your
bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable
service.” (Romans 12:1)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">A
New Contemplation:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> (V.17) To
successfully fulfil our new obligation, we Christians must daily contemplate (i.e.,
look intently at; gaze in reverence at; think deeply about; and seek to
emulate) the Christ who has called us to follow in His service. We do this by a daily, continual,
contemplation of Christ Jesus as He is portrayed within the pages of God’s
inspired Scriptures. We contemplate the
Lord Jesus, and are continually renewed in His image as we conform in obedience
to His Word. (1 Peter 1:13-23)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“Therefore,
if any man be in Christ, he/she is a new creature; old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The
One who makes all things new deserves renewed contemplation daily.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">(2 Corinthians 3:17-18)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">A
New Occupation:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> (V.17) Christ’s new
invitation brings a new obligation to dwell in new contemplation of Him. All this is necessary if we are to take up a
new occupation in our lives. In our new
occupation we become ‘...fishers of men/women.’ (2 Timothy 4:1-5)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“So
then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” (Romans
10:11-17)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Having
responded to God’s blessed invitation to receive Eternal Life in Christ, we are
given that same Divine invitation to minister unto others who are yet still “...dead
in trespasses and in sins...”.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">(Ephesians 2:1-5) (Titus 1:1-4)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">We
who have been given the treasures of God’s Kingdom are obliged to share that
Eternal treasure with all who, by God’s grace, will receive it.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Our new occupation is to ‘fish’ for the souls
of men and women.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The One who makes all
things new adds the blessings in our new occupation - the Salvation of other
immortal and precious souls.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">(Proverbs
11:30)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">J.C.
Ryle Comments:</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“Let us notice, in the
third place, </span><b style="font-size: 14pt;"><i>the occupation of those who were first called to be Christ’s
disciples.</i></b><i style="font-size: 14pt;"> </i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">We read that our Lord called Simon and Andrew, when
they were “casting a net into the sea,” and James and John while they were
“mending their nets.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">It is clear from these words, that the first followers
of our Lord were not the great of this world. They were men who had neither
riches, nor rank, nor power. But the kingdom of Christ is not dependent on such
things as these. His cause advances in the world, “not by might, nor by power,
but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6) The words of St.
Paul will always be found true: “Not many wise men after the flesh, not many
mighty, not many noble are called. But God hath chosen the foolish things of
the world to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weak things of the
world to confound the things which are mighty.” (1 Corinthians 1:26-27) The
church which began with a few fishermen, and yet overspread half the world,
must have been founded by God</span>.”<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <a name="_Hlk64643293">(J.C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the Gospels 1816-1900)</a></span></b></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk64643293;"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Take heart then,
Christian!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The extraordinary Lord God
Almighty is continually making “...all things new...”, especially for ordinary
believers like you and me.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Hallelujah!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Victory in the Lamb!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Thought: Trust the Lord
Jesus Christ - He makes ALL things new! </span></b></p>Kenny McClintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475966979330652117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619447198016735385.post-87084969550676304982024-01-03T14:54:00.013+00:002024-01-03T15:04:44.711+00:00<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 26pt;">Marching In Mark’s Gospel<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 26pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">By<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Dr C.K. McClinton<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">BA (Hons); M.A.; Ph.D.; D. Litt<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 24pt;">Ulster Christians Fellowship</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Website: www.ulsterchristians.org</span></b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 20pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 20pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 20pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 20pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">A
series of daily-reading teachings from the Gospel of Mark which are designed to
expand the student’s knowledge of sound doctrine; using the medium of Bible
Exposition to encourage practical Christian faith - with selected quotations
from the excellent work of J.C. Ryle (1816-1900): to reintroduce Ryle’s
writings to the 21 Century church; to enhance Christian understanding of God’s
Word; to exalt the Name of Christ Jesus as both Saviour and Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-outline-level: 1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: center; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 21.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">J. C. Ryle 1886
– 1900 </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop_of_Liverpool" title="Bishop of Liverpool"><span style="color: black; font-size: 20pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Bishop of
Liverpool</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 21.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: center; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #202122; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">From
Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: #202122; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">John Charles Ryle</span></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> (10 May 1816 – 10 June 1900)
was an English evangelical Anglican bishop. He was the first </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_England" title="Church of England"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Anglican</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop" title="Bishop"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">bishop</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> of </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liverpool" title="Liverpool"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Liverpool</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; border: none; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 3pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #A2A9B1 .75pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-outline-level: 2; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; padding: 0cm; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 18pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Life<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">He was the eldest son of </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ryle_(politician)" title="John Ryle (politician)"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">John Ryle</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">, private banker, of Park House,
Macclesfield, M.P. for Macclesfield 1833–7, and Susanna, daughter of Charles
Hurt of Wirksworth, Derbyshire. He was born at </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macclesfield" title="Macclesfield"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Macclesfield</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> on 10 May 1816. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">He was educated at </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eton_College" title="Eton College"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Eton</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> and
the </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Oxford" title="University of Oxford"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">University of Oxford</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">, where his career was unusually
distinguished. He was Fell exhibitioner at </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_Church,_Oxford" title="Christ Church, Oxford"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Christ Church</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">, from which foundation he
matriculated on 15 May 1834. He was </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Craven_scholar&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Craven scholar (page does not exist)"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Craven scholar</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> in 1836, graduated B.A. in
1838, having been placed in the first-class in <i>literæ humaniores</i> in
the preceding year, and proceeded M.A. in 1871. He was created D.D. by diploma
on 4 May 1880. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Ryle left the university with the
intention of standing for parliament on the first opportunity, but was unable
to do so because of his father's bankruptcy. He took holy orders (1841–42) and
became </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curate" title="Curate"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">curate</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> at </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exbury" title="Exbury"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Exbury</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">, </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampshire" title="Hampshire"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Hampshire</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">. In 1843, he was preferred to the
rectory of </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Thomas_Church,_Winchester" title="St Thomas Church, Winchester"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">St Thomas, Winchester</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">, which he exchanged in the
following year for that of </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmingham" title="Helmingham"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Helmingham</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">, </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suffolk" title="Suffolk"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Suffolk</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">. The latter living he retained until 1861, when he resigned it for the
vicarage of </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stradbroke" title="Stradbroke"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Stradbroke</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> in the same county. The
restoration of Stradbroke church was due to his initiative. In 1869, he was
made rural </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_(Christianity)" title="Dean (Christianity)"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">dean</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> of </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoxne" title="Hoxne"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Hoxne</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">, and in 1872 honorary </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_(priest)" title="Canon (priest)"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">canon</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> of </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwich" title="Norwich"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Norwich</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">. He was select preacher at </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambridge" title="Cambridge"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Cambridge</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> in 1873 and the following
year, and at Oxford from 1874 to 1876, and in 1879 and the following year. In
1880, he was designated </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_of_Salisbury" title="Dean of Salisbury"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">dean of Salisbury</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">, and at once, 19 April, advanced to
the newly created </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglican_Diocese_of_Liverpool" title="Anglican Diocese of Liverpool"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">see of Liverpool</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">, which he ably administered until
his death at </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowestoft" title="Lowestoft"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Lowestoft</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> on 10 June 1900. He is buried
at </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Saints%27_Church,_Childwall" title="All Saints' Church, Childwall"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">All Saints Church</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">, </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Childwall" title="Childwall"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Childwall</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">, </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liverpool" title="Liverpool"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Liverpool</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; border: none; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 3pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #A2A9B1 .75pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-outline-level: 2; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; padding: 0cm; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 18pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Family<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">He married three times but his first
two wives died young. The first marriage was on 29 October 1845, to Matilda
Charlotte Louisa, daughter of John Pemberton Plumptre, of Fredville, Kent. The
second, in March 1850, was to Jessy, daughter of John Walker of Crawfordton,
Dumfriesshire. The third, on 24 October 1861, was to Henrietta, daughter of
Lieutenant-colonel William Legh Clowes of Broughton Old Hall, Lancashire. He
had a daughter by his first wife, and four other children by his second wife
Jessy. His second son, </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Edward_Ryle" title="Herbert Edward Ryle"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Herbert Edward Ryle</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> also a clergyman, became
successively Bishop of Exeter, Bishop of Winchester and Dean of Westminster. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; border: none; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 3pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #A2A9B1 .75pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-outline-level: 2; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; padding: 0cm; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 18pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Legacy<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(248, 249, 250); mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(248, 249, 250); line-height: 16.8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">John Charles Ryle, by </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlo_Pellegrini_(caricaturist)" title="Carlo Pellegrini (caricaturist)"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Carlo Pellegrini</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">, 1881.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Ryle was a strong supporter of
the </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evangelical_Anglicanism" title="Evangelical Anglicanism"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">evangelical school</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> and a critic of </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ritualism" title="Ritualism"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">ritualism</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">. He was a writer, pastor and an
evangelical preacher. Among his longer works are <i>Christian Leaders of
the Eighteenth Century</i> (1869), <i>Expository Thoughts on the
Gospels</i> (7 vols, 1856–69), and <i>Principles for Churchmen</i> (1884).
Ryle was described as having a commanding presence and vigorous in advocating
his principles albeit with a warm disposition. He was also credited with having
success in evangelizing the blue-collar community. He was a strong
believer in the return of the Jews to their own land as being prophesied in the
Bible and thus was part of the movement that led to the </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balfour_Declaration" title="Balfour Declaration"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Balfour Declaration</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="background: white; border-bottom: solid #A2A9B1 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #A2A9B1 .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; border: none; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 3pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #A2A9B1 .75pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-outline-level: 2; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; padding: 0cm; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 18pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Published works<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 55.2pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">The Cross: A Call to the Fundamentals of Religion</span></i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> (1852)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 55.2pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://archive.org/details/expositorythoug00ryle/page/n5/mode/2up"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Expository Thoughts on Matthew</span></i></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 55.2pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://archive.org/details/expositorythough00ryleuoft/page/n1/mode/2up"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Expository Thoughts on Mark</span></i></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 55.2pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Expository Thoughts on Luke</span></i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">, </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://archive.org/details/expositorythoug08rylegoog/page/n11/mode/2up"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Vol. 1</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">, </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://archive.org/details/saintluke0002ryle/page/n5/mode/2up"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Vol. 2</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 55.2pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Expository Thoughts on John</span></i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">, </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://archive.org/details/saintjohn0000ryle/page/n5/mode/2up"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Vol. 1</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">, </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://prydain.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/expository%20thoughts%20on%20the%20gospels%20john%20vol%20ii.pdf"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Vol. 2</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">, </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://archive.org/details/expositorythoug00rylegoog/page/n5/mode/2up"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Vol. 3</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 55.2pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=lfMEAAAAQAAJ"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Coming
Events and Present Duties, and Prophecy</span></i></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">, (1867) Now published as </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="http://christianfocus.com/item/show/49/-"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Are You
Ready for the End of Time?</span></i></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 55.2pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://gracegems.org/Ryle/shall_we_know_one_another_in_hea.htm"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Shall We Know One Another</span></i></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">, (1870)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 55.2pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=%20gC3RwwyfzwC&hl=en&gbpv=0"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Knots Untied</span></i></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">, (1877)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 55.2pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://archive.org/details/HolinessJ.C.Ryle1887/page/n1/mode/2up"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties and Roots</span></i></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">, (1877,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 55.2pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://archive.org/details/practicalreligio00ryleiala/page/n3/mode/2up"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Practical Religion: Being Plain Papers on the Daily Duties, Experience,
Dangers, and Privileges of Professing Christians</span></i></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">, (1878)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 55.2pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_criticism" title="Historical criticism"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Higher Criticism</span></i></a></span><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">: Some Thoughts on Modern Theories
about the Old Testament</span></i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> (1880)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 55.2pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=MgkDAAAAQAAJ"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Simplicity
in Preaching</span></i></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">, (1882)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 55.2pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://ccel.org/ccel/ryle/upper_room/upper_room"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Upper Room:
Being a Few Truths for the Times</span></i></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">, (1887)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 55.2pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.chapellibrary.org/files/4313/9930/8165/dopa.pdf"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">The Duties of Parents</span></i></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">, (1888)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 55.2pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=DndJAAAAYAAJ"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">From Old
Times: or Protestant Facts and Men</span></a></span><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">, (1890) (partially reprinted as </span></i><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://archive.org/details/fiveenglishrefor00ryle/page/n1/mode/2up"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Five English Reformers</span></a></span><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">)</span></i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 55.2pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://ia800203.us.archive.org/25/items/bibleinspiratio00rylegoog/bibleinspiratio00rylegoog.pdf"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Bible Inspiration: Its Reality and Nature</span></i></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> (1877)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 55.2pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://archive.org/details/dli.granth.74826/page/n5/mode/2up"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Christian Leaders of the Last Century</span></i></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> (1873)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 55.2pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://books.googleusercontent.com/books/content?req=AKW5QaeH%20ct49qCtfNxpEyOjFvwi1K9HCY8IYYmRjAXUmZoCN1Xu%20uU11EY6%20rMwgnLqtZYfb6PyqnLN0botCLPYyEci6UfZwRa%20D%201TAoKaBj6jNcB0DQf5GxVBEvMaz8WXkfBCkHXhWVEBpexJkUek4zDpdI5YQ-nGhEqD%20apZ-ytncWqMP8zmALyYTuuEBT5QVq7ig"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Tracts and Other Works</span></i></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 55.2pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Repent! Then Believe! Mark 1:1-15</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Text:
</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“Therefore, turn thou to thy God;
keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.” </span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hosea 12:6.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Good
morning, repentant Christian!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Not enough
for you to have initially repented - turned away from your life of sin, old
attitudes, habits, and worldliness - to follow hard after the Living Christ.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">You, having turned away from sin, now seek a
daily turning towards Christlikeness, by the power of God the Holy Spirit.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Praise God, you do well.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">May the Lord enable you and I to be obedient
to His Word throughout this day and always. Amen!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">(2 Corinthians 12:7-10)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“But
ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye
shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in
Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">(Acts 1:8)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">How
often in this apostate day we hear pastors, teachers, and lay-person Christians
get Christ’s Gospel message of repentance wrong.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Repentance seems to have become merely a word
mouthed frequently by Churchy people, a word that has lost its intended
meaning; a word devoid of Spiritual application to the souls of sinners
today.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">How sad. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">(2 Timothy 3:1-7)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Christ’s
message revealed in today’s Bible passage is, “...Repent ye, and believe the
Gospel...” (V.15).</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">It is not a message
of, ‘Get saved and made fit for a Holy Heaven, then live an ungodly life of
Hell on earth!’</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">No!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The message of the Master is “Repent ye, and
believe the Gospel...”. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">(Acts 2:41-47)
(1 Peter 1:15-16)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Repentance
is a concept sorely neglected in the Church of the 21st Century; a fundamental
doctrine which is absolutely necessary, not only for a soul’s Salvation, but
for the progressive sanctification of our natural state before God.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">We all need to be progressively sanctified
daily, as we seek to fellowship with our Holy Lord God and with each other in
the Body of Christ.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">We have hindered
prayer-lives and hampered fellowship when once the doctrine of repentance is
neglected.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“If
I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” (Psalm 66:18)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“Behold,
the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither is His ear
heavy, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have separated between you and
your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.”</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">(Isaiah 59:1-2)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Mark’s
Gospel makes genuine repentance an absolute precursory to true belief of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ, and Him Crucified for sinners.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">J.C.
Ryle Comments:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> “The Gospel of St.
Mark, which we now begin, is in some respects unlike the other three Gospels.
It tells us nothing about the birth and early life of our Lord Jesus Christ. It
contains comparatively few of His sayings and discourses. Of all the four
inspired histories of our Lord’s earthly ministry, this is by far the shortest.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-break-override: restrictions; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“But we must not allow
these peculiarities to make us undervalue St. Mark’s Gospel. It is a Gospel
singularly full of precious facts about the Lord Jesus, narrated in a simple,
terse, pithy, and condensed style. If it tells us few of our Lord’s sayings, it
is eminently rich in its catalogue of His doings. It often contains minute
historical details of deep interest, which are wholly omitted in Matthew, Luke,
and John. In short, it is no mere abridged copy of St. Matthew, as some have
rashly asserted, but the independent narrative of an independent witness, who
was inspired to write a history of our Lord’s</span><i style="font-size: 14pt;"> <b>works</b></i><b style="font-size: 14pt;">,</b><i style="font-size: 14pt;"> </i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">rather
than of His </span><b style="font-size: 14pt;"><i>words.</i></b><i style="font-size: 14pt;"> </i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Let us read it with holy reverence.
Like all the rest of Scripture, every word of St. Mark is “given by inspiration
of God,” and every word is “profitable.” </span><a name="_Hlk64638102" style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>(J.C. Ryle’s
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels 1816-1900)</b></a></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk64638102;"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Repentance:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Turning away
from our past life of sin, and turning to God is the act of initial, or
primary, repentance. However, if that primary
act is a genuine one, then a continual repentance from sin to God shall
follow. (Hebrews 12:12-15) (Psalm 42:1)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">In
reality, we sinners shall always sin.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Yet our sins, after genuine repentance, shall become all the more
exceedingly sinful to us, and we shall immediately feel the Holy Spirit’s deep
grief convicting us to seek forgiveness and a forsaking of the sin into which
we have so foolishly fallen.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">(John 16:8)
(Luke 22:54-62)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">When
we feel the pangs of conviction sin, it only goes to prove the legitimacy of
our belief - a belief in God’s Word which teaches us to truly repent and
continually believe/trust in the Lord. Therefore, apparent defeat by sin is
swallowed up in a very real Spiritual victory through the Cross of Christ
Jesus.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Hallelujah!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What a Saviour!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">(1 John 1:8-9)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Repentance
is itself the gift of God to Hell-deserving sinners whom He has chosen to
save.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Esau sought repentance, yet
couldn’t have it.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Saul of Tarsus wasn’t
looking for it, yet was blessed with it on a dusty Damascus road.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“Salvation is of the Lord...”.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">(Acts 9:) (Hebrews 12:14-17) (Ephesians
2:8-9)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Go
to then, genuine Christian, when sin seems to have a victory - repent and
believe - the Lord has made a provision for weak mortals like you and me.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Thanks be to the Living, Loving Lord God! (2
Corinthians 12:7-10</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Thought: True belief, bringing true repentance, proves
a true Bible belief. </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">(c) Dr C.K. McClinton</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Ulster Christians</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">www.ulsterchristians.org</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Email: watchman696@tutanota.com</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></b></p>Kenny McClintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475966979330652117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619447198016735385.post-31056300351991895212023-12-28T15:54:00.001+00:002023-12-28T15:55:59.411+00:003. The Reign of Messiah Jesus Psalm 72:13-20<p><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Text: </span></b><a name="_Hlk90203671" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“Blessed be the Lord God, the God
of Israel, Who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be His glorious Name for
ever: and let the whole earth (every nation) be filled with His glory. Amen,
and Amen.”</span></a></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk90203671;"></span>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Psalm 72:18-19.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Good morning, born again subject of King Jesus
Christ!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once you, like the author, were a subject of ‘the god of this world’, Satan, who had ‘…blinded the minds of them
which believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, Who is the
image of God, should shine unto them…’; and we were aliens, outside of God’s
Kingdom and reign.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(2 Corinthians 4:3-4)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">However, that wondrous day came when, the Lord God,
in His Sovereign grace and mercy, caused us to hear the glorious Gospel of
Christ, and Him Crucified for to bear away our vile sins – and faith was
granted us by the hearing, and we were plucked as brands from the burning, and
saved by God’s grace to serve the risen Lord Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hallelujah!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are saved!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by
the Word of God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Romans 10:17)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that
not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should
boast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For we are His workmanship,
CREATED in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we
should walk in them.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Ephesians 2:8-10)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">By the power of God Almighty – Father, Son, and
Holy Ghost – we were redeemed from our sins by the precious, sinless, Blood of
Christ Jesus, shed for us, God’s elect people, at Calvary’s Cross – to make the
full Atonement for our sins, and wash us spotlessly clean.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed
with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation
(entire lifestyle) received by tradition from your fathers; but with the
precious Blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(1 Peter 1:18-19)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">From that glorious day, we have been created ‘…new
creatures in Christ…’; all our vile catalogue of sins and lawlessness, and
deceit, and filth and dirt and worldliness, has been washed white as snow – and
we have become full subjects of King Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wow!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Born again Christians live not under man’s laws,
but under Almighty God’s grace!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Being born again, Spiritually regenerated, by God
the Holy Spirit: for the first time since we were born guilty of Adam’s sin,
and all the sins we committed, and shall commit, as natural born sinners – we
are NOW, made Spiritually alive (quickened) by the miracle of Spiritual
regeneration (born again) to serve our true Master, Lord, God, and King – Jesus
Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“And you hath He quickened (made Spiritually
alive), who were DEAD (Spiritually dead) in trespasses and sins; wherein in
time past ye walked according to the prince of the power of the air (Satan),
the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: among whom also we
ALL had our conversation (entire lifestyle) in times past in the lusts of the
flesh fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature
the children of wrath, even as others…Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened
us together with Christ (by grace are ye saved;)” (Ephesians 2:1-7)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(See The Valley of Dried Bones, Ezekiel 37:1-10)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Today, true Bible-believing, Spiritually
regenerated Christians must fully obey the laws laid down by temporal
Governments in the nations/lands in which we live – BUT, only if those laws and
mandates reflect the righteous laws and mandates of Almighty Lord God Jehovah,
as written in His Ten Commandments, and in the law of His revealed will, i.e.
His Word.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“Thou shalt have no other gods (rulers) before
Me…Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy
God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children
unto the third and forth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy
unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My Commandments.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Exodus 20:1-6)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“Then Peter and the other <b>apostles</b> (eye-witnesses
of the risen Christ Jesus) answered and said, <b>We ought to obey God rather
than men.</b>” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Acts 5:29)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Verse 14. “He shall redeem their souls. </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">And this is exactly what the Lord
Jesus, the true Messiah, has done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
has redeemed our sinful souls, by the shedding of His sinless Blood for us, and
has washed us Eternally clean from all our sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you, Lord Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Verse 14. “And precious shall be their blood in His
sight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“…Christ prefers the soul of one
of His servants to the whole world, since He died that it might be made more
capable of entering into Eternal felicity (happiness).”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Thomas Le Blanc,1869)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Verse 15. “He shall live.” </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“Alexander the Great acknowledged
at death that he was a frail and feeble man. ‘Lo! I’, said he, ‘Am dying, whom
you falsely called a god.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Christ
proved that He was God when, by His own death, He overcame, and, as I may say,
slew death.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Thomas Le Blanc, 1869)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“…Death is swallowed up in Victory (Christ’s
Victory).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>O Death, where is thy sting? O
grave, where is thy victory? The sting of Death is sin; and the strength of sin
is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth (gives, and continues to give)
us the Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(1 Corinthians 15:55-57)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Verse 16. “An handful of corn.</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> …Now, let me beg of every one of
you to carry a small bag with the precious corn of the Gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you write a letter (email/text?), drop
in a word for Christ; it may be a seed that will take root…Speak a word for
Christ wherever you go; it may be seed productive of a great deal of fruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Drop a tract on the counter, or in a house;
it may be a seed productive of a plenteous harvest…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(James Sherman, 1862)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">By God’s grace, each time my wife Wendy and I are
privileged to have a holiday abroad, we take some of my Gospel Tracts with us,
and when we walk around a holiday resort, we place these Gospel tracts in
strategic places, and in open letter-boxes in the streets – and pray that those
little Gospel seeds may take miraculous root to the saving of precious souls.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“Cast thy bread upon the waters (nations): for thou
shalt find it after many days.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Ecclesiastes 11:1) God’s Word shall never return unto Him void (empty)
of results.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Thought: And blessed be His glorious Name for ever:
and let the whole earth (every nation) be filled with His glory; Amen`, and
Amen`.” Thus ends the 2<sup>nd</sup> Book of Psalms.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Dr Cornelius K. McClinton (C Copyright strictly
reserved, 12<sup>th</sup> December 2021)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Ulster Christians</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">www.ulsterchristians.org</span></b></p>Kenny McClintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475966979330652117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619447198016735385.post-30042520894802970102023-12-24T13:59:00.002+00:002023-12-24T14:02:05.904+00:002. The Actions of a Godly Ruler Psalm 72:4-12<p><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Text: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">“Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit;
but a corrupt three bringeth forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree
bring forth good fruit…Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”</span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Matthew 7:17-20.<b> <o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“For rulers are not a terror to
good works, but to the evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wilt thou
then not be afraid of the power?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do that
which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: for he is the minister
of God to thee for good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if thou do
that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword (of justice) in
vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that
doeth evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wherefore ye must needs be a
subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Romans 13:3-5.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Good morning, Spiritually discerning
Christian!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you read your Holy
Bible, you read it to find out the Lord God’s way of living for you as a member
of ‘His people’, the true church of God – international and universal,
Spiritually regenerate, Bible-believing servants of the Living Jesus
Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">You are not merely a dead and dried bone sinner,
you are a sinner saved by God’s Sovereign grace, quickened (made alive) by God
the Holy Spirit; and redeemed by the sinless and Holy Blood of the risen and
victorious Lord of all lords, King Jesus Christ!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Praise and glory to His righteous and
gracious Name!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Read Ezekiel 37:1-10
with John 3:3-8)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">In the Lord God’s infinite grace and mercy, you and
I are called to be diligent in obeying every law of His earthly ministers;
ministers (or Government politicians) that are, in turn, called to legislate,
promote, and uphold GODLY LAWS, based on God’s way of living, according to His
will revealed in the Ten Commandments given to Moses on Mount Sinai. (See and
revisit Exodus 20:1-17)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Spiritually discerning Christians, shall at all
times be conscious of our need to evaluate the temporal laws made, often by
ungodly Government ministers, sometimes atheists, to see if the temporal laws
being legislated and promoted are commensurate with God’s righteous laws given
– and if the laws made by man are contrary to the Law of God, we genuine
Christians are NOT bound by them, to either obey them, or to permit their
authority over us!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Scriptural Authority: “</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Then came one and told them (the
high priest and religious rulers), saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in
prison (Christ’s disciples) are standing in the temple, and teaching the
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then went the captain with the
officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest
they should have been stoned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when
they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest
asked them, saying, Did not we straitly (strictly) command you that ye should
not teach in this name? (The Name of Jesus) And, behold, ye have filled
Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then Peter and the other apostles
answered and said, <b>We ought to obey God rather than men.</b>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Acts 5:25-29) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Discerning Christians take Biblical Authority
verses such as these as our steadfast standard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We seek to be fully obedient to the Word and Commandments of God, and
are only duty bound to obey the laws of mere men, IF the laws of mere sinful
men are fully commensurate with the unchangeable Law of Almighty Lord God
Jehovah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glory to His Holy Name!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Verse 4. “He shall judge the poor of the people, He
shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Take fair warning, political
oppressors of the poor, and the needy. Moreover, take fair warning
police-officers, and soldiers, do not obey a temporal Government’s demand for
you to oppress the Blood-bought children of King Jesus Christ!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands
of the Living God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Hebrews 10:31) “For
our God is a consuming fire.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Hebrews
12:29) If you are reading this Bible exposition today, Sir, you have been duly
warned!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The watchman has shouted the
warning!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take heed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“Vengeance is Mine: I will repay, saith the
Lord.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Romans 12:19)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Verse 5. “They shall fear Thee as long as the sun
and moon endure. </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">His
Kingdom, moreover, is no house of cards, or dynasty of days; it is as lasting
as the lights of Heaven; days and nights will cease before He abdicates His
throne. Neither sun nor moon as yet manifest any failure in their radiance, nor
are there any signs of decrepitude in the Kingdom of Jesus; on the contrary, it
is but, in its youth, and is evidently the coming power, the rising sun.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 309)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Verse 7. “In His days shall the righteous flourish;
and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘The righteous’ here mentioned, are those who,
by faith, have received Christ Jesus as our Lord and Saviour – we are then
imputed the full righteousness of Him by the grace of our Divine Father, and
through the full Atonement Blood of God the Son.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“For He (God the Father) hath made Him (God the
Son) to be sin for us (God’s elect souls) …that we (saved sinners) might be
made the righteousness of God in Him.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(2 Corinthians 5:21)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Verse 8. “He shall have dominion also from sea to
sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">We are encouraged by such a
passage as this to look for the Saviour’s universal reign; whether before or
after His personal advent, we leave for discussion of others. In this Psalm, at
least, we see a personal Monarch, and He is the central figure, the focus of
all the glory; not His servant, but Himself do we see possessing the dominion
and dispensing the government.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Personal
pronouns referring to our great King are constantly occurring in this Psalm; <b><i>He</i></b>
has dominion, kings fall down before <b><i>Him</i></b>, and serve <b><i>Him</i></b>;
for <b><i>He</i></b> delivers, <b><i>He</i></b><i> </i>spares, <b><i>He</i></b>
saves, <b><i>He</i></b> lives, and daily is <b><i>He</i></b> praised.” (C.H.
Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 310) Hallelujah!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All glory and praise and honour and obedience
unto King Jesus!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Should you and I, as discerning Christian servants
of this Divine King, Jesus Christ, not seek to commit our full obedience to
Him, and to Him alone?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, we
should!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our very souls’ Eternal
destination is in His Holy and merciful hands alone!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glory to His Name!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Verse 12. “For He shall deliver the needy when he
crieth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Instinctively, we understand that
swift deliverance of the underdog, the needy, is the act of a Godly ruler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall
save the souls of the needy.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Psalm
50:13)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Thought: Godly Rulers, Government politicians,
examine yourselves and the rules that you make!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Lord God will not bless the governance of repressive tyrants, liars,
or fools. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The nation’s Governments need
to get right back to Biblical principles!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Kenny McClintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475966979330652117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619447198016735385.post-68575744192951153142023-12-12T11:55:00.003+00:002023-12-12T11:57:51.538+00:00Psalm 72: Of Christ, the King of all kings!<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold;">1.
The Marks of Godly Rule Psalm 72:1-3</span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;">Text:</span></b><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;"> “Give
the king Thy righteousness, O God, and Thy righteousness unto the king’s
son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He shall judge Thy people with
righteousness, and Thy poor with judgement.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt; text-align: right;"><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;">Psalm 72:1-2.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;">Good morning, Christian subject!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the temporal sense of earthly government, you are a subject of the
sovereign authorities pertaining to the territory and within the borders of the
land in which you currently live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;">You are subject to the laws of that sovereign government, and
are called by God to live peaceably as a law-abiding citizen of the land/nation
in which you abide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;">Yet often, in these times of increased political corruption, and
increasing religious apostasy – you are vexed at the laws being legislated,
often by unbelieving, and even atheistic politicians, who care nothing for
Biblical principles or the Ten Commandments of the Living Lord God!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;">Psalm 72 helps to define what a Godly government of a nation
should be, and describes some of the social aspects of what a Godly government
should be doing consistently. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today’s government legislation
process seems to be in chaos – as laws are being made, often clearly and
blatantly against the Ten Commandment laws of the Lord God, which genuine
Spiritually regenerate Christian believers are then required to follow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anti-Christianity is being promoted today in
what once was known as the State of Great Britain & Northern Ireland, and
genuine Christian believers must be very clear on what we permit ourselves to
be subject to – the <b><i>politically correct</i></b> laws of an ungodly government,
or the pure and Holy Law of God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;">Verse 1. “Give the king Thy judgements, O God</span></i></b><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;">. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Living in what is still loosely defined as a
Democratically governed country here in the United Kingdom of Great Britain
& Northern Ireland, Bible-believing Christians are continually being vexed
by the introduction of the vilest anti-Christian law-making in Parliament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;">Sodomy</span></b><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;">
is made, not only legal, but promoted in every manner throughout public life –
to speak out against such filthy, God-detested practice, is to call down upon
oneself a barrage of intimidation and threat of being prosecuted in the courts
for ‘Hate-crime’!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;">God Himself showed us clearly what His Holy judgement was on the
practice of male and female Sodomy by raining down fire and brimstone upon the
cities of Sodom and Gomorrah!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He made a
burnt-out desert out of two large cities in His wrath against this particular
mode of human sin – and yet temporal governments world-wide have ignored this
Biblical fact, and actually shook their puny, politically-correct, fists at a
Holy Lord of Heaven!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;">“And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is
great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see
whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come
unto Me; and if not, I will know.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Genesis 18:20)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;">Abraham, in his compassion as a believer in God, sought to
intercede in prayer and make intercession for the sinful citizens of the two
Sodomite-infested cities – the Lord told him that He would not destroy the
cities IF there were but TEN righteous people living there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, alas, there was not even ten citizens
who were not involved in homosexual activity; therefore, the Living Lord God
Jehovah utterly destroyed the cities for this particular sin.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;">“Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and
fire from the Lord out of Heaven.” (Genesis 19:24) So much for government
legislation to permit such sin!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Brimstone</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">an inflammable
mineral substance found in quantities on the shores of the Dead Sea. The cities
of the plain were destroyed by a rain of fire and brimstone ( </span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/genesis/19-24.html" target="_blank"><span color="windowtext" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Genesis 19:24</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/genesis/19-25.html" target="_blank"><span color="windowtext" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Genesis 19:25</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> ). In </span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/isaiah/34-9.html" target="_blank"><span color="windowtext" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Isaiah 34:9</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> allusion is made to the destruction of these
cities. This word figuratively denotes destruction or punishment ( </span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/job/18-15.html" target="_blank"><span color="windowtext" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Job 18:15</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> ; </span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/isaiah/30-33.html" target="_blank"><span color="windowtext" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Isaiah 30:33</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> ; </span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/isaiah/34-9.html" target="_blank"><span color="windowtext" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">34:9</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> ; </span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/psalms/11-6.html" target="_blank"><span color="windowtext" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Psalms 11:6</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> ; </span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/ezekiel/38-22.html" target="_blank"><span color="windowtext" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Ezekiel 38:22</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> ). It is used to express the idea of
excruciating torment in </span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/revelation/14-10.html" target="_blank"><span color="windowtext" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Revelation 14:10</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> ; </span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/revelation/19-20.html" target="_blank"><span color="windowtext" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">19:20</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> ; </span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/revelation/20-10.html" target="_blank"><span color="windowtext" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">20:10</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> .</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">(These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated
Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public
Domain, copy freely)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Verse 1b. “…And Thy righteousness unto the king’s
son.” </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Whether
David or Solomon penned this Palm, David is noted as having prayed it at the
end verse of the Psalm.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">However, Spiritually speaking, what we can deduce
from what is penned is the fact that Godly government and legislation is to be
made in the spirit of God’s Absolute righteousness, and this is the law that
committed Bible-believing Christians are encouraged to both obey and promote at
all times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">There can be no obedience subjected to, or
promotion of rules and laws that a temporal government makes that are
completely contrary to the full righteousness and Commandments of the Lord God
Whom we love and seek to serve in Christ Jesus! <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to
the evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wilt thou then not be afraid
of the power?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do that which is good, and
thou shalt have praise of the same: for he is the minister of God to thee for
good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if thou do that which is evil,
be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God,
a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only
for wrath, but also for conscience’s sake.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Romans 13:3-5)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Present day ‘rulers’ in the United Kingdom have
legislated this concept in a reverse, perverse manner – their laws on Sodomy
promote the evil while suppressing the Christian good!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Verse 2. “He shall judge Thy people with
righteousness and Thy poor with judgement.” </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“Jesus is here, beyond all doubt,
in the glory of His reign, both as He now is and as He shall be revealed in the
latter-day glory.” (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 309)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Verse 3. “…Peace to the people.” </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">True peace, Everlasting peace, is
brought to the sinner’s soul, by the Lord Jesus Christ, for He alone is the true
Prince of Eternal peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(John 14:27)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Thought<i>: </i>“In a Spiritual sense, peace is
given to the heart by the righteousness of Christ; and all the powers and
passions of the soul are filled with a holy calm, when the way of Salvation, by
a Divine righteousness, is revealed.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(C.H.
Spurgeon,1834-1892)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Kenny McClintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475966979330652117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619447198016735385.post-20028278299634705102023-12-07T10:36:00.001+00:002023-12-07T10:36:46.894+00:005. Help from a Righteous Lord! Psalm 71:19-24<p><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Text:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
“Thou, which hast showed me great and sore troubles shalt quicken me again, and
shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.”</span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18.6667px; text-align: justify;">Psalm 71:20.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0cm 6pt 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Good morning, victorious,
senior Christian!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Your many years of
life - a portion of which have been spent as a Spiritually regenerate Christian
servant of Christ Jesus - has contained much experience of what the Psalmist
calls ‘sore troubles’ – fears within, fightings without, instances of gross and
personal failings and numerous exposures of very human faults and mistakes, as
well as great victories and seeing souls saved, through the preaching/teaching
of the Gospel of Christ Crucified.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0cm 6pt 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Yet, out of ALL this – the
Lord God has never failed to ‘quicken’ you and I again, and again, dust us off,
sanctify us afresh by the Blood of the Lamb, fill us afresh with God the
Spirit, and grant us, not only His matchless grace and forgiveness, but a sure
and certain victory over our most deadly oppressors, critics, and detracting
enemies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hallelujah!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Christ Jesus we are more than
conquerors!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glory, all glory, to His
Holy Name!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0cm 6pt 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">“Nay, in all these things we
are more than conquerors through Him (Jesus Christ) that loved us.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Romans 8:37-39)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0cm 6pt 6pt; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Verse 19. “Thy righteousness
also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto
Thee! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">There
is, of course, no one that has done anything infinitely close to what the
Living Lord God, the Creator of all things, the Author of Salvation, has done –
for Hell-deserving sinners such as we.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Glory to the Lord God of all Sovereign grace and mercy to gross sinners such
as we.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Lord God is our Divine
helper. Praise His Name!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Resurrection:</span></b><span style="color: #303324; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;">“The fact of our Lord’s resurrection rests on evidence which no
infidel can ever explain away. It is confirmed by testimony of every kind,
sort, and description. The plain unvarnished story which the Gospel writers
tell about it, is one that cannot be overthrown. The more the account they give
is examined, the more inexplicable will the event appear, unless we accept it
as true. If we choose to deny the truth of their account, we may deny
everything in the world. It is not so certain that Julius Caesar once lived, as
it is that Christ rose again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;">“Let us cling firmly to the resurrection of Christ, as one of
the pillars of the Gospel. It ought to produce in our minds a settled
conviction of the truth of Christianity. Our faith does not depend merely on a
set of texts and doctrines. It is founded on a mighty historical fact which the
sceptic has never been able to overturn. It ought to assure us of the certainty
of the resurrection of our own bodies after death. If our Master has risen from
the grave, we need not doubt that His disciples shall rise again at the last
day.” (J.C. Ryle 1816-1900, The Resurrection, Apprising Ministries, online) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;">Verse 20. “Thou which hast showed me great and sore troubles,
shalt quicken me again (bring me from death to life again), and shalt bring me
up again from the depths of the earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></b><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;">Mature, senior-aged Christians, have
experienced vast experiences – some wonderful, some horrible, throughout many
years of seeking to serve the risen Lord Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the great Bible truths that has
encouraged us down through the years, gave us necessary strength and fortitude
to continue on in ‘…the faith once delivered unto the saints…’, has been the
reality of our promised resurrection from the dead, to be with our Lord and
Saviour, Jesus Christ, forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Wow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just the thought of spending
Eternity in Heaven with Christ Jesus is such a wonderous source of continuing
strength and perseverance in Christian faith!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hallelujah!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>True Christians are
conquerors over death itself!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glory to
the Lamb!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #303324;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for
the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we
shall be changed.</span></span><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="color: #303324;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">For this corruptible
must put on </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">incorruption</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">, and this mortal must put on immortality.</span></span><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="color: #303324;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">So, when this corruptible shall have put on
incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be
brought to pass this saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in
victory.</span></span><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="color: #303324;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">O Death where is thy
sting?</span></span><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="color: #303324;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">O grave where is thy
victory?</span></span><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="color: #303324;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The sting of Death is sin; and
the strength of sin is the law.</span></span><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="color: #303324;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">But
thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus
Christ.</span></span><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="color: #303324;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Therefore, my beloved brethren,
be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,
forasmuch as ye KNOW that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”</span></span><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="color: #303324;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">(1 Corinthians 15:52-58)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;">Verse 22. “I will also praise Thee. </span></i></b><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;">There is nothing as woeful, in my mind,
than the professing Christian devoid of a ‘Hallelujah!’ of praise to the Lord
God Jehovah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One small thought of the
resurrection of Spiritually regenerate believers, should immediately cause our
hearts to reveal true joy, through the opening of our lips in fervent praise to
the Lord God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We praise Thy Name, oh
Thou Holy One of Israel!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glory and
praise to Thee, oh God!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;">Verse 23. “…and my soul, which Thou hast redeemed. </span></i></b><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;">Soul-singing is the soul of
singing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Till men are redeemed, they are
like instruments out of tune; but when once the precious Blood has set them at
liberty, then are they fitted to magnify the Lord Who bought them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our being bought with a price is a more than
sufficient reason for our dedicating ourselves to the earnest worship of God,
our Saviour.” (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, pages 307-308)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;">“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible
things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation (entire lifestyle)
received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious Blood of Christ,
as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(1 Peter 1:18-19)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;">Let us make the unsaved world all around us KNOW we belong to
Christ – sing it out!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;">Silence is not always golden – often it is just merely
YELLOW!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Speak out, Christian!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;">“How then shall they call on Him in Whom they have not
believed?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And how shall they believe in
Him of Whom they have not heard?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And how
shall they hear without a preacher?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
how shall they preach, except they be sent?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the
Gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Romans 10:14-15)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;">Thought:<i> Verse 24. “My tongue also shall talk of Thy
righteousness all the day long. </i></span></b><span style="color: #303324; font-size: 14pt;">I will talk to myself, and to Thee, my God, and to my
fellow-men: my theme shall be Thy way of justifying sinners, the glorious
display of Thy righteousness and grace in Thy dear Son; and this most fresh and
never-to-be-exhausted subject shall be ever with me, from the rising of the sun
to the going down of the same.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(C.H.
Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 308)<o:p></o:p></span></p>Kenny McClintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475966979330652117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619447198016735385.post-69615983013559105782023-11-30T16:37:00.003+00:002023-11-30T16:40:40.497+00:004. Mature Christian Hope Psalm 71:14-18<p><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Text: “</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">But I
will hope continually, and will yet praise Thee more and more. My mouth shall show forth Thy righteousness
and Thy Salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.”</span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">Psalm 71:14-15.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Good morning, prevailing,
mature Christian!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As your years have
come and gone and multiplied from your youth until now - an age of senior
maturity - not only in years, but in ‘grace and knowledge of our Lord and
Saviour, Jesus Christ…’; your hope in Him has never waned, never been snuffed
out, even after enduring many afflictions of age, and the ever-present attacks
of your Christian warfare in the service of King Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Praise God for senior mature Christians!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are the salt of the earth, and a credit to
your Lord God. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Verse 14. “But I will hope
continually, and will yet praise Thee more and more</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>True Christian hope is not some vague notion
that, ‘Well, something might occur that brings relief for me in the situation
I, or my loved ones are in.’. No!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Christian hope is based, first on the sure promises of God contained in
our KJV Bibles, which is the inspired (God-breathed) Word of the Living Lord
God Jehovah, and God is not a man that He should lie, thus, Christian hope is
based firmly in certainty of Divine fulfilment and Omnipotent help.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">“God is not a man, that He
should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent (say He will do, and
not do it.): hath He said, and shall He not do it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it
good?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Behold (look, and fully
understand), I have received commandment to bless: and He hath blessed; and I
cannot reverse it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Numbers 23:19-20)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Secondly, Christian hope is
based on the certainty of God’s past help in times of stress and dire troubles
– this is what makes the mature, senior Christian a powerful prayer-warrior and
perseverer in the ‘faith once delivered unto the saints…’! (Jude 3) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Having actually experienced many
memorable times of God’s faithful help in the past, the mature Christian is
blessed with that extra faith in God’s grace for present and future times of
stress or troubles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the precious
chorus instructs us: “Count your blessings, name them one by one…and it will
surprise you what the Lord hath done.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Past blessings and help from God’s Sovereign hand, enhances Christian
faith in the believer who has received it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Praise God for His matchless and ever-given grace!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">“Let us therefore come boldly
unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in
time of need.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Hebrews 4:16)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">“Hitherto have ye asked
nothing in My Name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”
(John 16:24)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Verse 15.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“My mouth shall show forth Thy righteousness
and Thy Salvation all the day. </span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please take sure note, Reader, it is not the
Psalmist’s righteousness that he is seeking to show forth for us – because, as
Paul teaches us in Romans chapter three, we have no righteousness of our own to
set forth to anyone!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">“As it is written, There is
none righteous, no, not one…there is none doeth good, no, not one.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Romans 3:10-18)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Specifically, therefore, it is
at all times the Supreme righteousness and Salvation of the Lord God alone that
the Psalmist here is setting forth and exalting from his lips, for this is the
only righteousness that grants access into Heaven, through the Sacrifice of the
Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary’s Cross for sinners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sinners like you and me can come no other
way.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">“Neither is there Salvation in
any other: for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby
we must be saved.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Acts 4:12)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">“But seek ye first the Kingdom
of God, and His righteousness; and all these things (necessary things in life)
shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Verse 16. “…I will make
mention of Thy righteousness, even of Thine only. </span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, the Psalmist repeats this vital point
of Salvation; this singular focus on the importance of Christ’s righteousness;
the Father’s Holiness; the Spirit’s regenerational necessity – if sinner’s
souls are to be born again and brought into God’s family through His great and
Sovereign grace.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">“For by grace are ye saved
through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works,
lest any man should boast.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Ephesians
2:8-9) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">The Scriptural way of Eternal
Salvation in Christ Jesus is the only way for repentant sinners to access a
Holy Heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s God’s way, or the
highway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heaven or Hell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glory to the Lamb Who was slain to make the
true and only way to Heaven for sinners such as we!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Verse 17. “O God, Thou hast
taught me from my youth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Such
is the vital importance of sending our children to Sunday Schools, Christian
Youth activities; Scripture Unions, etc. – the life-giving truth of God’s Word
must be instilled early in our children’s hearts, if they are to be spared
lives of sin and the misery it inevitably brings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s Word is sheer truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Teach God’s Word in the home,
if we ever love our children enough to save their souls. A home with an open
Bible will always be a home filled with the love of God.</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">“Train up a child in the way
he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Proverbs 22:6)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Verse 17. “…Hitherto have I
declared Thy wondrous works. </span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“How then shall they call on Him in Whom they
have not believed?</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">And how shall they
believe in Him of Whom they have not heard?</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">And how shall they hear without a preacher? </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">…</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">So, then faith cometh by
hearing (reading), and hearing by the Word of God.”</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">(Romans 10:13-17)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Verse 18. “Now also when I am
old and grey-headed, O God, forsake me not; until I have showed Thy strength
unto this generation, and Thy power to every one that is to come.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Take note again, Reader, it is
God’s strength and God’s power the Psalmist is inspired to show unto his
generation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The arm of our own
strength/power will always fail us, we must go in and out in the strength and
power of Omnipotent Lord God Jehovah.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">“But ye (God’s people) shall
receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be
witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and
unto the uttermost part of the earth.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Acts 1:8)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">True Christian hope has been
inspired as true Christian strength from God has been given – time and time
again, to the mature Christian believer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is what makes him/her ‘prevailing, mature Christians’; seeing God’s
hope fulfilled, and His power exercised in His own Cause of Christ and Him
Crucified for the Salvation of gross sinners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hallelujah!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a Saviour Lord
God we have in the risen Christ Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Thought:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lord God, enable me to show forth Thy power,
to the Salvation of many.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Kenny McClintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475966979330652117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619447198016735385.post-71556589704196178692023-11-22T18:44:00.005+00:002023-11-23T14:51:06.151+00:003. From Persecution to Victory! Psalm 71:10-13<p><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Text: “</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">Oh God, Thou hast taught me from my
youth: and hitherto have I declared Thy wonderous works. Now also when I am old and grey-headed, O
God, forsake me not; until I have showed Thy strength unto this generation, and
Thy power to every one that is to come.”</span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">Psalm 71:17-18.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Good morning, grey-headed Christian!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You fully realise that the years of time that
our Sovereign Lord God has ordained us, His creatures, to live, has an average
of ‘three-score years and ten’, that is seventy years approximately, of life
expectancy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Praise God!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If He has ordained that some of us live
longer than this, with the added years, may well come the added ailments and
infirmities of our human bodies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, all
is well, when we know our times are in the hands of a truly Sovereign and
all-gracious Lord God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">“The days of our years are threescore
years and ten (70); and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet
is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly
away.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Psalm 90:10)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">The author can quickly affirm the veracity
of the above quoted Bible verse, because I am living the realities of it at 76 years of age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes ‘seeing IS
believing’, my friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have
overreached my ‘three score years and ten’ - and my frequent trips to the
bathroom in the night seasons alone, confirms the attendant ’labour and sorrow’
promised in God’s Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s Word is
truth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">“So, teach us to number our days, that we
may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Psalm 90:12)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">“Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy Word
is truth.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(John 17:17)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">“Psalm 71 has been called “The
Prayer of the Aged Believer”.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">“We have here “The Prayer of
the Aged Believer”, who in holy confidence of faith, strengthened by a long and
remarkable experience, pleads against his enemies and asks further blessings
for himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anticipating a gracious
reply, he promises to magnify the Lord exceedingly.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 305)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">“It is not unnatural or
improper for a man who sees old age coming upon him to pray for special grace,
and special strength, to enable him to meet what he cannot ward off, and what
he cannot but dread; for, who can look upon the infirmities of old age, as
coming upon himself, but with sad and pensive feelings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">“Who would wish to be an old
man?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who can look upon a man tottering
with years, and broken down with infirmities; a man whose sight and hearing are
gone; a man who is alone amidst the graves of all the friends that he had in
early life; a man who is a burden to himself, unto the world; a man who has
reached the ‘last scene of all that ends in strange, eventful history’ – that
scene of ‘Second childishness, and mere oblivion…’” (C.H. Spurgeon, The
Treasury of David, page 306)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">At 76 years of age, I, the
author, can relate very closely to what is here written on the subject of ‘old
age’, in relative human experience, and as a mature senior Christian of over 44 years on the road of Christ’s Salvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Special grace has been my personal plea, and special grace has been
granted by our truly Sovereign and gracious Lord God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ask for it, fellow mature senior Christian,
it will be given you, according to the Sovereign will of God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Hear what John Wesley says on
this vital subject:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Verse 9. “Forsake me not when
my strength faileth. </span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">“June 28.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This day I enter on my eighty-sixth year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I now find I grow old: <b>1.</b> My sight is
decayed, so that I cannot read small print, unless in a strong light. <b>2.</b>
My strength is decayed, so that I walk much slower that I did some years
since.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>3.</b> My memory of names,
whether persons or places, is decayed, till I stop a little to recollect them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">“What I should be afraid of,
is, if I took thought for the morrow, that my body should weigh down my mind,
and create either stubbornness, by the decrease of my understanding, or
peevishness, by the increase of bodily infirmities; but Thou shalt answer for
me, O Lord, my God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(John Wesley
1703-1791)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Verse 10. “For mine enemies
speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together.</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No change here, then!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If a Christian man or woman is seeking to be
faithful and obedient to the Lord God Jehovah, in Christ Jesus, he/she shall endure
this treatment from the world, the flesh, the Devil – and in my own experience
– even from other’s professing Christ as their Saviour. Fact.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Verse 11. “Saying, God hath
forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver.</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, bitter taunt!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no worse arrow in all the quivers of
Hell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our Lord felt this barbed shaft,
and it is no marvel if His disciples feel the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where this exclamation the truth, it were
indeed an ill day for us; but, glory be to God, it is a barefaced lie.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 307)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Persecution is, as we have
constantly affirmed throughout this exposition of the Books of the Psalms, a sure expectation for every genuine Bible-believing, born again, Christian man or
woman – and especially so, if the believer is engaged in active service to King
Jesus Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">“Yea, and all that will live
godly in Christ Jesus <b><i>shall </i></b>suffer persecution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and
worse, deceiving, and being deceived.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(2 Timothy 3:12-13)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">In my experience, these ever-present hindrances and persecutions and oppositions, do not decrease when the
active-service Christian grows older in human years - in fact, those that are
Satanically inspired to oppose Christ’s people seem to wax bolder in their
oppositions and intended persecutions when they see with their faithless eyes
that the Christian is getting old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hyenas love to single out the weakest deer for their deadliest attacks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">To this end, the persecuted
Christian cries out to his/her faithful Father-God for His ‘ever-present’
help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is, in my long experience, ever
given – but only in God’s own Sovereign will and time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Verse 12.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“O God, be not far from me: my God, make
haste for my help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">David’s
enemies watched carefully, spied upon him at every opportunity, to see if his
God would help him to thwart their persecutions and hindrances of the
Psalmist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When they saw that the Lord
seemed to tarry a while before baring His Almighty arm, they <b><i>falsely</i></b>,
supposed that God had forsaken him, and therefore planned to persecute David
further, as there seemed to be no one to deliver him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How wrong they were!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David immediately cried out a Divine
imprecation against them, a weapon seldom used in our toothless church
worldwide today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i><b>Verse 13.</b></i> <i><b>“Let them be
confounded…consumed…covered with dishonour that seek my hurt.”</b></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bible history shows that David’s imprecatory
prayer was heard and answered.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Thought: Persecutions of true
Christians only promotes Victories from the Christ. Pray on, aged and feeble
Christian – your prayers are powerful to God’s praise.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Kenny McClintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475966979330652117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619447198016735385.post-7196215193945635432023-11-15T15:10:00.002+00:002023-11-15T15:10:49.762+00:002. Past Remembrances, Present Confidence. Psalm 71:6-9<p><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Text: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">“By Thee have I been holden up from
the womb: Thou art He that took me out of my mother’s bowels: my praise shall
be continually of Thee.”</span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Psalm 71:6.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Good morning, long-term memory
Christian!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have now, perhaps,
reached a mature age, both in your faith in Christ, and in length of lived
years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have, therefore, many
memories stored up within the files of your God-given memory-banked mind – some
good, some not so good, and some absolutely bad – from which you form your
realities for today, for we are all creatures of our past, present, and hoped-for
future. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">For the Christian, remembering the times
of trouble, happiness, and pain, and how the Lord God Whom we love in Christ
has brought us through all such times, can bolster faith within us, as we see
now, with clear hindsight, how the Lord has ALWAYS delivered us, and been with
us throughout all such times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Past
remembrances of God’s care of us, can bolster faith and confidence in us for
present times. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Count your blessings,
name them one by one.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">The apostle Peter, writing in the full
inspiration of God the Spirit, calls this process <b><i>‘a stirring up of pure
minds by way of remembrance…’<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">“This second epistle, beloved, I now write
unto you: in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: that
ye may be mindful (minds full of memories) of the words which were spoken
before by holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord
and Saviour.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(2 Peter 3:1-2)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Isaiah was directed to express it in this
manner: “Yea, in way of Thy judgements, O Lord, have we waited for Thee; the
desire of our soul is to Thy Name, and to the remembrance of Thee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With my soul have I desired Thee in the
night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek Thee early: for when Thy
judgements are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn
righteousness.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Isaiah 26:8-9)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Nothing which God could create is what we
hope for; nothing which God could give us out of Himself, no created glory, or
bliss, or beauty, or majesty, or riches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What we hope for is our redeeming God Himself, His love, His bliss, the
joy of our Lord Himself, Who hath so loved us, to be our joy and our portion
forever.” (Edward B. Pusey 1800-1882)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Verse 5. “For Thou art my trust from my
youth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Even Seneca, a
heathen, could say: “Youth well spent is the greatest comfort of old age.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the proconsul bade Poly-carp deny Christ
and swear by the emperor, he answered: “I have served Christ these eighty-six
years, and He hath not once injured me, and shall I now deny Him?” (Oliver
Heywood, 1629-1702)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Verse 6. “By Thee have I been holden up
from the womb.</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What a God-inspired statement!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Think, dear Reader, think back to the times well before you and I were
born again, and safely redeemed by Christ’s precious and sinless Blood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think of the vile things we got up to; the
sins of utter disobedience which we would be totally ashamed to share even with
another sound believer, Pastor, or Christian friend!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Now think of the Sovereignty of our Holy
Lord God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He KNEW we were His way back
then, when we were wallowing in our sins, and the sins of this old fallen world
of disobedience to God and man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, He
spared us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think of the times, perhaps,
that you and I walked a very thin line, our very unsaved feet teetering on the
brink of a Christ-rejecter’s abyss!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet,
the Lord God had our souls already written in His Book of Life, and would not
permit us to die before He had saved us by the precious Blood of His only
begotten Son, Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Remember these things!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember these things – and give earnest and
profound thanksgiving unto the Holy Lord God for His matchless grace!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thank you, beloved Lord!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hallelujah! <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Verse 7. “I am as a wonder unto many.”</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The author can relate very closely with this
expression in verse seven of Psalm 71: media newspapers, over the past 44 years
since the Lord in His grace saved me, have set me up as ‘…a wonder unto many…’
indeed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some have continually sought to
vilify me, rubbish my sincere conversion to Christ, and by Christ alone; call
me every name under the sun in order to, perhaps, pull down my faith in God,
and discard my witness for Christ Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All have failed miserably, because the real ‘wonder’ is the matchless
grace of God to a Hell-deserving convicted Terrorist, who has been, without
doubt, redeemed from his vile sins by the precious grace of God and the
cleansing Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hallelujah!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wonder on, media
ghouls, the Lord has wrought Salvation victory in me, the least of His
servants!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glory to the Lamb!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">“…The accuser of our brethren is cast
down, which accused them before our God day and night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they overcame him by the Blood of the
Lamb, and by the Word of their testimony; and the loved not their lives unto
the death.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Revelation 12:10-12)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Verse 7. “I am as a wonder unto many.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">“To thousand eyes a mark and gaze am
I.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The saints are men wondered at;
often their dark side is gloomy even to amazement, while their bright side is
glorious even to astonishment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
believer is a riddle, an enigma puzzling the unspiritual; he is a monster
warring with those delights of the flesh, which are the all in all of other
men; he is a prodigy, unaccountable to the judgements of ungodly men; a wonder
gazed at, feared, and by-and-by, contemptuously derided.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Few understand us; many are surprised at
us.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David,
page 305-306)<b><i> </i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Verse 7. “…Thou art my strong refuge.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Now, here is the REAL source of wonder,
dear Reader!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That a thrice Holy Lord God
Almighty would see fit, in Eternity, to elect to save Hell-deserving gross
sinners, and become a Divine ‘strong refuge’ for us forever!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Does this Gospel fact not cause our hearts to raise up a loud
‘Hallelujah!’ to the Living Lord God of all grace?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rejoice with me in the mercy and grace of the
Lord God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glory!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Verse 8.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Let my mouth be filled with Thy praise and with Thy honour all the day.
</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a blessed mouthful!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A man never grows nauseated though the
flavour of it be all day in his mouth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God’s bread is always in our mouths; so should His praise be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He fills us with good; let us be also filled
with gratitude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This would leave no room
for murmuring or backsliding; therefore, may we well join with holy David in
this sacred wish.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(C.H. Spurgeon,
Treasury of David, page 306)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Verse 9.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength
faileth.</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">
Old age robs us of personal beauty and deprives us of strength for active
service; but it does not lower us in the love and favour of God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 306)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Thought: At 76 years, the author can
testify of the faithfulness of Almighty God in granting us His extra grace and
strength to persevere in the faith once delivered unto the saints.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon He returns to grant us glorified bodies
that will never age again. Thanks, and all praise unto our thrice Holy Lord God Almighty! Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Kenny McClintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475966979330652117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619447198016735385.post-58284236860417453302023-11-08T15:48:00.001+00:002023-11-08T15:49:05.058+00:00Psalm 71: A Psalm of Mature Christian Experience<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold;">1. An
Affirmation of Faith in God Psalm 71:1-5</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Text: </span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">“In
Thee, O Lord (Jehovah Lord God), do I put my trust: let me never be put to
confusion.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Psalm 71:1. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Good morning mature senior
Christian!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your maturity is gauged, not
in length of time and years alone, but in the depths of Christian experience
and service to Christ wherein you have been blessed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Christian maturity has little
to do with how long one has professed faith in Christ, but what one has
actually been engaged in, throughout that period.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">‘Mature senior Christians’
have spent quality time in the study of God’s Word, in obedience to His Word –
and sought at all times to apply what he/she has learned there while living our
daily lives for Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">‘Mature senior Christians’
have striven for many years to “…show themselves approved of God,
workmen/work-women that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of
truth.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">“Study to show thyself
approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing
the Word of truth.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(2 Timothy 2:15)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Praise God for ‘mature senior
Christians!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of such is the backbone of
the true and genuine Bible-believing, born again Church of the Lord Jesus
Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Psalm 71 has been called “The
Prayer of the Aged Believer”.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">“We have here “The Prayer of
the Aged Believer”, who in holy confidence of faith, strengthened by a long and
remarkable experience, pleads against his enemies and asks further blessings
for himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anticipating a gracious
reply, he promises to magnify the Lord exceedingly.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 305)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Untitled Psalms:</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Psalm 71 falls into the category of “The
Untitled Psalms”, of which there are some thirty-four Psalms contained within
the Book of Psalms: 1; 2; 10; 33; 43; 71; 91; 93; 94; 95; 96; 97; 99; 104; 105;
106; 107; 111; 112; 113; 114; 115; 116; 117; 118; 119; 135; 136; 137; 146; 147;
148; 149; 150.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">“Psalms </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Book 2: Psalms
42-72:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Psalms 42-50 are of <b>Asaph </b>– King
David’s main worship leader (or the descendants of Korah).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Psalms 51-70 of <b>David.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Psalm 71 is untitled. Psalm 72 is of <b>Solomon</b>.”
(<cite><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">storage.cloversites.com/bethanybaptistchurch3/documents/Psalms.…</span></cite><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"> · PDF file)</span><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Verse 1. “In Thee, O Lord, do I put my trust. </span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">From the very outstart of this
Psalm, the Psalmist affirms the fact that true believers in Jehovah Lord God
have our faith and trust completely in Him alone – knowing that all else cannot
be given that heart trust, for all else, if we wait long enough, will fail us
in our time of need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Our full trust and faith can only be placed in the Triune
Lord God Almighty, Jehovah - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – for it is He alone
Whom, in His Sovereign grace, has seen fit to grant us His gift of faith in the
first place! We come to God Almighty in the Name of Jesus Christ our Saviour
and Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Praise God we have One in Whom
we can completely trust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glory to His
Name.</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that (faith)
not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should
boast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For (a conclusion) we are His
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before
ordained that we should walk in them.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Ephesians 2:8-10)</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Verse 2. “Deliver me in Thy righteousness. </span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We, having no righteousness of our own, and
deserving of Hell for our vile sins, can only be delivered from our sin, and
from all our enemies by the imputed righteousness of our Lord and Saviour,
Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is HIS righteousness
that grants us full access into Heaven, and into the Presence of our Holy Lord
God at His throne of grace in prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
have the righteousness of Christ Himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Wow!</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">“For He (God the Father) hath made Him (God the Son) to be
sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we (Hell-bound sinners) might be made the
righteousness of God in Him.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(2 Corinthians 5:21)</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Verse 3. “Be Thou my strong habitation whereunto I may
continually resort. </span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">The
Psalmist here confesses his fallibility, his human weaknesses and constant
need, by pleading with the Lord God to be his ‘strong habitation whereunto he
may continually resort’, we come to the Lord God’s throne of grace boldly in
times of constant need.</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that
we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Hebrews 4:16)</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Verse 3. “Thou hast given commandment to save me. </span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Destruction cannot destroy us;
famine cannot starve us; but we laugh at both, while God’s mandate shields
us.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David,
page 305)</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Verse 3. “For Thou art my Rock and my fortress. </span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">God the Father revealed this truth
unto the apostle Peter, when he confidently affirmed the full Deity of the Lord
Jesus in Matthew’s Gospel, Chapter 16, and verses 16 and 17: “And Simon Peter
answered and said, Thou art the Christ the Son of the Living God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed
art thou, Simon Bar-jo`-na: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee,
but my Father which is in Heaven.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Christ Jesus is our Rock and our fortress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glory to His Name!</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">“The churches’ one foundation, is Jesus Christ, her
Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is His new creation, by water
and the Word…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Hymn by </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Samuel
J Stone,1839 - 1900)</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Verse 4. “Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the
wicked…the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. </span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Mature senior Christians know this
verse of Scripture very well, for we have often been compelled to plead it
earnestly, when opposed, hindered, and oppressed by the world, the flesh, and
the Devil, over a period of many years of Spiritual conflict as soldiers in the
army of the risen Lord Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
has never failed us!</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Verse 5. “For Thou art my hope, O Lord
God: Thou art my trust from my youth. </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Psalmist again assures himself, and all
who will later sing, or hear his Psalm that, the Lord God alone is his hope;
that, as he has trusted the Lord God from his youth, so will he have the full
confidence to trust the Lord God now, when he/she is a ‘mature, senior
Christian’.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Throughout all the years of mankind’s
history, one thing has remained firm and constant in the hearts of God’s elect
people – we have a Lord God we can fully trust, our hope is assured in the full
Atonement of the Living Lord Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Glory to His Holy Name!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Thought: Stand firm, mature senior
Christians – the Lord returns real soon. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glory!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Kenny McClintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475966979330652117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619447198016735385.post-88131814065722536902023-11-01T12:29:00.007+00:002023-11-19T16:25:34.823+00:00Psalm 70: A Prayer in Time of Urgent Need Psalm 70:1-5<p><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Text: </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">“Make
haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O Lord. Psalm 70:1.</span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Good morning, active service Christian!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not for you the weekly ‘I have a new suit’,
or ‘I have a new hat’ formal church meeting Christianity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You realise exactly what depths of sin you have been saved from, and
have almost felt the heat of the coals of the Hell you were going to, before
the Sovereign Lord God quickened your spirit by His Spirit, and delivered your
Eternal soul from your sin and its dire consequences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Praise God, you are saved to serve the risen
Christ Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hallelujah!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank the Lord for genuine active service
Christians!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glory to the Lamb!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Psalm 70 is a Psalm of David which correspond closely, or is perhaps
even David’s later appendage to, Psalm 40:13-17.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has a similar focus as this latter section
of Psalm 40, and contains also the <b><i>imprecatory theme</i></b> of Psalm 69,
and Psalm 109. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Dictionary
Definition: Imprecate</span></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"> – (verb
transitive) to call down by prayer (especially something evil); to invoke evil
upon, to put a curse on; to curse or blaspheme. (The Chambers Dictionary, page
807)</span><span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">“Other
imprecatory Psalms are Psalm 35; Psalm 58; Psalm 83; Psalm 109; and Psalm 137 –
and of course, Psalm 69…. All of these Psalms may be utilised in prayer by the
Christian being severely persecuted by the world, the flesh, and the
Devil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christians are NOT POWERLESS, but
POWERFUL.” </span></b></p><p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">(Dr C.K. McClinton, Searching in Psalms, Book 2, </span></b><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.ulsterchristians.org/"><b><span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt;">www.ulsterchristians.org</span></b></a></span><b><span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">) </span></b></span><b><span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Psalm
70 seems to break down into five themed verses of prayer, which I have noted
below. </span></p><p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">1. Present Danger Need:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Psalm 70:1</span></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><a name="_Hlk85365274">2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Curse for
Pursuers:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></a>Psalm 70:2<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Curse Upon Scoffers:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Psalm 70:3<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><a name="_Hlk85366312">4. Encouragement for fellow saints:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></a>Psalm
70:4<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">5. A Return to
Urgent Need:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Psalm 70:5 <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">1.
Present Danger Need: <i>“Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make hast to help
me, O Lord.”</i></span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Active service Christians are more familiar with the urgency of
this serious prayer contained in verse 1 of Psalm 70, probably due to the fact
that the ‘Sunday-going-to-meeting’ Christian knows little of praying this type
of prayer, or in fact they need to pray such prayers at all!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They often sit comfortably behind an imagined
righteousness that comes from regular attendance at ‘church’ meetings; charity
works and membership of charitable organisations; and mingling with the
so-called ‘great and good’ of social and political society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Doing the Devil and his vile kingdom no harm, the Devil and his
myrmidons feel no need to attack such ‘Sunday Christians’, therefore, they tend
to drift through life as professing Christians, yet seldom experience the very
real dangers and torments of active service saints. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own
selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I trust that ye shall know that we are
not reprobates?...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For we can do nothing
against the truth, but for the truth.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(2 Corinthians 13:5-8)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Now, look
again at David’s urgent cry for God’s prompt help: </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">“Make
haste, O God, to deliver me; make hast to help me, O Lord.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the cry of one in real danger, the
hounds are biting at his ears as he, like a fox, runs for a hole in which to
hide! ‘Help, Lord!’</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Curse for Pursuers: “Let them be ashamed
and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward an put to
confusion, that desire my hurt.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">The Psalmist can almost be seen
as fleeing hard on horseback, his pursuers racing behind, and him flinging back
this curse, this imprecation, over his shoulder to put a prompt end to the
present danger pursuing his very soul!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is very real active service for the Lord God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Curse Upon Scoffers: “Let them be turned
back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">“They thought to shame the
godly, but it was their shame and shall be their shame forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How fond men are of taunts, and if they are
meaningless aha’s, more like animal cries than human words, it matters nothing,
so long as they are a vent for scorn and sting the victim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rest assured, the enemies of Christ and His
people shall have wages for their work; they shall be paid in their own coin;
they loved scoffing, and they shall be filled with it, - yeah, they shall
become a proverb and a by-word forever.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 304)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">4. Encouragement for fellow
saints: “Let all those that seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee: and let such
as love Thy Salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Being so well-aware of what
other active service believers were going through - via his own personal
experience of temporal and Satanic oppositions – the Psalmist shows both his
compassion for his fellow-serving saints, and his love for the true and genuine
active church by asking the Lord God to grant them a full rejoicing and
gladness in Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then he almost shouts
the victory shout: “…Let God be magnified!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hallelujah!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Active service
praise.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">5. A Return to Urgent Need:
“But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: Thou art my help and my
Deliverer; O Lord, make no tarrying.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">We have often heard the adage,
‘Charity starts at home’, and thus, we understand that if we are to be of any
active service to our wonderful Holy Lord God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, we
must first put our own house in order; our own personal circumstances and daily
state – before we can more profitably be of active service and help to other
needy souls.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">“Thou hypocrite, first cast
out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out
the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Matthew 7:5) (1 John 1:8-19)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Thought: The Psalmist first
confesses his own urgent needs before crying out with confidence for the help
of his Holy Saviour and Lord. The Lord always hears the pleas of His repentant
servants, and comes swiftly to our aid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Pray on, active Christian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Kenny McClintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475966979330652117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619447198016735385.post-2821080236092436082023-10-25T20:11:00.000+01:002023-10-25T20:11:37.469+01:0010. The Praises of God’s Persecuted Psalm 69:30-36<p><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt;">Text:
</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; text-align: justify;">“I will praise the Name of God with a
song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving.
This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that hath
horns and hoofs. The humble shall see
this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.”</span></p>
<p align="right" style="background: white; text-align: right;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Psalm 69:30-32.</span><span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Good morning, undefeated Christian!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Praise God for that Christian that can
overcome all fears, dreads, woes, depressions of spirit; and the most
unbearable human and spiritual persecutions by the weapon of God-given praise
and thanksgiving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hallelujah!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our God reigneth forever!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">“And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God:
many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blessed is that man/woman that maketh the
Lord his/her trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to
lies.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Psalm 40:3-4)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">The last thing that Satan or self, or the constant persecutors of
Bible-believing Christians want to hear, or can even bear to hear – is the
shout of instant and sincere praise from the lips of those under the pressures
of diabolical persecution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me hear
it, brother?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me hear it, sister in
Christ?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>HALLELUJAH!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>IN CHRIST WE ALWAYS HAVE THE VICTORY!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>HALLELUJAH!<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Praise
the Lord, oh my soul!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bless the Lord
Jesus Christ!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Psalm 69, this great imprecatory Psalm, has thus far evidenced how
gross, how dark, how almost humanly unendurable persecutions the Psalmist was suffering
at the time of his writing it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was, without doubt, in
the darkest place, feeling himself to be in the very mouth of the Dragon,
Satan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, he ends this imprecatory
Psalm with a shout of total victory – for He KNOWS and is ASSURED that his
Eternal victory is promised by the ultimate Divine victory of the Lamb of God,
Christ Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hallelujah!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a Saviour we have in Him!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">“These things have I (the Lord Jesus Christ) spoken unto you, that
in Me ye might have peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the world
ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the
world.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(John 16:33) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Had Christ Jesus not come to us, sent by our Heavenly Father, in
the <b><i>incarnation</i></b> (God in bodily form, God, in the form of a human
being; the Creator Lord, in the body of one of His creatures.); we might have
cause to doubt that He would not really be able to empathise with the
sufferings, feelings, depressions, and deprivation pain that we mere humans can
continually endure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">However, He came to us as a weak and helpless babe; lived for over
thirty-three years in human flesh; endured every single thing that each of us
will ever endure - and that at a much more profound level, due to His being the
all-Holy God the Son!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Having suffered/endured ALL of what you and I can, or shall ever
suffer and endure – we have a High Priest in the Heavens that KNOWS all about
our sufferings and understands all our persecutions personally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore, He knows exactly what help we need
at any given time, and supplies it in His love for us, ‘His people’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glory and praise to His Holy and all-caring
Name!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">“By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better Testament…But this
man, because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wherefore He is able also to save them to the
uttermost that come unto God by Him seeing He ever liveth to make intercession
for them.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Hebrews 7:22-25) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into
the Heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For (a conclusion) we have not an high priest
which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities; but was in all
points tempted like as we are, <b><i>yet without sin</i></b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne
of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace in time of need.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Hebrews 4:14-16)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Got a sore toe today?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus, no doubt had a sore toe also.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Feeling uncared for and irrelevant, and ignored today?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus felt all this, even within his own
family, and certainly among the religious leaders of His time on earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heart-broken over the loss of a loved
one?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus wept over the death of
Lazarus, and over Jerusalem, when they would not hear and obey the Gospel call
to Salvation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and
stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy
children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye
would not!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Behold (look and fully
understand), your house is left unto you desolate (empty).”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Matthew 23:37)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">“Jesus knows our every weakness, take it to the Lord in prayer.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Ezekiel 33:3)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Verse 29. “But I am poor and sorrowful. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">No man was ever poorer or more sorrowful than Jesus of Nazareth,
yet His cry out of the depths was heard, and He was uplifted to the highest
glory.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(C.H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of
David, page 303)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">I know of no one personally, who has ever been so deeply flung
into grief that he or she sweat, as it were, drops of blood – but the Lord
Jesus Christ did, upon just thinking that sin, your sin and mine, would be
placed upon His absolute Holiness, as He suffered the penalty for us, on
Calvary’s Cross.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">“And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly: and His sweat was
as it were great drops of Blood (</span><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-size: 14.0pt;">hematidrosis</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">) falling down to the ground.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Luke 22:44)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Verse 29. “Let Thy Salvation, O God, set me up on High.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">O ye poor and sorrowful ones, lift up your heads, for as with your
Lord, so shall it be with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are
trodden down today as the mire of the streets, but you shall ride upon the high
places of the earth ere long; and even now ye are raised up together and made
to sit together in the Heavenlies in Christ Jesus.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 303)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">“The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live
that seek God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Psalm 69:32)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Man’s sore persecutions of the Christian are doomed to failure,
for God grants ‘His people’ sure praises in uncertain times – and reminds us
constantly of His Victory over sin for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Persecutions only serve to give occasions for Christian praise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hallelujah!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our God reigns!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Thought: “Let the Heaven and earth praise Him, the seas, and every
thing that moveth therein.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the
victory praise for those Christ Jesus has redeemed in His own Blood. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Kenny McClintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475966979330652117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619447198016735385.post-16029403293204638392023-10-18T16:27:00.001+01:002023-10-18T16:40:31.146+01:009. God’s Imprecations on Persecutors Psalm 69:20-29<p><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt;">Text:
</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; text-align: justify;">“Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get
thee out of thy country and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto
a land that I will show thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I
will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and <b><i>I
will bless them that bless thee: and curse them that curseth thee</i></b>; and
in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”</span></p>
<p align="right" style="background: white; text-align: right;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Genesis 12:1-3.</span><span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Good
morning, God-blessed Christian!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the
Creator Lord God, Jehovah – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – has promised to
bless you, then you and I can rest in all confidence and assurance that He
shall bless us; and, indeed, He has done so!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We have His own God-breathed Word on this vital matter, and God is not a
mere man that He should ever lie to us, ‘His people’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</span><span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">“God
is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent
(say, and not do!): hath He said, and shall He not do it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it
good?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Behold (look, and fully
understand), I have received commandment to bless: and He hath blessed; and I
cannot reverse it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Numbers 23:19-20)</span><span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">“And
she (Mary) shall bring forth a Son, and thou (Joseph) shalt call his Name
JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Matthew 1:21)</span><span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">In Christ
Jesus, and through His full Atonement Sacrifice on Calvary’s Cross, the Lord
God Almighty has truly and thoroughly, and Eternally blessed us, His
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Praise and thanks to His Name!</span><span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Those
Blessed:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s Word has also given a sure promise to
all who might seek to BE a blessing unto us, His people: “He that receiveth you
receiveth Me, and he/she that receiveth Me receiveth Him that sent Me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He that receiveth (receives, and continues to
receive) a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward;
and he/she that receiveth a righteous man (made righteous in Christ) in the
name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of
these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily
(truly) I say unto you, he/she shall in no wise lose his/her reward.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Matthew 10:40-42) </span><span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">God’s
Word is filled with chapter and verse Divine Authority for teaching this
concept: God has promised to thoroughly bless all who seek to be a blessing to
those for whom Christ Jesus suffered and died on that cruel Roman
Cross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a Biblical FACT.</span><span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">“Give
and it shall be given unto you; god measure, pressed down, and shaken together,
and running over, shall MEN give into your bosom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For (a conclusion) with the same measure
(weights/portions) that ye mete (weigh out/measure) withal it shall be measured
to you again.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Luke 6:38)</span><span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt;"><b>The
old adage is: We can never </b></span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px; letter-spacing: 0.133333px;"><b>out give</b></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt;"><b> the Lord God Almighty: giver of all good
things. </b></span></span><b><span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">“Every
good gift and every perfect gift is from Above, and cometh down from the Father
of lights, with Whom is no variableness (unchanging), neither shadow of
turning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of His own will begat He us
with the Word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of His
creatures.” (James 1:17-18)</span><span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Those
Cursed: </span></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Psalm 69, like some other Psalms, is an
Imprecatory Psalm – a Psalm containing a prayer for Divine curse upon the
believer’s enemies and persecutors.</span><span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><a name="_Hlk85363221"><b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Dictionary Definition: Imprecate</span></b></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk85363221;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"> – (verb
transitive) to call down by prayer (especially something evil); to invoke evil
upon, to put a curse on; to curse or blaspheme. (The Chambers Dictionary, page
807)</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk85363221;"><span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk85363221;"><b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Other imprecatory Psalms are Psalm 35; Psalm 58; Psalm
83; Psalm 109; and Psalm 137 – and of course, Psalm 69 which we are examining
in this series now. All of these Psalms may be utilised in prayer by the
Christian being severely persecuted by the world, the flesh, and the
Devil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christians are NOT POWERLESS, but
POWERFUL.</span></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk85363221;"><b><span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk85363221;"></span>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Psalm
35: </span></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">“Let destruction come upon him at
unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very
destruction let him fall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Psalm 35:8)</span><span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Psalm
58:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"> “Break their teeth, O God, in their
mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let them melt away as waters which run
continually: when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in
pieces.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Psalm 58:6-7) </span><span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Verse 23. “Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not.</span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eyes which see
no beauty in the Lord Jesus but flash wrath upon Him may well grow yet more
dim, till death Spiritual leads to death Eternal.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 302)</span><span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Verse 27. “Add iniquity unto their iniquity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Unbelievers
will add sin to sin and so, punishment to punishment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the severest imprecation or prophecy
of all.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of
David, page 302)</span><span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: .1pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">People today need to be informed that <b>SIN</b> - their personal
sin, and the sin of Governments and Leaders of nations international – is a
very dangerous activity to be involved in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sin is a most SERIOUS disobedience to our Holy Lord God, and He will not
have mercy on the reprobate, ever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Persecuting God’s chosen and Blood-bought children is an Eternally
dangerous sin.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Verse 27.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And let
them not come into Thy righteousness. </span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those who choose
evil shall have their choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Men who
hate Divine mercy shall not have it forced upon them.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 302)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Verse 28. “Let them be blotted out of the book of the
living, and not be written with the righteous. </span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So,
that to be blotted out of that book, it is, indeed, never o be written
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be wiped out in the end is but
a declaration that such were not written in the beginning.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Thomas Adams, 1614)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Thought:<i> “Verse 29. But I am poor and sorrowful. No man was
ever poorer or more sorrowful than Jesus of Nazareth, yet His cry out of the
depths was heard, and He was uplifted to the Highest Glory.” (C.H. Spurgeon,
Treasury of David, page 303) Pray on, friend.<o:p></o:p></i></span></b></p>Kenny McClintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475966979330652117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619447198016735385.post-90665074053287949102023-10-11T15:11:00.007+01:002023-10-11T15:17:25.122+01:008. The Satanic Depths of Persecution Psalm 69:15-19<p><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Text: </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">“The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately wicked: who can know it?” </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt; text-align: right;">Jeremiah 17:9.</span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“When I (Jesus
Christ) was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against
Me: but THIS is your hour, and the power of darkness.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" style="background: white; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Luke 22:53.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Good morning, deeply discerning Christian!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many say you have been blessed by the Lord
God with an acute discernment of God’s Word, the things of God taught in the
Word of God; and with profound insights of the heart of mankind all around you,
and what he/she is capable of doing, when once Satan rules his/her life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">It is then that your blessed
gift can soon become a terrible burden to your mind, as you more clearly,
perhaps, understand how dark and evil unregenerate hearts worldwide can become
– when they are under the ‘power of darkness’! <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Verse 15.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Let not the
waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit
shut her mouth upon me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Many today can often be successfully
described as being a ‘…tad over the top…’ when describing how deep their day to
day troubles are, or how much they feel under varying Spiritual, social, and
personal family pressures.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">However, the Psalmist here in Psalm 69, is describing the most
horrible persecution pressures and his very real fears of being overwhelmed by
them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Real fear can be imagined, when once we think about being killed
by drowning – water flooding into our lungs, and choking off the very breath
that is necessary for life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a
horrible fear for one’s lungs to be suddenly filled with liquid.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Fear of being buried alive in the earth, is again, one that not
only concerns our not being able to breathe air into our lungs, but also the
thought of being buried alive, out of sight of help from others; earth clogging
up our very nostrils and plunging us into the darkness of the earth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">A healthy fear of the torments of Hell itself, should give some
unsaved souls nightmares, and all saved souls a relief in knowing that, because
of Christ’s full Atonement Sacrifice on the cruel Cross at Calvary, we who are
redeemed by His sinless Blood shall not be going there! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But these three very real
causes of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>fear are featured in this one
verse of Psalm 69, revealing the Psalmist David’s gift of clear discernment of
such matters – and thus, his urgent cry for God’s help.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Verse 16. “Hear me, O Lord, for Thy lovingkindness is good: turn
unto me according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies.</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"> Again, we see how David, the Psalmist, is
using his past deep discernment of the tender mercies of the Lord God to inform
the thrust of his present prayers: what he has personally experienced of God’s
wonderful mercies has caused an increase in his faith in obtaining God’s
present and future mercies right now. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Verse 17.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And hide not Thy
face from Thy servant; for I am in trouble.</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>David knows that if the Lord God hides His face from hearing and
answering his urgent prayers, he is absolutely SUNK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has no hope of deliverance outside the
Almighty’s Divine help.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">“I am the Vine ye are the branches: he that abideth in Me (Jesus
Christ), and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for WITHOUT ME YE
CAN DO NOTHING.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(John 15:5)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Verse 17.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hear me
speedily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Our Lord was the perfection of patience,
yet He cried urgently for speedy mercy; and therein He gives us liberty to do
the same, so along as we pray, ‘Not as I will, but as Thou wilt.’”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 301)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">It was not merely for an urgent answer to his prayer that David
cried, it was for to be heard and answered ‘speedily’, such was the depth of
his need.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">If you and I are seeking to
faithfully serve the risen Christ Jesus, we too shall know such serious times
of urgent need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Satan only attacks
genuine Christians!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Today, when written in 2021, Christian people who refuse the
Covid vaccine are being looked at in this same manner as the Jewish people were
in 1933.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is time for serious and
persevering prayer!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Satan’s ‘power of
darkness’ could well be in cruel operation right now!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14pt;">“In 1933, the Roman Catholic Church signed a
concordat or agreement with the new Nazi government, recognizing the legitimacy
of the Third Reich. The Protestant Church was united into a single Reich Church
under one bishop. In September 1933, Martin Niemöller, a pastor of a
fashionable church in Berlin, set up a Pastors' Emergency League which led to
the formation of the anti-Nazi Confessional Church. This church wrote a
memorandum to Hitler attacking the government's anti-Christian campaign,
policies of anti-Semitism, and terrorizing tactics. Hitler responded with a
crackdown on members of the Confessional Church. Hundreds of dissenting clergy
were arrested, many were imprisoned, and also executed.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(A Teacher’s Guide to the Holocaust, online)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">“In 1934, forced sterilization programs sterilized 300,000 -
400,000 people, mainly those in mental hospitals and other institutions.
Propaganda was distributed which helped build public support for these
government policies. Persons who were mentally ill or physically disabled were
stigmatized, while the costs of care were emphasized in propaganda campaigns.<a name="24"></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1939, a Nazi
"euthanasia <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">DEFN</span> program"
began. This term is used as a euphemism for the Nazi plan to murder those with
physical or mental defects. Unlike the sterilization program, the
"euthanasia" program was conducted in secrecy. "Operation
T4" was the code term used to designate this killing project.<a name="25"></a>
As word leaked out about the "euthanasia" program, some church
leaders, parents of victims, physicians, and judges protested the killings.
Hitler ordered the end of Operation T4 in August 1941. However, the murders
continued in a decentralized manner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Doctors were encouraged to kill patients with disabilities by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">starvation</i></b>,
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">poisoning</i></b>,
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">or
injection</i></b>.” </span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14pt;">(A Teacher’s Guide to the Holocaust, online)</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Thought:
When the Darkness started, no one spoke out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When it ended, there was no one left to speak out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Old and infirm today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You and I tomorrow?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pray hard, discerning Christian!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Kenny McClintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475966979330652117noreply@blogger.com0