WIN CHRIST!

"...that I may win Christ." —Philippians 3:8 [KJV]

No sooner had good king Hezekiah established his throne in righteousness, restored religion in his kingdom, set his whole heart to serve the Lord, and his God prospered him, but an invading Sennacherib enters his territories, and encamps against his fenced cities.—II Chronicles 32:1. Scripture and experience daily preach to God's children, "This is not your rest:" You are in a militant state. Though Jesus hath taken possession of the soul, and cast out the strong man armed, think not of folding your arms, and saying, I shall see war no more; for your adversary has many after-games to play. He will not only encamp against your fenced cities, and attack your out-works, but will also attempt your very heart and mind. Beware of such suggestions as these, they are the whispers of a destroying foe: "Come, you are now an excellent Christian; you have a tongue to speak for Jesus, you don't live and act as the rest of the careless, sinful world, you have made great advances in holiness, now you have somewhat to glory in yourself before God." Jesus, Master, save us in this hour of Satan's attack! When in such a storm, better to cast overboard all the heavy lading of self-confidence to right the ship. "A haughty spirit goeth before a fall."—Proverbs 16:18.  

Let us ever remember, Jesus is all our gain and all our glory. We are still poor sinners. By renouncing all, and cleaving to Him, we enjoy all in Him. No fruits produced, no comforts experienced, but by abiding in Him. What! possess Jesus, and yet want to WIN Him? Yes. O there is much more knowledge of, peace from, love to, joy in, and conformity to JESUS, to be gained and experienced, than any of us have yet found! Jesus-enamoured hearts, like avaricious gamesters, never, never think they have enough of Jesus in time, till they have gained the full enjoyment of His matchless charms in glory. They renounce all for His sake. Wherefore? on terms and conditions to barter for an interest in Christ? No: gracious, loving hearts detest such base undervaluing thoughts of their infinitely precious Saviour. Shall the dross and dung of our doings and performances be put in competition with His most glorious excellency, who is our prize, our portion, our treasure? "Whom have I in heaven but Thee, or what is there on earth I desire in comparison of Thee?" will ever be the language of faith.  

My God, my life, my love, To Thee, to Thee I call; I cannot live if Thou remove, For Thou art all in all.  

What empty things are all the skies, And this inferior clod? There's nothing here deserves my joys, There's nothing like my God.  

The smilings of Thy face. How amiable they are! 'Tis heav'n to rest in Thy embrace, And no where else but there. 

-William Mason (1724-1797 A.D.) 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

CHRIST OUR ONLY AND PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS

" The flesh lusteth against the Spirit." —Galatians 5:17 [KJV] Christian experience fully proves this apostolic truth. Hence the children of God cannot do the things that they would: nor have we any authority from God's word to conclude this lusting ever ceased in any of the saints till they got to glory; none are delivered from it while in the flesh. For, as the renewed soul or spirit loves to enjoy spiritual and heavenly objects, so the flesh, or unrenewed part, lusts after those objects it is naturally conversant with, and from which it derives its happiness.  Here is thy conflict, O Christian. Hence the necessity of thy Lord's command, "Watch always." This is the use of the doctrine. What woeful effects have fulfilling the lusts or desires of the flesh produced in eminent saints! Thou standest by faith, be not high-minded, but fear. The conceptions of lust are the productions of sin.— see James 1:15 . The commission of sin contracts fresh s
Read more

Incoming GOOD NEWS!

  Weekend Gospel message to follow for All Hands   (17-19SEP21) Heads-Up   ---   Please find enclosed encouragement in   SO GREAT SALVATION   by the perfect and finished work of   our Lord Jesus Christ in saving poor, needy and wretched sinners by His sovereign free grace - God's unmerited favor to save us  from our sins and from Hell: HOW GOD SAVES SINNERS In Genesis chapter six and seven we have the story of the flood and how God  saved Noah and his family from the horrendous destruction by putting them  into an Ark. We see the righteous judgment of God against sin and the mercy  of God revealed through Christ. The Ark of God is a worthy picture and  pattern of how the Lord is pleased to save sinners and justify them in Jesus  Christ. Here are five things to remember about how God saves sinners. 1). The grace of God , "Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD" (Genesis 6:8) .  Noah did not earn, merit or deserve grace, he found God to be gracious. It  was the sovereign
Read more

3 LIES ABOUT GOD & 3 TRUTHS ABOUT GOD

 I want to share three lies about God I’ve recently seen tossed about on social media as truth by professed believers: (1) God can move in your life.......if you permit Him. (2) Christ can be Lord.......if you confess Him. (3) God can do anything ........except overcome a man’s will. Friends, if God doesn’t even have sovereignty over the human heart (without being granted permission, of course) who is serving who? Who really has all power in this universe? Many of you reading this post pray to God for the salvation of your loved ones. Yet you believe it is your loved one who has to grant God permission to save! God is left only to making their life miserable in the hopes they come to Him. Such foolishness! Such powerlessness! Truth #1 : God moves in the lives of His children without human permission . Truth #2 : Men do not make Christ Lord. He IS Lord. Your current opinion of Him no more changes His Lordship over you than if you declared a boiling lava pit to be a s
Read more