Encouragement in Christ JESUS ~ 29 September, 2024 A.D.

"We are perplexed, but not in despair." -II Corinthians 4:8 [KJV]

God’s dear children have not all the same clear perception of truth. They are not all of one mind and the same sentiment in all points. Yet, they all have but one Lord, one faith, and one hope. And, there is an uniformity in their experience, with respect to the exceeding sinfulness of sin—the depravity of their nature—their perplexities from the world, the flesh, and the devil—their love of the scriptures—and the exceeding preciousness of Christ. This proves that they are taught by and with the same Spirit. 

We have perplexities of a spiritual nature, beside those in common with others, which natural men are total strangers to. These are no weak evidences of our spiritual birth. To be perplexed with a body of sin and death—with a sense of unbelief—with deadness, formality, wanderings in spiritual duties—with Satan’s temptations, injections, accusations—corrupt reasonings, and carnal pleadings: the feeling all these makes it manifest, that the soul is born of God, and alive to God. For when dead in sin, we felt nothing of them. How exceedingly absurd, and foolish then, do many act, because thus perplexed. 

O they are ready to give up hope, cast away confidence, and deny they are God’s children. But their sense of these things, and groaning under them, are evident tokens of salvation. “Perplexed, but not in despair.” O take heed of giving the least way to despair: Of desponding: Of letting go your confidence in Christ: Of giving up for one moment, the least degree of hope in Him. For, consider the evil of this. 

(1st.) You hereby slight the everlasting love of God the Father to sinners. 

(2d.) You dishonour the work and salvation of the Son of God for sinners. 

(3d.) You grieve the Holy Spirit, the Comforter of sinners. 

(4th.) You disregard the gospel of grace, glad tidings to sinners; and set at nought all God’s precious promises in Christ unto sinners. 

(5th.) You give the enemy all possible advantage over you. He stands, and cries, “There, there, so would I have it.” 

(6th.) You give sin all its strength against you. 

(7th.) You perplex, distress, and darken your own soul, whereby you are hindered from running the way of God’s commands with love and delight. A thousand evils are connected with indulging despondence. Away then with all false humility. It is devilish. 

Hold fast this faithful saying, for it is worthy of all acceptation, at all times, under all circumstances, Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners (I Timothy 1:15.) Till the devil can blot that truth out of God’s word, or make you any worse than a sinner; you, as a quickened sinner, have the same reason as St. Paul, or any other apostle, to say, "I am always confident.” -II Corinthians 5:6

 

Jesus our soul’s delightful choice, 

In Thee believing we rejoice; 

Yet still our joy is mix’d with grief, 

While faith contends with unbelief.

 

-preacher Wm. Mason (1724-1797 A.D.)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

JESUS - Rock of Ages

Jesus remains the same in all ages. He is the One who is constant when everything and everyone else fails. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever; the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He is our R ock [I SAMUEL 2:2 ] . In the Old Testament, in Exodus 33, Jesus is pictured as the Cleft Rock. In that chapter, verse 18 and following, Moses desired to see the glory of the Lord, but was told, "You cannot see My face; for there shall no man see My face and live.” And the Lord said, “There is a place by Me, and you shalt stand upon a rock: and it shall come to pass, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by." Notice that as Moses stood upon the rock, the Lord hid him in the cleft. This wonderfully applies to us today! Believers are both standing on and hidden in Christ [COLOSSIANS 3:3 ] . We are both in and on the Rock. As life with its many bitter events presses upon us,
Read more

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

GLORY ALONE IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

" Lest Israel vaunt themselves against Me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me." -Judges 7:2 [KJV] Thus the Lord reasoned with Gideon. He knows what is in man. He sees the pride of the human heart: how prone we all are to boast in an arm of flesh. The Lord is jealous of His own glory. Gideon’s army of two and thirty thousand, is brought down to three hundred. By this handful of men, and no more, did Gideon gain the victory of the Midianites. The Lord’s wisdom in this was, “Lest Israel should vaunt themselves, and say, Mine own hand hath saved me.”   But I have not transcribed the text right. There are two little words of great import, which I have omitted. Mind then, O Christian— against Me. Now remember, whenever thou dost boast of thy power, thy free-will, thy human goodness, thy works, ditties, conditions, and performances in order to be saved, thou art then, as it were, two and thirty thousand strong. Thou vauntest thyself against the Lord . Thou art gloryi
Read more