To Wrestle With God Instead

-

"A man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with an argument."

This very expression, beloved, is a chosen arrow aimed at a most grievous spiritual failing! It speaks of the profound error of those who presume to speak from mere theory and not from sanctified practice; who cling to the cold light of mere intellect and lack the warm, living fire of proven proficiency. Alas, it condemns the vanity of reading the records of others without ever having brought the Divine Truths into the crucible of their own personal, heartfelt experience! Let us ever pray for a faith that is not borrowed, but birthed in the soul! This was birthed out of it:

You will only be at the level of the people you spend time with.

The proverb is absolute: Iron doth sharpen Iron. But the spiritual danger is equally stark: a dull blade is useless for the work of true fellowship and refinement. The measure of your devotion is not found in talk, but in the price I am willing to pay to follow Him! The fleeting sanction of men is vain; man's ordination matters nothing to me. What alone proves the true servant is the fire of God within the soul.

I declare it freely: I much prefer to wrestle with God in the secret chamber of prayer than to engage in poor, trifling contention with men. My spirit chooses ever to run with the swift horses of divine purpose rather than to walk among the slow, uncertain counsels with men. I seek only the eternal commendation of God, and spurn the fleeting applause of men. Give me the sure Word of God, not the vain, fallible opinion of men! I choose to be faithful rather than to be perpetually defensive. I yearn to be truly anointed by the Holy Spirit rather than merely to be recognized. May I be found by God in secret, rather than be openly praised by the tongues of vain men.

Holiness is the habit of being of one mind with God, according as we find in His mind described in Scripture. It is the habit of agreeing in God's judgement, hating what He hates, loving what He loves, and measuring everything in this world by the standards of His word.
John Charles Ryle



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Public Reading of Scripture

-
Image
It is most appropriate to begin public proclamation with scripture. Only then does preaching follow after. People need to hear God's word, not my opinion. Always after reading am I assisted mightily in power and in spirit. I have, in the course of my meager experience, compiled different portions of scripture that present the gospel in a linear fashion, so that it forms a singular paragraph and a consistent train of thought. Reading it alone is equivalent to preaching. If you have been given the heart to take the gospel to the lost but are afraid of preaching, I highly encourage you to read scripture. Anyone who can read can do this. If you want to kill the flesh, reading scripture in public is one of the best ways to accomplish this. But then again, keep in mind that carrying the gospel has a high price. Not one of perfection, but a sincere striving towards purity and holiness. If you have no desire in yourself to practice what you preach, or read in this matter, then it...
Read more

The Lamb's Book of Life, And The Eternal Will Of God For The Security Of Those Who Have Been Graciously Called To Come & Believe

-
Image
A journal entry. One early morning of October. A study on my readings, on John 1:13, Ephesians 1:4, Revelation 13:8, 17:8 and 21:27.  From eternity past, even before the beginning of the beginning, the Lamb wrote a book.    In this book were special names. Names He had elected, in His gracious sovereignty, to be His very own people. His divine, covenantal will, was to bless them with the continual light of His presence, and to bring them to Himself, there to dwell before Him in blissful glory, for all eternity. These names were written in tender affection, with great love, and with great zeal, amidst a great plan to reveal to them this love, through sacrifice. He had written these names down permanently, determined and precisely, without any intention to erase or blot them out. He had written them down from eternity, and there will they remain throughout all eternity. He who wrote them embodies eternity, for He is eternity, and whom He loves He loves with a love that kno...
Read more

The Fallibility of Ministers

-
Will not ecclesiastical rank and dignity confer infallibility? No—they will not! It matters nothing what a man is called. He may be a Preacher, Minister, or Deacon. He is still a fallible man! Neither the education, nor the anointing oil, nor the laying on of hands, can prevent a man making mistakes. Will not numbers confer infallibility? No—they will not! You may gather together princes by the score, and ministers by the hundred; but, when gathered together, they are still liable to err. You may call them a council, or an assembly, or a conference, or whatever you please. It matters nothing. Their conclusions are still the conclusions of fallible men. Their collective wisdom is still capable of making enormous mistakes. The example of the Apostle Peter at Antioch is one that does not stand alone. It is only a parallel of many a case that we find written for our learning, in Holy Scripture. Do we not remember Abraham, the father of the faithful, following the advice of Sarah, and takin...
Read more

When God Closes Doors

-
Image
It was but yesterday morning, whilst engaged in my most needful devotional exercise, that the Lord met me with such tender power. As I turned the sacred pages to the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John, and my eye fell upon the twentieth verse, I could not restrain the rising tide of emotion—and I broke down entirely before Him. For weeks, the only sorrow that truly burdened my spirit, since parting ways with the congregation where we sought fellowship, was not the fear of any man’s opinion, nor any worldly concern, but this single, earnest petition: "Am I still in the center of your will, Father?" In that very moment of distress, my God came near and greatly, yet oh, so gently, comforted my soul. The Lord’s own voice seemed to leap right out from the very pages, wrapping me in a perfect peace that brushed away all anxiety. The Master of the wind and waves had spoken directly to the tempest in my heart, gently whispering eternal, assuring words: “It is I. Do not be afraid.” ...
Read more

I Did Not Pray

-
God is sovereign. When my son ran away for three nights I did not pray that he might return home, but that God would teach him what he needed to learn from it. When my wife was laboring for 14 hours in the hospital with our first baby and I was left outside waiting and wondering I did not pray for a safe delivery, but that God would give me reason to abound with joy in trusting him though I see not. When I slid into adultery 19 years ago my wife prayed for me to return, but God patiently changed her selfish petition to one of surrender. 14 years was the LORD witness to her pleas and cries. And when finally the fullness of her time in the school of secret prayer came, God then delivered me. When I received an incurable wound in my body because of my sin I did not pray to be healed, but that it should remain with me unhealed all my life, and that it would serve to remind me that I have offended God severely, yet in His mercy He forgave me. When my wife was diagnosed with a bes...
Read more