waltharrah.com :: Manna

Making Sense Of It All

2012-01-30 00:37:08 UTC

James Orr was an Old Testament scholar in that first part of the last century, and came up with a concise explanation where history is headed in an essay titled THE CHRISTIAN VIEW OF GOD AND THE WORLD.

The Old Testament has "at its root is the idea of a holy, spiritual, self-revealing God, the free Creator of the world, and its continual Preserver."

"As correlative to this, and springing out of it, is the idea of man as a being made in God’s image, and capable of moral relations and spiritual fellowship with his Maker; but who, through sin, has turned aside from the end of his creation, and stands in need of Redemption."

"In the heart of the history, we have the idea of a Divine purpose, working itself out through the calling of a special nation, for the ultimate benefit and blessing of mankind."

"God’s providential rule extends over all creatures and events, and embraces all peoples of the earth, near and remote. In view of the sin and corruption that have overspread the world, His government is one of combined mercy and judgment; and His dealings with Israel in particular are preparative to the introduction of a better economy, in which the grace already partially exhibited will be fully revealed."

"The end is the establishment of a kingdom of God under the rule of the Messiah, in which all national limitations will be removed, the Spirit be poured forth, and Jehovah will become the God of the whole earth. God will make a new covenant with His people, and will write His laws by His Spirit in their hearts. Under this happy reign the final triumph of righteousness over sin will be accomplished, and death and all other evils will be abolished."

I say, "let's get to the last chapter." Enough already.

Suffering Saints

2012-01-25 00:14:57 UTC

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 1 Peter 4:12–13

Jeremy Taylor preached a sermon on this text...

For the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God. And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 1 Peter 4:17-18

Why suffering? Taylor takes a deep breath and gives it a whirl...

"...without the sufferings of saints, God should lose the glories

1) of bringing good out of evil;

2) of being with us in tribulation;

3) of sustaining our infirmities;

4) of triumphing over the malice His enemies.

5) Without the suffering of saints where were the exaltation of the cross, the conformity of the members to Christ their head, the coronets of martyrs?

6) Where were the trial of our faith?

7) Or the exercise of long-suffering?

8) Where were the opportunities to give God the greatest love, which cannot be but by dying and suffering for Him?

9) How should that which the world calls folly prove the greatest wisdom;

10) And God be glorified by events contrary to the probability and expectation of their causes?

11) By the suffering of saints Christian religion is proved to be most excellent; while the iniquity and cruelty of the adversaries invites those onlookers to consider the secret excellencies of that religion for which and in which men are so willing to die; for that religion must needs be worth looking into, which so many wise and excellent men do so much value above their lives and fortunes.

12) By our suffering we have a capacity of serving God beyond that of angels, who indeed can sing God's praise with a sweeter note, and obey Him with a more unabated will, and execute His commands with a swifter wing and a greater power; but they cannot die for God, they can lose no lands for Him; and He that did so for all us, and commanded us to do so for Him, is ascended far above all angels, and is heir of a greater glory.

13) 'Do this and live' was the covenant of the law, but in the gospel it is 'suffer this and live. He that forsakes house and land, friends and life, for my sake, is my disciple.'

14) By the suffering of saints, God chastises their follies and levities, keeping their errors from evolving into heresies, and stopping their infirmities from becoming crimes.

George Herbert on Prayer Meetings

2012-01-21 17:23:58 UTC

They all joined together constantly in prayer...Acts 1:14

George Herbert is Christianity's greatest poet (you can argue with me on that if you like!). Writing and pastoring in a small country parish in the early part of the 17th century, his CHURCH PORCH is a concise portrayal of what it means to be a Christian, and the way a believer ought to live out his life in sober and deliberate faithfulness as one bought with the blood of Christ.

The following lines from THE CHURCH PORCH (397-402) distinguish between private and public prayer, and lift up the latter as more profound for the believer's welfare. Given that public prayer meeings are are all but a thing of the past in today's church, we could use a revival of this perspective.

Though private prayer be a brave design,
Yet public hath more promises, more love:
And love’s a weight to hearts, to eyes a sign.
We all are but cold suitors; let us move
Where it is warmest. Leave thy six and seven;
Pray with the most: for where most pray, is heaven.

Don't know about you, but I could use a little more of heaven while here on earth. And if a prayer meeting is where heaven can be found, count me in!

When Fear Is Good

2012-01-07 19:16:44 UTC

I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.

But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Luke 12:4,5

Referring to Jeremiah in his book RUN WITH THE HORSES, Eugene Peterson says that Jeremiah was undeterred by the hostility around him and his message, for "the most important thing in his life was God - not comfort, not applause, not security, but the living God."

"What he did fear was worship without astonishment, religion without commitment. He feared getting what he wanted, and missing what God wanted. It is the only thing worthy of our fear."

Happy, Happy, Happy

2012-01-04 00:37:18 UTC

It's unfortunate that George Mueller is not a household name, considering all the good he did for thousands of parentless children on the streets of London in the middle of the 19th century.

The orphanages that God raised up through Mueller's faith were started with only two shillings (50 cents) but as he prayed - believe it or not without making his needs known - slowly but surely the buildings were built to feed and house orphans for sixty years.

How did this happen, you ask? Curiously, Mueller credits his habit of scripture reading.

I believe that the one chief reason that I have been kept in happy useful service is that I have been a lover of Holy Scripture.

It has been my habit to read the Bible through four times a year; in a prayerful spirit, to apply it to my heart, and practice what I find there. I have been for sixty-nine years a happy man; happy, happy, happy."

Forget four times. Try once in 2012. Baby steps. Here are some questions to keep you focused and to increase your understanding of what you are reading.

1. What do these words actually mean?

2. What light do other scriptures through on this text? Where and how does it fit in the total biblical revelation?

3. What truths does it teach about God, and about man in relation to God?

4. How are these truths related to the saving work of Christ, and what light does the gospel of Christ throw on them?

5. What experiences do these truths delineate, or explain, or seek to create or cure? For what practical purpose do they stand in Scripture?

6. How do they apply to myself and others in our own actual situation? To what present human condition do they speak, and what are they telling us to believe and do?

From A QUEST FOR GODLINESS by J. I. Packer, page 105

The Twelve Signs Of Grace

2011-12-22 18:04:36 UTC

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? 2 Corinthians 13:5

Self-examination takes courage and honesty. And since it concerns our eternal destination, we need to be all the more diligent to estimate how our soul is doing.

Jeremy Taylor, (15 August 1613 – 13 August 1667) was a cleric in the Church of England who achieved fame as an author Oliver Cromwell rose to power, and he spent a considerable amount of time thinking on this matter of holiness and integrity of heart.

The person certainly belongs to God,

1) who believes and is baptized into all the articles of the Christian faith,

2) and studies to improve their knowledge in the matters of God, so as may best make them live a holy life.

3) Out of obedience to Christ they worship God diligently, frequently, and constantly, with natural religion, that is of prayer, praises and thanksgiving.

4) They take all opportunities to remember Christ's death by a frequent sacrament, as it can be had, or else by inward acts of understanding, will, and memory (which is the spiritual communion) when the external rite is not possible.

5) They live chastely,

6) and are merciful.

7) They despise the world, using it, but never engrossed in it.

8) They are just in their dealings and diligent in their calling.

9) They are humble in spirit,

10) obedient to government,

11) content in their fortune and employment.

12) They do their duty out of love God; and if after all this they are afflicted, they are patient, ready to suffer affliction for the cause of God.

The person who has these twelve signs of grace and predestination does as certainly belong to God, and is His child as surely, as he is His creature.

Well? How'd you do?

"Ouch!!"

2011-07-22 17:28:48 UTC

You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. Matthew 7:5

Spiritual pride in its own nature is so secret, that it is not so well discerned by immediate intuition on the thing itself, as by the effects and fruits of it; some of which I would mention, together with the contrary fruits of pure Christian humility.

Spiritual pride disposes to speak of other persons’ sins, their enmity against God and his people, the miserable delusion of hypocrites, and their enmity against vital piety, and the deadness of some saints, with bitterness, or with laughter and levity, and an air of contempt; whereas pure Christian humility rather disposes, either to be silent about them, or to speak of them with grief and pity.

Spiritual pride is very apt to suspect others; whereas an humble saint is most jealous of himself; he is so suspicious of nothing in the world as he is of his own heart.

The spiritually proud person is apt to find fault with other saints, that they are low in grace; and to be much in observing how cold and dead they are; and being quick to discern and take notice of their deficiencies.

But the eminently humble Christian has so much to do at home, and sees so much evil in his own heart, and is so concerned about it, that he is not apt to be very busy with other hearts; he complains most of himself, and complains of his own coldness and lowness in grace.

He is apt to esteem others better than himself, and is ready to hope that there is nobody but what has more love and thankfulness to God than he, and cannot bear to think that others should bring forth no more fruit to God’s honour than he.

Some who have spiritual pride mixed with high discoveries and great transports of joy, disposing them in an earnest manner to talk to others, are apt, in such frames, to be calling upon other Christians about them, and sharply reproving them for their being so cold and lifeless.

There are others, who in their raptures are overwhelmed with a sense of their own vileness; and, when they have extraordinary discoveries of God’s glory, are all taken up about their own sinfulness; and though they also are disposed to speak much and very earnestly, yet it is very much in blaming themselves, and exhorting fellow-Christians, but in a charitable and humble manner.

Pure Christian humility disposes a person to take notice of every thing that is good in others, and to make the best of it, and to diminish their failings; but to gave his eye chiefly on those things that are bad in himself, and to take much notice of every thing that aggravates them.

Jonathan Edwards on SPIRITUAL PRIDE