After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Matthew 28:1-6

Up from the grave He arose, With a mighty triumph o’er His foes, He arose a Victor from the dark domain, And He lives forever, with His saints to reign. He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose! (Lyrics – Robert Lowry)

THE OLD RUGGED CROSS

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame; and I love that old cross where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain. So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown.

O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world, has a wondrous attraction for me; for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above to bear it to dark Calvary. So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown.

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine, a wondrous beauty I see, for ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died, to pardon and sanctify me.So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown.

To that old rugged cross I will ever be true, its shame and reproach gladly bear; then he’ll call me some day to my home far away, where his glory forever I’ll share. So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown. (George Bennard)

“I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” Luke 19:14

But could the stones cry out? Assuredly they could if He who opens the mouth of the dumb should bid them lift up their voice. Certainly if they were to speak, they would have much to testify in praise of Him who created them by the word of His power; they could extol the wisdom and power of their Maker who called them into being. Shall not we speak well of Him who made us anew, and out of stones raised up children unto Abraham? The old rocks could tell of chaos and order, and the handiwork of God in successive stages of creation’s drama; and cannot we talk of God’s decrees, of God’s great work in ancient times, in all that He did for His church in the days of old? If the stones were to speak, they could tell of their breaker, how he took them from the quarry, and made them fit for the temple, and cannot we tell of our glorious Breaker, who broke our hearts with the hammer of His word, that He might build us into His temple? If the stones should cry out they would magnify their builder, who polished them and fashioned them after the similitude of a palace; and shall not we talk of our Architect and Builder, who has put us in our place in the temple of the living God? If the stones could cry out, they might have a long, long story to tell by way of memorial, for many a time hath a great stone been rolled as a memorial before the Lord; and we too can testify of Ebenezers, stones of help, pillars of remembrance. The broken stones of the law cry out against us, but Christ Himself, who has rolled away the stone from the door of the sepulchre, speaks for us. Stones might well cry out, but we will not let them: we will hush their noise with ours; we will break forth into sacred song, and bless the majesty of the Most High, all our days glorifying Him who is called by Jacob the Shepherd and Stone of Israel. C.H. Spurgeon

“His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling to the ground.” Luke 22:44

The mental pressure arising from our Lord’s struggle with temptation, so forced his frame to an unnatural excitement, that his pores sent forth great drops of blood which fell down to the ground. This proves how tremendous must have been the weight of sin when it was able to crush the Saviour so that he distilled great drops of blood! This demonstrates the mighty power of his love. It is a very pretty observation of old Isaac Ambrose that the gum which exudes from the tree without cutting is always the best. This precious camphire-tree yielded most sweet spices when it was wounded under the knotty whips, and when it was pierced by the nails on the cross; but see, it giveth forth its best spice when there is no whip, no nail, no wound. This sets forth the voluntariness of Christ’s sufferings, since without a lance the blood flowed freely. No need to put on the leech, or apply the knife; it flows spontaneously. No need for the rulers to cry, “Spring up, O well;” of itself it flows in crimson torrents. If men suffer great pain of mind apparently the blood rushes to the heart. The cheeks are pale; a fainting fit comes on; the blood has gone inward as if to nourish the inner man while passing through its trial. But see our Saviour in His agony; he is so utterly oblivious of self, that instead of his agony driving his blood to the heart to nourish himself, it drives it outward to bedew the earth. The agony of Christ, inasmuch as it pours him out upon the ground, pictures the fulness of the offering which he made for men.

Do we not perceive how intense must have been the wrestling through which he passed, and will we not hear its voice to us? “Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.” Behold the great Apostle and High Priest of our profession, and sweat even to blood rather than yield to the great tempter of your souls. C.H. Spurgeon

REPENTANCE DEFINED

“Repentance is the golden key

that opens the palace of eternity.”

–John Milton

BUT WHAT REALLY DOES IT MEAN TO REPENT?

The Bible says, “Godly sorrow worketh repentance” (II Corinthians 7:10). “Repent ye, therefore, and be converted that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19).

To repent is to alter one’s way of looking at life; it is to take God’s point of view instead of ours.

Repentance is more than remorse; it means giving up sin. It is a sincere resolution and endeavor to the utmost of our power, to conform all our actions to the will of God. William Nevins said, “There are two kinds of repentance: one is that of Judas, the other that of Peter; the one is ice broken, the other is ice melted. Repentance unto life will be repentance in the life.”

Jesus said, “Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3).

Repentance is not something one can delay. You cannot repent too soon, because you do not know how soon it may be too late.

Dwight L. Moody used to say, “There will be no Bible in the lost world to be a lamp to your feet and a light to your path, to guide you to eternal mansions. You make light of the Bible now; you laugh at its teachings; but bear in mind; there will be no Bible in the lost world. You have a Bible here. Had you not better take it now, had you not better read it, had you not better believe it?”

(From The Best of D.L. Moody edited by Wilbur M. Smith, 1971 by Moody Press).       –Paul Evans

“GOD SAYS, ‘YOUR RESERVATIONS ARE ALMOST READY…’”

I WAS IN A RESTAURANT WAITING FOR OUR NAME TO BE CALLED.

We had been waiting quite a while, but the restaurant was an old favorite, so we used our time to fellowship.

Then I saw one man become very agitated for having to wait so long. He went up to the hostess and gave his name again. She checked the reservation book, telling him he would be seated as soon as a table was available. The hostess then called another party’s name and they were seated. Because the man thought someone was being seated ahead of him (which wasn’t the case), the man got visibly angry, shouted something to the hostess, and stormed out with his wife and children.

Five minutes later, the manager of the restaurant came up to the front desk (not knowing what had happened), looked at the reservation book, and called the man’s name, saying, “YOUR RESERVATION IS READY…” But, he was gone! He had waited for over an hour for that table. All he had to do was wait five more minutes and he would have been seated–ordering his meal.

When we pray and ask God to do something, it’s like making a reservation on one of God’s promises (2 Corinthians 1:20) and often, there is a time of waiting, “I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in His word do I hope.” (Psalm 130:5)

God Says: “BE PATIENT, YOUR RESERVATION WILL BE CALLED.”

God says, “For many in the Church today, there is a heaviness, almost as if you are carrying an invisible weight of oppression, and you can find no one to comfort you (Psalm 69:20). People have been waiting for their prayers to be answered, but with no hope on the horizon, so they have fallen into a spiritual rut of despair. Joy and laughter seems to come rarely and then easily slips away. They feel all alone (Psalm 142:4), and just to get a grip on life is difficult. Some have to press hard just to make it through the day…and then look forward to when it ends.”

“This is the My word to you: ‘I have your reservation … so rest and wait just a little while.” (Psalm 37: 7-11; Matthew 11:28-30)

God Says: “BE PREPARED, I COULD CALL YOUR NAME TODAY, SO DON’T STOP WAITING ON ME.”

“So many of My people are on the verge of giving up (2 Timothy 4:10). Do not listen to the enemy; the voice speaking of defeat and failure is his, not Mine. That voice that says, ‘There is no way out,’ is the devil’s voice, not Mine. My timing is always right. I am never late or too early (Romans 8:28). Keep your eyes on Me and your heart steady. Do not look back…I am not there (Luke 9:62), I am in front of you.”

God says, “You cannot expect to be called for a blessing if you don’t anticipate it (Hebrews 11:1). If you are poor, start rejoicing as if you were a millionaire…look up, not down! If you feel discouraged, rejoice by faith (Philippians 4:4). Everyone has setbacks, but only the righteous refuse to camp in the land of defeat (Proverbs 24:16). Your time is coming; the question is: are you cultivating a sense of expectation (Luke 3:15) or gloom? Be ready in season and out of season to receive blessing. Always be ready.”

God Says: “BE POSITIONED, STAND ON MY WORD…NOT ON WHAT YOU SEE OR FEEL…I ANSWER FAITH, NOT FEAR.”

God says, “I advise you to look for a good word, ‘…a good word makes the heart glad’ (Proverbs 12:25b). You find a good word in My scriptures, but also in My people. Many of you know other brethren who are positive and uplifting. Call them. Don’t be a loner. My Son said, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes the mouth of God’ (Matthew 4:4). Often My word (of encouragement) is spoken through My vessels…your brothers and sisters. Jesus said, ‘My Words are spirit and they are life’ (John 6:63). Feeding on My Spirit by consulting with others will cause you to see your problem from a different perspective. Others have been in the same predicament you now find yourself in” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

“Be positioned for My blessing and trust Me (Proverbs 16:20), not your feelings; trust My promises and you will see My hand about to move. What do you do while you are positioning yourself to receive…worry and complain? No. Walk in integrity and uprightness (Psalm 25:21) going about the business of My Kingdom. Don’t get frustrated and walk out now just when things are about to change.”

“So, child of Mine, get up and start looking for someone that you can bless. In the meantime, I’ll be working on your problem….”

Under His Shadow

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”  The shadow of God is not the occasional resort of the saint, but his constant abiding-place. Here we find not only our consolation, but also our habitation. We ought never to be out of the shadow of God.

It is to dwellers, not to visitors, that the Lord promises His protection. “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”  and that shadow will preserve him from the evil and “terror by night”  (Psalm 91:5), from the arrows of war and of pestilence, from death and from destruction (vv. 5-6). Guarded by Omnipotence, the chosen of the Lord are always safe. For, as they dwell in the holy place, very near the mercy seat where the blood was sprinkled long ago, they are covered by the pillar of fire by night and the pillar of cloud by day, which continually hand over the sanctuary. Is it not written, “In the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me” (Psalm 27:5)? What better security can we desire.

As the people of God, we are always under the protection of the Most High. Wherever we go, whatever we suffer, whatever our difficulties, temptations, trials, or perplexities may be, we are always “under the shadow of the Almighty.” The tenderest care of a guardian is extended over all who maintain that fellowship with God. Their heavenly Father interposes between them and their adversaries.

This is a precious word: “Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice” (Psalm 63:7). The metaphor of wings is, of course, derived from the nestling of little birds under the shadow of their mother’s wings, and the picture is unusually touching and comforting. The little bird is not yet able to take care of itself, so it cowers down under the mother, and there it is happy and safe. Disturb a hen for a moment, and you will see all the little chicks huddling together and making a kind of song with their chirps. Then they push their heads into her feathers and seem happy beyond measure in their warm abode.

THE EAR OF FAITH!

I invite you to listen to one of the most unusual illustrations I have ever heard. It blessed my heart, and I’m sure it will bless yours as well.  Here’s the story . . .

A little white baby rolled from a prairie wagon and was found by some Indians. The Indians raised him as one of their own sons. They taught him to listen to and recognize every sound in the forest. But one day, a few years later, they boy’s father arrived at the Indian camp and demanded that the boy be allowed to go to the East with him and be educated in New York City.  “I’m his father,” he stated. We’ve been looking for him for years. Here’s a picture of him as a baby.”

The Indians looked at the picture . . . and with sad faces, reluctantly gave the boy to his father.

One afternoon, while talking with a school pal on a busy street corner in New York City, the boy suddenly shouted, “I hear a cricket! I hear a cricket!”

His city friend laughed. “Even if there were a cricket here, no one could hear its sound above the roar of the city.”  “You’re wrong,” answered the boy who had been raised by the Indians.  “I know a cricket when I hear one.” He searched carefully beneath the leaves in a nearby flower pot. And sure enough, there was the cricket that his ears had been trained to hear!

Shipmate of mine, FAITH is something like that boy’s ear. Faith hears things that an unbeliever would never notice in a hundred years.

But faith, like that boy’s ear, has to be trained. And sometimes we have to obey the command of the Lord, “Be still and know that I am God . . .”

It is indeed unfortunate that most Christians only quote I Corinthians 2:9. It says: “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” But we must NOT stop there! Read on.

Verse 10 is exciting: “But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit, for the Spirit searcheth all things; yea, the deep things of God.”

Yes, shipmate of mine, you and I can, THROUGH FAITH, see and hear things beyond the span of mortal eye or ear. God can reveal these things unto us by the Holy Spirit. Someone said to Fanny Crosby, “Aren’t you sorry that you have not been able to see anyone during your long life of 90 years?”  “No,” replied the blind author of such blessed hymns as “Blessed Assurance” and “Saved By Grace”.

Then she added, “Just think! The first face I’ll ever see is the face of Jesus, my Saviour!” Through faith, she could write:

“I shall know Him . . . I shall know Him . . . as redeemed by His side I shall stand. I shall know Him . . . I shall know Him . . . by the prints of the nails in His hands.”

I wonder . . . shipmate of mine . . . are you filled with the Holy Spirit? Does He reveal to you wonderful things that the eye cannot see . . . that the ear cannot hear?

He will . . . if you will “hunger and thirst after righteousness.” God sends no one away empty except the person who is full of self (the one who is satisfied with his Christian life.) But if you have a “dissatisfied satisfaction” . . . if your heart longs for more of God . . .you can well expect a miracle of transformation in your life . . . in your ministry.

God will give you the EAR OF FAITH—and whisper into your soul the deep things of the Spirit! Let Him move upon your soul right now!

Taken from The Log of the Good Ship Grace

Volume 32 – Number 10 – 1966