The Conflict

 Although our reward is not of debt but of grace...

Yet the necessity of struggling against and overcoming our spiritual enemies, is constantly urged upon us. 

Every motive drawn from danger on the one hand, and from delight on the other, is presented in order to rouse us to a vigorous contest. 

How numerous, subtle, and powerful are our foes!

The world appeals most attractively to our natural susceptibilities. 

Satan assumes at one time the form of an angel of light; and at another, advances boldly to the attack, in all his hellish malignity.

Our own hidden lusts are ever ready to kindle in the soul an unhallowed excitement.

What a troop of spiritual enemies! 

Blessed be God, we have not to meet them alone and in our own strength!

Greater is he who is with us, than all that are against us. 

The spiritual armor is offered to us; and, invested in it, we are prepared for a successful warfare.  

Jesus too, the great Captain of salvation, has already achieved a signal victory over these foes...

And he promises to stand by us...

To strengthen our weakness...

And to lead us on to certain victory.

He has moreover held forth a glorious reward, "He who overcomes will inherit all things." 

Yes, all that Heaven has of happiness, shall be ours. God will be our God, and we shall be his adopted children. 

Here is an all-powerful stimulus to animate us in the conflict. 

Look then steadily at the crown of glory! 

When the world allures, remember, it is a foe in disguise. 

When Satan attacks,  raise the shield of faith to ward off his fiery darts. 

When the flesh pleads - take a determined stand against its clamors. Yes, crucify it!

Soon the warfare will be over. The last enemy, which is death, being conquered - nothing will remain, but to enter upon the glorious, the everlasting reward!

PRAYER...

Surrounded by the enemies of our souls, we look upwards to you, O God, for help. 

You know their power and their malignity and you are acquainted with our weakness. 

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Everywhere around us, are the allurements of the world. 

Without your protecting and supporting hand - we must inevitably fall before the power of the tempter. 

How often indeed have we been overcome by evil! How often by our melancholy lapses, have we proved our own helplessness! 

The flesh has corrupted us, the world has allured and deceived us. 

Satan has suddenly attacked and prostrated us...

And were it not that your mercy is boundless, that your love is unchangeable - we would long since have been abandoned to the powers of Hell. 

But thanks to your name, O God, you have made a way for our escape with every temptation. 

When, overwhelmed with shame and sorrow at our fall, we have ventured to cast an imploring look towards the mercy seat...

You have been ready to pardon, restore, and strengthen us. 

We come to you anew. 

We beseech you to invest our souls with the armor of righteousness. 

O put your strength within us.

Help us to watch unto prayer. 

Instead of confiding in our own arm, may we make you our refuge and our fortress.

In all times of temptation, will you deliver us. Uphold us by the right hand of your righteousness. 

Enable us to war a good warfare. 

May we, without presumption, look forward to the rewards of the faithful...

And impelled by the glorious "hope set before us," may we, through grace, overcome every foe...

And at last be invested with the privileges and honors which are promised to all your children, for Jesus' sake. 

Amen.

~Jared Bell Waterbury~

　

Far From A World Of Grief And Sin-With God Eternally Shut In!

Rom 8:30  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Here is a precious truth for you, believer...

You may be poor, or in suffering, or unknown - but for your encouragement take a review of your "calling" and the consequences that flow from it, and especially that blessed result here spoken of.

As surely as you are God's child today-so surely shall all your trials soon be at an end, and you shall be rich to all the intents of bliss! 

Wait awhile, and your weary head shall wear the crown of glory, and your work-worn hands shall grasp the palm-branch of victory.

Do not lament your troubles-but rather rejoice that before long you will be where "there shall be neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.

The chariots of fire are at your door, and a moment will suffice to bear you to the glorified. 

The everlasting song is almost on your lips. 

The portals of Heaven stand open for you.

Do not think that you can fail of entering into eternal rest.

If He has effectually called you-nothing can divide you from His love. 

Trials and troubles cannot sever the bond...
 

The fire of persecution cannot burn the link...
 

The hammer of Hell cannot break the chain...

That voice which effectually called you to Jesus at first-shall call you yet again from earth to Heaven, from death's dark gloom to immortality's unuttered splendors! 

Rest assured, the heart of Him who has predestined, called and justified you-beats with infinite love towards you! 

You shall soon be with the glorified, where your everlasting portion is. 

You are only waiting here to be made fit for your Celestial inheritance...

And that done, the wings of angels shall waft you far away, to the mount of peace, and joy, and blessedness...

Where, "Far from a world of grief and sin-with God eternally shut in," you shall rest forever and ever!

~Charles Spurgeon~

Fly Into The Bosom Of Christ For Refuge And Safety

Mat 18:4  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

It is very sweet just to nestle down in the bosom of Christ ...to be as a little child with Him.

Those who come otherwise do not get near to Him...but the child-like always find a close place in His heart.

So the more like children we can be in our trust and in the simplicity of our faith, in humbleness of disposition, in willingness to do His will and to learn of Him the nearer to Him shall we get, and the more shall we enjoy of His love.

Some years ago, as I was passing along one of our streets one afternoon, I heard a fluttering of birds over my head and, looking up, saw a little bird flying wildly about in circles, chased by a hawk!

The bird flew down lower and lower, and then darted into my bosom, under my coat. 

I cannot quite express to you, the feeling which filled my heart at that moment...that a little bird, chased by an enemy, had come to me for refuge, trusting me in time of danger.

I laid my hand over the bird, which nestled as quietly and confidently under my coat, as a baby would in a mother's bosom.

I carried the little thing along for several blocks until I thought the way was clear of danger, and then let it out.  

It flew away into the air again, but showed no fear of me.

Ever since that experience, I have understood better what it is to fly into the bosom of Christ for refuge and safety in time of danger, or in time of distress.

All this helps me to understand better what it means to Jesus when we, hunted and chased by enemies, or suffering from weakness or pain...fly to Him and hide ourselves in His love.

That is all we need to do...just to creep into the bosom of Christ, and lie down there, with no fear, no anxiety, but with simple trust.

The lines of Wesley's old hymn have meant more ever since:

Jesus, lover of my soul, Let me to Thy bosom fly, While the nearer waters roll, While the tempest still is high.

Hide me, O my Savior, hide,Till the storm of life is past; Safe into the haven guide; Oh, receive my soul at last.

Other refuge have I none, Hangs my helpless soul on Thee; Leave, ah! leave me not alone, Still support and comfort me.

All my trust on Thee is stayed, All my help from Thee I bring; Cover my defenseless head With the shadow of Thy wing."

~J. R.  Miller~

Overturn Overturn Overturn!

                                                    
Are there not seasons in our experience when we can lay down our souls before God, and say, Let Christ be precious to my soul...

Let him come with power to my heart...

Let him set up his throne as Lord and King, and let self be nothing before him?

Well, we utter these prayers in sincerity and simplicity, we desire their fulfilment; but oh, the struggle!...

The conflict! when God answers these petitions. 

When our plans are frustrated, what a rebellion works up in the carnal mind! 

When self is cast down, what a rising up of the fretful, peevish impatience of the creature! 

When the Lord does answer our prayers, and strips off all false confidence...

When he does remove our rotten props...

And dash to pieces our broken cisterns...

What a storm-...what a conflict takes place in the soul! 

Angry with the Lord for doing the very work we have asked him to do...

Rebelling against him for being so kind as to answer those petitions that we have offered up..

And ready to fume and fret against the very teaching for which we have supplicated him. 

But he is not to be moved; he will take his own way...

I will overturn, let the creature say, let it think what it will. 

Down it shall go to ruin, it shall become a wreck, it shall be overthrown. 

My purpose shall be accomplished, and I will fulfil all my pleasure. 

But I will overturn, not to destroy, not to cast into eternal perdition...

But I will overturn the whole building to erect a far more goodly edifice. 

Self is a rebel, who has set up an idolatrous temple...

And I will overturn and bring the temple to ruin, for the purpose of manifesting my glory and my salvation...

That I may be your Lord and your God."

~J. C. Philpot~