The Power Of God # 3

 The Power Of God # 3

Consider God's power in PRESERVATION. No creature has power to preserve self. "Can papyrus reeds grow where there is no marsh? Can bulrushes flourish where there is no water?" (Job 8:11). Both man and beast would perish if there were not herbs for food; herbs would wither and die if the earth were not refreshed with fruitful showers. Therefore is God called the Preserver of "man and beast." (Psalm 36:6), upholding all things by the word of His power." (Hebrews 1:3).

What a marvel of divine power is the prenatal life of every human being! That an infant can live at all, and for so many months, in such cramped and filthy quarters, and that without breathing, is unaccountable without the power of God. Truly He "holds our soul in life". (Psalm 66:9). What a standing monument to the power of God!

Consider God's power in GOVERNMENT. Take His restraining of the malice of satan. "The devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8). He is filled with hatred against God, and with fiendish enmity against men, particularly the saints. HAe who envied Adam in paradise, envies us the pleasure of enjoying any of God's blessings. Could he have his will, he would treat all the same way he treated Job - he would send fire from Heaven on the fruits of the earth, destroy the cattle, cause a wind to overthrow our houses, and cover our bodies with boils. But little as men may realize it, God bridles him to a large extent, prevents him from carrying out his evil designs, and confines him within His ordinations.

So too, God restrains the natural corruption of men. He allows sufficient outbreakings of sin to show what fearful havoc has been wrought by man's apostasy from his Maker, ut who can conceive the frightful lengths to which men would go were God to remove His curbing hand? "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness, their feet are swift to shed blood." (Romans 3:14, 15). This is the nature of every descendant of Adam. Then what unbridled licentiousness and headstrong folly would triumph in the world, if the power of God did not interpose to lock down the floodgates of it! See Psalm 93:3, 4.

Consider God's power in JUDGMENT. When He smites, none can resist Him, see Ezekiel 22:14. How terribly this was exemplified at the Flood! God opened the windows of Heaven and broke up the great fountains of the deep, and (excepting those in the ark) the entire human race, helpless before the storm of His wrath, was swept away.

What a terrific word is that in Romans 9:22: "What if God, willing to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction." God is going to display His mighty power upon the reprobate not merely by incarcerating them in Gehenna, but by supernaturally preserving their bodies as well as souls amid the eternal burnings of the Lake of Fire.

Well may all tremble before such a God! To treat with impudence One who can crush us more easily than we can a moth, is a suicidal policy. To openly defy Him is the very height of insanity. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him." (Psalm 2:12).

Well may the enlightened soul adore such a God! The wondrous and infinite perfections of such a Being call for fervent worship. "Who among the gods is like You, O Lord? Who is like You - majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?"

Well may the saint trust such a God! He is worthy of implicit confidence. Nothing is too hard for Him. But seeing that He is clothed with omnipotence no prayer is too hard for Him to answer, no need is too great for Him to supply, no passion too strong for Him to subdue, no temptation too powerful for Him to deliver from, no misery too deep for Him to relieve.

"The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1).

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21).

~A. W. Pink~

(The End)

Spiritual Fluctuations

 Spiritual Fluctuations

"Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God" (Psalm 55:19). As there are some people who uniformly enjoy good health - so there is a class of religious professor who appear to maintain one steady level of experience. There is no rise and fall of their emotional thermometer, no ebbs and flows in the tide of their energy, no ups and downs in their history. Their faith (such as it is) does not flag, their "assurance" is never eclipsed by the dark clouds of unbelief, their zeal continues lively to the end. Are such people to be envied or pitied? Perhaps such a question seems senseless. Does not the timid and trembling believer, whose case varies as often and as radically as the weather, frequently wish that his experience approximated far more closely, to that which we have just described.

Surely such a uniform level of experience, is greatly to be coveted. What more desirable than unruffled peace, unbroken confidence, uninterrupted joy! Ah - but all is not gold that glitters! Much which passes in the churches for the coin of Canaan lacks a genuine ring to it. We must needs inquire - Is such a peace that of the graveyard - or the peace of Heaven? Is such confidence a carnal one - or the fruit of the Spirit? Is it a delusive or a substantial joy? In order to ascertain this, the question has to be raised - Is the fear of God upon such characters? Do they furnish any clear evidence that it is so? The solemn declaration of our text demands an impartial answer to these queries.

What "changes" the real Christian experiences in his conflicts with sin! At conversion, it often seems as though the believer is completely delivered from all his spiritual enemies. His heart has been so melted and drawn out Godwards, his sense of Christ dying on the Cross has imparted such a hatred and horror of evil, that he is filled with a desire and determination to live henceforth upon the pleasing of his Lord. But how soon he discovers that the Wilderness of Sin lies between him and the Promised Land, and that though the Egyptians are dead, there are Amalekites to assail him! True, God grants him many a token of His favor along the way, and at each gracious reviving, indwelling sin appears to slumber; but soon after it awakens and rages worse than ever, and, "I am carnal, sold under sin" (Romans 7:14) becomes his cry!

What "changes" the real Christian experiences in his enjoyment of the Scriptures! Often he is able to feelingly exclaim, "More to be desired are they than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb" (Psalm 19:10). But alas, it is by no means always so. When fellowship with God is broken - our relish is lost for His Word, and it becomes neglected. 

What "changes" the real Christian experiences in his faith! On some occasions his heart goes out instinctively to God so that he can exclaim, "I will trust and not be afraid" (Isaiah 12:2); but at other times he is filled with doubts and fears, and is quite unable to lay hold of the Divine promises. 

What "changes" the real Christian experiences in his prayer life! One day he is favored with real freedom, and his devotions are delightful - but another day he is bound in his heart, and his attempts at supplication are wearisome. O how different it is, when the believer is favored with conscious access to God, and an answer of peace is granted him.

What "changes" the true Christian experiences in his outward lot! For a time - perhaps for years - the smile of Providence is upon him, and then all is drastically altered. One trouble follows swiftly upon the heels of another, until the sorely tried soul is ready to say with Jacob, "all these things are against me!" (Gen. 42:36). satan takes full advantage of his low spirits and shattered nerves. Thoroughly dejected, he asks, "where are Your former loving-kindnesses to me?" (Psalm 89:49).

But such "changes" or afflictions are helpful - for they deeply exercise an honest heart, humble him before the Lord, cause him to tread more softly, and deepen his fear of God. Long continued ease and comfort, produce the worst effects upon the godless. But the spiritual flucuations to which we have alluded, are a part of God's discipline for the believers growth in piety!

~A. W. Pink~

(The End)

The Power Of God # 2

 The Power Of God # 2

"Lo, these are parts of His ways: but how little a portion is heard of Him? but the thunder of His power who can understand?" (Job 26:14). Who is able to count all the monuments of His power? Even that which is displayed of His might in the visible creation is utterly beyond our powers of conception, still less are we able to conceive of omnipotence itself. There is infinitely more power lodged in the nature of God than is expressed in all His works.

"Parts of His ways" we behold in creation, providence, redemption, but only a "little part" of His might is seen in them. Remarkably is this brought out, "And  there was no hiding of His powers" (Habakkuk 3:4). It is scarcely possible to imagine anything moe grandiose than the imagery of this whole chapter, yet nothing in it surpasses the nobility of this statement. The prophet (in vision) beheld the mighty God scattering the hills and overturning the mountains, which one would think afforded an amazing demonstration of His power. Nay, says our verse, that is rather the "hiding" than the displaying of His power. What is meant? This: so inconceivable, so immense, so uncontrollable is the power of Deity, that the fearful convulsions which He works in nature conceal, more than they reveal, of His infinite might!

It is very beautiful to link together the following passages:

He "treads upon the waves of the sea" (Job 9:8) which expresses God's uncontrollable power.

"He walks in the circuit of Heaven" (Job 22:14), which tells of the immensity of His presence.

He "walks upon the wings of the wind" (Psalm 104:3), which signifies the amazing swiftness of His operations. 

Let us now consider God's power in CREATION. "The heavens are Yours, and the earth is Yours, everything in the world is Yours - You created it all. You created north and south (Psalm 89:11). Before man  can work he must have both tools and materials - btu God began with nothing, and by His Word alone out of nothing made all things. The intellect cannot grasp it. "God spoke, and it was done; He commanded and it stood fast" (Psalm 33:9). Primeval matter heard His voice. "God said, Let there be ... and it was so" (Genesis 1). Well may we exclaim, "You have a strong arm; Your hand is mighty, Your right hand is exalted" (Psalm 89:13).

"Who that looks upward to the midnight sky, and , with an eye of reason, beholds its rolling wonders; who can forbear inquiring: "Of what were their mighty orbs formed?" Amazing to relate, they were produced without materials. They sprang from emptiness itself. The stately fabric of universal nature emerged out of nothing. How was it all connected into one finely-proportioned and nobly finished structure?  The Lord merely spoke and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born." (Psalm 33;6).

~A. W. Pink~

(continued with # 3)

The Power Of God # 1

 The Power Of God # 1

We cannot have a right conception of God unless we think of Him as all-powerful, as well as all-wise. He who cannot do what he will, and perform all his pleasure, cannot be God. As God has a will to resolve what he deems good, so has He power to execute His will.

"The power of God is that ability and strength whereby He can bring to pass whatever He pleases, whatever His infinite wisdom may direct, and whatever the infinite purity of His will may resolve - As holiness is the beauty of all God's attributes, so power is that which gives life and action to all the perfections of the divine nature. How vain would be the eternal counsels, if power did not step in to execute them. Without power - His mercy would be but feeble pity. His promises is like Himself - infinite, eternal, incomprehensible; it can neither be checked, restrained, nor frustrated by the creature!" (Stephen Charnock).

"God has spoken once; twice have I heard this, that power belongs unto God." (Psalm 62:11). "God has spoken once" - nothing more is necessary! "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but His Word abides forever."

"God has spoken once" - how befitting His divine majesty! We por mortals may speak often and yet fail to be heard. He speaks but once and the thunder of His power is heard on a thousand hills.

"The Lord thundered from Heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded amid the hail and burning coals. He shot His arrows and scattered His enemies; His lightning flashed, and they were greatly confused. Then at Your command, O Lord, at the blast of Your breath, the bottom of the sea could be seen, and the foundations of the earth were laid bare." (Psalm 18:13-15).

"God has spoken once" - behold His unchanging authority. "For who in the Heaven can be compared unto the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord?" (Psalm 89:6). "All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as He pleases with the powers of Heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back His hand or say to Him: What have You done?" (Daniel 4:35).

This was openly displayed when God became became incarnate and tabernacled among men. To the leper He said, Jesus reached out and touched him. "I am willing, be healed!" And instantly he was cured of his leprosy." (Matt. 8:3). To one who had lain in the grave four days He cried, "Lazarus, come forth" - and the dead came forth. The stormy wind and the angry waves were hushed at a single word from Him. A legion of demons could not resist His authoritative command.

"Power belongs unto God," and to Him alone. Not a creature in the entire universe has an atom of power, but what God delegates. But God's power is not acquired, nor does it depend upon any recognition by any other authority. It belongs to Him inherently.

"God's power is like Himself, self-existent, self-sustained. The mightiest of men cannot add so much as a shadow of increased power to the Omnipotent One. He sits on no buttressed throne and leans on no assisting arm. His court is not maintained by His courtiers, not does it borrow its splendor from His creatures. He is Himself the great central source and Originator of all power." (Charles Spurgeon).

Not only does all creation bear witness to the great power of God, but also to His entire independence of all created things. Listen to His own challenge: "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell Me if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone?" (Acts 38:4-6). How completely is the pride of man laid in the dust!

"Power is also used as a name of God, "the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power" (Mark 14:62), that is, at the right hand of God. God and power are so inseparable that they are reciprocated. As His essence is immense, not to be confined in place; as it is eternal, not to be measured in time; so it is almighty, not to be limited in regard of action." (Charnock).

~A. W. Pink~

(continued with # 2)

Saving Faith

Saving Faith

There is a dead faith, as well as a living one. There is a faith of devils, as well as a faith of God's elect. There is a faith which is vain and useless, as well as a faith which justifies and saves.

 How shall a man know whether he has true saving faith? The thing may be found out! The Ethiopian may be known by the color of his skin; and the leopard may be known by his spots. True faith may always be known by certain marks. These marks are laid down unmistakably in Scripture. Reader, let me endeavor to set these marks plainly before you. Look at them carefully - and test your own soul by what I am going to say.

1. He who truly believes in Christ - has a NEW HEART. It is written, "If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature - old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Cor. 5:17). A believer has no longer the same nature with which he was born. He is changed, renewed, and transformed after the image of His Lord and Saviour. He who minds first, the things of the flesh - has no saving faith. True faith, and spiritual regeneration, are inseparable companions. An unconverted person - is not a genuine believer!

2. He who truly believes in Christ - is a HOLY person in heart and life. It is written that God "purifies the heart by faith," and that Christians are "sanctified by faith." "Whoever has this hope in him, purifies himself." (Acts 15:9; 26:18; 1 John 3:3). A believer loves what God loves and hates what God hates. His heart's desire is to walk in the way of God's commandments, and to abstain from all manner of evil. His wish is to follow after the things which are just, and pure, and honest, and lovely - and to cleanse himself from all filthiness of flesh and spirit. He falls far short of his aim, in many things. He find daily life, a constant fight with indwelling corruption. But he fights on - and resolutely refuses to serve sin. Where there is no holiness, we may be sure there is no saving faith! An unholy man is not a genuine believer!

3. He who truly believes in Christ - works godly WORKS. It is written, that "faith works by love" (Gal. 5:6). True belief will never make a  man idle, or allow him to sit still, contented with his own religion. It will stir him to do acts of love, kindness, and charity, according as he sees opportunity. It will constrain him to walk in the steps of his Master, who 'went about doing good." In one way or another, it will make him work. Where there is no working love - there is no faith. A lazy, selfish professing Christian - has no right to regard himself as a genuine believer!

4. He who truly believes in Christ - overcomes the WORLD. It is written, that "whoever is born of God, overcomes the world - and this is the victory which overcomes the world - even our faith" (1 John 5:4). A true believer is not ruled by the world's standard of right or wrong, of truth or error. He is independent of the world's opinion. He cares little for the world's priase. He looks at things unseen - he sees an invisible Saviour, a coming judgement, and a crown of glory, which never fades away. There is no genuine faith with a man who is habitually conformed to the world - is not a genuine believer!

5. He who truly believes in Christ - has the witness of the Holy Spirit. He has internal evidences which the world cannot understand. Where there are no pious feelings - there is no faith. A man who knows nothing of an inward, spiritual experimental religion - is not a genuine believer!

6. He who truly believes in Christ - has a special regard to the person of CHRIST Himself. A true believer's religion does not consist in mere intellectual assent to a certain set of propositions and doctrines. It consists in union, communion, and fellowship with an actual living Person, even Jesus the Son of God. It is an actual living, personal faith in Jesus.

Where these marks of which I have been speaking, are utterly lacking, I dare not tell a man that he is a true believer. He may be called a Christian, and attend church, but if he knows nothing of these marks - I dare not pronounce him a believer. He is yet dead in trespasses and sins. He will perish everlastingly.

Show me a man who has these marks - and I feel a strong confidence about the state of his soul. He may be poor and needy in this world - but he is rich in the sight of God. He may be despised and sneered at by man - but he is honorable in the sight of the King of kings. He is traveling towards heaven! He has a mansion ready for him in the Father's house. He is cared for by Christ, while on earth. He will be owned by Christ before assembled worlds, in the life which is to  come!

~J. C. Ryle~

(The End)

The Bounties Of God

 The Bounties Of God

"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man - the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." (1 Corinthians 2:9).

How often this passage is quoted only that far; how rarely are the words added, "But God has revealed them unto us by His Spirit" (verse 10). Why is this? Is it because so few of God's people search out and enjoy what the Spirit has revealed in the Word about those things which God has prepared for those who love Him? If we were more occupied with God's riches, than with our poverty; Christ's fullness, than our emptiness; the divine bounties, than our leanness - on what a different level of experience we would live!

We are much impressed by noting some of "the riches of His grace" (Ephesians 1:7). It is striking to note that our Christian life starts at a marriage feast; just as Christ's first miracle was wrought at one. The word to us is, "Come, for all things are now ready"; "Behold I have prepared My dinner; My oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready; come unto the marriage feast. Observe the "I have prepared," agreeing with "the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." (1 Corinthians 2:9). Notice the "are ready," confirming "God has revealed them unto us" (1 Corinthians 2:10). The creature contributes nothing; all is provided for him. Finally, weigh the "come unto the marriage feast." The figure is very blessed; it speaks of joy, festivity, feasting.

He spread the banquet, make me eat, Bid all my fears remove; Yes, o'er my guilty, rebel head He placed His banner - LOVE.

A beautiful type of the lavish manner in which God bestows His bounties upon His people is found in Genesis 9:3, "Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things." 

These blessings are based upon God's estimate of the value of Christ's sacrifice of Himself. The abiding worth of that sacrifice is immeasurable and illimitable; as immeasurable as the personal excellency of the Son, as illimitable as the Father's delight in Him. The nature and extent of those blessings, which accrue to God's elect on the ground of Christ's finished work, are intimated by the substantives and adjectives employed by the Holy Spirit when He describes the profuseness of the divine bounties already bestowed upon us, and which we shall enjoy forever!

Take first God's grace. Not only are we told of the "riches of His grace", and of the exceeding riches of His grace:, but also we read that it has "abounded unto many," and that we receive "abundance of grace," yes, that grace has super-abounded - the limitless wealth of divine grace flowing forth and multiplying itself in its objects. The foundation or moving cause of this is found in John 1. When the only begotten Son became flesh and tabernacled here for a season, it was as One who was "full of grace and truth." Because we have been made joint heirs with Him it is written, "And of His fullness have all we received and grace upon grace." (John 1:16).

Take again God's love. There has been neither reserve nor restraint in the outflow of His love for His people with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3).

Our present theme is inexhaustible. Our Lord came here that His people "might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).

Consider now His confidences. The Lord Jesus said to His disciples, "Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knows not what his Lord does. But I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you" (John 15:15). 

In such lavish measure God has blessed His people. What shall our response be to such divine munifleence? Surely it is that "the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many rebound to the glory of God" (2 Corinthians 4:15). Surely it is that we should "abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13). 

If God speaks so uniformly of the varied character of our blessing - as being so abundant it must be because He wants to impress our hearts with the exuberance of the bounties He has bestowed on us. The practical effect of this on our souls should cause us to "rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:11), to draw out all that is within us in true worship, to fit us for a closer and deeper fellowship with Him. "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work." (2 Corinthians 9:8).

~A. W. Pink~

(The End)

The Love Of God To Us # 2

 The Love Of God To Us # 2

Clearly that lays me under a thousand time greater obligation to love, serve, and glorify Him - than had He loved me for the first time when my heart was won. All of the acts of God to His people in time, are the expressions of the love He bore them from eternity. It is because God loves us in Christ, and has done so from everlasting, that the gifts of His love are irrevocable. They are the bestowed of "the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

The love of God indeed makes a change in us when it is "shed abroad in our hearts," but it makes no change in Him. He sometimes varies the dispensations of His providence toward us, but that is not because His affection has altered. Even when He chastens us, it is in love (Hebrews 12:6), since He has our good in view.

Let us look more closely at some of the operations of God's love.

First, God's love manifested in election. "We are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit (His quickening) and belief of the truth" (2 Thessalonians 2:13).

There is an infallible connection between God's love, and His selection of those who were to be saved. That election is the consequence of His love, is clear again from Deuteronomy: "The Lord did not set His love upon you, nor choose you, because you were more in number than any people" (7:7). So again: "In love, having predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will" (Ephesians 1:4-5).

Second, God's love manifested in redeeming. As we have seen from 1 John 4:10, out of His sovereign love God made provision for Christ to rendeer satisfaction for their sins, though prior to their conversion He was angry with them in respect to His violated Law. And "how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32). This is another clear proof that His Son was not "delivered up" to the Cross for all mankind. For He gives them neither the Holy Spirit, a new nature, nor repentance and faith.

Third, God's love manifested in effectual calling. From the enthroned Saviour the Father sends forth the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:33). Having loved His elect with an everlasting love, with loving-kindness He draws them (Jeremiah 31:3), quickens into newness of life, calls them out of darkness into His marvelous light, and makes them His children. "Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God" (1 John 3:1). If filiation does not issue from God's love as a sure effect, to what purpose are those words?

Fourth, God's love manifested in healing of backslidings. "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely" (Hosea 14:4), without reluctance or hesitation. "Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it" (Song 8:7).

Such is God's love to His people - invincible, unquenchable. Not only is there no possibility of its expiring, but also the black waters of backsliding cannot extinguish it, nor the floods of unbelief put it out.

Nothing is more irresistible in the natural world than death. In the realm of grace, nothing is so invincible as the love of God. Goodwin remarked: "What difficulties does the love of God overcome! For God to overcome His own heart! Do you think it was nothing for Him to put His Son to death? - When He came to call us, had He no difficulties which love overcame? We were dead in trespasses and sins - yet from the great love with which He loved us, He quickened us in the grave of our corruption, even then did God come and conquer us.

After our calling, how sadly do we provoke God! Such temptations that if it were possible the elect should be deceived. It is so with all Christians. No righteous man, but he is scarcely saved, and yet saved he is, because the love of God is invincible - it overcomes all difficulties."

An application is hardly necessary for such a theme. Let God's love daily engage your mind by devout mediations on it, so that the affections of your heart may be drawn out to Him. When cast down in spirit, or in sore straits, plead His love in prayer, assured that it cannot deny anything good for you. Make God's wondrous love to you the incentive of your obedience to Him - gratitude requires nothing less.

~A. W. Pink~

(The End)