The Heart Of The Gospel!

"I have found, my brethren, by long experience that nothing touches the heart like the cross of Christ. When the heart is touched and wounded by the two-edged sword of the Law, nothing heals its wounds like the balm that flows from the pierced heart of Jesus." -The Heart of The Gospel, July 1886 by Charles. H. Spurgeon

Guilty Conscience? God Sees It!

Their Condemnation Is Deserved!

We have many men today who preach fact as though it were fiction, and fiction as though it were fact.

Sir, if you do not believe what you preach - get out of the pulpit! I don't care how popular you are! Popularity is not a benchmark of spirituality! Preach the truth or step down!

How many false prophets do we have who stand up and say "Thus saith the Lord" and then call bitter sweet and sweet bitter? Woe to them! They lead sheep astray and scatter the flock!

Their condemnation is deserved!

We Need A Revival In The Pulpit!

Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen". I am convinced that this is the reason why the gospel is so little preached from many pulpits in this day and age! How can we preach about the One we have not believed in, or the One we have never met? Oh God, we need a revival amongst the people in this land, but more than that, we need a revival in the pulpit!

Am I A Soldier Of The Cross?

Am I a soldier of the cross,
a follower of the Lamb,
and shall I fear to own his cause,
or blush to speak his name?

Must I be carried to the skies
on flowery beds of ease,
while others fought to win the prize,
and sailed through bloody seas?

Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace,
to help me on to God?

Sure I must fight, if I would reign;
increase my courage, Lord.
I'll bear the toil, endure the pain,
supported by thy word.

Thy saints in all this glorious war
shall conquer though they die;
they see the triumph from afar,
by faith they bring it nigh.

When that illustrious day shall rise,
and all thy armies shine
in robes of victory through the skies,
the glory shall be thine.

Isaac Watts, 1674-1748

Michael Jackson's REAL cause of death! [OFFICIAL]

All You Could Do Was Look Up!

Last night I took the kids down to feed some ducks by the river. While we were there a flock of a few hundred sulphur crested cockatoo's flew low overhead with a great chorus of screeching. It was breath taking! The sight was amazing and the sound deafening! All you could do was look up!

I couldn't help but think though of the Lord's return and the passage in Jude:

"See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts that they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words that ungodly sinners have spoken against him!"

Some will be filled with rapturous joy at the sight of their Lord and with the thought of dwelling with him for eternity, others will call to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?"

A Timely Warning For Hillsong!

Concerning 'Handel's Messiah' John Newton wrote:

How shall we view the people of our times? I see the great mass of people involved in one common charge of high treason against the omnipotent God! They are already in a state of imprisonment, but have not yet been brought to their trial. The evidence against them is so plain, strong and pointed, that there is not the least doubt of their guilt being fully proved--and that nothing but a free pardon from God can preserve them from their deserved eternal punishment!

In this situation, it would seem in their best interest--to avail themselves of every expedient in their power for obtaining God's mercy. But they are entirely heedless of their imminent danger, and are wholly taken up with contriving methods of amusing themselves, that they may pass away the term of their imprisonment with as much cheerfulness as possible!

Among other resources, they call in the assistance of music--and they are particularly pleased with 'Handel's Messiah'. They choose to make:
the solemnities of their impending judgment,
the character of their Judge,
the methods of His procedure, and
the dreadful punishment to which they are exposed
--the themes of their musical entertainment!

And, as if they were quite unconcerned in the outcome--their attention is chiefly fixed upon the skill of the composer, in adapting the style of his music--to the very solemn subjects with which they are trifling!

The offended King, however, unasked by them, and out of His great mercy and compassion towards those who have no pity for themselves, sends them a gracious message. He assures them that He is unwilling that they should eternally perish; and that He requires, yes, He entreats them to submit to Him! He points out a way in which He offers them a free and a full pardon!

But, instead of taking a single step towards a compliance with His undeserved and gracious offer--they set His message to music! And this, together with a description of their present hopeless state, and of the fearful doom awaiting them if they continue obstinate, is sung for their entertainment, and accompanied with every kind of music!

Surely, if such a case as I have supposed, could be found in real life, though I might admire the musical taste of these people--I would certainly commiserate their stupidity and hardness of heart!

The Believer's Riches In Christ (From A-Z)

I was greatly encouraged today by meditating on the following:

Accepted in the beloved (Ephesians 1:6)
Born of God (I John 5:1)
Crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20)
Delivered from the power of darkness (Colossians 1:13)
Enriched in everything in Him (I Corinthians 1:5)
Forgiven for Christ’s sake (Ephesians 4:32)
Grounded in love (Ephesians 3:17)
Hid with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3)
Instructed in the way of the Lord (Acts 18:25)
Justified by His grace (Titus 3:7)
Kept by the power of God (I Peter 1:5)
Led by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14)
Made nigh by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14)
Nourished in the words of faith (I Timothy 4:6)
Ordained to eternal life (Acts 13:48)
Perfected forever (Hebrews 10:14)
Quickened together with Christ (Ephesians 2:5)
Redeemed from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13)
Sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise (Ephesians 1:13)
Translated into the kingdom of His dear Son (Colossians 1:13)
Unreproveable in His sight (Colossians 1:22)
Victorious through our Lord Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 15:57)
Washed from our sins in His own blood (Revelation 1:5)
X-alted in glory (Luke 18:14)
Yearned over by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26)
Zealous of good works (Titus 2:14)

From Higher Ground May 2008 Volume 3, Issue 2