Well, When you Are Suffering the Punishment of This Sin in Hell!

Well, When You Are Suffering the Punishment of This Sin In Hell!

"But they made light of it" (Matthew 22:5).

Consider what those things are, which engross your affections, and which tempt you to neglect Christ and your salvation.

Have you found a better friend than Christ, or a more substantial and lasting happiness than His eternal salvation?

Oh! what trifles and vanities, what dreams and shadows are men pursuing - while they neglect the important realities of the eternal world!

If crowns and kingdoms, if all the riches, glories, and pleasures of this present world were ensured to you - as a reward for making light of Christ, you would even then make the most foolish bargain possible; for what are these in the grand scale - when compared to eternal joy, or eternal misery! "What is a man profited, if he shall gain even the whole world, and lose his own soul!"

But you cannot realistically hope for the ten thousandth part of these worldly trifles! And will you cast away your souls for such a pittance?

Alas! what does the richest, the highest, the most voluptuous sinner do - but lay up treasure of wrath against the day of wrath! Oh how will the unhappy creatures torture themselves forever with the most cutting reflections, for selling their Saviour and their souls - for such trifles! Let your sins and earthly enjoyments save you then, if they can! Then go and cry to the gods you have chosen; let them deliver you in the day of your damnation!

The time is hastening on, when you will not think so lightly of Christ and salvation. Oh, when God shall commission DEATH to tear your guilty souls out of your bodies, when devils shall drag you away to the place of torment, when you find yourselves condemned to everlasting fire by that Saviour whom you now neglect - what would you then give for a Saviour!

When you see that the world has deserted you, that your companions in sin have deceived both themselves and you, and all your merry days are over forever - would you not then give a thousand worlds for Christ!

And now, dear immortal souls! Whenever you spend another prayerless, thoughtless day; whenever you give yourselves up to sinful pleasures, or an over-eager pursuit of the world - may your conscience become your preacher, and sting you with these solemn truths!

I cannot but fear, after all, that some of you, as usual, will continue careless and impenitent. Well, when you are suffering the punishment of this sin in hell, remember that you were warned, and acquit me from being accessory to your eternal ruin!

And when we all appear before the supreme Judge, and I am called to give an account of my ministry; when I am asked, "Did you warn these creatures of their danger? Did you lay before them their guilt in making light of these things?" You will hear me answer, "Yes, Lord, I warned them in the best manner I could - but they would not believe me; they would not regard what I said!"

Oh, must I give in this accusation against any of you? No, rather have mercy on yourselves - that I may give an account of you with joy, and not with grief!

~Samuel Davies~

The Road By Which The Spirit Leads God's Children!

 The Road By Which The Spirit Leads God's Children!

"As many as are led by the Spirit of God - they are the sons of God." (Romans 8:14).

All true Christians are under the leading and teaching of a power which is Almighty, though unseen - even the power of the Holy Spirit. They no longer turn to their own way, and walk in the light of their own eyes, and follow their own natural heart's desire. The Spirit leads them. The Spirit guides them. There is a movement in their hearts, lives, and affections, which they feel - though they may not be able to explain; and a movement which is always more or less in the same direction.

They are led away from sin, away from self-righteousness, away from the world!

This is the road by which the Spirit leads God's children. Those whom God adopts as His children - He teaches and trains. He shows them their own hearts. He makes them weary of their own ways.

They are all led to Christ. They are all led to the Bible. They are all led to prayer. They are all led to holiness. This is the beaten path along which the Spirit makes them to travel. Those whom God adopts - He always sanctifies. He makes sin very bitter to them. He makes holiness very sweet.

When they were taken into the wilderness, and taught to see their own emptiness - it is the leading of the Spirit.

It is He who leads them to Mount Sinai, and first shows them the law - that their hearts may be broken.

It is He who leads them to Mount Calvary, and shows them the Cross - that their hearts may be bound up and healed.

It is He who leads them to Mount Pisgah, and gives them distinct views of the promised land - that their hearts may be cheered.

Each and all of God's children is the subject of these leadings. Each and all is led by the right way, to bring him to a city of habitation.

Settle this down in your heart, and do not let it go: the children of God are a people "led by the Spirit of God," and always led more or less in the same way. Their experience will tally wonderfully when they compare notes in Heaven.

"I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths." (Proverbs 4:11).

"In your unfailing love You will lead the people You have redeemed.

In Your strength You will guide them to Your holy dwelling." (Exodus 15:13).

~J. C. Ryle~

Our Individual Worth

Our Individual Worth

"For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness of every one that believeth." (Romans 10:4).

Our lost race has always been prone to discount and reject the wonderful fact of the individual factor in the love of God. Far, far too many men and women in this world are convinced that God's love in the world is just one big lump - and the individual is not involved.

We have only to look around us with serious observation to confirm the fact that the devil has been successful in planting his lie that no one cares for the individual person.

But in nature around us, there appears to be very little individual concern. The burden of concern is always for the species.

But Jesus did not preach to the multitudes as though they were a faceless  crowd. He preached to them as individuals, and with a knowledge of the burdens and the needs of each one. Our Saviour did not come into the world to deal with statistics!

Each of us must come with full confidence that it is a personal word God has spoken to us in Christ, that "whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish!"

Lord, Your Word says that each of us is "fearfully and wonderfully made" and that You are concerned about the one lost sheep in a flock of a hundred. Thank You for purchasing my redemption by Your death and resurrection. I Love You, Lord!

~A. W. Tozer~

The Sanctification Of The Holy Spirit

 The Sanctification Of The Holy Spirit

"God has chosen you to salvation, through sanctification of the Holy Spirit." (2 Thessalonians 2:13).

To sanctify, is to separate and set apart for holy purposes and holy uses. The Lord has separated His people, by choosing them in Christ to be holy; and He sanctifies them now for Himself - by the power operation, and indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

In sanctification, a work is commenced which is to make us exactly like Christ. A sanctified person has his heart changed, his will renewed, his understanding enlightened, his conscience purified, and his affections spiritualized.

Sanctification extends to the whole man, soul and body; and is carried on through the Word, the ordinances, and the providence of God.

Sanctification has its seat in the heart; but it regulates the whole man, and appears in his conduct in every day life. If a man experiences the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, then sin grieves him, satan tries him, the world troubles him, and Heaven attracts him.

Spirit of Jesus, sanctify us deeply, thoroughly - that we may be just like Jesus! Sanctify us by every trial, by every affliction, by every privilege, by every comfort!

~James Smith~

The Transforming Power Of The Spirit!

 The Transforming Power Of The Spirit!

"To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints." (Romans 1:7).

Believers are separated from the world by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit calls them out from the world, and separates them as effectually as if a wall were built between them and it. He puts in them...

new hearts,

new minds,

new tastes,

new sorrows,

new joys,

new wishes,

new pleasures,

new longings.

He has given them...

new eyes,

new ears,

new affections,

new opinions.

He makes them new creatures. They are born again - and with a new birth they begin a new existence. Mighty indeed is the transforming power of the Spirit!

~J. C. Ryle~

Active, Operating, Influential Principles Of The Life!

 Active, Operating, Influential Principles Of The Life!

It is the work of the blessed Spirit to take of the things of Christ, and to show them to the soul; to reveal to us the precious benefits of redemption, and the riches of Divine grace - and to present them to us in such a transforming, and convincing, and penetrating form, as that they shall not only become sources of abiding comfort to the heart - but active, operating, influential principles of the life!

It is the work of the blessed Spirit to be the Comforter of the children of God. Yes... wherever a believer is afflicted; wherever he sheds a sorrowful tear; wherever he is pained by some heart-rending grief; wherever he is bowed beneath some oppressive burden - there is the Comforter to cheer, to solace, to sustain; pointing him from the wound - to its balm, from the grief -to its ultimate cure, from present suffering to eternal rest at God's right hand!

The Holy Spirit is not a traveler to sojourn for a season, but He is a Friend to abide and dwell with you - a spiritual mentor to be always near... to guide you - in all seasons of perplexity, to strengthen you = in all times of weakness, when you are discouraged - to uphold you, when you are wandering - to lead you back, when you are nearly overcome in your spiritual conflict - to bring you more of His divine strength and grace.

~John McDuff~

Walk In The Spirit!

 Walk In The Spirit!

"Be filled with the Spirit." (Ephesians 5:18).

"Walk in the Spirit (let your steps be guided by the Spirit), and you will not gratify the evil desires of the flesh." (Galatians 5:16).

Rich would the blessings of this day be, if we were filled fully with the Holy Spirit. The consequences of this sacred filling of the soul, would be impossible to overestimate. Life, comfort, light, purity, power, peace; and many other precious blessings are inseparable from the Spirit's gracious presence.

As sacred oil - He anoints the head of the believer, sets him apart to the priesthood of saints, and gives him grace to execute his duties aright.

As the only truly purifying water - He cleanses us from the power of sin and sanctifies us unto holiness, working in us to will and to do of the Lord's good pleasure.

As the only light - He reveals the Lord Jesus to us, and guides us in the way of righteousness. Enlightened by His pure celestial ray, we can no longer walk in darkness - but in the light of Scripture truth.

As purifying fire - He both purges us from dross, and sets our consecrated nature ablaze. He is the sacrificial flame by which we are enabled to offer our whole souls as a living sacrifice unto God.

As heavenly dew - He removes our barrenness and nourishes our lives. O that He would drop from above upon us at this early hour! Such morning dew would be a sweet commencement for the day.

As the heavenly Dove, with wings of peaceful love - He broods over the souls of believers; and as a Comforter He dispels the cres and doubts which mar the peace of His beloved ones. He descends upon His chosen people, and bears witness to their sonship by working in them a filial spirit by which they cry Abba, Father!

As the wind - He brings the breath of spiritual life to men. He performs the quickening operations by which the spiritual creation is animated and sustained.

O that we might feel the Spirit's presence and influence this day and every day!

~Charles Spurgeon~