REFLECTIONS

The Father Sent the Son
 

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.” Micah 5:2. (NKJV)

“To proceed at once to what we have to say to you, we notice first who it was that sent Christ forth. 

God the Father here speaks, and says, “Out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be ruler in Israel.”

First, then, WHO SENT JESUS CHRIST? The answer is returned to us by the words of the text.

“Out of you,” says Jehovah, speaking by the mouth of Micah, “out of you shall He come forth unto Me.” It is a sweet thought that Jesus Christ did not come forth without His Father’s permission, authority, consent, and assistance. He was sent of the Father that He might be the Savior of men. We are, alas, too apt to forget that while there are distinctions as to the persons in the Trinity, there are no distinctions of honor—and we do very frequently ascribe the honor of our salvation, or at least the depths of its mercy, and the extremity of its benevolence more to Jesus Christ than we do to the Father. This is a very great mistake! What if Jesus came? Did not His Father send Him? If He were made a child, did not the Holy Spirit beget Him? If He spoke wondrously, did not His Father pour grace into His lips that He might be an able minister of the new covenant? If His Father did forsake Him when He drank the bitter cup of gall, did He not still love Him? And did He not, by-and-by, after three days raise Him from the dead, and at last receive Him up on high, leading captivity captive? Ah, beloved, he who knows the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as he should know them never sets one before another! He is not more thankful to one than the other; he sees them at Bethlehem, at Gethsemane, and on Calvary all equally engaged in the work of salvation! “He shall come forth unto Me.” O Christian, have you put your confidence in the man, Christ Jesus? Have you placed your reliance solely on Him? And are you united with Him? Then believe that you are united unto the God of heaven, since to the man, Christ Jesus, you are brother, and hold closest fellowship! You are linked thereby with God the Eternal, and “the Ancient of days” is your Father and your Friend! “He shall come forth unto Me.”

Did you never see the depth of love there was in the heart of Jehovah, when God the Father equipped His Son for the great enterprise of mercy? There had been a sad day in heaven once before, when Satan fell and dragged with him a third of the stars of heaven, and when the Son of God launching from His great right hand the omnipotent thunders, dashed the rebellious crew to the pit of perdition. But if we could conceive a grief in heaven—that must have been a sadder day when the Son of the Most High left His Father’s bosom where He had lain from before all worlds. “Go,” said the Father, “and Your Father’s blessing on Your head!” Then comes the unrobing; how angels crowd around to see the Son of God take off His robes! He laid aside His crown; He said, “My Father, I am Lord over all, blessed forever; but I will lay My crown aside and be as mortal men are.” He strips Himself of His bright vest of glory. “Father,” He said, “I will wear a robe of clay; just such as men wear.” Then He takes off all those jewels wherewith He was glorified; He lays aside His starry mantles and robes of light to dress Himself in the simple garments of the peasant of Galilee! What a solemn disrobing that must have been! And next, can you picture the dismissal? The angels attend the Savior through the streets until they approach the doors; an angel cries, “Lift up your heads, O you gates, and be you lifted up, you everlasting doors, and let the king of glory through!” Oh, I think the angels must have wept when they lost the company of Jesus—when the sun of heaven bereaved them of all its light! But they went after Him; they descended with Him, and when His spirit entered into flesh and He became a baby, He was attended by that mighty host of angels who after they had been with Him to Bethlehem’s manger, and seen Him safely laid on His mother’s breast—in their journey upwards appeared to the shepherds, and told them that He was born king of the Jews! The Father sent Him! Contemplate that subject! Let your soul get hold of it, and in every period of His life think that He suffered what the Father willed—that every step of His life was marked with the approval of the great I AM. Let every thought that you have of Jesus be also connected with the eternal, ever-blessed God, for, “He,” says Jehovah, “shall come forth to Me.” Who sent Him then? The answer is, His Father!”

-Charles Spurgeon Sermon #57  The New Park Street Pulpit 1  Volume 2  www.spurgeongems.org

 

THE INCARNATION AND BIRTH OF CHRIST NO. 57 A SERMON DELIVERED ON SABBATH MORNING, DECEMBER 23, 1855, BY THE REV. C. H. SPURGEON, AT NEW PARK STREET CHAPEL, SOUTHWARK.

REFLECTIONS

Prayer, Lifting Up the Soul to God

“1.1.2. It is rather to be taken, as David’s promising God a constant attendance on him, in the way he has appointed. My voice shalt thou hear, i. e. I will speak to thee; because thou hast inclined thine ear unto me many a time, therefore I have taken up a resolution to call upon thee at all times, even to the end of my time. Not a day shall pass, but thou shalt be sure to hear from me. Not that the voice is the thing that God regards, as they seemed to think, who in prayer made their voice to be heard on high (Isa. 58:4). Hannah prayed and prevailed, when her voice was not heard; but it is the voice of the heart that is here meant; God saith to Moses, wherefore criest thou unto me, when we do not find that he said one word (Exod. 14:15). Praying is lifting up the soul to God, and pouring out the heart before him; yet as far as the expressing of the devout affections of the heart by words may be of use to fix the thoughts, and to excite and quicken the desires, it is good to draw near to God, not only with a pure heart, but with a humble voice; so must we render the calves of our lips.

“However, God understands the language of the heart, and that is the language in which we must speak to God; David prays here, verse 1, not only give ear to my words, but consider my meditation, and Psalm 19:14, Let the words of my mouth, proceeding from the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight.

“This therefore we have to do in every prayer, we must speak to God; we must write to him; we say we hear from a friend whom we receive a letter from; we must see to it that God hears from us daily.

“1.1.2.1. He expects and requires it. Though he has no need of us or our services, nor can be benefited by them, yet he has obliged us to offer the sacrifice of prayer and praise to him continually.

“1.1.2.1.1. Thus he will keep up his authority over us, and keep us continually in mind of our subjection to him, which we are apt to forget. He requires by prayer that we solemnly pay our homage to him, and give honour to his name, that by this act and deed of our own, thus frequently repeated, we may strengthen the obligations we lie under to observe his statutes and keep his laws, and be more and more sensible of the weight of them. He is thy Lord, and worship thou him, that by frequent humble adorations of his perfections, thou mayest make a constant humble compliance with his will the more easy to thee. By doing obeisance we are learning obedience.

“1.1.2.1.2. Thus he will testify his love and compassion towards us. It would have been an abundant evidence of his concern for us, and his goodness to us, if he had only said, let me hear from you as often as there is occasion; call upon me in the time of trouble or want, and that is enough; but to shew his complacency to us, as a father does his affection to his child when he is sending him abroad, he gives us this charge, let me hear from you every day, by every post, though you have no particular business; which shews, that the prayer of the upright is his delight; it is music in his ears; Christ saith to his dove, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice, for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely (Dan. 2:14). And it is to the spouse the church that Christ speaks in the close of that Song of Songs, O thou that dwellest in the gardens, (in the original it is feminine) the companions harken to thy voice, cause me to hear it. What a shame is this to us, that God is more willing to be prayed to, and more ready to hear prayer, than we are to pray.

“1.1.2.2. We have something to say to God every day. Many are not sensible of this, and it is their sin and misery; they live without God in the world, they think they can live without him, are not sensible of their dependence upon him, and their obligations to him, and therefore for their parts they have nothing to say to him, he never hears from them, no more than the father did from his prodigal son, when he was upon the ramble, from one week’s end to another. They ask scornfully, what can the Almighty do for them? and then no marvel if they ask next, what profit shall we have if we pray unto him? And the result is, they say to the Almighty, depart from us, and so shall their doom be. But I hope better things of you my brethren, and that you are not of those who cast off fear, and restrain prayer before God, you are all ready to own that there is a great deal that the Almighty can do for you, and that there is profit in praying to him, and therefore resolve to draw nigh to God, that he may draw nigh to you.

“We have something to say to God daily.”

-From, A Method for Prayer, by Matthew Henry (Christian Focus Publications Ltd., Scotland; 1994); pp. 196-197.

REFLECTIONS

The Puritans and Martin Luther on God’s Grace:
 

“The growth of grace is like the polishing of metals. There is first an opaque surface; by and by you see a spark darting out, then a strong light; till at length it sends back a perfect image of the sun that shines upon it.” -Edward Payson  

“The motive and purpose behind the law ... is to make it clear exactly how much you must do and no more. Grace refuses to put a ceiling or a floor on concern for the neighbor.” -Joseph Fletcher

“Grace is given to heal the spiritually sick, not to decorate spiritual heroes” -Martin Luther

“The grace of the spirit comes only from heaven, and lights up the whole bodily presence. - Charles Haddon Spurgeon

“Christ is no Moses, no exactor, no giver of laws, but a giver of grace, a Savior; he is infinite mercy and goodness, freely and bountifully given to us.” -Martin Luther 

“Grace can pardon our ungodliness and justify us with Christ's righteousness; it can put the Spirit of Jesus Christ within us; it can help us when we are down; it can heal us when we are wounded; it can multiply pardons, as we through frailty multiply transgressions.” -John Bunyan 

“Grace grows best in winter.” -Samuel Rutherford 

“Grace comes into the soul, as the morning sun into the world; first a dawning, then a light; and at last the sun in his full and excellent brightness.” -Thomas Adams

REFLECTIONS

God’s Multiplication

October 21

“God’s Multiplication Table”

“‘A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the Lord will hasten it in his time.’ –Isaiah 60:22”

“Works for the Lord often begin on a small scale, and they are none the worse for this. Feebleness educates faith, brings God near, and wins glory for His name. Prize promises of increase! Mustard seed is the smallest among seeds, and yet it becomes a tree-like plant with branches which lodge the birds of heaven. We may begin with one, and that ‘a little one,’ and yet it will ‘become a thousand.’ The Lord is great at the multiplication table. How often did he say to His lone servant, ‘I will multiply thee!’ Trust in the Lord, ye ones and twos; for He will be in the midst of you if you are gathered in His name.

            “’A small one.’ What can be more despicable in the eyes of those who count heads and weigh forces! Yet this is the nucleus of a great nation. Only one star shines out at first in the evening, but soon the sky is crowded with countless lights.

            “Nor need we think the prospect of increase be remote for the promise is, ‘I Jehovah will hasten it in his time.’ There will be no premature haste, like that which we see at excited meetings; it will be all in due time, but yet there will be no delay. When the Lord hastens, His speed is glorious.”

-From, Faith’s Check Book, Charles Spurgeon (Whitaker House, PA; 1992); page 303.

REFLECTIONS

An Exhortation to Spiritual Rest
 
“September 29.

“Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest.”  Micah 2:10.

                “One of the old divines, in his pastoral admonitions to his people, exhorts them not to look for that in the law which can only be found in the gospel—not to look for that in themselves which is only to be found in Christ—not to look for that in the creature which is only to be found in the Creator—and not to look for that on earth which is only to be found in heaven.

                “The present is not our rest. It was not designed to be our rest. It is not fit to be our rest.  And if we are Christians, we have relinquished it as our rest, and have chosen another.

                “Yet who does not need this exhortation? Our souls naturally cleave unto the dust. Many, like Reuben and Gad, prefer an inheritance on this side of Jordan. And even the godly themselves, who have not their portion in this life, but have said, As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness, I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness, even these need to have their pure minds stirred up by way of remembrance. ‘My people,’ says God, ‘have forgotten their resting-place.’

                “He therefore who takes pleasure in the prosperity of his servants, sends them this message, ‘Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest.’ And there are five messengers by which he sends it.

                “The first is his word. And we should read it and hear it for this very purpose. It meets us in our complaint and inquiry, ‘Who will show us any good?’ and says, ‘Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace; thereby good will come unto thee.’ It forbids us to lay up treasures on earth. It commands us to seek those things that are above. It denounces the curse and misery of making flesh our arm. It proclaims the grandeur of the soul, and sets before us what alone is worthy of its ardor. It leads us into all truth, and places us at the foot of the Cross by which the world is crucified unto us, and we unto the world.

                “The second is affliction. God speaks by the rod as well as by the word. While he chastens us with his hand, he teaches us out of his law. Has he not by events plainly addressed us, ‘Ye have dwelt long enough in this mountain; turn ye, and take your journey?’ Has he not, by repeated frustrations of our hope, plainly said to us, ‘Let it suffice thee: speak no more to me of this matter?’ Perhaps our purposes have been broken off, even the thoughts of our hearts. Perhaps we have been made to possess months of vanity by sickness. Perhaps by death lover and friend has been removed far from us. And amidst the wreck of every thing dear to us, a voice, though we knew not at first that it came from heaven, said, ‘What hast thou here? And what dost thou here?’ And if we are much attached to the world, with all our losses and distresses, what should we have been without them? If the pilgrim be ever seduced from his way, it is by flowers and prospects; if ever he sits down and sings himself asleep, it is in a pleasant scene, and in fine weather, not when the sky is dark and stormy, and the road is rough and miry, for then, by contrast, the thought of home becomes dearer, and he feels an incitement to quicken his pace.

                “The third is worldly success. This, in some respects, may convince us more of the insufficiency and emptiness of every thing here than even our deprivations. When a man is unable to attain his object, he may still imagine that there is happiness in what he misses, and that he is miserable because he misses it. But when he has gained the prize, he is convinced that the dissatisfaction he feels arises from the nature of the thing itself. We long for certain acquisitions with all the fondness of hope, and feel not apprehension unless on the side of failure. We cannot believe, from the acknowledgments of others, that these things will belie expectation and still leave a void within; but only when we have made the trial ourselves—when we have formed the connection, filled the office, gained the fortune we desired; and in the midst of our sufficiency we are in straits, sigh over our indulgences themselves, and enjoyment as well as affliction cries, All is vanity and vexation of spirit. 

                “The fourth is the earnests and foretastes of a better world. And such Christians are favored with in the comforts of the Holy Ghost, in accesses to the throne of grace, in the power and glory of God which they see in the sanctuary, and in those sacred moments of divine communion alone, when they can say,

“’While such a scene of sacred joys
Our raptured eyes and souls employs,
Here we could sit and gaze away
A long and everlasting day.’

“And these not only call, but allure and win the heart away. When the clusters of grapes were brought to the Israel of God in the wilderness, they said in very intelligible language, What does your present condition supply like this? See what grows in the land that is before you. Taste; and go up and possess it.

                “The last is death. Every apprehension and approach of this cries, ‘It is high time to awake out of sleep; for now is your salvation nearer than when you believed.’ But this orders us to depart really as well as morally. God sends by it not only to his people, but for them. And it seems surprising that they should ever be ready to turn away from the messenger.  A child at school welcomes every messenger from home to him, but he desires most the messenger that comes for him. Joseph sends to Jacob and for him at once; and his father not only heard his words, but saw his wagons. ‘Oh, these are really to carry me to him. I shall soon see my son and die in peace.’

                “Such a messenger, Christian, is death to you. Come says God; you have toiled long enough; you have feared long enough; you have groaned long enough; your warfare is accomplished; enter the rest which the Lord your God giveth you. Come, for all things are now ready.

                “Yes; you will soon hear the voice saying, O Israel, you must this day go over Jordan. And why should you be unwilling to exchange the desert for the land flowing with milk and honey? Is not this the purpose of your travels; the end of your desires; the completion of your hopes? 

                “’But the swelling river rolls between.’ Fear not; the ark of the covenant will go before you and divide the waves, and you shall pass over dry-shod. And then let the streams reunite, and continue to flow on; you will not wish them to reopen for your return. What is misery to others is joy to you. ‘I shall go the way whence I shall not return.’”

-From Morning Exercises for Every Day in the Year, by Reverend William Jay (1769-1852); (Harrisonburg, Virginia; SPRINKLE PUBLICATIONS; 1998)

REFLECTIONS

Faithful Endurance in Affliction 

Morning Exercises; for Every Day in the Year, by Reverend William Jay (Sprinkle Publications; Harrisonburg, Virginia), 1998.

September 25.

“I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.”  Psa. 55:8.

     “Such was the language of David; and it may be the language of any other good man, in the depths of distress. But is it allowable and proper? There is no perfection here; and there is nothing concerning which we should indulge more tenderness of censure than hasty expressions, uttered under the pressure of pain or grief. Perhaps it was to prevent our severity here that the cases of Job and Jeremiah are recorded, both of whom, though eminent in piety, cursed the day of their birth. The Scripture is not harsh upon them; and it is observable, that when James refers to one of these bitterly complaining sufferers, he only says, ‘Ye have heard of the patience of Job.’ They who have never been in a state of peculiar distress, know little of the feelings of human nature under it. But there are others who can respond to the invitation of sympathy: ‘Pity me , pity me, O ye my friends, for the hand of God hath touched me.’ And the Father of mercies knows our frame, and remembers that we are dust. We are not required to choose suffering for its own sake, or to be indifferent to ease and deliverance. Our Savior himself had not that fortitude which mocks at pain, but that which felt deeply, and yet submitted. With strong cryings and tears he prayed, ‘Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done.’

     “But what allows of excuse, truth does not require us to commend. It was his infirmity that induced David to long for death, to hasten his escape from the stormy wind and tempest: and an old writer tells us it would have been more honorable for him to have asked for the strength of an ox to bear his trials, than for the wings of a dove to flee from them. Is not such language unworthy and ungrateful? Should we overlook and forget all our comforts? Have not these been great and numerous? And did we then long to flee away? Yea, are they not many and various even now? And shall we only dwell on the dark side? Let us examine again, and let truth and thankfulness stand by. And may they not yet be many and great? Afflictions are not immutable dispensations. What changes often take place, to the surprise as well as joy of desponding sufferers.

‘The Lord can change the darkest skies—

Can give us day for night;

Make drops of sacred sorrow rise

To rivers of delight.’

     “And is there no unbelief in the case? You are afraid of all your sorrows; and not only of their continuance and increase, but of their influence and effects. You dread lest you should not bear them properly, so as to glorify God; but sink in the day of adversity. Yet, O thou of little faith, wherefore dost thou doubt? Is not he able to preserve and support and comfort thee? And has he not engaged to do it? Has he not said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee? ‘When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.’ And has not his conduct always accorded with this assurance, both with regard to others and with regard to thyself?

‘Did trouble ever yet befall,

And he refuse to hear they call?

And has he not his promise passed,

That thou shalt overcome at last?’

     More than once you have been appalled in the prospect of a trial; but when the evil day came, there came with it mercy and grace to help. Perhaps you even gloried in tribulation. Perhaps you would not refuse to pass through some of those distressing exercises again, to enjoy the same peace and comfort.

          

      “Is there not much ignorance and inconsideration in this impatience? How do you know that it is better to escape from these troubles than to bear them? Not one of them has befallen you by chance. May you not infer the righteousness of them all from their very author? Is not his work perfect? Are not his ways judgment? He doth all things well. Does he detain you in distress because he does not love you? Yea, he loved you with an everlasting love; and withheld not his own Son from you. You may therefore entirely confide in him, assured that if he does not release you, it is because he waits to be gracious; and also equally assured, that blessed are all they that wait for him; for it is good for a man not only to hope, but quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.

           

     “First, your own welfare may require the process. The Saviour was made perfect through suffering; and the character of every Christian is more formed and improved from his afflictions than his enjoyments. What would some of you have lost, had you fled away before such a trying dispensation enriched your faith and hope. How much of your happiness in heaven will arise from a review of your present conflicts on earth. The very trial of your faith is precious; and the crown of life is promised, not to him that escapes, but to him that endureth temptation. Afflictions are heavenly agents, and work for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

     “Secondly, the welfare of others may require it also. We are detained here to be useful, and we are often most useful in our trials. Nothing strikes like facts. The passive graces are the most impressive. They are better than a thousand sermons; better to arrest the careless, to instruct the ignorant, to encourage the timid, to comfort the desponding. It was well Bunyan did not escape from the prison at Bedford, or we should not have had his Pilgrim’s Progress, and his Holy War. Paul was a prisoner, and knew to depart and be with Christ was far better; nevertheless, because it was more needful for the Philippians, he was willing to abide in the flesh, and acquiesced in the adjournment of his deliverance and bliss. And here you also may be wanted. Perhaps you have a venerable mother, and are required to rock the cradle of her age who rocked the cradle of your infancy. Perhaps you are a parent, and a rising family is dependent on your care, instructed by your wisdom, edified by your example. We are all placed in circumstances where we may prove a blessing, and this is our only opportunity. We may glorify God in heaven, but not in the same way as now, by submission, patience and self-denial. This is an advantage we have above the glorified. They cannot exercise candor, and forgive injuries, and relieve distress, and save souls. Life is ours as well as death. Therefore all the days of our appointed time let us wait, till our change comes.”

-From Morning Exercises; for Every Day in the Year, by Reverend William Jay of England  (Sprinkle Publications; Harrisonburg, Virginia), 1998.

REFLECTIONS

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross-A Hymn

“When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

His dying crimson, like a robe,
Spreads o’er His body on the tree;
Then I am dead to all the globe,
And all the globe is dead to me.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

To Christ, Who won for sinners grace
By bitter grief and anguish sore,
Be praise from all the ransomed race
Forever and forevermore.”

-Isaac Watts  English Hymnwriter, Theologian and Logician  1674-1748