Powerful, supernatural, irresistible, mighty, overwhelming, constraining!

by Spurgeon

We declare on scriptural authority that the human will
is so desperately set on mischief, so depraved, so
inclined to everything that is evil, and so disinclined
to everything that is good, that without the powerful,
supernatural, irresistible influence of the Holy Spirit,
no one will ever be constrained toward Christ.

A man is not saved against his will, but he is made
willing by the operation of the Holy Spirit. A mighty
grace which he does not wish to resist enters into the
man, disarms him, makes a new creature of him, and
he is saved.

If I did not believe that there was might going forth
with the word of Jesus which makes men willing, and
which turns them from the error of their ways by the
mighty, overwhelming, constraining force of divine
influence, I should cease to glory in the cross of Christ.

I have many people in this city.

"I have many people in this city."
Acts 18:10
(by Spurgeon)
This should be a great encouragement to try to
do good, since God has among the vilest of the
vile, the most reprobate, the most debauched
and drunken, an elect people who must be saved.

When you take the Word to them, you do so
because God has ordained you to be the
messenger of life to their souls, and they must
receive it, for so the decree of predestination
runs. They are as much redeemed by blood
as the saints before the eternal throne.

They are Christ's property, and yet perhaps they
are lovers of the ale house, and haters of holiness.
But if Jesus Christ purchased them he will have
them. God is not unfaithful to forget the price
which his Son has paid. He will not allow his
substitution to be in any case an ineffectual,
dead thing.

Tens of thousands of redeemed ones are not
regenerated yet, but regenerated they must be;
and this is our comfort when we go forth to
them with the quickening Word of God.

If God had left me alone

by Charles Spurgeon

Sometimes, when I see some of the worst characters
in the street, I feel as if my heart must burst forth in
tears of gratitude that God has never let me act as they
have done! I have thought, "If God had left me alone,
and had not touched me by His grace, what a great sinner
I would have been! I would have run to the utmost lengths
of sin, dived into the very depths of evil. Nor would I have
stopped at any vice or folly, if God had not restrained me!"

I feel that I would have been a very king of sinners, if God
had left me alone. I cannot understand the reason why I
am saved, except upon the ground that God would have it
so. I cannot, if I look ever so earnestly, discover any kind of
reason in myself why I should be a partaker of Divine grace.

You are the one who has done this!

(John Flavel, "The Fountain of Life" 1671)

"I remained speechless. I did not open my mouth
because You are the one who has done this!"
(Psalm 39:9)

Look upwards, when tribulations come upon you!
Look to that sovereign Lord, who commissions and
sends them upon you. You know that troubles do
not rise out of the dust, nor spring out of the
ground, but are framed in heaven.

Troubles and afflictions are of the Lord's framing and
devising, to reduce His wandering people to Himself.

You may observe much of divine wisdom in the choice,
measure, and season of your troubles.

God acts sovereignly, in electing the instruments of
your affliction; in making them as afflictive as He
pleases; and in making them obedient both to His
call, in coming and going, when He pleases. Now,
could you in times of trouble look up to this sovereign
hand, in which your souls, bodies, and all their comforts
and mercies are--how quiet would your hearts be!

Oh, when we have to do with men, and look no higher, how
do our spirits swell and rise with revenge and impatience!
But if you once come to see that man as a rod in your
Father's hand, you will be quiet. "Be still, and know that
I am God." Consider with whom you have to do; not with
your fellow, but with your God, who can puff you to
destruction with one blast of His mouth; in whose hand
you are, as the clay in the potter's hand.

It is for lack of looking up to God in our troubles, that
we fret, murmur, and despond at the rate we do.

"It is the Lord. Let Him do what seems good to Him."
(1 Samuel 3:18)

It quenches the thirst of the soul

(Horatius Bonar, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ")

"My blood is the true drink!" John 6:55

The blood of the Lamb contains the true drink for the
soul. It quenches the thirst of the soul--the thirst
of parching produced by an evil conscience and a sense
of wrath. It removes the wrath and the sense of wrath,
by showing us that wrath transferred to the Substitute.

It relieves the conscience when first we come into
contact with it; and it keeps it relieved from day
to day, as we drink it by faith.

It is 'the true drink.'

It calms!

It revives!

It refreshes!

It soothes!

It is like cold water to the thirsty lips under a
scorching sun. Nothing but the blood can allay
this thirst; nothing else can be . . .
drink for the soul,
drink for the intellect,
drink for the conscience,
drink for the heart!

Read This

This quote from John Owen's Communion with God is a must read.

HT: Justin Taylor

Latest Sacred Sandwich

I have always enjoyed the Sacred Sandwich. It was recently remodeled, and it is better than ever. Along with Purgatorio, these, in my estimation, are the funniest sites on the web.

Good satire can make a great point, especially when dealing with the church in 21st century America.

Letter from a Martyr

Powerful letter from a martyr.

HT: Triablogue

Google Earth Community

From the "killing time" files--

I have been using Google Earth for a while now as a fun side bar to busy days. I recently found Google Earth Community. Users from all over the world "tag" places on Google Earth that interest them. It's quite fun, if you have a few hours to kill. :-)