Christian Life

Ascribe All the Glory to God

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, Sovereignty of God 1 Comment

He hath put down the mighty from their seats and exalted them of low degree. – Luke 1:52

Scarcely can God trust us with a victory, lest we begin fingering it with our own hands, as if our own ingenuity, our own wisdom, or our own strength had done marvels. As of old, Israel sacrificed to her net when a great draught of fish was taken, or to her drag when a great harvest had been threshed out, so are we too apt to sacrifice to our own ability, our own industry, our own superiority in one respect or another, and think that there is some virtue or merit in us to which the Almighty has awarded the palm. Instead of looking only to God we begin to look in some degree to ourselves. You cannot do otherwise than put the honor somewhere. If you do not ascribe it to God the temptation will be too strong for you, you will be sure to take it for yourself; and if you do this the most fatal consequences will follow, for they that walk in pride God will assuredly abase. No matter how dear you are to Him, if pride be harboured in your spirit, He will whip it out of you. They that go up in their own estimation must come down again by His discipline. You cannot be exalted in self without being by-and-by brought low before Him. God will have it so; it is always the rule, “He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted them of low degree.” He goes forth with the axe, and this is the work He does among the thick trees-He cuts down the high tree and dries up the green tree, but he exalts the low tree, and makes the dry tree to flourish, that all the glory may be unto Himself alone; for, saith He, I the Lord have spoken and have done it. Let us take care, however, that we ascribe the glory to God, and do not forget to honor Him. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/0972.cfm

Victorious in the Strength of Our Lord

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, promises, Sovereignty of God, The Holy Spirit 2 Comments

“King David’s spears and shields, that were in the temple of the Lord.”-2 Kings 11:10

Every inch of the way between here and heaven we shall have to fight, for as hitherto every single step of our pilgrimage has been one prolonged conflict. Sometimes we have victories, a presage of that final victory, that perfect triumph we shall enjoy with our Great Captain for ever. When we have these victories, it behooves us to be especially careful that in all good conscience we hang up the trophies thereof in the house of the Lord. The reason for this lies here: it is to the Lord that we owe any success we have ever achieved. We have been defeated when we have gone in our own strength; but when we have been victorious it has always been because the strength of the Lord was put forth for our deliverance. You never fought with a sin, with a temptation, or with a doubt, and overthrew it, except by the Spirit’s aid. You never won a soul for Jesus, you never spoke a valiant word that repelled an error, you never did an enterprising deed which really told well for the success of the kingdom, but God was in it all-virtually, nay, actually enabling you; and He did it of His own good will. What is it but a simple matter of justice that He who wrought the wonder should have the honor of it?

“Let us sing unto the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously.” So in every struggle that transpires in our hearts, in every combat waged in the world, ascribe the power to Him to whom it belongs, “The right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly.” As before the fight in His name we set up our banner, so after the fight in His name again we give the conquering banner to the breeze. “All glory be unto Him that won the victory.” ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/0972.cfm

Of Present Honour and Eternal Joys

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, promises, salvation, Sovereignty of God Leave a comment

And (Abraham) believed in the LORD; and He counted it to him for righteousness. – Genesis 15:6

A man of God, who was bearing testimony for the faith, on one occasion was pushed into a kennel by a person passing by who said, as he thrust him in, “There, take that, John Bunyan.” He took off his hat, and said, “I will take anything if you give me the name of John Bunyan. I count it such an honour to have that title, that you may do anything that you like with me.” To be identified with those who have been blessed of the Lord is worth more than all the favours of the world. We are in good company. If men despise you, it matters little when God has blessed you. If they push you into the gutter for being a Christian, take your hat off, and thank them, for it is worthwhile to bear any scorn, that you may have the honour to be numbered with the followers of Christ. Rest assured that if you will count it a privilege even to be mocked for your faith, those who persecute you to-day, will acknowledge your high position to-morrow. It is a grand thing when any one of us thus gets the testimony of our enemies, “Thou art now the blessed of the Lord.”

Sinner, he that believeth in Jesus hath all the blessing which Jesus can give to him; forgiveness for the past; grace for the present; and glory for the future. He was made a curse for thee, that He might redeem thee from the curse of the broken law, for it is written, “Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.” Believe thou in Him, and as thou believest, eternal joys shall come streaming down into thy dry and desolate heart, and it shall be said to thee, “Thou art now the blessed of the Lord.” You shall be blessed now and blessed for evermore! God grant it, for our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake! Amen. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/2238.cfm

Tell Others About It

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, promises, salvation Leave a comment

…thou art now the blessed of the LORD. And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink. – Genesis 26:29,30

How few there are of us who make it our business to be constantly telling out the sweet story of Jesus and His love! I read, the other day, of a chaplain in the Northern army in the lamentable war in the United States, who, while he lay wounded on the battle-field, heard a man, not far off, utter an oath. Though he himself was so badly wounded that he could not stand, yet he wished to reach the swearer to speak a gospel message to him, and he thought, “I can get to him if I roll over.” So, though bleeding profusely himself, he kept rolling over and over till he got to the side of the poor blasphemer, and on the lone battle-field he preached to him Jesus. Some of the other men came along, and he said to them, “Can you carry me? I fear that I am dying, but I do not want to be taken off the field. I should like you, if you would, to carry me from one dying man to another, all the night long, that I might tell them of a Saviour.” What a splendid deed was this! A bleeding man talking to those who were full of sin about a Saviour’s bleeding wounds! Oh, you who have no wounds, who can walk, and possess all the faculties to fit you for the service, how often you miss opportunities and refuse to speak of Jesus! “Thou art now the blessed of the Lord,” and at this moment I would have you think that the blessed Lord lays His pierced hand on thee saying, “Go and tell others what I have done for thee.” Never cease to tell the divine tale, as opportunity is given, until thy voice is lost in death; then thy spirit shall begin to utter the story in the loftier sphere. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/2238.cfm

Now Blessed

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, promises, Sovereignty of God Leave a comment

…thou art now the blessed of the LORD. – Genesis 26:29

“Thou art now the blessed of the Lord.” “Now.” Beloved, do labour to get a hold of a present blessing. If you are indeed saved, do not be always thinking of what you are to enjoy in heaven; but seek to be the blessed of the Lord now. Why not have two heavens, a heaven here and a heaven there? What is the difference between a believer’s life here and a believer’s life there? Only this: here Christ is with us, and there we are with Christ. If we live up to our privileges this is the only difference we need to know. Try to be “now the blessed of the Lord.” I have heard of a traveller who was followed by a beggar, in Ireland, who very importunately asked for alms. As long as there seemed a chance of getting anything, the old woman kept saying, “May the blessing of God follow your honour all through your life!” but when all hope of a gift was vanished, she bitterly added, “and never overtake you.” But the blessings which God has for His chosen are not of that slow-footed kind which never catch us up. It is written, “All these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.” I beseech you, then, to lay hold of this overtaking blessing. Let it not pass unheeded…Be very grateful that you are in this position of grace. You might have been in the drink-shop, you might have been speaking infidelity, you might have been in prison, you might have been in hell. But “thou art now the blessed of the Lord.” Wherefore, praise the Lord, whose mercy endureth for ever. If you do not lift up your voice, yet lift up your heart, and bless him for the grace which hath made you to differ from other people. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/2238.cfm

Blessed of God, Not of Men

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, promises, Sovereignty of God, The Holy Spirit 12 Comments

And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you? And they said, We saw certainly that the LORD was with thee…thou art now the blessed of the LORD. – Genesis 26:27-29

Though Isaac was the blessed of the Lord, this did not secure him from trial. Even before Abimelech saw the source of Isaac’s grace, he was “the blessed of the Lord”; yet he still had to move about. He was a pilgrim and a stranger, as was his father, and he lived as an alien in the land. He was without any inheritance in the country, and though his flocks and herds increased, he dwelt but in tents, while others reared for themselves stately houses and palaces. But God had prepared some better thing for him, and “he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose Builder and Maker is God.” Thus, this trial became a means of blessing to him, as trials always do when sanctified by the Spirit of God. If these words reach any child of God whose nest on earth has been disturbed, whose house has been broken up, I would seek to cheer you by the thought of the “continuing city” which shall soon be your portion. If you have, through Christ, an assurance of an abundant entrance there, though you never have a house of your own on earth, and roam from place to place a stranger, seeming to be very often in the way of other people, yet remember that “thou art now the blessed of the Lord.” He will never forsake thee, and His deliverance shall soon make thy heart glad. Daily He doth load thee with benefits, and thou canst even now have thy home in His love. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/2238.cfm

The Family Altar

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, prayer, promises, Sovereignty of God 2 Comments

And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for My servant Abraham’s sake. And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there… – Genesis 26:24,25

The Lord bore testimony to Isaac in secret manifestation. He came to him in the watches of the night, and spake with him face to face. None but those who are the blessed of the Lord have such communion with Him. If He manifests Himself to us in this choice manner, it is because He has blessed us in a way in which He would not bless the ungodly world. We find that “(Isaac) builded an altar,” and then he, “pitched his tent.” Keep up the altar of God in your home and keep to the right order-the altar first, and the tent second. When God accepts you there and makes your family altar to be a place of refreshment and delight to you, you will feel that in thus doing He is giving you the sweet assurance that you are now the blessed of the Lord. It is a pity that there are so many houses nowadays without roofs-I mean, houses of Christian people without family prayer. What are some of you at? If your children turn out ungodly, do you wonder at it, seeing that there is no morning and evening prayer, no reading of the Word of God in your home? In every home where the grace of God is known, there should be an altar, from which should rise the incense of praise, and at which the one sacrifice for sin should be pleaded before God day by day. In the midst of such family piety, which I fear is almost dying out in many quarters, you will get the witness, “Thou art now the blessed of the Lord.” ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/2238.cfm