HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT--CHARLES SPURGEON

“MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR THEE” 2 Corinthians 12:9

THE other evening I was riding home after a heavy day’s work; I felt very wearied and sore depressed, when swiftly and suddenly as a lightning flash, that text came to me: “My grace is sufficient for thee.” I reached home and looked it up in the original, and at last it came to me in this way: “MY grace is sufficient for THEE,” and I said, “I should think it is, Lord!” and burst out laughing. I never understood what the holy laughter of Abraham was until then.

It seemed to make unbelief so absurd. It was as though some little fish, being very thirsty, was troubled about drinking the river dry, and Father Thames said, “Drink away, little fish, my stream is sufficient for thee.” Or it seemed like a little mouse in the granaries of Egypt, after the seven years of plenty, fearing it might die of famine; Joseph might say, “Cheer up, little mouse, my granaries are sufficient for thee.” Again I imagined a man away up yonder in a lofty mountain, saying to himself, “I breathe so many cubic feet of air every year. I fear I shall exhaust the oxygen in the atmosphere.” But the earth might say, “Breathe away, O man, and fill thy lungs ever; my atmosphere is sufficient for thee.”

O brethren, be great believers! Little faith will bring your souls to heaven, but great faith will bring Heaven to your souls.

AMERICA, A CHRISTIAN NATION?

BY CHARLES WOODRUFF

This question has intrigued the writers and theologians of the last 30 years. It has come somewhat to the forefront again, largely because of President Obama's recent statement while in Cairo, Egypt, that America was "One of the largest Muslim nations". Of course, at this time, that is only true in a limited way. Muslims are permitted under our Constitution to practice their faith, as is practically every religion in the world. But that does not answer the core question. Is America a Christian nation? Perhaps the question should be answered in this way: our forefathers certainly intended for the Christian faith to play a prominent role in this nation. It did play a prominent role in the first 200 years after the discovery of America.

Recently viewing a DVD titled America's Godly Heritage by David Barton of Wall Builders, Aledo, Texas re-focused my attention on this subject. Some have the mistaken idea that because of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof", that this means the USA was to be "neutral" regarding God and the Christian faith. Not so, for even a Supreme Court decision of 1892 went so far as to say "No purpose of action against religion can be imputed to any legislation, state or national, because this is a religious people...This is a Christian nation." In the earliest days of the republic, John Jay, one of the three men most responsible for the writing of the Constitution, and the first Supreme Court Chief Justice said "Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is their duty-as well as privilege and interest- of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers."

What of "separation of church and state? This not found in the constitution or any other official document of our early government. The phrase actually came from Thomas Jefferson in a private letter, and has been greatly distorted in its meaning. A number of our early leaders acknowledged God' s guiding the affairs of this world; including John Adams, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, an John Quincy Adams.

Sum it up-- is the USA a Christian nation? Perhaps not anymore, since we are definitely now at what the late Francis Schaeffer called the "post Christian era".

But look at some of the example of Christian influence in our nation. The influence was there, and still is, in a weaker way. So, if America is not a Christian nation, it was certainly meant to be so by the men who founded her, all the way back to the Mayflower, and some say to Christopher Columbus. May God make His mercy and His Holy Name known again in our land! May He call us to repentance in these desperate and wicked days!

(Along these lines here are some writings of other brethren).

AMERICA’S CHRISTIAN HISTORY- W.F. BELL

Psalm 16:6 – “Yea, I have a goodly heritage.” Hebrews 11:38 – “Of whom the world was not worthy.”

Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, founded in 1636, “to train ministers,” has on its

college seal the word, Veritas, Latin for “divine truth.” Its motto was, “For Christ and the Church.” Its founders believed, “All knowledge without Christ was vain.” [In honor of John Harvard, 1607-1638]

Yale University, New Haven, CT, founded in 1701 by ten Congregational ministers, had as its purpose, “To plant, and to propagate the blessed Reformed, Protestant Religion, in the purity of its Order and Worship.” And 100 years later, it was reported by a faculty member: “Yale College is a little temple: prayer and praise seem to be the delight of the greater part of the students.” [In honor of Elihu Yale, 1649-1721]

Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, founded in 1746 by the Presbyterian Church. Its first president was Jonathan Dickinson, who said, “Cursed be all that learning that is contrary to the cross of Christ.” [Originally “The College of New Jersey;” the burial place of Jonathan Edwards, 1703-1758, third President of Princeton, who graduated from Yale in 1720]

Thomas Jefferson, 1743-1826, our Third President: “I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever” (1781).

Ronald Reagan, 1911-2004, our Fortieth President: “If we ever forget that we are ‘One nation under God,’ then we will be a nation gone under” (1984).

Francis Scott Key, 1779-1843, lawyer and poet; author of “The Star Spangled Banner” (1814), which became the National Anthem in 1931. Listen to the fourth verse:

O! Thus be it ever when free men shall stand

Between their loved home and the war’s desolation;

Blest with victory and peace, may the Heaven-rescued land

Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just;

And this be our motto, “In God is our trust.”

And the star spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And in 1817 Key wrote:

Lord, with glowing heart I’d praise thee,

For the bliss thy love bestows,

For the pardoning grace that saves me,

And the peace that from it flows.

From CHARLES WAYNE ROSSON:

NATHAN HALE, AMERICAN PATRIOT

Remember the last words of a Great American Patriot before being executed by the British in 1776 at the age of 21 "I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country"

PATRICK HENRY: speech to the Virginia Convention, Richmond, Virginia, March 23, 1775 (The Biblical allusion is from Jeremiah 6:14).

“There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave…. It is vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, peace, peace—but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God!—I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!”

DON'T GIVE ME THAT RELIGIOUS TALK!

BY CHARLES WOODRUFF

Often over the years as I have attempted to witness to someone about Christ, I have had these words thrown to me in reply. Or maybe they would say "I am not interested in religion." This is a rather common answer. Maybe it is your answer. Guess what? It's my answer also. As a matter of fact, over 25 years ago, I wrote an article titled "Millions Drugged on Religion!" It shocked a few people that a missionary would write such an article. I plan to update that article soon and perhaps place it on one of these blogs. The point is, religion will kill you! Religion will carry you to hell! There are hundreds of religions in this world, maybe thousands, if you count all the different variations. For instance, under the general heading of "Christian", there are Catholics, Anglicans, Orthodox, Coptic, Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists, Mormons, Seventh Day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, Apostolics, Pentecostals, Charismatics, Free Will Baptists, Primitive Baptists, Quakers, Shakers, and Lutherans, etc., etc... And all these have sub-categories and spin offs.

Then the "Muslims" (or Mohammedans), have the Shiites, Sunnis, Sufism, Zaidis, Nation of Islam, and a number of others. All claim to follow Islam, i.e. submission-- (to Allah), and all have the holy book (the Qur'an), and all recognize Mohammed as Allah's last prophet. Then there are various Buddhists, Hindus, Shintos, and animists, Deists, etc...

My friends, none of these religions in themselves can save anyone--not even the "Christian" ones. A Man walked on this earth nearly 2000 years ago. He came to reveal God, and the true faith. His credibility is untainted. His truth was challenged, but has stood the test of time. He was murdered, but came back from the dead. Over 500 witnesses saw Him and testified to that. Many millions over the centuries have been converted to Him. He is not a religion-- He is a person. He is without doubt THE SON OF GOD! He is not trying to get you to join something. He is not trying to do anything. He did it! Remember at His crucifixion He said "It is Finished" (John 19:30). The work of redemption He came to do was completed. The purpose of God is right on schedule. It will not fail.

Those God has chosen from the foundation of the world will come to Him"According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will" (Ephesians 1:4,5). He said "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27).

All who call upon Him do not need a religion. If they come savingly to Jesus Christ, they enter into the true religion. "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world" (James 1:26-27).

The word "religion" had a different primary meaning even 200 years ago than it does in the 21st century. It was more in line with the usage in the Bible which according to Strong's Concordance is "ceremonial observance". It had to do with worship itself, not related to one's sect, or groups of sects as "religions". The exception was when Paul was discussing his former alliance with the "Jew's religion". "For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood" (Galatians 1:13-16).

As you can see, it was no longer Paul's religion (the Jew's religion) that was the most important thing. Now all important was Christ the Messiah who met him on the Damascus road and saved him, and changed him from Saul the persecutor to Paul the Apostle. He did not need to confer with "flesh and blood", but with Christ the God-Man.

Later,when Paul spoke on Mars Hill in Athens, at the very beginning of his sermon he said to the people gathered there"Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious"( Acts 17:22). The Greek word here rendered superstitious means "more religious than others" You see, in ancient Athens, they worshiped all kinds of supposed deities, and Paul was here to tell them of the one true God.

Paul never got over that experience on the Damascus road. In a sense he was given a more than fair trade by Christ--a dead religion of types and shadows for a living faith. If Christ reveals Himself to you, then you will not need the world's religion. Like Paul, all you will need is Him. "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God" ( 1 Corinthians 1:18). "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men" (1 Corinthians 1:21-25.

THE OLD, OLD STORY- W. F. BELL

Someone has well said that "what is new in theology is not true, and what is true is not new." In this article we declare nothing new; in fact, we simply declare to all the old and sweet story of how God loved sinners and gave Himself for sinners in the person of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ,

The story of Christ actually begins before time, in the great eternity past. While there is much mystery surrounding this, still we have the plain statements of God's infallible Book: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1). We know this refers to the Lord of glory Himself, as verses 3 and 4 clearly show. Then this "Word" became "flesh" and tabernacled among men (John 1:14). So Christ was the eternal Son of the Father (John 1:18), and had been "foreordained before the foundation of the world" (1 Peter 1:20) to be the Lamb of God, the Sacrifice for His people. It was the purpose of God from all eternity to save a people, through the substitutionary work of His Son (John 17:24; Acts 2:23; 4:28; Ephesians 1:3-7; 2 Timothy 1:9). Thus, the story of love has its source in the great heart of God, in His will, and in His purpose for His chosen people.

The Lord of life and glory in time stooped to come to Bethlehem, as had been prophesied (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:6). This lowly birth of the Son of God in human form is one of the most blessed, yet mysterious, events of all history. Yes, God was actually born! Here Christ proves how man-like He is! Not even Adam had such a birth, but the last Adam was cradled in a manger. Look, sinner, and behold the King of heaven hanging upon a woman's breast! See how the infinite God has become an infant! The invisible God has become the incarnate Saviour. The holy child Jesus has linked man with God, thus causing all fear to vanish in the heart of man, for now man can take all his griefs to the God-Man, Christ Jesus the Lord (Luke 2:10,11).

Our story continues in the active obedience of our Lord's holy and spotless life. The Lord Jesus was truly "holy, harmless, and undefiled" (Hebrews 7:26) and never sinned even once in thought, word or in deed (1 Peter 2:22). Christ magnified and honored God's holy law in every detail (Isaiah 42:21; John 8:46), thus working out for His people a righteousness that sinners could never attain. Christ was "the Righteous One" (Jeremiah 23:5, 6) by nature, but He also obtained righteousness for us in His sinless life. Then, in His passive obedience, He took the sins of His people upon Himself, and died as the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18). Christ is both our Substitute and Sacrifice, both our Surety and Saviour (Hebrews 7:22).

The God-Man was buried in a borrowed tomb. The disciples of the Master were filled with doubt and fear. But, the King of glory arose from the dead! Death had no power over Him, but He over it (John 10:17,18). The news quickly spread over much of the known world: Jesus is risen! Glory to our Risen Head, for now all the members of His body live in Him!

Where is the Lord Jesus now? He ascended back to His Father, having been accepted in the royal courts of heaven. He wow "ever lives" to intercede for His own (Hebrews 9:24). He made one sacrifice for sins forever, and is now seated at the right hand of God (Hebrews 10:12).

Some day the Lord of lords and King of kings will come again. The world awaits His coming. The church longs for His coming. He is faithful that promised; He is coming (Revelation 22:7). Surely, all believers also say, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20).

Men must know who the Lord Jesus is and what He has done in order for them to be saved. We have briefly told you this story. Now the Holy Spirit must show you that you are one for whom Christ came and died. No man can save you, except the Man Christ Jesus. He alone is the Mediator between God and men (1 Timothy 2:5). Come, sinner, to Him and Him alone, for He is your Hope and Help, your Deliverer and Defender, your Priest and Prince, your Sovereign and Saviour. In repentance and faith, bow before the Lordship of Christ, or one day you certainly will bow before Him as your Judge (Philippians 2:9-ll).